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Tuesday, November 17, 2015

November 17, 2015, Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter

November 17, 2015, Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter    © Kim Willis

Hi Gardeners

Osteopermum 'Lemonade' is still blooming.
I used yesterday’s bright beautiful weather to finish doing some important garden tasks before winter.  The cement birdbath is turned over, the garden art brought inside.  The lawn chairs went to the shed.  Most of the hoses were drained and nozzles removed.  I leave one hose going to the barn so on nice days I can sometimes run water to the barn.  It’s suspended off the ground.  I moved the birdfeeders closer to the windows.  I moved the last pot inside- a pot of rain lilies.  I’m ready for winter although I hope my preparations weren’t really needed because this winter will be so mild.

Amazingly enough there are still a few flowers in bloom.  Osteospermum is one hardy plant.  Pansies popped up in several places and are in bloom. Roses are still blooming.  In the garden a patch of peas came up where I threw some vines after they quit producing this summer.  They are beginning to bloom.  The romaine lettuce is still nice.  A mild winter and we may eat from the garden right through it.

I am looking around at the garden and vowing that I will be much more aggressive removing morning glories that come up from seed next year.  I thought I left few plants but looking at the brown mess on the fence I wish I had left even fewer. 

The wind is strong and the clouds are moving in.  They say we’ll have snow showers this weekend.  My bones say winter is coming.  If it’s not too cold and cloudy tonight you may be able to see a meteor shower in the eastern sky.

Are you a plant collector?

Some of us collect certain types of plants.  Some of us want to have one of every type of plant.  But plant lovers often turn into plant collectors.  After you have gardened for a few years you often develop favorites among plants. These can be garden plants or house plants (or in my case both). Soon you may find that you have to have more and more of them.  Yes, plants can be addictive and I confess-I am addicted.

Even in the grocery store I find myself drifting over to the counter where small plants are displayed next to the cut flowers. I get mailboxes full of garden catalogs and surf plant nurseries on line.  The only thing that restrains my addiction- and my husband would argue that it is not restrained- is my budget and the space I have.  This year I added several grow lights to give myself more growing space but I think I may need more space after looking at all the luscious tropical hibiscus pictures as I was writing the tropical hibiscus article you will find below.

Hosta collection.
Although I have some favorite plant species, lilies, streptocarpus, and hibiscus among them, I also covet any plant I have never grown before.  I want to see it, feel it, smell it, know it. You can’t really know a plant until you grow it.  I haven’t counted the species I have around here- maybe a job for a cold winter day- but I know there’s quite a few.

I grew up in a plant collecting environment.  One grandfather collected roses, from tea types to landscape and species roses.  When a new rose variety came out he was among the first to buy it.  His wife, my grandmother, collected bearded iris and hybridized her own new varieties.  My other grandmother collected dahlias, she seldom could be found outside except to plant and tend her dahlias. She rarely purchased new dahlias; her wide assortment came from friends and relatives she traded with.

So what are the plants most commonly collected?  In the garden daylilies, hosta, roses and bearded iris are probably the species most collected, which means a gardener grows multiple varieties within the species or family.  Inside orchids, African violets, streptocarpus, tropical hibiscus and rex begonias are popular for collecting.  But many, many other plants are popular with plant collectors.

Plants that have many color or shape variations, usually in the flowers, are the most often collected plants.  Popular species for collecting can come and go.  Tulips were once enormously popular with collectors, people spent fortunes on new varieties.  Yet I would say that tulip collectors are few any more. So are dahlia collectors.  Heurchera and Echinacea are relatively new species for collectors.  

I’d like to hear what plants you collect.  Share your stories of how your plant addiction has changed you.  Write me and I may include your stories in this newsletter.

Houseplants dropping leaves

If you brought your house plants inside and they are rapidly dropping leaves don’t worry, even if some of them look like sticks.  If you didn’t let them get frost bitten they are probably just going through a wardrobe change.  Plants develop leaves with cells adjusted to the type of light they are receiving.  When plants are brought inside to lower light levels they get rid of some leaves or all of their leaves to make room for new leaves better adjusted to low light levels.

Not all plants lose a noticeable amount of leaves; some species are more likely to do so.  Weeping Figs, brugmansia, and hibiscus, are some species that are more likely to drop most of their leaves when moved inside.  But many other species may lose some of their leaves also.  In this case just leave the plant alone.  You should notice leaf buds along the stems in about 2 weeks and new leaves soon after.  You may need to adjust your watering schedule as plants without leaves or with fewer leaves don’t use as much water.  But don’t let the pots dry out.

Other reasons for plants dropping leaves may be improper watering and or temperature.  If your plants got too cold or they are in a cold area now, or your house is much warmer than where the plants were previously they can drop leaves.  Fall and spring can be tricky times for watering.  A spell of warm sunny weather may dry out pots faster if they are in a sunny window.  A period of wet cold weather may leave them soggy.  Both plants that are too wet and plants that are too dry will lose leaves.  Feel each pot and check the saucer for standing water before you water a plant. 

Cold drafts from being near doors or warm drafts from furnace vents may also cause leaf drop.  You may need to move the plant to a better location.   If you left a plant outside until late fall you may have triggered a dormancy period in some plants.  It may take a bit before they resume new growth.  The branches should still feel springy and not brittle in woody plants.  These can be left where they are to see if they recover quickly or moved to a cool frost free place for a rest.  Plants like tuberous begonias that die back to the ground should be put in a cool area and allowed to rest for 2 months before being brought back to bright warm areas.  

Oregano and eucalyptus essential oils used to prevent fungal disease
Fruits and vegetables in storage are often spoiled by fungal diseases.  Typical fungal sprays can be toxic to humans.  Research done at the National University of Mexico and recently published found that oregano or eucalyptus oils that were vaporized and blown through stored produce was a safe way to prevent spoilage by fungal disease.

Researchers are developing packaging that would allow the oils to vaporize slowly and keep produce from spoiling for longer periods of time.   

Victoria’s Secret “Bombshell” perfume repels mosquitoes

Mosquitoes with the product DEET remain the best products for repelling all types of mosquitoes but a study by New Mexico State University found that a perfume- Victoria’s Secret Bombshell - also did a pretty good job.  The perfume repelled mosquitoes in the study as well as DEET products for about two hours.  The tests were conducted by having volunteers place their arms in tubes with mosquitoes. 

The volunteer’s hands were heavily sprayed with the perfume. Researchers think that the scent basically overpowers the normal human scents that mosquitoes use to locate a meal.  (My husband, who keeps up with everything Victoria Secret, said this has been rumored for some time.)  The true Bombshell perfume and not a knock off, costs around $30 for a tiny bottle, which is pretty pricy bug spray.

In the study other non- DEET products were also tested.  Cutter’s Lemon -Eucalyptus Insect repellant was also good at repelling mosquitoes for a short time. Avon’s Skin So Soft products only worked on a few mosquito species for a short time. Cutter Natural Insect Repellent and EcoSmart Organic Insect Repellent did not repel mosquitoes.  B1 skin patches, often touted by organic companies also had no effect on repelling mosquitoes.

The tropical hibiscus

If there is one plant that a plant collector or gardener could love it’s the tropical hibiscus.  Just as outrageously gorgeous as the hardy hibiscus that grace our late summer gardens, the tropical relatives come in a dizzying array of colors and color blends rivaled only by the rose or daylily.  And while these hibiscus are not winter hardy in most of the United States they are easy to overwinter inside and can liven up your sunny window with their colorful blooms throughout the colder seasons.
Chinese hibiscus

Tropical hibiscus are often called Chinese Hibiscus, although todays varieties are often hybrids of several hibiscus species, including those native to Hawaii.  Other names for tropical hibiscus are Hawaiian hibiscus, China Rose, and Shoeblack plant (because the flowers were used to shine shoes in India.)  The species from China, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, has been domesticated for thousands of years.  Like several of its relatives in Hawaii, it is no longer found in the wild but very old domesticated plants can be found in many tropical countries.  There are many plants in China known to be more than a hundred years old and there is also a centenarian red hibiscus in a monastery near Brisbane, Australia.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was known to the Greeks and Romans and grown in their gardens. It is widespread throughout tropical Asia, India, and is the Malaysian national flower.   Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is also widely grown in Australia, tropical America and the Pacific Islands.

Other species of hibiscus include Hibiscus sinosyriacus/syriacus         (Rose of Sharon,) Hibiscus canabinus L, (used for fiber), Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Roselle),    and Hibiscus moscheutos, (Hardy Hibiscus).  There are seven species of hibiscus native to Hawaii and the pacific Islands, Hibiscus arnottianus, Hibiscus brackenridgei, (Hawaiian state flower) Hibiscus clayi, Hibiscus furcellatus,(also found in South America), Hibiscus tiliaceus (Sea hibiscus), Hibiscus kokio, and Hibiscus waimeae.  Some of the Hawaiian species are very rare and seldom found in natural settings.


Tropical hibiscus are evergreen, woody plants.  Most have a bush shape, some species are small trees. In their natural habitat some hibiscus can get 8 feet high or larger.  In the home or garden hibiscus can be shaped into small trees, called standards or allowed to take a bush form. They can be pruned to stay within your space needs.

The leaves of hibiscus are thick, with prominent veins and glossy dark green.  There are a few varieties with variegated leaves or purplish foliage.  Leaf shape can vary depending on what species are in the varieties background.  They can be lobed like oak leaves or simple broad pointed ovals.

The flowers of hibiscus generally consist of 5 broad, overlapping petals forming a saucer shape with a large central sexual organ consisting of fused stamens (male parts) around the stigma ( female part). Some flowers have a crinkly or lacy look to the petals.  However some varieties of hibiscus have double flowers, flowers with gaps between the petals, (called windmill types) or small dangling clusters of petals.  Flower size ranges from about 2 inches to more than 8 inches across.

If you have only seen red or orange tropical hibiscus, the common colors found in local retail stores, you might be surprised at what specialty garden stores can offer. The range of flower colors and combinations of colors in tropical hibiscus is enormous.  There is no true blue but there are all shades of red, orange, pink, apricot, purple, lavender, mauve, yellow, cream, silver, white, gray, tan, brown, olive, lime and chartreuse and unique combinations of these colors.  Some varieties have several bands of color or are splashed and streaked with contrasting colors.  Many hibiscus flowers open with one set of colors that slowly change into other colors as they age.  

The temperature and soil conditions can also affect hibiscus flowers.  Some are double at one temperature and single flowered at another temperature.  Soil pH can change the color of flowers somewhat.  The amount of moisture present can affect flower size as can temperature.  Flowers are often smaller in cooler and drier conditions.

Hibiscus flowers are short lived, with each flower open only a day or two, but well cared for plants can produce several flowers each day for long periods of time.  They generally bloom for a few months, take a short break, and begin blooming again.  Most hibiscus flowers have no fragrance, but a few Hawaiian species have a light fragrance and some modern hybrids have retained this.  When plants are kept outside the flashy flowers often attract hummingbirds.

Growing your own tropical hibiscus
Hibiscus have a genetic characteristic called polyploidy which means they have several sets of chromosomes to share during sexual reproduction instead of one set from each parent.  This means that offspring of any two plants will have numerous ways to recombine the genes resulting in all kinds of colors and forms even though the parents could look similar.  This makes producing new colors and types interesting but you can’t reproduce a particular variety from seed. Some of the plants produced during hybridization of various hibiscus species are sterile. If breeders find an awesome new hibiscus among seedlings they must reproduce it from cuttings. 

Gardeners will probably want to start with a small plant.  Larger plants can be purchased locally but these usually offer only a limited assortment of colors and types. Braided stemmed plants are often sold and plants pruned as small trees.  Most tropical hibiscus grow quickly and a small plant should bloom within the first year.  Some bloom when only a foot or so tall.  Hibiscus seeds sprout readily and sometimes you can find seed offered.  But remember there is no way to guess what the seed grown plants will look like.

Tropical Hibiscus are not cold hardy and most gardeners will want to grow them in pots so they can be moved inside before frost. Move them inside before temperatures drop into the low 50’s even if there is no frost.  They do make excellent patio plants and could have their pots sunk into the ground in flower beds after the danger of frost has passed.  Indoors they prefer moderately warm conditions about 65-70 degrees F.  Don’t sit them too close to heating vents.

Use a good, light weight, water retentive potting mix for hibiscus. The pot must have good drainage.  Tropical hibiscus like moist rich soil but water logged soil will quickly cause root rot and death. Hibiscus grow rapidly and you may have to transplant them into larger pots at least once a year. 

Use a slow release fertilizer for flowering plants in pots or use a water soluble fertilizer every other week or as directed on the label.  Keep fertilizing as long as the plants are growing or blooming.  Stop fertilizing when plants are taking a rest, usually mid-winter. 
Tropical hibiscus Cajun series.

Water your tropical hibiscus before the soil gets very dry unless it’s in a resting stage, when it can be allowed to dry out slightly.  The leaves of the hibiscus will lose their shine just before they start to wilt, and that is the time to water.  Tropical hibiscus that are allowed to get too dry will often drop their buds and/or leaves.  They may recover if proper watering is resumed.   Watering is crucial when plants are moved outside in sunny dry weather.  Check them at least once a day.

Inside tropical hibiscus need the brightest light possible, such as a south window to keep blooming.  Supplemental light from grow light bulbs can keep them blooming when you don’t have good southern light.  When you move them outside in the early summer however, don’t place them immediately in full sun.  Place them in a lightly shaded location and give them two weeks to adjust if you want to move them to a brighter location.  They will often bloom quite well in a partly shaded location outside.

Tropical hibiscus will often drop their leaves and stop flowering when moved to a location with different lighting.  This is normal and plants should quickly grow new leaves.  Inside under lower light levels flowers may be smaller or a slightly different color.

Tropical hibiscus can be pinched – removing the tip of stems- to encourage bushy growth when the plants are young- which will also encourage more flowers. They can also be pruned to keep them within your available space. 

Usually tropical hibiscus have no disease problems but greenhouse insects like white fly and spider mites can bother them inside.  Use a houseplant insecticide if you have insect problems.  Treating plants before you bring the inside each fall is a wise idea.

Tropical Hibiscus varieties

Suggesting varieties of Hibiscus to grow is a difficult task.  Just like varieties of other common plants like daylilies and hosta, many hibiscus varieties are almost indistinguishable from each other.  The blend of colors in hibiscus flowers are almost impossible to describe and each plant can also have some slight variations, even when grown from a cutting.

When choosing a variety beginning hibiscus owners should look for those varieties described as easy to grow, and that flower abundantly.  Plant size can also be a factor if you have limited space indoors to overwinter the plants.  Some varieties are larger than others. More and more compact varieties are being offered for space limited gardeners.  There are some varieties of tropical hibiscus that while having some special quality are harder to grow, less vigorous or produce fewer flowers.  Add these to your collection after you become familiar with growing the “easy” varieties.

Some easier varieties include Hula Girl and Double Hula Girl, which have large bright yellow flowers, Black Baron, large, very dark red single flowers, Romeo, a pretty blend of lavender gray and pink with a deep wine red center, Amber Suzanne, double flowers of a glowing pink with white edges and splashes, The Path, several blended shades of pink with orange to yellow edges, Cajun Blue one of the closest to true blue hibiscus with gorgeous silver blue flowers, and Creole Lady, silver white with apricot edges.

Don’t be afraid to choose tropical hibiscus marked as mixed un-named seedlings if you can get a good price.  These will often develop into stunning plants.

Here are some on line sites where you can drool over many, many colorful pictures of tropical hibiscus:

Herbal and other uses of hibiscus
One type of hibiscus, Roselle, is often used as a tea ingredient.  It’s also used in cooking in Asian and Indian dishes.  The flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis have some uses in Chinese herbal medicines.  The flowers are considered to be a female aphrodisiac and were banned in some countries.  They are also used for menstrual and childbirth problems.  Flower pastes were also used to grow hair.  Leaves were used as a laxative; roots were dried and ground as a substitute for marshmallow in cough medicines and other preparations. 

Flowers were used to polish shoes in India and China and the juice of hibiscus flowers was used as mascara.  Flowers were also used as cloth dyes and to tint hair.   Larger hibiscus plants grown in tropical climates can be used for fiber, making paper and other items.   

Get your 30 minutes outside every day.  It’s good for mental and physical health.

Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero


Events, classes and other offerings
Please let me know if there is any event or class that you would like to share with other gardeners.  These events are primarily in Michigan but if you are a reader from outside of Michigan and want to post an event I’ll be glad to do it.

Do you have plants or seeds you would like to swap or share?  Post them here by emailing me.

Free seeds
I have these seeds that I collected from my garden that I am willing to share free.  Look at the list and if you would like some contact me at kimwillis151@gmail.com

I will tell you where to send a stamped self-addressed envelope for the seeds. If you want popcorn or black walnuts it will take several stamps.  I have published this list on the seed swap sites also.  I’ll try to give everyone who asks some until they are gone.

Lilies, a seed mixture of assorted hybrids, oriental- Asiatic- trumpet- Casa Blanca, Stargazer, La Reve, purple tree, yellow tree, Silk Road, more
Anise hyssop
Morning glory – common purple
Scarlet runner bean - few
Japanese hull-less popcorn
Hosta asst.of seed from numerous varieties- lots
Ligularia desmonda (daisy–like flower)
Ligularia rocket – spires of flowers
Yucca
Glad mixed
Zinnia mixed
Foxglove Dalmation peach
Calendula mixed
Baptisia blue
Jewelweed
Cleome white
Columbine mixed- small amount
Nicotiana small bedding type- mixed colors
Nicotiana alata ( woodland tobacco, Only the Lonely)
Daylily mixed
Kangaroo Paws orange
Hollyhock mixed
Black walnut- few hulled nuts




An interesting Plant Id page you can join on Facebook

Here’s a seed/plant sharing group you can join on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/875574275841637/

Here’s a facebook page link for gardeners in the Lapeer area


Here’s a link to classes being offered at Campbell’s Greenhouse, 4077 Burnside Road, North Branch.  Now open.

Here’s a link to classes and events at Nichols Arboretum, Ann Arbor
Here’s a link to programs being offered at English Gardens, several locations in Michigan.

Here’s a link to classes at Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy and Shelby Twsp. MI, and now combined with Goldner Walsh in Pontiac MI.

Here’s a link to classes and events at Bordines, Rochester Hills, Grand Blanc, Clarkston and Brighton locations

Here’s a link to events at the Leslie Science and Nature Center, 1831 Traver Road Ann Arbor, Michigan  | Phone 734-997-1553 |
http://www.lesliesnc.org/

Here’s a link to events at Hidden Lake Gardens, 6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI

Here’s a link to all the nature programs being offered at Seven Ponds Nature center in Dryden, Michigan. http://www.sevenponds.org/education/progs/springprograms/

Here’s a link to events and classes at Fredrick Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids Mi
http://www.meijergardens.org/learn/ (888) 957-1580, (616) 957-1580


Newsletter information
If you would like to pass along a notice about an educational event or a volunteer opportunity please send me an email before Tuesday of each week and I will print it. Also if you have a comment or opinion you’d like to share, send it to me. Please state that you want to have the item published in my weekly notes. You must give your full name and what you say must be polite and not attack any individual. I am very open to ideas and opinions that don’t match mine but I do reserve the right to publish what I want.

I write this because I love to share with other gardeners some of the things I come across in my research each week. It keeps me engaged with local people and horticulture. It’s a hobby, basically. I hope you enjoy it. If at any time you don’t wish to receive these emails just let me know. If you know anyone who would like to receive these emails have them send their email address to me.  KimWillis151@gmail.com

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