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I’ve received a few questions from readers concerned about snow cover on their plants, and their concern is misplaced.
Snow in garden beds actually serves as an excellent insulator. It keeps soil temperatures even, which helps keep roots and bulbs from heaving out of the ground during the natural freeze-thaw cycles of winter. So when you’re shoveling or blowing snow off your walkway or driveway, pile it into your beds and borders — unless you’ve applied ice-melt products, which could burn plants.
Heavy snow becomes an issue in the garden when it weighs down tree and shrub branches, particularly those of arborvitae and other evergreens, like my Leyland cypresses, above. To avoid, bending, buckling and splitting, knock accumulated snow off branches with a long-handled broom immediately after (or, if necessary, during) snowfall.
In case you missed it in your local paper, you can read my latest AP gardening column about starting seeds here.
📬 Ask Jessica
DEAR JESSICA: My plumeria is 6 feet tall and growing like there’s no tomorrow. But I have a problem with the leaves. I washed the green growth twice already with wet paper towels, but it hasn’t helped. On close inspection, I can’t find anything on the leaves or stems that is moving or could do this damage. Any help would be appreciated. —Chris Foerster
DEAR CHRIS: It’s hard to say exactly what’s going on with your houseplant with 100% certainty, but I can tell you the problem is due to something in its environment. You’ll need to consider its placement and the care it’s receiving and make changes accordingly.
When leaf tips and edges turn brown and crunchy, it’s usually due to one of three issues: Inconsistent watering, too much sun, insufficient humidity or too much fertilizer. Let’s look at each more closely.
Inconsistent watering
You might think that drying leaves indicate a lack of water, but it also can be a sign of too much water. Oftentimes, however, it’s inconsistent watering that’s to blame. So if you forget to water and allow the plant to become too dry and then water it too much, problems such as root rot — and dry leaves — can result. Plumeria should be watered deeply (place it in the sink, or shower since it’s so large, and add water slowly until it drains from the bottom,) and the soil should be allowed to dry out before watering again. Never allow water to collect in the saucer.
Too much sun
We typically don’t think our houseplants can get sunburned, but they actually can. Many plants require bright, indirect light, while others need some protection. Plumeria falls into the first group, but if you recently moved your plant into a sunnier spot (or just brought it home from the nursery), it could be reacting to the sudden change in lighting.
Insufficient humidity
Plumeria are tropical plants that require a lot of humidity. Your home, especially during winter, doesn’t likely fulfill that need. You can remedy this by running a humidifier nearby or simply misting the plant with water twice a day.
Too much fertilizer
Most houseplants should not be fertilized over winter because their growth does slow down even though they’re not truly dormant. But plants can be over-fertilized at any time of year. And even if you’re applying recommended amounts of fertilizer, the salts they contain tend to build up in soil, which, over time, can adversely affect plants. Have you ever noticed a white discoloration on the outside of clay pots? That’s salt from fertilizer.
It’s a good idea to give fertilized potted plants a good flush every few months by placing them in the sink or shower and watering heavily for several minutes, allowing water to pour from the drainage holes.
💡 If you do one thing this week…
When temperatures are above 40 degrees, apply an anti-desiccant to broadleaf evergreens like rhododendrons to help reduce water loss over winter.
For more great gardening tips — 365 of them! — get a jump on the growing season with my Day-by-Day Gardening Calendar.
It’s like a complete gardening course in a wall calendar! By the end of the year, I promise, you’ll have earned a green thumb! Plus, your wall will be adorned with award-winning photography provided by The Weekly Dirt readers!
👏 Sunday shoutout
“This is a daffodil/jonquil berm I built along the curb to cheer drivers up during lockdown,” writes Sheila Sussman. She said the tagged tree has recently been removed, which provides an even better view from the street.
Send in your photo and you could be featured next!
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📧 How’m I doing?
I welcome your comments and suggestions, so please send them along — as well as any topics you’d like to see covered and questions you’d like answered in the Ask Jessica section.
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