Did you know?

Did you know? There’s a wealth of knowledge about flowers! In this section, we will share valuable information aimed at helping both new and seasoned growers discover exciting insights. Some of this knowledge comes from personal experience, while others are drawn from courses we’ve completed. Throughout the greenhouse season, we will strive to post fascinating information each week, allowing you to learn and apply it to your beautiful garden. Stay tuned below as we continue to add new information!

 

Understanding Soil

There's a wealth of information about soil, and numerous soil types to explore. Certain soils are particularly suited for starting seedlings, as they contain no fertilizers, while others are ideal for growing trees and roses. Depending on your specific needs, there are plenty of options available.

It’s always wise to begin each year with fresh soil, ensuring that old, compacted dirt is removed and replaced with light, airy soil. This helps improve soil moisture retention and eliminates any leftover salt from fertilizers.

Our Soil Offerings

We offer a variety of Molly’s Mix, which includes:

  • Succulent and Cactus Mix

  • Orchid Mix

  • Aroid Mix

These three blends are exceptional in their ability to retain moisture and provide airflow, which helps prevent root rot. Each type contains special formulations designed to help plants thrive.

We also carry Pro-Mix with Mycorrhizae, which is ideal for planters, hanging baskets, and starting seedlings. This soil is versatile and offers excellent aeration while maintaining moisture. Mycorrhizae is a beneficial fungus that supports plant roots, minimizing transplant shock and promoting healthier root growth. This ultimately enables the plant to absorb nutrients and water more effectively, leading to a stronger overall plant.

Additionally, we provide All-Purpose Potting Mix by Bonadea Gardens, which is fantastic for seedlings, houseplants, and a variety of applications.

Another option is our 3 in 1 Plus Blended Soil Mix by Bonadea Gardens, composed of peat, loam, and compost. This mix is suitable for trees, shrubs, roses, and perennials, making it perfect for pre-mixed garden beds and top dressing lawns.

 

Understanding Plant Tags for Successful Gardening

There’s a wealth of information to glean from reading plant tags, and the amount of detail can vary significantly from one tag to another.

Basic Information:

Every tag provides essential details, including:

  • Sunlight Requirements: How much sun the plant prefers

  • Watering Needs: The amount of water it requires

  • Mature Size: The expected dimensions of the plant at full growth

Certain tags offer additional insights, such as:

  • The plant's natural habitat

  • Growth dimensions

  • Blooming periods

  • Specific watering needs

  • Types of animals the plant may attract or repel

  • Whether the plant requires deadheading

Sunlight Categories

As you read tags, you might encounter terms like full sun, part sun, part shade, or shade, often illustrated with diagrams:

  • Full Sun: Requires over 6 hours of sunlight

  • Part Sun: Needs more than 4 hours of sunlight and thrives in intense light

  • Part Shade: Enjoys over 4 hours of sunlight but avoids intense exposure

  • Shade: Prefers less than 4 hours of direct sunlight

Watering Guidelines

The tags also indicate watering requirements categorized as heavy, normal, or low. Keep in mind that these needs can vary by plant type; therefore, it's advisable to conduct further research or consult our friendly staff to ensure your plant choice is suitable for your garden. For instance, some grasses are ideal for ponds, while other plants labeled as needing heavy watering may not be.

Size Considerations

When planning your garden beds, hanging baskets, or planters, the height and width of plants are crucial for successful arrangements. Be mindful to avoid placing taller plants that could overshadow shorter ones, ensuring all can thrive together. Additionally, ensure you have enough plants to fill the intended space without overcrowding.

Additional Insights

Other information on the tags can be beneficial depending on your gardening goals. Some gardeners prefer low-maintenance options that don’t require deadheading, while others may seek plants that attract hummingbirds. This data is helpful, but don't hesitate to ask our knowledgeable staff for guidance or to do your own research to find plants that meet your specific needs.

 

 Understanding Fertilizer Basics

When it comes to fertilizer, there's a lot to learn, but we’ll focus on the essentials. Fertilizer bags feature three numbers that indicate the percentage by weight of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). These nutrients serve specific purposes:

  • Nitrogen- promotes leaf growth

  • Phosphorus- aids in root development and blooming

  • Potassium- enhances overall plant health and stress resistance

Depending on the fertilizer blend, these nutrients can support growth in different areas of the plant. We offer a complete fertilizer that comes as a concentrate, which you need to dilute with water.

A few tips:

  • For houseplants, use less than the recommended amount, as they require significantly less.

  • However, if you’re growing petunias in August, I suggest using the full dose.

  • As plants grow larger, they may need near the full dose for optimal growth.

Our complete fertilizer is an excellent choice because the pH level of your water can impact nutrient absorption. Fortunately, this fertilizer contains a variety of nutrients suitable for plants to absorb at any pH level.

Additionally, we offer a slow-release fertilizer that gradually provides nutrients to your plants when watered. This product lasts approximately 100 days and is ideal for plants in media, as they will require more nutrients as they grow. Plus, if it rains, the plants will receive some fertilizer to encourage further growth.

We also want to remind you that in all our planters and hanging baskets we have slow release in them and we also water each time with complete fertilizer. 

 

How to Create a Planter

There are numerous methods to construct a planter, but the key elements to consider are the thriller, filler, and spiller.

  • Thrillers can range from 4 feet tall to as short as 1 foot, depending on the plants chosen as fillers and spillers.

  • The thriller serves as the focal height and can be a grass or a blooming plant. It can be positioned in the middle, at the back, or in a corner of the planter. While it typically features one type of plant, you may include a few varieties depending on the planter's size.

Next, consider the filler.

  • The filler should be shorter than the thriller, ensuring the thriller remains visible.

  • You can choose to mix the filler and spiller or opt for the filler to be as tall as the spiller. There are countless options available.

For the filler, you can use the same type of plant as the spiller, which can spread and mound in the planter before cascading over the edge. Alternatively, you might select several different plants as fillers that do not extend over the edge, leaving space for a distinct spiller.

As mentioned, the spiller can also function as a filler, depending on the plant's ability to spread and mound. Some plants may not reach significant heights but can spread extensively, making them ideal spillers.

Each category offers multiple plant options based on the planter's size, thriller height, and available space. Keep in mind that there are limitations to the number of plants suitable for each planter, as some require more root space than others, which can influence the overall appearance.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our wonderful staff if you have any questions!

 

Did you know about coleus?

Coleus is a stunning plant that thrives when dried and then soaked. Some varieties produce blooms that should be removed to prevent the plant from thinking it should halt its growth.

Growing Conditions

  • Coleus can be cultivated as an indoor houseplant or outdoors.

  • It’s advisable to wait until the temperature consistently remains above 15 degrees Celsius for optimal weather resilience when outdoors.

  • Certain varieties thrive in sunlight, while others prefer shade.

With their vibrant foliage, coleus plants make a perfect addition to any planter or landscape design.