Page 9 – Watters Garden Center

01/03/202301/03/2023

Top 10 Houseplants for a Healthier New Year

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

Woman with a big houseplant in a container

Today’s ultra-efficient homes seal outside air from penetrating their interiors, thus recirculating inside air without added freshness. A three-month-old air filter cleans only so many particles before choking on its own dust. We won’t mention formaldehyde-ridden foreign products brought into the home for the holidays. Initially, toxins weren’t an environmental problem because fresh air was ever-present. Now that we’ve made our homes nearly airtight, the freshness that indoor plants provide is more vital than ever.

By releasing oxygen and decreasing dust and pollutants in the air, plants remove contaminants and actually help us fight colds. They reduce stress by providing a peaceful, zen-like atmosphere. Houseplants add beauty and dramatically improve the health of our indoors.

A good rule of thumb is to have one 8″ houseplant per smaller room of a home, and a larger floor plant for larger living and family room spaces. Here is a list of the most popular plants grown indoors for a healthful environment and easy to grow.

#1 Croton – There are many different varieties of Croton, each with varying forms of foliage. All have broad leaves dipped in exotically patterns. The most popular is ‘Petra,’ which has shades of yellow, red, and green. This has long been a favorite houseplant for adding a punch of color. Crotons thrive in low-light areas but display more color when placed in brighter rooms. Water at weekly intervals, or as the soil becomes dry.

#2 ZZ plant – With its tall succulent stems and architecturally bold structure, this plant is a favorite for homes with modern decors. It requires little maintenance and is nearly indestructible. The perfect plant for those that travel a lot. Place ZZ in medium to high light and water it only when soil is bone dry.

#3 Money Plant– Many people believe this plant is lucky and a symbol of wealth. Fung Shui design uses this plant to draw green into a room. Standing upright with green leaves above the trunk, it adds drama to any room. Simply effortless to maintain, grows in any light condition, and can be completely dry between waterings.

#4 Peace lily has undoubtedly been the most common houseplant for years, and with good reason. It’s an easy plant to care for that produces beautiful white blooms throughout the year. It grows well in the dark rooms of your house. Peace lilies like to have consistent moisture.

young lady holding a maidenhair fern housplant in a container

#5 Maidenhair fern is a delicate little fern, with soft, small green leaves on gracefully black stalks. High humidity keeps this fern happy and well placed in bathroom and kitchen environments. Increase the humidity around a maidenhair fern by placing it on a tray of pebbles and maintaining water in the tray.

#6 Variegated Creeping Fig – This vining plant has puckered, heart-shaped green and white leaves. Lends itself to hanging baskets or training as a topiary. Place it in a bright spot and keep the soil evenly moist.

Pothos, Epipremnum aureum in the bathroom

#7 Golden Pothos – This vining plant is one of the easiest to grow. Place on a table, shelf, or a hanging basket and let the vines grow and trail. If preferable, add a pole to grow up. Grow it in low to medium light and allow the soil to dry between waterings.

#8 Calathea – This indoor plant has large, colorful patterned leaves in shades of deep green and purple. A mid-sized upright plant, it can be placed on a tabletop or used as a floor plant. It prefers a bright spot, but the leaves are sensitive to direct sunlight from Southern exposure. Allow the soil to dry slightly before watering.

#9 English Ivy – English Ivy is often grown outdoors as a ground cover and a popular indoor plant. This trailing plant is pretty when trained into a topiary or cascade from a tabletop or hanging basket. Grow ivy in a high light area and keep the soil evenly moist.

Enjoy better air quality and health this winter with these Top 10 houseplant ideas.

Until next week, I’ll be helping local gardeners grow better houseplants here at Watters Garden Center.

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Plants.com.

12/28/202212/28/2022

How to Grow Better African Violets

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

Currently, there are 3200 species of African Violets. The very first violet was discovered in 1892 by Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, a German colonial official in Tanzania, thus the botanical name Saintpaulia ionantha.

African violets are the most popular houseplants for a good reason. They bloom several times each year, with soft velvety foliage, in a plethora of flower colors. African violets thrive indoors. With just a little garden experience, you find they grow to the size of dinner plants.

African Violet Care

African violets thrive indoors in bright, humid conditions. Prevent old, spent leaves from collecting on your plant. Old foliage will encourage plant rot.

Soil

We make specially formulated soil just for African Violets. Their soil must drain fast. When the plant becomes waterlogged, the leaves droop, fall and rot. Never allowing your plant to stand in water for extended periods is the number one rule of violets.

Water

Keep soil moist with warm water and strive for high humidity. African Violets appreciate a weekly light misting. Keep water from touching the leaves to prevent brown spots from forming. Water at the root level or well below the foliage.

African Violet pots are specially designed to care for and water violets without water ever touching their foliage. They are pretty and make growing violets much easier.

Temperature and Humidity

Violets are just like people. If you are comfortable, so are they. Their preferred temperature is 70ºF. Do not allow your plant to dip below 60ºF.

Plant Food

Feed twice monthly with Watters African Violet Plant Food for best bloom cycles.

Propagating African Violets

African violets can be propagated from leaf cuttings or from pups. Mature plants produce small plantlets or shoots from the side. Remove these and pot directly in Watters African Violet Potting Soil. By removing pups, you encourage better blooms from the parent plant.

African Violets in a Container on the kitchen counter

Potting and Repotting African Violets

African violets do better when they are slightly underpotted. Repotting an African Violet is easy. Simply grab the plant, lift it, and replace it with a larger container. Fill the gaps with Watters African Violet Potting Soil. Be very gentle with their root system. Common signs your plant is stressed and needs to be repotted include falling leaves and overcrowding, as well as roots that protrude from the surface of the soil.

African Violet Varieties

African violets are available in single and double flowers, in all different colors, and with widely varied leaf shapes. Gloxinia is sometimes mistaken for a type of African violet. If you like African Violets, you might also enjoy the closely related Streptocarpus species or the African violet cousin, the Goldfish Plant.

2023 Garden Class Announcement

Watters Free Garden Classes start January 14 @ 9:30 am. Check out this spring’s entire class selection offered every Saturday at Watters Garden Center.

January 14 @ 9:30 am – Happy, Healthy Houseplants with Professional Style

Houseplants brighten our lives and clean the air we breathe, but not all are created equal when grown in an arid climate. Students learn the top plants grown indoors and how to care for each. Learn best practices for watering, light placement, and how to treat and prevent pests and problems.

January 21 @ 9:30 am – Top Local Landscapes with Flare

Any garden can pop with flares of color with the right plants. We’ll cover the best local companion plants, flowers, evergreens, and more. Bring a pencil and paper for notes and questions for our experts after this class.

January 28 @ 9:30 am – January is the Best Month to Plant Wildflowers

Late winter is the ideal window to start wildflower seeds outdoors. We share all the local tips that ensure these bloomers blossom beautifully. You’ll know the best seed, soils, food, and techniques that bring on the color this spring.

Until next week, I’ll be helping gardeners relax with more houseplants here at Watters Garden Center.

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Housplants.com.

12/21/202212/21/2022

How to Prune Lilacs

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

Young, immature plants rarely need pruning except to deadhead faded flowers or remove dead and broken branches. Once a lilac reaches a mature height, it appreciates rejuvenation pruning.

Young bushes with branched under three years old offer small flowers at best. Older branches, 5-8 years old, produce the most flowers. Branches older than 8 years in size should be thinned to rejuvenate your plant to younger, more vibrantly blooming branches.

When to Prune Lilac for Regular Maintenance

Lilacs are best pruned within two weeks after they finish blooming in spring. Lilacs form their spring flowers starting in summer that persist through winter for next spring blooms. Pruning other than late spring reduces next spring’s flowers. The shrub tolerates pruning almost any time of the year, but if you want better color, it is best to prune right after their spring flush.

STEP 1 Deadhead Faded Flowers from Your Lilac Bushes

Removing all shriveled blooms as they fade. To do so, find the first pair of leaves beneath a faded flower cluster and snip just above those leaves.

STEP 2 Remove Dead, Broken, Bug Infested, or Canes that Rub

Remove canes that appear damaged or infested with pests, such as the lilac borer. Borers appear as small holes at the bases of shoots, accompanied by sawdust. Where two canes are rubbing together, remove the weakest to prevent damage to the more vital branch.

STEP 3 Rejuvenate Your Bush by Prune 1/3 of Its Old Canes

Mature bushes over 8 years old require rejuvenation pruning. Prune 1/3 of the oldest, largest branches back to the bush’s base. This may require a pruning saw or bypass pruners.

STEP 4 Remove all suckers

Remove all shoots or suckers growing from the base or your lilac bush.

STEP 5 Rejuvenate Old Plants over 3 Years

Mature bushes over 8 years old need a 3-year rejuvenation periodically.

Remove another third of the old canes during the following spring, and repeat the process during the third spring season. Once all of the oldest growth has been cut out, allow the shrub to grow unchecked for 3 years, after which point you should repeat this rejuvenation process.

Best Plant Food for Better Flowers

Feed 4x Times per Year with 7-4-4 All Purpose Plant Food, Soil Sulfur, or Humic. Here’s the recommendation by season:

Spring = 7-4-4 All Purpose Food + Soil Sulfur

Summer = 7-4-4 All Purpose Food + Humic

September = 7-4-4 All Purpose Food

December = 7-4-4 All Purpose Food

Lilac Jelly – If you want a fun canning project in spring try Lisa’s Lilac Jelly Recipe.

Ken Lain can be found Throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his websites at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Flowers.com.

12/19/202212/20/2022

Lilac Jelly Recipe

by Lisa Watters-Lain, Arizona’s Garden Gal

Lilacs have such a profusion of blooms in spring they are one of the easiest flowers to make jelly. The heady aroma fills a jelly jar like it does the landscape. Ensure your lilacs have not been sprayed with chemicals, and avoid high-traffic areas. The same recipe can be used with any edible flower. Visit Watters Edible Flowers List for more flower jelly ideas.

Lovely Lilac Jelly Recipe

Light purple flowers produce a bright yellow jelly. Dark purple flowers provide darker jellies. You don’t need to wash the flowers unless you think they might be dusty. Blooms are sterilized by boiling water and the canning process. Make sure to remove flower stems. Stems make the jelly bitter.

Ingredients

2 cups packed lilac blossoms, removing stems and leaves
2 1/2 cups boiling water
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 cups sugar
One box Sure-jell powdered pectin
Makes around 4 half-pint jars or 8 – 4 ounce jars.

Instructions

Infuse the blossoms in the water to make a “lilac tea.” Place the flowers in a heat-resistant container and pour the boiling water over them. Allow them to steep for 8 hours or overnight. Sterilize four 8-ounce jars and keep them hot. Heat lids and rings in hot water. Keep warm but not boiling. Fill the water bath canner and bring it to a boil.

You should have 2 1/4 cups of lilac-infused water. Strain the flowers from the water. Add water if needed. Allow the strained liquid to sit in the refrigerator overnight before pouring. This allows most particles to settle from the infusion, resulting in transparent jelly.

Place the flower infusion, lemon juice, and pectin in a large pot. Bring to a rolling boil.

Add sugar all at once, and return to boil for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam as needed.

Ladle jam into hot, sterilized jars leaving 1/4″ headspace. Wipe the rims clean and screw down the lids.

Process for 10 minutes in a water bath canner, adding 1 minute for every 1,000 feet above sea level.

Remove jars from the canner and allow them to rest until cool. Remove rings, wipe any drips and label for storage.

The same recipe can be used with any edible flower. Visit Watters Edible Flowers List for more flower jelly ideas.

Lisa Watters-Lain can be found Throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through her websites at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Flowers.com.

12/14/202212/16/2022

5 Amazing Privacy & Seclusion Trees that Screen

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

Now is the time to plant privacy screens for maximum growth and seclusion in spring. Without strategically placed evergreens in the yard, it can feel as if prying eyes are looking right into your home. Not only does your privacy seemingly disappear, but that neighbor’s debris pile can be on view!

Enable enjoyable hot tub sessions without prying eyes from that too-close-for-comfort neighbor. The solution to these unwanted invasions is not rocket science. Simply plant a wall of living trees and shrubs to block an undesirable view and create the privacy you desire!

Here is an excellent example of an “evergreen and gold” hedge of Golden Euonymus. Now is the ideal planting season for fast-growing trees and shrubs to maximum autumn roots critical for a lush wall next spring.

To successfully add evergreens to a landscape, several essential steps are worthy of your time and energy. The most crucial requirement for trees to thrive is drainage. Blend one shovel full of Watters Premium Mulch into every three shovels full of native earth to pack around each root. Feed new plants with 7-4-4 All Purpose Plant Food right after planting. The cottonseed meal in this natural food promotes robust root formation while maintaining good foliage color. Lastly, deep soak each plant with a solution of ‘Root & Grow.’ This specially designed compost tea encourages new roots that grow deep and strong.

Best Evergreen Trees Used as Screens and Accents

When you’re ready to choose the trees for your living wall of green, read through these popular choices of local screening plants that fill in fast.

Arizona Cypress – My favorite native evergreen screener is the Arizona cypress. It is like a giant alligator juniper in size and color but grows faster and fills in more thoroughly than other screening plants. Growing to over 20 feet tall and 12 feet wide in just a few years, you can see why this is the number one choice for a planted screen.

Colorado Spruce – Very cold-hardy, this spruce is the perfectly symmetrical Christmas tree shape. Excellent choice for a front yard holiday tree or as a semi-formal accent in a large yard. It makes a pretty evergreen background against contrasting foliage colors, flowering shrubs, or highlighting autumn leaves. Line up several for a windbreak or to quickly diffuse lights and sounds along busy streets.

Deodar Cedar – This is the largest screening plant, growing to over 50′ feet tall and 20′ feet wide. It is one of the fastest-growing of the screens, growing 2-3′ feet every year. This cedar thrives on low water use, drought conditions, and drip irrigation, as with most upright evergreens. Make sure to give it plenty of growing space because, with its long, swooping branches of Arizona Blue foliage, this tree is going to need it!

Juniper – let’s look at the juniper family. Spartan, Blue Point, and Wichita are on the extensive list of junipers available at Watters Garden Center now. Juniper forests surround us, so be assured junipers are naturals to add to a landscape. Whichever color and height you like, all grow well in this part of the world.

Austrian Pine – is a handsome evergreen tree with a densely branched conical form when young that becomes umbrella-shaped with age. Needles are long and dark green. Tolerates poor soils and harsh, drying winds. A great conifer for windbreaks or used as large landscape specimens.

There are many more choices, such as the larger evergreen shrubs and deciduous trees like aspens. Still, we’ll discuss those varieties another time.

Book just Published! The Secret Garden: Plants as a Natural Screen is an all-local garden book with deeper detail about screening plants. Free copies are available for download at WattersGardenCenter.com under ‘LEARN.’

Until the next week, I’ll be helping local gardeners plant privacy here at Watters Garden Center.

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10EvergreenTrees.com.

12/09/202212/09/2022

Christmas Stories Behind Holiday Plants

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

Gardeners take a special interest in the holidays and the plants that mark the season. Pumpkins and spice start out the holiday decorating, which climaxes with Christmas and New Year plants. There is a tradition behind every plant where the stories run deep. Read on for a deeper appreciation of the holidays and the plants that define each.

Poinsettia is the most iconic Christmas plant during the holidays. Poinsettias are sub-tropical plants native to Mexico. The plant is sensitive to the cold, which is why it’s recommended they stay inside where they’re warm and protected. The plant arrived in America during the 1800s by Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. He sent a few plants back to South Carolina, where he grew them and gave them as gifts to friends. He donated many to public and private botanical gardens. Deep religious meaning starts with the star-shaped flower symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. Red has been a favorite color, suggesting Christ shed blood, and white represents his purity.

Holly goes back to ancient Roman and Greek times that decked their halls for good luck. Holly holds its fresh spring foliage through winter with little care. In ancient times, holly was thought of as good luck because it never died. Romans would send holly wreaths to friends, family, and especially newlywed gifts of goodwill and good wishes.

Mistletoe has a tradition of kissing under the mistletoe during the holidays. The legend started in Norse mythology when a goddess used the plant to bring back memories of her beloved son, slain, with a weapon crafted from the plant. The legend has evolved from grief into rebirth or regrowth. Later, a sprig was placed over a baby’s bed to ward off evil spirits. When placed under the pillow of a young girl, it is said to inspire the dreams of her future husband. Today, kissing under the mistletoe indicates future happiness and fertility. Who doesn’t want more happiness?

Yew is said to be one of the oldest trees on Earth. The ancient Druids looked to the Yew tree symbolizing everlasting life, honoring it as a sacred plant. Throughout European history, yews were planted in churchyards as symbols of long life.

Ivy is another Christmas plant known to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, symbolizing new growth and popular when decorating Christmas wreaths. Ivy stays green through winter. Holly and Ivy tend to go together in song and in holiday celebrations. To ancient Christian, holly symbolized masculinity, and Ivy represented femininity.

Christmas Trees are the embodiment of today’s holiday celebrations, but it wasn’t always. The tradition of having a tree in the home is somewhat new. Germany developed the habit of a Christmas Tree during the 16th century. It’s said a German theologian, Martin Luther, was walking home on a winter night and inspired by the beauty of stars twinkling through evergreen branches. He recreated the optimism he felt by erecting a tree with candles in his family’s home. The Christmas tree trend became widely accepted in America by the early 20th century.

Christmas Cactus is another perfect holiday gift to give to others. This tropical cactus is grown indoors as a houseplant. Brazilian legend says a poor boy living in the jungles prayed for a sign of Christmas. He prayed for days without result until Christmas morning; he woke to find beautiful bursts of colorful flowers on the tips of the cacti branches. This stunning display of beauty continues to be a symbol of answered prayer today. How to Grow Christmas Cactus.

Natural Decorating Ideas – Create your own Holiday Porch Pots. Stick evergreen sprigs and branches in window boxes and containers. Arrange them artfully in your containers like an outdoor flower arrangement. Add sparkling holiday lights in colors that coordinate with your exterior decor. You’ve just created a welcoming holiday vignette even Santa will envy.

Until next week, I’ll be helping local gardeners create their own traditions here at Watters Garden Center.

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Houseplants.com.

11/17/202211/17/2022

Narrow Side Yards Made Beautifully

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

Many mountain homes have a side yard that is not only long and narrow but treacherously steep. Good landscape design for such a layout is complicated at best. A good design ties the entire landscape together in a masterful manner when done well.

Don’t have time to view the entire article, see the highlights below:

Stone, pavers, and retaining walls turn ordinary side areas into extraordinary landscapes.
The easiest and cheapest Southwest walkway is crushed granite.
A walkway should measure 28-36″ inches wide.
Suppress weeds in an area by laying down weed fabric.
Containers add style and interest to long walls with high fences.
Think of small or dwarf-sized plants if the space is narrow.
Enliven the area by featuring some exciting yard art or running water features.
Pinterest Board that stimulates creative juices.

Our most challenging project was to ease the steep access to the backyard. A flight of stairs with a different herb garden and wall art at each step, a commercial-sized pot of rosemary and sedum, and a “welcome” sign at the gate help visitors move effortlessly into a secret backyard garden. It is a real treasure, but it took some unusually creative design flair! At our home, Lisa and I turned our landscape lemons into truly “tasteful” lemonade.

A steep yard can be a demanding brain twister, even for experienced gardeners. These design tips apply to almost any sideyard project. Suppose this is the primary pathway from front to back. I encourage a no-nonsense walkway through the area to prevent tripping hazards. Measure to determine if there is room for a perennial bed and herbs along the walkway. Determine if space allows for guiding a garden cart quickly along the way.

Walkway or Pathway

Walkways should be smooth and on the level, measuring 28 – 36″ wide. The most accessible and inexpensive Southwest walkway is crushed granite packed down to a supportive hardness. This gold surface will wash away and needs replenishing every few years, but it suppresses weeds while coddling the bank account.

Flagstone and concrete paving stones create contemporary styles suited to any expression of modern architecture. Yavapai Block is the most affordable local source, with blocks manufactured in Prescott.

Whatever the surface material, a walkway should measure 28-36″ inches wide. Straight paths reinforce the tunnel effect of a long narrow yard and are less desirable than curved pathways. They can still be attractive on the opposite side of this spectrum, with invitingly wide walkways that serve as full-functioning patios.

Alternatively, you may avoid having a well-defined walkway, opting for a free-flowing path. Suppress weeds in the area by laying down weed fabric covered by mulch. This is best for side yards that are used sparingly. If the side yard doesn’t get much traffic, and you need a place for the family dog to piddle, there is nothing like a camouflaged small patch of lawn. Select a dog-tolerant lawn mix like Watters Low Water mix or Prescott Blend for dense shade.

Best Plants for Side Yards

Containers add style and interest to long walls with high fences and eliminate having to dig in our unyielding mountain soils. But if you must plant directly into the ground, determine how much sun will be in this part of the yard. Before heading to the garden center, note whether the area is on the north or south side of the house. If in doubt, bring pictures of the space at different times of the day, and my garden staff or I can read the shadows. This will enable us to develop the best companion plants for your project.

Think of small or dwarf-sized plants if the space is narrow. We have entire sections of the nursery set up for small spaces. Some of my favorite small-area plants: are lavender, rosemary, mugo pine, spirea, dwarf burning bush, and carpet roses. Alberta spruce, tiny towers, cypress, skyrocket junipers, and flowering redbud are taller plants. Each is planted in Autumn, low maintenance, and proliferates in the local garden.

A long narrow side yard of a large home feels cavernous. Enliven and cozy up the area by featuring some exciting yard art or the sound of running water from a small fountain. A garden trellis with ivy, akebia, pyracantha, or honeysuckle growing is stunning.

Plan an exciting design for your style and get it started. I’ve put together a creative Pinterest Board to stimulate the creative juices. This is a great month to plant, especially winter evergreen varieties. If the project seems overwhelming, ask for help. Watters’ designers await your digital photos for a detailed consultation.

Until next week, I’ll be at Watters Garden Center helping gardeners design beautiful side yards.

Ken Lain can be found Throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his websites at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Plants.com.

11/09/2022

2 Things Rookie Gardeners Do to Houseplants

Girl with Addicted to Houseplant T Shirt

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

There are no silly questions when it comes to gardening. We are on this journey together; some have more experience than the Rookies just starting out. That’s why two decades of garden articles, radio programs, and podcasts exist. Gardening is learned by making mistakes. I want to ensure you make mistakes in the right direction, never going backward.

Let’s start with the obvious if you have gardened for more than a season. If something is alive in your home, it will need water. Houseplants most likely need a deep soak every 10-14 days. Succulents, cacti, and plants in dark rooms need water less often, probably every 2-3 weeks. Puppies and cats should not eat your houseplants; it’s not good for them. Over and over again, I see these same mistakes. Eliminate even one, and you become a better Plant Parent and gardener.

Helicopter Plant Parents are Bad

You’ve heard the term “helicopter parent,” a style where parents pay incredibly close attention to their child and their experiences, often getting overly involved. We’re not talking about human children here but about your plant babies; the idea is the same.

Whether you’ve opened your home to tropical plants, desert cacti, or temperate succulents, the worst thing you can do is constantly mess with them. You are likely to set your plants up for success by recreating their environment in their home habitat. Set our plant up for success by avoiding these two blunders.

Obsessively Water Every Day

It’s easy to fall into the “what if it needs a drink?” trap. Most common houseplants won’t need a drink until the top of the soil begins to dry; if you’re dealing with arid plants, they won’t need a drink until the soil dries out completely. That’s at least three days after the initial watering and likely more.

Obsessively watering your plants leads to root rot, making plants less able to pull in water and nutrients and far more likely to die. Relax, breathe, and appreciate your plant from across the room without a watering can in hand. Generally speaking, your plant will tell you when it’s thirsty. Do your research, and you’ll be fine.

Obsessively Cutting off Leaves that Look Less than Perfect

Surprise, plants are just like people! The plant you’ve brought into your home is a living thing, and all living things have imperfections. It grows and changes over time, just like people do. Sometimes leaves get crispy on the edges. Sometimes leaves turn yellow and fall off.

If you’re caring for your plant correctly, these events correspond to a normal life cycle. If you start cutting off every leaf that looks different than when you bought it, you will have a big problem. Healthy plants can only handle one-third of their living growth being cut off at a time. Remove any more than that, and you have a stressed houseplant trying to replace all that’s been cut away.

Put the pruning shears down and try to understand your new baby plant. Prune only obviously dead leaves or snip a piece or two to propagate your plant. After all, once you have one healthy and prosperous plant, it is hard to resist growing more.

Check out the latest arrivals of rare and exotic houseplants at Top10Houseplants.com.

Until next week, I’ll be helping Plant Parents grow better houseplants here at Watters Garden Center.Ken Lain can be found Throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his websites at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Houseplants.com.

11/03/202211/03/2022

Best Hypoallergenic Trees for Allergy Sufferers

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

Allergy sufferers know the symptoms: Runny nose, Coughing and sneezing, Nasal congestion, Itchy nose, eyes, and throat. Autumn Ragweed gets most of the attention in the fall, but landscape trees are even be a bigger culprit. There is not much you can do about your neighbors’ trees or the city park. You can definitely plant allergy-free trees in your own yard. Here is our Top 10 List of Hypoallergenic trees planted for years of allergy-free enjoyment.

No-Pollen Trees

The presence or non-presence of pollen in a tree is a matter of the tree’s sexual reproduction method. This process involves flowers and pollen. Typically trees produce seeds only when the pollen from male flowers reaches female flowers, a process is known as pollination. This can happen through the action of bees and other insects that transfer the pollen from flower to flower as they feed on nectar, or the pollen drifts from flower to flower on air currents. The most infamous of these are male juniper trees.

A tree’s flowers can be either male or female, and only the male flowers produce pollen. Some trees are monoecious, meaning that individual trees produce both male and female flowers. Other trees are dioecious, meaning a particular tree has either male or female flowers, but never both.

Thus, with a dioecious tree, it is possible to plant a female tree that produces no pollen since the flowers are all female. Examples of allergy-free trees without pollen and mess are:

Allergy Free Shade Trees

Ash, Fraxinus
Aspen, Populus tremuloides, also cottonwood
Boxelder, Acer negundo
Deodar Cedar, Cedrus
Juniper, Juniperus virginiana
Maidenhair, Ginkgo biloba
Maples, Acer rubrum
Mulberry, Morus
Yew, Taxus

We only carry female trees at Watters Garden Center, making your choice easy. With other species, though, you may need to specify that you want a female tree that produces no pollen.

More Allergy Free Varieties

Many monoecious trees that produce pollen are suitable for allergy sufferers since their pollen is heavy, coarse, and improbable to drift on the wind and cause allergy symptoms. After all, the pollen of monoecious trees must be transported only a short distance to a female flower on the same tree, a task easily accomplished by insect pollination. Examples of monoecious plants with coarser pollen include:

Allergy Free Flowering Trees

Crabapple, Malus

Dogwood, Cornus
Fir, Abies
Flowering cherries and plums, Prunus
Magnolia, Magnolia
Ornamental pear, Pyrus calleryana
Redbud, Cerci
Spruce, Picea

Bottom Line

For allergy sufferers, planting either female monoecious tree species or a dioecious tree species known to have heavy, coarse pollen reduces hay fever symptoms. Combine this tree list with hypoallergenic shrubs and flowers, with diligent weed control for allergy-free days in the garden. Sunsets will be brighter, butterflies more abundant, and the radio will only play your favorite songs with fewer allergy medications.

Until next week, I’ll be helping gardeners choose allergy free trees for a happier, healthier landscape

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Trees.com

10/27/202210/27/2022

Gorgeous Houseplants the LOVE the Dark

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

Meg with a prayer plant Maranta leuconeura

Adding plants is my favorite way to add life to any room. Having plants indoors makes everything feel lighter, brighter, and more alive. Houseplants add color and texture, purify the air, and look nice.

Basements and dark corners challenge houseplants through winter. Many plants like it dark, and the short winter days only make them happier. Here’s the list and their best care.

The Biology of Low Light Indoor Plants

Large leaves are designed to soak up more light. Others have a waxy outer layer that helps retain moisture and makes them low-maintenance indoor plants.

How to Care for Low-Light Plants Indoors

Low-light plants don’t require as much water, so caring for them can be as simple as planting them in well-drained soil and watering at 2-3 week intervals. Feed them monthly with Watters ‘Flower Power‘ at half the recommended strength bringing out their vitality and color.

Top 10 Low-Light Loving Houseplants

Here are a few of my favorite houseplants that thrive in dark rooms. I hope they bring as much happiness and cheer to your home as they do mine!

Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonema in a small container

Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonema, has striking variegated leaves in shades of red, pink, yellow, and green. Set this plant in a space that needs color, and you won’t have any need for flowers. Don’t worry if you travel extensively, or forget to water, this dark lover is super drought hardy. Perfect for people new to houseplants or those who consider themselves black thumb gardeners.

Corn Plant, Dracaena fragrans in the living room

Corn Plant, Dracaena fragrans, look like small tropical palms, so they bring a ray of sunshine to that dim, drab area. Place it somewhere without direct sunlight and water occasionally. These plants like to go dry before watering again. Water evenly over the potting medium to avoid rotting the corn plant’s canes. These canes have small root systems and may need to be straightened after traveling home and later as they settle in. Dogs and cats become ill when chewing on this plant. So be careful if you have a mischievous puppy, or you could find heaved piles of foliage.

Moth Orchid, Phalaenopsis, when you need bright flowers in a dark corner. Plant in breathable orchid pots using a soilless orchid mix for plants that bloom for months. Visit us on how to Repot and Care for Orchids

Peace Lily, Spathiphyllum, have lush, dark green leaves and delicate white flowers. These plants like moisture and humidity, so water regularly and mist the leaves to keep your lily happy and blooming. When the leaves droop, simply give it a good drink of water adn watch it perk back in short order.

Pothos, Epipremnum aureum, Ideally planted in a basket or pedestal so the variegated foliage trails down in an elegant display.

Prayer Plant, Maranta leuconeura on a shelf

Prayer Plant, Maranta leuconeura, adds a pop of color to that drab corner with variegated foliage in rich green, purple, yellow, and red. In dark rooms, the variegation becomes more pronounced. Plant directly in Watters Potting Soil and mist the foliage regularly. At night, the leaves point upwards like hands in prayer, where this plant gets its name.

Spider Plant, Chlorophytum, thrives in low light and requires only occasional water when the soil feels dry. They send out long spindly leaves and small white flowers that will cascade down the edge of containers, making them an excellent choice for indoor hanging baskets

Zee Zee Plant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia in a basket container in the living room

Zee Zee Plant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, is low light, care, and easy to maintain. Its glossy, bright green leaves add a cheerful pop of color to any dark space. ZZ’s likes to be left alone for long periods so go on a worry-free vacation. This plant will look great when you get back.

Houseplants provide life and vitality to your home, even on the darkest winter days. You will be amazed at how easy these plants are to grow while uplifting the soul. Plants do that!

Until next week, I’ll be helping gardeners grow better in the darker rooms of the house.

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Houseplants.com.