Logee's Greenhouse

We’ve turned the corner and whether you are in the southern garden or northern window, the light level has dramatically shifted in favor of plant growth.

Plants will begin new growth, sometimes emerging on bare stems with a renewed vigor. For example, after the dormant sleep of Clerodendrum thompsoniae, new leaves emerge with buds waiting to explode. Or fresh bright leaves will arise from a Rex Begonia adding wonderful defined color and texture to a windowsill. Or a citrus plant will unexpectedly awaken your senses with fragrant blossoms.

Now is the time to begin fertilizing. Like after a long winter’s nap, out of hibernation, feed is the best medicine to get healthy and vigorous plants for spring. Generally, plant nutrients have been low throughout the winter months and now the nap is over and it’s time to amp up the feed.

Again the rule of thumb is: when growing under full sun light more fertilizer, when growing under shade or low light less and feeding more often with smaller amounts will maximize the response.

We recommend starting the process with a balanced soluble fertilizer, organic or salt based. For example, add ¼ tsp of a 15-15-15 fertilizer per one gallon of water. With a lower percentage fertilizer like 7-9-5 you can go up to ½ tsp. per gallon of water.

Water the plant with this solution for a week to ten days. And then switch to clear water for a watering or two. You’ll be amazed at the response. As the season moves on you can feed constantly at these rates as long as the light levels are high and minimum temperatures are above 60 degrees.

Another alternative is to top dress or sprinkle a granular fertilizer like Electra or a slow-release fertilizer like Osmocote around the soil’s surface. Top dressing is a preferred method for the busy gardener, eliminating mixing fertilizers. Electra will last for several weeks while slow release fertilizers are usually good for about three months.

You can also repot, pot bound plants at this time as the root systems are actively growing. The question is often asked when should I repot my plants? Repot plants when the plant is proportionately overwhelming the size of the container or the root system has completely filled the pot. However plants can stay in small containers for a long time and for the container gardener it maybe advantageous to maintain plants in restricted pots if space is at a premium.

Remember pot bound plants don’t necessarily have to look pale and thin-leafed. A full green plant is the result of proper watering, available plant nutrients and pruning, not pot size. The effect of restricting a plant's container can be slower growth with a dwarfing effect. However, if you want a large specimen and the plant is dwarfing the pot, you may want to repot it.

Also, excessive watering frequency is another indication that more root room is needed. If repotting is the chosen process, remember 2 to 3” of pot size at a time. You do not want the plant swimming around in a mass of wet soil especially when the days are still short and plant are just waking up. And when you tap the plant out of the pot, check the roots for health. Are they white with active growing tips? Is the root ball full of roots? Inspecting the root system is a good habit to get into as it tells you a great deal about the plant health and vigor.

Remember, springtime brings wonderful luscious growth but with it more attention is needed to create your green paradise.

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