Gardens Galore: Waking up in February ~ By Karen Brewka

In the houseplant world, spring starts early. More daylight means new buds, fresh growth and a need for some attention.
Repotting: Most houseplants like to be really root bound. When roots are crawling out of the pot, watering is needed too often, leaves are yellowing – then it's time for a new home.
Pick a pot that's just one size bigger (1 - 2 inches wider) with good drainage.
A good potting mix is 3 parts peat moss, 1 part perlite and 1 part vermiculite. This is called Cornell mix because it was developed at Cornell University for the greenhouse industry. Wet the mix thoroughly before using. It's great to get some dirt under the fingernails after months out of the garden! Just put some mix in the bottom of the pot. Turn the plant upside down and remove the old pot. Put the plant in its new home and stuff mix in along the sides. The plant should be as deep in the new pot as it was in the old one. Make sure there are no big air pockets.
If repotting isn't possible, top and side dressing will hit the spot. Use the same mix and dig it in around the sides of the pot and into the top layer. Cut some roots if necessary.
Fertilizing: Now is the time to start fertilizing houseplants again. I usually pick up a bucket of 20-20-20 and use about a teaspoon in a gallon of water. This weak fertilizer can be used every second watering until late spring when every watering can use a bit of fertilizer. The number 20-20-20 means 20 % nitrogen, 20% phosphorous and 20% potassium. The rest (40%) is filler. Acid loving houseplants (azaleas, African Violets, etc.) need a special acidic fertilizer.
Other stuff: A bit of pruning, some cleaning and more frequent watering are all part of February. Most houseplants like to get quite dry between watering. Stick you finger into the potting mix up to the first knuckle. If it's dry down there, it's time to water. Water thoroughly so some comes out the drainage hole.
Houseplants give us oxygen, they remove pollutants from our air and they give us visual pleasure. They certainly don't ask for much in return!

Have a gardening question or a problem? Send it along to the Gazette gazette@telus.net and Karen will answer it in her column.

The Valley Neighbours Garden Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at Valley Neighbours on Sunset Boulevard in Turner Valley. The club welcomes new members. For information call Bea at 403–933–7131.
The Horticultural Club meets every second Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm. For information call Sheila at:
403–931–3989.