Georgia Magazine - December 2011 - (Page 29)

web exclusive Discover the “Georgia Gold Medal Plant of the Month” on page 34B of the December 2011 web online issue, exclusive at www.georgiamagazine.org. It’s easy to root cuttings from impatiens in water. First, remove most of the leaves and all the ﬂowers (although they are shown in this picture). Put the cuttings in a glass of water, and keep them in bright light, but not direct sun. Change the water as needed to freshen it, and pot up the cuttings when roots form. larly. The cuttings should stay moist, but not so wet that moisture drips from inside the bag. You’ll know roots have formed when you can gently tug at the cuttings and feel resistance. Then it’s time to pot them up and keep them near a bright window or grow light until the weather is warm enough to move them outdoors. Cuttings of other plants will root in a glass of plain tap water, making it even easier to overwinter them. Try snippings of coleus, begonias, impatiens, Swedish ivy (Plectranthus), pothos and grape ivy. Pot them up when strong roots form. Many ferns can also make it through the winter with indoor care. LYNN COULTER Keeping tropicals growing If you have a sunny window and a room where the temperature stays 60 to 70 degrees, even at night, you may be able to keep tropical plants like bougainvillea, citrus, hibiscus and jasmine growing, and you may even get a few blooms. Otherwise, prune them back to ﬁt underneath your grow lights and give them 12 hours of light each day. Overwintering bulbs, corms and tubers If your area hasn’t had a hard freeze yet, you may be able to save your begonias, elephant ears, dahlias, ginger, sweet potato vines, caladiums, cannas and calla lilies by digging up their bulbs, corms or tubers. Cut away their foliage and wrap them in dampened newspaper or peat moss. Label them, put them in black plastic garbage bags, and store them in a dark place where the temperatures remain around 40 to 50 degrees all winter. Check them monthly, and if they’re drying out, mist the newspaper or peat moss with a little water. You can move them back into the garden when spring arrives. Lynn Coulter, of Douglasville, is the author of “Gardening with Heirloom Seeds” (UNC Press) and “Little Mercies” (B&H Books). 29 When preparing your garden for the winter, remember to drain outdoor fountains and hoses. Store clay and ceramic pots in a garage or shed, if possible. If they remain outside, turn them upside down and cover the drainage holes with stones or broken pottery to keep out rainwater that might freeze and crack them. December 2011 More online at www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - December 2011

Georgia Magazine - December 2011
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Georgia News
Picture This?
Calendar of Events
Currents
Magical Nights, Holiday Lights
Between the Covers
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Georgia Cooks
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - December 2011