Indoor plants in January
He althy wintering
In January, we constantly review indoor wintering plants, such as fuchsia, Rantonetta nightshade, jasmine, whitewashed, shrub silvery, lantana and others. We water them very sparingly so that their roots do not dry out.
Water for the roots
Plants that are difficult to water because they grow in a pot with a very permeable substrate or in openwork baskets or other containers (e.g. some orchids or ferns), it is best to briefly immerse them in a bucket of water.
Soft water
Indoor plants that require soft watering include: anturim, begonia, camelia, citrus plants, gardenia, hydrangea, medinilla, myrtle, orchids, azaleas and ferns.Water hardness is caused by calcium carbonates and magnesium.The amateur water softening methods are simple: boil the water once or twice and let it cool down before use.
You can also pour it into containers and wait at least two days for it to stand.Another way: pour about 1 kg of acid peat into a linen or cotton bag, tie it and place it in a 5-7-liter watering can with water.After several hours, water the flowers with such water. Peat is replaced after two or three uses.
Decorative garden: prepare root cuttings
Winter is the right time to propagate perennials by root cuttings. This is possible in species that have the ability to produce adventitious buds on their roots. In weeds, this ability can sometimes be really troublesome.It can be seen well in the dandelion - if the plant is not pulled up with the whole root, it will quickly grow back from the fragment left in the substrate.
Preparation of root cuttings can be used, for example, in Eastern poppy seeds, St. Nicholas' Day, primroses and hearts. For this purpose, perennial stumps are dug out in November and pitted (e.g. in a cellar).They can also be dug up in winter, in periods of positive temperatures, but in autumn it is difficult to predict whether, for example, in January or February there will be no frost.The cuttings are suitable for root fragments of appropriate thickness.
Roots that only produce buds in the upper part are cut into 4-6 cm lengths and then placed vertically in boxes or pots with substrate (be careful with the polarity of the cuttings, do not stack them upside down ). In Japanese anemones, buds are produced along the entire length of the root, so they are propagated from fragments of 2-3 cm arranged horizontally. All seedlings are covered with a 1-2 cm layer of substrate.
Trees and shrubs: ornamental purple apple fruit
During winter walks in gardens or parks, we see the multicolored fruits of the purple apple tree lingering on the trees.They are small (up to 2.5 cm in diameter), set on a long stalk, usually with a hard calyx, and most importantly - extremely decorative (especially in spring during flowering).
Depending on the variety, the flowers take on a white, pink and purple color. Bred in Poland, e.g. 'Hedwigiae', 'Hoseri', 'Makowieckiana', 'Fryderyk Chopin', 'Justyna', 'Ola' or 'Rogów', differ in color and size of flowers and fruit. The varieties form small trees with a crown range of 3-6 m and a similar height.They grow well in a sunny position, in fertile soil.They look nice when planted individually and in groups.
Orchard: 5 trees +
Before we buy new fruit trees in spring, it is worth remembering what a really good nursery material should have. The appropriate quality of planted plants has a decisive influence on good yielding in the following years.The best saplings already in the nursery have pre-formed crowns. Often a straight guide is led out, from which the side branches extend evenly.
In the case of such a shaped crown, we can even resign from cutting the plant after planting it, which will certainly save a lot of trouble when forming a tree - especially in the first years of its growth.A tree of a good quality should also have a strong and he althy root system.It is good if there are thicker skeletal roots and a bundle of finer roots, because after planting, they will determine how quickly the plant takes root and will start to grow normally.
When buying a tree that will stay in the garden for a dozen or even several dozen years, it is worth choosing a reliable manufacturer and sometimes more expensive, but better material. Let's not forget that the quality of planted trees largely determines the high and quick yields.
Vegetable in January
It's high time to select varieties
If you have a sowing and planting plan prepared, you should consider the selection of varieties, as well as calculate the required amount of seed.
We test the seed quality
We can test seeds from the previous season by determining their germination capacity. If it is above 70%, the material will also be suitable for use this year.
Stock replenishment
We review fertilizers and check the expiry dates of plant protection products. If necessary, we purchase them.
Storing vegetables in the cellar
Regularly check the vegetables, throwing away the spoiled ones so that they do not infect he althy ones.Don't forget to ventilate the basement, especially when the temperature is slightly positive and the air humidity is high.
Growing mushrooms in the middle of winter
In winter, it is worth trying to cultivate mushrooms, such as oyster mushroom or other species, which are quite easy nowadays. The basis for the cultivation are small bales overgrown with mycelium.
