|
Normally, from mid November through mid February, the hibiscus gardener has very little to do. However, if there is a cold front threatening—that can change very quickly and dramatically—depending on how many plants you have and where you live in relation to the Gulf. So usually, in January, other than keeping cold protection material handy and listening to weather forecasts, there is not much to do.
Of course, there will be blooms to pick during periods of warm weather. We don’t consider that "gardening" since we equate gardening with work, enjoyable or not, and gathering blooms is pure pleasure.
While January is not our driest month it is still part of the dry season. We will therefore still have to water our plants as needed – weekly? We could have a rain that would bring about a month’s normal total in one day, but that’s more the exception than the rule. With January’s usually dry weather may come spider mites – unless it is also quite cold. Examine leaves with your fingers for a sandy feeling and/or use a hand lens. If they are there, at this time of year, use something containing acephate (the active ingredient in Orthene, which is no long on the market) or some other systemic labeled for spider mites.
Some might suggest fertilizing very lightly in January. This would be meant as a maintenance move—just enough to keep the plants healthy, but not enough to make new growth. It’s our feeling that plants will do quite well for three months or so without additional fertilizer. Particularly since the weather is cool enough during November, December and January that not much growth is taking place. Therefore, we continue to tread the path of "no fertilizer". Somewhat the same path takes us to "no pruning", which encourages growth, during the winter months, A rowdy plant that slaps you in face (or some such) every time you pass will have to be dealt with, no matter what time of year it is.
Some of those oak leaves you will probably be raking could be used for mulch and are certainly candidates for the compost pile.
While the plants we cultivate in our garden grow very slowly during the winter months, some weeds seem to love the cool weather. Guess when one says there isn’t much to do in the garden, that doesn’t include weeding—the eternal pain in the—back.
December February
|
