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Thursday, May 8, 2025

Gladiolus

Gladiolus is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family (Iridaceae), known for its tall flower spikes and large, showy blooms. Here's a quick to get you started:

🌸 Key Features

  • Common name: Sword lily
  • Height: 2–5 feet tall, depending on the variety
  • Bloom time: Mid to late summer
  • Colors: Wide range — red, pink, yellow, white, purple, green, and bi-color varieties

    🌱 Growing Gladiolus

  • Zones: Hardy in USDA zones 7–10. In colder climates, corms need to be lifted and stored over winter.
  • Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile
  • Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight)
  • Planting depth: 4–6 inches deep
  • Spacing: 6 inches apart
  • Staking: Tall varieties may need support

    🌾 Tips for Success

  • Succession planting: Plant a few corms every 2 weeks in spring for continuous blooms.
  • Watering: Keep soil evenly moist during growth but avoid waterlogging.
  • Fertilizer: Use a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) when planting and again when buds form.
  • Cut flowers: Gladiolus make excellent cut flowers — harvest when the lower three buds on the spike are just opening.

    ❄️ Winter Care (Cold Climates)

  • After first frost, lift the corms, dry them for a week, then store them in a cool, dry place (like a basement or garage) in a breathable container.

    Here's a guide to help you pick gladiolus varieties based on your preferences — whether you're looking for color, size, bloom time, or purpose (e.g., cut flowers or garden borders):

    🎨 By Color

    Red:

  • 'Red Majesty' – Rich, velvety red, dramatic in bouquets.
  • 'Espresso' – Deep burgundy-red with a sophisticated tone.
    Pink:
  • 'Fiorentina' – Soft pink with ruffled petals, romantic and classic.
  • 'Frizzled Coral Lace' – Coral-pink with frilly edges, very showy.
    White/Cream:
  • 'White Prosperity' – Pure white, elegant, tall spikes.
  • 'Green Star' – Pale greenish-white; very unique.
    Purple:
  • 'Purple Flora' – Bold purple; great contrast with yellows and whites.
  • 'Plum Tart' – Deep plum, nearly black in some lights.
    Yellow/Orange:
  • 'Nova Lux' – Bright yellow, great for cheerful borders.
  • 'Princess Margaret Rose' – Orange with red and yellow streaks.

    🌿 By Use or Style
    For Cut Flowers:
    Look for tall, straight spikes with long vase life:

  • 'Traderhorn' (red with white throat)
  • 'Peter Pears' (apricot-peach)
  • 'Spic and Span' (coral-pink with orange undertones)

    Compact Gardens or Containers:
    Try dwarf or miniature gladiolus:

  • Gladiolus nanus ‘Atom’ – Red with a white edge, only about 2 feet tall
  • Charm' Series – Includes smaller varieties for pots or tight spaces

    For Bold or Tropical Looks:
    Use hot color combos like:

  • 'Black Velvet' – Dark maroon-black
  • 'Zizanie' – Red with striking white splashes

    ⏰ By Bloom Time
    Early bloomers (start in June):

  • 'Advance Red'
  • 'Glamini Mix' (a dwarf early series)
  • Mid to late season (July–August):
  • Most traditional hybrids fall into this category, like 'Peter Pears' or 'White Prosperity'

  • Monday, May 5, 2025

    Chinese Money Plant, Pilea peperomioides

    The Chinese Money is a popular houseplant known for its:

  • Round, coin-shaped leaves (hence the "money" name)
  • Fast growth under the right conditions
  • Ease of propagation through offshoots or “pups”

    Basic Care Guide

    🌞 Light

  • Prefers bright, indirect light
  • Avoid direct sun, which can scorch the leaves
  • Can tolerate lower light but will grow slower

    💧 Water

  • Water when the top inch of soil feels dry
  • Don’t let it sit in soggy soil—good drainage is essential
  • Reduce watering in winter

    🌡️ Temperature & Humidity

  • Likes normal room temperatures (65–75°F / 18–24°C)
  • Doesn’t like cold drafts
  • Average humidity is fine, but it appreciates occasional misting

    🌱 Soil

  • Use a well-draining potting mix—a general houseplant soil with perlite works well

    🌿 Fertilizer

  • Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season (spring and summer)

    🌼 Propagation

  • Easily propagated from baby plants (pups) that grow from the base
  • Gently remove and pot them once they have a few leaves and some roots

    🚨 Common Issues

  • Drooping leaves: usually from overwatering or underwatering
  • Brown spots: possibly from sunburn or inconsistent watering
  • Leggy growth: not enough light

    Here are step-by-step tips for propagating a Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides), which is known for producing lots of offshoots (aka "pups"):

    🧪 Types of Pilea Pups You Can Propagate

  • Basal pups – grow from the roots at the base of the mother plant (most common).
  • Stem pups – grow on the stem or higher up (less common, but also propagatable).

    🌱 How to Propagate from Basal Pups

      ✅ What You’ll Need:
    • A clean, sharp knife or scissors
    • Small pot(s) with drainage holes
    • Well-draining potting mix (e.g., potting soil + perlite)
    • Optional: rooting hormone (not required, but can help)

      🪴 Step-by-Step:

    • Wait Until the Pup Is Ready
    • Let pups grow to at least 2–3 inches tall with several leaves.
    • Make sure they have their own root system (gently dig to check).
    • Separate the Pup
    • Use a clean knife or scissors to carefully cut the pup away, including some roots.
    • If it has no roots yet, you can still propagate, but it may take longer to establish.
    • Plant the Pup
    • Place it in a small pot with moist (not soggy) well-draining soil.
    • Press gently to stabilize the baby plant.
    • Care After Planting
    • Keep in a warm, bright spot with indirect light.
    • Water lightly and keep the soil consistently moist (not wet) for the first few weeks.

      💧 Optional: Water Propagation (for rootless pups)

        If the pup has no roots:
      • Place it in a small glass of water (just the base, not the leaves).
      • Keep in bright, indirect light.
      • Change water every few days.
      • After 2–4 weeks, once roots appear, transfer it to soil.

        🌟 Extra Tips

      • Don’t remove too many pups at once—let the mother plant recover.
      • Propagate in spring or early summer for best results.
      • Be patient! Newly potted pups may take a few weeks to start growing.