In the middle of January not a lot is going on outside in the home landscape. The Holiday tree may have been put up for bird shelter and the feeding stations kept full of bird seed and suet, cobs of corn for the squirrels and maybe a salt lick for other kinds of wildlife. Perennial beds covered in snow enjoy the protection from drying winter winds and the sun if we ever see sunny days anytime soon.
Inside the home is a bit different. Depending on your level of outdoor vegetable and flower gardening, there are catalogs to go over and lists to be made of vegetable and flower seeds to be ordered. If part of that winter gardening includes growing your own transplants, additional supplies may be needed like seedling flats or trays, heating mats, soilless media to start the seeds. These too can be mail ordered or done online. If a gardening fix is needed, make a trip to your favorite garden center or Greenhouse.
Just a reminder on starting seeds indoors: Read the seed packet label and do not start those seeds too early. The label will also provide instructions for proper way to germinate those seeds. Keeping the seeds too wet is often a downfall. It is good to order the seeds and supplies early so they are there when it is time to sow them.
Gardening indoors this time of year also includes keeping those houseplants healthy. In the darker days of winter, and by the way we just passed the half way mark, watering changes as those plants are just maintaining and not really growing. It is very easy to overwater and cause root rots in the pots. Clay pots are more forgiving and dry out quicker as they are porous. Plastic pots do not breath and the only route the water has is through the bottom drainage holes which can often times be blocked by circling roots.
Houseplant insects tend to be another problem. Set outside for the summer, winds, rains and predator insects keep them in check. In the winter indoors none of those conditions exist and houseplant insect populations can really explode this time of year. One of more common insects is the spider mite. When the infestations are bad you can see webbing at the margins of the leaves and down in the axils where the leaf attaches to the stem. Another visual clue is that the margins of the leaves will yellow and brown due to the mite feeding on the tender cells at the edge of the leaves. Putting the plants in the sink or tub and using a strong force of water, dislodging the insects work well. Wiping down both sides of the leaves with a wet paper towel will do wonders too. A spray of insecticidal soap can also be used. These mites are very small and easy to miss, so this will need to be repeated in a week or two and until no evidence of new feeding can be seen.
About the author: Richard Hentschel’s expertise extends across several subject areas with specialties in lawn care, fruit tree production, woody ornamentals, and home and community gardening. During his 45-year career in horticulture and agriculture, Hentschel became a well-known and respected expert for commercial and homeowner audiences, industry organizations, and media. He retired from University of Illinois Extension in April 2022 with nearly 30 years of service as a Horticulture Specialist and Educator in northern Illinois.