Over the years, I’ve discovered a variety of gardening procedures, ideas, whatever that work for me. Some were serendipity, and others were well thought out experiments. I imagine it is the same with other gardeners. Hopefully, the following will help you or give you ideas to try some experiments of your own.
Did you know the houseplant Jade blooms? I started moving my largest Jade plant outside to enjoy the summer sun and natural rain. In the fall, I moved it back inside, and it started putting out buds, which eventually opened into clusters of white flowers that lasted all winter. Around mid-February, they turn tan and eventually fall off. So, then I tried hanging my String of Pearls outside on the porch, and it also bloomed when back inside during the winter. Who knows how many other succulents will react the same way.
That brings me to cacti. They spend summers outside in direct sun and winters in the greenhouse that can get down into the upper 40s on the coldest winter nights. They started blooming outside in the summer. The difference between cacti and succulents is not only the time of year for blooming, but also the age of the cacti. Mine started sometime between 10 and 20 years. My fishhook cactus has yet to flower.
My Amaryllis was a deliberate experiment. I wanted to see what would happen if I planted the bulbs outside in the ground instead of leaving them in their pots. Of course, I dug them up in late August, let them dry out, and stored them in the basement, where they always spend about 4 months of rest time. At the beginning of January, I potted them up and started watering. Here are the changes. First, the bulbs increased in size. So much so, I needed a slightly larger container for the biggest one. Secondly, they are currently blooming with more flowers/stalk and more stalks/plant. The first one to bloom had 2 stalks, and a few weeks later sent up a third stalk. Finally, two of the three bulbs produced pups, which I hope to grow large enough to give away as gifts. My conclusion? Amaryllis bulbs get more nutrients from the soil than from a potting mix.
Living in the country, wildlife can be a big problem in spring when trying to get plants established. The worst, of course, is deer who, fortunately for me, must cross a lot of open fields to get to my yard. They are still problematic for emerging tulips in early spring, but deer/rabbit repellent helps. The real problem is smaller critters that chew and/or dig. I’ve tried various methods over the years and am currently using obstacles to make it harder to dig. I’ve discovered that leaving last year’s plant debris in situ is not only good for overwintering insects but can deter varmints in the spring. Instead of pulling the old, woody base growth from the soil, I leave it in place, cutting off everything above 3 inches of stubby stems. I then plant in between the skeletons. Now it is really crowded in the bed with no room for the animals to maneuver. If there is too much space between plants, I add anything I can think of to cover the ground. Wine corks work well because they roll when touched, which I think spooks the digger. Other fillers are rocks, decorative stones, etc.
The Master Gardeners are answering questions at 217-465-8585 or schiver@illinois.edu.
Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.