Houseplant of the Week: Aloe Vera Plant

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Aloe vera plants are succulents, meaning they store water in their leaves. This makes them very drought-tolerant and easy to care for. However, there are a few things you need to do to keep your aloe vera plant healthy and happy.

Light: Aloe vera plants need bright, indirect sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can scorch their leaves. If you’re growing your aloe vera plant indoors, place it in a south- or west-facing window. If you’re growing it outdoors, plant it in a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade.

Water: Aloe vera plants should be watered deeply, but infrequently. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. If you overwater your aloe vera plant, its roots will rot.

Soil: Aloe vera plants prefer well-draining soil. A cactus mix or a succulent mix is ideal. You can also add some sand or perlite to your regular potting soil to improve drainage.

Fertilizer: Your aloe vera don’t need much fertilizer. Feeding once a month during the spring and summer is all they need.

The Peace Lily

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This week, we take a look at Spathiphyllum, better known as the “Peace Lily,” a great example of a spadix type of plant, where a spike of tiny little flowers is encased in a curved leaf-like structure known as a spathe. Peace Lilies are sometimes called Spathe flowers.

Besides being quite beautiful, Peace Lilies are valued as houseplants because they are easy to take care of and can acclimate to lower levels of light.

Peace Lilies symbolize purity and innocence and are often given as a gift to those who have suffered a loss, as the white lily represents the rebirth of the soul.

Caring for Your Peace Lily

Peace lilies are tropical plants, so they like warm temps, moist soil and high humidity.

  • Try not to put them near a cold, drafty window. A nice cozy room with indirect light will make them feel at home.
  • They will put up with dry soil for a little while, but eventually, their leaves will start to brown if neglected, so keep that soil moist. On the other hand, don’t overwater!
  • Northern Arizona is a dry place, so mist their leaves on occasion for increased humidity.
  • Peace lilies are not big eaters, so you only have to fertilize occasionally – about every six weeks, particularly to encourage growth in the spring and summer.

Our Commitment to Community

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As gardeners and plant enthusiasts, we’ve always believed in the importance of “cultivating” the good in our community. When you sow seeds of kindness and commitment in the place you live, your community will grow and thrive, just like a flower bed or vegetable patch.

Over the next few weeks, Warner’s Nursery will be supporting two community efforts to benefit our friends and neighbors (including some four-legged ones) in Flagstaff.

On Sunday, June 25, we’ll be the venue sponsor for High Country Humane’s annual Paws For The Perfect Taste fundraiser. Join us in our beautiful nursery for an evening of savory appetizers and delicious desserts, beer and wine tastings, entertainment and live and silent auctions.

Since the beginning of this year, High Country Humane has been bursting at the seams with approximately 1,000 intakes of dogs, cats and other animals. It’s going to be a busy summer for the shelter, which needs your help now more than ever.

Tickets are $75 a person ($140 a couple) and benefit the High Country Humane animal shelter. You can get tickets here for what promises to be an enjoyable evening. Don’t miss this chance to have a blast while helping a good cause!

The following week, on July 1, we’ll be having our annual Summer Blood Drive in the parking lot of the nursery. Donors will give blood inside Vitalant’s comfy donation bus. Giving blood is vital during the summer, when donations drop off as people go on vacation and that’s particularly true during the Independence Day holiday weekend.

In addition to doing good, you’ll be eligible for a whole slew of rewards and goodies for participating in the blood drive:

  • You’ll be automatically entered to win a 2023 VW Tiguan S, donated by the Valley Volkswagen dealers.
  • You’ll receive a voucher from Culver’s for a free pint of fresh frozen custard.
  • You can enter a drawing for a chance to win one of two $50 gift certificates at Warner’s Nursery.
  • You’ll get a coupon for 15% off regularly priced items at Warner’s Nursery.
  • You can get a special Vitalant cooler, redeemable by email.
  • And all donors receive a complimentary cholesterol test!

Please make your appointment to give the gift of life by clicking HERE.

We hope we’ll see you at one of the events we are hosting and thank you in advance for helping us cultivate a better community.

Happy Gardening,
Misti

Houseplant of the Week: Peperomia ‘Owl Eyes’

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Peperomias are tropical plants from the pepper family that are popular as indoor plants because they are easy to take care of and come in an almost endless array of colors and varieties.

There are well over a thousand subspecies, which most commonly come with green, purple, red, silver and variegated leaves. The most popular include the Peperomia Scandens ‘Variegata’ also known as the “cupid peperomia” with its heart-shaped leaves; the P. argyreia, whose silver stripes against dark green leaves make it look like a watermelon skin; and the Peperomia obtusifolia, also known as the “baby rubber plant.”

Then there’s Peperomia polybotry, the ‘Owl Eyes’ Peperomia, which features large, tear-shaped leaves marked by a white or yellowish center (the owl eye of the name), which we have this week at Warner’s Nursery.

Regardless of the look of your Peperomia, they tend to have the same needs.

Peperomia generally prefer medium to bright, indirect light, but they can tolerate low light relatively well. They can even flourish under florescent lights, which makes them popular office plants. Keep in mind, however, that if you have your Peperomia in a low-light situation, it will grow more slowly and will require less water.

Speaking of water, you’ll want to let your Peperomia dry out between waterings, and you’ll want to err on the side of underwatering your plant. It’s a succulent and those beautiful leaves retain water, so it will survive a missed watering or two. But Peperomias are quite susceptible to root rot, so overwatering can be a problem.

Because of this tendency towards root rot, you’ll want to plant your Peperomia in a pot with good drainage and use a light, well-draining soil for your plant. 

Warm Season Veggies

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By definition, warm season vegetables are the ones that really can’t stand the cold – things like tomatoes and eggplants and melons. Because they are so susceptible to cool temperatures, they are typically planted outdoors only after the last frost of the spring.

Which is a problem here in northern Arizona. By the time we have the last frost of spring, it’s practically summer, which can make things challenging, but not impossible. With a few modifications, you can harvest homegrown goodness even when the weather is a little unpredictable.

Here are a few pointers to being a veggie champion at 7000 feet.

Understand your microclimate

Depending on your neighborhood, the greater Flagstaff area ranks anywhere from a “5” to a “6a” in the USDA hardiness zone, and a couple of miles can make a huge difference here. The base of Mount Elden, part of an “inversion zone” where the air temperatures above ground are warmer, is likely to get several more weeks of optimal growing time than a garden located in Fort Valley or Baderville.

Which means if you only have 80 frost-free days, you might want to avoid that squash that needs 100 days to mature. Warner’s Nursery has planting guides that can help you understand your area and which veggies will do best in your garden, but in general, you should look for seeds that only require a short growing season or are “cold hardy.”

Plant properly

Whether you are starting from seed or using transplants, there are a few guidelines that will promote veggie success. For seeds, mark out straight rows for easier cultivation and follow the directions for seed spacing on the package. Make sure they are planted at the proper depth (for example, lettuce and carrots only need ½ inch of soil coverage, while beans and peas require up to 2 inches).

Transplants need tenderness as they move from their pots or flats into your garden. Don’t let them dry out before you get them in the ground, and water thoroughly before taking them out of their containers. Be careful with the roots and disturb them as little as possible (although if the roots are all bundled up or “pot bound” you might want to tease them out a bit). Dig a hole large enough so the plant sits slightly deeper than it was in the container, and cover with soil, making sure there are no air pockets. You might want to use a starter solution and we can help you with the best selection for your plants.

Water well

Irrigate to keep your soil moist and be consistent about it. Excessive fluctuations in soil moisture can adversely affect the growth and quality of your vegetables. Frequency of watering will depend on several factors: Is your vegetable shallow- or deep-rooted? Is it a large or small plant? And of course, what’s the weather been like? If we’re in monsoon season, the need to water is less urgent. 

Prepare to protect your plants

Hard as it might be to believe, your sweet tomatoes, cute carrots and beaming Brussel sprouts have enemies – unpredictable frosts, bullying weeds, pests and diseases.

Your biggest ally in this is various season extenders. The most popular ones are tubes of water that go around the plant. They absorb heat during the day and keep your plant toasty at night. Additionally, they warm up the soil under your plant, promoting good root growth and lessening the chance of shock, which will make your plant stronger.

At Warner’s, our experts can provide you with more information on season extenders and other plant protections, such as frost blankets, plant treatments or weed suppressants to shield your veggies.

Enjoy

All this work leads up to the biggest reward of your veggie garden: the harvest. In my humble opinion, no purchase from the produce section can match your homegrown vegetable garden – the taste, the smell, the knowledge that your veggies are free from harmful chemicals, and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Happy Gardening!
Misti

Houseplant of the Week: Piggyback Plant

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Tolmiea menziesii is an unusual houseplant for a lot of reasons. First of all, unlike most houseplants, which tend to originate from tropical areas, this plant is a native of the Pacific Northwest. In its native environment, it’s a groundcover in forests along the coastline.

It also has an unusual way of growing leaves, with new leaves sprouting directly from the center of large, mature leaves at the point where the stem attaches to the leaf. That’s where the plant gets its more common nickname, the piggyback plant.

Caring for Your Piggyback Plant

  • Humidity & Temperature: This is a plant that likes conditions that mimic its Pacific Northwest roots. It thrives with high humidity, so a pebble tray should be used to make it happy. It also likes cooler temps, ranging from 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Light: Piggybacks prefer indirect light.
  • Water: Keep your plant consistently moist all year long and mist if your home gets dry.
  • Fertilizer: Feed once a month during the plants growing season in the spring and summer.

Houseplant of the Week: Ligustrum Bonsai

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The Ligustrum genus is part of the olive family of plants and has more than 50 evergreen and deciduous subspecies and cultivars with a diversity of leaf colors and forms. It’s an excellent choice for gardeners who are new to cultivating bonsai plants.

Caring for Your Ligustrum Bonsai

  • Light: This is a plant that loves its sun, so make sure that you position your plant where it will receive full sun for at least part of the day.
  • Water: Getting the balance right for your bonsai involves making sure they get enough water without overwatering. Make sure they are in well-draining soil to avoid root rot. Saturate thoroughly and then allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
  • Humidity: Bonsai like higher levels of humidity, so you can supplement your watering scheduled by misting the leaves every few days.
  • Temperature: This plant needs warmth as well as sunlight. Typically room temperature is ideal, but avoid placing your plant near a window or door when the temperatures drop.

Houseplant of the Week: Goldfish Plant

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It’s interesting how many plants have common names that remind you of creatures that live in the water. Heliconias are known as “lobster claws” because their flowers have that shape. Then there’s the String of Dolphins. Today’s fish-as-a-plant is the Goldfish Plant.

Columnea gloriosa features dark green leaves and flowers of red, orange and gold that do look a lot like goldfish.

They are an easy plant to grow and care for and are also great for propagating. Plus, they make quite a splash (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves) with their colorful flowers.

Caring for Your Goldfish Plant

Goldfish plants want a lot of light, but direct sun will burn them so make sure it’s indirect. They also grow well under artificial light in the winter.

These plants love humidity, so make sure that their soil never fully dries out and if you have them in a hanger, mist them on a pretty regular basis. (And mist them with room temperature water, not cold, which can damage the leaves). If you want a really happy Goldfish plant, you might want to consider the bathroom, where they’ll thrive on the steam from the shower!

You’ll want to fertilize on a regular basis during the growing season (spring and summer). Controlled release pellets are a good choice.

Other tips

  • This is a long-living plant, and will thrive if you repot it every couple of years.
  • You can easily propagate this plant. Pick a stem a few inches long without a flower bud and they will take root very easily.
  • Also look out for aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs as these are common pests on this tropical plant.

Perfect Perennials

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Perennials are the backbone of any garden.

They offer almost endless diversity in color and shape. You can plant them almost anywhere in your garden because there are perennials that love full sun and ones that are happier with shade. Perennials also range in when they bloom, so with some strategic planting, you can have color and beauty all season long. Their root systems are also smaller than roots and shrubs, so there’s less root mass to keep watered.

In addition, perennials are also quite versatile. They are equally suited to garden beds or containers. In fact, here’s a cute little planter I did, all with shade-loving perennials:

Here are some of the many perennials we have in stock right now at Warner’s Nursery:

In the sun-loving category, we have yarrow, hollyhock, dianthus, daylilly, guara, shasta daisy, rudbeckia, gaillardia, echinacea, catmint, anise hysop, penstemon, winecups, coreopsis, lupine, scabiosa, sedum, creeping thyme, veronica, gallium, delphinium.

For the shady parts of your garden, try hosta, heuchera, lamium, foxglove, columbine, vinca, campanula, myosotis, astilbe, dicentra (also known as fern-leaf bleeding heart) and brunnera.

The one thing all perennials share – in addition to coming back year after year – is that they need to be planted right to thrive. Here’s how: 

  • Dig a saucer-shaped hole that is twice the width of the root ball of your plant and equally as deep. (It is better to plant a little above ground level than too deep.)
  • Amend your soil by mixing parts of the soil from the hole and a good planting mix (we recommend our own Supreme Planting Mix) and place some of this in the bottom of the hole.
  • Water your plant thoroughly before gently removing it from its container. (Support the stem of the plant with one hand as you turn the pot upside down and tap the bottom of it, sliding the pot away from the plant. Don’t yank!)
  • Tease out the roots of the plant gently.
  • Place the plant into its hole and backfill with your pre-mixed soil.
  • Water thoroughly with some Fertilome Root Stimulator to prevent transplant shock and promote vigorous root growth.

Once your perennial is planted, watering is vital. During that first week, water twice a day, then for the next two weeks, water once a day. After the first month, you should be fine watering every other day until winter, when you can water every three or so weeks during dormancy. 

After the first year, your perennial will be fine with watering twice a week from spring through fall and once per month during winter.

If you have any questions about perennials – or just want to see our awesome collection of these amazing plants – please stop by the nursery. 

Happy Gardening!
Misti

Spring Prep After a Long Winter

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When our record snowfall melted away recently, I was finally able to see the ground and plants in my yard and realized that after this really long winter, spring prep looks different this year.

For example, the amount of snow we saw in the past few months – and the sheer heaviness of it – have caused some issues that you’ll probably have to deal with before you can really get your garden ready for spring planting.

Trees and shrubs probably saw more damage than in past winters, which means that proper pruning is going to be essential this year. Here are a few reminders as you pull out your loppers and shears:

  • Early spring is the perfect time for pruning because most plants are breaking dormancy, meaning that wounds will heal faster. However, if you have a spring blooming tree or shrub, you should ideally prune them before they bud. Otherwise, wait until after blooming has finished.
  • Never prune more than one third of the plant. Prune more than that and you run the risk of damaging the plant or at least stunting its growth.
  • Remember that there’s no such thing as “recreational pruning” with conifers, because they don’t replace growth like other trees and shrubs. Evergreen pruning should always be done for a particular reason, such as removing dead or diseased branches or controlling the size of a tree threatening to grow into other plants, buildings, or utility wires.

Other things to look out for due to the excess snow are fungal issues such as “snow mold” on lawns and garden areas. The best way to deal with this is to rake up old matted down leaves and pine needles and treat for fungus if necessary.

And if you didn’t trim back your perennials last fall, you’ll definitely want to do it now. Shoulder surgery last year meant I couldn’t winterize my garden as much as I wanted to. Normally, if I don’t cut back my perennials, the dead foliage just breaks off. But with the extra moisture this year, much of it is still attached to the plants and is just limp and soggy. This foliage needs to be removed and it will expose new growth ready to emerge.

Once you clean up your yard, remove broken branches, trim your perennials, and bag up old leaves and pine needles, your garden will be ready for you to amend the soil with mulch and compost and then add new plants for the new season. 

If you have any questions about spring clean up – and particularly if you are unsure about the best way to prune a tree or shrub with broken branches – please stop by the nursery. Bring a picture if you can, and we’ll give you some expert advise and direction. 

Happy Gardening!
Misti