We Ma de It!

By Susie Klepinger Michiana Master Gardener

May is finally here, and we are at last opening our windows to let fresh air circulate during the extended light hours. Except for our winter performing friends, the rest of our collection is beginning to wake up and grow in earnest. Now is the time to begin to repair whatever damage the inside isolation has caused.

Start your spring clean-up by dusting or washing the leaves, pruning unneeded branches and removing injured or diseased areas. This process is cathartic for me, resulting in instant gratification.

Plant disease may begin with a small discolored circle which soon encompasses the entire leaf. It can be a bacterial, viral or fungal infection which may spread to the rest of the plant. If this happens, I first try to trim the area and rub cinnamon powder, an anti-fungal, along the cut. If the disease progresses or appears elsewhere, I discard the plant. Check new purchases carefully and isolate as needed.

Insects sneak into the stem crevices, undersides of leaves and sometimes blatantly in plain sight during the winter months. There are numerous critters, but my nemeses are mealybugs, spider mites and scale. They suck the nutrients from the plant’s sap and excrete sticky honeydew on both plants and furniture.

Mealybugs appear wrapped in a white, cottony material. They can be eradicated by touching with a Q-Tip dipped in rubbing alcohol. Sometimes a brisk spray of water will suffice.

Spider mites also love our winter conditions. They appear as pin heads that can leave a trail of polka-dotted looking damage. One can tell by placing a piece of white paper under the leaf and tapping the top gently. If the tiny black spots move, you have spider mites. Usually a thorough washing of the leaves will work.

Scale looks like small shells wearing a suit of armor when attached to the leaf. Because of this protection, we need something to suffocate the insect underneath. Neem oil is a helpful organic insecticide for this mission. A watchful eye is the best insect and disease preventative and persistence is the best solution.

We have avoided fertilizing during the winter so as not to encourage growth, but now is the time to add nutrients to the soil. Use no more than half of the recommended dosage. Some people swear by fertilizing “Weakly, weekly.”

This is the best time of year for repotting those that need help. Go no larger than the next pot size as an oversized pot with no drainage holes is a major cause of root rot. I sometimes find a plant that has been struggling can actually benefit from being downsized. Let the root system make that determination for you.

If your plants go outside for the summer, be aware that inside and outside sun is much different. Acclimate gradually. Evening temperatures must remain above 50 degrees for safety.

Now, go and enjoy this beautiful new season. With all of your hard work and care, your plants will, too. n