Don’t forget winter watering! Unless rainfall is abundant, be sure to provide deep watering for happy, healthy plants that are less stressed and less susceptible to disease and insects. Read on for more timely gardening tips!

Plant Doctor Quips

Nick Macaluso, Plant Doctor at our Pyramid Way store, explains, “Poinsettias are a great way to add some color to your indoor plant space. They can be a little hard to care for if you are not familiar with them. Poinsettias like a lot of light so making sure they are in a nice sunny spot will keep them happy. These plants do not like to dry out. You will have to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. This can be challenging but I would recommend that you let the top inch dry out before watering again. Oftentimes, the plants will be placed in a decorative wrap, make sure to take them out when watering so your plant doesn’t sit in water. You may have heard that poinsettias are extremely toxic, this is not the case. While they are toxic they are only mildly toxic and will, in most cases, only cause mild irritation. Most pets will not be able to eat enough to cause serious damage, it is always a good idea to keep them out of reach just in case. If you have any questions about caring for your new holiday houseplant feel free to come in and see us, we are always happy to help!”

Steve Packer, Plant Doctor at our S. Virginia store, explains, “Reviewing your garden each year is one of the best ways to improve your garden results season after season. Make a record in your garden journal of when, what and where you planted. Which plants thrived and which ones struggled. Make note of pest and disease issues including time of year and plants affected, then plan preventive measures for next year. Record how your drip/spray irrigation performed and consider water system updates. Finally, try planting one or two new plants suited to Reno’s climate, like a cold hardy fig or a Dwarf Spice Zee Nectaplum. ”

Jeni Ware, Plant Doctor at our S. Virginia store, says, “Many people like to use a containerized evergreen tree as their Christmas tree. Please be aware to only have the tree inside your home for no more than 7 consecutive days. They can become stressed if they come out of their ‘dormancy’ in a warmer environment. Be sure to acclimate them slowly (placing them in a garage or shed- somewhere the temperature isn’t as warm as your home, but not as cold as nighttime temperatures) before planting into possibly frozen ground. I always use Superthrive to help with transplant shock, and for these trees it would be extremely valuable and can be applied once a week. Also, be conscientious of winter-watering: if we have another mild winter like last year, please give your trees about 5 gallons of water every 3-4 weeks if we haven’t received precipitation or snow. Giving this TLC can preserve your live tree and you can watch it grow throughout the years.“

Jacob Burgess from our Moana Lane location explains, “December is the time for conifers and evergreens. The Holiday season brings forth a renewed love for firs, cedars, pines, and everything evergreen. This is the time of year where you can get a good gauge on what you want to see in your winter landscape. Now that most of your plants have died back or gone dormant, your eyes will focus on the splashes of green, blue, and silver that our evergreens provide. Use this winter to plan for the next, by figuring out good spots for future plantings of evergreen trees and shrubs. And as always, make sure you come down to one of our stores so that we can help guide you with your planning and purchasing of gorgeous evergreens. “

Emily Middleton, Annemarie Tillotson explains, “If you haven’t already, now is a wonderful time to start your indoor winter bulbs! These make wonderful holiday gifts and are so easy to grow, so if you want to brighten your home for the holidays or want gift inspiration for the season look no further! Amaryllis and paperwhites come in lots of different colors and sizes, and you can grow these in water or soil which makes planting them extremely versatile. Grab a decorative pot and fill with soil, or use a glass vase or bowl and top with some decorative rock and water to get those roots started. Place the bulbs so that the roots are facing the growing medium (pointing down), and allow them to root in a darker, cooler location in your home like a garage to start. After a few weeks, you will see roots and shoots a’plenty, which is your sign to bring them out for display in a bright spot where they will really shine and develop lots of flowers. I recommend fertilizing with a high phosphorus liquid or granular fertilizer to give bulbs the best start and maximize their flowering – fish bone meal is a great choice. Once your bulbs are done flowering, wait until the greens die back to cut them and remember that while paperwhites only last one season, you can get an amaryllis to bloom year after year!“

Bird Nerd, Annemarie Tillotson explains, “Did you know that birds burn through ~75% of their fat reserves every winter night to stay warm? This makes offering high fat and protein foods critical to their survival. Keep feeders stocked with suet, bark butter, sunflower seeds, or Winter SuperBlend. For extra help, hang roosting pockets on nearby trees or ledges to act as temporary overnight protection from the harsh elements. Natural solutions include planting evergreens like Junipers, which provide berries and shelter for incoming wildlife.“

December
Moana Nursery High Desert Gardening
Timely Tips

  • Be sure all leaves and twigs are removed from your lawn before our next snowfall.
  • If voles have been a problem, apply Bonide MoleMax to those areas they typically frequent before the next snowfall. Bonide MoleMax acts as a repellent and will protect the plant material in the treated zones.
  • Try to avoid walking on frozen grass; it can cause damage that may not be repaired until spring.
  • Mulch perennial beds & roses now if you haven’t done so with 2 to 4 inches of G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner.
  • Avoid using salt-based, de-icing products in or around garden areas for snow removal. Moana recommends Sierra Blue Snow & Ice Melter which is friendly to the environment, pets and plants.
  • Check ponds for branches, leaves and other debris deposited by our seasonal high winds and remove them.
  • Recycle your Christmas tree at one of 3 KTMB locations: Bartley Ranch Regional Park (6000 Bartley Ranch Rd), Reno Sports Complex (2975 N. Virginia St), Shadow Mountain Sports Complex (3300 Sparks Blvd), Friday, December 26th through Sunday, January 11th between 9 am and 4:30 pm. A minimum $5 donation is recommended. Learn more at ktmb.org.
  • Continue to water newly planted trees and shrubs, especially evergreens, when there is a thaw and there has been no precipitation for three weeks.
  • Water existing trees and shrubs, especially evergreens when there has been no precipitation for three weeks and there is a thaw. This is necessary for plants in containers every two weeks.
  • Light pruning of deciduous trees and shrubs can be done this month. Wait until late winter or very early spring before buds break to do heavy pruning. Immediately prune back any branches damaged by snow and ice.
  • Fruit trees should also be sprayed with Bonide All Seasons Horticultural Oil Concentrate mixed to the dormant concentration to control insects such as white fly, spider mite, aphids and codling moths. Spray early on a warmer day so the oil and water have time to evaporate before the temperature drops.
  • To protect the bark of young trees and older trees that may be susceptible to winter sunscald & frost damage to the south and southwest sides of their bark, wrap their bark in the coldest months of the year. Use a light colored and flexible tree wrap from a few inches above the ground to just below the lowest limbs. From late December through mid-March this will help prevent damage from extreme cold and fluctuations in temperature. Leaving the wrap on year ‘round will provide habitat for pests, so make a note to take the wrap off when pea and potato planting time comes, around St. Patrick’s Day in the Truckee Meadows.
  • Remove heavy snow loads from evergreen branches by gently sweeping snow off with a broom. If branches have been anchored to the ground, gently lift them from underneath with a broom. Avoid beating tree branches with any heavy tools.
  • Allow any ice that accumulates on tree branches to melt. Cracking ice with heavy objects should be avoided.
  • To protect broadleaf evergreens like rhododendron and photinia planted in exposed areas from drying winds, apply Wilt-Pruf this month and again in January or February.
  • Plant paperwhites and amaryllis for holiday color.
  • When choosing a Christmas tree, select one with firm needles that don’t drop off when the tree is raised up a few inches and dropped to the ground. The bottom of the stump should be moist with some sap present. Cut two inches off the stump and immediately plunge the tree into a bucket of warm water. Before bringing the tree inside spray with Wilt-Pruf to help prevent the needles from drying out, however do not spray on living Christmas trees with blue or silver in their needles because the wilt stop can remove that color pigment. Make sure the stand is full of water each day. If left without water, the tree will form a seal which prevents it from taking up any water. Add SUPERthrive (1/4 tsp. per gal. of water) or Fox Farm Boomerang (1 Tbs. per 1 gal of water) to every watering to enhance water uptake & promote tree vitality.
  • Remove decorative foil from bottom of gift plant pots or punch holes in the foil to allow water to properly drain.
  • Cyclamen prefer cool temperatures. Water them only when the soil dries out and avoid splashing the foliage. Remove faded flowers and stems promptly to keep the plant blooming.
  • Poinsettias require bright light away from heating vents, fireplaces and drafty windows or doors. Maintain even moisture; plants will wilt dramatically if allowed to dry out. Avoid getting water on leaves.
  • Azaleas require bright light, moist soil and occasional misting. Flowers will remain for months if old blooms are quickly removed, and the plant receives adequate moisture.
  • Monitor houseplants for insect problems that often occur when plants become stressed due to insufficient light, overheated rooms or improper watering and fertilizing techniques. Isolate new houseplants or gift plants for 10 days before adding to your existing plants. Pests to look for include spider mites, scale, mealybugs, whitefly and fungus gnats. Treat immediately. Moana recommends Hi-Yield Systemic Granules; use according to the label.
  • Stop fertilizing all non-blooming houseplants until March.
  • Continue to fertilize orchids with Grow More 20-20-20 granular or Fertilome Orchid Plant Food 9-7-9 liquid orchid fertilizer until they set flowers. Soak the orchid’s entire container in room temperature water for fifteen to thirty minutes once a week
  • For most houseplants, watering is less frequent than the summer month and it is best to run room temperature water through pots with each watering to leach salts from soil. For serious cases, try Fox Farm Bush Doctor Sledge Hammer which has been developed to correct soil salt toxicity.
    Examine foliage to ensure it doesn’t scorch from exposure to direct southern sun. Avoid getting water on leaves.
  • Fertilize miniature roses, geraniums, anthuriums and African violets.
  • Monitor water usage of all houseplants. Most require less water during winter months, though forced heat can dry out plants.
  • Put out seed cakes and cylinders to provide birds with a steady supply of food, even during the worst weather. Seasonal choices such as our Cranberry Fare Wreath, Christmas Bell, and Preston the Penguin add a festive touch to your bird feeding with additional convenience for you!
  • Feed high fat, high caloric content seeds to help satisfy birds’ cold weather needs. Nyjer®, sunflower, safflower, peanuts and Finch Blend all add needed calories, and all of our Plus blends include Bark Butter® Bits for added fat and protein.
  • For ground feeding birds, of which many will be returning to our yards with the onset of winter, offer millet and our Wild Birds Unlimited Quail Block. Although these seeds are high in protein and not high in fat, for juncos, towhees, White-Crowned sparrows, doves, and quail, this is the perfect food, as they efficiently process those calories into the fat reserves they need.
  • Keep bird feeders filled with clean, dry, high-quality seed, and make certain that your feeders are in good repair.
  • Install weather domes and rain guards to protect feeders from rain and snow.
  • Offer a suet cylinder for easy, no-fuss feeding of all-important fats for birds’ winter survival. It is essential for birds to eat plenty of calories each day in order to maintain their strength and fitness.
  • Offer pure suet cakes during cold weather. Our suet cakes are filled with the highest quality ingredients, and their high fat content helps them to resist freezing, keeping calories available to birds despite cold days and long winter nights.
  • SuperSuet Cakes and Mealworms attract insect-eating birds that are likely to be returning to our backyard feeders. This is a great time to observe warblers, kinglets, and varieties of woodpeckers we may not see in the warmer months.
  • Put out a heated birdbath to ensure a steady supply of water. Remember, birds still need to bathe even in winter to keep their feathers conditioned for insulation and flight, in addition to their need for clean, fresh drinking water.
  • Still have hummingbirds around? Refer to Moana’s Nature News for helpful tips.
  • Store bird food in a sealed container and keep in a cool dry place to prevent spoilage.
  • Install a customized Wild Birds Unlimited bird feeding station where you can easily watch the birds it attracts. It can be installed in the ground or on a deck.
  • Our Seasonal Color Team can help you with custom containers, annual planting beds or a simple refresh of your existing garden. Schedule a free consultation today!
  • Need help with your indoor plants? Contact our Interior Plant Services team. They can help you design, install, and maintain your indoor plants! Want a WOW plant presentation? Ask about installing a LIVING PLANT WALL! Examples of plant walls are available to see at both our Moana Lane and Pyramid Way locations.
  • Our expert Plant Doctors can help you with your high desert gardening;
    • Diagnose disease & insect problems on trees, shrubs & lawns;
    • Identify existing plants in your landscape and how to care for them;
    • Provide plant placement for DIY customers.
    • Stop by any location to ask questions or email plantdoctor@moananursery.com.