Pine Ridge Garden Club news

by Helen Nicolaou

As another gardening season has ended, all too quickly. You may be tempted to save some of those less tender plants, from your summer gardens/planters, and bring them inside for the winter.

A few tips to keep plants looking their best, through the winter, will begin with minimizing insects.

Some insects tag onto your plants and are now inside your cozy home. Common houseplant insects are aphids, spider mites, fungus knats and whiteflies. Look for signs of spots or specks, especially on new growth and leaves. A change in leaf colour, texture or misshapen leaves are a sign to take action.

Begin with making a solution of a mild dish soap, such as ivory, with water, and gently wipe down the leaves. Then use an insecticidal soap spray, followed by rinsing with plain water.

As there may be bugs and larvae in the soil, you can treat this by removing the top ¼” of soil and replacing it with fresh indoor plant soil. Let the soil dry out for approximately one week, then slowly water the plant soil with one part hydrogen peroxide to three parts water solution, to kill off fungus knats. Fungus knats are a sign the soil is too wet. Plants do better when you let the soil dry out between watering.

Potted plants will show signs of distress if root bound. Re-pot them when roots are visible from the bottom, the soil is hard, and when watering, the water comes quickly out the bottom. Choose a pot the next size up and use a good quality potting soil, for indoor plants. For more information check Sheridannuseries.com houseplants and Gardening TLC

Our Tuesday, November 5th meeting, for our Dessert Fundraiser, was very well attended. Many enjoyed the delicious assortment of homemade offerings of pies, cakes, squares, tarts, cream puffs and cookies.

Members also enjoyed the presentation, from Ingrid Jenssen, Noreen Blythe and Tanya Bignal, on “Creating Winter Interest in the Garden.” Planting Ornamental food gardens and ornamental grasses will create food sources and much needed shelter in the winter, for birds, small mammals and beneficial insects. Native shrubs, such as ninebark and paperbark maple, create multi-season interest, producing flowers, fall fruit and unique exfoliating bark.

Our 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held Tuesday, December 3rd, at 6:30 p.m. This is our final meeting for another successful season of growing and gardening. We will be enjoying the “Sweet and Savoury Buffet” on this evening which includes our year end Election of Officers, Awards, The Photo Competition Display and Door Prizes. See you there.

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