Don’t forget winter watering! Unless rainfall or snow is abundant, be sure to provide deep watering for happy, healthy plants that are less stressed and less susceptible to disease and insects. Our expert tips will help you make the most of this Winter month, read on!

Plant Doctor Quips

Our South Virginia Plant Doctor, Steve Packer says, “Now that Winter is upon us you can still keep your gardening thumb green by planting a terrarium to enjoy inside your home. Begin with any type of clear glass vessel like a brandy snifter, large pickle jar, fish tank etc. Cover the bottom of your terrarium with a 1.5” layer of pebble or small stones. Next, add a thin layer of activated charcoal which will keep water clean and fight off any bacteria growth. Now go ahead and add Blue Ribbon Potting Soil, enough to cover the small root balls of the plants you will be planting. The fun part is adding small indoor plants which are readily available at any of our store locations. I like to plant carnivorous plants like Pitcher Plants or Venus fly Traps because they thrive in real moist locations like terrariums and they are real fun to look at. Water lightly and make sure to cover the top of terrarium with clear plastic or lid to keep the terrarium moist and humid. Be prepared to clip out any dead or diseased leaves and keep plants pruned back to prevent overgrowth.”

Our Moana Lane plant doctor, Jon Bruyn explains, “December is full of surprises for your landscape plants. Days of sunshine and days of snow. During those pleasantly sunny days, you can do gardening outside which can include purchasing and planting, raking, moving earth when it is not frozen, and so on. It is a very relaxing time with very little pressure to complete the project that day. There are a few things to avoid during these times. Handling plants when the air temperature is below forty degrees in the morning can cause cellular damage and watering plants when the ground is actually frozen will be not effective. With those issues, it is best to just wait for another day.“

Our South Virginia Plant Doctor, Jeni Lowery says, “Decorating with cut greens and wreaths is a lovely addition to your winter décor. To keep them looking fresh, make new cuts to the stems using clean, sharp pruners and dip in water or spray with a spray bottle the freshly cut ends with a spray bottle. Wilt Pruf is a great product to keep your wreaths and greens vibrant through the season. If used on Blue Spruce, it will turn the needles green temporarily. Spray to the point of run-off and allow Wilt Pruf to dry outside for 3-4 hours during the daytime. This will apply a thin coating that will reduce moisture loss and keep them looking newer. One application lasts for 3 to 4 months.”

Our Pyramid Way Plant Doctor, Nick Macaluso says, “With days being much shorter than they are in the summer your house plants are going to require less water. Instead of watering on a set schedule, try to get into the habit of checking the soil before you water. Making sure the top two inches of soil is dry before watering is going to help prevent root rot. You can easily check the soil moisture with your index finger or stop by any of our locations to pick up a moisture meter.”

Bird Nerd, Annemarie Tillotson explains, “With colder days now upon us, birds are sure to be flocking to your feeders. Be sure to offer several varieties of seed and feeders to help keep the birds well fed with their preferred meal. Quick bites such as suet, bark butter bits, or mealworms offer a high fat treat for birds that may not frequent our feeders in the warmer months. Offer several kinds of seed stackables and cylinders to reduce the frequency of feeder refills, keeping you warm inside and the birds well supplied with fresh food. Consider enhancing feeding stations by adding a Wild Birds Unlimited perching branch to watch small birds (finches, chickadees, and sparrows) queue up for their next meal. Take the next step and maximize seed freshness by using a weather dome to cover seed during heavy rain or snow, ensuring the seed and birds stay dry for much longer.“

Our Moana Lane Plant Doctor, Rob Bouck explains, “As winter approaches, many of us increase our bird feeding efforts to ensure Northwest Reno’s avian population survives and thrives. Whether we realize it or not, the long-term health of our gardens, yards and outdoor spaces can be greatly assisted by our feathered friends. Birds play a crucial role in natural pest control by eating insects like caterpillars, beetles and aphids. They can also alter their diets to focus on an insect pest during an outbreak. To make your outdoor space more bird-friendly, consider planting some of our Moana trees, shrubs, and perennials that attract birds. Cone flowers, black-eyed Susan, serviceberry, viburnum, ornamental crabapples and pears are all excellent choices. By providing natural shelter and food choices, we can help birds help us.“

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 Melt 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.
  • 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.
  • Recycle your Christmas tree at one of the following KTMB locations: Bartley Ranch Regional Park (6000 Bartley Ranch Rd), Reno Sports Complex (2975 N. Virginia St), Shadow Mountain Sports Complex (3300 Sparks Blvd), and three Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Stations: Station 32 (1240 East Lake Blvd.), Station 46 (500 Rockwell Blvd.), and Station 440 (130 Nectar Street, Lemmon Valley), Thursday, December 26th through Tuesday, January 7th between 9 am and 4:30 pm. A minimum $5 donation is recommended. Learn more at ktmb.org
  • 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 of the stump and immediately plunge 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 a 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.

Pottery:

  • Always use pots with drainage holes.
  • Do not block, plug, or otherwise obstruct drainage holes.
  • Be sure to use a premium potting soil to ensure proper drainage; we recommend G&B Organics Blue Ribbon Blend Premium Potting Soil.
  • Do not attempt to move pots that are frozen to the ground.
  • Remove saucers during winter to ensure complete drainage.
  • Do not allow standing water to freeze inside pots.
  • Cover pots that are not in use — please note that pots which are planted with bulbs count as “in use.”
  • Although they are not required, using pot feet will further enhance drainage.

 Fountains:

  • Completely drain and remove pump.
  • Place absorbent material in fountain such as burlap or towels.
  • Either move fountain into garage or other protected area or cover empty dried fountain so that no water can accumulate and freeze.
  • Moisture underneath the fountain can cause damage as it will freeze from below. Make sure fountain is covered to ensure no moisture can accumulate under the fountain (such as run off from melting snow).
  • 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 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, Buttons the Snowman, 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, dove, 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.
  • 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, on a patio 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.
  • Schedule supplemental winter watering for your trees and shrubs by hand or mobile water truck from Landscape Services call 775-825-0602 x104.
  • 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 plantdoctors@moananursery.com.