Chicago Botanic Garden Winter 2019

19 chicagobotanic.org Bring plants in, keep pests out A common concern when bringing plants indoors is how to deal with insects. Pests such as black ies, fungus gnats, and springtails can enter the soil during the summer. Mealy bugs, scale, and spider mites can hitch a ride on the leaves. “You want to be proactive,” said Tom Tiddens, the Garden’s plant health care supervisor. “If you don’t do anything, you’ll be ghting them all winter.” Although Tiddens recommends using an insecticidal soap, he has caveats. “I try to stay on the more bio-rational, organic side, but even organic products can be harmful to pets.” us, always follow the label instructions when using any insecticidal product—organic or synthetic. ere are several brands of nontoxic insecticidal soaps made for use on houseplants; look for an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) registration on the label. One chemical-free option is to simply dunk the entire plant, pot and all, in a bucket of water for several minutes to remove or kill insect pests. Alternatively, place yellow “sticky” cards in the pot or near the leaves to attract and trap ying insects. Q. Do you have any good holiday gift ideas for gardeners? A. Self-watering containers or a water timer that connects to an outdoor faucet are practical gifts for gardeners who like to travel. A motion-activated sprinkler is helpful for gardeners who complain of hungry deer during the growing season. Fairy gardens are fun, whimsical gifts, and solar lights, fancy stepping-stones, or a garden bench can easily dress up a gar- den. Squirrel-proof feeders are great for bird enthusiasts. Every gardener loves plant books, gloves, or a gift certificate. A gift of time will be most welcome to gar- deners who can use a helping hand in their yards. And, of course, a gift member- ship to the Chicago Botanic Garden of four-season beauty is always appreciated. Q. My vegetable garden has expanded, and last spring I was scrambling to pull everything together. What can I do now to alleviate the late-spring rush? A. Seed catalogs begin arriving after Thanksgiving, so your first step should be to select the vegetable varieties that you wish to grow next summer. At the same time, determine the specific planting loca- tions, as this will keep you from over-buy- ing. Next, decide for each variety whether you will direct sow, start indoors, or pur- chase starter plants. Prepare a schedule of critical dates to start each variety of seed. Finally, purchase what you will need so you’ll be ready to go. You can begin acquiring seeds at the Garden’s Seed Swap on Sunday, January 26. Learn more Send your plant questions to plantinfo@ chicagobotanic.org or call (847) 835-0972. You may also bring plant samples to the certified University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners at the Plant Information Desk in the Regenstein Center. Does your landscape need winter interest? Select plants that provide visually arresting textures, colors, and movement. Consider ornamental grasses or trees and shrubs with colorful stems, exfoliating bark, or fruits, berries, or cones that persist through winter. Plant Information Service is sponsored by Ask the Experts