Let's Talk about Gardens

@sueinmn I need some help from all you plant experts. I can only be an indoor gardener at my seniors' residence, but I have potted plants I've received as gifts that are crying out for help. My small Christmas poinsettia finished blooming but now is struggling with a few new leaf shoots and I'm not sure if I should cut the plant right back so it can start anew. The new leaf shoots have curled up and died.
Next, I have 3 miracle orchids that struggle each year to survive. And they bloom! This is year three for that. Two have got new shoots now, but the third is all droopy and gasping. I may have over-watered it. Cut it right back? Thankyou from a painter, not a gardener. Laurie

@fiesty76, @artist01 I am truly amazed at you ladies......the garden prep is so intense and requires a lot of work, often for me debilitating work. I think it's wonderful you are physially able to do all you do. I bow to you! Please keep the narrative coming so I and others can stay on top of all your work!
blessings and I'm so jealous!!!!!!! I get such joy working in dirt, planting and seeing God's miracles, miralces of nature! elizabeth

Yes to the overwatering - if your orchids are on the 3rd year, have you replaced the potting mix or fertilized? They would appreciate either one, as they have depleted the nutrients - use one especially for orchids. Orchids need to be allowed to dry, then set in a pan/bowl/sink of room temp water for 30 minutes, and allow to drain. Lift the struggler out of its pot, trim any mushy or dried out roots and repot. I used to water mine only every 12-14 days.
If you can get the poinsettia outside, on a balcony or wherever, it may have a chance to regenerate. Otherwise, I just replace mine - the hothouse ones are not raised to survive as these are not really an indoor plant.
Sue

Yes to the overwatering - if your orchids are on the 3rd year, have you replaced the potting mix or fertilized? They would appreciate either one, as they have depleted the nutrients - use one especially for orchids. Orchids need to be allowed to dry, then set in a pan/bowl/sink of room temp water for 30 minutes, and allow to drain. Lift the struggler out of its pot, trim any mushy or dried out roots and repot. I used to water mine only every 12-14 days.
If you can get the poinsettia outside, on a balcony or wherever, it may have a chance to regenerate. Otherwise, I just replace mine - the hothouse ones are not raised to survive as these are not really an indoor plant.
Sue

@sueinmn Great gardening advice, Sue. I'm ashamed to say I've never repotted my poor little orchids, but I did fertilize with 10-10-4 spike fertilizer this month. I have no way to shop for soil or fertilizer, so my little plants just have to do their best. My grocery store has a gardening section, so maybe I can talk them into some supplies when they do my weekly grocery delivery. They're pretty sticky about adding things to delivery orders that aren't groceries.
Do I cut off all the long trailers hanging out of the orchid pots? I did cut some 3-footers (!) off, and all seems well so far.
I won First Prize for my peonies at the Red River Exhibition in Winnipeg in 1956, when I was 21, but they'd been planted by my mother-in-law years before, in my yard, so that's cheating, I guess. Lol. I also won prizes at the Exhibition in other years for Flower Arrangements, a curtsy to my artistic side! Thanks, Sue. I'm on it! Laurie

@artist01. I have been buying an orchid every year for Chinese New Year. We buy flowers for good luck. I found a spot that they seem to like. There are lots of videos on YouTube that show you how to repot orchid and tend to them. Fortunately, mine thrive on neglect. I have a few that are 4 to 5 years old. Some flower every year, done do not. This year, however, I'm getting flower stalks on all except one. One actually have cloned itself. Please do not cut the long hanging trailers. They are the roots! As long as they are not brown, they are fine. Orchids do not need "soil", they need orchid barks because drainage is important to them. You can get them in nurseries. I'm not an expert on orchids by any means. I've never fed them, maybe I should. My daughter said it all depends on where you get them from, apparently those with good "stock" last a long time. I have one outdoors that I found in the distress sales bin in Lowe's and that one gives me flowers every year, albeit only one stalk. I love peonies, yours must be very grand. Happy gardening!!

@fiesty76 Whew, I'm worn out just reading all the work you've had to do merely to prepare for planting your garden. It's going to be beautiful!
I hope you'll have time for a restful day today. Way to go!

@mayofeb2020 I love your idea, that your orchids thrive on neglect. That's exactly how mine thrive too, flowering every year with barely a tender caring moment from me! But my trailers are 3 and 4 feet long now! You say not to cut them. Can I braid them? Lol. Thanks so much for your input.

@artist01 and @mayofeb, Yes,I plan to keep wearing my mask too. Wish I knew how to upload and share photos, maybe the next time my computer guru comes, I can ask for help.

It was a weekend full of adrenaline rush and effort but oh the happiness! For the first time in a year I felt to my bones that I was "really back"!

Yesterday truly proved to be one of those "top of the mtn" days. After haircut and dropping off car, I spent nearly the whole day in as near a perfect Spring yard day as could be imagined ... sunny, still, one front bed completed with a kaleidoscope of new color...and more.

A neighbor, not met before, stopped with his dog to tell me that mine was one of the neighborhood yards he liked to visit regularly for "ideas". Welll, how nice was that?????

And Wow! Also in the front, my first red tulips showed up in Bloom yesterday!

Worked myself silly in the back to clear another area for a bouquet of new pastel tulips, crocus, and grassy leafed yell and purple iris. Most of the elbow grease went into the struggle of uprooting dandelions. Bought a new "step on" weed lifter tool last year but it was not successful for the dandies. It takes real determination to wield the long fork ended hand tool to get those roots out and there are some left for another day.

With another 40 degree overnight drop in temps last night, today will be inside tackling the never stopping paper that finds its way inside to be opened. Even though I have a bag in the garage that immediately gets all junk mail discarded, the "have to open" paper just keeps coming. Bah Humbug!

@artist01 and @mayofeb, Yes,I plan to keep wearing my mask too. Wish I knew how to upload and share photos, maybe the next time my computer guru comes, I can ask for help.

It was a weekend full of adrenaline rush and effort but oh the happiness! For the first time in a year I felt to my bones that I was "really back"!

Yesterday truly proved to be one of those "top of the mtn" days. After haircut and dropping off car, I spent nearly the whole day in as near a perfect Spring yard day as could be imagined ... sunny, still, one front bed completed with a kaleidoscope of new color...and more.

A neighbor, not met before, stopped with his dog to tell me that mine was one of the neighborhood yards he liked to visit regularly for "ideas". Welll, how nice was that?????

And Wow! Also in the front, my first red tulips showed up in Bloom yesterday!

Worked myself silly in the back to clear another area for a bouquet of new pastel tulips, crocus, and grassy leafed yell and purple iris. Most of the elbow grease went into the struggle of uprooting dandelions. Bought a new "step on" weed lifter tool last year but it was not successful for the dandies. It takes real determination to wield the long fork ended hand tool to get those roots out and there are some left for another day.

With another 40 degree overnight drop in temps last night, today will be inside tackling the never stopping paper that finds its way inside to be opened. Even though I have a bag in the garage that immediately gets all junk mail discarded, the "have to open" paper just keeps coming. Bah Humbug!