At the Gardens we have a large collection of tropical plants that live in the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory and in our plant collections greenhouses. Much of this collection could suitably be considered houseplants. </p> Houseplants can be as beneficial as they are visually appealing. Growing plants in your home can improve mood, reduce fatigue, lower stress, and increase oxygen and humidity in the air. </p> </picture> </div> </article> A</em>nthurium </em>'Pink Champion' flamingo flower</span></span></span></span></span></p> When choosing plants for your living space, pay attention to the conditions in your home: sun exposure (which changes quite drastically over the course of the year), average temperature of the living space, amount of space you can dedicate to your plants, what pets might be exposed to the plants. </p> Because of the vast array of houseplants available, it is best to grow what will do well in your conditions. Eight hours of direct light is considered full sun. Plants that will be happy with six or more hours of sun include cacti and succulents, croton (Codiaeum variegatum)</em>, Dracaena</em>, palms, cycads, Hibiscus</em> or Strelitzia</em>. Some plants that do well in medium light (three to six hours of sun) are orchids, Pilea</em>, gesneriads, African violet and Begonia</em>. Finally, plants that do well in low light are Spathiphyllum</em>, ferns, Dieffenbachia</em>, ivy, Philodendron, Calathea</em> and Anthurium</em>. </p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> Begonia coccinea</em> 'Pink Shasta' angel wing begonia</p> Now for some general care tips for successfully growing houseplants:</p> In general, don’t overwater – this is (in my opinion) the most important and the hardest thing I ever learned. Roots breathe oxygen and if soil is constantly saturated, roots will rot, and the plant will die. Obviously, some plants need more water than others but a good general schedule for most is saturated for a day or so, two to three days of medium dryness and a day or two on the drier side. It’s okay for plants to begin to wilt so long as they don’t get crispy. </li> For potting and placing your plants, be sure not to overpot them too much, i.e. gradually move them into the next appropriate size. Also be sure to rotate plants that receive light from only one side. </li> From time to time your plants may get bugs on them. It happens to everyone, and the closer you pay attention to your plants the less frequent and extensive the outbreaks will be. I like to remove dead leaves and examine the entire plant for bugs on a regular basis. </li> </ul> </picture> </div> </div> </article> Phalaenopsis </em>hybrid - moth orchid </span></span></span></p> You will get out of houseplants what you put into them. Plants can often be overlooked in the home, but they do need attention and care. If at first, you are not successful, keep trying! I’ve certainly killed my share of plants and will kill more in the future. </p> A version of this blog post and photos first appeared as an article in Life on Capitol Hill, November 2020.</em></p>
The first time I saw the sagebrush shrub steppe of North America, my mind melted. I grew up in a lush part of the country where tall shade trees blocked out the sky, we regularly lamented rain and the color green was taken for granted. The intense silver glow of the arid West was alien and exotic to my eyes and I instantly fell in love.</p> Plants have developed silver appearances as a reaction to the desiccating effects of sunlight and drought. Silver, grey, white and blue colorings of plants are the results of growing trichomes (plant hair), increased wax exudations on their surfaces or genetic mutations of cell colors called variegation. All of these adaptations help plants retain moisture and keep their cells cooler by increasing their surface albedo, their ability to reflect sunlight.</p> The American West is not alone in its glory of argent shrubbery. The world’s desert, Mediterranean, alpine and other steppe regions (Middle Asia, Patagonia, Argentina and Southern Africa) also hold their own wealth of silvers, and we’ve been zealously collecting these incredible beings in the Steppe Garden.</p> Begin exploring our collection by walking beneath the cottonwood trees on the eastern edge of the Steppe Garden.</strong> Look for the long white stems and yellow flowers of rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa</em>) emerging from the shortgrass prairie.</li> Head north on the curving gravel pathway.</strong> To your left you’ll see the Southern African Helichrysum trilineatum</em>, a small silver mound, full of yellow flowers.</li> Then, just beyond, exploding around the edges of the garden’s spinal stones, the fine-leaved Gomphostigma virgatum</em>.</li> Walk a bit further </strong>and you’ll see a collection of steppe shrubs—the shimmering and columnar Shepherdia argentea </em>‘Totem’; the three-lobed, almost-white Artemisia cana</em>; and the soft and sprawling Artemisia ludoviciana</em>—all extremely important plants in our local shrub steppe ecosystem.</li> At the end of this path</strong>, under the boughs of Austrian pine, you’ll see a small plant with thick, pearly leaves. This is Shepherdia rotundifolia</em>, usually a resident of areas further southwest than Denver, but surviving in our colder climate, none-the-less.</li> Continue following the westerly curve of the pathway</strong> to the Middle Asian section of the Steppe Garden to the tall and graceful Caragana microphylla </em>‘Mongolian Silver Spires’. Look, but don’t get too close, as tiny thorns protect this shrub from grazing animals.</li> Cut southeast on the gravel path </strong>that runs between the two Middle Asian garden beds to see the ultra-white and very fragrant Helichrysum maracandicum</em>, </em>which, when gently touched, gives off the scent of curry spices!</li> Journey across the canal to the Patagonian sections of the Steppe Garden </strong>to glimpse our last three shrubs, all from the important steppe genus of asters, Senecio</em>, including S. patagonicus</em>, S. filaginoides</em> and S. bracteolatus</em>.</li> </ul> Now, with your eyes attuned to the beauty of silver, continue exploring the gleaming shrubs of the Gardens.</p>
There is something about breathing in the cool, crisp air of late September mornings, wearing light sweaters, sipping on warm, seasonal drinks and enjoying the gentle, warm colors of reds, yellows and oranges that make autumn my favorite time of year. Among the many wonderful perks of the season, it is also the perfect opportunity to make perennial additions to your garden.</p> If adding to your gardens in the fall before the first frost intimidates you, don’t let it – there are a surprising number of benefits to planting perennials this time of year.</p> </picture> </div> </article> Cooler Air Temperatures of Autumn Are Easy-Going for Both Gardener and Garden</strong></p> By the time autumn comes, the temperatures have dipped down from the oftentimes scalding heat of late spring/summer. This can be pleasant for you, the gardener, and the plants, as these mild temperatures will allow them adequate time to establish without high temperature stress. Not to mention you will likely bypass the nasty hailstorms of spring that can damage your young plants…and your determination. </p> Soil Temperatures Still Warm for Healthy Roots</strong></p> As we know in Colorado, the weather can be rather sporadic; we can be enjoying a pleasant 75-degrees one day, then get blasted with a snowstorm the next. It happens every year, but again, don’t let Colorado’s intense weather fluxes intimidate you. Despite our intermittent weather, often enough the soil is still warm from summer to allow roots to establish. Also, there is no need to worry too much about above-ground frost. Although the frost will stop the growth of the plant above ground, it will not necessarily kill the plant…roots will continue to grow and should be able to establish properly before the soil freezes solid, no matter what is happening with the air temperature. </p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> Planting in Fall Helps the Gardener Plan for the Next Growing Season</strong></p> At this point in the year, observations of the past season are still visible. Were there empty patches in your garden that can be filled next year? Is there a place that could use seasonal interest, or want to add a specific texture? You may be able to better visualize these types of considerable changes before you cut plants back and forget by the time spring comes.</p> These are only a few of numerous benefits to fall plantings. I like to plant woody plants (though they may need winter watering if we don't have consistent snow cover, especially evergreens, to keep needles/leaves from desiccating during establishment*) and good-sized herbaceous perennials in the fall, usually in bare root form (i.e. cleaning off all the soil from the roots before planting). Ornamental grasses, native perennials and bulbs</span></span> – pretty much anything you can currently find at your local garden center should be good for planting, and you might get a great deal as they don’t want to overwinter the plants in pots!* </span></span></p> Don’t forget that these plants have just finished a growing cycle, and although they may look a little bushed as you plant, they should come back looking great come spring. Giving them this extra time to establish will ensure larger, healthier plants next spring and summer. Whatever you decide to add this fall, I guarantee you will see sweet luscious success in the next growing season!</p> This blog post and photos first appeared as an article by Denver Botanic Gardens Horticulturist, Greenhouse Production, Brooke Palmer in Life on Capitol Hill, September 2020.</em></p> *Additional information provided by Associate Director of Horticulture Cindy Newlander.</em></p>
