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Hort Shorts for November 1, 2020 -- Flowers

A summary of timely activities and emerging disorders in landscapes.

Protect Non-Hardy Roses

Loosely tie canes together with twine. Place an 8-inch mound of soil over crown. Mulch with 4–6 inches of clean straw after the ground freezes. Trim canes back in early spring.

Plant Tulips Outdoors

You can plant tulip, daffodil, crocus and other spring-flowering bulbs until the ground is frozen solid. The flower bud is already inside the bulb. Irrigate and mulch.

Mulch Tender Flowers

Apply 4–6 inches of straw after the ground freezes. This mulch will insulate plants from extreme temps, prevent premature sprouting, and keep the soil stable during freezing/thawing cycles.

Caring for Geraniums

Place into 8-inch pots. Cut back to 1/3 height to keep plants compact. Set near a bright sunny window. Cool temperatures (60s) are best. Water sparingly.

Baby Spiders

Shorter days cause spider plants to produce flower stalks and babies. The babies can be propagated in cups of water or in a seed starter mix. Clip off the babies or keep them attached to their mother when propagating until a root system develops.

Force Hyacinths in Water

Forcing pots are available at garden centers or online. Set the bulb in the upper chamber, 1/4 inch above the water line. Keep cool (40s) and dark. A refrigerator is perfect. It will grow pure white roots and then sprout in about 10 weeks. Gradually give it more light and warmth until it blooms.

Written by Tom Kalb, Extension Horticulturist, North Dakota State University. Published in the NDSU Yard & Garden Report for November 1, 2020. Photos were made available under Creative Commons licenses specified by the photographers: Marko Kivela; cocoparisienne from Pixabay; Steven Lybeck; Susan Ujka’s Collection; Auntie P; Christina B Castro.