Consider these tips for new landscape watering as these plant requirements vary from those already established in the lawn and garden. Even the healthiest trees, shrubs, and flowers planted in ideal circumstances need substantial time, care, and proper irrigation to become established in the landscape. Regular irrigation in the month after planting ensures the plants remain healthy and attractive as they establish. The time it takes for a nursery-grown tree to become established ranges from 4 to 15 months, depending on trunk size. Even a three-gallon shrub can take as long as seven months to take hold. Remember, these plants were watered daily, some twice a day in the nursery.
New Landscape Watering Guidelines for New Plants
Frequency and the amount of water are essential factors in establishing plants. A typical automatic overhead irrigation system is not sufficient. Generally, your new landscaping will need an extra consistent drip system or hand watering to ensure long-term success.
The following Guidelines Will Need To Be Adjusted For Variables:
One-gallon plants: Gently hand-water daily for at least two weeks (less in rainy or cool seasons), gradually tapering off to every other day, then three times a week through the first month (2-3 months in summer). Flowers will require regular watering throughout the warm season. Container plantings will need a drip system or hand watering indefinitely.
Three-gallon shrubs: Apply at least one gallon of water directly to the root ball every other day for the first two weeks; tapering off to twice a week for the first three months (longer if in summer or drought conditions). Use of regular overhead irrigation will be sufficient after that.
Larger shrubs (15 gallon+) and trees 2″-4″ diameter: Be sure the water runs long enough to soak the entire root ball. Place your hose at the base of your shrubs or trees slowly for 10-15 minutes each. Do this daily for at least one month, then every other day for the following month (2 months June-September). Continue hand watering twice a week for the next three months, then weekly until established.
Extra-large trees (4″+ diameter trunk): Drip or hand water daily for six weeks. Continue every other day for the next five months, then weekly until established (at least 15 months).
Reason to Water Less:
-Heavy or consistent rain.
-Damp soil conditions.
-Deep shade.
-Drought tolerant plants (still need some water to establish).
“Avoid watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m,” according to the University of Florida. “A significant amount of irrigation will be lost to evaporation when watering with overhead irrigation during the heat of the day. Check with your municipality and water management district for the latest watering restrictions.
While we strongly encourage water conservation, extra water is required to establish your new landscape successfully. If your county has watering restrictions take note of any allowances for extra watering and hand watering to establish new plants. “Exceptions under certain circumstances are allowed (such as using a hand-held irrigation tool, micro-irrigation systems, maintenance, and repair or watering to establish new landscaping,” according to the City of Jacksonville.
Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Visit us or for specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact us at 904-996-0712.
Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine
With La Nina bringing warm winter weather conditions to Northeast Florida our lawns and gardens are likely to experience more pests earlier in the season. Ants, aphids, chinch bugs, grubs, mole crickets, mosquitos, sod webworms, termites, and wood-boring beetles, may all arrive and reproduce early this year. “Warm means that insects could become active sooner,” said Eileen Buss, a University of Florida associate professor of entomology. The warmer winters essentially act as an alarm clock for plants and bugs, which spring into action, Buss said.”
There are complications though as not all pest species respond the same way to warm winter weather. “A warm winter day could cause insects to become active (e.g., woolly bear caterpillars) when they normally would be dormant,” explained Integrated Crop Management News. “Activity uses up stored fats they depend on to survive until the spring. Without access to food, these active insects could starve to death before food becomes available.” However, Iowa’s average low January temperature is in the twenties compared to Florida’s high fifties and Jacksonville high forties. Insects typically begin to enter a hibernation-like torpor state called diapause when temperatures drop into the low forties. Whereas, regional species of fleas begin to die off below 37F other species of insects produce glycerol using it as a sort of antifreeze that allows them to walk around during warm Winter weather and not die during a periodic cold snap.
Florida lawn and garden pests develop in fewer days during warm winter weather as the insect growth rate is temperature-dependent. “Every insect requires a consistent amount of heat accumulation to reach certain life stages, such as egg hatch or adult flight,” according to Utah State University. “Degree day values interpret that heat accumulation. When used to determine treatment timing, they are an important component of an Integrated Pest Management program, providing a cost effective tool to reduce insect feeding damage.”
Be vigilant in monitoring your lawn and garden plants during warm winter weather, checking the undersides of leaves, and being ready for applying preventative treatments.
Insects aren’t the only threat as fungus spore survivability improves with warm Winter weather. La Nina Winter conditions forecast less precipitation throughout the Southeast. While ensuring your lawn and landscape have adequate weekly watering, don’t overwater, which is an invitation to fungus. Be on the lookout for Brown Patch fungus in your turf prevalent when evening temperatures are below 70F. Signs of Brown Patch fungus are rings and small irregular patches of dead grass.
Learn the signs and symptoms of pests and pathogens in your landscape to reduce the risk and threats of infestations. Ensure your lawn care service is proactive in assessing and preventing these potential warm Winter weather threats with adequate treatments early. Earth Works Lawn Care division offers free quotes for Lawn and Landscape disease and pest control services.
Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Visit us or for specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact us at 904-996-0712. Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
Growing heirloom vegetables provides your family delicious flavors, and with seed saving and exchange you help preserve plant genetic diversity. Many of the remaining seeds of our ancestor’s choice crops passed down through the generations are labeled heirloom seeds and seedlings at your neighborhood garden center.
While industrial agriculture has provided benefits, there are also consequences. “Since the 1900s, some 75 percent of plant genetic diversity has been lost as farmers worldwide have left their multiple local varieties and landraces for genetically uniform, high-yielding varieties,” according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “Today, 75 percent of the world’s food is generated from only 12 plants and five animal species.”
The public has shown renewed interest in growing their own food, saving seeds for their children, and exchanging them with others. Seed Savers Exchange has over 13,000 members and saves over 20,000 seed varieties while making them available to the public on their website and through garden centers.
Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated by insects and thus stay true to their parent’s characteristics. Hybrid offspring don’t. “Hybrids are a seed savers’ bane,” wrote the South Dakota State University Extension. “Plants that grow from seed saved from hybrid plants generally are less vigorous, more variable, and usually have smaller blossoms and yield less than their parents. Because F1 (First Generation) plants contain genes from two very different lines, their progeny (“F2” generation – or the “grandchildren” of the hybrid) will behave more like outcrossed plants, having a random assortment of the genes from either of the F1 parents – the desired ones along with the bad ones. Some plants may look like the F1 hybrids, but others may look and grow quite differently. Subsequent generations will have even more variability.”
‘Cherokee Purple’ tomatoes farmed by Native Americans and the ‘Rutgers’ tomato developed in the 1930s are but two of the thousands of tasty and interesting heirlooms available to you. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds has available to you a rainbow of colorful native corn varieties that were a staple throughout the Americas and continue to do so today supported by your gardening purchases.
Earth Works Garden Center has a seasonal selection of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange seeds and regional farm-grown heirloom seedlings available.
Seeds are big business for those supplying the over 47,000 Florida farmers like Shells Feed & Garden Supply in Tampa, Florida. Whatever your agriculture seed needs, Shell’s Feed can find an option including heirlooms and bulk seed from these suppliers: Ferry Morse, Livingston, Hart Seed, Sandia Seeds, and Seedway. They nurture the gardening community at their garden center and online.
For a wealth of information on growing heirloom vegetables also consider a visit to Reems Creek Nursery 10 minutes north of Asheville, North Carolina where you’ll find seeds from High Mowing, Botanical Interests, Sow True Seed, and Livingston. They provide organic certified, heirloom, open-pollinated, and hybrids along with a knowledgeable staff, workshops, and events.
And for additional suppliers visit our list of 60+ FREE Seed Catalogs. Plus, for help growing heirloom vegetables in Northeast Florida visit us at Earth Works Garden Center. We also provide landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions throughout Northeast Florida. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations at 904-996-0712.
Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
A warm La Nina Winter and its impacts are the focus of our January Lawn and Garden Tips for Northeast Florida. While January is typically the region’s coldest month a warm one has its drawbacks especially for plants.
Why Are Winter Temperatures Higher This Year? La Nina is predicted by NOAA to be warmer and wetter than the average Winter for Northeast Florida. “Above-average temperatures are favored across the South and most of the eastern U.S. as La Nina climate conditions have emerged for the second Winter in a row according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. Drier-than-average conditions are favored in south-central Alaska, southern California, the Southwest, and the Southeast.”
Dramatic Fluctuations In Temperatures More Harmful Than Lows Worse than the threat of freezing for many of our plants is the threat from extreme temperature fluctuations. “If the temperature falls steadily and plants have time to acclimate to the cold, they can adapt,” according to Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “What usually does the damage is a quick weather change or a big difference between the temperature during the day and deeper cold at night.” Plants likewise deal with freezing temperatures better when dormant. The greatest diurnal temperature variation tends to occur in the desert for a reason. In case of cold damage, make sure the affected trees or shrubs have water and avoid fertilizing or pruning them until Spring, which best serves the healing process.
Warm Winter Brings Tree Pollen Early To Northeast Florida That’s not Spring, but pollen in the air. A warm La Nina Winter in Northeast Florida results in trees releasing pollen early. “Across most of the country, trees don’t release their pollen until early spring,” according to Allergy & Asthma Specialists of North Florida. “But, thanks to our temperate climate here in North Florida, local trees usually start producing an abundance of pollen starting in February (and sometimes as early as December).” In 2021 Jacksonville ranked 30th worst city for Spring allergies by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Pollen allergy symptoms include itchy throat, congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and headaches.
January Plant Pruning For Northeast Florida January is the appropriate time in Northeast Florida to prune roses and deciduous plants, including crape myrtles, pears, and plums. Even Double Knock Out roses that bloom every 5-6 weeks from Spring to Frost should be pruned once a year around this time of year through early Spring. Evergreens, in general, can be pruned any time of year. Prune your azaleas after they bloom, which can vary widely depending on the variety. “Bloom times are divided into three flowering groups of early, mid, and late or fall flowering varieties,” wrote Lorna King for Garden’s Path. “The early group starts to flower in late Winter to early Spring, roughly from February to April. Midseason is comprised of late Spring and early summer, or May and June. And the late or fall group flowers from midsummer and into fall, or mid-July to October.” Reblooming azaleas should be pruned after the Spring bloom only. If pruned after the Fall blooms, that could stimulate growth put at risk by Winter cold.
Planting Choices for January Annuals are an obvious choice for colorful plantings outdoors in Winter. Pansies, petunias, snapdragons, violas, and dusty millers are popular. Camellias, the Queens of Winter with many currently blooming cultivars, is a great planting choice. Houseplant enthusiasts have a cornucopia of choices for adding to their collection in Winter, even though dealing with lower light, humidity, and temperature. Cooler months are prime time for planting large shade trees, fruit trees, and palms. Visit the Earth Works Garden Center and speak with a garden guide about the care of your specific plant choices.
Prep Soil In Winter For Beautiful Spring Turf Prepare early for a beautiful Spring lawn with AERATION & TOP DRESSING. Our naturally sandy soil requires nutrient replenishment for your best Spring & Summer lawn. Proper care of your lawn during dormancy will make for a healthy, vigorously growing lawn turf that holds up best to pests and pathogens.
A combination of twice per week rain events or waterings continues to be our recommendation in January. Keep an eye out to see if El Nina provides the necessary precipitation or supplement when necessary. Earth Works Lawn Care can visit to provide you an estimate for AERATION & TOP DRESSING, lawn service, including lawn pest & fertilization spraying quotes, are available for free online.
Schedule Your Pond Clean Out In Winter
Earth Works provides quotes for the annual winter pond cleanout service for Aquascape ecosystem ponds we built and can quote any pond system design whether it’s a commercial or DIY constructed pond. Earth Works designs and builds low-maintenance ecosystem ponds that collect the majority of debris in the skimmer basket, but some debris settles to the pond bottom that requires a periodic cleanout. Unserviced pond debris buildup is a water quality concern. Thus, we recommend an annual winter pond clean-out servicing.
“So we recommend once a year,” Jason Duffney, Earth Works owner said at the 2021 Winter Pond Clean Out Seminar. “That’s what we have found is the secret sauce. Don’t wait beyond three years.” Thus, when contacting Earth Works to schedule a pond clean out our standard quotations are based on the pond size, equipment configuration, and design. The longer you wait and the dirtier it gets the more expensive the cost to the ecosystem and your pocketbook. Don’t wait. Contact us to book today!
Get Your Landscape Design Scheduled In Time for Spring Outdoor Living
A warm La Nina Winter can quickly fill landscaping companies Spring schedules. Consider booking your landscape design consultation sooner than later. Then spend some time gathering the pertinent documents and photos of landscapes you like that represent the vision that you create with your designer. Don’t wait until it’s too late to get your choice of project completion dates. Check out our landscape design consultation video to better understand our process. Before you book consider the Earth Works recommendation from these December clients the Shahs.
Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Visit us or for specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
This list of 60+ FREE seed catalogs of reputable suppliers is provided as a resource to increase your gardening enjoyment and foster landscape design ideas. While our gardening enthusiasm is unlimited, there are limitations to the diversity of any supplier’s selection of seeds. We have seeds and seedlings at the Earth Works garden center. Some seed companies specialize in flowers, while others focus on fruits and vegetables. Using reputable seed suppliers is essential as seed quality varies. Beware of seed scams promoted on social media and seeds sold in unmarked packaging material. The seed business is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Seeds are categorized by types, including breeder, foundation, registered and certified. Information on reputable seed company labels should include the kind and variety of seed, origin, net weight, seed purity, and expected germination percentage. Free seed catalogs are a good start in broadening your knowledge and planting options.
Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations at 904-996-0712.
Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
Earth Works of Jacksonville consistently stocks a high-quality mix of 3-4” and 6-8” shubunkins, comets, wakins, and hibuna Florida pond goldfish varieties. Goldfish, Carassius auratus, although in the same family as koi, will not grow as large. Domestication of goldfish from crucian carp dates back to 200 AD in China. “During the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 to 907), goldfish with preferred phenotypes were selected to be raised in ornamental ponds and water gardens,” according to The evolutionary origin and domestication history of goldfish. “The goldfish was introduced into Japan and Europe at the beginning of the 17th century and introduced to North America ∼1850 where it quickly became popular.”
An advantage of growing goldfish in a pond includes a greater likelihood of reaching their genetic growth potential. In contrast, aquarium-grown fish often become stunted due to a lack of space to grow. Goldfish are bottom feeders that will eat a wide variety of flake and pellet foods along with plants, snails, and other invertebrates.
We only stock fish from Blackwater Creek Koi Farms for consistent, high-quality fish and biosecurity. Mixing fish from different suppliers increases the risk of illness and disease and the need for quarantining new fish. Stocking from only one high-quality vendor eliminates the need for quarantining new fish.
Available Florida Pond Goldfish Varieties Shubunkin goldfish are calico patterned orange, red, and black speckled over bluish base color and have heart-shaped tails. There are three varieties of Shubunkins, including the American (that we sell), London, and Bristol. Shubunkins grow to a maximum length of 12 inches.
Comet goldfish have bright red patterns over a white base color, often looking like small koi. Comet goldfish originated in the United States. Comets grow to a maximum length of 14 inches.
Wakin goldfish are principally distinguished by a double-tail with varied color patterns with several sub-varieties, including Calico and Red & White. Wakins grow to a maximum length of 12 – 14 inches.
Red Hibuna goldfish, also called common goldfish are solid reddish-orange or a mix of red patterns on white and grow to a maximum length of 12 inches. These are hardy fish and a likely feature for the average backyard pond.
Watonai goldfish are a double-tail variety genetically crossing humped-back Ryukin and fantail Wakin goldfish exhibiting longer flowing tails than wakins. “Watonai have the long slender body of the Wakin, but with a much larger tail which it carries spread horizontally,” according to Blackwater Creek Koi Farms. “The width of the tail fin should equal the length of the body. They can get fairly large, but the maximum body length is just slightly smaller than these other hardy varieties.”
Goldfish and koi can be trained to eat from your hand. Biology Teacher Gara Leen demonstrates (in the video below) a hand-feeding training technique for koi and goldfish using feeding rings in her pond.
We do not supply Black Moors, Bubble Eye, Fantails, Jikin, Lionhead, Orandas, Ranchus, Sabao, Tamasaba, and Ryukins. These pond stocking recommendations are strictly for ponds that do not connect to other natural water bodies, as these fish would then be considered invasive.
For stocking your pond with fish and comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712.
Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
December’s cold, dry weather requires a focus on watering and caring for plants while enjoying holidays by the fire pit. Last month was the seventh coldest November (58F average) on record, but the predictions are for milder average temperatures in December. We are experiencing an early month warmup before the shortest day of the year, on the December 21 Winter Solstice, and a return to colder weather. December high and low temperatures (67F high; 43F low) are the 2nd lowest averages of the year behind January. While December 2019 saw only one freezing day in Jacksonville, there were six in 2020. Keep up to date with your area’s weather forecasts and be prepared to protect your tender plants, pets, and livestock.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE WATER OUR LAWN IN DECEMBER? November 6th and 7th accounted for the majority of Jacksonville’s monthly rain total of 1.64 inches, which is nearly an inch below average for November, which is typically the driest month of the year. While drying out is suitable for reducing the threat of lawn fungus, too little water and watering at the wrong time can also cause problems. The National Weather Service predicts a continuation of below-average precipitation throughout the Southern United States in December.
Earth Works Lawn Care Operations Manager Chad Lakin urges that a healthy lawn needs two watering events per week in December. They can both be rain events or supplemented with a combination of irrigation and hand watering. New lawns, plants, and landscapes should be watered daily for the first month to get them established. Irrigation is restricted to once per week in Jacksonville, coinciding with a return to Standard Time that began on November 6. Stipulations for Jacksonville’s watering ordinance include: 1) No watering from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 2) Odd number addresses, or addresses ending with letters N-Z, or no address may water only on Saturday. 3) Even number addresses or those ending with A-M may water only on Sunday. 4) Non-residential addresses may water only on Tuesday and 5) Apply up to ¾-inch or less of water one time per week.
WHAT DOES LAWN TURF NEED IN DECEMBER? Proper care of your lawn during dormancy will directly impact its health in Spring and Summer. Lakin recommends Fall fertilization for root health with an NPK of 0-0-26, which helps protect against grey leaf spot fungus during the growing season. Now is an excellent time to consider soil AERATION & TOP DRESSING your lawn ahead of Spring, a service Earth Works Lawn Maintenance provides. Call or email Earth Works for a quote.
WHICH VEGETABLES CAN I PLANT IN DECEMBER? December vegetable planting recommendations are the same for November and December, with a few additional veggies added to the soil in January. University of Florida IFAS recommendations for December include Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard, Onions, Radish, Spinach, Strawberry, & Turnips. The cabbage at our vegetable tables looks really lovely and healthy now.
WHAT DO I NEED TO START MY CONTAINER GARDEN? We recommend Wild Earth Soil Mix for your raised beds or container gardening, a rich, light-weight compost mix available by the bag and yard. Espoma Organic Biotone Starter is an excellent planting fertilizer. As always, we have everything from earthworm castings to bat guano for your specific planting soil amendment needs.
BESIDES VEGETABLES, WHAT CAN I PLANT IN DECEMBER? Palms, fruit, and other trees can be planted in the cold, dry weather of December here in Northeast Florida. Winter is also the time of year to plant colorful annuals, including petunias, supertunias, violas, snapdragons, decorative kale, and Dusty Miller. Earth Works has a large selection of annuals for your garden beds. Poinsettias are plentiful during December, and Anthurium is another long-lasting, heart-shaped flower in a more limited supply with red or white blooms.
WHAT SHOULD I BE CONCERNED WITH MY PLANTS INDOORS IN DECEMBER? Getting your plants acclimated to indoor living after being brought inside requires extra attention to their light and watering needs. Our heating systems create far different conditions from those our outdoor plants are accustomed to. Regular inspection required watering, rotating, and adjusting plant positions for lighting and away from drafts, fertilization, and remedying pests problems are all part and parcel for active plant parents in Winter.
CAN I START MY BONSAI HOBBY IN DECEMBER? Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing dwarf trees in pots that can start anytime. These potted plants can be started indoors or out with as little as soil, container, and plant. Earth Works Garden Center Manager Matthew Barlow has decades of experience growing, training, and caring for bonsai plants and is available to answer your specific questions about bonsai. Earth Works likewise has bonsai plants ready to add to your collection or share as gifts during the Christmas holidays.
DO MY KOI FISH NEED SPECIAL CARE IN DECEMBER? The main concerns involving koi in December revolve around water temperature. Rhonda King, Earth Works Garden Center Associate Manager, discusses in the attached video cold water concerns for koi ponds, including: -The benefits of a pond thermometer. -Using the proper cold water food for koi digestive health. -Now is the time to schedule your pond cleanout before Spring.
IS WINTER A GOOD TIME TO SCHEDULE A LANDSCAPE DESIGN CONSULTATION? You should have a complete vision and plan for your landscaping before putting a shovel in the dirt. Still, Winter is a perfect time to schedule your landscape design consultation. Working with a professional designer can provide you a written plan to implement all at once or in phases. It can take weeks, even months, to schedule and implement your plan. Don’t wait too late to get your project scheduled to meet your desired completion date.
Don’t let the cold, dry weather of December deter you from caring for your plants and planning ahead for Spring and Summer. Contact us with your questions and for comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, at 904-996-0712. And remember that Earth Works has gift cards available in any denomination that can be used for any of our products and services. During the month of December 25% of gift card sales are donated to our local charity the Sanctuary on 8th Street.
Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us at 904-996-0712.
Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
Elephant ear varieties are popular foliage plants in the US that though toxic, are a starchy food for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. As Araceae family members, they include the genera Alocasia, Colocasia, Xanthosoma, and Caladiums. Some grow along the banks of ponds, rivers, and streams while others prefer uplands. Their corms are marketed as bulbs and potted up for sale as landscape material and houseplants. Select varieties are cooked rendering harmless the calcium oxalate toxin in their tissue that’s also found in rhubarb, dieffenbachia, and philodendrons.
Colocasia typically grows well in swampy areas along river banks, while Alocasia, Xanthosoma, and Caladiums tend to instead prefer moist, well-draining organic soil. They spread via rhizomes that form corms giving rise to additional stems.
There is a great deal of literature on distinguishing between Alocasia and Colocasia. The petiole or leaf stem of Alocasia is connected at the leaf notch which causes the leaf to point upward whereas the petiole is farther down from the notch in Colocasia causing the leaf to droop. Xanthosomas typically have arrow-shaped leaves that are waxy and heavily veined. Caladiums are much smaller with leaves that appear as fragile as tissue paper that point downwards. Microscopic differences in the flower structure are the most accurate method of distinguishing between varieties that are otherwise widely misnamed.
The common name ‘elephant ear’ used in the USA is interchangeable with their food variety names including taro (Colocasia esculenta) in Asia and the South Pacific, Eddoes (Colocasia antiquorum) in the West Indies and Brazil. At the same time, Malanga or Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) is prominent in diets in the Americas and Africa. Adding to the confusion, “Colocasia antiquorum has been subsumed into Colocasia esculenta and is now listed as a variety of that species,” according to San Marcos Growers. Both Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosoma sagittifolium are considered invasive species in Florida. “No matter what cultivar you select, never plant elephant ears in or near a natural waterway; many spread rampantly and become a problem,” according to the University of Florida.
“It is an ancient crop in Asia, being introduced into Japan more than 2500 years ago,” wrote the Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition regarding taro. “It is considered a food staple for more than 500 million people in the regions of Asia, Africa, Central America, and the Pacific Islands,” wrote Advances in Food and Nutrition Research regarding taro. “In the southern Mediterranean, it is consumed more than potatoes.”
“Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) is among the world’s six most important root and tuber crops,” according to Food Science & Nutrition. “However, it remains an underexploited food resource. The challenge of underutilization is exacerbated by the existing confusion in taxonomy and nomenclature which limits researchers in exploiting data from one area of indigene to another.” Notwithstanding the confusion of distinguishing between them, these corms are the potato of the tropical world. “Of all the vegetables, malanga causes the most confusion,” according to The Spruce Eats. “It looks so much like the related taro and eddo corms that a number of common names are applied to this group and they’re often used interchangeably.” The best authorities on elephant ear dishes may be at your local farmers’ market, ethnic food store, and restaurant.
The plant trade markets a large number of elephant ears with multiple synonyms for the same species. The Plant List is a working list of all known plant species that identifies the species per variety as 79 Alocasia, 73 Xanthosoma, 16 Colocasia, and 12 Caladiums. The heavily marketed caladiums with their diverse color patterns are sold under 179 synonyms.
Alocasia amazonica ‘Bambino’ is a jewel (dwarf) variety reaching 12” in height with white venation on the thick dark green arrow-shaped leaves. They grow best in well-draining soil and are a relatively easy-care houseplant preferring bright indirect light.
Alocasia Gagaena California is a fast-growing variety reaching 4’ maximum height with light green leaves and deep venation that lends a crinkled look to the large upward-pointing leaves. They are considered among the most cold-hardy of varieties grown outdoors.
Alocasia Lauterbachiana, the purple sword elephant ear grows to 4′ maximum height with long narrow, sword-like leaves. Lauterbachiana prefers well-draining soil and bright indoor light. Keep away from drafts as they are quite cold-sensitive and prefer temperatures above 60 degrees.
Alocasia Maharani is also known as the gray dragon is a jewel variety with a 14″ maximum height. They like bright indirect light and moist though well-draining soil. Keep Maharani at temperatures above 60 degrees.
Alocasia Odora is also known as Night Fragrant Lily exhibiting upturned leaves and peach-colored fragrant blooms in Spring and Summer. They prefer full to partial shade growing 4-6’ in height in moist, rich organic soil.
Alocasia Regal Shield grows to a 5′ maximum height with thick, dark green leaves and burgundy undersides. They don’t like wet feet, but moist rich organic well-draining soil and filtered light outdoors and indirect light indoors. They enjoy humidity and do best in temperatures above 65F degrees.
Alocasia Yucatan Princess has dark green leathery foliage with a hint of purple on red stalks reaching 6’ maximum height. Yucatan Princess is a mutation of Alocasia sarawakensis thus often referred to as Alocasia Sarawakensis Yucatan Princess. They prefer moist, well-drained soil and indirect or filtered light.
Alocasia Reginula, also known as Black Velvet Alocasia has a rich green nearly black color with silver-white venation reaching a maximum height of 3′, but are typically much smaller and suited for terrariums. They prefer temperatures above 60 degrees in well-draining soil with indirect sunlight.
Syngonium podophyllum is a vining aroid with arrow-shaped leaves that are often confused with caladiums. Unlike caladiums and other aroids discussed here, Syngonium spreads by aerial or adventitious roots and can be propagated by stem and leaf node cuttings. Syngonium prefers well-draining, aerated soil, indirect light, high humidity, and temperatures above 60 degrees.
Syngonium podophyllum
Caladiums grow to a maximum height of 2’ and are widely propagated and sold as bulbs (actually are corms) and as potted plants. Most color varieties prefer indirect or filtered light and do best in well-draining soil. They are not frost hardy resulting in dieback as Fall temperatures drop below 60 degrees.
Earth Works Garden Center/Plant Nursery, Landscaping, and Lawn Care divisions that make available and care for a wide selection of genera Alocasia, Colocasia, Xanthosoma, Caladiums, and Syngonium. A reminder that all Aroids should be considered toxic requiring caution around children and pets.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online and at 904-996-0712. We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
Breaking dormancy for cold-hardy seeds and bulbs requires mimicking plant germination cycles, techniques called stratification, which is accomplished by controlling temperature and moisture for a period of time. Stratification has been in practice for hundreds of years and was first described in the 1664 writings of English Horticulturist John Evelyn. Evelyn’s emphasis on the relevance of stratification had to do with efficiently growing trees to replenish timber for British Navy ships. In botanical terms, stratification is distinguished from “chilling” which is the amount of cold time fruiting plants require to blossom, also known as vernalization. Although it sounds complicated stratification is easy to do when you are equipped with the right information for each of your plant choices.
It’s important to understand that there are two types of dormancy both endo-dormancy and ecto-dormancy. Endo-dormancy is before chilling whereas in ecto-dormancy chilling has already occurred and the plant is ready to begin growing once the temperature rises sufficiently. “As the plant enters endo-dormancy, it tracks chilling units to track the passage of the winter. Chilling units are hours of time spent above freezing,” according to Michigan State University. “As long as the plants are in endo-dormancy they have the ability to acclimate to colder temperatures and withstand winter cold. After chilling is completed the plants are no longer in endo-dormancy. They are now in eco-dormancy. The plants are dormant only because of cold or cool weather. Warmer temperatures into the mid-40s will cause them to begin growth. Once the plants start to grow, they lose the ability to readjust to colder temperatures. There is usually a slow progression of development when the plant begins to grow as the temperatures slowly rise.”
Most Northeast Florida native and tropical plants germinate in warmth, but the cold-hardy varieties with thick seed coatings often require a set period of cold temperature and moisture to soften the shell and break dormancy. “Having such a tough shell ensures that germination occurs only when conditions are right,” according to The Guardian. “Weather fluctuates; you don’t want your seed jumping into germination just because autumn has a few cold nights and then a warm one. It’s not spring yet and those cold nights did not represent winter. So time and temperature are the keys necessary to unlock germination for many seeds.”
Considering breaking dormancy requirements are specific for each species follow the seed and bulb package stratification recommendations for time, temperature, and planting media. Additionally, if chilling in the refrigerator is deemed appropriate, ensure that the temperature, packaging material, and germination media are also appropriate. Stratification in the refrigerator is typically better done in paper than plastic, which improves air circulation and reduces threats from pathogens. While some plants germinate best wrapped in a damp paper towel in the back of the refrigerator others do just fine in a pot of soil outside. Do your research.
Seeds that require cold stratification include Anise Hyssop, Asparagus, Milkweed, Baby’s breath, Black-eyed Susan, Butterfly bush, Caper, Chinese Lanterns, Columbine, Coneflower, Delphinium, Echinacea, Geranium, Lavender, Lobelia, Oregano, Poppies, St. Johns Wort, Sunflower, Violet, and Yarrow. Although Earth Works typically offers seedlings of many of these varieties of plants when they produce seeds stratification is required for germination.
Tulips grown from bulbs in Florida require cold stratification to break dormancy, as do daffodils and hyacinths. “To grow tulips successfully, the bulbs need cold treatment, but not moist stratification or storage in a damp soil medium,” according to SFGATE.com. “Although tulips prefer a moist planting site, the bulbs are mainly responding to the cold temperatures rather than water availability.” A few of the bulbs that don’t require chilling for Florida gardens include Anemone, Allium, Caladium, Crinum lily, Gladiolus, Oxalis, and Turks Cap.
By learning to mimick plant germination cycles successfully and breaking dormancy techniques you will significantly increase the varieties of plants you can successfully grow and enjoy year after year in your lawn and garden.
Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact us at 904-996-0712. We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
Christmas cactus blooms increase less from fertilization than by controlling their temperature and light exposure between October and December. Akin to poinsettias and chrysanthemums, Christmas cactus collecting has become a cherished family tradition resulting in high demand for this limited-availability plant during the holidays. Folklore from Brazil tells the story of a boy’s prayer for a sign of Christmas answered by a rainforest bounty of Christmas Cactus blooms on Christmas morning. Christmas cactus blooms appear in orange, pink, purple, red, yellow, and white with hybridization. However, the plant with its showy position at family get-togethers is likely not a Christmas but a Thanksgiving cactus if purchased in recent years.
Central Florida was once the epicenter of Schlumbergera hybridization, making Christmas cactus seemingly easier to collect than today. Barnell Larry Cobia, owner of B.L. Cobia nursery in Winter Garden, Florida, is credited for being “the most important Schlumbergera nursery in the USA in the second half of the last century,” writes Schlumbergera.net. When Coba started Christmas cactus hybridization, they were relatively rare collectibles. “A majority of the holiday cactus grown in the United States can be traced to Cobia’s hybridization work,” per a 1988 Orlando Sentinel article. His hybridizing and nursery ended with his passing in 2003. The slow growth rate of Schlumbergera and the operational expenses of independent garden centers result in difficulty in having readily available local sources of them.
“There are three main types of “holiday” cacti out there: the Easter cactus (S. gaertneri), Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata), and Christmas cactus (S. x buckleyi),” according to the Farmer’s Almanac. “Each holiday cactus typically blooms closest to the holiday that it’s named after. However, most of the “Christmas cacti” sold today are actually Thanksgiving cacti, which tend to bloom from November through February and therefore pass unnoticed as Christmas cacti.”
Christmas cactus are epiphytes native to Brazil. They are leafless with flattened photosynthetic stems called phylloclades or cladodes found in other succulents, including night-blooming cereus and prickly pear cacti. The Thanksgiving cactus has 2 to 4 pointed serrations along the margins of its stems. In contrast, your grandparents cherished Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) has dull, less sharp serrations.
“A second method to distinguish between these two Schlumbergera species is based on the color of the pollen-bearing anthers,” according to Clemson University. “The anthers of the Thanksgiving cactus are yellow, whereas the anthers on the Christmas cactus are purplish-brown.”
Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus blooms both require that same cool and short-day growing cycle. “To initiate the production of flower buds, there needs to be at least eight days of 16 hours of dark and eight hours of light each day,” according to Michigan State University. “Wherever the plant is placed, do not turn on the lights at night, even for a short period of time. That breaks the dark cycle required. The temperature should be around 61 degrees. Avoid placing the plant where it receives either cold or hot air drafts.” Follow this course of action for 8 days.
Christmas cactus blooms set naturally without the disciplined control of their light and temperature but aren’t likely to be as full as they could be. Suppose one side of your Christmas cactus blooms well with little to no blooms on the other. Controlling the light and temperature will improve the Christmas Cactus blooms throughout the plant. A balanced 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 fertilizer application monthly during the growth period is best for Schlumbergera that does well in bright indirect light the rest of the year indoors and outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11.
Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations. For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
