Since the weather here has taken a turn toward the cold and rainy, I thought it might be a good time to dispense some unsolicited shopping advice. During a three day weekend in the usually warmer season , the big box garden centers are filled with people buying blooming flowers in big planters,hanging pots, or other portable containers to plop somewhere in their abodes' outdoors. I'm not criticizing, you understand (much), just pointing out some flaws in this system. Think of these purchases as something else of comparable cost- an electric can opener say-and you can quickly see that you are not getting your money's worth.
These plants have been "forced," that is, they have been made to bloom before they naturally would. They are in planted in light weight, low nutrient potting soil, in plastic. They are crowded in to appear full. None of these conditions help the plants stay looking good. That is why you wind up replacing your hanging pots or ready made window box plants several weeks later. It's NOT that you don't have a green thumb. It's because the plants have several strikes against their continued health before you even get them home. Then you get them home, bake them in the sun, forget to water them, and before you know it, all you have left is a brown mess in ugly plastic.
So before you head out to dress up the old homestead for the coming barbecue, tune in here tomorrow for what to do instead.
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