Gaia's
Garden
Even those of us on an
Earth centered path can use a little help now and then in caring for our
Mother. This column is dedicated to making us more aware of the "footprints"
we leave on Her and how to live more harmoniously with Her even if we're
urban pagans.
Bringing in the Green
Houseplants are my favorite way of
keeping the spirit of Spring alive inside through the long, dark days of
Winter. Surprisingly, it isn't necessary to make a major investment
in special lighting as long as you follow these few simple rules.
1. Don't over water your plants! Plants don't grow as much
during the Winter and therefore don't need as much water. Only water
when soil is dry to the touch. If your plant is a type, such as a
fern, that needs more moisture, mist it's leaves with a plant mister or
make a humidity tray.
To make a humidity
tray, simply fill a shallow pan or tray with pebbles and add water to the
pan. Make sure that the water does not touch the bottom of the pot
the plant is in as this will cause root rot.
2. Don't fertilize! Because they are not growing, plants don't
need the added nutrients. Using fertilizer on dormant plants is a
good way to burn them. If you fertilize them lightly in November,
they should be good until March.
3. Keep the plants out of drafts and at least 8 inches away from
the windows. No matter how well you weatherize, there will be some
heat leakage around windows as well as cold radiating from the glass itself.
Also, if you should happen to suffer an insect infestation because you
brought the plants in from outdoors, spray them with a solution of mild
detergent and water. If it becomes too severe, you should place a
plastic bag completely around the plant and its' pot and isolate it from
your other plants for a few weeks.
Following these tips should make keeping the green in your house much easier
and your life more cheerful during the dark months.
Mother Bless,
Kara Shima