Wednesday April 20 2016

What to do with your Easter flowers after the holiday

Wondering what to do with those Easter Flowers after Easter?

Bulb Plants:

Spring bulbs

Whether you received a White Lily or an Asiatic Lily a Tulip or a Hyacinth (crocus, bluebells or daffodils too!)  you can enjoy the blooms for up to 4 weeks.  The lower the temperature, the longer they will bloom inside your home.  They will enjoy a nice cool spring day outdoors, out of direct sunlight once in a while.  After the blooms have spent and the leaves start to fade, simply plant it outside in a nice sunny spot in your garden.  Next summer you will see small sprouts forming, and by mid summer they will be blooming again.  Feed with bulb tone or high phosphate fertilizer during dormant months. 

Cineraria

Cineraria will only bloom this one time.  Afterwards, take the old soil (remove the spent leaves and blooms) and use the soil in your garden plot. 

Hydrangea

Hydrangeas can be planted, and the leaves should not have died.  They like to be planted in a sunny (preferably morning sun or late afternoon) spot.  Dig the hole at least 3' x 3' and add nice new soil to the hole.  The leaves will keep growing, and it should produce a few new blooms for late summer.  Cut back the tall stems in February to promote new growth next year.

 Most varieties of hydrangea respond to fertilizers that provide nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium at a ratio of 10-10-10. This basic fertilizer is best applied once per month during the spring and early summer.   This type of fertilizer is best suited for hydrangeas that you want to produce pink flowers.
Adding aluminum in the soil will produce or enhance blue flowers. The acidity of your soil also affects the ability of your plants to absorb aluminum. In most cases, hydrangeas need an acidic soil with a pH below 5.5 to encourage the growth of blue flowers. At mildly acidic pH levels between 5.5 and 6.5, hydrangeas often produce purple flowers or a combination of pink and blue flowers on the same bush. Hydrangeas growing in neutral or alkaline soils with a pH between 6 and 6.5 tend to produce pink flowers or dilute shades of blue or mauve in blue cultivars. Applying lime to your soil is a common method for increasing soil pH, while sulfur or aluminum sulfate are used to lower it.
Although there are several soil testing kits on the market, here is a simple test from "Ask" http://gardening.about.com/od/soil/ss/Do-It-Yourself-Soil-pH-Test.htm?utm_term=how%20do%20i%20test%20my%20soil%20ph&utm_content=p1-main-4-title&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=msn&utm_campaign=adid-34682b52-c3a7-4216-9ae1-832db774e850-0-ab_msb_ocode-4605&ad=semD&an=msn_s&am=broad&q=how%20do%20i%20test%20my%20soil%20ph&dqi=how%2Bdo%2BI%2Btest%2Bacidity%2Bin%2Bmy%2Bsoil&o=4605&l=sem&qsrc=999&askid=34682b52-c3a7-4216-9ae1-832db774e850-0-ab_msb

Gardenia

 Gardenias for sale in early spring (photo) are tropical by nature.  They need plenty of sunlight, plenty of water.  It's a good idea to repot it into a larger pot once you have it home.  Acidic fertilizer is needed to keep the leaves green.  Good air circulation, lots of humidity.  Once the weather outside has favorable night time temperatures of over 50 degrees, you can place it outside in a slightly sunny spot.  Keep it planted in a pot for easier transporting in the fall to inside your home where it's warm.  Use a garden hose or spray it often with a houseplant insecticidal soap or pesticide to prevent spider mites, aphids or mealy bugs.  The moderate care you need to provide will pale in comparison to the showy fragrant blooms this dark green leafy bush presents. 




Kalanchoe






 

Kalanchoe  are a brightly blooming succulent that will bloom periodically throughout the year.  They prefer bright light indoors or filtered light outside.  Bring them inside when night temperatures fall below 50 degrees.  They will live comfortably sitting in a sunny window inside- probably forever.  Water them when the leaves look a little "grey" and soft.  Don't let the soil get completely dry if they are blooming.  Feed with a good houseplant food- Miracle Gro or Peter's (Jack's Classic 20-20-20) is great. 



Floral Azaleas come in fancy colors and are sold in 6 inch to 7 inch pots for the spring holidays.  Usually in creamy orange, deep red, strawberry and cream edged, they look more fragile than they are.  They require a few things:  Water, water and water.  Some light would be nice too.  They can bloom up to a solid year with just a filtered window of natural light- or under a table lamp.  The key is, that you water this thirsty plant without letting it sit in the saucer of water for any period of time.  They are not winter hardy, these fanciful plants were just grown to be indoors.  You can feed them with a very mild solution of outdoor/hardy azalea food if the leaves start turning a little yellow. 

Frequently asked Easter Plant questions

Our plants are grown at our wholesale greenhouse farm in Zionsville Pa- within minutes of our store.  Some items are grown specifically for our retail store customers- as it has been for the past 65 years.

 After many years of selling Easter flowers to the public, we often get questions concerning the care and placement of their plants. 

Here are some common questions, with answers provided.

Q: How do I care for my blooming bulb plant once I get it home?

A: Keep it watered, in a bright but cool spot.  On warmer spring days you can set it outside.  They don't mind cool nights- but freezing will damage some of the new tender growth.  Bulb crops do better in cool weather.  After blooming you can plant it outside.  Don't remove the leaves until they are withered completely.

 

Q:What plant is appropriate for a grave site? 
 A: Any plant is appropriate, because it reflects on you and how you feel. 

 

Q: How long will this plant last at the gravesite?

A:It depends on the plant.  Ask us what plant will withstand night temperatures below 35 degrees.

Some plants will do just fine for a week or so, but nature will make the sun shine and the wind blow, thus drying out the plant.  To keep the pot intact with the ground, ask for a green plant stake to place through the pot and into the ground.  This will keep it from blowing over.

 

Q: Will your log planters last through Easter?

A: We have artificial (silk) log planters that are made by our designers.  They are weather tested, and will last a very long time.  (and they are really nice).  We also have log planters that are a compilation of bulbs, pansies and mum plants, designed to last about a month at a graveside.  You may want to make sure the soil is very wet and heavy before placing it.

 

Q:How long do Floral Azaleas last? 

A: They can bloom and line in your house, with proper moist soil up to a year with natural diffused light or artificial lighting. They are not suitable for planting outdoors.  For azaleas that can be planted as shrubs, visit our shrub department.

 

Q: What do I do with my bulb plants (including lilies) after they bloom?

A:Plant them outside, as they are perennial bulbs.  Feed them in the summer with Bulb Tone or other bulb fertilizer.  They are still growing underneath the ground surface. 

 

Q:When will my Easter lily bulbs open?

A: Check out our White Lily page, or maybe this will help:  If you have a bud that is small and green, it will open only if you keep it in sunlight. 

If the bud is showing color, and is quite large, it will usually open within 2 or 3 days.

 

Q:If I buy Tulips (daffodils, hyacinths, crocus etc.) that aren't showing color, how long will it take for them to bloom?

A: In your home where it's warm it will usually take about 3 days for a tulip, about 2 days for a crocus. 

You want to purchase a tightly budded flower if you want it to be a gift in 2 or 3 days.  The warmer the location, the faster it will bloom.  (hint: want to make it bloom later than a couple of days?  Simply put it outdoors on cool days or nights above 40 degrees.  It will take much longer to bloom if it's kept in a cooler location.

 

Q: Can I plant the Hydrangeas I buy for Easter (in bloom) outside in my garden? 

A: Absolutely.  There are some of the "fancier" varieties you may find a little more difficult to grow in your yard, but follow directions for planting and it should be fine. 

Q: Can I plant my floral mums outside? 

A: You can if you wish, but they won't grow back.  They are specifically grown to be an indoor annual.

 

If you have any other questions not listed on this page, feel free to email your inquiry to cthomas@danschantz.com 

Pocketbook Plant (Calceolaria herbeohybrida)

These unusual flowers are found in spring at Dan Schantz Greenhouse.  They get their name from the puffy flowers that are hollow inside, resembling a pocketbook.  Another common name is Slipperwort or Slipper Flower. 

They bloom brilliantly bright colors- from red, yellow, maroon, orange, pink and cream, with little polka dots all around the flower. 

Keep the plant moist at all times, but never sitting in water.  Just feel the soil, and if the top is a little dry, then give it a drink.  They like a bright, cool window with no direct sun. 
 Don't fertilize while in bloom.

Pocketbook plants are indoor annuals and will only bloom this one time, but will last for about 4 weeks in your home.   They are beautiful, unusual and a joy to have. Makes a perfect gift plant, lasts longer than cut flowers, and they're less expensive than a box of chocolates. 

Dan's Easter Ad 2016

Easter Lilies- how to care for them once you get them home

Easter lily buds will continue to open for the next few weeks once it's in your home.  The Anthers (the puffy yellow part on top of the Stamen) should be pulled off to prevent staining of the lily bloom.  This process will also make the bloom last longer.  They prefer to be in a cool window in bright indirect natural light.  Water the soil when it feels dry, but let the water drain from the pot freely. 
As the white blooms wither, cut them off at the stem.  In about 2 to 4 weeks, the plant will be just a stem with a few leaves on it.  It's time to plant it outside at that point.

Since lilies are natural outdoor plants, their normal blooming period is in the summer.  They are perennial bulbs that will enjoy being planted outside in a sunny spot in your garden.  The bulbs will divide and multiply as any lily would.  The blooms may grow a little smaller than when you received it for Easter.  They'll look nice with some Asiatic lilies and Stargazers combined.  Since your Easter lily has been forced to bloom, it's first summer may produce very little, if any signs of major growth. 

This is a Lily "BUD CARD".  It's a lot like a ruler, with a bunch of numbers on it.  Growers use these to measure the rate in which the bud will open.  For example, see the small yellow dot at the tip of the bud.  You'll see a number 2.   Then follow the graph to the other small yellow dot, it says 21C or 70F- this means that this bud will open in 2 days if the greenhouse temperature is 70 degrees.  The lower the temperature, the longer it will take to open.  If the crop is opening up too quickly (really sunny warm days) we move all the plants to a cooler greenhouse.  This process is repeated every single day for the few weeks before Easter/ shipping.
History:
Easter Lilies (Lilium longiflorum) have been the favorite flower of Easter for centuries.  The solid white flowers represent purity, life and renewal.  The flower’s trumpet shape is a reminder of the heralding of Jesus, returning triumphant to Jerusalem.

 

According to Biblical scholars, the Easter Lily was found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas is said to have betrayed Jesus. Legend tells that white lilies miraculously sprung up from the ground where drops of Jesus’ sweat and tears fell during his last hours.

In early paintings, the Archangel Gabriel is pictured extending a branch of white lilies to Mary, symbolizing that she had become the virgin mother to the savior.

Native to the islands of Japan, White Lilies were imported to the United States until 1941, when Americans were prompted to start growing their own bulbs due to the war.  Today, nearly all of the 15 million Easter Lily bulbs grown in America are produced by just 4 farms along the California-Oregon border. The bulbs are harvested in the fall, and then shipped to commercial greenhouses in Michigan, California, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where they are planted in time to bloom for Easter.

Dan Schantz Farm and Greenhouses, LLC is responsible for growing 300,000 Easter lilies produced in the United States. 

I had help from these links

http://www.holidays.net/easter/easterlily.htm

http://www.appleseeds.org/easter-lily.htm

 

 

 

 

pepper list preliminary 2016

Norfolk Island Pines for Christmas (and all year long)

July 9, 2015

It's Time for Planting Fall Garden Vegetables 

July-August

It may be hard for some of us to plan that far ahead, Summer is still in full swing!  This is the time of year that you need to start planning and planting Fall & light Winter vegetables. Dan Schantz Greenhouse & Cut Flower Outlet carries many cold weather vegetables (aka COLE Crops) but you can also find seeds, root crops etc. on line at various locations.   You have until mid-August to get these in the ground for Fall harvest. 

 

 

Some vegetables that are introduced to a frost will improve their flavor. Starches in the vegetable will start converting to sugars, actually producing sugar after the frost. Here are some examples of vegetables that are improved after a few cold nights or a frost, banishing the slight bitter flavor some greens will have.
Cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards, chard, Brussels sprouts, broccoli are vitamin rich greens that thrive in cooler weather.
Carrots are always sweeter after a frost or two! 

Leeks and onions also tend to produce more sugars after a cold snap. This is especially noticeable in the stronger onion varieties. The frost tends to temper the strong taste and provide that onion seasoning flavor that is often sought after.  Since they take longer to grow, they should be in the ground by July 1st. 

Additionally, these crops do well in cold frames over winter, so it is possible to extend the growing season into the winter, so fresh vegetable are available nearly year round.

Light Frost Tolerant:
Peas 
Lettuce 
Swiss Chard
Onion
Endive
Potato (you can use the ones with EYES in your kitchen if you can't find late sets- see photo left)
Mesclin Mix
Parsnip
Hard Frost Tolerant:

Broccoli
Cabbage
Chives
Collards
Kale
Kohlrabi
Parsley
Sage
Spinach
Turnip

Link from 2013 cole crops

Potted Flowering Plants for Mother's Day 2015

It doesn't have to cost a fortune to give the best quality flowering plants for Mother's Day.  You only have as far as Dan Schantz Greenhouse to find exceptional quality at the best prices.  We grow millions of flowers and plants at our (now 60 acres) farms - under roof!  not to mention the field growing space. 

Calla Lilies, Cinneraria, Martha Washington (Regal) Geraniums, Non Stop Begonias, Hydrangeas, Florist Mums, Gerbera Daisies, Campanula and so much more- beautiful plants that will delight Mom or Grandma.. and anyone else on your list.  Here are some lovely plants growing for you for Mother's Day:

 

Cut Flowers & Arrangements

The "Cut Flower Outlet" in our name is usually smaller and sometimes omitted.  But the truth is, that Dan Schantz Greenhouse has the finest design team in the area.  Our flowers are chosen by our seasoned florists, some stuff is so exotic you can only find it at the finest trade markets in big cities. 
But, after all, we are an outlet.  So you'll get the best flowers at the lowest prices.  Fresher, better, newer, best.  Dan's designers?  Top notch.  I've seen the things they create with amazement and after 23 years of my working with Dan Schantz, they never seem to disappoint. 
The gals at the florist counter have been doing amazing arrangements for years, and as an added bonus in the greenhouse, we have Howaida who adds that "European Flair" with specialty large arrangements that you can't possibly find anywhere else in the Lehigh Valley.  You want something special?  No Problem.  Just ask- but remember that special requests at a holiday need to be ordered about 2 weeks in advance.  If you can dream it, they can do it.  And believe me, they do it better than anyone else I've seen...at a way cheaper cost.  Check us out. 
Oh, and they do the most fabulous weddings!

 

Gift Baskets and Dish Gardens

Most gift baskets, Dish Gardens and compilations of flowers and plants are made on our Lehigh Street property.  Some Dish gardens come from our Pipersville location- where we have tropical foliage plants shipped from Florida and we place them in containers  with same type plants (so they grow together in perfect harmony!)
The designers choose plants and flowers in season that will give the best performance for the recipient.
There may be a time that the plants in the arrangement gets too large.  It may need to be transplanted into a larger pot.  Simply remove the entire plant from it's dish (or basket) and either plant the whole root ball into a larger pot, or you may be able to carefully separate them and just remove one or two plants, and keeping the rest in the bowl.  You may wish to ask your friendly Dan Schantz associate for some help if this makes you jittery.

Gorgeous Hanging Baskets! 

Dan Schantz Greenhouse grows millions of hanging baskets, in every size, color and combinations.  Area tested and Dan Approved- we think you'll find our baskets to be exceptional!
Take a look at them growing at our farm:

 

 

When they are ready, we ship the best directly to our customers!

Our growers start with the healthiest cuttings and the most vibrant colors of species available on the market, strategically placing them in the correct size basket.  We make our own soil from Peat, Rock Wool, Perlite, Vermiculite and other trace elements to provide the roots with the most water absorption and aeration for best growth.  It takes about 3 months to grow a perfect hanging basket, and is fertilized/watered by automatic and computerized echo systems. 

 



Basic #10 (size of pot) annual hanging baskets include:

Pansies, Snapdragon, Mixed annuals, Wax Begonia, Petunia basic, impatiens (regular) and many other annual flowers.  $12.99 each

Deluxe #10 Hanging baskets include but not exclusive: Zonal Geraniums, Specialty Petunias, Hybrid Begonias, Bacopa, Nemesia, and other deluxe fancy annuals.  $15.99 each

#12 Premium hangers include some of the larger combinations: Specialty geraniums, Calabrachoa, wave petunias, Diascia, Bidens, etc.  $22.99 each

Proven Winner hanging baskets are planted with only premium Proven Winner brand annuals, $24.99 each

And last but not least, the large Coco Moss hanging baskets (pictured above) that range in price of $29.99 to $34.99 depending on size. 

It's best to check in often to see which varieties are available.  Since we ship and grow all product continuously throughout the spring and summer, we sell only what is ready on any given week. 

 

Care of Hanging Baskets:  Check to find out the best location for your plant.  Most everything will grow with a half a day of sunshine.  Extreme conditions should be noted: if you are putting it in a HOT SUNNY spot and you don't like to water too often, try Calliope Geraniums or Sunpatiens.  Moss Rose (Portulaca) or Vinca would be great. 

A REALLY SHADY spot should host impatiens, Coleus, Lobelia or sweet potato vine.  Just remember, nothing grows in complete darkness, and anything that is in a hanging pot will usually dry out faster than a planter closer to the ground.  Water it until the water runs out of the bottom for at least 50 seconds.  Don't fertilize a dry plant. 

(cheater's tip- no one will notice if you add some small silk flowers to your green vining plants that have no flowers because of intense shade.) hah.