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Easter Flowers and Plants
As the children’s song says “Easter’s on its way”. Many of you will be receiving a traditional Easter flower that provides additional pleasure long after the holiday. The following are the most popular Easter plants and ways to keep them around for many weeks or years to come. Blooming plants for Easter usually come with foil around the pot. Punch holes in the foil to match the drain holes in the pot, place it in saucer, and move it to a cool room with good light. Water only when the soil feels dry. When watering, it’s best to set the plant, pot and all, in the kitchen sink so no excess water collects in the saucer. Easter Lilies As soon as possible, pinch off the stamens (the yellow tipped stems that grow from the center of the white flower). When the blooms have finished, pinch the spent flowers off. Easter lilies are hardy and can survive outside. To be successful, do not remove the leaves until they naturally yellow and dry (about 6 weeks). Then take the bulb out of the pot and plant it eight inches down in the ground in a sunny location. The lily will grow 3 feet tall and bloom in June. Potted Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths Follow the same instructions as with the lilies. Plant these bulbs 6 inches deep in a sunny outdoor location. Make sure all the old leaves have dried before taking them out of their pot for planting. Hydrangeas Large leaf hydrangeas can be planted outside in mid-May. Plant them in a protected spot, away from hot summer sun and cold winter wind. They will hold their blooms for several weeks. Next spring; acidify the hydrangea with aluminum sulphate for blue flowers. Leave the soil alone if you want the flowers to be pink. The blooming period outside is June into August. Azaleas Some azaleas available for Easter are cold hardy, some are not. Both types can be forced to bloom for Easter. If the Azalea came from a garden center or nursery store, chances are good that it is a cold hardy plant. All other sources most likely will have azaleas not cold hardy to our area. There are some florists that will have both types. You can always call the florist and ask. You will also find that hardy Azaleas will have a plant tag showing you the variety of Azalea that you have. Potted Geraniums, Gerbera Daisy, and other Annuals These plants make pretty gifts for youngsters to give to mom and grandma. They should be brought in on cold days until mid-May at the earliest. Then go ahead and leave outside for the summer. Other Great Easter Plant Ideas Hardy trees and shrubs make a great gift for Easter. Rainbow Knock-Out Roses have pretty Easter colors of pink, coral, and yellow which provide beautiful color all season. There will also be several varieties of spring flowering trees that will be in bloom and will make a beautiful presentation. Some Early Spring Reminders
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