I just purchased a box of zinnia seeds. When can I plant them?
Zinnias are a warm-season annual and need warm soils to germinate. You can plant your seeds in late March and April. Consider planting them in stages for more continual bloom. Zinnias prefer well-drained soils with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5. They benefit from soil that is organically enriched. Plant them in full sun at quarter-inch depth. To achieve this, you can sow your seeds and lightly cover them with soil or you can make a groove in the soil and then cover. Space your seeds about an inch apart.
When they germinate and are an inch tall, thin them at least 4 inches apart by clipping the young stems at their base. As they start to flower, pinch back spent blooms to encourage more flowering.
Note that zinnias are sensitive to pests and disease. If possible, keep irrigation off of foliage. Once the heat of the summer sets in, they tend to lose their luster and die out. As you start to watch your colorful zinnias reach their bloom, you will find another benefit: They attract butterflies. And some gardeners report that they reseed, giving you something to look forward to each year.
I received a Winter Rose poinsettia for Christmas. How do I care for it?
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I had not heard of this plant, so some research was definitely in order. The Winter Rose poinsettia is a fairly new cultivar in the poinsettia world. It was developed by the Paul Ecke Ranch in California. As you have seen, the leaves and bracts of your plant are smaller than most poinsettias. They appear more tightly bound with the bracts having a down-curving appearance, resembling a bloom of a large open rose. As you are also seeing, the bloom of the Winter Rose lasts much longer than the traditional poinsettia - it can last up to several months after the holiday season. The care for your plant is the same as the more common poinsettia. It does not tolerate freezing temperatures. Don't overwater it. Once the temperatures warm up, you can place it outside in partial shade so the foliage won't burn. Once the blooms are spent, prune it back. Prune periodically to keep the plant full. Keep it in its container, repot if necessary, or plant it outdoors in a sunny spot. Fertilize once a month from May through September. Stop pruning after the first part of September. For tips on getting your poinsettia to re-bloom, go to solutionsforyourlife.com and look for articles on poinsettias.
I am interested in planting some ornamental grasses. Someone suggested river oats but I have never heard of them. What can you tell me about this plant?
As one who loves ornamental grasses, this looks like a fine choice to add to your landscape. River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) is native to 28 states, including Florida. It is also called Indian wood-oats, northern sea oats, spangle grass, broadleaf uniola, wood oats, and wild oats. It is closely related to a small cultivar of sea oats. If you view a picture or see it firsthand, you will see the resemblance. River oats is a perennial ornamental grass that grows and spreads in clumps. It reaches 2-5 feet in height and displays wide leaves with swaying clusters of flat, oatlike seedheads. In the wild, it grows in woods along streams and rivers and in floodplains. In the home landscape, it does well in moist soils with full sun, but it also tolerates partial shade. Established plants are more drought tolerant. During the fall and winter, the leaves and flowerheads turn a rich tan, then into a bronze color. Dried flowerheads are prized for flower arrangements and can last indefinitely. In the spring, the plant should be pruned back to just above the ground. If grown in moist soils, the plant can reseed. In drier soils, it doesn't reseed as easily. Every few years the clumps should be divided to keep them from getting overcrowded. Note that, unlike sea oats, river oats are not salt tolerant.
Paula Lamb is a master gardener with the Duval County Extension Service and the University of Florida/IFAS.
