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Cornell University : Cornell Cooperative Extension
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| Yates Association |
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Easter Plants |
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March 27, 2002 Easter flowers brighten up spring in our area long before our gardens are in bloom. There are a variety of traditional Easter plants available from local florists, growers, grocery stores and even online. With a bit of care, the flowers will continue to be beautiful long after the Easter season and many will happily make the transition to your garden to provide color year after year. One of the most familiar of the collection is the Easter Lily. Millions of these white, waxy, trumpet-shaped blooms are forced into bloom by growers each year, timed to bloom for the season no matter when Easter falls on the calendar. The ideal lily has one or two of the lower flowers open. The foliage should be checked to make sure the plant does not have damage from disease or pests. Many Easter Lily plants go to market with the yellow pollen sacs at the center of their flowers removed. The practice is thought to prolong the life of the blossom as well as prevent the pollen from dropping onto the blooms or on the surface it is displayed on. The best spot for an Easter Lily is in an area that receives bright, indirect light. The plant will also last longer when it is placed in a cool room. Daytime temperatures of 68 degrees F and night time temperatures of 45 to 60 degrees F are ideal. The plant should be watered thoroughly when an inch below the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch. Care should be taken not to overwater to avoid the possibility of bulb rot. Blossoms should be removed as they fade, but the leaves and flower stalk should be left attached. After the lily has finished blooming, place it in a sunny window. If you decide to try to grow the plant outdoors, it is important to wait until all danger of frost has passed. The lily should be removed from the pot very carefully to avoid damaging the roots. The best outdoor site is one that is well-drained and receives bright sunlight early in the day and shade in the afternoon. The lily should be planted at the same depth it was in the pot. A treatment of slow-release fertilizer (following label directions) should be applied at planting time. The lily should be watered during dry periods. Leaves will eventually wither but new leaves will develop. If all goes well, the lily will bloom again in the fall or the following spring. Lilies are difficult to force from the home garden so it's best to let the lily enjoy it's new home. After it has settled into it's new home for a couple of seasons, blooms may be expected in mid-summer, their normal outdoor bloom time. The next type of flowers often selected as Easter plants are those grown from bulbs, such as hyacinths, tulips, daffodils and crocus'. These cheery flowers are forced into bloom in time for Easter and, with a bit of care, make the transition from house to garden with relative ease. Care of these plants in the home is similar to care of Easter Lilies. The changes in care are more apparent when the plants are prepared for transfer to the home garden. After blooming is complete, it is important to leave the foliage on the plant. The leaves produce food that nourishes the bulb for next year's blooms. Spring-flowering bulbs do best in the home garden if they are planted in good soil in a sunny location. They should be planted at a depth three times deeper than the diameter of the bulb. Foliage may be removed when it has dried fully. Whether or not you choose to try to find a new home for your Easter plants in your garden, they certainly provide a welcome spot of late winter season color. For
more gardening tips don't forget the Master Gardener sponsored Yard
N' Garden day set for April 6 at the Penn Yan Middle School. To sign
up for the great seminars offered this year or to receive a program,
call the Cooperative Extension office at 315-536-5123. As always Master
Gardeners are trained to assist you with your lawn and garden questions.
Just call the extension office and leave your message along with a
time we can return your call. www.cce.cornell.edu/yates/mgindex.htm.
Cornell
Cooperative Extension Yates Association |
