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San Diego’s Independent Nursery Since 1928 TM JULY 2019

A Nod To What’s In The Bog By Tom Dougherty

IN THIS ISSUE

A Nod To What’s In The Bog 1 Let’s Grow Blueberries! 1 Find Hidden Gems 1 A Bird Lover & Inventor 2 Walter: Cymbidium Orchids 4 To Do List: July 4 Old Ben: Parrots Of San Diego 5 Old Ben’s Specials 5 In the bog by the garden railway at the These are truly carnivorous and July Classes 6 Poway store, there is a group of plants meet the requirements of such a desig- July Specials! 6 that never need fertilizing. That’s be- nation. They attract, capture and kill cause they get all their nutrients by animal life forms as well as being able (oh, sweet revenge) eating . to digest and absorb the nutrients. The varieties you’ll find in the bog are There are more than 600 species and Sundews (), American pitcher subspecies that exist. plants (Darlingtonia, ) and continued p2 Natal Albuca Venus fly trap (Dionaea).

Let’s Grow Blueberries! By Jolene Andersen

Who doesn’t like Blueberries? Espec- ially fresh blueberries? These plants can grow and produce very well in our area. Vaccinium corymbosum, the botanical name, is native to the north- Find Hidden Gems eastern part of the United States. Among The Favorites Growers have found that by preparing By Melanie Potter the soil and creating an acid condition, many varieties flourish in Southern It’s the time of year when all the California. Newer hybrids have been old favorites, the standard land- introduced that do well with little scape plants, those reliable ones are winter chill and are well suited to our blooming. You’ve seen them, the jac- milder climate. arandas, day lilies, and agapanthus. Blueberries make a nice landscape There’s a reason why they appear and can be used as informal in so many landscapes and while I appreciate them, I found a few gems continued p3 Blueberries from Monrovia that don’t get a lot of attention. continued p2 07.19 2

What’s In The Bog continued from p1 Hidden Gems continued from p1 ger hairs on the surface, the trap quickly closes. These plants need a humid environ- ment. Their soil must be very damp and acidic. A mixture of half sand and half peat moss works very well. The water must be mineral free. Rain water or distilled water or even reverse osmosis filtered water can be used. Ordinary San Diego tap water with its high salts will probably kill these plants in a matter of weeks. Come see our bog and look for the lizards that know where to get an easy meal. These opportunistic rascals have been spotted stealing an snack Sundew from the Sundews. If you are lucky, you Penstemon gloxiniodes How Our Bog Plants Attract Prey may spot the occasional road runner I spied the Penstemon gloxiniodes that knows where to find distracted sitting next to the Tacoma stans Sundews, with their sparkling, delicate lizards. But not to worry. With all this and with its show of purple blooms, beauty, work like flypaper to capture competition, most plants can get by thought maybe a new color had been their prey with tiny drops of glistening, with as little as one bug meal a week. introduced. The bell-shaped sticky goo. Tom Dougherty is a customer service look similar but the tag clearly iden- American pitcher plants have oddly representative at Walter Andersen Nurs- tified it as Penstemon, not a Tecoma. shaped and dramatically colored ery’s Poway location. His areas of exper- These grow to two feet tall and the that become tubular traps for unwary tise include water plants and citrus. If flowers attract hummingbirds. Pen- insects. you are interested in carnivorous plants, stemon form dense spikes of tubu- Venus fly traps are the most familiar. visit the annual show and sale for the lar flowers in early to mid summer. They lie in wait with their little nectar San Diego Society colors include pink, blue, red, laden leaves open and inviting. When on July 20 from 10am - 4pm at Balboa purple, and white. They can tolerate the unsuspecting bug touches the trig- Park (Casa del Prado, Room 101). • dry soil but will need some water through summer’s dry months. The Natal Albuca had a spike of Old Ben Is A Bird Lover & Inventor! interesting looking white flowers. By Melanie Potter It is nicknamed Slime Lily because the leaves excrete a slimy sap when You would think Old Ben is someone ball of the plant in the wire basket, I put broken, so just admire the plant. The who wants birds, lots of birds, to flock it over my container. I put in a bamboo plant is evergreen and hails from to his yard. That is partially true, but stake to tie the wire mesh to. I also Natal, South Africa. The foliage is he doesn’t want them eating his baby used RapiClip heavy duty garden wire deep green and fleshy and grows to plants. “I was having problems with to wrap around the container to hold 3’ tall. From late winter into spring, birds eating my seedlings. When the the mesh in place” he recounted. the flowers rise above foliage on corn or radishes first sprout, the birds slender 4 to 5 foot tall stalks. The But Old Ben is not done describing his eat them as fast as they come up”, large white flowers have 3 outer invention. “The wire mesh is flexible lamented Ben. tepals that flare slightly outwards and stretches easily to accommodate while the inner 3 remain together So, one day Old Ben had to channel his the pots. I purchased the 15 gal mesh pointing upward, all with a distinct inner McGyver and create a solution. which would be a 15 inch diameter green midrib to each tepal. root ball, these pots are little over 20 “Conventional methods did not work inches and I had room to spare. As To give it a good home, plant in well- for me, he admitted. “While at the soon as the plants are big enough to drained soil in full sun along the nursery, I found what I believe to be a stand on their own, I will remove the coast to half day sun or light shade new product, the Original Grow Master inland. It requires only occasional Gopher Basket. Instead of putting the continued p3 irrigation in coastal gardens, more frequently inland. • 07.19 3

Blueberries continued from p1 to about 5 to 6 feet. O’NEAL This variety is often considered to have the best flavor of the Southern Highbush Blueberries. Large dark blue fruit matures very early from summer to early fall. This one will grow to 5 to 6 feet tall and as wide. SOUTHMOON This variety produces large, sky blue fruit that ripens in sum- mer. Highly productive in areas with cooler winters. White, bell-shaped flow- ers and colorful fall foliage are added benefits. This one may lose all foliage in winter. The plant can reach 6 feet tall and wide. hedges, individual plantings and even your new blueberries with a good SUNSHINE BLUE Pink blooms, fade container plants. The most important acid-type fertilizer such as Dr. Earth to white and yield abundant crops of things you need to provide are full sun Rhododendron-Azalea-Camellia. Gro- large tangy fruit. This is a very low chill and well draining, acidic soil. For most Power Azalea-Camellia-Rhododendron variety that grows well and produces plantings, we recommend a planter food is another excellent product for even in our coastal areas. Semi-dwarf mix that contains Canadian peat moss, acid loving plants. Try to fertilize the to about 3 to 4 feet. Attractive foliage which is naturally acidic. You could also first of each month spring through fall holds well into winter. • use Canadian peat moss mixed 50-50 for optimum results. with E.B. Stone Big Harvest Garden To insure your planted areas stay Soil. It’s ideal to have a soil mix with on the acidic side, you may have to Old Ben Inventor a pH of 5 to 5.5. Though self-fruitful, apply Soil Sulphur occasionally, as our continued from p2 you will have better production with water may cause pH levels to rise. To two different varieties of blueberries; keep them greener, your blueberries which allows you to enjoy larger fruit may want an iron supplement once or crops due to cross . twice a year. When planting in containers, use a fairly large container, like a 20 inch square Blueberry Varieties: box or octagonal tub or one of the BOUNTIFUL BLUE This variety has a larger plastic containers, at least a 15 prolific fruit set of large, super sweet gallon size. Place the mix of your choice berries and the “bluest” foliage. Works in the bottom of the container to bring well in the landscape or in containers. the root ball up nearly even to the top It’s a smaller plant to about 3 to 4 feet of the container, pack in additional soil tall and about as wide. Attractive foli- lightly and give a good watering. age holds well into winter. If you choose to plant in the ground, dig JUBILEE Abundant crops of medium- a generous hole, at least two times as large, very sweet fruit mature from late wide as the container, approximately summer through fall. Attractive blue- 24 inches wide and about 18 inches green foliage remains evergreen in deep. Use the same mix (above) as if mild winter climes. Should produce a you were planting in a container, place little better in cooler inland areas. The some in the bottom of the hole to plant grows to about 4 to 5 feet tall. raise the root ball off the native soil. MISTY EARLY SEASON Very low chill wire mesh, and save it for the next Fill in with the mix, tamp in and water. requirements will set sky-blue medi- time I need it. Planted in the ground, space plants um large, very sweet fruit that matures about four to five feet apart so they do This story has a happy ending. “The early, usually mid-summer through not become overcrowded and to allow birds or small animals cannot get in fall. Attractive blue-green foliage re- for ease of harvesting. and the very small mesh keeps pests mains evergreen in milder climates. out”. And Old Ben, his seedlings, and About the first of March, start fertilizing The plant naturally grows a little taller the hungry birds lived in peace, and happily ever after. • 07.19 4

Cymbidium Orchid Care TO DO LIST: By Walter Andersen, Jr. July Words From Walter

FERTILIZE

For lawns, use Marathon Fertilizer for tall fescue, and Bonide DuraTurf Weed & Feed to feed grass and control broadleaf weeds. Feed Cymbidium Orchids are one ornamentals with Gro-Power. Feed of the most popular orchids vegetables with Gro-Power Tomato grown in our area. They are and Vegetable Food or E.B. Stone considered one of the easi- Organic Tomato and Vegetable est orchids to grow and they are very rewarding when Food. Feed Citrus, Avocado, and they start to bloom in the Fruit trees with Gro-Power Citrus cooler months of the year. and Avocado Food. Feed palms They are best grown outside and tropicals with Gro-Power Palm in light shade. Tree and Tropical Food. Add Ada When the pot gets too crowded, they the back bulbs are joined. Wiggle it Perry’s Magic Formula to your tend to have fewer bloom spikes. If you more gently and the two pieces should regular rose feeding schedule. have not repotted your Cymbidiums gradually separate. If these divisions Mulch plants to conserve water and in about three years, they should be are still larger than you want, try to repotted in springtime. Not only do separate those one more time. Don’t dress up planting beds. they outgrow their containers, but make your divisions too small because WATER after a few years, the potting media it will take too long for them to bloom breaks down causing poor drainage again. Ideally the divisions should have Through October, keep a close and possible root rot. If you wait too five to eight healthy back bulbs in the watch on watering to make sure long to repot, you risk the chance of clump (cut out any old, squishy back plants do not suffer from drought. damaging the bloom spikes for the bulbs with a shear). At this time you Adjust sprinkler clocks or provide coming season. can finish cleaning out the root mass by getting rid of old roots and potting supplemental watering to avoid Repotting is easy and begins with media. Cut off any old leaves and trim stress to plants. Make sure lawn removing the plant from the container. back any brown tips to make the plant are working properly to If the plants are terribly root bound, sprinklers look better. you may need to break the container prevent waste and dead spots. to get them out. You will probably see I have found that using coconut chips PRUNE a mass of roots, usually about 1/4” in (Coir) is a wonderful planting medium diameter and usually a pale tan color. to use when you repot. Coconut chips Coral trees and roses. If they are dark brown and kind of come in small, tightly compacted soggy, those roots have died. Try to bales about 10” x 10” x 6” thick. Take PLANT loosen the root ball as best you can. the plastic wrap off and soak the bale Plant anything! Just make sure You may break a few roots, but don’t in water. I use a 15 gallon container; best it gets plenty of water! New worry as there should be many, many to plug the holes if you can. You will be plantings will require more more to support new growth after you amazed how much the chips expand; repot. Try to shake off as much of the to nearly two cubic feet! One small frequent, shallower waterings old rooting media as possible and cut bale can almost fill a wheelbarrow!! than established plants. Look out the older, dead roots. If you want You don’t need to mix anything in with for Plumeria, Hibiscus, Lantana, to divide your plant to make more the chips. I prefer using two gallon Plumbago, Gardenias, and divisions, this is the time to do that. or three gallon plastic containers in bedding plants. Grasp the clump and try to twist it in which to plant Cymbidiums. Place two • two directions at the same time; you to three handfuls of chips into the new will probably see a weak area where continued p6 07.19 5 Old Ben: Old Ben's Specials

Wild Parrots Of Valid July 1-31, 2019 San Diego— Born To Be Wild Old Ben’s Classic By Old Ben Wild Bird Seed Classic mix that attracts a wide In San Diego’s older neighborhoods nuisance. They may not be as graceful variety of wild birds. No fillers. such as Ocean Beach, Point Loma, and quiet as the hummingbird, but Pacific Beach, Banker’s Hill, El Cajon, who can’t find joy in seeing these 20lb. bag Clairemont, La Mesa, and Lakeside parrots preening on the power lines, Sale $24.99 Reg. $29.99 amongst the trees, are flocks of wild high on tree limbs, or seeing the flock green parrots or Red Crowned Amazon soaring above the city streets? Parrots. These parrots know paradise Old Ben’s Nyger Seed The parrots are very social. They when they fly over it. San Diego has Attracts Lesser Gold Finches and squawk to communicate with each one of the largest population of these many other small birds. other, to head off danger from birds birds. 10lb. bag of prey, and announce their coming In the early morning or evening if you and going. Sale $24.99 Reg. $29.99 are walking through one of these neigh- The parrots are just over one foot in borhoods, you will hear these birds length. Their brilliant green feathers, screeching as they fly over. They always Old Ben’s Anniversary green cheeks, and red forehead will travel in flocks and if you are lucky, you catch your attention. If you see one of Seed Blend will see them land in eucalyptus and 10 ingredients, 95% no mess, them up close, you would see blue and palm trees. attracts small, medium and large red feathers under their wings and birds like a magnet. How did they get to San Diego? yellow tail feathers. Legend has it that decades ago, the 20lb. bag Breeding takes place between March birds were released by a pet shop and May. The couple lives together in Sale $34.99 Reg. $44.99 owner. The truth is not completely the nest, usually a palm tree, caring for clear, but most bird experts believe two to five eggs over an incubation All specials limited to stock on hand. that some pets escaped, acclimated No special orders. Cannot be combined with period of 25 - 31 days. and thrived. any other discount or offer. These green parrots were born to be There are some people who are not wild. There is something wonderful wild about these birds, saying that the about knowing they are free to fly. Ask Old Ben! parrots are obnoxious and are a loud • How cool would it be if you could reach out and ask Old Ben all Old Ben’s Classic Jelly Feeders kinds of questions about birds, Jelly feeders provide food for a variety of wild birds. Fill cups with show him your (feathered) bird grape jelly, dried mealworms, special seeds, and put fresh fruit on photos, or share your birding the fruit spikes. Feeders vary in artistic design. Especially great for experiences? Well, now you can attracting Orioles and Finches. Jelly not included. at [email protected]

Your Choice of Single Cup or Double Cup Feeder Sale $39.99 Reg. $49.99

Both stores will be closed for July 4th 07.19 6 Garden Classes JULY Cymbidium Orchids continued from p4 Saturday classes are FREE and last about an hour. Complimentary coffee is container so it is about half full. Then served. During inclement weather, classes are held indoors in San Diego and on place the roots of your division over the covered, heated patio in Poway. Topics are subject to change. See the full the chips and try to work a few chips schedule at www.walterandersen.com/calendar/. into and around the roots. You will need to hold the division so the clump will be about half buried. When you SAN DIEGO | 9:00AM POWAY | 9:30AM fill in more chips, be sure they are not too deep, the back bulbs should be 7/6 7/6 about half covered. Fill in more chips Container Gardening No Class and press them down firmly. I also 7/ 1 3 7/ 1 3 use a short stick (about 1” x 1” x 14” Bonsai Bonsai Workshop with Tony long) and tamp all around the inside $35 Materials Fee, Must RSVP & of the container. This packs the chips 7/2 0 Pre-Pay ato 858-513-4900 tighter to hold the plant in place. Fill Living with Houseplants the container to about 1/2” from the 7/2 0 7/2 7 top. Place two or three Gro-Power Fun Fairy Gardens for All Organic Controls for Garden tablets on top of the chips and water with Richard Wright Insects & Pests thoroughly. The tablets will gradually 7/2 7 dissolve to fertilize the plant. Apply Staghorn Ferns: Remounting more Gro-Power tablets every three & Care with David Ross months. Place your repotted Cymbid- ium in a brightly shaded area. If placed in too dark an area, they won’t bloom as much. Water about once a week, more often during hot weather. • July Specials Valid July 1-31, 2019 2-Gallon Monrovia Bountiful Blue & Sunshine Blue Blueberries Now $19.99 Reg. $29.99 25% OFF Renee’s Seeds Available in both stores San Diego’s Independent Nursery Since 1928 TM 25% OFF Cornucopia Seeds In Poway only, not available in San Diego walterandersen.com Specials limited to stock on hand. No special orders. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. While supplies last. Hedge Fund$ may be redeemed. facebook

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