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MASTER GARDENERS December 2020 Issue

In this issue 2021 Plans State Wide MG Survey ...... 1 • February 6, 2021, 9:00 AM Central – Pikeville (in SVMG Survey ...... 1 person) and possibly a ZOOM option - details to Hours...... 1 come 2021 Plans ...... 1 • April 17, 2021, 9:00 AM Central, Dunlap – plans are UT Gardens of the Month ...... 2 to meet at the Dunlap Coke Ovens January Gardening Calendar ...... 4 • May 1-2, 2021 – Valley Fest • July 24, 2021 – Tomato Tasting, Pikeville, Bledsoe State Wide MG Survey Count Extension office • August 2021 County Fairs Please Fill Out This Brief Survey to Share with Us • November 6, 2021, 9:00 AM Central, Dunlap location YOUR Thoughts on TEMG Programming in 2020! (Click to be announced here to go straight to the UT survey) Mark Your Calendars for our 2021 Regional TEMG Conferences SVMG Survey • May 20, 2021, Eastern Region in Fentress County There is also a survey for SVMG Members • June 24, 2021, Central Region in Warren County https://forms.gle/my6DmmtVs2ENubHE9 • Sept. 17-18, 2021 Western Region in Montgomery County Hours As we near the end of the and reporting time Short Note please report your hours in the database. The paperwhite narcissus is a popular bulb for • 249.25 Volunteer hours reported thus far (11-1- indoor forcing in the winter months. A common problem 2020) with paperwhites, however, is that they often grow too • 69.5 CEUs reported tall and flop over. Check out the article “Pickling your • Total Hours Value: $5523.38 Paperwhites: Ginning Up Paperwhites That Don’t Flop Don’t worry if the hours do not add up to 25 Over” at volunteer hours or 8 hours CEUs record your effort and http://www.hort.cornell.edu/miller/bulb/Pickling_your_ we will work through any shortfalls. The key this year is Paperwhites.pdf to be making an effort. Please, take a few minutes to update your hours.

December 2020

UT Gardens Plant of the Month Christmas Submitted by Mary Lewnes Albrecht, professor emerita, Department of Plant Sciences

The popular Christmas cactus is native to South American tropical forests and is quite different from cacti. Christmas cacti (and related Thanksgiving and Easter cacti) grow in rock crevices and on tree trunks and . litter and other organic matter accumulate in these spaces providing the growing media. This environment also has filtered sunlight and high humidity. All these cacti are related and named for Belgian horticulturist, Frederick Schlumberger. Thanksgiving cactus ( truncata), Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii, Schlumbergera x buckleyi), and Easter cactus (Schlumbergera gaertneri, synonym Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) and hybrids of these species are collectively called Holiday Cactus. colors include , pink, purple, orange, and cream. The stems are segmented, Christmas cactus is a cheery addition to indoor holiday flattened to round in cross-section, and feature weak or no spines. decorations. Photo by M. Albrecht, courtesy UTIA. The stems gracefully arch making them excellent for hanging baskets. An easy way to distinguish among the three species is the shape of the segments or cladophylls (translated to “flattened stems”). Thanksgiving cactus has the sharpest teeth or claws along the edges with the Easter cactus having rounded edges. The Christmas cactus segments have smaller teeth but are not nearly so rounded. There are no true on these . The -bearing anthers on the Thanksgiving cactus are yellow, whereas the anthers on the Christmas cactus are purplish-brown. Christmas cactus thrives in a well-drained mix rich in organic material. Don’t use the sand-based mixes intended for desert cacti. Use a combination of a peat- based mix blended in equal parts with a -based orchid mix. Pine bark fines or pine bark soil conditioner may also be used instead of the orchid mix. This will provide good water retention and great drainage at the same time. Make sure the pot has drainage hole(s), then water thoroughly allowing excess water to drain thoroughly, before returning the pot to its saucer or outer decorative container. During the active growing season of spring through summer, keep the mix evenly moist. To set flower buds in the fall, allow it to go quite dry between watering. When new growth starts from the tips in late winter or early spring, fertilize through summer following the directions for rate and frequency given on the fertilizer package. Overfertilization can damage your Christmas cactus’ fine, scant system. Give your Christmas cactus bright but indirect or filtered light during summer. Keeping it on the north side of the house under the shade of trees works, as does a screened-in porch. Too much direct light can damage the plant. To encourage flower bud formation in late summer, slowly decrease the amount of water, letting the mix dry out between watering. Flower formation A large specimen of Christmas cactus can make a spectacular display, given the occurs under the shortening days and the cooler nights of autumn. If you keep correct conditions, including lighting. the Christmas cactus outdoors, it can handle night temperatures down into the Photo by M. Albrecht of her own 40s. Don’t let it stay outdoors if night temperatures begin to dip below 40 specimen, courtesy UTIA. degrees F. If it remains indoors year-round, find a space where gets cool (between 55 and 65 degrees F) and where it can be in total darkness for

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December 2020 approximately 13 hours every night. The cooler the nights, the less dependence on the strict 13 hours of darkness. If the night temperatures are above 70 degrees F, 15 hours of darkness is recommended. drop off Christmas cactus for many reasons: excessive flower set (too many buds), sudden changes in temperature (drafts from heating vents), amount of light, or moisture level in the growing mix (too dry or too wet). To reduce the chances of bud drop, make sure you water properly, especially during blooming. The numerous increase the surface area from which water will evaporate. If possible, do not move your Christmas cactus to another location when buds are present or flowers are open. Don’t worry if the plant gets “too big for its pot.” They can remain in the same pot for several and grow well when pot bound. And, when it is time to move into a larger pot, prune back the plant and repot into a slightly larger container (for example, go from a 6-inch to an 8-inch pot). The major disease is root rot, which can be prevented by avoiding excessive watering. Potential insect problems include , soft brown scale, red spider mites and ; however, these are uncommon.

America's favorite holiday plant Poinsettias are the number one selling potted in the U.S., with sales topping $250 million annually Poinsettias are the favored Christmas holiday potted plant. While red is still the traditional color, pinks, whites, variegated, salmon, yellow and even orange varieties abound, says Susan Hamilton, director of the University of Tennessee Gardens. Plant sizes vary from standard 4- to 6-inch pots, to miniatures to tree forms and even hanging baskets. “It’s amazing what greenhouses and garden centers are offering this season with free, professional advice on how to get the most from this holiday plant,” says Hamilton. Some of the new and unique selections you may see include: ‘Orange Spice,’ a true orange poinsettia great for any Tennessee Volunteer fan; ‘Ice Punch,’ a cranberry red with a frosty white pattern; ‘Peppermint Twist Winter Rose’ and ‘Red Winter Rose,’ which have globe-shaped as you’ve never seen on a poinsettia; and ‘Red Glitter,’ This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under red with a lot of white splotches that give a striking look. CC BY-SA “Not-so-new selections on the market — but ones you are likely to find readily available, and I would never hesitate to purchase — are the ‘Freedom’ series of red, pink, white, jingle bell and marble, which have vibrant colors and long-keeping quality. A novel twist on the common poinsettia is to interplant ferns, creating what is called the ‘Fernsettia.’ If you’d like to add some pizzazz, most garden centers can spray paint or put glitter on a poinsettia!” exclaims the gardening expert. Regardless of the size or variety, poinsettias like bright light and even moisture. They cannot tolerate going too dry. If a poinsettia wilts, it will proceed to lose most of its leaves. With plenty of light and even moisture, they can keep their colored bracts for many months. Flowers or Foliage? The poinsettia ( pulcherima) does not have showy flowers. Rather, the bracts, or modified leaves, create the splash of color during the holiday season, while the true flowers are small and insignificant. The colorful foliage of poinsettias is a response to photoperiod, the hours of daily sunlight. There are so many shapes, sizes, and colors of poinsettias available that there is one to fit any indoor setting. Are Poinsettias Poisonous? Contrary to popular belief, Hamilton assures consumers that poinsettias are not poisonous. However, several plants in the same family as poinsettia are poisonous. “The Ohio State University conducted research on the poinsettia plant, effectively disproving the charge that the poinsettia is harmful to human and animal health. Of course, the poinsettia, like all ornamental plants, is not intended for human and animal consumption,” she said. A Bit of History According to Hamilton, the first known use of poinsettias for holiday celebrations occurred in the 17th century when a group of Franciscan priests settled in southern . Since poinsettias bloom during the Christmas season, they began to utilize the plant in nativity processions. It wasn’t until 1825, however, that the plant became known to the United States. Joel Robert Poinsette, a botanist and the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, had some plants sent to his home in Greenville, S.C. He shared the plants with other plant enthusiasts and now Dec. 12, National Poinsettia Day, recognizes Poinsette’s contribution to the holiday season and greenhouse industry. Poinsettias are the top-selling puttied flowering plant in the U.S. In 2011, according to the USDA, 35 million plants were sold, with retail sales totaling $250 million.

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December 2020

“Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration.” Lou Erickson

January Gardening Calendar It's really hard to get motivated to do much of anything outdoors, but there are a few tasks and chores which you should do on those days when the weather is favorable! Indoor house plants • Amaryllis bulbs are out in abundance this time of year. If you didn't receive one for the holidays, go out and buy one. These bulbs make a beautiful show indoors and can help to make up for the loss of color now that the holiday decorations are being put away. Put your bulbs in a bright sunny location and water lightly until growth begins. Once you see signs of growth, make sure there is ample water but don't keep it saturated. Within six weeks, you should have a stunning bloom. • Leftover poinsettias can keep their color long after the holidays are over, with just a little care. Remove the foil wraps and give them a basket or other basin to catch overflow water. Give them bright sunlight and even moisture and the colorful bracts can remain bright for months. When the color starts to fade, cut the plants back by half if they have grown leggy and treat them like a houseplant. Give them bright light and even moisture and wait for spring to move them outdoors. Garden Planning • Design and plan the spring garden space. Early planning allows time to research plants' habits and performances. Review notes and photographs from the previous year. • On warm days, take a look at the bare bones of your garden structure. See where plants can be placed, which plants might need to be moved, and write down your thoughts and ideas for future reference when the planting season begins. • Continue to feed the ! • If your winter landscape is a bit dull, consider what plants you could add to make it more interesting. Plants with berries can brighten a winter landscape, and some have interesting bark and foliage. A great accent plant is the contorted filbert or Harry Lauder's Walking Stick. This twisted and gnarled plant is most attractive without its foliage. Hollies are loaded with berries, and so are many nandinas. Nandinas also have the advantage of red winter foliage. Some sasanqua camellias are still blooming, and the Mahonia will start to bloom in a month. If you are thinking of adding to your landscape, make sure you use plants that can add interest in every season. Perennials, annuals, and bulbs • Check your starting supplies and get everything on hand that you are going to need. • Start perennials, geraniums, snapdragons, sweet peas, and pansies. Many other plants such as lobelia and verbena also need to be started indoors by the end of the month to be ready for spring. • Start ordering early from mail-order sources for the best seed and plant selection. • Soil moisture levels should still be good but do pay attention, to containerized plants outdoors, which may need some extra water, especially before a hard freeze. Pansies and other winter annuals are blooming well, provided you planted them early enough. We usually have periods of warmer weather throughout the winter, and when we do, consider adding a little extra fertilizer to your plants. Clip off the spent flowers to keep them blooming. Pansies and violas can freeze solid, then defrost and keep blooming. • Hopefully, you have planted all of your spring bulbs by now, but if you find a bag of bulbs that didn't get planted, plant them as soon as possible. Keep in mind that all spring bulbs must go through a chilling process of a minimum of twelve weeks to be able to grow tall and give you the best results. You can't hang on to those bulbs for another year they would dry out and be lost. If you planted early, you may have noticed the foliage emerging. For many bulbs that is normal, and you need to avoid damaging it. Keep in mind some early bulbs early crocus and daffodils can start blooming in February so their foliage should begin to appear.

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December 2020

Shrubs and trees • Avoid the use of salt-based products on sidewalks and drives. Sand or cat litter provides • good traction on slick spots without damage to lawn, ornamentals, or concrete. • Take hardwood cuttings as well as from Roses. • If you have plants that need to be relocated to a different part of your landscape, we are smack dab in the middle of the dormant period, so move at will. You may want to pick a day that is not cold. Not only will it be easier on you, but also your plants. Pay particular attention to the . The tops are acclimated to cold and can take it, but the root system has been protected by soil and mulch and is not particularly cold-hardy. • Wrap the root ball if the move is any distance, and get them replanted ASAP. Subjecting the roots to extended cold or drying out, can lead to damaged or even dead plants. • When the temperatures are below freezing, avoid much contact with plant material outside. Frozen plants are brittle, and limbs can be broken easily. If ice or snow is on your plants, use caution around them. Heavy loads of snow can be lightly brushed off, but stay away from ice-laden plants. You can't remove the ice without breaking off branches. If you have that are subject to winter damage gardenias, etc., and temperatures are predicted well below 15 _ 20 degrees, a light covering with sheets, blankets, etc. can help. Avoid using plastic, which can encourage more temperature fluctuations, if the sun is out. • Watch out for newly planted trees and shrubs, and water if needed. While the temperatures are colder, plants won't use as much water, nor will we lose it to evaporation, but some moisture may be needed if we don't get it naturally. • It is always better to be prepared. In the event of winter damage to your outside shrubs, don't be too quick to prune. Any broken limbs or branches should be removed as quickly as you can, but if you simply have burned foliage, leave it alone until spring. Hopefully, any damage will be superficial, and the plants will bounce back on their own. If not, the damaged foliage can serve as a buffer in the event of more winter weather. Hopefully, this information will be reference material, and we won't have to use it this winter season. and veggies • Prune Grapes. • Prune trees and spray with Lime Sulphur and Dormant Oil to prevent insects and diseases. • Spray Copper Spray to prevent Peach Leaf Curl. • If you had terrible insect problems in your vegetable garden this year particularly grubs, squash vine borers, and other soil insects, tilling your garden in the winter can help to control them. Many of these insects burrow down in the ground and spend the winter in a larval stage. Tilling can bring them closer to the surface and low temperatures can help to kill them. Don't do this if the ground is too wet, but if the soil is workable, this can help to start the season off clean. Lawn care: • Stay off frozen grass. • If you see greening up occurring in your warm-season lawns such as Bermuda, zoysia, or St. Augustine, that means winter weeds are establishing themselves. Using a 2,4-D broadleaf weed killer can stop them in their tracks before they get large, bloom, and set . • You may not have gotten to all the fallen leaves raking can still be done this month. Shredded leaves can be added as a mulch to flower beds or even the vegetable garden.

Noteworthy items UT Extension Sequatchie County has a new and updated site https://sequatchie.tennessee.edu/ you might want to update your bookmarks just to make sure you are at the right site. Let us know what you think of the new site.

Publications of interest Now More than Ever: The 2020-2021 Flu Vaccine D 132

D 75 Garlic for the Tennessee Vegetable Garden

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December 2020

Use Natural Greenery To Deck the Halls Living trees and plants always brighten the holidays Looking for ideas for decking your halls and walls? Here are some tips from Jason Reeves, horticulturist at the UT Gardens, Jackson, for using natural greenery, some of which may be available for free: • Prune a little fresh-cut greenery from your landscape. When pruning the greenery, cut back to a branch so as not to leave a stub. When conifers, do not cut beyond the innermost needles. If you do, it may not regenerate from that point again. To extend the life of fresh-cut greenery, soak it in a bucket of water overnight to hydrate the leaves and stems Although beautiful, poinsettia plants are difficult to keep after the before using. holidays. Jason Reeves, a horticulturist with the University of • Use cyclamen, kalanchoe, poinsettia, paperwhites, Tennessee Gardens recommends they be added to the compost amaryllis, Christmas cactus, English ivy, and rosemary pile when they lose their appeal. Photo courtesy UTIA. topiaries for weeks of added color and interest to the home during the holidays. Most perform at their highest in bright, indirect light, away from drafts. Rosemary would appreciate as much light as possible. While some may be attractive for years to come, others, like cyclamen, kalanchoe, and poinsettias are often best added to the compost pile once they begin to decline. Some natural greenery can present problems when grown indoors, Reeves cautions. “Growing rosemary indoors can be a bit tricky. While it is one of the most -tolerant plants once established in the landscape, it resents drying out in a pot,” he said. “Seldom will rosemary recover, once it has dried out. By the same token, it does not like wet soil. Check it daily and keep the soil slightly moist.” Reeves recommends planting it outdoors in the spring in a sunny, well-drained location after the danger of frost has passed. He adds that most of the topiaried rosemaries available around the holidays are not reliably winter hardy outdoors in Tennessee. The 'Arp' and 'Hill Hardy' are two of the hardier cultivars. Reeves also cautions about growing live trees. “The idea of a living Christmas tree that can be planted outdoors after the holiday may sound appealing, but without proper selection and care the experience can be disappointing,” Reeves said. “First, you should carefully select a tree that is suited to your area of the state,” said Reeves. “While white pine, spruce, and fir will work in the cooler parts of Tennessee, they should be avoided in the warmer regions of the state. Virginia pine, eastern red cedar, Japanese cedar, and cypress are good choices for all areas in Tennessee.” Reeves added that hemlock and Leyland cypress should be avoided. “Hemlock and Leyland cypress experience the numerous problems with insects and disease, once inserted into the landscape,” Reeves said. If you do choose to have a living tree indoors for the holiday – one that you plan to plant outside once the packages are open and Santa is long gone, Reeves says you should plan to set it outside really quickly. “Any living tree brought indoors should not remain inside any longer than five days,” he said. “One option is decorating and enjoying the tree while still outdoors before bringing it inside. Be sure to keep it well watered, but not standing in water.”

The Extension Master Gardener Program is a program of the University of Tennessee Extension Sheldon Barker J. C. Extension Agent Extension Agent Sequatchie Co. Bledsoe Co. 170 Church St PO Box 289 Dunlap, TN 37327 Pikeville, TN 37367 423-949-2611 423-447-2451 UT Extension Sequatchie County web page UT-TSU Extension Bledsoe County Webpage Sequatchie County Facebook Bledsoe County Facebook Useful links: Sequatchie Valley Master Gardening Program Link and TMG Volunteer Handbook link

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