Gardeners Supply Plant Care & Gardening Advice/Tips/Secrets @ HortChat.com®

Hi ! I live in northern Wisconsin, I would like to plant calla lily in clay pots and start them in the house in a south window ( 1 bulb per pot) Then place them outside. I have never done this. Is it possible? How soon should I see growth and how soon should I place them outside? Thank so much !

You can start the rhizomes indoors in full sun. Plant them so that the tips is just below soil level, the rough nubby side up.   They sould come up in a couple of weeks. Water and keep moist but not wet. Move outdoors when night temperatures are no lower than 50 degrees. The initial blooming time can be 8-14 wks depending on variety and growing conditions. White callas (Zantedeschia aethiopica) take 11-14 wks, cooler temps and need moist soil. Colored hybrid callas (Zantedeschia hybrids) can take 8 wks to bloom, warmer temps and less moisture.

Calla lilies are  summer blooming plants hardy in zone 7-10.  They will not tolerate frost, if outdoors so be sure to dig them up in the fall and store them slightly moist in a cool, dry place for the winter. Calla lilies are not hardy in Wisconsin.

I currently have a beautiful Mandevilla and would like to preserve it for the winter months. I live on Long Island NY. any tips?

There are many varieties of Mandevillas,including varieties formerly known as Dipladenia. The old fashioned variety Mandevilla x amabilis Alice du Pont has fuzzy foliage and bright pink flowers, grows vigorously. Among other cultivars Mandevilla splendens (Dipladenia splendens) has a dark glossy leaf. Both are grown trellised and have a tendency to vine. These species of tropical vines winter over only in the tropical South. They tolerate a minimum temperature of 45-50F at which time growth will begin to slow down. For winter storage keep the plant outside as long as possible before bringing it indoors. Check for insects and use insecticidal soap if needed.

To winterize the plant; either treat it as a houseplant or store it in a dormant stage.
Mandevilla as a houseplant can be trimmed back to make it manageable and needs a sunny window to flourish. Water once a week. You will get some leaf drop due to lower light and humidy indoors.
Another way to winterize mandevilla is in a dormant stage in a garage or cool basement with temperatures around 45-55F. Cut it back to about 12 inches above the soil line. Treat for insects if any. Keep it dry but not completely dry. Check periodically for soil moisture. It will drop its leaves. The important thing to keep in mind is that you want to keep it alive it through the winter. In the spring some of the old growth may be pruned back and when new shoots develop move the plant to a sunny window. Pinch the new growth to get a bushier plant. Repot in fresh soil and set outside when danger of frost has passed.

Mandevilla care click here

I was given a plant start from what I believe is a coleus plant. It has green leaves with a magenta center, the more sun it gets the deeper magenta the leaves get. I was told this is an inside plant. Aren’t coleus plants usually grown outdoors? It’s an extremely fast growing plant and I would love to know how to best care for it indoors. I would also like to make new plants to plant outdoors.

Coleus plants grow better outdoors in the sun/shade during the summer. They do get more colorful with extra light. If the plant gets too leggy, you can pinch it back and it will develop side shoots making a nice bushy plant to suit your size. They are not cold tolerant and will die back in the winter.
To save your coleus for the winter, cut off a 4-6 inch tip with a node, remove any flower stalks and place it in water. It should root within a few weeks. Once rooted, plant the cuttings in individual pots in a sunny window.
Another way is to take the cutting, remove lower leaves and insert in a moist, very well-drained potting soil. You can also dip the bottom end in rooting hormone (optional). Place the container in a plastic bag away from direct sun. Check the soil periodically, so it stays moist. It should root within 10 days. To check if your plant has rooted, lightly tug on the plant.

The brilliantly colored coleus also makes a nice houseplant. When indoors, provide bright filtered light, well-drained, evenly moist soil and temperatures between 70-85F. For continued vegetative growth, remove any flower spikes it produces or the plant will go to seed and decline or die. Start fertilizing in the early spring when the plant begins to show signs of new growth. You can take cuttings from the mother plant in early spring to make more plants for outdoor planting. As with any houseplant, keep them away from heating vents/air conditioners. They are easy to care for.
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