amaryllis blooming inside in Amherst NY

Reminder for WNY: Bring amaryllis inside soon so it blooms at Christmas

by Connie Oswald Stofko If you want to force your amaryllis to bloom inside around Christmas, bring it inside around the middle of August. That’s the advice from David Clark, CNLP, who teaches the horticulture classes at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. See our previous article here to find out about the timing for amaryllis. Find out more about growing amaryllis here….

wandering dude hanging baskets at Mischler's in Williamsville NY

Recharge houseplants outdoors while they fill in your landscape

by Connie Oswald Stofko Several weeks ago, the folks at one garden center suggested I do an article about houseplants–in summer! That’s an odd topic for this time of year, I thought to myself. Then another garden center suggested the same thing. When a third garden center brought up houseplants, I knew I had to find out more. Here are some reasons to pay attention to houseplants in summer: Healthier houseplants Your houseplants will grow better outside because they can…

Schlumbergera or holiday cactus from Bugwood

Learn about Christmas cactus & more in WNY Gardening Matters

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera buckleyi) is an easy-to-care-for houseplant that can flourish for years, said Lyn Chimera in this article in the most recent edition of WNY Gardening Matters. “I still have a large plant that started out as a cutting from my mother over 50 years ago,” she said. Learn more about Christmas cactuses– and Thanksgiving cactuses, too– as well as how to care for them, in the article. Also in this edition is a graphic on principles of permaculture….

Haworthia succulents in Williamsville NY

One thing you didn’t know about succulents; find out more at Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko You might already know that succulents are easy to care for. You don’t need to fuss with them. They don’t need much water. And they don’t need a lot of light. But did you know that some succulents need more light than other succulents? We’ll discuss that in this article, and you can get more details on the best growing conditions for succulents in a talk at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at Mischler’s Florist and…

'Autumn Leaves' poinsettia at Mischler's in Williamsville NY

Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, poinsettias help you celebrate!

by Connie Oswald Stofko Poinsettias are wonderful for all the winter holidays, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. You can use them to decorate your home or give them as gifts. The colorful part of the poinsettia that looks like a flower petal is actually a bract, a kind of leaf. Poinsettias come in many different colors. Here are just three from Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses in Williamsville: ‘Autumn Leaves’, which has bracts in autumny orange tones ‘Princettia’, the whitest poinsettia…

sweet potatoes

Is it a yam or sweet potato, plus more from Master Gardeners

Your supermarket may call them yams, but they are probably sweet potatoes, according to an article in the latest issue of WNY Gardening Matters. A true “sweet potato” is not a yam. And a sweet potato isn’t a potato, either. Find out more about sweet potatoes and yams in this article by Carol Ann Harlos. Other articles in this issue are: Not Your Grandmother’s Houseplants Anymore by Vicki Bruning MG Volunteer Meeting Speaker: Dave Zittel by Carol Ann Harlos…

Tradescantia plants

Mark your calendar for Foliage Friday & Succulent Saturday at Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko Get bargains on houseplants and succulents during Foliage Friday and Succulent Saturday, March 19 and 20 at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Sale prices will be in effect both days for both houseplants and succulents. Shop early for the best selection. The entire collection of more than 100 varieties of succulents will be on sale. Succulents in…

amaryllis flowers

Amaryllis: how to keep it blooming inside every year

by Connie Oswald Stofko Amaryllis seems to be the most popular flower on Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com. Maybe that’s because it has a very large and showy flower– and you can enjoy inside in the winter! Gardeners who received an amaryllis at Christmastime want to know how to keep it blooming year after year. My friend David Clark, international gardening expert, has provided most of the information about amaryllis on my site. Below are links to the articles that you will probably find…

montage for early autumn

Six timely reminders for your early autumn garden

by Connie Oswald Stofko Here are some topics from previous issues that may answer a question that has come up for you recently, or may act as a timely reminder. Have you had houseplants outside for the summer? Here is information on how to get rid of bugs before you bring your plants inside. If you want a delightful springtime show of blossoms, plant bulbs now. Find suggestions here on what perennials to plant around tulips to hide the dying…

bromeliad silver vase

Fill your home with indoor plants that are trendy–and easy!

by Connie Oswald Stofko “There’s a resurgance” in growing indoor plants, said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market. “Indoor plants aren’t just an accent item; people are filling their homes with them.” People who use a lot of plants in their homes don’t want more of the same plants they already have. “They’re looking for unique and different varieties,” Jablonski-Dopkin said. But new doesn’t have to mean fussy or challenging to grow. Here are some trendy…