News
O’Hara
Gift Boxes
We survived the Valentine's Day, our favorite day of the year - it was exciting and full of adrenaline and now are ready to work on a new collection.
Meanwhile we are very proud that gift boxes were very well received by our clients. We will definitely come up to more of these. If you have any suggestions or recommendations, please let us know. We are always very glad to hear from you!
Spring is coming with more surprises - stay tuned !
JADE PLANT
Crassula ovata
This low maintenance, long-lasting succulent looks like a tiny tree and is said to bring good fortune. It can produce flowers in winter.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
Location – position the plant on a sunny windowsill that is 50-75F (18-24C). It will tolerate periods at 50F (10C) in winter.
Light – Provide bright, dappled sunlight.
Watering + feeding - Water moderately; let the top 1in (2-3cm) of potting mix dry out between waterings. Water more sparingly in winter. Feed once in spring and then again in summer.
Care – Pull off any old, shriveled leaves. In spring, lightly prune the plant to shape. Plant in a weighty pot as it can become top-heavy and topple over.
YELLOWING LEAVES?
This is probably due to overwatering.
SAVE IT – Allow the potting mix to dry out and check that the pot is well drained.
DROPPING LEAVES?
Older leaves will shrivel and fall off naturally, but younger leaves may drop under environmental stress (such as being moved to bright sunlight suddenly, or over- or underwatering).
SAVE IT – Give water if the potting mix is very dry, or allow it to dry out of soggy. When repositioning, move your plant gradually toward the desired spot over a week, to allow it to acclimate.
SHRIVELED LEAVES AND STEMS?
Your plant is short of water.
SAVE IT – Give your plant a small amount of water daily over the course of a few days – the leaves should soon plump up again. Don’t let t stand in soggy potting mix.
LEGGY PLANT?
Your plant needs more sunlight
SAVE IT – Move it to a sunnier spot
CLIVIA
Clivia miniate
Clivias are native to South Africa and produce a beautiful, single, red, orange, or yellow flower in early spring.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
Location – From spring to late fall, keep the plant in a heated room. In winter, move it to a room that is 50F (10C) for 3 months to rest – this will help initiate a flower bud. Then return it to its spring-to-fall position.
Light – Provide bright, but indirect light.
Watering + Feeding – From spring to late fall, keep the potting mix moist. Reduce watering in winter so that the mix is almost dry. Feed once a month from spring to fall, and not at all during winter.
Care – Wipe the leaves occasionally. Don’t move the pot when the plant is flowering or in a bud. After flowering, cut off the dead flower spike at the base. The plant may produce a second flower in late summer. Clivias like to be snug, so repot the plant after flowering only if the roots are bursting out of the pot.
BLEACHED OR BROWN ON THE LEAVES?
The leaves are sunburned.
BROWN LEAVES AT THE BASE OF YOUR PLANT?
This happens when the older leaves are dying back.
SAVE IT
This is normal. Just gently pull away any brown leaves.
YELLOW LEAVES?
This could be due to underfeeding, or under- or overwatering.
SAVE IT
Make sure you are using the correct watering and feeding regimen for the season
SHORT FLOWER SPIKE? NO FLOWER IN SPRING?
This is most likely due to a lack of rest in winter, but it could be because the pot is too large, or because your plant was underwatered after being rested.
SAVE IT
It has been rested, make sure you keep the potting mix moist. Check that the pot is not too big – the root ball should only be 1in (2-3cm) away from the edge of the pot.
MUM
Chrysanthemum
Blooms come in many colors and last for several weeks. Chose plants with both open flowers and opening buds.
HOW NOT TO KILL IT
Location – Keep the plant at 50-60F (10-15C), as the flowers will last longer. A windowsill in a cool room is ideal.
Light – Provide bright, indirect light; keep it out of direct sun.
Watering + Feeding – A mum likes water, so keep the potting mix moist (but not soggy) at all times. You could feed the plant after a few weeks. It won't flower for long enough to need feeding a second time.
Care – Deadhead any spent flowers. Plants are often discarded after flowering, but you could try planting yours in your garden. It will have been treated with dwarfing hormones before it was sold, but should revert to its normal growth habit outdoors, and may flower in fall.
WILTING LEAVES?
The plant needs watering.
SAVE IT – Water your plant and ensure that you are keeping the potting mix moist, but not soggy
FLOWERS NOT LASTING?
Higher temperature will make the flowers open more rapidly and fade more quickly.
SAVE IT - Move it to a cooler spot that is 50-60F (10-15C)
FUZZY GRAU MOLD ON THE FOLIAGE?
This gray mold is called botrytis and may have been caused by your plant sitting in its cellophane wrapping for a long time.
SAVE IT – Remove any affected areas and treat with a fungicide.
BUDS WON'T OPEN?
The plant may not be getting enough light. If the buds are completely green, they may not open.
SAVE IT – Move your plant to a brighter spot.
