On the last “Gardening in Georgia” program of the 2002 season
(Oct. 26), host Walter Reeves looks at houseplants, beautyberry,
bromeliads and spring bulbs.
Propagating houseplants, he says, is more successful if the
rooting medium is kept warm. So he demonstrates how to
build a wooden box containing a small light bulb. He covers the
box with a metal cookie sheet that serves as a propagation tray.
A hotplate gets into the act, too, hastening the rooting of leaf
cuttings from favorite houseplants.
“Psychedelic” is one of the best words to describe the color of
purple beautyberry. Hank Bruno at Callaway Gardens shows Reeves
the different varieties– even a white-berried form that isn’t
so
likely to make your eyes pop when you see it.
Bromeliads
Bromeliads’ centers are filled with water, but the roots like to
be dry. Reeves shows how to use an apple to force a bromeliad to
bloom. He adds a tip on breaking off a “pup” from the side of a
mature plant and planting it in loose potting soil.
Finally, Bob Westerfield of the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture
points out a free publication, “Flowering Bulbs for Georgia
Gardeners.” You can get this publication from your county office
of the University
of Georgia Extension Service.
“Gardening in Georgia” (www.gardeningingeorgia.com) is produced
by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
and
GPTV. It airs twice each Saturday, at noon and 7 p.m.
