Happy almost Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day or Palentine’s Day! What some might call “Hallmark holidays” started as dates to promote card and candy sales; these days can also be an excuse for simple fun and creative gatherings. If you make the holiday your own, you can ignore what some experts say you should do to celebrate. While roses and candy are classics, a red bromeliad can be a long-lasting, easy gift, too.
Ever so simple to water, you know it is time when their central cup, or tank, is empty. Fill the cup and they’re good for another week at least. In their natural habitat, bromeliads gather nutrients through special cells on their leaves that absorb rain and passing water that has dissolved organic materials and minerals. The leaves form the tank that also holds water and dissolves debris and insects to feed the plant.
Before I dig into more flowers and plants you might share with your love, favorite gal, or best pal, I remind you that I am a lazy gardener. Flowers and plants are buried under feet of snow and lay dormant in frozen soil. Luckily, garden centers and floral departments will set you up with something blooming or green and you don’t need to feel bad that you didn’t grow it yourself.
I still love cut flowers in bud when otherwise buried and frozen in February. Choose a bouquet with many flowers still in bud and a few open. The budded flowers will open within a week or two and help the bouquet to continue looking fresh.
When you have purchased a bouquet of cut flowers, or anything in bloom in February, ensure that the flowers are wrapped in protective paper before bringing them outdoors. Once cut flowers reach their destination, select a vase or tall glass for holding the flowers and fill halfway with lukewarm water. Bouquets typically come with a packet of floralife or similar cut-flower preservative. The packets provide some nutrients and will keep the water fresher longer. Mix that or dissolve into the vase water.
Trim off any leaves that might be submerged in water. Arrange the cut stems in your hand so that you have some blooms or buds lower on the sides and some crowning in the center. Bring to a sink with running water and hold the stems under the stream part way up. Using strong scissors or snips, cut off the stems evenly at the bottom but each at a slight angle. Then, set the bouquet in your vase. Trimming under water keeps the moisture in the stem. The stems should now hold your arrangement in position. The slight angle will allow the stem to absorb more water. To keep the bouquet fresh, trim off faded blooms and trim a half inch to an inch of the stems every couple days before placing in fresh water.
But really, a houseplant for your valentine, galentine, or palentine could be the ideal gift!
Choose a long-lasting flower in bud and bloom to enjoy for weeks or months. Orchids and cyclamen will both look beautiful as a gift and, with a little attention, put out more blooms for a long time.
When choosing, learn a little something about the care of these plants. Orchids don’t grow in soil. They attach themselves with tendrils and roots to the sides of trees in moist tropical locations. To keep them growing at home, keep the roots in a pack of moist moss and orchid bark. Water every few days by bringing the whole plant to the sink, soak in water, and then let the water drain out. Keep the orchid in a bright location but away from direct sunlight. Set in an eastern window or set back from a southern window.
You could also up your Valentine’s game with a lady slipper orchid. These can be harder to find, but they bloom well indoors in winter and early spring.
One of my favorites for February blooms are cyclamen. Their blooms look like fluttering hearts on delicate stems. They tolerate cool temperatures and bright light found indoors now. Keep the soil consistently moist.
Why stop at one plant? A terrarium can provide a variety of plants in a self-contained ecosystem! A clear container that holds one to two gallons is large enough for layers of soil and three to five small terrarium plants. Try small rooted plugs of ferns, moss, or ivy or other special tropical plants that grow well in high humidity. Here is a link to steps for planting one of your own.
I call myself the Lazy Berkshire Gardener because I don’t want to work too hard in my gardens. I want to enjoy them. I find it easier to observe my landscape and let the compost happen, the water pool up, or daisies to self-sow. I look for ways to do the minimum task for the biggest impact. For example, mulching is better than spraying and much better than weeding all season. I look for beautiful, low-maintenance plants that thrive in or at least tolerate my garden conditions. Plus, I am willing to live with the consequences if I miss something.
