HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-04-16, Page 41TE -EM
FARM
■
N
Add some
colour to
oyour home
Lush, green houseplants are a delight to
the eye, but sometimes they can become
monotonous. One way to add a touch of color
to the "all -green scene" is with variegated
plants. Their leaves can be fust as vibrant
and colorful as flowering plants.
Variegated plants such as the silver table
fern (species Pteris) and the multicolored
croton are particularly decorative during
fall and winter, when many flowering
houseplants are dormant.
These and other colorful bushes, trees and
vines are also easier to grow and maintain
than their flowering counterparts. They
need less light and will tolerate lower room
temperatures.
Consider the pin stripe plant (Calathea or-
nata). Its bright -green oval leaves are vein-
ed with pink and white stripes. For added in-
terest, the undersides of the leaves are
maroon or burgundy.
It is an elegant focal point in a display of
dark -green philodendrons and scheffleras.
The surrounding foliage helps create the
high humidity it needs. The plant seldom
grows more than 18 inches tall.
Croton is another eye catcher when tuck-
ed in among a mass of greenery. Its
leathery leaves are dappled with splotches
of yellow, copper, pink, red, orange, brown
or ivory. In fact, no two leaves are alike on
®the same plant.
Crotons grow fast, often as much as 12 in-
ches a year. Top leaves should be pruned to
keep the plant a manageable size.
Colorful plants for table tops and
bookshelves include the pilea "Saver Tree"
and the coleus, a member of the mint
family.
"Silver Tree" has lightly -quilted leaves
marked with a central band of silver, and
bronze -green edges. Coleus varieties pre-
sent an amazing range of color combina-
tions and leaf shapes, including some with
ruffled edges. Top leaves should be pinched
off frequently to encourage dense growth.
The dwarf silver table fern (Pteris "Vic-
toriae") is another choice candidate for
table -top display. Each slender frond has a
silver stripe running down the center. It
thrives in low light.
%AHIMATED CROTON
Variegated Swedish ivy is neither Swedish
nor ivy. It originated in Australia and is
another member of the mint family. Its
light -green leaves are streaked with cream.
This plant is excellent for hanging baskets.
Most people are familiar with the dark -
green, broad -leafed dieffenbachia,
sometimes call "dumb cane." The leaves of
some species are veined and mottled with
white.
One variety, "Rudolph Roehrs," has pale
gold -green leaves with white splotches and
dark -green edges and ribs. Dieffenbachias
are tolerant of low light.
'mese variegated plants are all relatively
problemfree. Cool room temperatures (65
degrees - 70 degree F.) will help bring out
the best of variegated colorations.
It's important to fertilize variegated
plants cautiously; too much feeding can
cause the color -splashed leaves to turn com-
pletely green.
To promote steady leaf growth without
sacrificing colour, fertilize once every two
months with a mild, nitrogen -based nutrient
such as Knox Unflavored Gelatine. Univer-
sity research has concluded that unflavored
gelatine, commonly used in recipes, helps
variegated plants become fuller.
To apply, dissolve an. envelope of gelatine
with one cup of hot tap water in a pitcher or
large mixing bowl. Add three cups of cold
water to make a quart. Water the plants
every two months with this mixture.
Decorating with variegated plants is a lit-
tle like decorating with fabrics. Too many
patterns clash. But a few multi -colored
plants interspersed with all -green varieties
can achieve a harmonious balance.
Spring is the time to get
backyard equipment in shape
With springtime just around the corner,
now is the time to get backyard equipment
in shape. After the long winter, it would be
wise to see how well lawn and patio furniture
weathered the storm and to make any
necessary repairs
One of the best ways to repair furniture
made from wood or metal is with epoxy.
However, up until now, most epoxies have
been difficult to work with and messy to use.
New from the Devcon Corporation this
season is an epoxy in putty form that makes
backyard furniture repairs a snap.
Easy to use
Un -Reel, a' fast -curing epoxy putty on a
handy pocket sized spool, features Devcon's
5 -Minute Epoxy Putty in a new easy-to-use
form. Simply tear or cut the needed amount
i,itil.
from the spool, blend together ' between
fingertips and apply to a clean dry surface.
Both resin and hardener are layered
together on the spool to make application
easy, quick and clean.
Devcon 5 -Minute Epoxy Putty is extreme-
„ly effective for filling gaps, plugging holes
and making durable repairs to lawn fur-
niture made from wood, metal and other
materials. The fast -bonding putty sets in
five minutes and reaches full strength in two
hours. Cured material can then be drilled,
tapped, sanded or painted.
The lightweight, compact Un -Reel spool
can easily fit into a shirt pocket or tool box to
be readily on hand for other quick, emergen-
cy repairs. Devcon's Un -Reel is available at
most hardware and home center stores.
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WE'LL RE AT •
THE GODERICH
HOME & GARDEN SHOW
This weekend - at the Goderlch Arena
April 2326.21
PAGE 15q
4\fif '41
*TREE
mendous
JOHN GIBSONI
R.R. No. 2 SEAFORTH 482-3229
)).>,..._,41.;,.!..E.,..„7,1),15'))„.__ E
Your local wholesaler and retailer
Where we offer Grower to you!
Pi QUALITY l SERVICE
[et SELECTION
Our greenhouses are full with...
-hundreds of beautiful hanging baskets '
-over 13,000 geraniums to choose from
-potted containers
-perennials - 50 varieties
-lots of colourful bedding plants
-large selection of nursery stock and potted roses
-dig your own cedar
...of plants to make up
your own containers
_ OR
let us do it for you!
Hours:
Mon. i. 9-8
Sat. & Sun. 9-6
Full Range
of
Garden Supplies
COME OUT AND
SEE US AT THE
HOME & GARDEN SHOW
YOUR HOSTS
TED & EMMA VANDERWOUDEN
R.R. No. 1 Bayfield Phone 482-3020
TE -EM FARM
a
011
a
WITH THIS AD
(Valid until the end of May)
1/41.11.1 Bayfield Phone 482-3020
Hundreds
of
Hanging Baskets
to choose front
$1.?OOff
3AVS ONV dil
HIGHWAY NO. 21
TELEPHONE RD.
HURON COUNTY RD. B
CLIP AND SAVE
TE -EM FARM
Thousands
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Geraniums
In stock
Buy 5
GET 1 FREE
(one per customer per ad)
Clip this ad and save
VALID UNTIL THE END OF MAY
3At/S ONV dll
R.R. 1 Bayfleld Phone 482-3020