al. A ® Pe : : Three classes to enter: Gardening Fiction Children’s Maps & Charts Canadiana e Hay (locally grown) © Corn Silage ¢ Grass Silage Travel Business Nature Hobbies B.C. Books Nautical Books on Tape Reference Cookery Calendars | * Gardening Keeping house plants happy in winter Today let’s start off with a few hints on how to keep your house plants happy during these winter months. Several things @s we know all too well!) are quite different at this time of year...days are shorter, duller, furnace heat is turned up; there are sudden cold drafts from outside-doors, and many plants are either dormant, or, at best, making very slow growth....so many changes, and all in what seems just a mnatter of weeks. (groan!) Is it any wonder that many plants begin to lose leaves, OR leaf-edges turn brown, OR stems elongate, OR foliage leans toward the light, OR flower buds drop...a lengthy list of plant woes that worries the life out of most of us! But, be of good cheer, maybe we can do something to forstall at least some of these problems,to carry your plants successfully through, until spring. One option, if you have an abundance of space and some loose cash (or, maybe a loving and RICH relative) you could buy (or hint madly for) a plant table with florescent lights attached ...this would allow you a “psuedo- summer” all year *round. Wonderful for plants, but proba- bly a bit sterile, and hospital-like for the average livingroom, or den, but nice, of course, if you have suitable space somewhere else. ‘Dont leave plants on a windowsill, where, at night, they will be behind a heavy curtain, but close to the window glass’ Most of us don’t qualify for this kind of jazzy gift, so let’s see what we might do with what we have on hand. What can we do about short, dull days? Now much, m’dears, except to compensate by moving plants into the best possible lighti.e., as near as possible to a South facing window, permitting them as much direct sunlight as winter weather provides. The sun, at this time of year, is much too weak to damage foli- age...even delicate African violets will thrive in winter sunshine (when we are lucky enough to get any at all!) € One caution here: Don’t leave plants on a windowsill, where, at night, they will be behind a heavy curtain, but close to the window glass. I have seen many an unsuspect- ing small tropical plant killed, sitting cozily during the day,on a window-sill in a warm house. That night, confined between a heavy drape and a single pane of glass, the weather turns bitterly cold... our poor, little plant slowly turns to stone. Confined in its mini-refrigerator, unable to cry for help, it becomes an exotic ice sculpture! (sob!) Please don’t place houseplants directly above your forced hot-air vents: Leaves will dry out and turn brown in that warm, dry air, and the soil will dry out as well. Some books warn that plants shouldn’t be placed on top of a IS YOUR FORAGE A PRIZE 17720 - 57 Ave. Cloverdale 576-2911 33780 Laurel St. Abbotsford 852-5211 45850 Yale Rd. Chilliwack 795-8395 WINNER? Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island farmers are invited to see how their forage stacks up in the 13th annual South Coastal Forage Competition being held in conjunction with the 1992 Dairy Producers’ Short Course. Get details from your district agriculturist. Deliver two samples per entry to your local B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food district office between November 25 and December 6, 1991. Bldg. 20 8801 E. Saanich Rd. Sidney 656-0941 238 Government St. Duncan 746-1210 2500 Cliffe Ave. Courtenay 334-1239 T.V. set, either...that it’s too warm there, as well. - However, when I put that in a column, I had an immediate response from a woman who had an azalea in that exact spot. It had 100 flowers on it, and another 50 buds! No, I don’t " understand it either! Do try to keep delicate plants away from cold drafts ... most of them hate sudden blasts of frigid air, although tough ones, such as rubber plants, don’t seem to mind. Because growth in winter will be slowed almost to a halt, cut back on the fertilizer. If you usually feed plants every two weeks, reduce feeding to once a month, and, whatever you do, don’t overwater during this period. Only water when the soil seems quite dry, or leaves appear to be limp. Cold, wet soil is murder! You are bound to lose some leaves, just because winter conditions are never absolutely ideal, but most plants can afford to lose a few. As long as there are signs of new growth at the tips of branches, or in the “V” where branches leave the main stem, there is nothing to’ worry about. Plants will grow toward the light...there is a technical explana- tion for this phenomenon, which I'd love to share with you, but it might be kinda boring. So, if you will just move your houseplants round, a quarter tur, every few days, foliage should grow evenly. Growth that becomes long and skinny, and rather pale, is suffering from a lack of light, and your plant should be moved to a bushter location. Sometimes poor color results from lack of nitrogen, but usually during the winter its lack of that lovely stuff...sunshine! TheReview Wednesday, November 27, 1991 — A19 GREATER VICTORIA WATER DISTRICT PUBLIC INVITATION WATERSHED REVIEW The public is invited to a community meeting to present their views about land use practices in the Greater Victoria Water District Watersheds. You are invited to attend one of the following meetings: SIDNEY December 3, 1991 - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Sancha Hall Annex, 2243 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, B.C. COLWOOD ‘December 3, 1991 - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Royal Colwood Golf and Country Club, 629 Goldstream Avenue, Victoria, B.C. VICTORIA December 4, 1991 - 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. James Bay Community Centre, 140 Oswego Street, Victoria, B.C. For More Information Please call Robert Ramsay Greater Victoria Water District at 478-1715 °Fall Rye Bene Meal Bird Seed °Perennials ° Container Reses “Friendly, Knowledgable Service” SERVING THE PENINSULA 652-1507 HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 9a.m.-5:30p.m. Sun. 10a.m.-5p.m. OPEN SUNDAYS BRENTWOcCD BAY NURSERIES LTD. 1395 Benvenuto Ave. (Turn off to Butchart Gardens) Zz ZO-Z>>u | sams a ~ ThePertect Gitis Easy to Find Tannersis Open 8am ‘tl 10pm Every Day Tanners has an incredible selection of books on a wide variety of topics... with knowledgeable people to cheertully help you find the perfect titles for everyone on your Christmas list. Make the Warmth of Tanners a part of Your Christmas Tradition {RNNERS A BOOKSTORE & MORE ~ Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Hon. Bill Barlee, Minister ON THE CORNER OF BEACON & FOURTH - SIDNEY BY-THE-SEA + 656-2345 :