Things to do in May: Houseplants and Indoor Activities
□ Cut back and fertilize tropical and tender plants . . . like Hibiscus, Allamanda, Mandevilla and scented Geraniums that have over-wintered indoors, so they will begin growing vigorously and are ready to place on the patio by the end of the month.
□ Move houseplants outdoors . . . to spend the summer on the deck or patio. Help your plants become acclimated to life outdoors: move them to a shaded, protected area, and then gradually to more exposed conditions over a period of a week or two.
□ Cut back ferns if needed . . . but carefully - watch for newly emerging fiddleheads.
□ Houseplants should have increasingly more water . . . as the days get warmer. Begin fertilizing houseplants as new growth appears.
□ Move African violets out of south facing windows . . . in the summer, where they might get too much hot sun. An east or west facing window is usually best.
□ Prune and groom houseplants . . . as needed. Give them a shower if needed to remove dust, or wipe the leaves with a soft cloth. Keep spent leaves and flowers removed to improve appearance and encourage more blooms.
□ Repot houseplants . . .as they outgrow their current pot. Roots growing out of the soil surface or through the drainage hole are a sign that it's time to repot.
□ Buy a garden notebook . . . and commit to keeping garden notes. Include what you plant, when and where, how the plants respond to water, fertilizer, pruning and other maintenence tasks, frost dates, amount of rain, average temperatures, bloom times, and insect or disease problems.
□ Keep a journal . . . of daily or weekly garden activities and observations. This will be a valuable reference for planning future gardens.