Do hardy geraniums perform well in Iowa?
While not widely planted in home gardens, hardy geraniums (Geranium spp.) are attractive, easy-to-grow perennials. Numerous species and varieties are available. Plants typically bloom in late spring/early summer. The 1- to 2-inch-diameter flowers may be white, pink, magenta, purple, or blue. Several double flowering varieties are also available. Hardy geraniums commonly grow 6 to 12 inches tall. In fall, the foliage of many varieties turns to shades of yellow, orange, or red. Hardy geraniums prefer moist, well-drained soils and are partial to full sun. They have few insect or disease problems.
Hardy geraniums should not be confused with common garden geraniums. Garden geraniums are not “true” geraniums. Garden geraniums are annual plants which belong to the genus Pelargonium.
How do I control spider mites on my houseplant?
Spider mites are tiny pests that are difficult to see with the naked eye. They use piercing-sucking mouthparts to puncture the plant tissue and feed on the liquid within the cells. The foliage of plants with light infestations of mites often appears to be speckled with very tiny yellowish green spots. Heavy mite infestations can turn the foliage to greenish yellow and eventually tan or brown. Heavily infested plants often drop their leaves. Close examination of infested foliage may reveal very fine webbing produced by the mites on the leaves and stems.
If the mite infestation is light, spraying infested plants with water should help reduce the mite population. Move infested plants into the bathtub or shower and forcefully spray the plants with water to dislodge the mites. Several miticides (pesticides that control mites) are available for houseplants. Check for products at your local garden center. When using miticides, carefully read and follow label instructions. Also, keep plants watered and fertilized to promote plant vigor and reduce the impact of the mite feeding.
It’s often best to discard houseplants that are heavily infested with mites. Control efforts will likely be ineffective and the mites could spread to other indoor plants.
What is mistletoe?
Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant with leathery, evergreen leaves and small, white berries. Mistletoe plants manufacture their own food, but obtain water and mineral nutrients from a host plant. Host plants include numerous deciduous and evergreen trees. Mistletoe obtains water and nutrients via root-like haustoria that grow into the host plant’s water conducting tissue. Mistletoe berries are readily eaten by birds. The birds digest the pulp of the berries and excrete the seeds. The sticky seeds adhere to the branches of trees. At germination, the mistletoe seedling develops haustoria that grow through the bark of the tree and into its water conducting tissue.
American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) can be found growing in deciduous trees from New Jersey and southern Indiana southward to Florida and Texas. (Phoradendron is derived from Greek and literally means “thief of the tree.”) It is the state flower of Oklahoma. Mistletoe sold during the holiday season is gathered in the wild. Most mistletoe is harvested in Oklahoma and Texas.
Traditions involving mistletoe date back to ancient times. Druids believed that mistletoe could bestow health and good luck. Welsh farmers associated mistletoe with fertility. A good mistletoe crop foretold a good crop the following season. Mistletoe was also thought to influence human fertility and was prescribed to individuals who had problems bearing children. Mistletoe has also been used in medicine. It has been used as treatment for pleurisy, gout, epilepsy, rabies, and poisoning. Mistletoe also played a role in a superstition concerning marriage. It was believed that kissing under the mistletoe increased the possibility of marriage in the upcoming year. Today, kissing under the mistletoe is a sign of goodwill, friendship, or love.
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