August - Plants for the Hottest Days in Your Greenhouse and Garden

In the midst of the summer heat, it’s sometimes challenging to appreciate the brief gift of hot weather for what it is. When temperatures climb, we must water more frequently—and sometimes during a stretch of drought like the one we’re experiencing this summer in the Northeast—the chore of watering can seem interminable. Day after scorching sunny day, we face the challenge of keeping our gardens and containers hydrated. It’s the perfect time of year to contemplate the plants that love these conditions. Not surprisingly, they originate in parts of the world where the majority of the year is just like this.

Consider Cacti. Although they benefit from regular watering and better fertility than they’re usually given, these drought-tolerant plants par excellence soak up dry heat and convert these conditions into new growth and flowers. Inside a greenhouse, it’s relatively easy to protect cacti from freezing, at the same time supplying maximum sunlight throughout the season. There is a universe of other succulent plants that love these conditions; including agave, aloe, draceana, echeveria,haworthia, kalanchoe, lithops, pachyphytum, and tender sedum. Visit the desert room of your closest public greenhouses for ideas.

Often specimens in such locations have grown many years in their current location, and have achieved monumental proportions over time. But don’t let that scare you—they generally grow slowly, which is why so many are popular as house plants. Then again, if sizeable and striking specimens is what you’re after, when you have your own greenhouse, all you need to add is time; these plants are supremely low-maintenance. In addition to their low moisture requirements, they are rarely troubled by insects or diseases. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can neglect watering completely. But over watering, particularly during the winter, will lead to problems with these drought-tolerant plants, so make sure to be stinting in your ministrations.

Many bulbs love heat too—don’t forget them. There is Bessera elegans, a California native with delicate, nodding, bright vermillion flowers that’s a highlight of our eastcoast garden in August. Bessera couldn’t be easier to overwinter—throw its dry corms into a paper bag in the fall and store them in a dry closet for the winter.

So next time you feel like complaining about the heat, do something about it--grow plants that love hot weather!

Article copyright by Alice McGowan written for http://www.hartley-greenhouses.com

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - July 2010

Aug 5, 2010

For nearly twenty years, Alice McGowan, together with her husband, Brian, operated Blue Meadow Farm, a nursery in western Massachusetts that specialized in tender... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - June 2010

Jul 7, 2010

For nearly twenty years, Alice McGowan, together with her husband, Brian, operated Blue Meadow Farm, a nursery in western Massachusetts that specialized in tender... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice Mc Gowan - May 2010

May 26, 2010

When you walk in off the street, you'll notice an immediate change in your blood pressure. The Enid A. Haupt Glass Garden-- the horticultural therapy branch... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - April 2010

May 5, 2010

This month I thought I’d explore a topic that's new to me. This activity isn't usually done inside greenhouses, but I do think it's of interest... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - February 2010

Mar 26, 2010

Tips for Growing Greenhouse Seedlings That Thrive Struggling with supplemental lights and squeezing plant flats into your house or apartment can make growing seedlings... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - January 2010 Part Two

Apr 23, 2010

New Seed Ideas For The Greenhouse Finally, a chance to peruse seed catalogs and plan for the new gardening season to come. Here are a few selections to consider,... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - January 2010

Feb 3, 2010

Forcing Branches and Bulbs in the Greenhouse As we step into the new year, celebrate the transition with an early dose of spring by “forcing” some winter... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - December 2009

Jan 11, 2010

Suggested Holiday Gifts for Gardeners If holiday gifts are on your mind, these suggestions may help with the gardening recipients on your list. Or perhaps, like... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - November 2009

Dec 7, 2009

A Bouquet of Winter Bloomers for Greenhouses Before all our minutes are swallowed by the holidays, and while there’s still space in the greenhouse—pending... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - October 2009

Oct 28, 2009

Before You Bring Plants into Your Greenhouse Cooler evenings and shorter days—everything points to summer’s end. It’s time to move plants indoors.... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - September 2009

Sep 28, 2009

Planning for the Quieter Season Ahead in Your Greenhouse With the hottest days of August behind us, this is a great time to plan for cooler times ahead. Particularly... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - August 2009

Aug 25, 2009

Unusual Uses for Your Summer Greenhouse We usually think of greenhouses as spaces devoted to growing plants, but they have other uses too. If plants aren’t... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - June 2009 - Part 2

Jul 22, 2009

Edible Crops to Grow in Summer Greenhouses As summer’s temperatures climb, it can seem hopeless to grow anything inside the greenhouse. But with adequate ventilation,... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - June 2009 - Part 1

Jun 23, 2009

Five Vines to Grow in Your Greenhouse - June 2009 Sometimes the only way to go is up. And when is that truer than late spring, with horizontal space at a premium... Read More...

 

Gardening with Alice McGowan - May 2009

Jun 16, 2009

One of the biggest challenges of spring is that we eventually must limit what to grow. It’s worst inside greenhouses, where the space is confined by four... Read More...