Flower Power Newsletter

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Valentine's Day

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.

Who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday?

Some stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first valentine or greeting while he was in prison. It is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who may have been his jailer's daughter, who visited him during his confinement. before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed "from your Valentine", an expression that is still in use today. In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popular in the seventeenth century. It became common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. In the early 1700s Americans began exchanging hand-made valentines. By the 1840s, valentines began to be mass-produced and sold. Today it is estimated that one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card sending holiday of the year.

Philodendron

Philodendrons have been used as house plants since

Victorian times and their popularity has increased in recent years.The conditions they need for healthy growth are those which they enjoyed in their ancestral home within the American tropical forests - no direct sunlight and moist surroundings when the air is warm. There are two basic types of Philodendron. The first group, the climbers, are well suited to the average room, as long as you provide firm support for the stems. The Sweetheart Plant is the smallest and it is also the easiest to look after. with its ability to withstand both neglect and poor conditions.

Most of the second group, the non-climbers, are capable of growing into immense plants with large, deeply-lobed leaves. They are more suitable for public buildings than for the average home.

Peace Lily

The Peace Lily is a good choice if it can be kept out of direct sunlight in a room which is reasonably warm in winter There must be no cold draughts and the pot should be stood on a pebble tray. The glossy leaves grow directly out of the compost. Will bloom periodically. Keep compost moist at all times. Mist leaves very frequently. Re pot when plant becomes root bound. Divide plants at re potting time.

China Doll

A houseplant of the 80's, it was introduced to Europe from Taiwan at the beginning of the decade, and its popularity as a specimen indoor tree has increased. This plant has large compound leaves bearing shiny, deeply-veined leaflets with long tapering points. China dolls will tolerate dry air.

Poinsettia

Poinsettias are a popular gift and home decoration for the Christmas season. Despite the longstanding myth, the poinsettia is the most widely tested plant and has been proven to be non-toxic.

Special Care - Water thoroughly when soil surface feels dry. Remove excess water from the foil cover. Bright indirect light will prolong their life. Place plant away from hot or cold drafts.

Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where they grow wild. They were first introduced to the United States in 1825.

70 - 80 million poinsettias are sold at Christmas. The most popular color being red.

Purple Passion

The soil should be kept moist. Reduce watering in the winter. Bright light is necessary to maintain deep vivid color. If the plants' leaves are more green than purple, the plant is not getting enough light. Avoid getting water on the leaves when watering as dark patches may result. Dandelionlike yellow flowers often bloom after the plant reaches one year. These flowers have an unpleasant odor and so are best pinched off.