Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Tis the season ...

It’s easy to see why the poinsettia is the most popular flowering plant at Christmas. Few holiday decorations are as naturally spectacular!


Want to give a poinsettia as a gift to your family or co-workers? We'll have staff on hand to 'dress' plants with decorative foil wrap or basket and satin ribbon bow if you'd like. Prices for the 'wrap & bow' service generally range from $5.00 to $7.50, but some specialty ribbons can be a bit more expensive. Please stop by and take a walk through the greenhouse to see all the types of poinsettias available this year. Of course, feel free to call with questions too!


For the past 66 years Wickman’s has grown poinsettias for Springfield area homes, churches and businesses. Greenhouse production starts each year in May and ends in early winter with thousands of plants filling the greenhouse with incredible color!

We offer spectacular dark reds, pinks, and white poinsettias in several unique varieties, such as “Winter Rose” and “Sonora Glitter”.  Another unusual variety is “Cortez Burgundy”. Sure to be a favorite again this year, it's rich color is great with mauve and pink color schemes.

Since we grow our own plants at Wickman's, we're are able to produce sizes to fit every decorating need and every budget. Our smallest poinsettias are only 3" to 4” tall, while the largest are a distinctive tree form topping out at 3 to 4 feet!


Average home temperatures are ideal for poinsettias, but it is important to keep them away from cold drafts and heat vents. Water only when the soil is starting to dry out, then water thoroughly. Root rot will develop if the plants are allowed to sit in water.

To maintain your poinsettia plant after Christmas, it must receive as much direct sunlight as possible. Feed with a houseplant fertilizer like Miracle-Gro or slow-release Osmocote and plan on moving it outside in late spring. Native to Mexico, poinsettia plants enjoy the hot temperatures of summer and can stay outside until early fall. Of course, you must move them back inside before temps drop and definitely before frost threatens.

It can be quite rewarding, but somewhat challenging, to re-bloom a poinsettia in your home. These plants are sensitive to the length of day. As the days become shorter in the fall, poinsettias naturally prepare to bloom. However, if your plant is exposed to artificial light early in the morning or in the evening, the bloom process will be prevented.

Starting around October 10th, we recommend moving the plant to a room not used in the evening and placing a box over the poinsettia each evening by 5:00 pm. Every morning
remove the box by 7:30 am and give the plant as much direct sunlight as possible. This process must continue each day until the top leaves turn red and small flower buds are visible in the tip of the branches. Most varieties require 6 to 8 weeks to develop flowers and color. Remember though, if the dark period is interrupted the bloom process will be delayed!


Poinsettias often take center stage thru the holidays ... but the unique blooms of the Christmas Cactus add color to the season too! They can be quite long-lived and are excellent house plants.

Native to Central America, these plants are not true cactus. A sunny window keeps them growing well, but they can also be moved outdoors to a shady area in the summer.


Christmas Cactus require excellent drainage and the plant should never be allowed to sit in water. Water well when the soil feels dry to the touch. Another tip ... this is one plant you should consider growing in a clay pot. Most plants do fine in plastic as long as there is adequate drainage, but for these the porous nature of clay pots really works well.




    Monday, September 23, 2013

    Fall Planting

    Stop by Wickman's Greenhouse for all your fall planting needs! We have many new varieties for 2013!
    Pansies are a fun bright plant that blooms in the fall.


    Mums are a great way to add color to your home this fall!

    Mums come in many different colors and varieties!
    These beautiful plants are hardy and thrive in full sun!


    Friday, April 19, 2013

    Vegetables are at Wickmans!

    Yes we have vegetable plants! Quite a wide variety if we do say so ourselves!
    We don't put growth inhibitors on them like a lot of box stores do to keep their plants from growing off their shelves! Plus our prices can't be beat!

    Here are the lists of Tomatoes and Peppers with a guide on how long they take to grow!

    Tomatoes:
    Amish Paste - 74 Days
    Arkansas Traveler - 90 Days
    Balls Beefsteak - 72 Days
    Beefmaster - 81 Days
    Better Boy - 75 Days
    Better Buh Impr
    Big Beef - 73 Days
    Brandywine - 95 Days
    Burpee Big Boy - 78 Days
    Champion II
    Celebrity - 72 Days
    Cherokee Purple - 72-90 Days
    Early Girl - 60 Days
    German Johnson - 80 Days
    Giant Tree
    Golden Jubilee
    Husky Red
    Jet Star - 72 Days
    Juliet - 60 Days
    LaRoma II - 76 Days
    Lemon Boy - 72 Days
    Mr. Stripey (Tigerella) - 80 Days
    Park's Whopper
    Patio - 70 Days
    Pink Girl - 76 Days
    Red Grape - 75 Days
    Rutgers - 75 Days
    Sun Sugar - 62 Days
    Supersteak Hybrid - 80 Days
    Sweet 100 - 65 Days
    Ultimate Opener - 57 Days
    Yellow Pear - 78 Days
     
    Peppers:
     
    Hot:

    Anaheim - 75 Days
    Ancho Tibwron - 65 Days
    Cayenne Long Thin - 75 Days
    Chili Super - 75 Days
    Habenero - 100 Days
    Hungarian Yellow Wax - 70 Days
    Jalapeno - 80 Days
    Mexibell - 70 Days
    Serrano - 85 Days
    Tabasco - 80 Days

    Sweet:

    Banana Supreme - 65 Days
    Better Belle - 65 Days
    Big Bertha - 73 Days
    Big Early - 70 Days
    California Wonder - 75 Days
    Giant Marconi - 72 Days
    Golden Summer - 72 Days
    Golden California Wonder - 72 Days
    Orange Blaze - 65 Days
    Pimento Elite - 75 Days
    Purple Beauty - 76 Days
    Super Heavyweight - 77 Days