Change is Good!

I hope you didn't put your winter coat away just yet. Last week, in Southern Ontario, we were enjoying a very early Spring with even a couple of days of Summer included. This week the temperature has dropped dramatically and even though it disappointed a lot of people; you can't be terribly surprised - it's still just March.  Last week I was setting my Shamrock plant out on the balcony for the warm days and bringing it in at night. Well, of course, it's not going back outside again until the warm weather returns.

8" Pothos hanging basket

Pop over to our web page www.plantsforall.ca to check out this week's Featured Plant.  We have put the popular Pothos hanging basket on sale for just $13.50 until April 9. Our regular low price is $18 and that's for a big 8" diameter pot. It has often been said to me that this is a plant that anybody can grow. That may be true.

Linda has changed up the display window at the store to better reflect the feelings of Easter and Spring.  It looks great!  Come see it, and us, at Plants For All  66 Dawson Road, Guelph.

Get out there and have a great week.

Brian Osmond
Plants For All

New featured Plant

Good morning to all. The weekend weather was fabulous in Southern Ontario. Spring is definitely here, at least for now. 
I am always pleased when I see people out and about enjoying the weather and enjoying life. My wife, Linda, one of our granddaughters, our dog Tasha and I took an extended walk on Sunday in the early afternoon. Beautiful.  

Danica Grape Ivy Bush

On our web page we have introduced a new page called "Featured Plant". Each week I will post a very special offer about a live or artificial plant. These plants may be seasonal specials, special promotions from our suppliers, excess inventory or just because. They will all offer top quality at exceptional savings, and they will all have an expiry date.  Check them out. If it happens to be a special that you or someone you know can take advantage of, then come in and see us or contact us at plantsforall@ody.ca or call (519) 767-2161.  Check our web page plantsforall.ca and go to the Featured Plant page.

Shamrock Plant - oxalis

If you got a Shamrock plant for St. Patrick's Day, don't get rid of it just because St. Patrick's Day is passed. With a little bit of regular attention, you can successfully keep your oxalis for years.  Bright indirect light, normal moderate temperatures and slightly damp. With this very unusual warm March weather, I have put my Shamrock out on the balcony during the day and bring it inside for the cooler nights.  If you didn't get a Shamrock plant for St. Patrick's Day, we still have some left, as of this post.


There are lots of things going on, so stay tuned. Your feedback it also always appreciated.


Have a great day!
Brian Osmond

St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Plant

Sunday night, I was into one of my plant maintenance clients' offices. As I entered their lunchroom, I was greeted with a full, beautiful fragrance that was inescapable yet alluring.

Dracaena fragrans massangeana

 in flower

I fully expected to round the corner to find several hyacinths that someone may have brought in to hurry on Spring. About this time of year, people often bring in small pots of forced hyacinths, just for that purpose.
No hyacinths.
Instead it was one my Dracaena fragrans massangeana  that had flowered into full and odoriferous beauty. The flower clusters were on a single stem about 18" long. The plant had been in flower the week before; but by this week had advanced to this stage of magnificence. The room was large, approximately 45x36 feet with 18 feet ceilings, and the fragrance was everywhere. My experience has shown that by far most people enjoy this fragrance; but in offices of more than 100 people, you can expect 1 or 2 that have an issue with it.
After 2-3 weeks of flowering indoors, the blooms begin to fade, they drop a messy goo and they take a lot of energy from the plant. For all of these reasons, I will leave the bloom for 2-3 weeks and then remove it. Beautiful while it lasts.

Shamrock Plants (Oxalis)

St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Plant : You just knew that we had to have them and we do. This year we brought in full 6" pots in both the traditional green with white flowers and the burgundy (my favourite) with purple flowers. Oxalis is an easy to care for plant that can provide years of enjoyment with very little care.
The blooms and the leaves will close at night and reopen with the morning light. Keep them slightly damp and provide bright, indirect light. The pot is covered with a decorative shamrock motif green sleeve and sells for just $8.85.  Happy St. Patrick's Day.