Weekend Gardening: Remember Your Houseplants When Spring Cleaning
April 11, 2015
by UF/IFAS Santa Rosa Extension
Warmer weather signals that spring is here. After months of being cooped up indoors, it’s finally time for gardeners to go dig in the dirt. It’s also time for cooped up house plants to be revitalized.
Locate a shady area for this work. Even if houseplants are to be left out for a short period, after being shut up all winter, leaf damage can occur with only brief exposure to direct sunlight.
First, give the houseplants a bath. Use a soapy solution made of two teaspoons of mild liquid soap mixed with one gallon of water. Wash the leaves and stems, being certain to clean both upper and lower leaf surfaces. Allow the solution to remain on the plants for a few minutes, but rinse it off thoroughly before it is allowed to dry. This not only cleans plants, making them more attractive, but the soap helps to remove aphids, mealybugs and other insects.
Next, see if your plant needs re-potting. Although some plants require being pot-bound in order to flower eventually all plants outgrow their containers and become root- or pot-bound.
Why repot in the spring? Plant roots grow most actively in the spring, which means the plant will be able to quickly overcome the shock associated with re-potting.
When repotting, start with a clean, appropriately sized pot. If you want the plant to grow larger, then you will need to repot it in a larger pot. If you want it to maintain its present size, you’ll have to prune its roots.
In general, the pot size should be increased by only about two inches per re-potting. Therefore, a plant whose root ball is in a six inch pot is normally transplanted to a pot with an eight inch diameter. For some reason, drastic changes in pot size when re-potting seems to be detrimental to some plants.
Watering the plant several hours prior will help you remove the plant more easily. Invert the pot and gently remove the plant by grasping the main stem. Give it a slight tug, and it should slip out of the pot. If it doesn’t, use a butter knife or other flat-bladed tool to loosen the sides of the pot and try again.
Once the plant is free of the pot, take the time to inspect the root system. Look for large, old circular roots which can strangle the plant and prevent much-needed nourishment. Sever or remove these old roots to allow new feeder roots to establish.
To re-pot, first add enough new soil mixture to the bottom of the pot to return the plant to its original depth. After the plant is replaced, fill in the sides with new potting soil.
Use a quality potting mix when re-potting. Gardeners generally rely on commercially available potting soil mixes for growing most types of houseplants. A lot of brands are out there and not all of them are especially good. In particular, avoid heavy, black potting soils. If the bag feels dense and heavy for its size, put it back.
The best potting mixes include vermiculite, bark and perlite in proportions that create a fairly light, loose mix that water penetrates readily but drains rapidly.
If you don’t want to change pots, there is a way of dealing with a pot-bound plant and keeping it in the same size pot. First, remove the plant from the pot and trim off one-quarter to one-third of the lower part of the root ball. Put a layer of fresh potting mix in the bottom of the original container equal to the amount of the root ball removed. Place the plant back in the pot, adding a little more soil around the sides. Water well, and place the plant in a shady location to recover.
House plants would also benefit from fertilization at this time of year. There are many commercial materials available for fertilizing indoor plants. Most are effective and safe if used as directed.
Putnam: Plan To Travel Smart This Summer
April 11, 2015
Summer is just around the corner, and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam reminds consumers to be careful when making vacation plans.
“Consumers are often targeted with mailings, telephone calls or emails that offer vacation deals, and they should be cautious not to fall for travel-related scams,” said Putnam.
Consumers can protect themselves from vacation scams by following these tips:
- Find out if a travel company is registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
- Check to see if the company has any complaints, and if so, how they were resolved.
- Read the entire contract before signing. Ask questions before signing.
- Get a copy of the company’s cancellation and refund policies.
- Use a credit card (not a debit card) when making a purchase. If there are issues with the service provided, credit card charges can be disputed.
- Be skeptical of free vacation offers. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints, protection and information. The call center is staffed with trained analysts who can respond to questions about programs and regulations under the department’s purview, provide information on a wide variety of topics or direct callers to the appropriate government agency.
Northview Music Dept. Presents Annual Spring Concert
April 11, 2015
The Northview High School Music Department presented their annual Spring Concert Friday night at the school, featuring the school’s Concert Band, Guitar Ensemble and Vocal Ensemble. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lady Jags Beat Escambia; Tate Over Fort Walton Beach
April 11, 2015
SOFTBALL
West Florida, 7, Escambia 3
The West Florida Jaguars beat Escambia 7-3 in a rain-shortened game Friday. Jibrasha Moore was 1-3 with homer and 2 RBI; Kristin Gunter was 1-2; Emily Loring 1-2 with a double; Lauren Carnley 1-3 with a double; and Farrah Ncholas was 1-3 with a RBI.
The game was the last of the regular season for the Lady Jags. They travel to Marianna to start district play Tuesday at 6 p.m. against the Marianna Bulldogs.
BASEBALL
Tate 3, Fort Walton Beach 2
The Tate Aggies held on with two runs in the bottom of the seventh Friday to beat Fort Walton Beach 3-2. Branden Fryman was 2-3 with a RBI; Sawyer Smith was 1-3; Jake Davis was 1-2 for the Aggies.
Pictured top: Jabrasha Moore rounds the bases on a homer Friday as West Florida beat Escambia. Pictured below: The Lady Jags won 7-.3. Photos by Gary Carnley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Wahoos Fall in Rain Shortened Game Against The Shuckers
April 11, 2015
Biloxi Shuckers pitcher Tyler Wagner proved why he’s ranked the No. 9 prospect by Baseball America in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization.
Before rain canceled Friday’s game in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Shuckers ahead, 7-1, over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Wagner looked in total control through six innings. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up five hits, one unearned run and struck out four.
“Wagner did a nice job,” said Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly. “We’ve seen two really good pitchers and it doesn’t get any easier.”
Meanwhile, after a 1-2-3 first inning, Blue Wahoos Daniel Wright struggled in his Double-A debut. The righty ranked first in wins with 14 and second in strike outs with 141 in A ball for the Reds last year.
Wright gave up three runs in the second inning on a one-out, bases-loaded clearing double down the left field line by Shuckers catcher Adam Weisenburger that put Biloxi ahead, 3-1. He gave up three more runs on three singles and a walk in the third inning before being pulled with two outs and the Wahoos trailing, 6-1.
On the night, Wright lasted 2.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on five hits and four walks with no strikeouts.
“He’s a command guy and he can’t afford to get behind guys,” Kelly said.
Also making his Double-A debut was leftfielder Sean Buckley who posted a double and single in three at bats.
Pensacola, which recorded its 106th sellout in four seasons, is hosting the season opening series with Biloxi.
The third game of the five-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. RHP Tim Adleman takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Shuckers LHP Hobbs Johnson.
Car Fire Slows Highway 29 Traffic
April 10, 2015
Traffic was slowed on Highway 29 at Hannah Street in Ensley Friday afternoon by a vehicle fire. The Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue quickly extinguished the blaze. There were no injures reported. Reader submitted photos by Jason Isbell, click to enlarge.
Escambia Allocates Tourist Dollars To Tate’s Aggie Classic Tourney
April 10, 2015
Escambia County will provide tourist development funding for the next Aggie Classic hosted by Tate High School Baseball.
Over its 22 year history, the tournament has brought in over 350 teams from California, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, New York, and the District of Columbia — along with thousands of out of town parents and fans spending money locally and staying nearly a week.
“We are looking to always improve our tournament and to put our best foot forward for our annual guests,” Tate baseball coach Greg Blackmon wrote in his funding request.
Escmabia County placed $250,000 in the 4th Cent Tourist Development Tax reserves. These funds are split $50,000 per commission district for events and other tourist promotion activities. District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry has proposed $5,000 for the 23rd Aggie Classic to be held March 14-17, 2016. The Escambia County Commission approved the proposal at a Thursday meeting.
Santa Rosa Deputy Attacked By Man With Sword; Suspect Shot And Killed
April 10, 2015
A Santa Rosa County deputy is recovering after being cut by a man with a Samurai sword Thursday evening in Navarre. The suspect died a short time after being shot multiple times by a second deputy.
About 5:30 p.m., deputies with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to an address on Quail Roost Drive in Navarre for a reported active disturbance where an individual had a weapon in his possession.
Upon arrive, deputies encountered the man with the sword, who was later identified as Gordon Talmage Kimbrell Jr. Kimbrell struck Deputy Matt Ray with the sword multiple times, causing serious injuries. Sgt. Brian Miller then shot Kimbrell.
Kimbrell was transported to Gulf Breeze Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Ray was transported to Baptist Hospital where he underwent surgery and was listed in good condition Thursday night. He is recovering from a serious injury to an extremity
Due to the deputy-involved shooting, the investigation is being headed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Miller has been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure. Further details have not yet been released.
Miller was not injured during the incident.
Baseball: Northview Tops In District; Niceville Over Tate
April 10, 2015
Northview 4, Chipley 3
The Northview Chiefs (15-2, 8-2) beat Chipley Thursday night in Bratt 4-3. With the win, the Chiefs will enter the district tournament as the No. 1 seed. For the Chiefs, Brodie Amos was 1-3, 3 RBI; Chasen Freeman 1-3, R; Roman Manning 1-2, R; Aaron McDonalds 0-3; Zach Payne 1-2; Brian Cantrell 1-3, R. In their final regular season game, the Chiefs will host Rocky Bayou on Monday.
Niceville 1, Tate 0
The Tate Aggies dropped a district game to Niceville Thursday night, 1-0. Branden Fryman was 1-3; Jacob Saulnier 1-2; Josh Key 1-3. The Aggies will host Fort Walton Beach Friday night in another district matchup.
Paxton 2, Central 2
West Florida 11, Walton 1
Pictured: Northview beats Chipley Thursday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Hurricane Forecasters Predict Quietest Season In Decades
April 10, 2015
The forecasters at Colorado State University are predicting that 2015 will be one of the quietest hurricane seasons in decades.
They are only predicting seven named storms, the lowest forecast in two decades, and three hurricanes. There are normally 12 named storms and six or seven hurricanes, the group said.
The slow season, according to Colorado State researchers is because an El Niño of at least moderate strength will develop this summer and fall, and the tropical and subtropical Atlantic are also cool.
“Despite the forecast for below average activity, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them. They should prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted,” researchers said.