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Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Archive: January 2015

This Weekend: Photography Tips & Tricks in the Tropics

Posted in Programs and Events on January 30 2015, by Lansing Moore

New York Botanical Garden What's Wonderful in WinterThe grounds are looking spectacular this week beneath a fresh blanket of snow, and this weekend features two unique walking tours designed to enhance your experience of the season. The Tree Tour and the Landmarks Tour present two opportunities to take in NYBG’s gleaming winter landscape with the benefit of a Garden Guide.

Meanwhile, in the warmth of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Wild Medicine in the Tropics continues its journey through the many remarkable medicinal plants of the rain forest. Get an in-depth look with NYBG’s award-winning app, Wild Medicine.

And next Tuesday we announce the first round of weekly winners in our Wild Medicine Photo Contest! The two categories are “Macro” (close-up) and “Sense of Place” (wide shot), upload your contributions to the NYBG Flickr Group Pool and join in the fun! You could be one of the Grand Prize winners to be awarded a seat in the NYBG Adult Education photography class of your choice. Join fellow photography enthusiasts every weekend for Photography Tips & Tricks in the Tropics, led by one of NYBG’s photo experts. Check out the contest rules for complete details.

Experience NYBG through your own lens and share your vision with us! Read on for the full schedule of special tours and programs this weekend.

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Houseplants 102

Posted in Horticulture on January 29 2015, by Sonia Uyterhoeven

Sonia Uyterhoeven is NYBG‘s Gardener for Public Education.

Gardenia jasminoides
Gardenia jasminoides

Last week we discussed some houseplant basics—covering light and water. This week we will look at a few more important factors for successfully growing indoor plants.

Let’s turn the heat down…
As general rule, most houseplants do best when grown at a daytime temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and at a night time temperature that is 10 to 15 degrees cooler at 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Many plants require a 10-degree temperature fluctuation to grow and flower successfully.

Your house is full of microclimates. Locations near windows may be sunny during the winter, but they are also cool (usually 10 degrees colder than the center of the room). In the summer, a south-facing window can get too hot for plants. Your alternatives are to open the window to let the air circulate or invest in a sheer curtain to block the intense rays of the summer sun. Investigate your home’s microclimates in order to place your plants in the best spots.

Some plants such as Clivia miniata and Dendrobium nobile need specific care in order to flower properly. They need a resting period in the fall which lasts for approximately 3 months. During this time fertilizing is stopped, watering is reduced and they are placed in a cool (45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit) location in full sun.

If the orchid—the dendrobium—doesn’t receive this temperature drop, it will often produce baby plants (Keikis) instead of flowering. The bush or Kaffir lily protests by not extending the flower stem upwards and the blooms hide in its foliage. You will also notice that your jade plant (Crassula) also flowers best when it realizes that the seasons are changing.

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Formalism Meets Naturalism, with A French Flair

Posted in Adult Education on January 28 2015, by Plant Talk

Water Theater grove at Versailles Louis Benech
The rendering of the new Water Theater grove at Versailles features beeches and holm oaks in the landscape. (By Louis Benech)

Tomorrow we say bonjour to Louis Benech, a renowned French landscape designer and first speaker in our 15th Annual Winter Lecture Series, Le Jardin Français. Benech has carried out some 300 park and garden projects worldwide, including his celebrated reimagining of Louis XIV’s Water Theater grove at Versailles.

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This Weekend: Wild Medicine in the Tropics and our 2015 Photo Contest!

Posted in Programs and Events on January 23 2015, by Lansing Moore

Wild Medicine in the TropicsStarting tomorrow, visitors will enter the lush rain forest under glass at NYBG’s Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for Wild Medicine in the Tropics, an exhibition that explores the many medicinal plants in the Garden’s permanent collection. Enjoy the full experience with a guided tour, or at your own pace with NYBG’s award-winning app, Wild Medicine.

Saturday also marks the beginning of our Wild Medicine Photo Contest! Bring your camera to the Conservatory and take your best shot at capturing the many beautiful subjects within. The two categories are “Macro” (close-up) and “Sense of Place” (wide shot). Join our NYBG Flickr Group Pool to upload your contributions, and the weekly winners will be announced right here on Plant Talk. One winner in each category will be recognized each week—and for the Grand Prize at the end of the exhibition! The Grand Prize winners announced on Tuesday, February 24, will each be awarded a seat in the NYBG Adult Education photography class of their choice. Join fellow photography enthusiasts every weekend for Photography Tips & Tricks in the Tropics, led by one of NYBG’s photo experts. Check out the contest rules for complete details.

Experience NYBG through your own lens and share your vision with us! Read on for the full schedule of special tours and programs this weekend.

Read More