The Weather Notebook: Gardening Indoors

Gardening Indoors
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Flower shows are busting out before the official start of Spring, but how do exhibitors get their plants to rise and shine in time for the event? Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton and this is The Weather Notebook. Assistant Producer, Doug Sanborn, asked that question at the Portland Maine flower show earlier and came back with this answer.

People stand on the sidelines, talking and pointing. A man has set up his camera and tripod and prepares to get the perfect shot of marigolds, geraniums and zinnias. What's all the hubbub about? The Portland, Maine Flower Show, of course the Plant and Soil Technology Program from Southern Maine Technical College is one of the many exhibitors showcasing their latest blooms. Nate Greene says that the trick to early flowers is time and place.

NG: Some plants may take three months to force and some may take three weeks to force. Some, when they start to come too early need to be put back into a cool situation, certainly not freezing, but in a cool situation to slow them down. So, it's a tricky process of keeping an eye on every plant, learning the different types of plants and what they will come out to be if they're forced ahead of time.

But isn't there the question of a lack of sunlight to help plants grow in the middle of winter?

NG: The best thing to do is to start by mid-January, before that it is too dark. There isn't quite enough light. By mid-January there is enough light usually to get leaves, foliage to come out and the photosynthesis process and you know by February and March there's enough light.

They can't skip winter altogether though. The plants must be given a winter rest in the cold. When they are brought into the greenhouse the change in temperature stimulates the growth process forcing it to think Spring.

Doug Sanborn is the Assistant Producer of the The Weather Notebook which is sponsored generously by Subaru of America and The National Science Foundation.