Colorado Master Gardeners in Pueblo are teaming up with the Pueblo Zoo to hold a bedding plant sale at the Pueblo Zoo Pavilion from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Customers may enter the sale without paying zoo admission from the main parking lot.

Selections at the sale will include xeric, native and Plant Select perennials, rock garden plants, hanging baskets, mixed container gardens and xeric annuals. Master gardeners will be on hand to provide gardening information and literature. A water-wise gardening seminar will be held at 1 p.m. Proceeds from the sale will be used for Colorado Master Gardeners scholarships and zoo operating costs.

Bedding plants are defined as young plants that have been grown from cuttings or seeds in greenhouses. You will find bedding plants for sale at numerous sites around Pueblo County and you may have to visit several vendors to find specific plants in the size and quality you desire. Personally, I believe in buying my bedding plants from local growers, since their stock will be better acclimated to our humidity and light conditions. Look at the overall quality of the plants throughout the business, not just one or two species. If you see many unhealthy plants, move on to another business.

Annual and perennial plants are usually grown in individual pots or flats. Pot sizes range from 2.5 inches to 1 gallon. Flats are generally separated into cell-packs and each pack contains two to six plants. While there is nothing wrong with choosing plants in small containers (and many species are only available in six-packs), larger pots allow plants to develop a bigger root system and the soil does not dry out as quickly. Plants grown in larger pots will show less transplant shock and produce quicker impact in the garden.

An ideal bedding plant is well proportioned with stocky stems and well-formed leaves. Nutrient deficiencies, improper irrigation or poor light result in unhealthy foliage and thin stems. Leaves should be the proper color and feel firm to the touch. Avoid plants with yellowed or scorched leaves or abnormal leaf spots. Stems should be free of cracks, abrasions or mushy spots. Avoid tall, leggy plants, especially in small containers.

The condition of a plant’s root system is harder to check. Leaf health can be a clue to root health; yellowed or scorched leaves are often a symptom of poor irrigation. Roots will be severely damaged when the soil in the container dries out too much. You can check the root condition by looking into the holes in the bottom of the pot; the white strands are healthy roots. Avoid plants with large masses of roots outside the container. Those roots often die due to exposure before you get the plant in the ground.

Whenever possible, purchase plants that are NOT in bloom. Blooming plants don’t transplant well since energy is committed to blooms instead of growing roots and leaves.

Inspect your choices for insects and diseases. Aphids, spider mites and various fungal diseases can be issues in the crowded conditions in a garden center. If you see problems, don’t buy the plant, but bring the problem to the attention of the garden center staff so they can address the situation.

Plants purchased from greenhouses and garden centers need to be acclimated to outdoor conditions before planting. Over a two-week period, gradually move plants into full sun and cool temperatures. See Plant Talk script 1802 ( www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk ) for more information on this procedure.

For additional information on the plant sale, call the CSU Extension office at 583-6566 or the Pueblo Zoo at 561-9664.
Source:chieftain.com