Care Instructions
This page provides general care instructions and guidance for your annuals, perennials, and houseplants. Remember, always read and save the labels that come with your plants, as that is the best place to start when looking for information about your new plants! Feel free to reach out to us on social media, or gardencenter@leider.us when you have questions!
10” Easter Lily
Item #866045 - Indoors in bright, indirect light. Keep moist. Do not let lilies fully dry out.
Color Bowl
Item #468222 - Violas will tolerate a light frost. Full sun. Keep moist and feed monthly.
Bring into protected area if temperatures are below 32F overnight for multiple days.
8” Annual Hydrangea
Item #22654 - Early spring, keep indoors in indirect light. Not guaranteed as a perennial.
Water regularly to keep the soil wet at all times. Remove decorative sleeve/pot cover, or your decorative container, when watering to ensure the water drains completely before returning the plant to the sleeve or your container. Even though hydrangeas love water, the roots do not want to be sitting in water without drainage. *Do not allow plant to dry out.
*Can be used in outdoor shade containers. We suggest waiting to move it outside once there is no longer potential of a frost. These varieties can be damaged by direct sun and temps below 40. If night time temperate drops, bring the hydrangea inside your house or garage. Another option is to cover the hydrangea with a light cloth or bag if night time temps are below 40.
The color of the blooms will change as the flower ages. Typically once the hydrangea has bloomed it will not produce new flowers. But as long as the plant is kept wet, in proper conditions they hold bloom for a long time.
We sell this variety of hydrangea as an annual. In other words, they are best for indoor use or shade containers. We do hear from some customers that they get the hydrangeas to come back year after year if they plant them in the ground (morning sun/afternoon shade), but we do not guarantee because the genetics of this variety typically do notsurvive harsh Chicago winters.
COMBination PLANTERS
The phrase “combination planter” refers to the mix of different plants that make up our container gardens and pots - not the amount of sun exposure the plants need.
Combination sun planters are best placed in areas that receive at least 4-6 hours of direct afternoon sun. Sun planters should be watered “regularly”, meaning once a day. Hold off on watering after a heavy rainfall. On very hot days, water planters in the morning and evening. Click here for additional light information!
Combination shade planters are best placed in areas that receive no more than 4 hours of direct sun. Usually, this means the plants will receive only some morning sun, or mostly shade throughout the day. Shade planters should be watered “regularly”, meaning once a day. Hold off on watering after a heavy rainfall.
All combination planters will need to be fertilized regularly. The frequency depends on the type of fertilizer you are using.
summer tropicals
Summer tropical plants include: Hibiscus, Mandevilla, Dipladenia, Gardenia, Palms, etc. They come in a range of sizes, and are a great addition to your late spring and summer outdoor garden. Typically, tropical plants like a lot of water, love the heat, and need full sun. There are some tropical plants that prefer shade, so pay close attention to the labels.
Many customers wonder, “Will this tropical survive the winter?” or, “Can I bring this plant inside over winter?”
Tropical plants are not zoned for our area, so they will not survive outdoors or in your garage.
You can bring them inside for the winter if you have an area where they will still get bright light, and the temperature will not drop below 50F regularly.
Keep in mind that when you bring the plant inside, you may also be bringing along insects that have called that plant home for the summer - so be prepared to see ants, or take care to control for pests that might migrate to your other houseplants.
If you do bring the plants inside for the winter, you will want to continue to fertilize the plant once every 1-3 months. It will not continue to grow at the same rate over the winter as it will in the summer.
houseplants
Houseplants are a great way to brighten up your indoor space! There are many benefits to having indoor plants, including:
Reducing air pollutants and toxins, as well as increasing oxygen quality
Adding color, texture, and interest to your interior space
Caring for houseplants can be relaxing and reduce stress
Houseplants are not all the same, though, so be sure to read the labels and consider the space you have available in your home before choosing plants. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Light: How much light does the plant need (low, medium, or bright)? How much light does the space get throughout the day? For example, orchids prefer indirect light and high humidity. Choose an area away from direct sun, and perhaps close to a bathroom or kitchen.
Water: Typically, houseplants will need less water than your outdoor container gardens and annuals. In fact, many houseplants require minimal watering throughout the week. If houseplants roots sit in water for extended periods of time, this will damage the root structure and cause the plant to “rot out”. Additionally, consider the drainage of the plant. For example: if you have a plastic pot with drainage holes but it is sitting in a decorative pot without drainage holes, you should water the plant in the sink and make sure it drains thoroughly before returning it to the decorative container.
Pets: Some houseplants can be toxic or poisonous to cats and dogs if consumed. If you have a curious pet, stay away from buying toxic plants like Euphorbias.
Seasonal Adjustments: The light in your home changes with the seasons, as well as the amount of water the plants need. Adjust as necessary during fall and spring months.
Poinsettias
Poinsettias are a classic holiday indoor plant native to Mexico. Since they are used to warm weather, poinsettias do best in a humid, stable environment between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. They are an indoor decorative plant. Poinsettias are very sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. Keep poinsettias away from drafty doors, windows, as well as heaters or fireplaces.
Poinsettias are a part of the Euphorbia Family. The milky sap inside a poinsettia can be harmful to humans and pets if ingested in large quantities, however it is a MYTH that poinsettias are poisonous to plants and children. Of course, your cat, dog, or toddler would not feel good after eating poinsettia, but it will not be fatal. There is research from The Ohio State University and POISINDEX that dismantles this myth of toxic poinsettias. Check it out here: https://safnow.org/aboutflowers/poinsettia/
Fun fact: Some people keep poinsettias in their home all year long! They will lose their red or white coloration as the days get longer, but when winter approaches, that classic color will return.
Winter Greens / Spruce Tips
The best part of decorating with Winter Greens is that they are extremely low maintenance!
When you get them home, water them once to help secure the container components. They may have shifted during transit from our greenhouses to your home. This will also help to keep the boughs moist.
Winter greens will last longest when they are out of direct sunlight. You may apply “wilt-proof” to the greens to help them last longer.
We suggest that you keep them outdoors, as they prefer cool temperatures. If you do bring them inside for decorative purposes, return them outdoors and re-water after your indoor event.
notes on Fertilizers
What does it mean to “feed plants regularly”? Whether you are using MiracleGro, Osmocote, or another type of fertilizer, your plants need nutrients throughout their lifetime to thrive. Every time you water your potted plants, nutrients leave the soil and the pot as the water drains. Different fertilizers have different recommended application methods and amounts, so be sure to read the instructions carefully beforehand! If you apply too much fertilizer, you could risk damaging or even killing the plant.
notes on Water
Watering is a necessary part of maintaining healthy plants that last all season long. We wish there was one simple answer to the question, “How much do I need to water?” But unfortunately, as like we all have our own personal preferences, every plant prefers different amounts of water. Here are a few tips to help you master watering in your garden:
Review and save all care instructions that come with your plants so that you can refer back to them when you need to.
The amount of water that you need to give your plants will change throughout the season depending on three main factors: air temperature, wind & light exposure. For example, if you notice in the forecast that the temperature will be above average in the coming week, you may need to increase your watering to account for the increased
Use the “thumb trick” to check soil moisture. Place your thumb into the soil around the plant. When you remove it, if the soil is wet or moist, the soil will stick to your thumb. That plant likely has enough water for the time being. However, if when you remove your thumb, you notice it feels dry and soil falls away, it is probably time to water that plant.
In the height of the growing season (April - August), the best time to water is in the morning or evening. This allows for maximum water absorption by the roots of the plant.
It is possible to over water some plants! Most plants do not like to have “wet feet” (roots). Make sure your containers have drainage holes in the bottom and that the water can drain out of the bottom of the pot.
Perennial Hydrangea (Outdoor)
It is important to remember not all hydrangeas are the same! Care instructions are different based on variety. *Not all hydrangeas are hardy to our zone- in other words, they don’t all survive through our harsh winter.
4 main types of hydrangeas: 1. Bigleaf/Macrophylla (ie.Endless Summer) 2. Smooth (ie.Annabelle) 3.Panicle (ie..Limelight, Pink Winky, Quick Fire) 4. Oakleaf (ie.Annabelle)
Bigleaf(macrophylla) and Mountain(serrata) are the only varieties that can change their color in a predictable, controllable way.
Link: Click here for a great article- How to prune your hydrangea
Endless Summer Hydrangea Care:
Never fully prune Endless Summer Hydrangeas- give them a little “haircut” in late spring just by removing parts of the stem that didn’t survive the winter- but never prune in fall!
It is suggested that in Zone 5 wait until June to cut off the stems that didn’t survive winter. But only cut the parts of the brown stems above the green. Do not cut anything past the green growth.
In the fall it is so important not to prune because the early flower buds for the next season are formed the prior fall season so if you cut it back like you would with a Annabelle hydrangea you are cutting off the blooms for next year. At the end of fall you can add extra protection, simply cover the base with 6”-8” of mulch, woodchips, or straw.
Endless Summer suggests to use a granular, slow release, bloom boosting fertilizer only a few times each year. The N-P-K ratio should have a low first number and a high middle number. The goal is just to have more phosphorus than nitrogen, since N encourages green leafy growth.