November 15, 2025

  Photo credit: Pam Schmitt

If you've attended our Spring and Fall Plant Sales - did you ever wonder "where do they get all these plants"?

They are actually propagated from plants in our Demonstration Gardens and from the gardens of individual Master Gardeners.

And… it’s one of our favorite things to do!

 Photo Credits: Pam Schmitt

Here we are (left) at the benches most Thursday mornings no matter the weather.

 We arrive with cut stems and branches which are divided into sections containing one 'node' and 'planted' in 2-inch pots of special 'starter' soil mix. (right).

 The trays are placed on appropriate benches (sun/shade) and are automatically watered once or twice per day. 

 This is just the beginning.  By sale time, these little twigs will grow and make several moves to increasingly larger pots - until you finally see them in 1 or 2 gallon pots at the next sale.  

 The Nursery is open on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Thursday of each month (weather permitting) from 9A - 12 Noon.  

  Photo credit: UF/IFAS Photo Archive

 Check the soil around your plants. They may not be getting the water they need if the soil has dried out or if the water in the soil is frozen. Watering the area can help defrost the soil and provide your plants with an available source of moisture. Even injured plants need water.

 While you may be tempted to add a little fertilizer to your plants to help speed their recovery hold off. If you fertilize too early you could encourage new growth before cold weather has gone. It’s best to wait until the danger of frost has passed.

 Don’t prune cold-damaged plants right away. The dead foliage looks bad, but it will help insulate plants from further injury. In the spring, assess the extent of the damage by scraping the bark with your fingernail. Cold-injured wood will be black or brown under the bark. To be certain where to prune, wait until plants begin to sprout new growth.

 Herbaceous plants like impatiens and begonias that are damaged by the cold may collapse. If this happens, it’s best to cut them down and remove the plants to prevent fungal or bacterial problems from arising as they decay.

 Is your lawn also showing signs of cold weather damage?  Follow this link to learn more: 

Freeze Damage in My Lawn: Is it Dead? - UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County

Jo Leyte-Vidal, Master Gardener Volunteer

Photo Credit: UF/IFAS Photo Archive 

 Every leaf that falls to the ground will decompose and return it’s nutrients to the soil. If you walk in a forest that has not been disturbed, move the leaf cover and you will find beautiful dark loamy soil.

 You can create this at home with all the plant materials that you put out for disposal. It’s amazing to drive by houses where they are piling up leaves and grass clippings for curbside pickup. What a waste.

 Think about what gets thrown away every day:

 Leaves, grass clippings, coffee, tea, straw, hay, manure, fruit, vegetable peels, egg shells, weeds, dead plants.

 All of these things will decompose into compost that you can use to enrich your soil. Just make a pile, turn it monthly to add oxygen, and wait for the natural decomposition.

 Just think about not having to buy compost for your garden!

One caution – Do not add meat or bread

 These products contain fats which do not break down easily – and they also attract rodents.

 Additionally, there are some plants that should not be added because they give off a growth inhibitor that can impact your plants in the garden – Oleander, Castor bean, Walnut, Juniper, Acacia, and citrus.

UF/IFAS Extension Marion County is a cooperation between the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and the University of Florida to deliver relevant, research-based education programs that result in healthy people, healthy environments and healthy economies.