Written by:  Catherine Burst, Colorado Master Gardener class of 2018

Baby, it’s cold outside, but indoors it’s the perfect time to start propagating plants for the Master Gardeners/SHED annual May plant sale!

A popular spot at the annual sale is the CMG “Home Grown” table. The table is stocked with houseplants, ground covers and  perennials all donated by Master Gardeners who have been busy growing plants over the winter. If you have east, south or west facing windows, you can enjoy growing plants for both the plant sale and yourself.

Now is a good time to divide houseplants that have outgrown their containers – Sansevieria, Philodendron or Christmas Cactus.  Prune summer favorites you are overwintering – Geraniums, Begonias or Impatiens. Start winter-hardy ground covers – English Ivy, Spotted Dead-nettle or Periwinkle.  You can divide dormant bulbs – Iris, Daffodils and Lily of the Valley. Even small Hollyhocks can be dug up, moved and heeled-in for the winter.

For many Master Gardeners, it is the joy of nurturing a growing plant that keeps us gardening year-round. There is nothing like watching roots emerge from a cutting, seeing a bulb push through soil or watching new leaves emerge from tiny buds. It serves to remind us that there is a cycle of life, that we are part of it, and that in some small way we can each sustain it in respect for our past and in hope for our future.

If being cozy and gardening at the same time sounds like a good way to take a break from all those seed catalogues you’re reading, consider growing a few plants for the May plant sale. We at Supporters of Horticulture Education (SHED) can help by providing plastic pots, soil-less potting mix, ideas and advice. Our vision is to be “Gardeners helping Gardeners reach Gardening Dreams” and we want to help our fellow Master Gardeners, and anyone interested so we have lots of plants on the “Home Grown” table.

To learn more, be a volunteer at the May plant sale, watch the progression of cuttings rooting in water, or just talk gardening, email our President, Catherine Burst at catherineburst@gmail.com. And thanks for all your gardening dreams!

English Ivy, Spotted Dead-nettle and Begonia cuttings being rooted for transplanting