Thank goodness for the last few days as it seems so long since we’d felt the sun’s warmth. But days are noticeably lengthening, and though the light is still the orange of winter rather than the gold of summer, the sky seems a more intense blue. Spring may feel ages away, but we know that it’s coming. Patience is our watchword. Your houseplants are certainly happier with the sunshine and longer days. You can start fertilizing moderately to encourage new growth. Prune any straggly stems to stimulate branching. You’ll end up with much nicer plants if you give them periodic haircuts. It’s about a month too early though to do any re-potting.

If you’ve neglected to do so all winter, it is time to thoroughly inspect all your plants for insect pests. You may have made it so far without problems but pesky creatures can pop up, seemingly overnight. Carefully check underneath all the leaves for lurking spider mites and white flies. These pests can be very sneaky. Aphids are easier to spot on new tender shoots. Keen observation goes a long way. A good shower or spray in the kitchen sink will make a world of difference. Be sure to use lukewarm water and don’t wash plants with fuzzy-leaved or cactus.

This is about the time when fungus gnats make an appearance. These tiny flying pests aren’t really damaging your houseplants, but they can stress the roots of tiny seedlings. And they are just plain annoying to have in your house. Attracted to overly moist soil and organic matter, gnats will usually decline if you dry out your plants in between waterings. It’s so easy to keep soil too moist in the winter when plants just aren’t using the excess water. If the infestation is really unbearable, an application of sand to the top of the soil of affected plants will confuse the adult gnats and discourage further egg laying. Yellow sticky traps will also help reduce the population by physically capturing adult insects before they can reproduce.

If you’ve been storing any dormant tropical plants, it’s time to wake them up. Move them to a spot with high light levels and begin regular watering. Prune back any dead or spindly growth and check for pests. These tropical plants are from warm climates so they appreciate a similar environment. And start thinking about where you will place them when moved outside for the summer. Perhaps they can be incorporated into some annual container groupings on your porch or patio. They make spectacular centerpieces.

We hope that you managed to get outside this week. If not, promise yourself that you’ll take advantage of the next nice Saturday or Sunday and visit one of the area’s many municipal gardens. The paths were icy, but skunk cabbage has emerged in the Arboretum. See what you can find.