Huntsman or Brown Recluse? - Manatee County Extension Office

The Manatee County Master Gardener Newsletter
October 2014 - Volume 13 – Issue 10
Along Came a …
Huntsman  or Brown Recluse?
By Norma Kisida, Master Gardener 2012
Adult male huntsman spider,
Heteropoda venatoria
Photograph by Marie Knight
Adult male brown recluse spider
Taken from: http://www.opsu.edu/
We don’t know what kind of spider frightened Miss
Muffet but if it was a huntsman spider (Heteropoda
venatoria), she could have mistaken it for a brown
recluse (Loxosceles reclusa), as many people do. They
are both big brown spiders, impressive enough to
frighten anyone off their tuffet.
The huntsman spider, sometimes called the banana
spider or giant crab spider, is considered the world’s
largest spider by leg span which is three to five
inches and body length of about one inch. An
identifying feature of this species is the plain, light
brown upper body surfaces and dark legs. It is
presumed to have been introduced from Asia into
subtropical areas of Florida, Texas, and California in
crates of produce. It is common in houses and other
structures since its flat body shape allows it to fit into
small cracks and crevices.
The female carries the eggsac, which contains over 200
eggs, under the body. If the eggsac ruptures, these tiny
spiders can scatter out, a truly scary event which I
witnessed after swatting an adult female. They are
non-aggressive and non-venomous, but the bite can be
painful.
The brown recluse spider, often called a fiddle back
spider, brown fiddler, or violin spider is about the size
of a quarter with a dark violin-shaped mark on its back;
the neck of the "violin" is pointing toward the spider's
abdomen. As other spiders have similar markings, a
more definitive feature of the brown recluse is the six
eyes arranged in pairs while most other spiders have
eight eyes. This may be difficult to see without a hand
lens. Brown recluse bites are much feared because in
some instances a necrotic wound can result.
Fortunately for Floridians, the brown recluse is not
established here (see map) and although there are many
reports of bites, the spiders are not present and many
other medical conditions mimic a spider bite.
Most spiders are harmless and are actually beneficial.
If Little Miss Muffet had lived in Manatee County,
she could have brought her spider in to the
Extension Master Gardener Plant Diagnostic Clinic
for proper identification.
Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Service
1303 17th Street West - Palmetto, FL 34221
Telephone: (941) 722-4524
http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu
Master Gardeners Amy Stripe & Joy Derksen, Co-editors
Contents reviewed & edited by Lisa Hickey, Extension Agent
Send a photo or gardening problem via e-mail to the Master Gardeners
at [email protected] or visit them at the County Extension Office
Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; closed on Wednesday
HU
HU
UH
UH
What’s That?
By Nancy Porter, Master Gardener Trainee 2014
Buckeye Butterfly
To some, this slender stalk of lovely sweet purple blossoms might be considered a delicate wildflower; to
others a weed; and to the sentimental, the sweetest bouquet a mommy ever received from her eighteen-monthold little girl.
In reality it is commonly identified as oldfield toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis L.) Often it will be seen in
clusters in vacant areas of property or alongside a roadway. It is classified as a biennial. It is also a nectar
source and larval host to the buckeye butterfly.
Oldfield toadflax is native to eastern North America from Ontario to Florida and west to Texas. It is a late
winter to spring annual or biennial. It can produce leaf clusters along the ground in one season then grow a
twelve to twenty-four inch slender stalk and flower during the second season which is why it is classified as a
biennial.
For most, oldfield toadflax is considered a wildflower, but as soon as it creeps into a lawn, watch out! It is
then classified as a weed! Oldfield toadflax reproduces by seed only, so hand pulling it would be beneficial to
reduce the number of plants in your yard the coming year.
So, is Oldfield Toadflax an ornamental flower or just a pesky weed? Well, I guess it’s in the eye of the
beholder, as are many things in this world.
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County Fertilizer Ban Lifted
But Restrictions Still Apply
By Amy Stripe, Master Gardener 2008
The nitrogen fertilizer blackout from
June 1st to September 30th is over
for 2014, but there are additional,
year-round restrictions in effect.
Limits on nitrogen: From October
1st through May 31st, nitrogen
fertilizers must contain at least
50% slow release nitrogen. Look
for the terms time‐release, slow
release, or controlled release on
the product label. In addition,
nitrogen application cannot
exceed four pounds per 1,000
square feet annually or one
pound per application. (That is one
pound of nitrogen not one pound
of fertilizer).
Phosphorus ban: No phosphorus
(P) can be applied at any time
throughout the year without a soil
analysis showing a phosphorus
deficiency. The lab analysis must be
filed with the County Administrator.
(The filing process can be
protracted, so it's not as easy as
it sounds.)
Weather advisories: If the National
Weather Service issues a watch or
warning anywhere in the county for
severe thunderstorms, hurricanes,
tropical storms, flooding, or rainfall
of two inches or more in a 24-hour
period, no fertilizers can be applied
while the advisory is in effect.
Exempted plants: Potted or
otherwise containerized indoor and
outdoor plants are not subject to the
fertilizer restrictions, nor are home
vegetable gardens.
A list of fertilizers that comply with
the ordinance is available at
http://www.mymanatee.org/home/
government/departments/parksand-recreation/naturalresources/new-fertilizer-ordinanceroot/homeowners-info.html or
google Manatee County Fertilizer
Ordinance.
3
Hoyas -- Inside or Outside
Article and Photographs by Joy Derksen, Master Gardener 2004
Hoyas are old-fashioned houseplants that are
coming back into favor. You may remember your
mom or grandmother growing a hoya (also known
as a “wax plant”) inside on a sunny windowsill. If
they were lucky and conditions were ideal, the
plant, usually a Hoya coronas, produced round
groups of pink flowers that looked remarkably like
velvety pincushions. Or you might remember a
twining plant called a Hindu rope plant, Hoya
carnosa compacta. As indoor plants, they shine
with little care, fertilizer or watering. The
University of Georgia has discovered that hoyas
help keep indoor air clear of pollutants.
Hoyas are a member of the milkweed family
(Asclepia) found in tropical Asia, Polynesia, and
Australia. Most hoyas are vining plants, but there
are some that are more shrub like. Hoyas available
for purchase are epiphytes that do well in hanging
baskets. Nearly all of the hoya species have waxy,
semi-succulent, or succulent leaf tissues. The dark
green or variegated leaves may be round, oval, or
heart shaped.
The flowers are always five pointed stars sitting
on top of another five-pointed corolla. The
flowers are grouped together in an umbel which
looks like an old-fashioned nosegay turned upside
down. Flower colors vary from white, pink, red,
yellow, and purple. The flowers are highly
fragrant at night.
While Northerners may grow their hoyas inside,
Floridians can leave them outside during warm
weather and keep them on protected lanais during
the winter. Tropical hoyas like high humidity.
Outside they require bright morning sun and then
filtered shade under trees, much like orchids.
When happy, the hoyas will bloom continuously
in warm weather.
When the weather gets colder, water less
frequently. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
has some hoyas growing up trees that live outside
year round. Hoyas are not bothered by too many
pests. They do get aphids and mealy bugs. Selby
Gardens treats their insect problems with a spray
bottle filled with a mixture of 50/50 rubbing
alcohol and water. You can also use a soap and
water solution on the aphids.
The University of Florida recommends a fast
draining organically enriched soil mix containing
fibrous peat, coir or leaf mold, plus orchid bark
and coarse sand. Selby Gardens recommends 1/2
sterile soil and 1/2 perlite or vermiculite to allow
good drainage. Hoyas must never stand in water;
wet roots will kill a hoya. Hoyas have a small root
system and do not need a large pot. They bloom
better when the roots are crowded. They do not
need frequent repotting.
Hoyas should be fertilized with slow release
fertilizer (14-14-14) with minor elements in early
spring and late summer.
Hoyas are fairly easy to propagate. Take several
cuttings with two to three leaf nodes, remove the
leaves and dust the ends with rooting hormone
powder, plant them together in a soilless mix,
water thoroughly, drain, and then keep moist.
Some interesting hoyas are: Hoya carnosa--easy
to grow, Hoya kerrii which has valentine shaped
leaves, Hoya shepherdii which survives outside
as far north as Georgia, Hoya halophila which
grows on the coast of New Guinea and so can
tolerate salt spray on our coasts, and Hoya
multiflora a shrubbier species with clusters of
lemony scented flowers.
For more information about hoyas, look at the
following links. From the University of Florida:
http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/giam/plants_
and_grasses/houseplants_foliage/hoya.html
and https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp257
Selby Gardens’ advice:
http://www.selby.org/learningandgrowing/plant_c
ollections/hoya
The International Hoya Society:
http://www.international-hoya.org/faqs.asp
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continued on page 5
continued from page 4
Hoya obscura, red and green variegated leaves with Hoya flower
Hoya carnosa in bloom
Purple and white with red stripes Hoya flower
Hoya obscura flower
Velvety hoya flowers
Silky seeds caught on a Hoya flower in bud
5
Horticultural Therapy
Article and Photographs by Norma Kisida, Master Gardener 2012
Those of us who enjoy gardening and being around
plants and nature are not surprised to learn that
scientific studies have shown significant health benefits
from horticultural activities in many areas including
physical, cognitive, social, psychological, and spiritual.
The American Horticultural Therapy Association
(AHTA) defines horticultural therapy as the
engagement of a client in horticultural activities,
facilitated by a trained therapist, to achieve specific
and documented treatment goals. This association
was formed in 1973 to develop and promote the
profession and provide training and professional
regulation in the United States; degrees are offered at
several major universities.
Horticultural therapy has a long history of being used in
psychiatric hospitals, prisons, and with veterans. It is
now widely used in hospitals, rehabilitation centers,
schools, community gardens, hospices, and many other
venues such as for children with special needs.
It is not surprising that many horticultural therapists are
Master Gardeners or that many Master Gardeners work
closely with horticultural therapists. Manatee County
Master Gardener Rebecca Moreland, who has a
professional background in public and occupational
health, has a deep understanding of how our
environment affects our health. She began volunteering
six years ago with the Ellenton Tidewell Hospice
House, helping tend the four gardens that are
maintained for their clients, families, and staff. These
gardens include a beautiful butterfly garden and rose
garden along with an herb garden which is kept on the
lanai to be enjoyed by patients, family, and friends.
There is also an orchid house and the orchids are moved
inside the house as they bloom. Shortly after starting to
volunteer with hospice, Becky became a Master
Gardener to learn more about the plants and how to care
for them. One of her activities is making and delivering
arrangements from the gardens. She finds that it
stimulates patients and opens conversations about such
subjects as gardening and cooking, and the recipients
enjoy both the flowers and fragrances.
Patti Grant is a horticultural therapist who trained at
Colorado State University through the Horticultural
Therapy Institute. She also completed the Master
Gardener training program through the University of
California at Davis and was able to combine her
background in international public health and love of
gardening with horticultural therapy. She is now a
consultant in horticultural therapy and provides
customized horticultural activities, workshops about the
benefits of engaging in horticultural activities, and
consultation in therapy specific garden design. She
loves sharing the benefits of horticulture and how
intimately we are connected to nature and our world.
If you are interested in learning more, Patti will be
conducting a workshop which includes hands-on
activities on November 15 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. (See
the Calendar of Events at http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu for
details and to register).
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We remember
Carol Ann Breyer
1934-2014
Manatee County Master Gardener, Master Wildlifer, Master
Conservationist; supporter of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
Program, and long-time contributor to and former editor of The Master
Gardening Bench. She was a beloved steward.
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October
CALENDAR
OF
EVENTS
Date
2nd & 4th
Saturday
nd
2 Saturday
Time
Event
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Ask a Master Gardener – Rocky Bluff Library – 6750 US Highway 301 N., Ellenton. Visit the Extension
Master Gardener information table and get answers to your gardening questions.
Ask a Master Gardener – South Manatee Library – 6081 26th Street West, Bradenton. Visit the Extension
Master Gardener information table and get answers to your gardening questions.
October 4, 2014 ~ 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale Fundraiser
at the Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Office
Extension Master Gardener Plant ID Tour - Riverview Pointe Preserve - Stroll through De Soto
October 11
9:00-11:00 a.m.
October 18
9:00-11:30a.m.
October 18
9:00-11:00 a.m.
October 19
9:00-11:00 a.m.
October 21
9:00 a.m.-Noon
October 25
9:00 a.m.-Noon
National Memorial and Riverview Pointe Preserve to learn more about Florida’s native plants and inhabitants
of a coastal habitat. Suitable for all ages. The hike begins in the parking area of the De Soto National
Memorial Park and enters into the Riverview Preserve at 8250 De Soto Memorial Highway, Bradenton. Call
the Extension Master Gardeners at (941) 722-4524 to register.
Repotting Orchids - Do you have an orchid bursting from its’ pot and wonder what do I do now? This
workshop will demonstrate the proper way to propagate your orchid and to repot it for a healthy new
lifestyle. Bring your orchid along for a hands-on of how to separate and repot it. Register online at
http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu or call the Extension Master Gardeners at (941) 722-4524.
Extension Master Gardener Plant ID Tour – Emerson Point Preserve - Stroll through Emerson Point
Preserve to learn more about Florida’s native plants and inhabitants of a coastal habitat. Suitable for all ages.
Tour begins in tower parking area at 5801 17th Street West, Palmetto. Call the Extension Master Gardeners to
register at (941) 722-4524.
Extension Master Gardener Plant ID Tour – Robinson Preserve - Stroll through the Robinson
Preserve’s salt marshes to learn more about Florida’s native plants and inhabitants of a coastal habitat.
Suitable for all ages. Tour begins in parking area by main entrance at 1704 99th Street Northwest, Bradenton.
Call the Extension Master Gardeners at (941) 722-4524 to register.
Introduction to Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ - The 9 Principles - Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
means using low-maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices. Learn how you can have a
beautiful landscape that could save you time, energy, and money while protecting our future. Register online
at http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu or call the Extension Master Gardeners at (941) 722-4524..
Taking the Mystery Out of Micro-Irrigation - This workshop will take the mystery out of micro-irrigation
for landscape plants. You will learn reasons why it is important to water shrubs and other landscape plants
separately from your lawn. The workshop will include a walk-about in the educational gardens for a
demonstration of connecting micro-irrigation to an outdoor faucet. Most homeowners can install microirrigation themselves! Register online at http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu or call Joann.
University of Florida IFAS Extension - Manatee County
1303 17th St. W., Palmetto, FL 34221 Telephone: (941) 722-4524
Web site: http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu E-mail: [email protected]
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information,
and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age,
disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations.