402 - 444 - 7804
January 2022
Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties News
Winter Care of Houseplants

Light
Unless you have a greenhouse or grow lights, keeping houseplants at their finest during the winter months can be a challenge. With sunlight intensity and duration at a low point, even the best window in the house can keep plant growth to a minimum. Give plants a quarter turn each time you water to keep plants from leaning and getting top heavy. Pinch off stems that have gotten leggy to keep plants looking good and place the cuttings in water for rooting. These can be potted and to give away as gifts or used to dress up outdoor containers in thespring.

Fertilization
With reduced growth during the winter months, a houseplant’s need for nutrients drops. Unless plants have supplemental grow lights, continuing to fertilize during the winter months risks the buildup of fertilizer salts in potting soil, reaching critical levels that can kill plants. For houseplants in the window, fertilization should take place March through October, when sunlight intensity and duration promotes plant growth and vigor. 

Watering
The best way to water houseplants is from the top down, allowing excess water to drain into the catch dish below. Allow plants to remain in the excess water for about an hour before emptying the catch dish. The method of watering houseplants known as wicking, along with leaving drained water in catch dishes, deposits minerals and salts on soil surfaces as water evaporates. Water temperature plays a huge role in root activity, so make sure water is brought to room temperature before it is used. Never place ice cubes on the soil surface to water plants. Ice water is just above freezing and will injure the plant's roots.

Learn more from our experts here.
Winter Jams and Jellies

Winter is a great time to make homemade jam and jelly.
Using frozen fruit or juice and commercial pectin simplifies the process.
The most effective way to preserve jam or jelly is to process in a boiling water canner for a short period of time. For most recipes it is 5 minutes if elevation is under a 1000 feet, 10 minutes from 1,000 to 6,000 feet, Omaha's elevation is above 1,000 feet.

Sugar helps preserve jam, but mold is still able to grow in jams and jellies in the presence of air. Paraffin wax is not recommended, as it can allow small bits of air to reach the product. Freezer jam recipes require the jam to be frozen for long term storage. Don’t interchange recipes that call for processing and those that call for freezing.

To successfully make jams and jellies remember:
  • Do not exchange one type of pectin for another
  • Measure ingredients exactly
  • Do NOT double a recipe
  • Use new pectin 

For more information about making jam or jelly, visit https://food.unl.edu/canning-jams-and-jellies
Staying Active this Winter!

Being physically active is important year-round, but the cold, Nebraska winter months can present challenges when it comes to staying active. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week for adults and at least 60 minutes per day for children and adolescents.

Check out these at home workouts that you can do from the comfort of your living room here.

4-H Enrollment is Open
 
Nebraska 4-H has transitioned to 4honline 2.0. To enroll, click here.

For returning families, please do not create a new account; rather use your log-in credentials for 4honline used in previous years. Instructions can be found here:

Enrollment instructions for new families can be found here: https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/new-member.

Please note the enrollment fee for Douglas-Sarpy counties is $10.00 per member and is paid online.

Please contact Mary Dierks at mdierks@sarpy.gov with any questions.
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Early Childhood Helps Identify "What Kindergarten Readiness Looks Like?"
Kindergarten Readiness looks like:
  • Children’s natural love of learning has been nurtured.
  • Children get along with their peers.
  • Children are able to share and cooperate.
  • Children are interested in learning.
  • Children follow directions and routines.
  • Children cooperate in a group.
  • Children can do things for themselves (tie shoes, dress themselves, zip coat, etc.)
  • Meeting the individual needs of each child.
  • Acknowledge what children do and say by giving positive attention.
  • Give specific feedback rather than general comments.
  • Assessing children’s development and learning.
  • Staff receives specialized training relating to the age of children in their care.
  • Valuing each family’s child and culture.
  • Support children’s play.
  • Planning the curriculum to achieve important goals.
Learn more tips here.
8015 West Center Road
Omaha, NE 68124-3175
402-444-7804
go.unl.edu/douglassarpyext 
Email us at douglas-sarpy@unl.edu

Our south office is located at 1102 E. 1st St., Papillion, NE 68046.
Call 402-444-7804 to schedule an appointment at our Papillion Office.