How to … buy plants at La Candelaria plant sale
 By Krishna Villena

La Candelaria, San Miguel’s festival of plants and flowers, is celebrating its 53rd anniversary and its 19th year in Parque Juárez. Cultural events and plant sales began January 30 and run through February 10. 

At this time of the year, people start buying plants from La Candelaria not only to keep up the tradition but also to be prepared for spring. Atención offers some tips and information for buying plants at the year’s biggest botanical sale. 

Prices vary from one stand to another, depending on the type of plant for sale, varying from 10 pesos for cilantro to 1,500 pesos for an exotic orchid. “The best sellers for indoors are tulips, violets and daffodils,” said Rafael Cruz Estéban, a vendor from Huauchinango in the state of Puebla. Each year he comes to sell his plants in La Candelaria and added that “the most popular outdoor plants are bougainvilleas, jacarandas and azaleas.” Cruz Estéban also said it is very important to give the proper care to every plant or tree, including watering, fertilizing, changing pots if necessary and “talking to them with love.”

Below is a list of an average of prices of the most recommended plants for San Miguel. There are also some tips you may consider when buying at La Candelaria: 


Herbs (e.g., cilantro, parsley, thyme) 10 pesos; water four times a week, need lots of sun, indoors/outdoors

Violets (small and big leaves) 25pesos; water once a week, indirect sun, indoors

Cactus (depending on size) 30–120pesos; water every eight days, sun, indoors/outdoors

Daffodils or narcissus, 40–50 pesos; water twice a week, indirect sun, indoors/outdoors

Bonsai (depending on size) 90–1,000 peso; wateri two to three times per week, indirect sun, indoors/outdoors

Coffee plant (with coffee beans) 150 pesos; watering once a week, shadow, outdoors.

Flamingo flower or anturio, 300-320pesos, water once a week in winter, three times per week in summer, indirect sun, only indoors

A bag of mulch, 40 pesos, good for most all plants and trees 

Fertilizer, 40 pesos/kilo

Clay plant pots are between 35–1,200 pesos; the price depends on the size and the finish 

Young boys with wheelbarrows tip, 30-50 pesos, they offer transportation for your plants and pots to your car or taxi. 

Look for a plant with compact and bushy growth and try to select ones with many short stems over those with a few tall stems (tallos). A plant with many, full looking stems is a stronger plant and will adjust better to its new home. Long and spindly growth may be a sign the plant was not properly pruned or not given enough light, or possibly it is root-bound. 

Select plants that are not quite blooming yet. People tend to buy the plants in full, colorful bloom because they look so attractive, but these plants are likely to be weakened. 

Check that the soil is moist. Young plants, even drought-tolerant specimens such as cactus, need regular watering to stay healthy.

If the pot is dry, the plant roots are likely to be already damaged, even if the plant’s foliage still appears fine

Plants must have healthy-looking leaves. Yellowed or discolored leaves could be caused by pests, fungal infections or root problems. 

Lift the container. Look at the bottom drainage holes, if long roots are hanging out it’s a sure sign the roots are overcrowded, which can weaken the plant. Also, too little root growth may cause trouble when transplanting into a new pot or garden. It’s unlikely the plant will survive, so tip the plant and pull it out of the pot a bit in order to check the roots are established enough and it does not lift out of the pot easily and leave the soil behind.

Unique celebration

The annual Candelaria fair is a blend of religious and local community celebrations completely unique to San Miguel that melds pre-Hispanic indigenous and Catholic traditions. 

The pre-Hispanic origin of the festivity of Candelaria is the veneration of a child god called Pilzintecuhtli and the blessing of seeds. Heads of rural communities bring seeds for the next season’s crops to be blessed at the morning mass. The tradition continues today among campesinos and those who grow flowers for Easter festivities. 

In the Catholic faith, February 2 (Candlemas) marks the Virgin Mary’s purification and the day when Christ was presented at the temple. Nowadays, this is celebrated by thousands of Catholic families who take their Christ child figures to the church. It’s also the day when people who found the plastic dolls in the Rosca de Reyes (Kings’ cake) on January 6 give a party with tamales and atole.

Glossary

Floreando, blooming

Regar, to water plants

Podar, to prune

Abono, fertilizer 

Macetas, flowerpots

Costal de tierra, potting soil

 




Green Week in the Biblioteca Pública
By Jesús Ibarra

Building Green Week
Wed–Sat, Feb 18–21, 
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25

The Biblioteca Pública dresses in green for Green Week, when different providers for building green exhibit their products in the central patio. Solar San Miguel offers solar panels for producing solar power, while Distribuidora Waltho offers solar and wind power energy. 

Casa y Cal produces adobe bricks, compacted with a special machine, which make them more resistant. Productos Orgánicos Don Juan produces worm compost and other organic products.

Arnulfo Mancera and Eduardo Obregón present their special bricks made of hard subsoil, which is mixed with an additive called Maxeh, to make the bricks cheaper, less contaminating and harder than traditional bricks. 

“We are beginning to work hard subsoil bricks with the families at the rural community of Pantoja, a main pollution source in San Miguel due to the brick ovens installed there. Making these bricks reduces the pollution generated for brick making,” said Mancera.

Participants pay a fee for their space and the income goes to the Biblioteca. Besides the ecological exhibition, Green Week includes a series of conferences and films on ecological issues in Teatro Santa Ana and Sala Quetzal at the Biblioteca. 



 


Organic Food Fiesta

Full Moon Organics
Wed, Feb 11, 5:30–9:30pm
Casa Angelitos B&B 
Faroles 3, Col Atascadero
200 pesos/US$15
Tickets, Roger Jones 154-7448, Cate Lazen 152-0806, or Rocio loscharcos@waldorfsanmiguel.org. 
Full Moon Organics debuts this week with an Organic Food Fiesta the first in a series of seasonal events aimed to bring environmentally aware people and businesses together. Roger and Rosana Jones, owners of Casa Angelitos B & B host this fundraiser for the Waldorf School scholarship programs. 

This exciting evening includes live music, fireworks, and a choice of four short workshops as well as a buffet of delectable gourmet and organic dishes. Sponsors, Via Organica, Centro Humanista/Rene' Mey, Casa Angelitos, Luna de Queso, Natura, Viejo Topo, Bove', Solar San Miguel, Toyan, Rancho La Trinidad, Organica, The Restaurant at Sollano #16, "Michael Amici" Photographer, Postres-Bamboo-Deserts, "La Costa" Certificado Organico, La Gloria del Huerta, and Bajo Fondo. Contact Roger 154-7448 to reserve tickets. Wine available for additional cost or BYOB.