NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State
University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
May 7, 1998
Ron Smith, Extension Horticulturist
North Dakota State University
Q. I enjoy your articles very much and am learning much about plants, although I still have a long way to go.
I recall someone inquiring about fern leaf peonies. One doesn't see them advertised very often.
I don't know how or how long ago it started, but there are many of these planted near Roslyn, S.D. They usually bloom earlier than the other peonies and usually are in full bloom on Memorial Day. They are planted in the early fall. I planted two in front of my house and they had about 15 flowers on each bush last year.
If you drive through the area on Memorial Day weekend, it would be worth your while to stop and see those beautiful flowers. (Aberdeen, S.D.)
A. Thank you for the information. I am glad to be able to provide a source for those interested in fern leaf peonies: Farmer Seed & Nursery, Division of Plantron, Inc., Faribault, MN 55021.
Thank you also for the nice comments about the column.
Q. What is wrong with my Jade plant? (Moorhead, Minn.)
A. I had our plant pathologist in the plant diagnostic lab run a culture on your Jade leaves. She could not isolate any pathogens from the sample.
I suggest that the problem is abioticrelated to environment, watering, fertilizing, etc. Perhaps a simple repotting will solve it.
Q. Enclosed please find leaves from two of my cacti. I have nine cacti of various sizes. One or more is always blooming. Although I've read quite a few articles on cactus, I've never read why one goes limp and looks as though it's dying. This has happened before, but the plant has come back healthy. They do get more hours of darkness than light. Also, I try to water on a consistent basis (not every week) and do fertilize once a month. Also I do need to transplant some of the smaller ones. What is the best mixture of soil to use? Thanks for all the information you provide. Your column is very helpful. (Moorhead, Minn.)
A. Many plants have a very distinct rest or dormant period and various Christmas cacti are included in that category.
You are approximately providing the right care for your plants. They like plenty of light, but not direct summer suns. They generally flower when the days are naturally short; when flower buds form, mist often and fertilize weekly with a dilute (about ½ normal strength) solution. The plants generally enter their resting period coming into summer when watering should be greatly reduced; and repot with equal parts of sand, loamy soil and peatmoss. Commercial mixes are available.
Q. Last spring I encircled an old tree trunk (stump), dead, I presumed. I put quite a bit of soil on it and planted this perennial on it. It is a creeping acre sedum. Last fall, it was being invaded by this rubber-like substance, as you can see in the sample that I have enclosed. I believe this is coming from the tree trunk. Can I do anything to get rid of it, before it gets rid of my nice-looking plant altogether?
I enjoy reading your column. (Medina, N.D.)
A. Your sedum is being overrun by a wood-rotting fungus. While not pathogenic to the sedum, it will impede the sedum because of its physical vigor.
Your solution is to remove the stump and as much of the root system as possible. There are stump grinders that can be rented that will do the job in a matter of minutes. Do not leave the sawdust from the grinding behind.
Q. At what soil temperature will crabgrass germinate and how do I control the crabgrass? (Oakes, N.D.)
A. When the soil temperature is around 55 to 60 F at a depth of 2 to 3 inches, crabgrass seed (some of it) will begin to germinate. If you use Dimension and crabgrass preventer, you will get 16 weeks of control. This is a good feature because crabgrass seed, as you know, doesn't germinate all at once, but throughout the season. This product will take you through August. Anything that sprouts after that will get toasted by fall frosts before seed can be set.
Thanks for writing.
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Source: Ron Smith (701) 231-8161
Editor: Barry Brissman (701) 231-7866