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May 12, 2005 Hortiscope
Q: I purchased a musa plant from a supermarket, but there were no instructions with it. It seems happy at the moment. I am watering it and the plant has new leaves. Is there anything else I should be doing? I will begin to feed it in a couple of weeks. (e-mail reference)
Q: Are spider plants poisonous to beta fish? I work at a bank. For decoration, we have several beta fish bowls around the office. I decided to put spider babies in the bowls to watch them grow. The fish seemed to love it, but this morning when I came to work, one of the fish was dead. Keep in mind that these fish are 2 years old or older, so I’m not sure if it was the plants that killed the fish. (e-mail reference)
Q: While hiking with my sons last fall, they pulled the tops of what I believe to be marsh grass plums off the stalks. We want to know if the plums are the seeds. Can we plant them in our yard? How would we do it? (e-mail reference)
Q: While looking for symptoms of overwatering, I came across your Web site and thought I’d get your advice. I bought my first potted houseplant, a calla lily, several weeks ago. I’ve been watering it regularly and fertilizing it once a week. As the leaves began to form, I noticed some clear spots. In addition, the edges of the leaves are starting to wilt. I assumed this meant I was overwatering. I’ve cut back, but there is no change. I’d appreciate your advice because I don’t want my little flower to die. (e-mail reference)
Q: I have seven juniper bushes in my front yard that I hate and would like to have removed. What is the easiest way to remove them? Can I tie a chain around the base of the bushes and pull them out with a truck? Any assistance is greatly appreciated. (e-mail reference)
Q: My exterior sanseveria plants have been thriving under the same growing conditions for eight years. Almost overnight, many of the stalks lost their chlorophyll and are dotted with green or yellow spots. My landscaper thinks it may be a fungus, but he never has seen this happen. The stalks appear a bit less rigid than the healthy ones. What is wrong and what can be done to save them? (e-mail reference)
Q: I am potting some flowers for my garden wedding in July. I am carrying arranged callas and would love to have some potted lilies for an accent, but I never have been able to keep them very well. I water often, using water from my fish tank (the rest of my flowers love the bacteria-filled water). I wonder if callas don’t last very long before they go dormant. If not, what would you suggest? The garden is full of lilies and I am using 12-inch terra cotta pots that I would love to have overflowing with flowers. (e-mail reference)
Q: I just purchased a pot of fully bloomed tulips. They are beautiful, but I don’t know anything about tulips. When should I plant them outside, how far apart and do they multiply each year? If so, when can I separate them? (e-mail reference)
Q: I just purchased a hydrangea plant with several beautiful, blue blooms. When should I plant it outside? Does it require special care? Can I separate it into two plants before I plant it outside? (e-mail reference)
Q: We purchased a home with a large pin oak in front. We have noticed some of the lower branches are growing horizontally and then reach up to get the sunlight. Is this putting too much stress on the tree? Should we consider trimming these branches? (e-mail reference)
Q: I live in zone 4. I recently purchased dormant clematis roots and am storing them in a cool place. When should I plant them? My thinking is that perennials go dormant and live in the cold ground all winter, so I should be able to plant the roots right now. Is this true or do I have some crazy idea? You always have given me such good answers to my questions. (e-mail reference)
Q: In 2001, we moved into a new office, so the manager’s wife brought in a plant cutting, placed it in the window sill and there it stayed for about 18 months. It never grew in size, but it did bloom. Even though that little stub never grew, it was very healthy looking. Every morning there was a swallow left in my coffee cup (no cream, no sugar), so I began to pour the leftover coffee in the plant. The little plant began to grow and now we have repotted it. We have grown six other plants from that once stubby little plant. The plant is beautiful and everyone comments on it as they walk into our office. We think the only reason it doesn’t look exactly like those in garden centers and florist shops is that ours likes coffee (no cream, no sugar). What is in coffee that would make the difference in growth? (e-mail reference)
Q: Can you root spiderettes in dirt or is it best to start them in water? (e-mail reference)
Q: I was hoping you could help me out with a decision. I hope to relandscape my yard this spring, so I need to choose a tree to plant in my front yard. Right now, there is a diseased European mountain ash and a dying spruce in the front yard. I want to get rid of both and plant a new tree. I’d like a smaller sized tree similar to the mountain ash. I’d also prefer a tree that will attract birds. I was thinking of a chokecherry, until I saw that they probably will become diseased. I thought of a small variety of birch, but since my two neighbors already have these trees in their front yard, I want to do something different. I have a newly planted maple tree on the berm, so I hope to avoid doubling up on that. Do you have any recommendation for another tree that fits that size, fares well in a North Dakota winter, is generally hardy and has a decent chance of avoiding disease? (e-mail reference)
Q: I tried going to the xeriscaping address on the Web that you gave us in your column, but I couldn’t get anything. Was the address in the paper correct? (e-mail reference)
Q: As you know, it has been very cold here in central Minnesota. Until recently, we’ve had nighttime temperatures in the mid- to low 20s. I have a northblue blueberry bush that was loaded with buds. I have been covering it at night, but I forgot one night. Can I expect any fruit or did it spoil my chances? I have several plum trees in the same situation, no blossoms, but they are budding. (e-mail reference)
### Source: Ron
Smith, (701) 231-8161, ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
Market Advisor: |
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North Dakota State University |
