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June 2, 2005 Hortiscope
Q: I bought two fairly healthy, small jade plants. The only care tips provided were to give them lots of light and very little water. I’ve set them on a south window sill, so they will get plenty of sunlight. How often should I water them and how often do I fertilize, if at all? Also, I would really appreciate it if you could tell me about any potential pathogens or pests typical to these succulents and how to deal with such problems. (e-mail reference)
Q: We live out in the country and have a big propane tank. It is near the back door, which is the door everyone comes to because it is more convenient. What would you recommend to at least partially hide the tank? Some fast-growing plants or shrubs would be wonderful, but evergreens also would work. (e-mail reference)
Q: I want to remove a row of aging poplars and apply Roundup to the stumps to kill the suckers. The trees are close together and have extensive root systems. Will Roundup affect the smaller poplars or other trees in the vicinity? (e-mail reference)
Q: I have an ivy plant that was given to me in a container. I repotted into the same size pot. Now it is not growing. The leaves are lighter than they were. Should I repot it in a smaller pot using Miracle Gro? I want to save the plant. (e-mail reference)
Q: We have a large, old jade plant with two large trunks growing in a V shape. Can we separate them into two more upright plants? (e-mail reference)
Q: The leaves on my gloxinia are turning yellow and dying. You’ve said that this probably means I am overwatering and should let it dry during the winter. Since the winter is now over, is there anything I can do to try to save the plant? (e-mail reference)
Q: I had a wonderful plum tree. I used to eat the fruit off the tree and throw the seeds in the bushes. Out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, the tree died from, I suspect, a disease. However, guess what came out of the bushes? I have 10 healthy plum trees, but they do not bear fruit. Can I get fruit from these trees? (e-mail reference)
Q: You make reference to hosta and slugs going together like peanut butter and jelly, but deer love hosta as well. I never have been able to stop the deer from nibbling away at the plants. I’ve tried several sprays and have found one to be a fairly decent repellent. However, this method can be expensive and doesn’t always work. Several years ago, a since-deceased aunt told me someone she worked for put something in her garden to keep the deer away. Apparently, when the wind blows it makes some sort of noise only the deer can hear. Do you have any idea what she could have been talking about? (e-mail reference)
Q: I have an 8-foot ficus tree that has been in the house since it was only a few feet tall. Can this tree be planted outside? (e-mail reference)
Q: I’ve had spider plants for two years. I started with a little plant from a relative’s mother plant. I let it root in water for about six months. (I found creating a little square frame out of thread and chopsticks is a great way to keep the leaves from rotting in the water as it roots.) I finally potted it in soil and watched it grow very quickly. I was thrilled. It started a stalk and grew numerous babies. The plant seemed constricted, so I transplanted it into a slightly larger pot. Since then, many of the babies have died. I have three remaining plants that each have three leaves. The plants have been like that for months. In my research to fix this problem (no answer found yet), I stopped watering because the tips were brown. Before that, I was watering weekly because I have an extremely dry apartment. It has been a week and now the leaves at the center of the mother plant have started to soften, slightly blanch and started to curl lengthwise. Any ideas what might be wrong? The soil is still drying. (e-mail reference)
Q: Are there other options for postemergence crabgrass control in a vegetable garden other than using Treflan? The label gets a little complicated. Are there other concerns beside potatoes (says to plant after application) and what rate would you recommend? (e-mail reference)
Q: We have several mature oak trees that are 30 to 40 years old. This past weekend we noticed many woodpecker holes. We purchased this place last summer and occasionally saw woodpeckers and a few old holes. The holes we are seeing are new and quite large. What can we do to prevent more damage? (Battle Lake, Minn.)
Q: I would like to know if I can save seeds from an Easter lily plant and have new plants. (e-mail reference)
Q: I have a large bed of ferns full of weeds and small trees. I have been pulling them, but they keep coming back. What can I do to keep the ferns, but kill everything else? (e-mail reference)
Q: Last fall, the deer raked the bark from our clump birch tree. Since it had a south exposure, I wrapped it for the winter and have just taken the wrap off. One limb has a very deep wound that goes deeper than the first layer of the bark. It is now weeping and covered with insects. What should we do to help the healing? Will it be OK to leave it open and hope for the best with time or does it need some paint/tar or something else to protect it from the elements? We also have pruned a few apple trees. The branches were more than an inch in diameter. Do they need something on them or will they heal by themselves? (Verona, N.D.)
Q: I tried going to the xeriscaping Web address you gave us, but I couldn't get anything. Was the address right in the paper? (Email reference)
Do you have a gardening or houseplant question? Write to Hortiscope, Box 5051, NDSU Extension Service, Fargo, ND 58105 or e-mail to Ron Smith at ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu. Note to e-mail correspondents: please identify your location (city and state) for most accurate recommendations.
Source: Ron
Smith, (701) 231-8161, ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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