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Flowers
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Question:
Why are my gardenias leggy? Art, Norwich,
CT
Mort's
Answer: If you have been using a high nitrogen
liquid fertilizer or they in a shady spot, they will
get leggy. If they can be put in a south facing window,
indirect light would be best. They will be just fine
in a west or east window.
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Question:
I have geraniums on the north side in flower
boxes. They are getting leggy. Any suggestions? Lois,
Niantic, Ct
Mort's
Answer: Geraniums (Pelargonium) need sun and they
are reaching out to touch some. I would plant patience
on the north side with ivy and other shade plants. You
can add some bonemeal to strengthen the stems and flowers,
if you can't move them.
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Question:
How do I store gladioli for the winter? Andy,
Nashua, NH
Mort's
Answer: Let them sun dry after you have pulled
themout. A day later cut off the top growth from the
bulbs. Remove allthe fibrous root from the bottom. If
the bulb shows any sign of brown or black spots or mapping,
through thosebulbs in the dump. You can place them in
a brown paper bag or put them in a bin with new sawdust
for the winter. Store them in a cool dry place( around
40 degrees).You can dust with Bordeaux Mix to prevent
fungal growth and boytritis.
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Question:
My hibiscus buds dropped off prematurely
this year. We used a soluble fertilizer all summer.
Also, when should we bring them indoors? Delores, Seekonk,
MA
Mort's
Answer: Your first question is about fertilization.
You have the wrong solution to your problem. Roses,
fruit trees and other woody shrubs do not do well with
quick bursts of growth. The stems that support the large
flower buds are too weak to support them. I prefer to
use a slow release high phosphorus granular fertilizer.
By feeding the soil first, the plant has a chance to
build tensile strength in the stems and a root system
to sustain it. If you must use up the soluble fertilizer,
you can use it when you water the soil as a houseplant.
We should have a frost soon, so I would take tropical
hibiscus in as soon as possible. Do not water the leaves
and place it in a southern exposure. Use a well drained
soil mixture and add a teaspoon of bonemeal to the soil
on the top after repotting.
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Question:
We have a large flower hibiscus that is too
close to the building. Can we move it? Mary, Beckley,
WV
Mort's
Answer: You should wait until the fall. You can
cut it back to a foot from the ground. Malva moschata
is a herbaceous perennial that is known as mallow. Newer
crosses with the shrub, althaea, are more woody and
can be cut back about a foot from the top before transplanting.
Wait until the leaves have dropped off to make the move.
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Question:
Our tropical Hibiscus are 5¹-6¹
tall and 18² pots. They were out on the patio throughout
the summer. They have some yellow leaves. Should we
cut hem back? Rita, Tiverton, RI
Mort's
Answer: If you just brought them into the house
this past week, you may have kept them in too cool temps.
Tropical plants will often go into dormancy without
the hot night time temps. Leave the plant alone for
a few weeks. Water very lightly, if at all. When a plant
goes into dormancy, there is no growth. Take you cue
from the plant. When new leaves start to appear, you
can resume heavier watering and light fertilizing.
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Question:
Can I split my hostas now? Fred, Raynham,
MA
Mort's
Answer: You could wait until after the first frost.
It is easier on hostas, if you wait until spring. Right
now, they are still taking energy from the sun down
to the roots. In the spring the roots will be sending
energy up to the top. Whenever you do divide them, dig
them up entirely and lay them on their side and slice
the roots like you are cleaving meat. Good four inch
chunks will suffice.
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Question:
My hoyas have not bloomed since I moved them
from a southwest site and my ficus have become leggy
since moving them. Any suggestions? Catherine, Natick,
MA
Mort's
Answer: Hoya carnosa or wax plant will bloom, if
it has cool temperatures at night and sunny locations.
I definitely would move it back to the prior location.
You could repot in a two inch larger clay pot in a soil
mix that is 33% coarse sand. You could add a teaspoon
of bonemeal each year to the top of the soil and a pinch
of epsom salt as well. Your Ficus will do well in low
light or high light and might be able to grow vigorously
in it¹s present location with the addition of bone
meal and epsom salt each year. You will need to thin
out the ficus and rotate toward the sun every few months.
I have found that in northern climes, ficus will do
best about 6¹ from a southern window in the summer
and gradually moving it toward the window until January.
At that time I start to pull it back to compensate for
the increase in daily light.
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Question:
How can I get my Hoya to bloom? It's in a
10 inch pot. I have had it over a year. Vivian, Alberqueque,
NM
Mort's
Answer: Hoya carnosa or wax plant will bloom profusely
with the right conditions. Like most succulents, it
requires bright light and cold temperatures at night
to set the buds. In the winter, you can cut down on
the water and the heat. You could put the plant outdoors
in the late fall. If the temperature is about to go
below freezing, you should take the plant back indoors.
Your soil should be at least 1/3 coarse sand. Add a
tablespoon of bonemeal to the top of the soil to replace
the phosphorus that is needed to bring the bloom. It
has a waxy pink eyed white flower, which is quite fragrant.
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Question:
I have a hyacinth bulb in a milk glass vase.
I've been told to keep the water just below the bulb.
What should I being doing to bring the flower? Joyce,
Harve de Grace, MD
Mort's
Answer: Add a teaspoon of soluble 5-10-10 to the
water. You can distill the water before adding the fertilizer
by leaving it in the sun for a couple of days. Keep
the water just below the roots that will develop under
the bulb. Hyacinth will bloom with a very fragrant scent
that can fill an entire house. It's scent is used in
many soaps and perfumes. After the forced bulb has bloomed,
let it sun dry in the window. Later you can cut the
stem off just above the bulb. Remove all the fibrous
root at that time. Store the bulb in fresh sawdust in
a cool dry place for the summer. In the fall, you can
plant the bulb outdoors with the rest of your dutch
bulbs.
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Question:
My blue hydrangea did not bloom this year.
Was it lack of water? It is on the east side of the
house and gets a half day of shade. Should I cut it
back now? Marie, Charlestown, RI
Mort's
Answer: You can cut back the hydrangea within 11¾
of the ground, if it is getting shade during the day
now. I do not like to cut back hydrangea in the sunny
locations until late spring. If there is any dieback,
it can be cut off in the spring. Hydra is Greek for
water. It isn¼t surprising that a water deficient
hydrangea didn¼t bloom in this dry summer in
New England. They require a great deal of water to thrive.
You could add some bonemeal to the soil to replenish
the phosphorus in the soil. A tablespoon of Epsom salts
or iron sulfate will help set the flower for next year.
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Question: My pink hydrangea has rather
large buds. With the prolonged warm weather, I am afraid
that it will throw out a flower. Should I cover it?
Ruth, Buckhannon, WV
Mort's
Answer: When the January thaw occurs, plants will
have upper growth. Cell growth is larger and bud shells
give the appearance of opening. Just as soon as the
temperatures lower cell growth is shorter and the buds
appear to be tightening. Unless a warm spell lasts several
weeks, I wouldn¹t be concerned. In zone 6 hydrangea
blooms in July.I have seen forsythia throw out some
flowers in February during a thaw in zone 6 but Mother
Nature compensates with extra growth for the spring
blooms. Hydrangea would throw out leaves before the
flower. Just as it does during the spring and summer.
One plus worth mentioning is that we are also getting
substantial root growth during the thaws, which makes
for larger plants and flowers this year.
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Question:
I just bought my New Guinea Impatiens in
the house. They are not producing any flowers. I keep
them heavily watered. They are lush green. What can
I do to bring the flowers? Helen, Norwich, CT
Mort's
Answer: They may be water logged. You can add some
5-10-10 to the soil and a pinch of Epsom salts. If the
soil is all peat as I suspect, repot the plants with
a mix that is 1/3 coarse sand. Cut down on the watering.
You can let them go almost completely dry between waterings.
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Question:
Three weeks ago I mulched my Impatiens with
cedar bark mulch. Since then the Impatiens have started
to yellow and lost their vigor. What can we do? Fred,
Newport, RI
Mort's
Answer: If you have continued to water at the same
rate as did prior to the mulching then you are watering
too much. The advantage of using mulch is that you do
not need too water as often, if at all. Excess water
can cause root rot and botrytis. I would pull away the
mulch from the roots and cultivate about a foot from
the stem. This will aerate the soil. You can dust the
soil with Bordeaux Mix to prevent fungal growth. Many
folks are having water problems from over watering.
In times of drought this is a likely over compensation
but it is not the right solution.
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Question:
My irises did not bloom this year. I have
not divided them in a while. What could be the problem?
Mary Ellen, New London, CT
Mort's
Answer: This spring has been very dry in the northeast.
My bearded irises that were not divided last fall did
not bloom. It is not necessary to divide every fall.
Irises should be divided every two or three years. This
spring was an anomoly. Roots competed with each other
for moisture. I would definitely divide them this fall.
Check for any root damge. If any are damaged, toss them
and dust the rest with rotenone and pyrethrin powder.
Sometimes nematodes will eat the roots, although I doubt
that this is the cause.
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Question:
My Iris are sticking out of the ground. They
did not bloom this year. What can I do to keep them
healthy? Kay, Amarillo, TX
Mort's
Answer: Irises should be split every two or three
years for best results. When cutting the roots, check
for evidence of borers in the root. Throw out any damaged
root parts. Well drained soil is best for most irises.
Beardless will do better in organically rich soils and
can hold up in drying conditions. Bearded Irises like
it dry but also like organic material in the soil. I
cut my irises halfway to the ground in the early fall
each year. This builds stronger roots, which support
more healthy plants. If this does not produce more flowers,
add a high middle number fertilizer or some bonemeal.
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Question:
I brought in my window box geraniums and
ivy geraniums. Do they need to rest? Lee, Groton, CT
Mort's
Answer: They do much better with a rest. In the
south there is no interruption during the winter. Both
will do well, if you have a greenhouse without resting
them. In the house, the Pelargonium peltatum (ivy) likes
the cooler temps and an east or west window. P. hortatum
likes the heat and a southern exposure. Rest them for
thirty to forty days in the basement sometime this winter,
hen they are not doing their best.
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Question:
I recently acquired two Song of Jamaica plants.
One of them has drooping leaves. Do you think that they
were overwatered? Can I dry them out? Cha, Earthlink
Mort's
Answer: Overwatering is the most often abuse of
plants. Excess water rots the roots. When plants start
to wilt, people put more water on them. Plants need
air and water. You can remove the soil from both plants.
Examine the roots for brown and/or back soft tissue.
Remove the affected roots until you reach white. Your
new soil should be a two-thirds new potting soil and
a third coarse sand. Put both plants in clay pots after
you have dried the plants in the sun.
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Question:
When is the best time to transplant our lilacs?
Marilyn, Groton, CT
Mort's
Answer: When the leaves start to fall is the best
time to move your Syringa vulgaris or Persianlilacs.
I always remove half of the new canes each year since
lilacs bloom on two and three-year old wood primarily.
I also remove older canes that are more than an inch
around.
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Question:
Are Oriental lilies and tuberose hardy in
Philadelphia area? Where is zone 6? Loretta, Philadelphia,
PA
Mort's
Answer: Polianthes tuberosa is a tender perennial
that will not bloom the first year. It has to be brought
up the first year to protect it from frost. It is advisable
to do this every year in zone 6. Oriental lilies are
much hardier and can be left with a mulch each year.
Philadelphia is in zone 6. Central and western Pennsylvania
are in zone 5. The line between 6 and 5 runs from southeastern
New England through NJ, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia,
Kentucky, northern Arkansas, the middle of Oklahoma,
north Texas, much of Colorado, north New Mexico, north
Arizona on the border of California and Nevada and through
central Oregon and Washington.
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Question:
We have Loosestrife taking over the entire
backyard. What can we do to contain it? Maggie, Newport,
RI
Mort's
Answer: Loosestrife will grow in wet, marshy areas
with a low ph. You can mow with a brush cutter at about
3"-4". Eventually, the roots will rot. A less
rotten approach would be to add limestone twice a year.
A late May first application will help dry it up and
probably burn it, if it's an especially hot day. Limestone
will also help dry up the area and raise the ph. I would
use both the mechanical and the chemical methods.
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Question:
I have a Magnolia that has a couple of dead
branches. It is about 5¾ at the trunk. What can
I do? Rosie, West Greenwich, RI
Mort's
Answer: I would first check to see, if the bark
has been cut by a mower near the ground. If there is
a tear or a cut, there is a possibility of a invasion
of earwigs. I would clean out the wound by making a
leaf shaped incision with a razor knife. There should
be a point at the top and at the bottom. It should be
as wide and long as necessary to encompass the entire
affected area. Cut out all brown wood and scrape until
you have reached white wood. Dab the area with malathion
and seal with tree sealer. If there are no tears, then
your tree is probably suffering from the drought. I
would dig 6 holes that go down 18 inches with a crowbar
or tire iron. These holes should be about 4 feet from
the trunk. Fill the holes with water until the water
bubbles to the top. Repeat this every 10 days until
the rain resumes in earnest. Lastly, remove the dead
ranches by sawing them off at the next green juncture.
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Question:
Is Mandevilla perennial and can I leave it
outdoors? Madeline, East Lyme, CT.
Mort's
Answer: It is perennial in zones 9 and 10. In zone
6, you will have to bring the plant indoors in October
or earlier, if there is the threat of frost. Mandevilla
was named after the minister of Buenos Aires and is
native to Argentina. It requires a peaty and sandy soil.
It should be allowed to go into dormancy. Cut it back
and keep it barely alive , preferably in a cooler spot.
Next spring , you can bring it out again. I¼m
tempted to tell you to cover it in the winter with mulch.
We don¼t have enough information on this beautiful
woody vine yet. I would make cuttings from it and try
leaving out an older plant, when I have a half dozen
to back it up.
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Question:
We have something eating the Marigolds .
What could it be and how do we stop it? Dorothy, Westerly,
RI
Mort's
Answer: It could be a rabbit. It is more likely
to be a woodchuck. Unless you are willing to build a
separate garden and fence off the marigolds, you should
trap the woodchuck before it procreates. Hav-A-heart
traps will close behind the woodchuck after they enter.
A bait of graham cracker and peanut butter or fresh
carrots works beat. You will need to release the woodchuck
far away from your garden. Some states will not allow
you to transport to other property. You might check
with the local animal officer. This may leave you unabated.
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Question:
Is spring the best time to move mums ? Some
are a foot across. Louise, Norwich, CT
Mort's
Answer: Mums are easily divided in either season,
if they are established in the garden. I prefer to split
them in the spring. You could get five or six from a
12 inch clump. Dig up the entire clump. Then slice the
clump with a sharp shovel. I use a D handle pointed
shovel. If you purchase mums in the fall, quite often
the roots will not establish themselves in the soil.
A good three inches of mulch will help insulate them
from a frost heave.
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Question:
I planted mums under my oak tree. Every year
they bloomed except this year. Should I move them?
Leona, Warwick, RI
Mort's
Answer: They should produce some flowers this year.
Look at the ends of the branches for buds. You have
a situation that is producing more and more shade each
year as the tree gets larger. Eventually, you should
move your mums to a sunny location for earlier fall
blooming.
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Question:
What can I do with my Narcissus after they
have finished blooming indoors? Vivian, Harrisville,
RI
Mort's
Answer: Store them in a brown paper bag or in sawdust
just as you would your tulips from outdoors after they
die back. Remove all the fibrous root and cut off the
tops. Let them sun dry for a couple of days before putting
them in a cool dry place for storage. In the fall you
can plant them with your daffodils and other Dutch bulbs.
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Question:
My nasturtiums are growing like crazy and
look very healthy but no flowers. What can be the problem?
I have been using liquid fertilizer on them. Mary, Providence,
RI
Mort's
Answer: Eventually, they will produce a flower.
Stop fertilizing with the liquid fertilizer. Add some
bonemeal to the soil under the plants. Quite often,
too much foliar growth will occur with soluble fertilizers.
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