Q: Could you please tell me why my hollyhock’s leaves turn pale green around the bottom of the stalks, then yellow, then brown and drop off? The same thing happens on my geranium leaves, and the flowers die and wilt in the middle of the clusters. My rhododendron leaves turn yellow and curl together with spots on the leaves, and they drop off also. — Kay Nickless, Clay City, Ind. A: Yellowing leaves can indicate […]
Q. I’m having trouble with my tall phlox plants. They are covered with white powder each summer and are smaller than they used to be. The flowers are fewer and smaller, too. Should I spray them with something? &emdash; Jane Small, Fort Wayne, Ind. A. Several factors contribute to vigorous blooming of old-fashioned phlox (Phlox paniculata). The white powder is powdery mildew, and phlox and lilacs are especially susceptible to this fungus. Appropriate fungicides will […]
Q. I enjoy your gardening Q&A and would like to get your opinion about growing okra. Our okra grew OK, but after it bloomed, most of the blooms rotted and fell off. The wife and I like okra, and we’ll appreciate any help you can give us. – Charlie Campbell, Griffin, Ind. A. Okra is a real southern belle, requiring hot temperatures to perform well. Last summer was cool and gray in the early months […]
One of the most exciting and challenging things about a perennial flower display is that the star of the show is always changing. Because most perennial flower species tend to have a limited season of bloom, it takes a little extra effort to be sure there is always something of interest throughout the season. Many gardeners find it useful to plan their garden on paper first, then amend the plan over time. You might start […]
Nothing rivals the beauty of a wisteria arbor in full bloom, but, unfortunately, successfully growing these lovely vines eludes many Midwestern gardeners. Two types of wisteria are most commonly planted in our area: Japanese wisteria ( Wisteria floribunda ) and Chinese wisteria ( Wisteria sinensis). Japanese wisteria is known for its fragrant violet blossoms, which are borne in 8- to 20-inch-long clusters. The individual flowers of a cluster open gradually, beginning at the base. Chinese […]
If you didn’t get your spring-flowering bulbs planted, you’re not alone. Many gardeners found that autumn rains delayed their bulb planting, only to find a cold snap as the rains let up. The reason for planting bulbs in the fall is twofold. Bulbs require a period of chilling to initiate flowers. For most spring-flowering bulbs, 10 to 13 weeks of temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit are needed. Bulbs also need to put down good root […]
Q: In digging sweet potatoes last week, I, too, found the sweet potatoes hulled out or eaten. There had been a mole run along the sweet potato ridge, and every so far, I would see a round hole made in the mole hill. I dug out shrews, and the potatoes had been freshly eaten on. So, I think the shrews use the mole hill to travel in, and they eat the sweet potatoes and Irish […]
The Perennial Plant Association has selected Salvia x superba ‘May Night’ (‘Mainight’) as its 1997 Perennial Plant of the Year. Members of the association, generally professional plant growers, select a perennial each year on which to educate the gardening public and to promote planting of perennial flowers. Perennial salvia, also known as sage, is available in several cultivars, grown for the summer show of violet-purple spikes of bloom on plants that reach 2 to 3 […]
Most home gardeners shy away from raising orchids, thinking them too challenging even for their “green” thumbs. But given the diversity of plants that are found in the orchid family, there is bound to be at least one member that the average home gardener can tackle. In fact, according to the American Orchid Society (AOS): “If you can grow houseplants, you can grow orchids. Like any other plant, orchids must have the growing conditions they […]
‘Tis the season for giving, so why not give a gift that lasts all year? A plant is a special gift that brings beauty to the home and to the heart as you help a living thing grow. The poinsettia is undoubtedly the most popular gift plant, but many others are equally festive for the holiday season. Christmas cactus, begonias, cyclamen and azaleas offer attractive blossoms on compact plants and can brighten any room in […]