Prune when spring flowering is over!
Question: I think my gardenia needs to be pruned. How do you know when to trim these plants and how much?
Answer: Make your pruning decisions after the plants have produced their midspring display of flowers. The buds are forming now, and it would be a shame to miss their fragrant white blossoms.
You could remove any branch that's in the way of traffic or appears to be declining at any time. Major pruning usually occurs around May or June when spring flowering is over. Then the plants might get a light trimming to encourage additional shoots and reduce the height and width just a bit.
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Gardenias can be large plants, and most gardeners place them where they can grow with minimal pruning.
Grab for grapefruit
Q: We moved to a home with a grapefruit tree, and it's loaded with fruits. How will we know when they are ready to eat?
A: Lucky you. Grapefruits are expensive at the stores. Deciding when the fruits are ready to eat is quite simple. When they taste good, they are ready to pick.
Some Floridians wouldn't consider eating a grapefruit until March when they get super sweet, but not all residents are so particular. Most start sampling the fruits around November and add a little sugar, if needed, to take away the tart taste. As the season progresses, less sugar is needed because the fruits only improve in flavor.
Grapefruit can be left on the tree for many months, and if any remain as late as May or June, they are still sweet, juicy and edible.
Bonus from corn plant
Q: I have a healthy corn plant that is getting ready to bloom. Is this a sign it could be dying?
A: Some plants do decline after flowering but not the corn plant, a tropical foliage plant, also known as a dracaena. The blooms are a bonus for the good care you have been giving the plant. Corn plants flower only if growing in bright locations but out of direct sun. Most likely, you also have been keeping the soil moist, and feeding the plants every month or two, which also makes them happy.
Now, when the flowers open, you might get a surprise. They are fragrant, resembling a super-sweet gardenia, but some gardeners find the blooms objectionable. If needed, the flowering stalk can be cut from the corn plant or the plant can be moved to a more airy location.
Answer: Make your pruning decisions after the plants have produced their midspring display of flowers. The buds are forming now, and it would be a shame to miss their fragrant white blossoms.
You could remove any branch that's in the way of traffic or appears to be declining at any time. Major pruning usually occurs around May or June when spring flowering is over. Then the plants might get a light trimming to encourage additional shoots and reduce the height and width just a bit.
.
Gardenias can be large plants, and most gardeners place them where they can grow with minimal pruning.
Grab for grapefruit
Q: We moved to a home with a grapefruit tree, and it's loaded with fruits. How will we know when they are ready to eat?
A: Lucky you. Grapefruits are expensive at the stores. Deciding when the fruits are ready to eat is quite simple. When they taste good, they are ready to pick.
Some Floridians wouldn't consider eating a grapefruit until March when they get super sweet, but not all residents are so particular. Most start sampling the fruits around November and add a little sugar, if needed, to take away the tart taste. As the season progresses, less sugar is needed because the fruits only improve in flavor.
Grapefruit can be left on the tree for many months, and if any remain as late as May or June, they are still sweet, juicy and edible.
Bonus from corn plant
Q: I have a healthy corn plant that is getting ready to bloom. Is this a sign it could be dying?
A: Some plants do decline after flowering but not the corn plant, a tropical foliage plant, also known as a dracaena. The blooms are a bonus for the good care you have been giving the plant. Corn plants flower only if growing in bright locations but out of direct sun. Most likely, you also have been keeping the soil moist, and feeding the plants every month or two, which also makes them happy.
Now, when the flowers open, you might get a surprise. They are fragrant, resembling a super-sweet gardenia, but some gardeners find the blooms objectionable. If needed, the flowering stalk can be cut from the corn plant or the plant can be moved to a more airy location.
posted by blogger at
Monday, January 02, 2006
