|  Mary Mary, quite contrary,
How does
your garden grow?
With
silver bells and cockle
shells,
And
pretty maids all in a
row....
If only
gardening were as simple as that little nursery rhyme. But it isn`t, so we are putting
some of the solutions here to problems you have written to us about, so everyone can have
the benefit.
Please e-mail me with your garden
problems, comments, or ideas for this section of laterlife.
Click here for previous
editions of Gardener`s Diary. This month`s gardening problems -
January 2004
Help, what is happening? I am
thinking of starting a YUKKA forum as they seem to be the plants causing you
most grief. Three more yukka problems this month.
Q: Dominique
asks: Our yukka plant has out grown our house in that it is over 8ft tall and
touching the ceiling!! We want to cut the top off but I'm wondering how
brutal can I be and will it then sprout in two at the top. I also had it in
my head that you could replant the bit we chop off. Please advise. Thanks
A: Yes
you are right on both counts, you can cut the top off your yukka and
re-plant it. But, if you can wait until the Spring, when the
days are longer and growth has resumed, the piece you chop off will
have a better chance of taking root. It is dormant at the moment and may rot over
winter..
Q: Rachel asks: I have had a yukka
plant for about eighteen months. It has grown very tall and I am very
pleased with it, however in the last few weeks the tips of the leaves have turned brown, some are even starting to crisp and there are
beige patches appearing on one or two of the leaves. I live in Ireland and
the plant is in the kitchen which would probably be warmer over the last
few months, because the central heating is on. I keep the blinds open
during the day, but it is now getting dark about 4pm. It has been watered about once every fortnight.
A: I am quite puzzled by your Yukka
problems because they are such tough plants, that seem to tolerate
most conditions including dry air, which is what I first suspected the
problem was..
According to my latest houseplant book, the main cause of
brown tips on leaves is dry air. We had a very warm summer and are now suffering
a dark and cold spell, so the sudden change of conditions could be
the cause of that problem. It also states in the book that over or under
watering could cause the tips of the leaves to go brown, in fact
any extreme condition could harm the leaves. The book also puts the cause of the beige patches as either overwatering
or underwatering.
If the patches are soft and dark brown overwatering is the probable
reason and if the patches are crisp and brown, underwatering is the
likely cause..I don`t always take too much notice of books however, so here is what I
would do...
-
Check the plant thoroughly for any signs of infestation
-
Check the compost is healthy
-
Check the compost is not too wet or too dry
-
Give the plant a light but draught-free place to overwinter
-
Let it live outside in the summer.
-
In the Spring re-pot it if necessary.
Q: Linda says: My
yukka plant used to be full with leaves last year. This year I have it
in my living room where there was adequate lighting, I watered it from
time to time, and it just seemed to flourish, but now it`s lost most of
its leaves some are floppy and drooping and I know they're going to die..
I don`t know whether it needs re-potting; its in a big pot at the moment,
but not one of those with the holes in the bottom. I've moved my plant
in the kitchen next to a window, where it has light but also the kitchen
isn't that warm when I'm not cooking and the dryer leaves the kitchen
humid, Please can you give me some advice on my plant or is it too late?
A: Try
putting it back in the living room where it was happier and make sure
there are drainage holes in the pot.. Take care not to overwater the
plant, keeping it dry rather than wet during the winter months.. We
had an exceptionally hot and dry summer and now the weather is
cold, dark and damp, it is hardly surprising our houseplants suffer..
Q: Charlie wants to know: Can
you advise me on how to look after my bougainvillea during the winter months
and what pruning does it require? It is in a ten inch pot, should I pot it
on?
A: I was given a
Bougainvillea once and it died on me, so I thought in this instance I
would not try to advise you on their care! Instead I have found
a website that would help, http://www.westdalenurseries.co.uk/ It's a specialist Bougainvillea site, so it should help you.
Previous editions of your gardening queries:
Edition 1
Edition 2
Edition 3
Edition 4
Edition 5
Edition 6
Edition
7
Edition
8
Edition
9
Please e-mail me
with your garden problems, comments, or ideas for this section of laterlife.
Click
here for previous
editions of Gardener`s Diary..
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