Q: I have a bromeliad in my new landscape that has produced a cluster of reddish blooms. How long do the blooms last and when will it bloom again?
Read more Woman sobs in court as she recalls alleged rape by Customs and Border Protection agent
A: Filling yards and neighborhoods with brilliant red blooms is possibly the most popular bromeliad in Florida — often called flaming or summer torch. Its scientific name is billbergia pyramidalis and it’s said to be one of the easiest-to-grow bromeliads. The clusters of blooms producing the torchlike inflorescence appear in midsummer and sometimes during spring. They can be cut and used in short-lived flower arrangements. Plantings of this billbergia take to most soil types and grow expanding clusters in shade-to-filtered-sun locations. Flaming or summer torch bromeliads have some cold tolerance and have survived dips into the upper 20s. Rains normally supply adequate moisture, but do provide irrigation during very dry times. Fertilization is usually not necessary, but plants make the best growth with light feedings of a slow-release product in April — and where permitted in August.
Q: Is it time to trim back my outside potted poinsettia? If so, how much?
A: You’d better hurry as pruning time for poinsettias is about over. Such late pruning is likely to result in smaller leaf clusters in turn resulting in less Christmas color. A light pruning would be best to just tip the shoots back a few inches to cause branching and more colorful bracts for the holidays. Keep the plants moist and apply a slow-release fertilizer at the container rate.
Plant Doctor: You garden has butterflies, but luring fussier hummingbirds takes some effort
Q: I have an 18-year-old avocado tree that has never borne a fruit. We just recently removed some shade from over the tree. Should I wait a little longer or give up?
A: Giving the tree more light may be the secret to encouraging blooms. Avocados are full-sun trees and only one tree is needed to obtain flowering and fruiting. Factors like winter freezes and pests may have also prevented flowering. Hopefully exposure to more sun can help with flowering, but if it doesn’t you would still have an attractive shade tree.
Q: My azaleas are way too tall. What will happen if I prune them at this time of the year?
A: If otherwise healthy, your azaleas should produce lots of new growth after a rejuvenation pruning. But such heavy trimming to remove lots of limbs is going to almost eliminate the blooms for spring. Normally after pruning to reduce the height and width of azaleas, two years of growth is needed before good flowering resumes. Do keep your planting moist and fertilize in October, March and May with a slow-release product made for azaleas.
Are you a Central Florida gardener? Here’s your to-do list heading into September
Read more Mississippi police arrest a man in the death of Tasia Fortune, who was found hanging from a tree
Q: I just planted a podocarpus hedge. Should I install a drip irrigation system?
A: Water is very important to the newly planted hedge. It is necessary to keep the root balls moist to establish the plants in the new site. Drip irrigation is a good way to moisten a portion of the soil, but it may not wet the entire root ball which is what’s now needed. Any irrigation system may not provide the moisture needed at the roots. Hand watering and checking the root balls for moisture is important for a month or two. Drip irrigation or other systems are normally adequate after the podocarpus plants become established. When roots grow out into the surrounding soil, podocarpus become durable drought-tolerant plants.
Q: We are starting to plant our first late summer garden. Is there an up and down side to planting larger seeds like corn and beans?
A: Drop the seeds in the ground any which way and they are going to sprout and grow the desired plants. Seeds orient their roots and shoots as they germinate, so you do not have to worry about position at planting. Be more concerned about the proper depth of planting. Follow instructions on the seed packet or University of Florida vegetable planting guide. A little shallow is better than too deep. If covered with too much soil the sprouts run out of energy before reaching the surface.
Q: It is time for us to plant vining tomatoes. Is it necessary to train them up off the ground?
A: Giving tomato vines something to climb on is not a necessity, but is recommended. Keeping even the lower-growing plants off the ground prevents diseases and helps control insects. Training to trellises or cages keeps plants in full view to make spotting the fruits and harvesting easier.
Q: Our agave plant has a tall flower stalk that’s starting to decline. What care does the plant need after flowering?
A: Most likely your agave is the sensational century plant that grows a flower stalk to 20 feet high. This spectacular growth is the unique feature as the blooms are yellow but not very showy. Sadly, after the flowers and stalk begin to decline, so does the parent plant. Good news however, many new plants called pups, can form at the base to flower — not in a century but about 10 or so years. Since pups are often closely spaced and too numerous for many landscapes, they can be dug and moved to a new location or shared with friends.
Tom MacCubbin is an urban horticulturist emeritus with the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Write him: Orlando Sentinel, P.O. Box 2833, Orlando, FL. 32802. Email: [email protected]
Read more Today in History: September 12, anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko dies in police custody