Question: In the summer, we enjoy growing torenia. Why is the wishbone flower another name for it?
Answer: Torenia growers might be a little lucky. The blooms are believed to bring luck and happiness when used in a bouquet or in the garden. A wishbone made of arching male stamens may be seen inside each bloom. Perhaps you might make several wishes to help you achieve the happiness that has been promised. Otherwise, despite its tolerance for light shade and sunlight, this is a lovely summer flower that will make your day. When planted in the ground or in pots, Torenia, named for the Swedish scientist and clergyman Olof Toren of the 18th century, blooms until the fall.
Q. A significant section of my grass is deteriorating. As the spots get bigger, it becomes straw-colored and yellow. Do you know what I could do?
A. Look for chinch bugs to gain control of this lawn deterioration. When the lawn is changing color, it should be easy to spot these pests. Examine a region that lies on the border between a good and terrible site. Because the insects are little, look for photographs online. All life phases, including the pinhead-sized adults with white-crossed wings, may then be visible if you split the grass blades close to the soil line. Chinch bugs must be controlled right away if they are present. For the best control, see the gardener at your neighborhood independent garden center. Not every insecticide will work where you live. Because chinch bugs contaminate grass with toxins while feeding, some turf may continue to deteriorate for a week or two even after it has been controlled. To fill in the gaps these pests leave behind, sod may be required.
What are the towering, reddish flower spikes that I notice in local landscapes, Plant Doctor?
Q. We still have amaryllis growing in containers that we kept over the holidays. Do they require fertilizer, and can we keep them in containers?
A. Your amaryllis might require a little bigger container by this point. Choose a pot with drainage that is one or two inches wider. The top of the root ball should be about an inch below the rim when the plant and potting soil are added. Then, as directed on the package for plants grown in containers, apply a slow-release fertilizer. In most places, you can repeat the application every other month until October. Keep the plants hydrated and grow them in morning or filtered sunlight with light shade in the afternoon. When necessary, remove drooping leaves.
Q. Although I adore salvia amistad, it appears lanky and can reach a height of four feet. Can I expect new growth if I cut it in half?
A. Who wouldn’t adore this perennial salvia’s deep purple flower spikes? It does have a tendency to develop freely and finally go beyond the boundaries. Major pruning is not the greatest time to do this because the plant flowers best in the spring and fall. To promote fresh development, you could try pruning off old flower stalks. The plant’s size and shape should somewhat decrease as a result. Then, if necessary, conduct extensive pruning in late February.
Q. I’m struggling to grow tomatoes in my yard. Is one type superior to another?
A. The majority of gardeners cultivate cherry or grape tomatoes with success. Juliet, Sweet Million, Sweet Treat, Solid Gold, and Sweet Chelsea are a few cultivars that produce good yields. Since they are all indeterminate, they develop tall plants and bear a large crop over a number of months. The larger slicer-type tomatoes are more difficult for gardeners to grow. They look more vulnerable to fungal pests and caterpillars, and they take a few extra days to yield a harvest. Nevertheless, Better Boy, Big Beef, Champion, Celebrity, and Mountain Merit continue to yield good harvests, according to the majority of planters. Some prefer to try the heirloom kinds like Pruden’s Purple, German Giant, Cherokee Purple, and Brandywine, but be prepared for greater pest issues. There are many different types of tomatoes. To find the ideal option for your garden, try a few of these as well as one or two new ones.
Q. Mealybug infestations are beginning to appear on the leaves and stems of my coleus. What makes a control effective?
A. Begin this treatment as soon as possible because white waxy mealybugs have the potential to become out of control and harm plants. The insects are initially hidden along stems and beneath leaves. Their snow-white to gray appearance makes them noticeable as the number increases. Additionally, black sooty mold that grows on insect excrement begins to develop on the stems and foliage. Insects can be manually removed from plants by gardeners by rubbing or washing them off. Neem oil or insecticidal soap natural sprays could also be used. For these to work, they must come into contact with the insects and egg clusters. Usually, more treatments are required. Mealybugs may typically be effectively controlled while they feed with systemic insecticides designed for use with flowers. Follow the directions on the label.
Q. Our azaleas have grown from close to the ground and along the stems since we cut them back. Is the growth coming from beneath a graft and should be removed, or should we leave it at the base of the plants?
A.I’m happy to hear that, as most plants do, yours are recuperating from extensive renovation trimming. Because azaleas are cultivated from cuttings rather than grafted plants, leave all the new growth. The shoots from the base of the plants can form new vigorous main stems to replace some of the older and often declining stems you likely removed. Your job is to keep the plants moist, apply a summer and fall fertilizer application, where permitted, plus remove or tip back any out-of-bounds shoots that may develop.
Tom MacCubbin is an urban horticulturist emeritus with the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Orlando Sentinel, P.O. Box 2833, Orlando, FL 32802 is the address to write to him. Email address: [email protected].
August in Central Florida’s Garden
