Question – Cherie from Waukesha: : | My miniature rose I placed in the garage last fall has begun to grow. I brought it in the hous, pruned it up a bit and have it in my living room. It seems to be doing nicely, I did the right thing, I'm thinking. Your input on fertilization and such would be greatly appreciated.
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Answer – Melinda Myers:
| Potted roses can be moved indoors for the winter, stored in an unheated garage (I recommend a bit of insulaton around the pot) or sunk in a vacant part of the garden. Sounds like you have a great location for moving the plant indoors. With the longer and brighter days of spring you can begin fertilizing. Use any dilute solution of flowering houseplant fertilizer. Start with a monthly application. If the plant is pale, growth is stunted you may need to fertilize a bit more often. Once the danger of frost has passed you can move the plant outdoors. Gradually introduce it to the harsher conditions. Slowly increase the amount of sunlight the plant receives each day. Don’t fertilize while acclimating the plant to its outdoor home. Water thoroughly and as needed to keep the soil slightly moist. |
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Question-Jane of Greendale
Answer - Melinda Myers | Question Any suggestions to permanently get rid of moles? I tried the poison bait from the store but the moles just keeping tunneling away! Jane, let’s first determine if the problem is moles or voles. Moles hibernate for the winter and tunnel in the ground eating grubs, worms and insects throughout the growing season. Voles are active year-round. They eat seeds, rhizomes and the bark of trees and shrubs. Poisonous baits do not work on moles since they feed on insects not the grains used in poisonous baits that are intended for voles and mice. I also worry about the impact of these poisons on owls, fox and nature’s other predators that may eat the poisoned voles.
If moles are the problem you can try a product called Mole Med. Michigan State University has reported some success using this product. Though more environmentally friendly than some chemicals you should always read and follow label directions carefully. Some gardeners have had success by disrupting the moles habitat. They continually tamp down the tunnels encouraging the moles ot move elsewhere.
If voles are the problem you may find it is easier to repair the turf damage and prevent damage to trees and shrubs rather than trying to eliminate these rodents. In spring tamp disturbed turf and reseed damaged areas. Prevent damage to trees and shrubs by surrounding susceptible plants with a fence of hardware cloth. Sink the fencing several inches into the ground. A 4 foot high fence will also keep out the rabbits. You can use rat traps baited with oats and peanut butter if you want to reduce the population. Place in a piece of PVC pipe or under cover to keep out birds and pets.
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Question - Cherie of Waukesha | Melinda my husband brought home some oriental lilies that his sister bought and decided she didn't want. They are from Wal-Mart and the packages have not been opened. On close inspection I noticed that a couple of the bulbs have sprouted. Will they be okay until I can get them planted late April early May? Thanks |
| Answer – Melinda Myers | Great question, Cherie. Try to find a cool dark place to store the bulbs until planting time. If the bulbs continue to grow you will need to pot them up and move them to a sunny window or under artificial lights. Once the danger of frost has passed you can gradually introduce the plants to the outdoors. Hardening off greenhouse or indoor grown plants prevents sunburn and reduces transplant shock when they are placed outdoors in the ground. |
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| Question - Crystalyn | Hi, I was hoping you could help me and some of my coworkers. In the office building where we work, we often get a chance to get the plants left over when building management changes the flowers. Couple of years ago we got the crack at the cyclamen (mine died last year). This time we got to have the azaleas, which I remember from growing up in Charleston that they require a lot of work, but those were outdoors and well this is really different, guess I should have paid more attention to Dad. Can you give me and my coworkers some advise on care, how to prune, fertilize, whether or not they should be deadhead. There really isn't that much advice out there for the care of indoor azaleas. So far the blossoms are the only casualties......
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| Answer – Melinda Myers | Don’t give up Crystalyn it is not as hard as you think. Keep the azaleas in a cool bright location. Cool temperatures are the key to keeping indoor azaleas healthy. Try growing them in a south facing window or artificial lights. In summer you can keep them there, move to an east or west facing window or outside. Keep the soil moist but not wet. Use a dilute solution of flowering houseplant fertilizer now that the blossoms have dropped. Repeat anytime the plants look like they need a nutrient boost. Pale leaves, lack of vigor or poor flowering may mean it is time to fertilize. You can summer the plants outdoors. Gradually introduce them to the brighter light outdoors. Bring them inside (these azaleas are probably not winter hardy here) before the danger of frost. Isolate plants and monitor for insects before moving them in with your other indoor plants.
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Question -
| Hello Melinda - I miss hearing you on the radio on Saturday mornings, but I am glad to see the online chat offered on your web site. I have a question for you...Would it be possible to enlarge the text box used to type in a question for chat on your web site. It would be easier to see the wording in order to check spelling and phrase a question clearly and succinctly, if the questioner could see most of the message they are typing. Many web sites do feature larger text boxes than the one on your web site/chat box. It's a great web site overall, and I enjoy it very much! Can you give me any advice on how to get rid of voles that have infested one of my gardens. They have eaten every bulb and tuber in sight. I am very frustrated:( Thank you |
| Answer – Melinda Myers | Thanks for keeping in touch and the first question I am passing on to Charley – my web master! He is amazing and I am sure he can find a way to help. As for the voles – that one is for me. Check out my response to the first questions from Jane in Greendale. In addition to those suggestions you may want to cut back your perennials for winter. Sometimes removing the cover will help discourage feeding. |
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Question - Dianna of Waukesha | I enjoy growing tomatoes and herbs in pots on my deck during the summer. The location is convenient and since it is opens off of the upper story of our house, I have almost no problems with "critters" munching on my plants. I use 5 gal. pots-one for each tomato plant. I mix several herbs in one large pot. The wooden deck gets very hot sun in the afternoon. I wonder if I could also grow a mix of lettuces in one or more 5 gal. pot on the deck. Would a 5 gal pot be big enough for a mesclun mix? Would it be too hot for lettuce in the full sun on the deck? |
| Answer – Melinda Myers | Lettuce, spinach and other greens do best in cool weather. Try planting these crops in early spring or late summer so they can be harvested during cooler weather. Extend the season by growing leafy crops in the shade of your tomatoes or herbs or furniture on the deck. These smaller crops do not need a 5 gallon pot. You can try growing these in a window box, pot or other similar container. |
