Dear Master Gardener: My buddy bought his snake plant to flower, mine by no means has. How can I get mine to bloom? Also, a leaf bought actually tall and broke part-way off. I’ve it propped up in opposition to one other leaf. Should I lower it off the place the break within the leaf is?
Answer: Snake plant, also referred to as mother-in-law’s tongue, was within the genus Sansevieria, however resulting from development in genetic analysis, it has been reclassified into the genus Dracaena. It is a long-lived, simple to develop, succulent houseplant native to Africa. Since it’s a succulent, it likes low humidity and soil on the dry aspect. Pamper it with vivid gentle (even as much as one hour of direct daylight), water it each few weeks, maintain its leaves clear, and you may be rewarded with lush, vigorous development. A pot-bound, mature plant might even ship up a tall spike of dainty, white to inexperienced, aromatic blossoms. You can take away a leaf that’s broken by slicing it off at soil degree.
Dear Master Gardener: I introduced my lavender plant in for the winter but it surely’s not doing very properly. Is it laborious to overwinter lavender indoors?
Answer: Overwintering lavender indoors is usually a little tough. It is a sun-loving plant that does greatest when grown outdoor. Lavender isn’t hardy in Minnesota — English lavender is hardy to Zone 5, and Spanish and French lavenders are hardy to zone 8 — so these crops should be introduced indoors for the winter. Lavender is mainly dormant within the winter and received’t produce a lot, if any, new development. From now (November) by means of February it received’t want a lot water. Wait till the highest 1 inch of soil feels dry earlier than watering it. Be cautious to not overwater the plant or it would get root rot. Although in nature this plant likes the warmth, maintain it in a cooler a part of your home (out of drafts) in loads of vivid gentle. Your lavender plant might look slightly beat, however chorus from fertilizing it till you see new development within the spring.
Dear Master Gardener: I introduced my sage and rosemary crops in and they’re each flowering. Does flowering have an effect on the style of the herb? Should I lower off the flowers?
Answer: Sage (Salvia officinalis) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) are each native to southern Europe. Sage will get its identify from salvia, salvation, or salvere, which suggests to be saved. It is usually talked about because the herb of immortality, well being and knowledge. The Romans used it as a ceremonial herb. It has been cultivated in Europe for hundreds of years for each medicinal and culinary functions. Sage is without doubt one of the few herbs that because the leaves develop bigger, the flavour will get stronger. The leaves are nonetheless scrumptious after the plant flowers.
Rosemary will get its identify from Ros marinus, “dew of the sea,” as a result of it grows on Mediterranean coastlines close to the ocean. In historic occasions, rosemary was related to remembrance, reminiscence and constancy. When eaten it was mentioned to have the ability to strengthen the reminiscence. Rosemary blooms in winter and spring with small pink, lavender or blue flowers, relying on the cultivar. Both the leaves and flowers are utilized in cooking and for garnishes. Rosemary nonetheless tastes glorious even after it flowers. When overwintering rosemary and sage indoors, maintain it in a cool spot in very vivid daylight.
Dear Master Gardener: Do the winter containers with the greenery should be watered?
Contributed / Jennifer Knutson
Answer: Yes, water them to maintain the greenery hydrated. Evergreen boughs dry out rapidly. You can cease watering when temperatures fall under freezing and/or the soil within the pot is frozen.
Dear Master Gardener: I’ve a white, crusty residue on the soil of a few of my houseplants. What is it and what ought to I do about it?
Answer: The white crust on the floor of your potting combine is a buildup of mineral and fertilizer salts. It could be attributable to laborious water that has excessive concentrations of dissolved substances corresponding to calcium carbonate, sodium and iron. Fertilizer salt deposits are the results of the assorted elements of soluble fertilizers. According to the University of Maryland Extension, “Both kinds of salt deposits can cause harm to plants by competing for the available moisture and causing desiccation or ‘burning’ of tissues. In addition, these deposits can affect the pH of the growing media as well as block absorption of essential plant nutrients.” To stop mineral salt deposits, use a water supply low in dissolved minerals, corresponding to distilled water, rain water, or melted snow. To stop fertilizer salt deposits, observe the directions on the fertilizer label. Avoid watering crops from the underside or rising crops in pots with out drain holes. To eliminate the mineral buildup, flush the potting combine from the highest with pure water and let it drain utterly. If it’s actually dangerous, repot your crops with recent potting combine.
Dear Master Gardener: The leaves of my zebra plant are droopy. Is this regular?
Answer: Zebra plant (Aphelandra) is a superb plant with boldly striped foliage. Although the individual blooms final solely a short while, the dramatic yellow coloration present continues for a number of weeks as a result of because the spike elongates, new flowers exchange people who fade. I’m assuming yours should be blooming as a result of the leaves, that are normally stiff, sag slightly when the plant is in bloom. If the leaves turn into versatile, water your plant completely. After flowering, a zebra plant might drop its backside leaves and turn into ugly. If this occurs, it’s in all probability greatest to start out a brand new plant with a tip slicing. To make a tip slicing, use a pointy knife to chop off a 4–6-inch rising tip just under the purpose the place a leaf joins the stem. Remove the decrease leaves and stick the stem in moist coarse sand or a perlite-peat combine. Water and maintain it in a cool, vivid location. When rooted, pot up the brand new plant in a soil combination meant for indoor crops.
You might get your backyard questions answered by calling the brand new Master Gardener Help Line at 218-824-1068 and leaving a message. A Master Gardener will return your name. Or, emailing me at [email protected] and I’ll reply you within the column if house permits.
University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners are skilled and licensed volunteers for the University of Minnesota Extension. Information given on this column relies on college analysis.
