In the garden
Here’s some information from a reader: “In the Jan. 23 paper there was an inquiry about African violets. There is a local group which belongs to the Central Arkansas African Violet Society. Currently we meet via Zoom the third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.
New members are always welcome.
The meetings have an educational component. We also have a twice-yearly plant sale. The next one is this spring.” To learn more about African violets, contact Danny Tidwell at dantwell@yahoo.com or call him at (830) 481-9126.
QI am somewhat concerned regarding several of my trees that are overwintered in my greenhouse. I’ve observed my olive tree has tons of small olive blooms; all of my orange trees and now my kumquats are blooming. I keep the temperature at 60 degrees. I worry that it is far too early to have tiny olives and oranges. What are your thoughts?
ACitrus trees will bloom year-round if the temperature is high enough. They would do fine in the winter with temperatures in the 40s. With a higher temperature, they are more actively growing.
Since they are blooming, enjoy the wonderful fragrance, but you may want to do a little work on the pollinating. Take a small paint brush and move the yellow pollen from one bloom to another. While many citrus plants are self-fruitful, they usually produce larger fruits with pollination from bees outdoors, or with a little help indoors with the paintbrush. Olives are self-fruitful. I am overwintering my olive tree outdoors (in a protected spot). I did it last year too, and so far, so good. It is evergreen, and I don’t have any damaged leaves. I am not suggesting you move yours outdoors now, but consider trying it next year.
Q
I have soil gnats. I changed the soil in several pots before bringing them indoors this fall. Now my entire house has gnats everywhere. How do I get rid of them if they are throughout my home?
A
Fungus gnats can be a nuisance inside. Fungus gnats usually indicate that you are overwatering. You probably brought some larvae or eggs indoors with your plants. Adults emerge in about a week. During their seven-to10-day life span, females can lay up to 200 eggs into the cracks and crevices of growing media. Moist-growing potting soils containing high amounts of peat moss are particularly attractive. At typical room temperatures (65 degrees to 75 degrees) the life cycle (egg to adult) can be completed in three to four weeks, and the cycle continues. The small larvae are in the soil and are feeding on the fungi growing in the potting soil, along with some small roots. Fungus gnats are more abundant in old, moist potting soil. As they mature, they turn into small gnats that hang around on the surface of the soil or fly around the plants, especially when the plants are disturbed. Since fungus gnats multiply more rapidly in moist soils, keep your plants on the dry side. Especially during the cooler, winter months when houseplants aren’t growing very rapidly, water no more than once every two weeks for most plants. Frequency of watering will vary by what you are growing, container size and how hot you keep your house. A few things to try include top-dressing the soil with a thin layer of sand, or using yellow sticky traps to trap the adults and prevent them from laying eggs, and if they continue, you can drench the soil with an insecticidal soap or Bacillus thuringiensis (better known as BT) product.
Q
Help! With this mild weather my hydrangeas think spring is here, and they are starting to grow. How can I ensure that they don’t get damaged? I did not have any flowers last year and I want some blooms.
A
You aren’t alone. I have green buds on hydrangeas and figs, neither of which should have them this early in the winter. When plants are in the transition phase of breaking dormancy, they are much more susceptible to low temperatures. Covering the plants when temperatures are predicted below 28 could help. I have too many plants and not enough patience to do that since it is so early in the season. If it were for a week or two in late March or April, I might consider it, but for now I am keeping my fingers crossed and will wait for spring to officially arrive before assessing potential damage. Retired after 38 years with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Janet Carson ranks among Arkansas’ best known horticulture experts. Her blog is at arkansasonline.com/planitjanet. Write to her at P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203 or email jcarson@arkansasonline.com