This rambling rose is tough enough to survive our winters
Question: Should Paul’s Himalayan roses be cut back for winter and coned in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin?
This rambler puts on an impressive floral display in late spring or early summer. Pruning back to cover the plant with a cone for winter will eliminate the flowers. Ramblers tend to be hardier than most climbers, and this one is rated hardy to zone 4 and should survive our winter.
In late winter you can remove any dead, damaged or spindly canes. Once the plant reaches full size, you can do additional shaping right after flowering to maximize the floral display. Remove stems that have flowered and tie the new replacement stems to the support as needed. Shorten side shoots to 3 to 6 inches to stimulate future flowering.
Q: I have a corn plant dracaena that is over 30 years old. It has a very long stalk that is leafless at the bottom. It recently started to flower, and the flowers are also weighing the plant down. The leaves do not look as healthy as they have in the past. Should I leave or remove the flowers, repot the plant or do something else to keep it alive and healthy?
A: Houseplants often bloom when they receive ideal growing conditions, reach maturity, are potbound or stressed. I would recommend removing the flowers since your plant seems to be struggling. This allows the plant to focus its energy on leaf and stem growth instead of flowering.
Evaluate the growing conditions for any changes. A nearby tree or shrub may have grown, shading the window; shears or awnings added or some other new addition may be limiting the sunlight reaching your plant. Supplementing sunlight with an artificial light may help stimulate stouter, healthier growth.
Plants in need of transplanting usually exhibit stunted growth, and water often drains quickly through the pot. Check the root system before transplanting. If roots fill the pot, it is time to move the plant to a container 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter. Avoid transplanting into a much larger pot. A large increase in pot size means more potting mix that holds moisture longer and can lead to root rot. Loosen any circling roots before moving your corn plant into its new container. Adjust watering as needed to compensate for the addition of space and potting mix.
Q: When cutting back my hydrangeas for winter I discovered a thick white substance at the base of many of the plants, especially those in denser parts of the garden. Any ideas what this is? And is it toxic for my puppy who likes to eat everything?
The white lumpy growth may be a slime mold. A quick search of images on the internet can confirm this. Slime molds come in a variety of colors, including white. Those found in Wisconsin tend to thrive in moist, shady places.
This mold feeds on bacteria, other microorganisms and organic matter, not plants. They are commonly found growing on organic mulches and sometimes on lawn grass. They do not harm plants directly but do help break down organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil. Research has also found it can accumulate heavy metals and break them down into inactive forms.
If slime mold covers leaves, it can prevent sunlight from reaching them, resulting in yellowing of those covered. Just break up the slime mold in mulch and let it dry out or remove it from the garden bed. University of Florida says it is not harmful to people or pets but can cause an allergic reaction in some. Play it safe and remove slime mold and the temptation from your curious puppy.
Post questions at melindamyers. com, or write P.O. Box 798, Mukwonago, WI 53149