Broken clouds, 8 °C
Ask the Expert
Hanging basket - what should I plant?
Question
04/05/2012
Hi,
What drought resistant plants/flowers would you recommend for
a hanging basket? I will be going on holidays so watering will be a problem.
Joe, Limerick
Answer
Hello Joe
Going on holidays will be a problem no matter what you put in your basket. The best thing to do is take it down and stand it in a sheltered, semi-shaded area. Put a container underneath and fill this with water before you go. Otherwise try and get a neighbour to come in and water it for you. The compost you use is important also, use Growise Tub & Basket which contains a swell gel that the roots can get moisture out of even when the compost becomes dry.
The following plants will tolerate dry conditions longer in a basket-Brachycome, Bacopa, Nasturtium, and Ivy leaf Geraniums.
Have a good holiday,
Brendan Howell
Sunflower seedlings
Question
03/05/2012
How do I stop sunflower seedlings from becoming too leggy too
quickly?
C Casey, Dublin
Answer
Hello
Firstly make sure the seed you sow is a hybrid seed so that the plant will be true to the parent material.
Do not over water the seedlings and sow them as thinly as possible. They will also need plenty of direct overhead light ideally in a glasshouse. Otherwise if on a window sill keep turning them to the light every day.
After planting out keep the area around the plants as clean as possible and you should plant them where they are in full sun. This will keep them stocky and not competing for the light and nutrients in the soil
Regards
Brendan Howell
Rhododendron help
Question
03/05/2012
I have a rhodedendron plant which is about to bloom but in the
last few days the leaves have gone brown. Why is that and will the plant
survive?
Mary, via Facebook
Answer
Hi Mary,
If the rhododendron is newly planted it may have dried out earlier in the year. This would be showing up now in the older leaves as browning around the edges. Also they do not like to be planted deeply. Check the soil is not up around the base of the plant and if needed pull some soil away from the base of the plant. Rhododendrons are surface rooting plants which like soil with good drainage but also with good water retention properties. Is it water logging in the latest wet conditions? Have you fed it this year? Fertiliser should be well spread out in the rooting area and not close up around the base of the plant as this will cause a burn effect on the leaves.
The plant will survive if it is putting on new growth and all the leaves do not turn brown.
Good luck,
Brendan Howell
Daffodil dilemma
Question
29/04/2012
Hello! I've got some nice daffodils but they came into bloom just one time...Is it that normal? If so, can you recommend me some good way to store the bulbs for the next year? Thanks!
Diomira, Dundalk
Answer
Hello Diomira
Your daffodil bulbs will flower every year. The best two tips I can give you are as follows
1) Always leave the foliage die down completely after flowering. You should also feed them at this stage as this is when the flower builds up the energy to flower the following year.
2) After several years in the ground they need to be lifted and divided into new smaller clumps of bulbs. You will know it is the time to do this as they will be just all foliage and no flowers.
You may lift them out of the ground to store them until the following year but again wait until the foliage has completely died back.
Kind regards
Brendan Howell
Tomato plant trouble?
Question
28/04/2012
Quick question for you green thumbs. Am I right to say that if some of the
leaves of a tomato plant in a Polytunnel starts turning whitish, it's due to
the fact that I have all windows (with netting) open and they are standing in
a draft? Thank you in advance for any help or information.
Celia, on Facebook
Answer
Hello Celia
With the current low temperatures and windy conditions it is quite possible that your plants are suffering and are not hardened off. You may need to introduce some heat for the next week or so, especially at night. Night time temperatures have been close to freezing recently and this will stress your plants.
The other possibility is it may be the early signs of blight. In either case remove any affected leaves to promote new growth or maybe start again with new plants.
Kind regards
Brendan Howell
