Down To Earth

The availability of different kinds of flowering seeds makes it possible to plant flowering annuals in a manner that one prefers.

The availability of different kinds of flowering seeds makes it possible to plant flowering annuals in a manner that one prefers. The placement of the plant can be decided according to its height (in the picture). Small stature plants provide better view and are suitable for window sills,as they do not block the outside view. You can opt for dwarfing perennials or keep perennials like begonias low-headed by clipping it. In the picture you can see low-headed begonias,gerberas,marigold,salvia and pansy.

I had planted two hybrid pansy plants in a 12-inch pot. The flowering buds have now emerged,but the pot is still not filled with the plant. What should I do?
Rajni,Chandigarh

Such a big pot should have been planted with at least three plants. It also seems that you were late in planting. You cannot expect a full pot from a species like giant pansy,which has little growth. Be more careful next time.

As per your earlier advise I had grown some cucurbit plants like Indian round gourd (tinda) and pumpkin (kadu) in polythene bags in the last week of January. Now they are at the two-leave stage,can I transplant them?
Savita,Panchkula Wait till your winter vegetable beds are vacant,the vines will have a few more leaves and the weather will become warmer.

The leaves of my variegated exocaria look very weak and are discoloured. What could be the reason and how can I correct the fault so that it regains colour?
Sumit,Panchkula

The reason for discolouration could be exposure to winter cold. Now that the weather is warming up there should be self-correction with new coloured growth. Shift the plant to a site where it gets only one or two hours of sunlight in the morning.

Do not expose it to severe sun in summers,as that too will lead to discolouration.

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I have observed a light green thread-like growth on my clerodendron hedge. I have removed some of it,but it seems to be growing again. What should I do?
Raghbir Singh,Chandigarh

Be very prompt and thorough in removing every strand. This is a parasite that kills the hedge by completely covering it in a few days. Remove every strand and destroy it,even if that requires you to severely prune the hedge. Do not worry,the hedge will regrow.

For your gardening queries,ASK DR GREEN at satishnarula@yahoo.co.in

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