Once the fruits,vegetables or flowers start bearing in a garden,one starts wondering how to get maximum number of blooms within the short period of blooming. Well,the number of blooms per bush can indeed be improved by keeping a few things in mind. Firstly,keep removing the faded or fading blooms. Till those are hanging on a plant,the twig on which these are borne will not give out further blooms. Secondly,the seeding blooms eat into the plant resource. Keep removing them after they have given their best to get more number of blooms. I have just bought a peach plant from a local nursery for my garden. There are a few tumour-like growth on the roots. Are they harmful? Satinder Singh,Chandigarh Yes,these are the galls of nematodes a breed of insects that is not visible to naked eyes. These insects may block the conduction channels and the plant may die soon. Do not plant such a plant. What is the name of Christmas plant? Where can I get it? Ranjan Maria,Dera Bassi Actually,the Christmas plant is poinsettia but generally people use araucaria plant as Christmas tree for decoration purposes. You can get any of these from any nursery selling ornamental plants. Kinnow season is over and fruits have been removed from the plant. What should I do to get good crop next year? Sarabjit Singh,Mohali First of all,remove all the dead wood from the tree. Add good amount of manure to the plant,which may vary depending upon the age of the tree. The age can be ascertained from Package of Practices for Fruits,a bulletin published by Punjab Agriculture University. Or else,let me know about the trees age and I will tell you about the amount of manure required for your plant. I have two croton plants one in pot and the other in soil bed. The one in pot is sagging and the other is showing no such symptoms. What could be the reason? Manjot Kaur,Chandigarh Crotons are sensitive to low temperature conditions and this is reflected on the health of the plant all the more when it has been planted in a pot. Therefore,you must shift the pot to a safer place where it is not exposed to cold or frost. For gardening queries,ASK DR GREEN at satishnarula@yahoo.co.in
