Down To Earth

Poinsettia,the real Christmas plant,is at its best at this time when the bract the coloured whorl of leaves at the top of the plant is at its prime.

Poinsettia,the real Christmas plant,is at its best at this time when the bract the coloured whorl of leaves at the top of the plant is at its prime. There is,however,a complaint about this otherwise beautiful shrub: it sheds leaves at the base so that the lower half of the plant looks barren. The reason for this is excessive watering. Poinsettia actually needs very less watering; excessive watering leads to yellowing of the basal leaves,which ultimately fall. Water it only a week,especially when it has been planted in plastic containers.

I have a three-and-a-half-year-old chiku tree in my garden,which is growing quite vigorously,and also one litchi tree of the same age,which is growing reasonably well. Kindly advice about pruning and adding manures to these.

Kiran Krishan

There is no pruning required in either chiku or litchi trees. In fact,pruning in litchi may harm the plant and you may face splitting of fruit. Your plants are too young and they should be allowed to grow as such. Add one big basket of manure,along with half a kilogram of superphosphate and 150 grams of muriate of potash,to each of these trees.

The peach trees are about to sprout. Do I need to do anything at this stage?

Neetu,Chandigarh

Yes,spraying the trees at this time is very important or else there is curling of leaves due to aphid attack. Spray rogor or metasystox,dissolved at one-and-a-half ml to a litre of water. Repeat after 10-15 days.

Some of the gladiolus bulbs in my garden bed are not doing well and the plants are turning yellow and sickly. What could be the reason and what should I do to correct the fault?

Gurpreet,Mohali

Your bulbs have been affected by a fungal disease. Remove the severely affected plants and drench the rest with bavistin,dissolved at two grams to a litre of water.

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I have just finished pruning my grape vines. What should I do to get best crop while making sure the vine remains healthy?

Brig. S Sidhu

Spray the dormant vines with blitox,dissolved at two-and-a-half grams to a litre of water. Repeat the spray after a fortnight.

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

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Down To Earth

Poinsettia,the real Christmas plant,is at its best at this time when the bract  the coloured whorl of leaves at the top of the plant  is at its prime.

Poinsettia,the real Christmas plant,is at its best at this time when the bract the coloured whorl of leaves at the top of the plant is at its prime.