Crowning Glory

Chetna, Chandigarh

The best time to plant gladiolus has started. Get the bulbs, treat them by dipping in bavistin solution prepared by dissolving two gram of the chemical to a liter of water for two hours, dry in shade and plant them.

Can you suggest some white flowering bulbous plants that are good as cut flowers too?

Rajni, Chandigarh

In the winter months there are many white flowering bulbous plants like gladiolus, lilium, ornithogalum, narcissus, etceteras. These are all good cut flowers as they have prolonged vase life.

The ber fruit have appeared on my plants for the first time. What precautions do you suggest so that I get good quality fruit?

Rekha, Panchkula

Spray your plants with thiodan and karathane dissolved at two milliliter and one milliliter respectively. Repeat the spray after a fortnight.

My poinsettia plants have not changed colour as yet. Is there something wrong with the plants? How can I induce colour into the leaves?

Kiran, Mohali

You do not have to do anything to bring in colour except for shifting the pots if these are in pots to full sun. The terminal bracts will attain colour with the onset of winter.

For gardening queries ask DR GREEN at satishnarulayahoo.co.in