isaac wrote:
hi, mr. greenthumb! I wanted to know, how to transplant my houseplants into my
outdoor garden. I also wanted to know hot to use my seeds in a napkin and
watered it like yolanda vanveen said.
Dear Issac:
Depending upon where you live and what type of plant makes a big difference. Most indoor plants
that we have growing in a fairly bright indoor light need to be moved to a rather shady spot outdoors.
Often, indoor plants are left in the container so that when conditions become problematic, they can
be sheltered again inside.
Take the paper napkin, keep it moist. If the seed is viable it should normally germinate within a week
to 10 days for most plants.
My best,
Stan
Shaye Hobby wrote:
I’ve got a Jiffy Greenhouse with about 36 pods and I’ve got Basil, Rosemary,
Thyme, Chives, and Oregano growing. There going on there 3 week stage now and
wondered what in the world kind of fertilizer to use, what brand, and what
nutrients it needs? Oh by the way this is being done by “Container
Gardening” can’t do a garden have to plant them in containers or pots.
Thank you and I need your help a lot of time I’ve put into this.
Dear Shaye:
Use MiracleGro plant food. It has all the nutrients needed by the plant. Use it at
half strength at every watering. Hope this is helpful.
My best,
Stan
Dear Stan:
I recently watched your show airing on May 8th 2001. I have been in the
industry for over 40 years and am a graduate of the University of Florida B.S.
Horticulture. Sorry to be critical but the constant use of fertilizer as
“plant food” as you know is incorrect. There is plenty of incorrect
information with respect to gardening. So it is important that our home
gardners get the correct information when ever possible.
I hope you take this with the spitr it was written, let’s give them good
gardening information so our gardeners are better informed and succesfull.
Thanks,
Earl Poppell
Dear Earl:
I too have been advising people for over 40 years and respect your opinion. I
have, however, found more problems from under fertilizing than from over
fertilizing. I do agree that if you can build an enriched soil, compost and natural
organics, you can cut down or eliminate the need for commercial fertilizers.
In general, I find our Florida sand quite lacking in the nutrients healthy plants
need to grow to their full potential. Keep up the good work of advising our
fellow Horticultural enthusiasts.
My best,
Stan
George wrote:
i have alot of different colored rose bushes on my property and they are growing
great but for some reason ill plant a white rose bush and they always die on me.
do u have any suggestions on how to get them growing?
Dear George:
Some varieties of roses seem to be a bit more difficult to grow and last for a long time.
The white roses that I have tried in the past do not seem as hardy as some of the
standard reds and pinks. This being said, I have seen some very pretty white roses
that have grown and lasted for many years.
My best,
Stan
Bonnie wrote:
Are all sweet potato vines edible? There is an existing vine planted at our
house. I didn’t plant it. There are tons of potatoes in the ground. I’d like
to eat them if possible. Also, i read that you can eat the leaves. Can I eat
all vines and all leaves?
Dear Bonnie:
There are some varieties that are considered ornamental. But even ornamental sweet
potatoes are technically edible and I’ve heard their not as tasty as the varieties developed
as a food crop. I’m leery to tell you to eat any vine for some vines are not edible.
My best,
Stan
B. C. Crawford wrote:
yellow straight neck squash have A light greenish tent. Thry have no other
damage showing.
Dear B. C.:
Check the pH of the soil, make sure this is in a good growing range of 5.5 to 6.5. If you
are in the area I will be doing “free” pH testing at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg Times
Home Show on June 10th, 11th, and 12th. Also, make sure you are using a complete
fertilizer, such as MiracleGro.
My best,
Stan
lynn wrote:
My hydrangeas bloomed beautifully the first 2 summers after being planted. The
last 2 I have not had any flower’s. I tried fertilizing as directed but still
nothing. They get about 3 hours of steady sun. Should I consider moving them to
a sunnier location? Should I trim the wood down? Thanks!
Dear Lynn,
Yes, plant them into an area where the hydrangea will receive at least 6 hours of sun daily. This also means increasing
the water. Trimming out the dead wood is highly recommended. Hope this is helpful.
My best,
Stan
janet loveless wrote:
Hi Stan, I have rose garden which I choose mostly for color, mostly Hybrid Teas.
I would like to graft to get multi color rose such as the J&P Perfect
Moment. I watched your video on grafting, is that the way to get multi color
rose? Thank You
Dear Janet,
You could graft a number of different stems from different cultivars onto the main plant, this would be called the root stock. Grafting
like so many projects, is one that will get better as you gain experience from the process. There is a very informative diagram in
my book, Stan DeFreitas’s Complete Guide To Florida Gardening, that you may find helpful.
My best,
Stan
Jennifer Vreeland wrote:
Hello, New at starting our own tom. plants from seed in the house under lights
then into own 3inch pots in the green house. there about 4 inchs tall and had
been doing great,until last night it was gonna get real cold outside so we added
a little gas heater in the g house. temp was at about 78 thru out the night and
when i went out in the morning to check everything the majority of the leaves
were turning down ward looking wilty any suggestions as to what might have
happened over night? please help as to we have put alot of time and money and
patiance into these plant and would love to save them? thank you
Dear Jennifer:
Sorry it has taken so long to get back with you. Do make sure that you have an ability to vent
the gas by-product from your heater. I agree, you need to keep the tomato plants above freezing,
but some gas heaters give off deadly gases which is the same reason we don’t use them around
people in an enclosed area without proper ventilation.
The process of growing plants is certainly one that most of use the trial-and-error system.
My best,
Stan
Michael D. wrote:
Hi Stan, I live in north jersey, not a real rainy climate in the summer but
every year come end of july, august I get hit with black spot, it’s like clock
work. I try everything. I spray with orthos disease control as recommended
before it hits and then do everything that is recommended by everybody when it
hit and nothing stops the block spot. I remove all the leaves that are infected
into the garbage, I remove the top layer of soil and give a good spraying and
with in a week it is back. by the end of the summer my bushes have no leaves
left on them every year. I have decided to buy 10 new disease resistant rose
bushes and get ride of the ones I have. It just bothers me that- thats what I
have to do to get good bushes. Any advise before I do this. I have tried
everything. Thank You Stan
Dear Michael,
It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Maybe these need disease resistant roses will decrease your problems.
Planting them where they will be get the early morning sunlight, often helps the leaves to dry early and cuts down on some
of this fungal problem. Let me know how these new roses do for you.
My best,
Stan
