Just Ask: Magnesium deficiency is very common in gardenias

Tag : magnesium salts

Q.: I have an indoor gardenia plant and the leaves are turningyellow, but I can still see green veins. I suspect this is anutrient problem and not an insect problem because I have lookedvery closely with a magnifying glass and see no aphids, mites orwhite flies. What type of fertilizer do gardenias like?
-- C.B., Kent
M.B.: The sweet-smelling gardenia craves an acid plant food. It soundsas if your gardenia has a magnesium deficiency, which is verycommon in gardenias and easy to fix. You can dissolve onetablespoon of epsom salts into one gallon of water and soak theroot ball in it, or get a high-acid plant food such as Mir-Acid,which is made for rhodies, azaleas and camellias. Remember to keepmisting the humidity-loving gardenia or grow it in a bright andsteamy bathroom or near the kitchen sink. There also is a "hardygardenia" sold by local nurseries that survives our wintersoutdoors. It also is temperamental and needs lots of water andacidic plant food.
Q.: I have an orange- blooming perennial called a geum. It hasspread into a huge clump in my rockery and I want to divide it up.Is this a good time of year to do this?
-- T., e-mail
M.B.: Orange is a hot color for blooming plants right now and nobodydoes bright orange better than geums. Early spring is the perfecttime to dig up and divide overgrown clumps of summer-bloomingperennials such as geums, hardy geraniums, sedums and daylilies.They thrive in rock gardens because these tough and hardyperennials require good drainage but will bloom even in poor soil.I have several types of geums and all of them bloom happily in thepoor, dry, rocky soil next to the invading roots of a cedar tree.Geums are another great plant to pass along to fellow gardeners,and local nurseries offer several varieties.
Q.: How can I get the moss out of my lawn? This is my front lawnand I do not want a moss lawn. Also, I am getting tired of all yourgarden writers bashing beautiful lawns!
-- R., e-mail
M.B.: OK, I admit there are lots of wonderful benefits of a beautiful,lush lawn. It filters pollutants, cools the air and is the bestplant ever for games of soccer and football. The problem is when"lawn rangers" ride in armed with too many weed killers,fertilizers and noisy machines to maintain and patrol the perfectlawn. Moss is an opportunist and grows in damp, infertile andshaded areas. Improve your soil by aerating, adding organic matterand fertilizing with slow-release nitrogen so the grasses can growthicker than the moss. Every year apply dolomite lime or pelletedlime and calcium to make your soil less acidic. Don't' try to growa lawn in the shade because the moss will always win a shaded turfwar (I've tried). Once you kill the moss with a liquid moss killer(works better than granules), you will need to rake out the deadmoss and reseed the lawn or the moss will just grow back. Goodluck!