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Can I propagate a pointsetta from a branch that fell off while repotting? Please this is urgent...

It's unlikely Cindy but you can try putting it in water to see if some roots grow. Also see our 'Poinsetta' special for some growing tips. - Ed.

I don't know that much about it, except that there is a product called, "tomato set", I think. It's a spray that you are supposed to spray on the flowers. This causes them to produce fruit. I think it's some kind of germination. You can probably ask someone at a nursery or hardware store about "tomato set"--this may not be the acutal product name, but they should know what you want and should be able to direct you to the right product. We've used it and it works well. Good luck.

Thanks Sherry - Ed.

In response to the not-so-blue Blue Spruce from Ricky in Canada. Placing rusty nails or razor blades in the soil and around the tree will help you get the blue back into your Spruce. This also works great for Hydrangeas helping them keep their beautiful bright colors.

Thanks Carla - but please be careful with the razor blades! Ed.

Where can you buy old fashioned tomatoe seeds or get a catalogne from?

The Yourgarden.com Directories should help. Ed.

Every other year I cut my clematis plants down to a couple inches from the ground in late fall, after all growth has turned brown. You won't believe the growth they will put on in the spring. Try this and hopefully they will have more blooms. I also apply Miracle Grow every other week. I usually get a second (smaller)blooming during late summer.

Thanks Sherry - Ed.

What kind of flowers or plants don't need alot of sunlight?

The Yourgarden.com article Plants for under trees should help. Ed.

To grow pineapple, chop off leaves with 2" of fruit. Place in aquarium sand and keep moist and sunny until roots start. Grow in sunny,sandy soil.

Thanks Alice - Ed.

My advice to control them (not all the way but it helps a LOT!) mix a tablespoon of dishsoap (sunlight, dawn, etc.) with a gallon of water and spray it on them and the perimeter and up as far as you can reach of the house and trees etc. It really helps, and they die instantly.

Thanks Heidi - Ed.

I think the secret to saving pointsettas is lots of water.I Placed a three foot planter with four pointsettas in a south facing bedroom last fall.WE encased the planter in plastic sheeting,I gave it about a gallon of water once a week.The lights were on only once in a while at night.otherwise that was all I done.I had the most beautiful flowers anyone here had ever seen.There were red and pink in the same planter. I plan on doing the same thing this fall,after all the first pointsettas came from a swamp!!!

Thanks Barbara - Ed.

Poinsettias - I grow mine on the SOUTH side of my home, in a well mulched and pourous, rich soil. The plant stays in-ground all year and I prune it after the last freeze (Usually early March here). I feed it with a 20-20-20 Miracle Grow Fertilizer about every 5-6 weeks. The plant grows very well and very tall...some shoots go to 7-8 ft. Prior to the middle of September I "Pinch" the center top of EACH leaf growth and discard the residue. This causes/results in at least 3 new leaves to grow in that spot where they were "Pinched". THESE will be the "Bracts" that will turn RED for the Christmas Season. Needless to say, they must get NO Light at night during this part of the growth time. I have had mine (both the RED and the Yellow Leaf variety) growing for the last 6 years and they always come back tall and healthy. I also have Yellow flowering ALLAMANDA, and another plant I don't know the name of, But it has flowers that look just like little Butterflies - mine are the Blue/White Variety - which grow right alongside the Poinsettias. The day light is sort of mottled due to a large canopy froma large Scrub Oak Tree on the South side of the house. Hope this helps you.

Thanks William - Ed.

I have had little problems transplanting pachasandra. I just make sure that the plants I remove from my bed for transplanting have roots on the stems. The stems will develope roots when in contact with the soil. Just make sure they are well watered till the plants get well established. They do spread but it is not very invasive. I use pachasandra for a ground cover because it is dense and not very tall. I believe it makes a much better ground cover than ivy for those reasons. Good luck.

Thanks Martin - Ed.

I would like to know where I can purchase Evergeen Chinese Clematis armandii which blooms late winter, followed by copper-pink "albertine" roses. Noted in "Garden Ideas & Outdoor Living" Spring 1999 "Designing the Dooryard... page 109. Thank you.

This is not one of our articles but is there anyone who can help J.? - Ed.

I ordered clematis from springhillnursery.com. I don't know if they carry this specific type, but they might be able to order for you.

Thanks Joan - Ed.

The white powdery stuff on your rhodedenrons is a fungus and it will kill you shrubs. I know I lost 4 before I got it stopped. You need to get an oil base fungucide to take care of the problem.

Thanks Jeanne - Ed.

I think the secret to saving pointsettas is lots of water.I Placed a three foot planter with four pointsettas in a south facing bedroom last fall.WE encased the planter in plastic sheeting,I gave it about a gallon of water once a week.The lights were on only once in a while at night.otherwise that was all I done.I had the most beautiful flowers anyone here had ever seen.There were red and pink in the same planter. I plan on doing the same thing this fall,after all the first pointsettas came from a swamp!!!

Thanks Barbara - Ed.

Poinsettias - I grow mine on the SOUTH side of my home, in a well mulched and pourous, rich soil. The plant stays in-ground all year and I prune it after the last freeze (Usually early March here). I feed it with a 20-20-20 Miracle Grow Fertilizer about every 5-6 weeks. The plant grows very well and very tall...some shoots go to 7-8 ft. Prior to the middle of September I "Pinch" the center top of EACH leaf growth and discard the residue. This causes/results in at least 3 new leaves to grow in that spot where they were "Pinched". THESE will be the "Bracts" that will turn RED for the Christmas Season. Needless to say, they must get NO Light at night during this part of the growth time. I have had mine (both the RED and the Yellow Leaf variety) growing for the last 6 years and they always come back tall and healthy. I also have Yellow flowering ALLAMANDA, and another plant I don't know the name of, But it has flowers that look just like little Butterflies - mine are the Blue/White Variety - which grow right alongside the Poinsettias. The day light is sort of mottled due to a large canopy froma large Scrub Oak Tree on the South side of the house. Hope this helps you.

Thanks William - Ed.

If you cover them in Winter to protect them from freezing and feed them in the spring they should give you years of pleasure.

Thanks Mark - Ed.

Yes, it would be better if you cut off some of the leaves so the tomato's would get to ripen.

Thanks Kayna - Ed.

There are no dumb questions, only sometimes you might get a dumb answer!

Azaleas are part of the Rhododendron family with the Latin (scientific)name Ericaceae. Azaleas are usually daintier than the garden Rhododendrons but not always - there are 10ft Azaleas and 1ft Rhododendrons.

Thanks Mark - Ed.

Early Spring is the best time. Cut of the dead flowers from last year but unless you wish to keep your shrub small don't prune back too far.

Thanks Bea - Ed.

Every other year I cut my clematis plants down to a couple inches from the ground in late fall, after all growth has turned brown. You won't believe the growth they will put on in the spring. Try this and hopefully they will have more blooms. I also apply Miracle Grow every other week. I usually get a second (smaller)blooming during late summer.

Thanks Sherry - Ed.

True leaves have scalloped/indentations compared with the first leaves which emerge through the soil. Transplant survival increases with stem size.
Handle transplants by a leaf instead of the stem. An old ball point pen makes a good dibble to open the planting hole. I transplant up to individual pots (I use 1/2 pint milk cartons).
When setting into the garden, a fistfull of gypson will reduce blossom end rot. Young plants have a high need for phosphate but go lightly.

Thanks Marshall - Ed.

To make it flower again.....you Have to be so Brutal...Chop it down, Right down to the bulb that should be no more than an inch out of the ground. Then keep watering, the bulb, eventually it will flower again. When it has flowered STOP watering and the flowers will last up to two weeks!!

Thanks Jason - Ed.

To grow Azeleas [and other plants also] read a book called Cuttings made Simple by MAXX YIELD I bought the book in a Hydroponic gardening shop.This explaines it very well.

Thanks Allan - Ed.

If you have answers or questions then please let us know.