Q. When I bought rose plants from a nursery they were big and nice but now the flowers are very small. I sprayed them but to no effect. What shall I do?

A. Sprayed them with what I wonder! Reaching for chemical sprays — these are toxic and highly dangerous concoctions — for no particular reason other than that a plant does not appear to be performing as expected, is not a remedy for anything: quite the opposite in fact as unnecessary chemical interventions can adversely affect plant growth. The reason for smaller flowers may be one of the following: lack of soil nutrition, transplantation shock if, that is, the plants were moved from pots into the ground, incorrect watering practice, lack of pruning. I suggest that you prune the plants, hard, replenish soil, ensuring to incorporate lots of organic compost / old, well rotted, organic manure, in the mix and adhere to a regular, evening, watering routine when temperatures are high.

Q. I had a beautiful lemon tree but then it got infected. I used sprays, now it is better but the lemons don’t grow big. What can the problem be?

Proper soil conditions are essential for healthy growth of plants

A. Infected with what and what, exactly, did you spray it with? You say that the tree has recovered but, please note, whilst growth may seem ‘normal’ the tree underwent a major trauma when it was sick and will take at least one year, possibly two years, before it has regained enough strength to fully develop fruit. To help it on its road to complete, healthy, recovery, provide it with maximum soil nutrition in the form of organic compost / organic manure applied as mulch — about four to six inches thick — around the base of the tree but not touching the trunk and keep it well watered during hot, dry weather. Correct soil nutrition and regular watering should assist the tree to recover and — in time — to produce decent-sized fruit.

Q. I have grown pineapples in pots but all stopped growing when they reached a certain height. Only one is producing a fruit: the fruit is very small and has stopped growing. I did put rusty nails in the pots as you previously advised. What can I do now to make the plants and fruit grow?

Healthy roses

A. You may need to increase the size of the pots, replacing any old soil with a mixture of new, sweet earth mixed with organic compost, lots of old, well rotted, organic manure, also adding at least half a dozen, three-inch long, rusty iron (not stainless steel) nails in the base of each pot. Give the plants plenty of water on a regular basis, be patient and — hopefully — you will be rewarded in time.

Q. I have a mature mitha plant in my garden in Lahore. It is about five years old. It flowered profusely for the first time this year but to my utter amazement it has not borne any fruit. Could you please advise me as to what can be the reason?

A. Patience please! Just because the tree flowered it does not automatically mean that it should bear fruit: it is still on the young side. Give it another one to two years, maintain high levels of soil nutrition, ensure it is irrigated regularly when it flower and it should then fruit. If not, then it could be that there is a lack of pollinating insects in your locality — maybe caused by use of toxic, chemical sprays. If this is the case then avoiding such sprays yourself, if you use them, is the perfect solution but, if the sprays are used by a neighbour, for example, there is not much you can do aside from asking them, very nicely, not to spray when your tree(s) is / are in bloom.

Q. I have three night flowering jasmine in my garden in Karachi. They are not growing flowers though. Why is this and what shall I do?

Developing lemons

A. Prune back any overly long, thin growth, top up the soil with organic compost and old, well rotted, organic manure, water regularly — water in the evening so that the plants have time to drink their fill before the sun causes moisture to evaporate — and, hopefully, they will flower given time.

Q. I want to grow lavender in district Hafizabad in Punjab. Which species is best for this region and where can I find its plants or seeds?

A. I suggest that you try Lavendula hybrida (Lady) as, grown from seed — sown in early autumn — it should be in flower after just four months or so. If you cannot locate seed of the aforementioned variety then Lavendula angustifolia (Elegance series), with blue, white or pink flowers, is a good alternative. I am not aware of a local source for lavender plants. You may be lucky enough to find some seed in ‘upper-class’ seed stores but it is probably better to do an internet search for a supplier who will dispatch seed to Pakistan.

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. The writer will not respond directly by email. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, July 26th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play