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September 28, 2006
Water woes
Whether one wants to maintain spiral bamboos or grow a soil-less garden, Zahrah Nasir solves the problems of indoor gardeners
Q I would like to know how to look after my indoor spiral bamboos. I have put them in a clear vase with only water in it. The lower leaves are going yellow and a lot of roots have come out from the bases of the stems. Is it okay if I cut off the tips of leaves when they turn yellow or brown?
A This type of bamboo, artificially created by twining young stems around a suitable object and then selling them as cuttings, has become very popular of late. They are generally kept in water until they have established a flourishing root system which yours has apparently done. It is now time for you to ‘pot them on’ into clay pots of first class organic compost. I would suggest that you start out by transplanting them into 10-inch clay pots; these can be stood inside attractive ceramic bowls or other suitable holders in order to enhance their appearance if you wish to continue keeping them as indoor plants.
A few pieces of broken clay pots should be placed, at an angle, over the drainage hole in the base of the new pots in order to prevent this hole from getting clogged up, after this you fill the pots with compost to within an inch of the top. Give this compost a good soaking prior to carefully planting your bamboos.
Remember that the new roots are very fragile and so should be handled with extreme care. Do not be tempted to simply push the bamboos straight down into the compost but first make a hole to gently insert them in and then tamp down the compost until it is firm. Plant them at sufficient depth to cover all of the roots, making sure that the stems remain firmly in an upright position. The compost should be kept moist not soaking wet and never be allowed to completely dry out, particularly in the initial stages whilst the plants become established.
When the bamboos grow too tall to be kept indoors then plant them out in the garden. They require a reasonable soil and much prefer a partially shaded position if you reside in Karachi or another location which gets extremely hot during the summer months. They also need shelter from strong winds as this can damage the leaves.
Leaves which turn yellow or brown only at the tips should not be cut but allowed to die back naturally as, during this process; any nutrients remaining in the leaves will slowly return to the main plant and help it to remain strong and healthy. I realise that some people find partly yellow and brown leaves unattractive but remember that nature has its reasons for everything!
Q I live in an apartment on the third floor and I want to have soil-less plants in order to keep my balcony clean. Can you advise?
A I presume that you are referring to the system known as hydroponics which is a very complicated procedure for an amateur gardener to undertake. Hydroponics is not simply growing plants in water but also of maintaining the required nutrients, different for each variety of plant, at an acceptable level for the plants to grow and flourish. In some countries, these nutrients are available in packaged form from garden supply centres but, unfortunately, not, to the best of my knowledge, available here in Pakistan as yet. A company specialising in hydroponics is setting up business in the Rawalpindi area so things may eventually change. Meanwhile, you should limit yourself to the all time favourite for water culture, money plants, tradescantia and zebrina which are both known as wandering Jew, the first having oval leaves or green with cream or yellow stripes and the second, purple leaves with purple-pink flowers.
Bulbs, Dutch Hyacinth for example, can also be grown in containers of water during the winter season, the bulbs balanced in the top of a narrow vase with the water level just below their base but not touching as this would cause them to rot. Please be cautious about growing a large number of plants in water on your balcony as you are quite liable to be inundated with mosquitoes.
Q I have bought some orchid plants. Can you please help me by telling how much water is needed and how we should water them? I sprinkle them with water but my gardener told me to do it another way. Also, should I keep them in the shade or plant them in the garden?
A Without knowing the exact species of orchids you are growing it is very difficult for me to advise you properly. However, orchids are usually watered by finely spraying them with warm water, as a general rule they much prefer shade to sun and direct sunlight will probably kill them and, unless they are species which are grown on tree trunks, they should be kept in plant pots of suitable orchid compost which is quite unlike regular compost. Good luck!
Q I have grown a number of citrus plants from seed in clay pots. However, as of late, the leaves growing on the plants are wrinkled slightly. What causes them to grow like this and how can I discourage this?
A I strongly suspect that you need to replace the soil in your pots with a highly nutritious mix of first class organic compost and well rotted organic manure as your citrus plants may be hungry. Do not let them become overcrowded in their seed pots as this adversely affects growth and encourages disease. Also, whilst they are less than one foot in height, they should be individually planted in 10 inch clay pots. When they get taller, then either transplant them into larger pots, or plant them directly in your garden in good soil and in a place which receives lots of sunshine.
Q I have a guava tree. I don’t know which variety. It has a lot of fruit attached to the main stems. When is the right time for picking them and is there a change in colour?
A Most varieties of guavas begin to get a yellowish tinge when ripening, some turn completely golden in colour before they are ready to eat. The birds will certainly let you know when the fruit is anywhere near edible!
Q Is saffron indigenous to Pakistan and what is its correct botanical name? Also, will it grow in the Gilgit area and where can I obtain the seed from?
A ‘Crocus sativa’ or saffron as it is better known is not indigenous to Pakistan but is widely cultivated in Kashmir, Northern India, Iran and Spain. It should grow well in the Gilgit region, particularly in the mountainous areas outside the city. Seed is available from the countries in which it grows and I suggest you search on the Internet for a reputable supplier. Saffron takes at least three years to start flowering when grown from seed so patience is required.
Send your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com Answers to selected questions will appear in a future issue of ‘The Review’.
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