Q. I am trying to grow bougainvillea from cuttings in Karachi. I moved the plants a couple of days ago, as shown in the attached photograph. The leaves and stem are still green. Do you think these cuttings will develop into healthy plants?

A. With the scorching heat wave in Karachi, the weather is not ideal for any type of propagation. I would suggest removing all the leaves except the top two. This will divert the cutting’s energy into growing more roots and support future growth. If there are any bougainvillea bracts and flowers present on these cuttings, prune them off too. After watering, the pot should be covered with a plastic bag for moisture retention and to slow down evaporation from the soil surface. Finally, it is critical to keep the pot under shade, as the current summer sun in Karachi can be extremely harsh on young cuttings.

Q. Last year I planted two gourds — kaddu [pumpkin] and turai [sponge gourd] — and enjoyed an excellent harvest. This year, I planted them at the same location and followed the same gardening practices as last year. Unfortunately, the turai showed signs of infection from the very first harvest. The kaddu gave me five to six good fruits, but the vine died soon after producing flower buds. I have tried everything but without any luck. I have attached the turai plant’s photograph. Kindly suggest what to do.

A. Always mention the name of your city so it is easier to understand the weather the plant might be experiencing. There is a high probability that both gourds are suffering from the same problem. It can be because the plants are under a fungal or viral attack. Dropping of fruits and flowers can also be indicative of pollination challenges. A lack of nutrients in the soil and stress on the roots may also cause the plant to get infected. For the future, I would also suggest not to grow the plant in the exact same spot as the previous season. Prune off any affected leaves or fruits that are present on the vine. I’d also recommend adding compost to the soil and spraying the plant with a neem oil solution in your case. You must ensure to water the soil around the base of the plant only and do not spray water directly on the leaves.

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Additionally, the flowers of gourds usually bloom during the evening. If there are no pollinators, such as bees and other insects, available at that time, then you may need to resort to hand pollination. In hand pollination, the pollen-bearing centre of a freshly picked male flower is gently rubbed on the central part of a female flower for pollen transfer. These measures should help the vines resume producing healthy fruit again.

Q. I am from Karachi and I have been trying to grow bananas in my garden for several years now. The plants bear fruit but, before the fruit grows and ripens, the tree bends over and collapses. How can I prevent it from falling and what am I doing wrong?

A. There can be a few issues and you may need to identify which one fits your plant’s condition. Usually, strong winds cause banana trees to topple over. Karachi generally doesn’t experience prolonged periods of strong winds. Excessive or under-watering can also weaken the roots of the banana plant, causing it to topple over. Finally, a lack of potassium content in the soil can cause the banana plant’s stem to become weak. For a healthy banana plant, apply a handful of potassium-rich organic fertiliser, ensure a balanced watering schedule — neither waterlogging the plant nor creating drought-like conditions — and, importantly, place a sturdy bamboo stake beside the stem and tie the plant loosely for support.

Q. I am trying to grow amaryllis in Karachi but, sadly, the plant isn’t producing any flowers. I have several plants and all of them have the same problem. Do they need sun or shade?

A. Usually, the amaryllis plant should be grown in bright, indirect light. This is especially true for cities like Karachi where plants are exposed to excessive heat and scorching sunlight. However, in your case, you may expose the plant to early morning sunlight for a couple of hours. Moreover, if you are applying any nitrogen-based fertiliser to the plant, replace it with one that has phosphorus or potassium. As the plant grows, the bulb underneath the soil surface grows simultaneously. Sometimes, when the bulb is not mature enough, it can delay the flowering phase. Ensure that no leaves are pruned so that they may accumulate more energy and supply it to the bulb underneath. Following these instructions should help your plant start flowering soon.

Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel ‘DocTree Gardening’ promoting organic kitchen gardening

Published in Dawn, EOS, June 28th, 2026