Question: Last year I planted an Amazon lily bulb that produced large evergreen leaves but not in bloom. When do they bloom normally?
Answer: Flowering time is also known as the Eucharist lily during the winter on Amazon Lilies. White flowers with a scent similar to daffodils will appear from late December to early March. The plant needs shade and has large shiny leaves similar to those of the hosta. Flowering appears to depend on the plant being well established and slightly crowded. If you can’t see the flowers soon, you’ll have to wait another year for these cool seasonal flowers. Moisten planting sites until autumn in winter on the warm moon and dry side. Also apply late release fertilizer in March and May.
Q: I have been keeping amaryllis plants from three Christmases in a pot near the window and bloomed in winter and spring. Do I need to put it in a container or can I plant it on the ground?
A: Putting amaryllis in containers or adding them to a garden above ground seems to make them happy. If they are continued in containers, give them one to two inches larger each year as spring growth begins. Moisten the soil and apply slow release fertilizer at container speed as directed on the label. Bulbs can be added to garden sites with filtered sun. They don’t seem to like the perfect hot sun in summer. Moisten in moist spring to early autumn mornings. Then, once a week, water it and dry it a little. Fertilize using slow release products at label rates in March and May. Keep a light mulch on top of the soil, but the bulb neck remains exposed.
Q: My fig tree has been over 10 feet tall and has increased its width. How much pruning should you do?
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A: Make sure the fig tree grows to a convenient size for location. The larger the plant, the more fruits you can harvest. There is a general rule that every year, up to a third of the latest shoot or shoot portion is removed, but it doesn’t seem necessary. Most gardeners want to thin their limbs and leave open centers in the fig tree. Also remove reduced or damaged limbs. It’s all the pruning needed except that it reduces limbs that may be growing outside the desired space.
Q: I was told I need to save my St. Augustine’s lawn. Is this really necessary? If so, when should you do it?
A: There are very few grasses that really require aeration. Aeration may be beneficial if your lawn is a place for family football games or other recreational activities that compact the soil. Compact activities, especially soils with many organic matter and clay, may require aeration to drill holes in the ground to allow better air, moisture and nutrient penetration. Lawns with nematode activity also appear to benefit from aeration. Try digging the grass with a trowel. If it penetrates easily, it probably doesn’t need aeration. If you want to test small areas to determine whether airflow is beneficial, use a pitch fork or hand aerator to drill holes in the ground. A good aerator removes small cores of soil called plugs during treatment. These will decompose and return to the soil.
Q: When planting croton, composted fertilizer products were added to the filling soil, killing the plant. Has fertilizers decayed the plants?
A: It’s not a fertilizer, but you’re looking for a suitable area for this problem. Dried root balls are one of the biggest reasons for the decline in new plants. In most cases, root balls either were either dry at planting or dried after the crotons were on the ground and reduced. Most ornaments are grown in a very organic potting mix, with roots diminishing if they are dry after planting or dry at any time. Once the plants are dry and enter the ground, they become very difficult to get wet. Make sure the container is wet and the root balls are wet with planting. After planting, create a soil balm on the edge of the root bowl and push the water down through the roots into the surrounding soil. Water manually every week or two, and every other day until the plants are established.
Margin in the gardens of Central Florida
Q: I have weeds germinated in my Baia lawn, what is the best way to control unwanted growth?
A: If your lawn only has a few weeds, pulling your hand might be an option. But who is this fortune? By the time weed control is needed, there are more weeds than most gardeners want to spend on pulling. Following the label instructions, we require herbicides made for use in Byaturf. Some lawn weed control products have a via listed on the label, while others have pointed out that herbicides are aimed at southern lawns. Continue reading the labels as some grasses may still be ruled out. Not all weeds are controlled by one product. If you have persistent weeds, identify them and acquire specific herbicides to get control.
Q: Our former sweet biblon shrub is now the size of a tree. Can I cut from about 2-3 feet from above without damaging the plant?
A: Topping with these shrubs does not cause any major harm and may make Vivernum healthier. Take care when removing leaves on shrubs. But don’t worry, the new bright green leaves will soon follow. This is also a good time to reduce the width of the shrub and remove dead or reduced parts. After pruning, moisten the soil, replenish the root system with mulch and apply slow release landscape fertilizer.
Tom Maccubbin is an honorary urban gardener at the University of Florida Cooperative Expansion Services. Write him: Orlando Sentinel, PO Box 2833, Orlando, Florida. 32802. email: tomac1996@aol.com.
Original issue: March 15th, 2025 5am Edit
