Question: Hollyhocks is one of our favorite spring flowers, but they have not been successful in Florida. What do you need to grow these attractive flowers?
Answer: Northern Hollyhox is a Biennale. This means it takes two years to enter the flower. They produce growth and the second year brings flowers to life. Growing in warmer regions of Florida, Hollyhocks is an annual variety. This means that they will grow from seeds sown in the fall and flower in the next spring. Finding the right species can be a little difficult. Often, the annual flowering hollyhock seeds are passed among gardeners. Therefore, if you know anyone who has raised Hollyhocks in the past, they are probably happy to save the seeds and usually share them with other gardeners. Some mail order companies also offer Hollyhock Seed, which blossoms every year. Until November, it’s time to start seeds that produce the Hollyhock Blooms tower.
Q. I bought a small container with three tomato plants. When planting in a larger container, or just planting in each container, and leaving it together?
A. Buying a 3-to-1 tomato transplant gives you a great opportunity to increase your planting. The email image showed three excellent sized plants that can be easily separated and rebooted in a large container. If you want to leave one plant in the container, choose an option that is larger than 5 gallons in size. Using a good potted soil, set the plant a little deeper into the soil. Often, they are planted, so the soil covers the stems up to the first set of true leaves. Keep planting moist and in the sun. Apply slow release container fertilizer at vegetable speed as indicated on the label. Tomatoes will bloom in October, set the fruits, and ripen from mid- to late November.
Q. Our Kumquat tree has all the top leaves dropped and the branches are brittle. I trimmed some of the top branches. Should I expect better growth or should I get rid of it?
Plant Doctor: Wait a little before planting nastrutium seeds for the autumn and spring boom
A. There’s no good news here. Unfortunately, your tree has root rot problems or citrus greening disease. Care can be paid to keep the soil moisturized and fertilizer maintained in October, as citrus is scheduled. But perhaps there is a new tree in your future.
Q. Our lawns have lots of bare spots that we want to sow Ryegrass. When is the best time to sow grass?
A. Slow sowing until cool weather arrives to get the best growth. Ryegrass can germinate in early autumn, but suffers from a diminishing disease during a damp, moist climate. A good time to sow seeds is to produce temporary ground coverings for winter in November. Expect Ryegrass to decline in March. At that point you can add permanent grass types.
Q. My angled wing container is filled with water after the rain is drained very slowly. What’s the problem?
A. Check the drain hole for the answer to this question. Water-infiltrated roots can slowly rot and cause the plant to fade. Over time, the roots from the begonia grow downwards, and the roots from nearby plants grow upwards, filling the drainage holes that hold water inside the container. Remove the plant from the container and look for the hole you packed. Cut the surface layer of the root from the bottom of the root ball and repot it. Set the container to pebbles or similar to keep it away from the ground.
Q. There are orchids that grow leaves, but I cannot recommend them to bloom with orchid fertilizer. What else do I need?
October in the gardens in Central Florida
A. Orchids can make you feel sick, but with plenty of time and meticulous attention, they are mostly repeated bloomers. Some bloom sporadically, while others appear to bud once a year. In addition to watering the flour every other week during a warm month and keeping it fed, your orchid may need a new place. I like the higher position of light above the filtered sun below trees and similar regions. Avoid hot direct days of days that can cause leaf burns and plant loss for most orchids.
Q. I’m starting to notice the black coating of the stems and leaves of Torinet Dwarf Chefera. Is this harmful? If so, what should I do?
A. Most likely you’ll be seeing a well-established invasion of Mealy bugs or similar soft-scale insects. These insects are white to gray in colour and can be seen below the leaves and along the stems. They inhale juice from the stems and leaves, causing a decline in the plant. The black cover, known as the suu Kyi type, removes excrement from the sap of insects and plants. Excellent natural control consists of either insecticide soap or gardening oil spray found in garden centers according to the label’s instructions. It may require you to hit insects with a spray to be effective, and you may need to repetitive applications. Whole body insecticides can also be used to control insects when they feed, simply covering the leaves and stems of plants with a spray. You may also need fewer applications as directed on the label.
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: September 27, 2025 6am Edt
