Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 12, 1992 TAG: 9201130262
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: John Arbogast
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
HARD TO SAY WHY NANDINA WAS BARE
Q: I have a beautiful nandina bush. It was full of creamy white cluster blooms this year, so I was looking forward to the bright red berries this fall. However, there was not even one berry. I must have had 20 bunches of blooms. Last spring, I planted two more bushes. They were too small to bloom, of course. Is it possible that my 5-foot bush needs a male or female like the hollies do? L.T., Copper HillA: It's not easy to guess why your nandina (heavenly bamboo) didn't make at least a few clusters of bright red berries. Separate male and female plants are not needed for nandinas, because their flowers are "perfect," which means that they have both male and female parts present. In your case, something inhibited pollination in the flowers. That could have been caused by the weather or a site-related factor that put stress on the bushes, such as dry soil. Normally, the heavenly bamboo nandina is adaptable to extremes of soil and exposure.
During this next growing season, start in early spring and water, if possible, your nandinas once a week if dry weather occurs.
Q: A few years ago I lost a large jade plant. The leaves got dark spots that eventually looked like they had mildew or dust on them. That plant died, except for a little sprig. I started the small plant, and now it is doing the same thing. All the leaves have fallen off one part. It is getting new leaves in the top, but I expect it will soon do the same way. What am I doing wrong? M.V.S., Willis
A: Jade plants, like many other indoor plants, will show disease symptoms when their environment or care is not proper, such as occurs when they are kept too wet or go through excessive drying. Those dark spots were indeed decaying or dead spots, and the mildew or dust on those spots was likely fungus growing from that diseased tissue. It seems that when branch tips are taken from weak or diseased plants to root, those offspring plants will also be weak or maybe even eventually diseased.
My recommendation would be to start with a new plant and pro JOHN ARBOGAST vide it with bright sunlight, a well-drained soil mix, adequate watering, a pot that is heavy but not too big, as well as all the other considerations suggested for jades.
Q: What kind of holly is planted at the Roanoke Main Library? Also, do you know of any company that buys seed from an individual, like Chinese dogwood seed for example? R.E.C., Vinton
A: That's American holly growing in Elmwood Park, near the Roanoke Library headquarters. Among them are a couple of males, but most are female (berry producing).
I don't know of any companies that buy tree seeds from individuals. You can check around but keep in mind that private seed companies need to have pure seeds that are true to type and can be proven to be disease free. Believe it or not, tree nurseries will want to know the lineage of trees whose seeds they use.
Got a question about your plants, garden, lawn, or insects? Write to Dear John, c/o the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010-2491.
Gardener's checklist
Jobs for mid-January:
Take a look in your yard now to discover any tree branches that have grown so much that they will cast excess shade over flower beds next summer. Prune these branches properly now while there is nothing in the flower beds. That way, when the branches fall, flowering plants will not be damaged. Be sure to use the three-cut method for removing heavy side branches to avoid tearing bark on the trunk when a given limb falls.
Get ready to sow seeds of for vegetables in the weeks ahead for transplanting into the garden.
John Arbogast is the agriculture extension agent for Roanoke