Question #1: My mother always admires the African violet I have sitting on my kitchen windowsill. I have heard they are pretty easy to propagate. Can you please tell me how I can go about doing this? I would love to give her one.
Answer #1: African violets can be easily propagated. The most common method is by leaf cuttings. Start with moistened well-drained potting soil; look for one specifically labeled for African violets. Cut off a healthy, mature leaf, along with an inch or so of the stalk. Insert the leaf stem in potting mix about ½ -3/4 inches deep in a small container. Encase the container in a plastic bag to make a mini greenhouse and place it in bright, filtered light. Water only if it looks like the potting media has dried out. Then be patient; it can take several weeks before you notice a clump of plantlets growing from the base of the leaf. Remove from the plastic, begin to fertilize with a weak water-soluble fertilizer. When they grow to 1 ½- 2 ½ inches tall separate them from the mother leaf and repot individually in 2 – 2 ½ inch containers and treat as an adult plant.
Question #2: We are losing many oak trees in the wooded area around my home. I was wondering if the emerald ash borer attacks other kinds of trees besides ash. What could possibly be killing these mature trees?
Answer #2: Emerald ash borers are host specific and only attack ash trees. Many hardwood trees, including oaks, have succumbed to the extremes in weather we have been experiencing for the past few years. Droughts, record breaking hot temperatures, periods of heavy rain, all cause trees to become stressed making them more susceptible to insect and disease problems. We have had many inquiries come into our Center from folks with similar concerns about their trees. Unfortunately there is not a good answer. If the wooded area is on your property you should try protecting any seedlings you may have growing from deer to encourage regrowth of your woods.
Question #3: So far the winter has been fairly mild and I have not yet put protection around my fig tree. Do you think that is necessary?
Answer #3: Yes, winter protection of figs should be provided every winter especially if you live in the colder parts of the state and your fig tree is young. Unprotected wood will be killed at 10-15 degrees F. Pin pliable branches to the ground and cover with burlap or a plastic tarp. Another recommended method is to cut your branches back to a height of 4-5 feet and then pile plastic bags filled with leaves around the plant to create a pyramid. Then cover with burlap or plastic tarp that is held to the ground with rocks or landscape staples. All exposed wood should be covered. In the spring, remove the winter protection after the danger of frost has passed. Prune out ground suckers and any dead wood at that time.
“Ask the Plant and Pest Professor” is compiled from phone and email questions asked the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), part of University of Maryland Extension, an educational outreach of the University of Maryland. To ask a home gardening or pest control question or for other help, go to www.hgic.umd.edu. Or phone HGIC at 1-800-342-2507, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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