Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Tuesday December 1, 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Tuesday December 1, 2009

Having trouble seeing this email? View the most recent issue or stories from previous issues.

	Today's Wine & Dine Daily Video
	How To Make Three Minute Bacon Play Now!

Advice from Carolyn Hax

Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Tuesday December 1, 2009

Spanish Dagger, Yucca (Yucca gloriosa)
Q&A: Wilting Poinsettia
Q&A: Propagating Christmas Cactus
Tip: Shield Evergreens
Advice from Carolyn Hax
Reader Photos

Spanish Dagger, Yucca (Yucca gloriosa)

Today's Featured Plant
Spanish Dagger, Yucca (Yucca gloriosa)

Read the full profile of this plant at ArcaMax.com.

Interested in reading about other plants? Search through hundreds of plant profiles and helpful articles by keyword.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Q&A: Wilting Poinsettia

Question: Two weeks ago I bought a large poinsettia, and already it is wilting. The soil is moist, so I know it's not wilted from being too dry. Why is this happening, and what can I do to help it recover?

Answer: Poinsettias thrive in sunny indoor sites, in average household temperatures. They are sensitive to drafts or sudden temperature changes, and prefer moist (but not soggy wet) soils. If any of these conditions are not met, the plant will react by wilting, dropping leaves, and dying. Make sure you are not overwatering. (Wilting can be a sign of overwatering as well as underwatering.) For large containers, wait until the soil is dry down an inch or so before watering. Try placing it in a sunny window; it may regain its health.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Q&A: Propagating Christmas Cactus

Question: I would like to propagate a Christmas cactus and I'm not sure how to go about it. Will a cutting root in water and if so, how should it be planted once it roots?

Answer: Christmas cactus propagates quite readily from cuttings or from root divisions. It's best to divide in the spring, or take cuttings in the summer, when the plant has finished its resting period and is growing well. Propagate by simply unpotting and cutting the root mass into several sections, repotting each section in moistened potting soil, or by taking stem cuttings. Remove the leaf 'pads' from the stem and allow the exposed ends to dry and callus over for a few days, then place them, callus side down, in moistened potting soil, in individual pots. Bury only the bottom 1/3 of each leaf pad in the soil. Roots will develop and new growth will appear on the top surface of the leaf in a few weeks. Don't try to root your cuttings in water - they'll turn into a slimy mess!

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Tip: Shield Evergreens

In cold areas, tender broad-leaved and needled evergreen trees and shrubs may need burlap screens to protect them against prevailing winds and winter sun. Erect wooden frames over small evergreens to prevent snow or ice damage, especially under eaves.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Advice from Carolyn Hax

Advice columnist Carolyn Hax is famous for her ability to get to the root of people's problems -- not just what they say, but who they are and what they're thinking.

The resulting advice is often ruthless, sometimes controversial, and always hilarious.

See for yourself what great advice Hax has to offer. Subscribe to ArcaMax's Carolyn Hax ezine, and receive her witty, helpful advice free by e-mail!

Subscribe to the Carolyn Hax ezine instantly.

Find out more before subscribing.

-- From the ArcaMax editors

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Today's Reader Submitted Photos

Click an image above to see full size and read caption.

To see more of our subscriber photos visit our full Photo Gallery.

Enter your Gardening Daily Tips pictures so you can show them off to other readers right here in this ezine and on the ArcaMax.com Web site. Click here to submit your photo.

Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors