In the garden

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette jonquil illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette jonquil illustration.

Q I got two poinsettias the day after Thanksgiving, and I don't think they are going to make it until Christmas. The leaves are all curling and dropping. The only thing left on one is the red part. Help! Is there anything I can do to save them?

A Consider buying a new poinsettia. The key to success is bright light and even moisture. If the plants don't get bright sunlight during the day, or if they stand in water or if they get bone dry, they will shed leaves in a hurry. If you reverse the bad conditions and give them light and a proper water regimen, they will leaf back out eventually, but they won't be the pretty holiday plant you would like. There are so many plants to choose from now, I would toss these and get some new ones. With proper care they can be gorgeous for months.

Q We have a bed of jonquils on a hillside and would like to spray Roundup to kill briers and sticker bushes. These briers seem to spread throughout the fall and winter months. Will it harm the jonquils growing under the briers? If it is safe to spray, when would be the time to do so?

A As long as there is no foliage showing above ground, Roundup should not damage the jonquils, but I wonder how much damage you will do to the briers and stickers when the weather is cold. I suspect not very much.

Q I read with interest in your column about why the leaves are still hanging on and looking ugly on several of my plants outside. I was worried they had been killed. To make them more attractive should I manually remove the leaves?

A I would let nature take its course. If you try pulling on the dead leaves, you may damage some of the replacement buds that are near where the leaves are attached. Since unusual weather prevented the abscission layer that causes the leaf to release from the branch, some leaves may be more firmly attached. While we do have more foliage still hanging around than we did last year, we did have a few oakleaf hydrangeas and Japanese maples that retained their leaves last year. Some kept them until new growth pushed them off in the spring, and they went on to grow normally. Lately, with the winds and rain, many plants have been shedding such held-over leaves. Be patient.

Q I have been so wrapped up in the holidays that I kind of forgot that I bought some bulbs to plant. I just found them still in the bag and some of them have started growing already. Have I waited too late to plant?

A No, there is still plenty of time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. Try to get them all in the ground by mid-January. When you buy the bulbs, they contain everything they need to bloom. Leaves, flowers and stems are all contained inside, ready to begin growth. They just need a 10- to 12-week chilling process to allow the plant to stretch and grow, so plant them as soon as you can.

Janet B. Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Write to her at 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72204 or email her at

jcarson@arkansasonline.com

HomeStyle on 12/20/2014

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