EDITOR'S NOTE: Rebecca Jordi, an Environmental Horticulture Specialist with the Nassau County, Florida Extension, provides answers to questions she receives at the Extension, in "Garden Talk"... __________
QUESTION: My neighbor gave me some gorgeous pink and white amaryllis for Christmas. She told me they could be planted in the yard. How do I take care of these beautiful plants? CS
JORDI: The following information was gleaned from a University of Florida/IFAS publication titled “Amaryllis,” by Dr. Sydney Brown and Dr. Robert Black. The complete document web link is http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP060. Amaryllis bulbs can be planted in the ground anytime between September and January. Amaryllis plants do best in light or dappled shade. In heavy shade, they will be thin, spindly and flower poorly. These plants require well-drained soils amended with organic matter or compost. Use slow-release forms of fertilizer to minimize leaching of nutrients into water resources. Apply 2-3 light applications of fertilizer during growing season, which is March through September. Plant the bulbs 12 to 15 inches apart with the neck of the bulb protruding above the ground.
Water newly planted amaryllis and keep them moist but not waterlogged until the plants are well-established. The bulbs may be left in the ground for several years or dug and reset every September or October. It is not necessary to dig, separate, and replant each year, but doing so will encourage uniform flowering and larger blooms. Digging also provides an opportunity to discard unhealthy bulbs, to remove young offsets (bulblets) and to amend the bed with organic matter. Control weeds by spreading a 2-inch layer of mulch over the bed at planting time and remove any that appear.
QUESTION: When do I prune my citrus? LB
JORDI: In general, homegrown citrus trees do not need formal pruning. If, however, you wish to rejuvenate the tree then light pruning should occur just before a major growth flush. Broken, cracked or diseased branches can be removed anytime.
(Graphic below shows the proper pruning cut to make on large citrus tree branches.)
Pruning Citrus
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For complete information regarding growing citrus in Northeast Florida please attend the Nassau County Extension program on citrus. The program will be at the Yulee satellite office, 86026 Pages Dairy Rd., at 10 am on Wednesday, January 16. Please call 904 548-1116 (Yulee) or 904 879-1019 (Callahan) or e-mail rljordi@ufl.edu if you plan to attend or need directions to the office. There is no charge for the class. In addition to providing information regarding growing citrus we will be demonstrating proper pruning techniques on several large, citrus trees located at the Extension Office site. The following is the complete University of Florida/IFAS publication on pruning citrus: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS121
QUESTION: I just got my soil test results back from the University of Florida and I don’t exactly know what the numbers are supposed to tell me. The report says the target pH should be 6.0-6.5. It says my soil pH is 7.0. What does that mean? JG
JORDI: I'm glad you contacted me, as this gave me an opportunity to clarify the test results. One advantage to going through the University of Florida Soils Laboratory is the County Extension office receives a copy of the results.
The target pH means this is the range in which the plant material (vegetables) prefers to grow. Your soil pH was at 7.0, which means it is slightly higher or more alkaline than the vegetables prefer. As you read farther down the page you will see a lime recommendation. Lime is often added to vegetable gardens to raise the pH level or “sweeten” the soil. Often, people add lime annually without a soil test and soon they notice their vegetable production is low or poor quality. That is why it is recommended to have your vegetable garden soil tested once every 2-3 years. In the case of your garden soil, it is suggested no lime be added. That is the reason you see a zero by lime.
Soil pH is important because most plants have a certain range in which they are able to absorb nutrients from the soil as long as water is present. If the soil pH is too high (alkaline) or too low (acidic) then the plant may not be able to absorb specific elements such as iron or manganese. This nutrient deficiency often shows up in the plant in the form of yellow leaves. Yellow leaves occur frequently on acid loving plants such as azaleas, camellias, or gardenias when the soil pH is high. We recommend using pine straw or pine bark around the roots of these acid loving plants as this helps lower the pH over time. For vegetable gardens, it is best to use composted material along with cow manure and sand to help keep pH levels at optimal ranges.
Rebecca Jordi |
Rebecca Jordi, UF/IFAS Nassau County Horticultural Extension Agent is a University of Florida faculty member. Extension locations: satellite office at Yulee County Bldg. and the main Extension Office in Callahan. The UF/IFAS Nassau County Demonstration Garden is located at the Nassau County Governmental Complex and demonstrates Best Management Practices for NE Florida. Mail questions to Garden Talk, c/o Rebecca Jordi, Nassau County Extension, 543350 US Hwy #1, Callahan, FL 32011, or e-mail rljordi@ufl.edu. Website: http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/
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