Dear Helen: Edgar, my 30-year-old split-leaf philodendron, has several aerial roots growing down toward the plant’s pot. I’ve cut these roots off in the past, but have been told that’s the wrong thing to do. What is your opinion?
A.L.
Split-leaf philodendron (Swiss cheese plant, windowleaf, Monstera deliciosa) is native to the rainforests of Central America, where the plants climb into the forest canopy using aerial roots to attach to tree trunks and branches. These roots take in moisture and any available nutrients as they anchor themselves into the host plants.
To emulate their growing habit in nature, split-leaf philodendrons in our homes are commonly grown to climb on a moss pole that allows the aerial roots to attach and take in moisture as they would in the wild.
If this is not done, an alternative procedure is to insert aerial roots developing near the base of the plant into the pot’s soil. Add a little more potting mix over them. If the roots have already grown too long to do this, shorten them first. As aerial roots come into contact with soil, they act as ordinary plant roots.
Dear Helen: Would it be beneficial to spread manure now, to enable the nutrients to get right into the soil over the winter?
W.E.
In our climate with its pounding winter rains, it’s better to stockpile manure and keep it covered to prevent rainfall from leaching nutrients out of the material, as would happen if it were spread over the soil surface. The leaching is most rapid in light, sand-based, fast-draining soils. Compost heaps should also be covered to keep their nutrients from washing out.
Dear Helen: I returned home from a family visit to find my ‘Christmas’ rhododendron in bloom. The shrub has been in the garden for 30 years. It has never bloomed in the fall before. Have you ever heard of this happening?
C.D.
This question arrives in my mail frequently in the fall, after a not uncommon pattern of cold temperatures followed by a warming trend has triggered spring-like behaviour in certain plants — mainly rhododendrons and apple trees.
I’m guessing your shrub is Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ — one of the earliest rhododendrons to bloom. Depending on the season, it can begin flowering in late winter. The premature bloom in late October will not likely eliminate flowering in its usual time.
Dear Helen: As I search about for answers to gardening questions that arise, I’d find it helpful to know to what extent you use internet search engines to find answers to the questions you address.
K.A.
To answer many of the questions that come my way, I call on my own experiences growing the plantings at issue. Otherwise, for most aspects of gardening, I have access to reliable information in my large collection of texts and manuals. In almost every category, I have at least one source of data that is rock solid. I go to these first.
Then, to catch any new information on a topic, I often will look through selected articles I find on the internet. It’s a bit of a minefield, though. I usually skip over blogs that are just people’s opinions and go instead to sources identified by the terms “univ” or “gov” that indicate the information is from an educational institution or a government agency and will be well-researched and factual.
I look also for particular university sources, especially ones that share our climate. One I find often is “oregonstate.edu.” Another source of good information is the Royal Horticultural Society, indicated by “rhs.org.uk” in the source line.
Garden events
Floral arts and Christmas. The Mid Island Floral Art Club will meet on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. in St. Stephens Church, 150 Village Way in Qualicum Beach. The afternoon’s focus is Christmas Sparkle Arrangements. Guest admission fee is $6. Information at 250-752-1858.
Plant identification and cultivation. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, will host the next session of Plant Identification & Culture, an ongoing, monthly course (can be joined at any time), on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. In each session, Diane Pierce introduces 25 new plants, with descriptions, preferred growing conditions, landscape uses and maintenance. Cost to HCP members per session is $35, others $45. Cost for 12 sessions: members $350, others $450. To register call 250-479-6162. hcp.ca.
