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Questions and Answers:Q. I have a Norfolk Pine tree I received for a Christmas a few years back and it is getting too big for the house. Can I put it in the yard? A. The Norfolk Pine, named for the Norfolk Island in the South Pacific where it is endemic, is in the conifer family, but not really a pine. That being said, it can grow to 50 feet or more in areas where temperatures don’t get below freezing. It is unique in that it grows in deep sand, in salty conditions, and grows straight up even when the prevailing winds blow constantly, so it is great for coastal regions. However, no matter how big the tree is indoors, it cannot survive our hottest sun or our winters if planted outside. One night of even a light freeze will kill your Norfolk Pine. Q. I have some huge Bur Oak acorns and want to plant them but I can’t figure out which end should go down. Any advice? A. When it comes to seeds and bulbs always remember: when in doubt, plant on the side. Q. I’ve seen your beautiful flower arrangements all over town and I am impressed by how long they seem to last. What’s your secret? A. While our actual formula for preservative is a company secret, there are a few things that I always do to be sure the customer has the best product available. First, I rotate stock regularly, and am not afraid to throw anything away that isn’t at the right stage of development. In other words, is a fully open flower important now, such as for funeral or wedding work, or should it open over several days? Second, I use the freshest flowers I can get. They may come directly from the garden or the wholesale market. Thirdly, I make sure all my utensils and containers are clean and bacteria free. Last of all, I ask myself if the customer is getting more than their money’s worth. If the answer is yes-I send it out the door. Be sure to keep the water level in your vase or container at the same level it was when your arrangement was received. You don’t need to replace the water in the vase unless it becomes unsightly. Q. How important is soil Ph? A. Soil Ph, or the measure of how acidic or alkaline your soil is, is very important because most plants have adapted to grow in a certain Ph range. For example, very acidic soil is good for blueberries while bad for spinach. A soil with a high Ph, which means alkaline, can make plants yellow and sickly and soil with a low Ph can make plants weak and spindly. In other words, know what your soil Ph is and be prepared to adjust it using the correct amounts of lime or sulfur. You should never guess how much of either product to use, because you can cause long term damage to the health of your soil. I always recommend a soil test at least once every two years to determine what needs to be done before you add anything. Contact your County Extension Office for more information about a soil test. Q. My broccoli and cabbage plants are purple and stunted. What causes this problem? A. This time of year it could be the drastic range in temperatures that we are experiencing from day to night. Also, it could be lack of phosphorous. You may not need to add phosphorous, it’s just that cold temperatures make it difficult for the plant to process it. Be sure plants are watered well, and get the soil tested to check your phosphorous levels.
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