Q. What do you suggest for a 3-foot circle where I used to have a hibiscus? A recent column said to keep hibiscus away from concrete. What do you do to change the soil? What can I grow there? — Jonathan Green, Lauderhill
A. Alkaline soil can be amended somewhat by acid fertilizer, but it always will revert to alkaline after the fertilizer is used up. The smart thing is to plant an alkaline-tolerant plant in place of the hibiscus. Good small plant choices to 3 feet tall include Indian hawthorn, with white flowers, and ruellia, with blue flowers. Larger plants include variegated arboricola to 7 to 8 feet tall with green and yellow leaves that can be pruned, firespike to 6 feet tall with red flowers, red compact jatropha to 8 feet tall.
Q. Where can I purchase a young gumbo limbo about 3 to 5 feet tall? — Gladys Tress, Boca Raton
A. J&B; Growers, 4939 125 Ave. S., Lake Worth, 561-793-0544, has trees in your size range.
Q. My desert rose has dry leaves and white spots. What should I do? — Paulette Siwek, Margate
A. Spray with Orthene for mealybugs, which are affecting the plant’s growth. Follow label directions exactly.
Q. Are the pineapples on a variegated pineapple edible? Can they be started from the tops like regular pineapples? — Joyce Perlman, Lauderhill
A. The pineapples are edible and can be started the same way as other pineapples.
Q. My Florida gardenias are doing variably. The first two look OK and the third has few flowers and yellow leaves. There is something on the undersides of the leaves that turns them black and there are some holes in the leaves. I have tried Orthene with no results. — Sylvia Goldberg, Boca Raton
A. Your Florida gardenias are planted right up against the house. They are acid-loving plants and will need an ixora/gardenia fertilizer in March, June and October. If they do not improve, transplant them at least 5 to 6 feet away from any concrete. Orthene should take care of the scale or mealybug that is attacking the plants. Repeat treatment in 10 days. A strong jet of water should wash off the black leaves and the dead scale/mealybug bodies. The holes in the leaves could be from caterpillars. Try thuricide for control.
Gardening question? Mail to: Robert Haehle, Home & Garden section, Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-2293. Include your full name and address and a daytime telephone number. Please do not call or e-mail with gardening questions. Personal replies are not possible. Please wrap plant and insect samples in wax paper or paper towels, not plastic. Describe insects; they may get crushed in the mail. Plants cannot be identified if you do not send a photograph. We may use the pictures to illustrate your question; photos cannot be returned.
