Gardening : How to Control Insects on Orchids
QUESTION: I’m growing orchids in my home and notice scale insects on the leaves. Is there a safe control for these?
ANSWER: You can buy some Safer’s Soap in your garden center and apply it according to label directions. Or you can mix a teaspoon of liquid dish washing detergent to 1 quart of water. Add 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and wash the leaves with the mixture.
Use either a sponge or a soft toothbrush. The secret is to dislodge the insects. Periodic washing of foliage does a great job preventing infestation.
Ideal Dwarf Squash for Mideast Cooking
Q: We don’t have a large back yard for vegetables, but would like to grow some dwarf summer squash, used in Mideast cooking. Is that possible?
A: Yes, anyone interested in Lebanese or Middle Eastern cooking should grow a summer squash known as cousa or Lebanese zucchini, ideal for stuffing.
This variety produces heavy yields of zucchini 3 to 5 inches long--greenish white fruits on compact, bushy plants.
For just a few cents you can buy a packet of cousa squash and have enough to supply you all summer. You can grow the vines in a container or on a trellis, as well as in the ground.
Fruiting Plants That Thrive Under Lights
Q: Is there any fruiting plant in the form of either a dwarf tree or shrub that can be grown reasonably well in a living room under fluorescent light?
A: There are several species of citrus that can be grown indoors if given sufficient artificial light. Calamondin (a cross between kumquat and sour mandarin orange), limequat, orangequat and kumquat itself, are good choices.
You may want to ask for catalogues from suppliers of dwarf citrus.
Trying to Find Plant That Repels Gophers
Q: A friend told me there is a plant that repels moles and gophers. I have had critters in my garden and would like to try it. She cannot remember the name, but I thought you might have heard of it.
A: Probably the plant you are referring to is caper spruge or Euphorbia lathyrus. A source for seeds is J.L. Hudson Co., Box 1058, Redwood City, Calif. 94064. It has an irritating sap in the roots and this is believed to be the clue to its repellent qualities.
Name That Flower That Bloomed Long
Q: I cannot remember the name of a long-lasting cut flower that I grew in my garden last summer. It opened like a rosebud, changed to tulip-shaped blooms and finally opened fully like a poppy. Blooms came in blue, purple, pink or white with silvery green foliage. The label was something like “estomia” but I cannot find it in catalogues nor can garden store clerks help.
A: You had a plant listed either as eustoma or lisianthus which was developed from wild prairie gentian. Initially, botanists listed it under Eustoma russellainum and also Lisianthus russelainus, so you may find it under either first name. As cut flowers, they can last as long as two weeks, or more.
The Abrahams cannot answer questions individually, those of general interest will be addressed in this column. Write to Doc and Katy Abraham, Los Angeles Times, P.O. Box 579, Naples, N.Y. 14512.
NEW COLUMN A twice-monthly question-and-answer column for gardeners starts today, written by veteran gardeners Doc and Katy Abraham. The Abrahams have owned and operated a landscape and florist business in Naples, N.Y., for 20 years and have written eight books on horticulture topics. The column will address general topics of interest to Southland gardeners.
