From Jade to Balsam
Repotting can revitalize a houseplant; natural additions make a plain wreath come to life
I have had a jade plant for several years, and it did OK in the corner of a very bright room. Then it started drooping and losing leaves. I moved it near a window that doesn’t get direct sun, but now it looks almost dead. It has been in the same pot all along. Is there any hope for it?
BARBARA
Dennis
The jade plant (Crassula ovata) prefers filtered sun, so if yours was in a corner and out of direct sun, the light levels should have been fine.
Jades droop and shed their leaves when they need more water. They don’t require frequent watering; between waterings, the soil should become nearly but not completely dry. During the winter, they need water less frequently.
If the plant has never been repotted or routinely soaked in a tub of water, the soil may be losing its capacity to hold water. When this happens, parts of the soil receive water while some portions become increasingly dry, and water will immediately leach from the bottom of the pot. Jade plants need to be repotted annually until they are 10 years old. For older plants, every two to three years is adequate. Adding new soil gives the jade an invigorated medium that can hold water and nutrients. For younger plants, repot into a larger container to allow room to grow. The plants should be fed from spring through fall (not during the winter) with a half-strength balanced fertilizer.
Every year I hang the same old pine Christmas wreath with its bow. What can I do to make it different?
PAT
Dorchester
Instead of a bow, add pomegranates, artichokes, antique red and green Dutch hydrangea, and Brazilian pepperberry, says Lisa Stephansky of the Boston Flower Market in the South End. At right is her step-by-step formula for turning a 14-inch balsam wreath into the sumptuous decoration below.
Our garden has been filled with mushrooms all summer. We tried pulling them up but they kept coming back, particularly in my rose garden. We also tried spreading some lime, which did nothing. How can we get rid of them?
BARBARA
Salem
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi. They sprout from masses of fungal filaments called mycelia that grow on materials such as partially decomposed mulch (especially that high in wood content) and rotting tree roots or buried branches. Pulling up the mushrooms will not remove the fungi’s food source. You’ll need to dig deeper (literally) to determine what the source is and, if possible, remove it. If tree roots are the cause, you may need to consult an arborist for options. If the source is mulch, try spading and mixing it into the soil. You can also form the mulch into a pile, soak it thoroughly, and let it continue to decompose, which should generate heat that will kill the fungal spores. Covering the problem with fresh mulch will just delay the reappearance of mushrooms.
To prevent more fungal pop-ups, avoid finely ground wood mulches in favor of mulch with lower wood content. Soak mulches after distributing to hasten decomposition .
Invasive Pond Plants
Sallie-Lou Johnson of Fairhaven wrote that parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), a plant mentioned in “Another Jamaica Pond,” a story I wrote for the August 20 issue of the Globe Magazine, has been on the Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List since January 1. Because of its invasive characteristics, it has been banned for importation and propagation. Specimens that were purchased prior to the ban are not illegal. However, if you have parrot feather in a contained pond, be careful to keep its growth in check and to dispose of it properly. (Let it dry out thoroughly and then burn it or place it in black plastic bags, securely tied.) More information on invasive plants can be found at the New England Wild Flower Society’s website, newfs.org.
Ellen C. Wells is a horticulturist and garden writer in Boston.
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