Expert Advisory Details

Experts' advice for Ornamentals in January

The suggestions for Ornamentals are as follow:

• Annuals: Most of the varieties of winter season annuals like sweet pea must have started flowering. Tall growing annuals may require support of stakes for their proper upright growth. Seasonal planted in the pots are to be protected from cold injury by shifting to some protected spots.
• Chrysanthemum: Flowering will be over in almost all the varieties by the end of this month. Flowers which are over may be cut back upto 4-5 cm height from the ground. This will encourage better sprouting of suckers.
• Rose: Continue removing faded flowers and suckers to improve the quality of new blooms. Propagation of new plants can be carried out by T-budding.
• Potted plants: These plants protect from frost injury, particularly during night time. Water regularly and plants like crotons must be kept in protected structures.
• Perennial plants: The deciduous plants (which shed their leaves in winter) can be transplanted before they start sprouting without earth ball. Similarly, pruning and training of deciduous plants should also be carried out before they start sprouting. Pits can be prepared for plantation of all types of permanent plants in February-March. Generally, 3’x 3’ size of pits is dug for big trees and 2’ x 2’ for creepers and shrubs. The pits should be filled with a mixture of 2/3 parts top soil and 1/3 part of well rotten farmyard manure. Propagation of winter deciduous plants like Pagoda, Euphorbia, Lagerstroemia etc can be carried out in this month from stem cutting.
• Marigold: Seed sowing for marigold summer production can be undertaken on raised beds. Variety Punjab Gainda No 1 is suitable for summer season.