Question:
Why have some of the leaves on my Star Jasmine turned a bright red? It started back in September.Answer:
- Star Jasmine leaves change color due to environmental stress.
- They turn red because Star Jasmine carries the recessive red pigment gene. The dominant gene, like in most plants, is green, which can also be a recessive pigment. When a plant stops producing chlorophyll, the recessive pigment becomes visible.
- This usually happens during winter when days are shorter and sunlight is reduced.
- During the growing season, environmental stress can result from inconsistent watering, temperature fluctuations, or nutrient deficiencies, such as low phosphorus or potassium levels.
- Of these, irregular watering is the main cause. Over- or underwatering stress causes the leaves in Star Jasmine to turn red. The soil should be evenly moist, avoiding both drought and soggy conditions.
- Check your irrigation system to unclog sprinklers.
- Nutrient deficiencies can be corrected easily with an annual application of a balanced fertilizer in spring.
- Red leaves can also indicate root problems, especially in plants kept in the same container for a long time.
- Root-bound plants should be root-pruned in early spring and returned to the same container. The leaves should begin to turn back to green with the start of Daylight Savings Time next March.
Question:
Last winter, I planted a bare-root pomegranate. It has grown well; in fact, it has nearly doubled in size. However, the growth is very leggy. Should I prune it now to encourage branching, or wait until it is dormant? If I prune now, will I remove any potential fruit?Answer:
- Pomegranates are usually pruned in January and February, but you can start earlier when the leaves begin to fall. They are grown as medium-sized shrubs or multi-stemmed small trees.
- There are three main tasks when pruning pomegranates: eliminate dead wood, remove rubbing and crossing branches, and shape the plant by reducing the length of new growth.
- However, pomegranates naturally have long, arching branches that give them a vase-like form, so heavy pruning can change their appearance. To keep the natural look, remove branches back to the trunk or to larger limbs rather than shearing the entire plant. The canopy should be thinned every 3 years, regardless of growth style.
- Ultimately, pruning decisions depend on your judgment, as there are many correct ways to shape the plant depending on its location and surrounding plants.
- Pruning can affect fruit production, since fruit develops on new wood.
- It's important to feed the plant yearly in early spring with an organic, balanced fertilizer to promote new growth.