This week I answer a couple of questions from readers: Q: I grew an avocado tree from seed in March 2014 and during the winter of 2014 I kept it in a pot indoors. I brought it outside in May.
It is now just under 4 feet tall in a bigger pot. I understand avocado trees are not native in Vancouver.
Will it survive the winter indoors?
A: It should survive indoors if you give it a sunny window.
Try to put it in a west or south window. You may need to stand it on a chair to get it up into the light.
Through December
Through December and January, it's OK to let it dry out a little, but after that the soil should be kept gently moist. It may need a larger pot by spring.
If it has been given a larger pot, you may need a pot stand on wheels by the time it's put outside for summer.
Your garden centre may have one, but if not try a department-type hardware store.
When your tree gets too big to bring indoors, it won't survive outside in a container because cold attacks through the container sides. Avocado trees are native to south Mexico in Zone 9. But you could try planting it in-ground in your warmest spot.
You might try mulching around the trunk and over the roots then covering it with an old sheet or coverlet during cold spells in winter. Perhaps winters will soon be warmer.
You might find it interesting to take your experiment as far as you can. Seed-grown trees can be very variable so there's always a chance you might produce something hardier than the norm.
There are newly-developed avocado varieties said to be cold-hardy to Zone 8. Q: My friend and I enjoy the lovely flowers along the New Westminster Quay boardwalk.
Some are called Love Lies Bleeding, but I remember another name, Chenille. When I checked on the Internet, both plants looked the same but had different names.
Your clarification would be helpful.
A: There is a difference: the Chenille (Acalypha hispida) is usually a shrub and it's Zone 10, which means it has to be a summer patio plant or houseplant here.
If it's outside, our winters would kill it.
Meanwhile, Love Lies Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) is a true annual that's hardy to Zone 5. This means that theoretically it could live through our winters, but it won't
because it's a summer annual that will die when it reaches the end of its growth cycle.
Love Lies Bleeding is also named Tassel Flower, Velvet Flower and Foxtail Violet. Common names are quite chaotic.
That's why the Latin name is a more reliable name for any plant.
But Latin names aren't foolproof either because some are occasionally changed by taxonomists leading to more chaos.
News Flash: The Alpine Garden Club of B.C. Fall Sale will be held from noon to 4 p.m. tomorrow in the Floral Hall at VanDusen Gardens in Vancouver. There's always a wonderful mix of shrubs, perennials, alpines and woodland plants.
All are grown by members and growers in small B.C. nurseries.
Anne Marrison is happy to answer garden questions. Send them to her via [email protected]. It helps to mention your city or region.
