Name That Plant!

Dear Doyenne,
My grandmother got this plant from my aunt's friend without any information about the plant. In the past two years the plant has flowered twice. Each time just a single (weird) flower. We live near Detroit, Michigan so we won't be planting this plant outside. The problem is it's busting out of the plastic pot it is in. It needs to be transplanted badly. Do you have any ideas about caring for this plant?

Thanks in advance.

Glenn

Glenn,
Thanks for the picture, let's hope you start a trend. So much more fun to identify plants this way. So what we've got here is Stapelia, Starfish flower, from Madagascar. Good call not to plant it outside. Do transplant it into a pot 2" bigger than the one it's in. Other than that, whatever you're doing seems to be just fine.

Enjoy, KL

When Slugs Attack

Dear Doyenne,
I live at the Oregon coast and we fight slugs all year long. I have been composting all my kitchen scraps along with garden detritus and the bin is actually starting to work pretty good. Here's my question: Every time I take the lid off the compost bin to pour in more stuff, there are a half dozen or so slugs. I really don't want to create great compost that is laced with slug eggs! What can I do to keep the slugs out, and should I do something to the compost in the bin to treat it for slugs? Thanks, this has been bugging me!

Thanks,

Leslie

Leslie,
Don't worry too much about the slugs (I know, that isn't what you wanted to hear). After all, they are helping the process along. And those little eggs are awfully easy to squoosh. But if you're bound and determined to be rid of them, buy some Deadline or Sluggo and put it in a wine or beer bottle (that way pets can't get to it). Place the bottle on its side near the compost. That should trap most of the slugs. Another trick is to crush up eggshells throughout the compost bin. That will cut them up. Of course you could also get some slug-noshing ducks :}

Best of luck, KL

Plight of the Poinsettia

Dear Doyenne,
Every Christmas I get several poinsettia plants from various well-meaning friends and family members. They always die by mid-January!! Is this a common problem?

The one I got this Christmas was actually doing very well for a time. Then I foolishly bragged to my sister (after I saw her withered plant) about how nice my plant still looked. Within a couple days leaves started turning black, withering, and falling off. Within a couple weeks this had happened to all of the leaves. I finally threw out the poinsettia stems last week. I had noticed fuzzy white patches (mold!?!) in the soil after the leaves started withering. I honestly don't think I was overwatering the plant -- I gave a 7" poinsettia about a cup of water a week. However, if the dead poinsettias are indeed my fault, I am willing to accept responsibility. So, how does one keep a potted poinsettia alive in an apartment?

Thank you,

Shannon

Shannon,
I like what you did with your poinsettia (that is, throw it away). It's not my favorite plant. Word on the block is that if you do want to save it next year, repot in a slighter larger pot after Xmas and trim off the "flowers" (actually, sterile bracts) so that only the green leaves remain.

Your watering regime was perfect. The plant's a pain. Bear in mind it had been fertilized w/in an inch of its life all its life (plus zapped with off-the-charts light levels), so you've also got to maintain those addictions. Reading between the lines, read this: it wasn't your fault!

KL

Perennial Bed for the Newbie

Dear Doyenne,
We live in a new subsivision and the only trees are small and insignifigant in terms of shade. However, we have a 6 foot privacy fence and I'd like to plant a perennial garden on the north side of it. My question is this: Should I consider this area on the north side of a privacy fence with no trees shade, partial sun, or full sun, what? I'm new to gardening and a little scared of making a mess of things.

Thanks,

Tracy

Tracy,
Your concern about making a mess of things is a handicap you must overcome! Just throw yourself into whatever you want to do and never mind the mess. You're about to embark on a learning curve that will blow your mind; the more mistakes you make, the quicker you'll learn, and the more splendid your garden will be. With that in mind... plant whatever you want in that north-facing perennial bed, which is generally bright enough for sun plants but sheltered enough for part shade. As your trees grow, the exposure will change, and whatever plants are unhappy can simply be moved. Trust me, you will be itching to move plants around once you're knee-deep in gardening.

Enjoy, KL