Jade Plant	From: Jacqui, UK
	Hello, I have acquired what I believe to be, a Jade Plant. Am I to assume that it is just an indoor house plant and how do I look after it?
	From TeeRex1042, UK Hi Jacqui. My wife has a 'Jade' plant that she has had for a few years now. She keeps it on a sunny windowsill usually but puts it outside in the summer. She has just brought it indoors for the winter. She said to keep it in a small pot (they don't need much room) and keep watering to a minimum. I hope this info has helped Can any other Gardeners Club members help Jacqui out? Click here if you can help

Japanese Blood Grass	From: Ian S, UK
	Whilst repotting my collection of sedges and grasses I came across ten or so dark red youngsters bearing no resemblance whatsoever in colour to any of the mature specimens. I recall buying a plant from Wisley a couple of years ago which died. I think it was called Japanese Blood Grass but I can find no mention of it in my books. It looks like a Carex in form. Any suggestions as to what it could be?
	From Caroline K, UK It certainly sounds like Japanese Blood Grass, or Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra'. It's a bit tricky to grow by all accounts, prefering that elusive thing, well-drained soil that does not dry out, in sun or partial shade. The colour does not appear straight away, but the mid-green leaves begin with red tips and as Summer progresses the whole leaf becomes suffused with a more intense red - it can be grown in containers. I hope this doesn't come too late to help. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Ian out? Click here if you can help

Jasmine	From: Nancy, USA
	How do you take care of jasmine? Do you cut the stems after the flowers are gone? Or do just let the empty stems stay? My variety has small delicate flower bunches with long oval leaves paired on a stem. Also what about clematis montana, do you deadhead just behind to flower or at the bottom of the stem? I live in San Francisco & so have mild winters. Thanks for your help.
	From Jo, UK Hi Nancy I've looked up Jasmine in the RHS Encyclopaedia and it says: Prune j.mesnyi, J.nudiflorum and j.humile as for shrubs in Pruning Group 2 i.e. cut back flowered shoots to strong buds or young lower growth. On established plants, cut back about one-quarter to one-fifth or old shoots to the base to promote replacement growth. Do this annually after flowering. However, j.officianale is: thin old, flowered and overcrowded shoots after flowering. Remaining species need little regular pruning other than to thin overcrowded growth after flowering. Re clematis montana: I think you can cut back as much or as little as you want as long as you do it when it is dormant, i.e. late summer or early autumn. I have a friend whose c.montana has grown up the side of the house, across the roof, and up the chimney - needless to say she never prunes it at all!! Can any other Gardeners Club members help Nancy out? Click here if you can help

Jasminum	From: Mike W, UK
	Dear Club, I have a Jasminum 'Officinale' which is planted in a large tub, on a south west facing wall, has been fed and is probably now in its 3rd. year. Last year it flowered fairly well, but this year there is no sign of any flowers whatsoever! What is the problem? It is very disappointing because obviously no flowers, no sweet smell!! Any ideas please?
	From Elizabeth, UK Hi Mike, I too have Jasmine both the yellow and the white summer flowering They too have had only a few flowers on them this year. Plenty of growth but hardly any flowers. I have them both in a narrow strip of soil between a paved path and the Greenhouse and wondered if their roots had become cramped. I did prune them well back last year after flowering and it did cross my mind that that could be the reason of poor flowering this year. I do have plenty of good rooted cuttings from last years trimmings so shall plant these somewhere else where they can please themselves... I would be interested to know if you pruned yours last year then we can compare notes next year. Best of luck anyway................Elizabeth. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Mike out? Click here if you can help

Lady Fern	From: Paul J, UK
	I wonder if you could answer a couple of questions for me please. 1. Is now a good time to move Lady Fern ?? 2. Last spring I planted some summer flowering daffs, and they flowered very well. The only problem is, they have never died back. What will happen this year ??
	From John and Lisa H, UK I planted summer flowering daffs and the next year they flowered at the normal (spring) time and died down as you would expect! I think they are treated so they will summer flower once and then revert. They are in flower now! From Alex M, UK - Lady Fern - Athyrium filix-femina Now is the time to move and divide it (April) - it can also be moved in Sept. Plant in light/dappled shade adding plenty of humus, mulch annually with leaf mould and top dress with bonemeal (2-4 oz/sq yd). Do not allow the plant to dry out. Top growth can be cut down to ground level every Autumn. They require lifting every three or four years. - Summer Daffodils - I am afraid I don't know much about them, I have tried to locate some information but have been unsuccessful, perhaps they are evergreen??? Can any other Gardeners Club members help Paul out? Click here if you can help

Lampranthus	From: Martin J, UK
	Hiya, I am a new member of this club and I would like to know more about the flower called Lampranthus. Thanks.
	From John C, UK Hi Gardener, the flower called "Lampranthus" (Aizoaceae) is a genus of 100 species of half-hardy perennial plants. The dwarf, shrubby succulants belong to the large Messembryanthemum group . They are fast growing and have silky , brilliant colours, daisy-like flowers. See cactus as well. Varieties are: amoenus, aurantiacus, brownii, coccineus, conspicuus, elegans, roseus, spectabilis, zeyberi. Hope this helps, John From Alex M, UK Hi Martin, the 'lampranthus' is related to the Mesembryanthemum. It is a half hardy perennial and flowers from June-October. Like a Mesembryanthemum the flowers usually only open in sunlight so this will determine their planting position. They do not require very rich soil as this will induce leaf growth at the expense of flowers Plant out after any likelyhood of frost It would be advisable to grow a few in pots that can be brought under cover for the winter as insurance against winter damage after all they oiginate fromSouth Africa. Alternatively take cuttings in late summer to save under cover for next year....A Can any other Gardeners Club members help Martin out? Click here if you can help

Lavendula	From: J B, UK
	How and when do I prune my Lavendula in the UK?
	From Alan B, UK Lavendula is a very tolerant plant and is best cut back in March or April. Cut all faded flowers off plus about an inch or two of old growth. Old leggy/woody plants are best dug up and replaced. Cheers Can any other Gardeners Club members help J B out? Click here if you can help

 

Ligularia przewalskii	From: Dave, UK
	How does one pronounce przewalskii as in Ligularia przewalskii? Does anybody know?
	From Michael, UK If it the one I am thinking of and also possess then just forget the latin mouthful and call it by it's common name..."Martian Invader". I kid you not!! Can any other Gardeners Club members help Dave out? Click here if you can help

Lily Bulblets	From: Jim, UK
	I have had a great display of Lilies this year. Now, as they die back, I have bulblets appearing in the joint between the leaf and the stem. These bulblets have roots and have a single leaf growing from them at the moment. I have removed some and potted them up and they are growing ok. I am only a pottering gardener. What are these bulblets and what do I do with them? Would welcome any info to the above!
	From James, UK Lots of lily varieties throw bulbils in the leaf axils, normally after they have finished flowering. You have partly answered your own question, pick them off and plant them. They will grow, probably not much more than a single leaf next year but will gradually get bigger. Repot them as they grow and after a few years they will have produced a full size lily bulb and will flower. Tiger lilies very commonly do this and I have successfully got the off-spring of my original ones to flower. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Jim out? Click here if you can help

Lillies	From: Paul & Stella, UK
	My lillies have finished flowering and I have removed the dead heads but not the stalks. Can you suggest how I may store them over Winter and when to replant? They are currently in pots and I want to plant them in the garden for next year. Thanks.
	From Louise S, UK Lilies are perfectly hardy, so you could plant them in your border now, and just forget all about them. Lilies are stem rooting, so plant them DEEP so that they can get roots into the soil from the lower part of the stems - maybe 6 - 8 inches from soil level to the tops of the bulbs. If you are nervous about planting them out now, and prefer to overwinter them elsewhere, let them die down naturally in their pots, then take them out, shake off all the soil, and store them in only just moist peat in a garage or shed. Inspect them occaisionally to check for rot, and dust with sulphur if necessary. Plant out in the border in March. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Paul & Stella out? Click here if you can help

Lillies	From: Amanda C, UK
	I have lillies both in pots on my patio and in the garden. Now they have finished flowering, can I cut them off or do I need to let them die back in a similar manner to daffodils? Thank you.
	From Elizabeth C, UK Hello Amanda. I am in a similar situation. I have several pots of Lilies, now almost finished. I herd mine into a quiet corner to allow them to die down naturally Never cut the leaves off, they provide feed for the bulbs but do keep them lightly watered so they can do this at their own pace. Later on in the year when they have gone decidedly droopy I pick off any bulbils they may have formed and sow them quite near the surface - just give them a push with your finger into a pot filled with good compost with plenty of grit for good drainage. Before the cold weather sets in I move mine into the greenhouse under the staging and let them have their winter sleep. If you do have bulbils (up the stems) you will have to wait awhile for flowers but they will come true eventually. If you don't have a greenhouse then just put them in a sheltered, quiet corner where they will have a little protection from the worst of the winter weather. They would of course be quite safe if planted in the soil but pots are a different matter. Best of luck, I'll be thinking of you when I do mine...... Elizabeth Can any other Gardeners Club members help Amanda out? Click here if you can help

Lilly	From: Richard L, UK
	I am looking for a nice deep red lilly. Where can I get such a plant?
	From Alex M, UK Richard, have a look in :- http://www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/PFGenera.asp perhaps you will find what you require there............A Can any other Gardeners Club members help Richard out? Click here if you can help

Lily of the Valley	From: Beverley H, UK
	Dear fellow club members, I have several lily-of-the-valley scattered around my little plot and yet they have never flowered (they were planted approx. 2 - 3 years ago). Any hints as to why? Many thanks
	From Martin B, UK Hello Beverely, we have many Lily of the Valley plants in our garden too and ours did not flower much last year, but this year every plant seems to have produced at least one flower. Ours are, as Alex M has already said, in partial shade and in damp soil areas eg. behind our pond they seem to thrive under larger plants that give more shade and they spread like wild fire so watch out if you don't want them to over take a border in times to come!! Other than those specifics, we do nothing more to them they get regular water as everything else in Summer and maybe the odd spray of plant food thats all tho'. From Alex M, UK Hi Beverely, other than the fact that Lily of the Valley (Convallaria) require a cool , partially shaded area where the soil contains plenty of leaf mould/compost and they get ample water to the root system I do not know much more about them. My ones seem to thrive on neglect as I never do anything to them and they flower and multiply every year. Sorry I could not be of more assistance........A Can any other Gardeners Club members help Beverley out? Click here if you can help

Lobelia From: Lee, UK Earlier on in the year I planted several clumps of Lobelia, which has now thickened and is beginning to spread. My question is at what point of the year do I thin it out, and do I need to cut it back, for more vigourous growth next year? If so by how much and when? From Andrew C, UK Thin out in spring. Carefully lift the plants using a fork, trying not to damage the roots, split the plants into smaller clumps making sure each clump has a good root system. You might have to cut through the woody part. Then just plant out as normal. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Lee out? Click here if you can help

Lobsters Claw	From: Derek H, UK
	Recently visiting Ireland we came across a plant called "Lobsters Claw" - is this available in the UK and if so where from ?
	From Alex M, UK Hi Derek, I think you mean: Heliconia caribaea. Sorry I could not find a supplier but if you look in: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Heliconiaceae/Heliconia_caribaea.html you might find something on a link from it..........A From Derek W, UK further to my query re "Lobster's Claw" my wife says it was also known as Clianthus P. Flamingo in the garden centre it was noticed in. I would still like a UK supplier if this extra info helps Can any other Gardeners Club members help Derek out? Click here if you can help

Lupins	From: Arcene, UK
	I would like to know how to have a lot of lupin. Do I have to just leave the plant in the ground and it will reproduce or do I have to take the seeds and dry them and replant it in spring?
	From James, UK Lupins will normally seed themselves quite freely, but you should gather and dry the seed later in the season. However you should be aware that the lupin seeds will not breed true to the colour of the parent plant and they will gradually all revert back to the blue of the wild lupin. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Arcene out? Click here if you can help