Each week, The West Australian’s Sabrina Hahn responds to readers’ most vexing gardening questions. This week, she’s offering tips on growing your own feijoas, diagnosing some under-the-weather camellias, and sharing advice on an interesting insect infestation.
To submit your own question to the Green With Envy column, published inside Saturday’s The West Australian, write to Ask Sabrina, GPO Box D162, Perth 6001, or email home@wanews.com.au. Please include your full name and suburb. Due to the volume of questions, not all of them will be answered.
Overrun with ladybirds
Q I have an infestation of ladybirds in my house. I have researched, and am confident they are the good breed, not harlequin. Also that ladybirds like to hibernate in autumn and when they find a nice warm spot — my west-facing window — they send out pheromones to others to alert them to the said location. I have hundreds! My dilemma is what to do. At the moment I am collecting them in a shoe box into which I have put some leaves. Should I be feeding them? I also put a stem which has scale on it into the box. I don’t think they are escaping but every day on the windowsill, blinds and floor there appear another couple of dozen. If I sweep them up and throw them into the garden they are going to come back inside. If the legend of ladybirds is good luck, I have a few years worth of luck in my house! Leonie Bell, Margaret River
A That is very unusual. Yes, ladybirds do hibernate over the winter months but usually either under bark or little holes in the trunks of trees. Most ladybirds are predacious and require live food such as aphids, scale, mealy bug and mites. The leaf-eating ladybird is not likely to come inside, so you will have to bring in fresh lots of all the insects above. They do emit pheromones and live for around a year or two. I suggest find a sheltered spot in a covered container or log that has holes and protection from the weather, and take them outdoors. They will still go into hibernation and emerge next spring. Check out ladybird houses online. In England and Europe they make them to keep ladybirds alive over the winter months, and you may find a waterproof design that accommodates your little hoard.
Ailing camellias
Q Attached are photos of my camellias, which have had a problem for quite some time. All the advice I have been given has not remedied the problem. Robyn Hartley, Rossmoyne
A This is more of a nutrient deficiency rather than a disease. In a wheelbarrow, mix a bag of compost, a bag of cow poo, one cup of sulphur and rock minerals. Spread this around the camellia and dig it in around the root system. Add a wetting agent and water in thoroughly, and apply Soil Dynamics Nutrient Rock Star and their seaweed liquid. This will help your camellia take up nutrients and develop a healthier root system.
Fruit fix
Q Could I grow feijoas in the coastal area of Ocean Reef? What variety would be best, and what soil preparation would l need to do? Ray Temple, Ocean Reef
A Feijoas can be grown in a pot and pruned to keep them between 2m and 3m high. They require lots of summer watering and usually bear fruit in autumn after three years. The best varieties for Perth are Unique, Mammoth and Nazematze. Although they are self-pollinating, another tree will increase fruit production. Pollinators are insects and small birds. The flowers are not only beautiful but also edible. The petals taste like a cross between strawberry, passionfruit and pineapple.
Thorny problem
Q I planted my Washington navel orange tree three years ago. Last year it produced two good sized juicy oranges. It has two good sized oranges on the tree this year, too. My concern is the new green growth that has appeared at the top of the tree. I hope you can see it in the photo. Has my tree been taken over by the rootstock? Can the green, thorned branches be removed? Does the tree need to be replaced? Wendy McNally, Gelorup
A This is common for orange trees to shoot larger and greener leaves at the top because this part of the tree gets the most sun. Your tree might be reverting, so remove any thorned branches that appear. It has citrus leaf miner that is attacking the uppermost leaves — get a CLM trap to hang in the tree and pinch off the worst-affected leaves. Fertilise it after you harvest the two oranges and apply trace elements and rock minerals to the soil and foliage to encourage healthy growth.
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