Q. I have clover growing at the base of my spike plants. I
pull them, and pull them, and pull them. Do we all just enjoy each other and
smile or is there some way to get rid of them I’ve split off babies from the
base of the plants and have four separate pots with spikes in them now and they
are about one and a half feet tall now. I cleaned around the roots and put them
in new potting soil, but their “friends” are hanging right in there
with all four plants also. We do have other larger clover growing with our main
clutch of aloe vera and have no idea how to approach that type (and tight)
group without starting a full scale aloe army throughout our garden.
pull them, and pull them, and pull them. Do we all just enjoy each other and
smile or is there some way to get rid of them I’ve split off babies from the
base of the plants and have four separate pots with spikes in them now and they
are about one and a half feet tall now. I cleaned around the roots and put them
in new potting soil, but their “friends” are hanging right in there
with all four plants also. We do have other larger clover growing with our main
clutch of aloe vera and have no idea how to approach that type (and tight)
group without starting a full scale aloe army throughout our garden.
Symbiotic yin and yang or what, Professor?
A. I am not sure what you are calling Spike plants. The
common name, spike plant, usually refers to a house plant called bcdefghi DY’`IY{L8n you may be referring to aloe as a spike plant.
common name, spike plant, usually refers to a house plant called bcdefghi DY’`IY{L8n you may be referring to aloe as a spike plant.
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| Oxalis or wood sorrel. |
I am also
not sure the plant you’re calling clover is really a clover at all. I am
wondering if this is oxalis, a plant whose leaves are very similar to clover in
appearance. But this plant is much more difficult to control or eradicate than
clover. It is also called wood sorrel.
Oxalis can
be spread through seed from the flowers, bulbs from the roots and also by
bulbils. If you are going to control this weed you will need to clean all soil
from your “spike plant” roots thoroughly and sterilize any soil you are using
when you’re a replanting these plants.
be spread through seed from the flowers, bulbs from the roots and also by
bulbils. If you are going to control this weed you will need to clean all soil
from your “spike plant” roots thoroughly and sterilize any soil you are using
when you’re a replanting these plants.
Clover is
not that difficult to control but oxalis is a terrible weed to control
particularly among nursery plantings and in landscapes in our climate. An easy
way to tell if this is oxalis is to taste a few of the leaves. Clover leaves
will be slightly sweet to the taste. Oxalis leaves contain oxalic acid, the
same chemical in rhubarb, spinach and brussels sprouts and will be sour to the
taste. But my guess is you have oxalis.
not that difficult to control but oxalis is a terrible weed to control
particularly among nursery plantings and in landscapes in our climate. An easy
way to tell if this is oxalis is to taste a few of the leaves. Clover leaves
will be slightly sweet to the taste. Oxalis leaves contain oxalic acid, the
same chemical in rhubarb, spinach and brussels sprouts and will be sour to the
taste. But my guess is you have oxalis.