Cats are usually the neatest of animals. Before they defecate, they dig up some ground so that they can bury it afterwards. But a stray cat is posing a problem to Ms Gekimm, who wrote: "I need to ask you if a cat's droppings will harm my potted plants and how to keep the cat away. A stray cat has been doing its job on my rather big pot. I have applied vinegar trying to rid the scent so he/she will not come back, with no success. I used to put out Clorox in London, but I am afraid it will kill my plants. Can you advise me please?"
Ms Gekimm did not say where her flower pots are, but the cat has probably taken a liking to them as they contain the only available soil in the area. Using chopped coconut husk as mulch to cover the soil would probably deter the cat. Also, the neighbour's maid told me that stray dogs won't defecate on the street outside my house if bottled water is placed along the wall, and I heard this works with cats, too. Ms Gekimm could try this technique and place some used plastic bottles half-filled with tap water beside her potted plants. However, I don't know whether this really works because the bottles outside my wall always disappear, apparently taken by passing rubbish collectors looking for recyclable materials to sell.
Apart from the stench, Ms Gekimm need not worry about the cat's droppings killing her plants. Animal manure is used to fertilise the soil; however it has to be really dry so there is no smell. Using a water hose, she can spray the cat's droppings with water to break them up and dilute them.
Stray cats are usually deterred by shooing them away each time you see them. Once you give them food, they will stay for good.
From Rayong, David Brown wrote to say that a Thai friend of his has given him a potted Amherstia nobilis, but he has "been given conflicting advice on where to plant it _ in the sun or in the shade. Could you please advise?" he asked.
EXHIBITIONIST: The dangling young leaves of ‘Amherstia nobilis’, or ‘pride of Burma’, are extremely showy.
Amherstia nobilis is not the easiest of plants to propagate, hence it is not that common and one seldom chances upon it being sold in plant markets. Mr Brown, therefore, can count himself lucky for having been given one. Known as the queen of flowering trees because of its exquisitely shaped crimson red flowers arranged in long, pendent racemes, or flower stalks, this medium-sized tree has another name, "pride of Burma", indicating its country of origin. In Myanmar it is planted in full sun, along streets.
Like Mr Brown, we were given a tree which is now more than three years old. Hopefully, we will see its flowers in another year or two. The tree usually blooms from January to March. For now the tree is made attractive by its leaves, which are extremely showy when young. Light pink which turn later to deep copper before they finally turn green, the young leaves dangle limply on long stalks. The tree prefers a humid atmosphere and should not be grown near the sea or in an exposed windy location. It thrives best in well-drained loamy soil mixed with leaf mould.
Speaking of soil, Peter Dwje wants to know whether all bags of soil purchased in Bangkok need fertiliser. "The leaves of many of my fruit and vegetable plants turn brown and wilt after a certain stage. Is that a sign of lack of nutrients?" he asked. "Are chemical NPK [fertilisers] harmful in any way to people, pets, etc? I know that chemical NPK releases faster than organic. Does it make sense to use both at once, so the chemical can start working while waiting for the organic to work?"
The bags of soil sold in Thailand cannot be used as they are; they have to be amended. The ideal growing medium is a mixture of one part loamy soil and two parts organic matter, comprising one part compost or leaf mould or well decomposed animal manure, and one part rice hull or chopped coconut husk. Or it can be a ratio of 2:1, that is, two parts loam to one part organic matter, which can be a mixture of compost, leaf mould and animal manure.
Unfortunately , without seeing the plants or the soil, or knowing Mr Dwje's gardening practice, I cannot say for sure what is causing the leaves of his plants to turn brown. It could be caused by viral or fungal disease, insect pests that suck the life out of his plants, too little or too much water, or the type of soil in which they are growing.
All chemicals are harmful, even to plants if they are given more than the recommended dosage. Organic matter releases small amounts of nutrients as it decomposes, hence Mr Dwje is right about using chemical fertiliser as a supplement. Trees planted in the ground can be given a handful of fertiliser at the start of the rainy season, but potted plants can be given a pinch or two every one or two months, unless you are using slow-release fertiliser, which is good for three or six months. Organic fertiliser is also available in pellet form; when using this, the ideal combination is three parts organic to one part chemical fertiliser.
Fertilisers, including slow-release, are available in gardening or agricultural supply stores, in Bangkok and in the provinces.
Email nthongtham@gmail.com.
NATURE’S HELPERS: Ideally chemical fertilisers should be used to supplement organic fertilisers.
