Q. I live in Dhabeji in Karachi and would like to grow purslane as ground cover. Please let me know how to proceed.

A. Purslane, or portulaca, would be an excellent ground cover in Karachi. The plant does not thrive in cold weather and its flowering varieties flourish in full sunlight and temperatures ranging from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius. Compared with other plants, it also requires very little water. Purslane can be grown from September to November and again from February to April. The plant takes about two weeks to a month to establish itself and can spread extensively under favourable conditions.

Q. I am 89 years old and, for the last 60 years, I have fancied amaryllis. I brag that I have the best amaryllis in Lahore by size and texture. While your advice has been to use a nursery potting mix, my experience suggests that it makes the soil hard and soggy, hindering root growth. However, most gardeners use it. What is your personal experience? Secondly, depending on your experience, can you tell me which are the best months to transplant bulbs from pots into the ground?

A. Compacted, waterlogged soil can be disastrous for any plant. Nursery potting mix that lacks organic matter or contains too........

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