Flower Questions Answered

By Jacqui:I wonder if you could let me know whether any of the following names have plants named after them?

Nanny

Grandad

Marshall

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Jacqui,

We could find only some names you have requested us to find the flower names.

Nanny - A new and distinct cultivar of Asiatic Hybrid Lily plant named 'Tiny Nanny'

Grandad - Large orange flowers with a frilly edge to the petals. An exceptional Azalea , called- AZALEA DEAR GRANDAD

John - Hypericum - Name: Pronounced hy-PERRI-cum, common name St John's Wort.

By Michele:I'm trying to surprise my friend by getting some flowers for her.

She described a flower she had and loved that is now gone. She didn't know what it was so all I have is this:

It's blossom looks like thorns but is soft and velvety to the touch.

I think it was even gray or something. Not colorful.

I can try to get a better description, but I don't want to let on that I'm trying to get them for her.

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Michele,

It would help us in identifying the flower, if there was more information like their nativity and habitat. Anyways, I was thinking of spiderlilies when thought of thorns like flower.

By Guest:1.what time of year does the plant produce flowers?

2. Is this after the blossom is cut it will last about a week in a container of water as a floral arrangement for display?

3. Additionally, approximately how many plants would I have to grow to be able to have 20 to 30 flowers at one time day of the wedding?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear,

1.Birds of Paradise bloom from September through May.

2.Lasts about a week in a container of water as a floral arrangement for display.

3.The plant produces the blooms only after the plant completes 4-5 years after maturation.

I think, by that time the plant produces number of clumps. In my view, planting 5-6 plantings is sufficient for you to get 20-30 number of flowers.

By George:How do I get rid of star of bethlehem bulbs? I tried removing them from my flower bed two years ago and now they are taking over my entire backyard!

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear George,

Star of bethlehems flowers are weedy plants and are invasive.

In my view, its better to physically remove the bulbs which will reduce the plant over time.

All parts of the plant are poisonous.

By Richard:Would bottle brush bushes be suited for the climate in Mobile al and are hasty lillies a good ground cover ?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Richard,

The climate in Mobile al is very hot and humid with occasional very cold spell and sometimes icy conditions.

Spring and Fall are comfortably warm usually with a nice breeze. The summers are very hot and humid with good amount of rainfall.

Bottle brush plants can be grown in full sun produce the best flowers.

Plants can be lightly pruned after flowering to keep them in shape.

A low-phosphorous fertiliser should be applied in spring and autumn.

Mulching will help retain soil moisture and reduce weed growth.

Yes, your climate is in between tropical to temperate type, i think your bottle brush plants and lilies can survive the place you are in.

By Ruby:I recently brought a home in dallas, Tx. I would like to put some nice flowers in my backyard. Can you name some plants that do well in summer. I want to have low maintainence flowers.Do you think Zinnia and Marigold will work and are they easy to maintain. Please let me know.

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Ruby,

Crinums can also be a favourite flowers in Texas, apart from Zinnias and Marigolds during summer.

By Helen:I found a cherry blossom branch cut off the tree. can i salvage it by putting it in water, letting roots grow then resoiling/planting it?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Helen,

Both the sweet and sour cherries are usually, propagated by T-budding.

Sorry, no. Cherries don't root from cuttings.

Cherries are propagated by budding them on seedling stocks in the nursery and are sold for planting stock as one- or two-year-old trees. Sweet and Sour Cherries are fairly easy to grow. Sour Cherries, which are smaller and more tolerant of cold and heat, are easier to grow than sweet Cherries.

By Nena M. Cook:I am planting Gladiolus for the first time this year. I have a front flower bed that already has iris and lilies in it. All of these are white. I would like to know what flowers look good with Gladiolus in a flower bed? Can you help?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Nena M. Cook,

Lilies and Irises also go with Gladiolus.

Gladiolus are good to any home garden.

In the flower bed they may be planted in irregular groups among other flowers.

In my view, they can be attractive when grown among perennials such as peonies and daylilies.

By Guest:I left my plant outside still in the pot & the temp.dropped below freezing. I brought it in but now it is all dead looking. Will it snap out of it?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear

You did not specify the area you live in.

Anyways, if you are in Northern part, you should know that they will be in it for a long cold spell.

You should wrap your hydrangeas in burlap for winter protection.

Planting the shrubs near house foundations also gives some refuge from cold temperatures.

Though most of the varieties of Hydrangeas are cold hardy and can sustain the temperatures between -10 and -20.

In your case , Give it sometime, Lets wait and see.

By Becky:In the fall of 2007, we planted some daffodils in our yard around tree bases. Some flowered in the spring of 2008, some only yielded green foliage. (We took care to add bone meal when we planted them.) This spring not a single one has a yellow bloom. Do you have any idea what we might be doing wrong?These are the King Alfred type bulbs.

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Becky,

Usually for bulbs, phosphorous is the most important nutrient for flowering and to multiply annually. They should be fed bone meal twice a year.

Usually, Once in the spring before the plants bloom and again in autumn after the first frost.

If you only have time to feed once, it should be done in autumn.

Calcium is also plays a major role.

Calcium helps in development of a plants root system and the growing point or area of rapidly dividing cells at the tip of stems and branches. IF there is a deficiency of calcium then that can cause short, thick, bulbous roots or dieback of all the growing tips and tops.

And also treating the very young bulbs with bonemeal might have caused them non-blooming.

By Liz Wagner:I saw this photograph and am stumped as to what it is or where I can get it.

I labeled it a protea but I am 98% sure that it is not. I thought it might be a chrysanthemum or dahlia also.

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Liz Wagner,

Yes, it is a Red giant Protea. They are marvolous flowers belonging to Proteaceae family.

You can get them at Rainbow Proteas Exotic Cutflowers with URL,

http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rainbowprotea.com/html/images/flowers/protea/Red-Barron.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.rainbowprotea.com/protea.html&usg=__gBsEsK5KAQM0BY8lukGc_JFUGGc=&h=525&w=700&sz=63&hl=en&start=60&um=1&tbnid=MOMGq27IImZ75M:&tbnh=105&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3DRed%2BProtea%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40%26um%3D1

By Nick:I am working on my science project and used the following 5 flowers for an experiment. Can you please tell me if they have any similarities or traits between them so i could include it it in my paper. Thank you for your help.Alstroemeria, Campanula, Gerber Daisy, Crown of Thorns, Carnations

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Nick,

We do not know much about the traits and similarities, but we can say that these flowers Alstroemeria, Campanula, Gerber Daisy, Crown of Thorns, Carnations, can be used as cutflowers in flower bouquets and flower arrangements.

By Lori Williams:Does the GERBERA DAISY come back in the spring? What is the care during the winter?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Lori Williams,

Yes, they do come back in spring. The Gerber Daisy is a perennial or annual plant, depending on the species and cultivar.

Winter care for Gerbreras: In winter if you want to keep Gerberas daisy plant indoors over the winter, dig them up well before freezing temperatures arrive and plant them in a free-draining soil mix. Then do not fertilize over the winter, and give water only when the soil is seen quite dry.

By Flora:How to get rid of the smell of marigold in arrangments?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Flora,

It is true that marigold flower fragrance is not so great in an arrangement.

Drying up of the marigold flowers will change the smell of the flowers in the arrangement.

Otherwise if there is any perfume similar to marigold, like an expensive cologne to be used in arrangements..

By Cindy Henderson:We just purchased a house in Palm Desert. Will portulaca grow well? l as a ground cover with the desert landscape area of our yard? Can I plant in the fall here?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Cindy Henderson,

Yes, Portulaca can be grown in your place as a ground cover. They grow well in desert areas. IT can also be grown in containers.

Seeds are sown only after the last chance of frost has passed.