Flower Questions Answered

By Guest: Do daisys have to be cut back in the spring?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Guest,

Cutting daisies back to the ground is not a good idea unless it is very early spring.

That is Once you've had a few hard frosts or the leaves on the trees start to change colours, you can be sure the perennials are ready to go dormant. Then at that time we can cut perennials back in late September.

So, you can cut them only in late fall or early spring.

By Dan: Can Passion flower be grown year round indoors or do they need a dormant period to rest ? will either way effect the fruit and flowering of the next season?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Dan,

Passion flower is a outdoor plant as well as an indoor plant.

Young plants are usually kept indoors until the following Spring, and then put outdoors.

Passion flowers make excellent container grown plants in the home, but keep them in bright light, ever full sun.

With the on coming of hot summer heat, the plant does not thrive, but it will survive but the growth seems to go dormant

Purple passion fruits are self pollinating but we do not have much knowledge regarding the fruit.

By Sondra stout: I am transplanting my iris i have about 100 bulbs

We moved into a home recently and the old owner planted these beautys in full sun Can i plant these now for spring? I have a spot along a fence that gets partial sun but mostly shaded will it be a good spot? the soil is dark black relly good?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Sondra,

The best time to plant or transplant Iris is right after they have finished flowering or during the fall and winter.

Iris needs Full sun to partial shade

Iris prefer sun but will tolerate partial sun, (no more than 2 hours of shade per day).

Irises in shade may grow a bit stragglier, but flower just fine. But it can be planted but not recommended.

By Diane: When does the bird of paradise bloom?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Diane,

Bird of Paradise blooms in Spring.

Bird of Paradise blooms best when clumps are crowded, and the soil is watered deeply and frequently.

It needs 3-5 years for the plant to begin blooming.

By Mrs Beattie: My [white]orchid has finished flowering now,so i'm wondering if it will bloom again, or shall i just have to dispose of it?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Beattle,

If the white Orchid finishes floweirng, then the cut off flowering stem about an inch from the base, or as close to the base you can easily get to.

This is for health of the plant and to encourage it to bloom well again, the following season.

By John: I am a student and i live in a departement.in my balcony i have pots with plants and i am wondering which flowers are ideal for a small space.i plant freesias and i am looking forward to see them bloom..could you please tell what flowers fits the most in this situation?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear John,

Freesias can be grown for as a potted plants for fragrance and beauty.

Freesias can be planted in the spring when the soil warms up. You can dig up the corms after the foliage turn brown and dies back. Store in a cool, dry place until the following spring.

If you are growing freesia indoors (greenhouse) you can plant them now in pots and enjoy flowers 10-12 weeks later.

There can be whole range of plants for a small balcony. Here are a few

Annuals like geraniums, impatiens, zinnias, marigolds, petunias and pansies can be preferred.

By Lautrell: I am growing white gingers in my yard. I live in Alabama and I need to know, is it necessary to cut back the top growth and cover my plants in the winter? A friend of mine wants a root for edible purposes, can this root be eaten?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Lautrell,

Hedychium gardnerianum is whihte ginger lily.

It can be eaten.

By Karen: Hi, I have a POINSETTIA that I have been growing for almost a year now. I have done Everything to take care of the plant and it looked healthy with strong stems and leaves, but a week ago the plant went really sad and the leaves started curling and drooping. I live in London, England and it's a little cold now, but I put the plant in the sun in the morning, try to keep it out of the light at night and keep it moist. Am I doing something wrong or missing a step? Please help, as I would like to see the plant look nice for Christmas?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Karen,

Drooping and curling leaves on the poinsettia plant has been observed when the plant gets too dry. That is becasuse when the plants gets exposed to cold temperatures (as it is in your case).

So, therefore it is essential that the plant is protected from drying out.

Keeping the poinsettia evenly moist is your best one.

By Susan G. de Leon: What rose varieties are suited for growing in a tropical country like the Philippines?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Susan,

Roses are suited very well for the tropical and sub-tropical places.

French and Dutch variety of Roses are grown in Phillipines.

By Lisa yetman: How do i use a vibrant jasmine plant to make more for transplanting. we live in spring hill Florida. Ty in advance?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Lisa,

Cestrum nocturnum is the Night Blooming Jasmine Florida has warm and excellent climate through out the year.

Jasmines grow very well there.

I think they can transplanted anytime of the year but best to do in early spring.

By Kelly: What do hyacinth, crocus, grape hyacinth and tulip bulbs/tubers/corms look like? I dug up my flower bed and now I don't know one from the other. How deep do each one get planted?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Kelly,

Hyacinth, Grape Hyacinth, Tulips are Spring Flowering bulbs.

Hyacinth, Grape Hyacinth, Tulips are true bulbs but Crocus is a corm.

Planting depth of the bulbs are:

Hyacinth - 6 inches deep

Grape Hyacinth - 6 inches deep

Tulips - 6 inches deep or more

Crocus - 6-8 cm deep

By Anne: I just put pansies in the ground and I noticed that something is eating them! Is there something non-toxic that I can put on them to prevent them from being dinner? Also, squirrels are eating my hibiscus- I have caught them in the act! Can I put something on it to keep them off?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Anne

What are the symptoms you can see on the pansies. It is very difficult to diagnose the pansy problems.

But the remedies are almost similar.

Look at this site for further info

http://www.gpnmag.com/Diagnosing-Common-Pansy-Problems-article80

You can use the oil of mustard with extracts of chili and lemon mixed in, which has a very strong, lemony smell that squirrels, dogs and other critters do not like.

Spray on and around the pots, but not on Hibiscus plants.

By Shirley Ritchey: My magnolia tree is not growing like I think it should be. I bought it about 3 months ago and planted it according to directions. It has large brittle tan spots on most of the leaves and is not growing at all. Can you help?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Shirley,

Make sure the soil is acid. If not then forget it.

These plants are too expensive to take a chance with.

Leaf spots are caused by fungi or bacteria.

Reasons may be like:-

Overwatering. (do not overwater).

More watering helps develop fungus or bacteria.

Pour the water from below the lower leaves.

By Danielle Warren: Can you please tell me where the followig flowers are grown?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Danielle,

The flowers grown or nativity of the flowers is :

Tulips - Netherlands

Roses - Asia and South East Asia

Alostoemeria - South America

Freesia - Africa

Lisianthus - Southern United States, Mexico, Caribbean and northern South America.

Brunia - Africa

Gypsophila - Central and Eastern Europe.

Gerbera - Madagascar, tropical Asia and South America

Anigozanthos - Australia

By David: I purchased a few cut Bird of Paradise flowers that were not opened?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear David,

The blooms of the Bird Of Paradise are actually a succession of blooms that open together instead of one large flower as many people think.

We do not have the information about how to open the birds of paradise flower to open.

Shelf life of Birds of Paradise:

Bird-of-paradise flowers were harvested and stored at 10 °C for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The flowers were recut at 2 cm from the stalk base and pulsed with 40% sucrose for 24 hours before or after cold storage, while control stalks were treated with distilled water.

A pulsing treatment following storage for 7 and 14 days improved flower vase life by increasing the number of open florets. They can have a best stored longevity after storing flowers up to 14 days at 10 °C, followed by pulsing treatment with 40% sucrose for 24 hours.

Do they open after being cut? If so, is there any special treatment for keeping them for a long period of time?

Yes, they do open when placed in a container with water after being cut as a cutflower.

For long life as a cutflower in a vase, Keep the water fresh, cut the stems with a sharp knife and put flowers directly in water.