Ask and Answer Flower Questions Archive - Apr 2009
By Connie: "I planted a FEW Zinnia seeds and the plant is 94" tall and is still growing. I'm told that this plant size is amazing. Is this true? everyone is fussing over how beautiful the plant and flower is. I didn't fertilize it or offer it much water as we are in a drought here. We call it the "Hillbilly Zinnia" here in Sevierville, TN"?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Connie,
Your Zinnias are incredible, with around 8 feet size plants.
Normally they only grow upto 3-4 feet.
They do not grow to that kind of size. Probably the conditions there are very good for the plant to thrive, thats why its has grown to such a size.
By J cookson: How do I eliminate Anemone from my flower bed - the are "taking over!"?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Cookson,
Its best way to just chop them down to keep them in check.
By Erica: I am excited about my May 24, 2009 wedding. However not excited about the cost of everything!! I am trying to get my research done ahead of time. I live in a SW suburb about 30 miles from Chicago. Can you please tell me what flowers are in season for a May 24th wedding in IL and still attractive and cost effective? I appreciate your help!?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Erica,
The flowers, Daffodils, the Narcissus, the Hyacinths are among the early Spring flowers.
Flowers of the spring season include the tulips, irises, cherry blossoms, poppies, roses, violets, forsythia, amaryllis, cyclamens, freesias, lilies, chrysanthemums, sunflowers, and asters.
These flowers in this Spring period are available, hence healthier, and cheaper.
By Jack Harrell: I would like information on pruning gardenias. Mine are about seven years old. They are large and not as thick as they once were. I have trimmed them a little?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear jack,
Yes, you can prune your old gardenia plant, but after the flowering season ends.
Remember that the gardenia is a woody shrub in its native environment and so may need to have older, woody stems removed to encourage new branches.
It is best not to cut it back more than 1/3 of the size of the plant.
By Mellissa Divitto: I have an Agapanthus that I planted in the ground in a sunny spot & it has done beautifully all summer. It has flowered all season. Now the fall is here. I live in NY can I leave the plant in the ground? If so will it come back in the Spring or should I dig it up & bring it inside. If so how do I care for it inside?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Mellissa,
Agapanthus can be brought indoors into a cellar in winter, where temperatures fall below 20 deg. F (-6 deg. C). Then its best to dig them up and store frost-free for the winter.
If they are in the warmer climates with temperatures more than 20 deg. F (-6 deg. C) in winter, they can be put outside. Provided that it has been mulched well to avoid any frost damage.
By Emily: Are Cosmos poisonous if eaten by children?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Emily,
As of flowers, Cosmos are non-toxic, but the Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested by children.
By Jack Sherratt: Our side bank is planted with about 100-white agapanthus. The flowers are beginning to fade.
Do we need to cut off the stems holding the flowers to prepare them for the next year's foliage?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Jack,
It is better of cut off the Agapanthus flowering stock close to ground level.
In this way, plants pick up a bust of energy and perform best for the next year.
By Sulekha: I have a lawn.so we have the sprinkler for that.if the water come from top and shower the marigold or zinia plants do you think the flower will be spoiled.Please suggest?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Sulekha,
There would not be any problem for the young marigold or zinnia flowers.
But the older flowers may not stand the lawn sprinkler water, as it falls directly on its head.
By Donna Murdock: I just bought a lilly plant and the peddles are starting to fall off and the plant is starting to turn yellow.I gave it some water and put it in the sun but it still looks like its dying.I don't know what else to do for it.Please help.Its such a beutiful flower?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Donna,
Did you check for any pests on the plant.
We must examine the history, environment, watering, and soil conditions to identify the turning of leaves to yellow or falling off.
Reasons might be,
1. Dry soil
2. Bright lights
3. Cold temperatures can all make leaves turn yellow.
4. A declining root system may also be the cause.
5. Excessive fertilizers cause root injury which may make the leaves yellow and fall.
6. Pests or soil insects feeding on the root system can also trigger lower leaves to die.
7. Sudden change in the environment may also trigger older leaves to fall off. For the plant to get adjusted need to shed some of its leaves.
Probably yours might the last point that the environment change might have caused the leaves to yellow and fall off.
Keep the plant in a place where you get indirect sunlight, and observe.
By Lani: Regarding Christmas Cactus (actually I think I have a mix of Christmas and Easter Cactus in the same container because it blooms twice.....
Anyway...the leaves have turned from a green to a red color...what does this mean? The pots are kept on a window sill which gets lots of indirect light?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Lani,
The red leaves on your Christmas cactus indicate that it has experienced some type of stress.
Probably this indirect sunlight might have caused this, and also lack of nutrients.
The red leaves on your cactus are an indicator that it has suffered sunburn.
If the plant is pot bound, which can effect the root's ability to take up nutrients.
If its not in a pot, then a boost of fertilizer will help to turn the leaves back to green again.
By Lisa roma: I purchased 2 lovely sunflower blooms at the flower stand yesterday. I would like to plant them in my backyard. Will they grow?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Lisa roma,
Cutflowers like sunflowers will not grow when planted in the garden.
I think you cannot grow cutflowers purchased from the shop in your garden.
You can plant the bulbs, tubers, or cuttings, seedlings, of the cutflowers , but these sunflowers will not grow.
By Claire: I live in northeast AL and I was wondering what types of plants would be good for me to plant in pots for my back deck right now (herbs included if there are any). Right now, all I have is some lantana and rosemary?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Claire,
Saxifrage can be grown in pots in you place.
Saxifrage: Saxifrage grows low to the ground, where it absorbs heat radiated from the soil in the summer and is protected from winds and wind-borne ice by a blanket of snow in the winter.
By Virginia: I planted a package of Morning Glory seeds and they came up wonderfully -- the vine grew and intertwined with itself just as I wanted it to. It is very lush with plentiful leaves. But there are no blooms!! How long does it take before the blooms start appearing? It's been about six weeks since I first planted them?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Virginia,
Your Morning glories will definitely bloom after 10 - 12 weeks of time.
Give your Morning Glories, a little compost or a slow release organic fertilizer mixed in with a quality soil.
If you give too much fertilizer, you'll get lots of green and very few flowers.
Be careful in giving fertilizers.
By Anjuli Tabing: I'm doing a genetics project on incomplete dominance and want to use Carnations as my subject. Assuming that growing conditions are correct, how long does it take from planting the seeds to flower production? Would Snap Dragons or Morning Glories be quicker?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Anjuli,
Around 15 weeks for a snapdragon seedling to grow into a mature flower bearing plant.
Around 15 - 20 weeks, nearly from feb - May, for a morning glory seedling to grow into a mature flower bearing plant.
By Birgit: Why will my gardenia plant not flower? The leaves look shiny and quite healthy -- new leaves, but no flowers?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Birgit,
There are few reasons for non-blooming gardenias.
1. So to get lots of flowers, you should give your Gardenia 8 hours of light. But it needs need a rest, and between flowering, the cool night is traditionally recommended.
2. Rain water/tap water which can be acidic.
3. Fertilize during flowering having more phosphorus.
If these are satisfied, your gardenias will bloom profusely.
You can fertilize Gardenias monthly between Spring and Fall (stop around early September?).
Yes, you can fertilize when it has flower buds if it is during the time frame above.
Feed it with a 1/2 strength acid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks from March-October.
An acid fertilizer at half strength every few weeks during the summer should be sufficient.
Gardenias can be pruned as far back as you like but first, cut plants back when they are dormant (depending upon where you live). This will allow the stems to "heal their wounds" when the plants aren't actively growing. This way you can still enjoy flowers the next year.
While pruning, don't cut all the leaves off. Some leaves need to be left so the plant can still produce food for the root system. The following spring, use an acidic fertilizer with chealeted iron and high nitrogen so the plant can produce healthy leaves and buds. If you only want your plant to become bushier, simply pinch out the tips while the plant is dormant. Pinching will helps to promote a heavier bloom the following year.
By Carole: I think, You can very well deadhead the spent mazmillian sunflowers, which help in more number of flowers.
That way you can prolong the bloom period.
Do I cut just the flower or the upper part of the stem?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Carole,
Yes, cut just the flower or the upper part of the stem.
By Rhonda: The picture that was sent to you is from the flower that just bloomed in the yard of the home we just purchased. No one from around here has a clue of what type it is. Please let us know what type it is, we would like to grow some more?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Rhonda ,
The flower you sent in the picture is Lycoris radiata - (Red) Spider Lily.
Though it called as a Lily, but not a true lily but an Amaryllis.
By Loretta Tyre: I own a Florist and I would like to Purchase the Rainbow Rose. I am located in Hamilton County Florida. Can you please tell me where to find this rose?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Loretta,
There are not much growers of Rainbow Rose. This concept of Roses with Rainbow colors is gaining popularity gradually. We do not have much knowledge regarding this.
By Mary: How can I remove Lily of the Valley from my perennial garden?
I have dug up as much as possible but it still comes back each year. I also have a tree in the middle of the garden and hope there is a product that wont kill my tree.
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Mary,
To our knowledge, there is no particular remedy for some invasive plants like Dog Strangling Vine, Lily of Valley.
The only thing can be done is pulling out and maintaining (not allowing them to spread) the growth of these plants.
Unfortunately, There is no easy solution.
You're doing the exact thing to be done. The place where there is tree should be cleaned from time to time.
By Conni: when should i plant morning glorys and moon flowers?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Conni,
Morning GLories and Moon flowers are planted in Spring.
By Suzeann Corona: I desperately need your expert advice on wedding flowers. I am getting married in a banquet hall that has a spanish feel to it. So think heavy red velvet drapery, ornate gold painted ceilings, crystal chandeliers. The only problem is my wedding is in July and I have no clue what colors or summer flowers would go with this decor. I feel almost obligated to have red roses or autumn colors as the wedding decor. Please advise as to what summer colors and flowers could complement this spanish decor?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Suzeann,
In my view, Red Daylilies and Red Gerbera Daisies are in bloom in july.
Though, Red Rose is the Universal color and symbol for Love. You can have some combinations.
The bouquet with those flowers combining with light colored other flowers and green foliage may give a rich color.
They may help you convey the meaning of Love with red color.
By Carole Jean De Maio: My maximillian sunflowers are about 4 ft tall. The top flowers are spent with flowereing below. Should I dead head or cut the upper stalk or just leave them alone. My goal is to keep the flowering. They are one season old propagated by root?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Carole,
I think, You can very well deadhead the spent mazmillian sunflowers, which help in more number of flowers.
That way you can prolong the bloom period.
By Brenda: I need to know what flower is a fence runner and has a good smell?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Brenda,
Fences and trellises offer a home for climbing plants like pole beans of many forms like Scarlet Runner to the vegetable gardener's favourite green and yellow snap beans...
By Wilma: I bought several oriental lilies (with yellow flowers). When the flowers faded, I deadheaded them. It has been since July since they bloomed, but they have not bloomed again. This is the same case with my peonies.
I am new in gardening....do they only flower once?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Wilma,
Once the Lily plant blooms and the petals fall off there will not come a new flower this year.
The plant will die in the fall and come up again in the spring and flower again in June or July.
Even peonies also, do not bloom once they finish flowering for that year
By Mandy young: I am getting married 25th July 2009 and want Peonies as my bouquet, some florists are telling me that they will not be able to source them for me, is this correct and if so is there an alternative?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Mandy,
Peonies are excellent as single-and double-flower styles.
Though expensive, Penies are seasonally available from late spring to early summer but can be imported in the fall.
You did not specify the region you reside.
Ranunculus, a relative of the buttercup is an alternative for Roses and Peonies.
Ranunculus are seen as bridal bouquet or bridesmaid nosegays, a whimsical boutonniere.
Ranunculus come in many colors including white, yellow, orange, and pink.
By JoAnne: My Lotus is in my pond. I started it last year, I placed it deeper in the pond for the winter. After raising it to the surface it tried to grow some but the leaves never grew large (about the size of a quarter or half dollar) then would start to turn brown around the edges of the leaves, become dry and brittle, then die. I kept trimming the dead leaves off, now in Sept the new leaves are about nickle or dime size and continue to brown and dry. The browning starts at the outside edge and eventually takes over the whole leaf. I have fertilized with pond fertilizer tablets with no improvement. What is the deal?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Joanne,
Usually Lotus goes dormant during the winter.
It is natural that the leaves turn brown and dries off in the fall.
The next lotus new leaves will emerge next Spring.
The Lotus starts with floating leaves then come standing leaves before the flower in the summer.
If there are any bugs present, then brush them off, if they are not heavily infested.
By ian clegg: I live in the mountains of Alicante region in Spain.I and 2 friends have agapanthus that have succesfully flowered in previous years but this year NO FLOWERS . The plants are in good health with strong shiny leaf growth.Do you have an answer?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Ian,
Agapanthus (African lilies) are big plants and usually summered outdoors in tubs where the root system can spread.
Agapanthus plants are heavy feeders and do not bloom well if undernourished or grown in too shady a location.
Observe the plant by fertilizing and give it more amount of sunlight.
By Barbara: Live in mid Michigan, planted passion flower vine in ground. Its beautiful! Will it winter over in the ground here,or should I dig it up, bring it in the house. Also, the flowers bloom in the a.m., then close up at night, never to open again. Is this normal? Thank you so much for your help. I would prefer not to lose such a wonderful plant?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Barbara,
You can bring your Passion flower vine indoors in winter and later shift outdoors in the early summer
You can prune or cut back in the middle of the growing season but not near the end as the chances of winter survival will be reduced.
Check for the pests.
Regular fertilizing over the winter.
Flowers bloom in the morning, and end up closing after day time.
By Verda Madison: I have a camelia flower in a pot. It has been great except lately the leaves are turning brown and falling off. I have fertilized it but I am puzzled?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Madison,
The turning of brown leaves might be caused by wind scorch and frost damage,
Remedy: Its better to apply acid fertiliser (regularly)and regular watering for potted Camellias.
By Rosni: Dear Padmini, i love Alpinia Purparata and have planted them in big flower pots. can you assist me on how to fertilise and care for it so that i can have beautiful healthy flowers?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Rosni,
These Alpinia are the houseplants, and perennials.
They can be fed with water-soluble (every 2 weeks), quick release fertilizers, temperature controlled slow-release fertilizers (slowly released into the soil 1 time during growth season), or organic fertilizers like fish emulsion.
By Sally Faulkner: I has oval shiny green leaves with white flowers that have a beautiful fragrance.
My question is: Can I leave thr plant out in the garden over the winter? My son gave it to me for mother's day 2006. I brought the plant in the house the first year but after reading about it on this web site and seeing that it can grow from 10 to 15 feet I though perhaps it could be left out.We live in the Barrie, Ontario, Canada area and I just wondered if it would be too cold for it. I need your help?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear sally,,
It's true that your place is the one of the coldest one. Jasmines do not like this weather, they are subtropical and tropical plants, needed atleast 4-6 hours of direct sunlight.
You are talking about Jasmimum sambac.
Try, keep the jasmines indoors during winter.
By Guest: Colors of the morning glories?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Guest,
Trumpet shaped Morning glory flowers come in shades of deep purple, rose, mauve, violet, and lavender with white or pale pink throats.
By Dave: My iris's are laying down and seperating, altho I've only had them planted for two years?
Answer By The Flower Expert:
Did you had a lot of rain?
The amount of fertilizer in spring?
Too much of both rain and fertilizer can cause the leaves to grow taller and droop. You can stake them to keep the flowers off the ground.
By :Dee
Answer By The Flower Expert:Probably you have over fetilized your morning glories. If your morning glory is growing healthyly, then
You can give your Morning Glories, a little compost or a slow release organic fertilizer mixed in with a quality soil.
If you give too much fertilizer, you get more green and very few flowers.(do not over fertilize)
By : Seema?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Your region need to have cold winters and dry summers, only then think of having tulips.
Tulip bulbs take up to five years to fully form, and require cold winters and dry summers such as Holland's.
But with some care, the bulbs you buy and plant will be easy to grow.
You can order the tulip bulbs from a branded tulip growers in India. You can have the price list with the growers.
By Becky: ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Japanese beetles might be the culprit on your rose bushes. Adults are very destructive and chew small holes in both the leaves and flowers of rose bushes. The beetles in groups will start on the upper part of a plant and work downward.
Remedy for Japanese beetles: -
Apply milky spore to lawns to attack grubs (larvae) and spray organic insecticides as needed. Also, in the early morning or evening, when beetles are less active, shake them from plants onto tarps and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
By :Evelyn ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Look for any pests on the plant and Are the conditions right for the flowering season of your place?
Make sure that the plants are in a sunnier spot.
Lavender does indeed want full sun and somewhat dry conditions.
If your plants have been transplanted, then wait this year, they will bloom next year. Some lavenders are a bit sensitive, and don't flower the year following a transplant.
By :Buck Taylor ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: : The yellowing of Morning Glories can simply be from the heat of the sun, or watering from above instead from the bottom or a calcium defiency.
You can Sprinkle epsom salt at the base of the plants and then slightly water it in.
Use about a cup for every 4 feet of ground that the morning glories are planted in.
By :Phyllis ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Nasturtiums flowering plants actually do best in poor soil with low moisture and no fertilizer. If it has too much water or fertilizer, it causes the nasturtium to grow more leaves than flowers.
Reduce any fertilizer if you have given.
By Kellit: ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Red Rose is the Universal symbol of Love and Romance.
In Spain and America also Red rose is a sign of love or romance.
By Genevieve: ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: You can remove the flower heads on spring flowering bulbs as soon as the flowers fade, but do not remove until it has died and turned brown. This prevents undesirable seed and pod development which could reduce flower production in following years. Additionally, 2 to 3 pounds of a 5-10-5 or 6-10-4 fertilizer may be applied to 100 square feet of bed area immediately after blooming.
The length of time it takes the foliage to mature depends on plant type, weather, and cultural maintenance. It may not be until late June for some bulb types. Premature removal of plant foliage stops bulb growth and may drastically cut flower numbers next spring.
By Robert: ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: I think you are giving it too much nitrogen in the fertilizer. (Thus lots of bulbs/blossoms but no flower)
If that is the case, it makes more leaves and less flowers.
Fertilizer is for flowering plants. For instance, it should read 3-5-7 instead of 5-3-3.
(Nitrogen is always the first one listed, then Phosphate, then Potash).
By Patti: ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: : If the Daisies plants become leggy, cut them. They need staking, especially on fertile soils. Keep soil moist in summer.
Cut back after flowering to encourage repeat blooming.
Deadhead frequently for prolonged flowering.
Cut back plants in fall if they become leggy.
Divide every 2 to 3 years in spring to maintain healthy plants.
By this method you may have joyful daisies.
By Carole: ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: It is for sure that the best fertilizer for giant agapanthus would be organic fertilizers, like and fish emulsion.
By Graham: ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: We do not know about the recorded height of the gladioli spike but it can be grown over 2 mts, in very healthy conditions, which is rare case.
By Elaine: ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Probably you are talking about Hibiscus or china rose. When the flowers fades, it is left with the green bulb like structure with star shape.
By Susan : ?
Answer By The Flower Expert: The yellowing of Morning Glories can simply be from the heat of the sun, or watering from above instead from the bottom or a calcium defiency. You can Sprinkle epsom salt at the base of the plants and then slightly water it in. Use about a cup for every 4 feet of ground that the morning glories are planted in.
By Bill: What are Micronutrients?
Answer By The Flower Expert: Micronutrients are plant nutrients that are essential for plant growth but are only needed in small amounts to be effective. There are six micronutrients:
Boron (B), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Zinc (Zn) .
These micronutrients are essential but in a lesser quantity. They should be given in high quantities. If they are given in excess, then the plants are susceptible to salts injury.
Micronutrient toxicities can occur if substrate pH is too low.
Excess micronutrients on the plants can cause dieback of the growing tips, marginal necrosis of leaves.
New Guinea Impatiens need only moderate levels of micronutrients.
By Sondra Howel: Where can I order a book with pictures of various floral designs?
By Webmaster: Mastering the Art of Floral Design by Paula Pryke's is the best book it gives good information and pictures of various floral designs. You can buy them at Amazon. Mastering the Art of Floral Design by Paula Pryke's is the best book it gives good information and pictures of various floral designs.You can also look at these books also The Complete Book of Floral Design and Wedding Bouquets: Over 300 Designs for Every Bride.
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