Ask and Answer Flower Questions Archive - Jan 2009

By Lyle: The plants in question are outside plants about 12 feet tall and 10 inches in diameter. I'm digging down deep but the plant still hasn't broken loose yet. Whew!?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Lyle,

If they are Bird of Paridise plant, then Bird of Paridise require a large growing area for its roots.

Established plants grow to 4' inside deep down.

By Sandy: My gladiolas have bloomed and are all droopy and brown. Can I cut them down. They are bulb plants?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Sandy,

When the blooms are spent, the entire gladiolus flower stalk should be cut down, as it will not produce new more flowers.

You can leave alone the foliage to wither and die down at the end of the season.

Gladiolus bulbs are not true bulbs. Gladiolus bulbs, in botanical terminology, are referred to as corms. A corm is a shortened and thickened section of the stem that appears at the base of the plant.

As soon as the foliage dies, dig the corms and you can store them.

By Regina: My gladious blooms break at the stem and fall to the ground. Why is this happening and what can I do to fix it for next season?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Regina,

The problem might have been caused by a worm called Corn earworm.

The corn earworm is a caterpillar, 1 1/2 inches long, changing from reddish brown to green with brown or green stripes as it becomes fully grown.

This caterpillar feeds on leaves and tunnel stems and bores into buds,Probably this might be the cause, as the stems are half broken.

To curb this problem you can spray with Paris green, cryolite. You can also use mineral oil and dichloroethyl ether.

By Denise: I was given some seeds, I was told they are 4 0'clocks when & where do I plant them?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Denise,

The Four 0'clock seeds should be planted directly into the garden just before the last frost.

Since the 4 0'clock flowers stay open at night, they're attractive when planted near evening events such as lighted pools and patios.

By Court: Could I make an acceptable bridal bouquet out of gladiolus?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Court,

Yes, you can make an acceptable bridal bouquet out of gladiolus.

White colored flowers are most often used in bridal bouquets along with green leafy foilage. White signifies purity, innocence, humility and a new beginning for a new bride.

By Janet Geslak: I would like to purchase a jasmine, Could this be planted outside or do I have to try to grow inside?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Janet,

Jasmine plants are not suited as indoor plants in Ohio.

Even if it is grown, place it in an east window indoors.

By Janet Harper: I have bought a sunflower in a pot and would like to know how to look after it, Would you please let me know if it needs sun,or shade?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Janet,

The blooming period of sunflower is from late summer into early fall.Sunflower needs direct sunlight, at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.

In the growing period, water the sunflowers more often than normal.Keep the soil moist to a depth of 12 to 18 inches.

By Carole: I bought two hydrangea mophead a couple years ago, Last year they did not do anything, but this year in early april, I pruned them back to the 1st bud, and they were load with blooms but with lacecaps, How did that happen?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Carole,

We do not know the exact reason for such plant behaviour. We can say that there can be a change in color among Hydrangeas, but not cultivar change.

Mopheads (snowballs) and Lacecaps.

There are two groups of cultivars for Hydrangea macrophylla, Mopheads and lacecaps. The Mopheads are large round clusters of sterile flowers and the lacecaps are flat heads composed of both fertile and sterile flowers.

By Emily: I am getting married on January 22, 2009 in Riviera Maya,I want to have a flower in my hair when I walk down the isle and I am wondering are they any flowers that bloom during that time?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Emily,

I think Camomile and Cherry blossom flowers are available at that time.

By Candi: Do bunnies tend to steer away from marigolds due to their scent? Also what other flowers would be good in a garden with no "bunny fence"?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Candi,

We do not have any info about marigolds repeling rabbits.

These are some of the flowering plants that repel rabbits.

aconitum, agapanthus, alchemilla, anaphalis, anemone, aquilegia, astilbe, bergenia, brunnera, Campanula (only the high ones), corydalis, crocosmia, digitalis, epimedium, eupatorium, euphorbia, geranium, helianthus, helleborus, hosta, iris, kirengeshoma, lamium, lysmachia, malva, miscanthus, nepeta, paeonia, papaver and polygonatum.

By Chavon Williams: When are Dahlia's in season,particularly the plum colored ones?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Chavon,

Spring plum colored Dahlia flowers in summer and fall season.

By Kasie Michel: Why are the base and stems of my heather plant are brown and crispy?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Kasie Michel,

Some of the species of Erica or Heathers will have brown stems, like Erica manupuliflora.

They grow to around 3 feet in height and 3 ft in spreading.

There is no need to panic about your plant.

By Rosemary:My morning glory vine is huge,but no flowers yet,Is there some way i can help them along?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Rosemary,

They do not bloom for the following reasons

If overfertilized.

Too much nitrogen in the soil.

Difference in the nutrient values in the soil

There is also a fact that some are later bloomers.

Increasing the amount of phosphorus in t4

The fertilizers may well be the solution for non blooming MG's.

By Guest:I was able to grow a wall full of beautiful,big,BLUE morn glories. Then they stopped.Suddenly i started getting little purple blooms.How to avoid this?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Dear Sir,

One thing is for sure,Morning Glories do not survive transplanting.

In this case,I feel every thing done to the plants is right,except watering daily.I think watering the plants when it is dry to touch is the best option.

Give your Morning Glories,a little compost or a slow release organic fertilizer mixed in with a quality soil and see the difference.

By Lisa: How do I prepare Morning Glories for the harsh cold winters?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Lisa,

Morning glories plants are generally planted in the spring time.They are actually annuals.They are great self seeders from year to year.Generally we often think that they are perennials because they come back so readily from year to year.

As they reseed readily,they come up spring after the winter.Only care you can take is to remove the dead vines killed by the frost as it cannot survive the hard winter.

By Karen Colquhoun: "My niece & her fiance are extrememly allergic to fresh flowers.What alternatives can you suggest"?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Karen,

You can very well think of artificial flowers for the wedding.It also cuts down the actual cost of the wedding.

The arrangements like bouquets which would be very close to them can be artificially made and the bouquets far away from them can be fresh.Thus making the combination suitable to them.

They can also have keepsakes where in the flowers are dried,processed and made real.

By Bonnie: Can we grow daffodils indoors?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Yes,You can plant the daffodils indoors in your place,as they are indoor plant.

By Luke: What flowers represent names?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Dear Luke,

Meaning of Morgan is "Uncertain","bright sea"

In the Welsh,Morgan means "great" or "bright".

In scottish, means "sea warrior".

In totalilty we can say that the Flowers depicting the meaning as "bright and great" stands for Ranunculus(Radiant or bright),Lily(great and majesty).

Bob:Is the iris plant toxic to dogs?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Yes,Iris species plants are toxic to dogs.

By Liesel:what is Namibia's national flower? How does it look like?

Answer By The Flower Expert:Namibia did not declare a particular flower as its national flower,though it has given importance to the native plant,The Welwitschia mirabilis.

It is rooted in the desert sand is a unique desert plant,a fighter for survival and, therefore,a symbol of Namibia's fortitude and tenacity.

By Tina: I 'm looking for something to plant under my overhanging window where it is very dry and only gets a couple hours of sun in the morning. Would love something that has colorful blooms and is low maintainence.

Answer By The Flower Expert: Mandavillas, Morning Glories vines which are hardy can suit the place.

They can be hanged over a window, and offers color to the patio.

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 Rosa: What does pinching and plucking mean? I was reading about carnations when I saw theses trems. Answer By The Flower Expert: PINCHING means, the tips of the shoots should be pinched off to facilitate lateral branching instead of slander growth, because highly branched plants yield more flower. (A common error with carnations just to pinch the long leaves at the ends of the shoots and missing the growing point itself. So, piching the growing point is essential while pinching carnations) Plucking means during plucking the carnations, leave three to four nodes at the base and remove the stem. In spray carnations, the inflorescence should be removed when two to three upper flowers are open.

By Rosa: What does pinching and plucking mean? I was reading about carnations when I saw theses trems. Answer By The Flower Expert: PINCHING means, the tips of the shoots should be pinched off to facilitate lateral branching instead of slander growth, because highly branched plants yield more flower. (A common error with carnations just to pinch the long leaves at the ends of the shoots and missing the growing point itself. So, piching the growing point is essential while pinching carnations) Plucking means during plucking the carnations, leave three to four nodes at the base and remove the stem. In spray carnations, the inflorescence should be removed when two to three upper flowers are open.

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 MEl: my hydraniums are nice at the beginning of their flowering season,and in the middle they turn to a brownish then green. what do do to keep them pink or blue?

Answer By The Flower Expert: Generally, maintaining an acidic or low pH will induce blueness; whereas, maintaining a higher or alkaline pH will induce pinkness or redness.

Another way you can change the color of hydrangeas from pink to blue is to add a small amount of aluminum sulfate to the plant. This should be done to mature plants only, with extreme care since the chemical can cause irreparable root damage.

By Ginny: Is the jasmine plant poisionus to dogs?

Answer By The Flower Expert: No, Jasmine plants are not poisonous to dogs

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.