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Archives for April 2009

Making Hydrangeas Bloom

Ask the Expert: What fertilizer is used for non-flowering Hydrangea
What fertilizer is used for non-flowering Hydrangea? Jen

Reply:
The primary nutrient for bloom production is phosphorous. You can apply super phosphate 0-18-0 or triple phosphate 0-45-0 a few months prior to blooming. However, lack of nutrients may not be the reason your hydrangeas are not blooming.

There are three main causes that can contribute to lack of hydrangea blooms.

1. Too Much Shade. If hydrangeas do not get enough sunlight, they will not produce blooms. The foliage will be healthy and beautiful but the blooms won’t appear. Although they like a little shade from intense heat, they will need at least half a day sun to produce blooms.

2. Improper Pruning. In the winter, you can remove about a third of the old stems to create a fuller and healthier plant in all hydrangea types. However, the proper time for height control and deadheading will differ based on the type of hydrangea and how it blooms. Big leaf and Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on last year’s growth. In this instance, the hydrangea must be pruned shortly after they have finished blooming – usually within a month. Pruning anytime after that will essential destroy the next year’s blooms. Panicle and smooth hydrangeas bloom on new growth and should be pruned in the spring before they put on their new leaves.

3. Unfavorable Weather. If at anytime the hydrangeas break dormancy and then the temperatures drop, the blooms will be damaged. This usually occurs in place where the weather see-saws from cold to warm and then to cold again.

To ensure that your hydrangea blooms next year try the following:
1. Prune it correctly.
2. Make sure it gets enough light.
3. Fertilize it with triple phosphate, super phosphate or a balanced fertilizer that is high in phosphorous like Fertilome’s Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Food 9-15-13.

Kate Collins Launches New Website For Florist Mystery Series

This week I learned that Flower Shop Network guest writer and best selling mystery writer Kate Collins is about to launch her new website www.katecollinsbooks.com. Many of you will remember the great newsletter she wrote for Flower Shop Network (The Language Of Flowers). While she is exceptionally knowledgeable about the meanings of flowers, Kate’s biggest passion is her mystery series starring Abby Knight, an Indiana florist.

I love mystery novels. If I wasn’t in the flower business, I would love to be a mystery writer. I guess I could combine the two. But, Kate has beat me to it and in such a fabulous way.

Maybe I could solve a mystery instead. Combining my natural curiosity about all things related to florists and discovering the inter workings of a mystery writer.  In essence, I want to know “why a florist”? On my quest to find an answer to this mystery, I decided to go strait to the source. So, I called Kate and [Read more…]

My Peace Lily Has A Bad Haircut Will It Survive?

Ask the Expert: Can my Peace Lily be saved?
I had a large peace lily that was so heavy it kept falling over. I had to lean it against a wall until I got a larger pot to put it in. In the meantime, all of the stems drooped so low that the stems became permanently bent. I figured there was no way for them to unbend, so I cut each stem at the point right before the bending occurred. Now the plant has a few lily flowers, 1 leaf, & about 20 short, cut stems. Will the stems keep growing or did I kill it? Or should I cut the stems closer to the roots? Is there a way to save my lily or is it too late? Stacie

Reply:
I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is your peace lily (Spathiphyllum) will survive. The bad news is you are being brought up on plant assault charges. Just kidding!

The peace lily will put on new leave shoots fairly quickly. In the meantime, you need to cut the stems off at the based of the plant. Why? The stems will not produce new leaves. However, the plant will produce new leaves to replace the ones it has lost. Give it a very light solution of fertilizer or vitamin b1 to add in the new leaf production.

Anytime you peace lily stem become bent and damaged, you will need to cut them off at the based of the plant. Peace lilies will produce new leaves from the based of the plant and usually quite often. So in a few weeks, you’ll never know the peace lily had a bad haircut. Good luck and keep me posted.

Mothers Day Flowers For Every Type of Mom

Want a gift that speaks volumes about your mom’s personality? Mothers Day flowers are great gift ideas for this holiday, but take it  a step further with these cool flower arrangements. Each one is a reflection of a different personality type that your mother may have. Is your mom vivicacious and feisty? Is she personal and traditional? How about reflective and into the arts and crafts? No matter what type of personality your mom has, I suggest these beautiful flowers when you’re looking for Mothers Day gift ideas.

"Touch of Class" Mothers Day Flowers

"Touch of Class" Mothers Day Flowers

Mom “The Contemporary”

She’s hip. She’s cool. She’s into modern things with contemporary flair. She probably likes interior design, is well aware of design techniques and tricks, and doesn’t tune the tv dial to retro shows very often.

This is one cool mother and she deserves a cool gift. Try the “Touch of Class” Mothers Day flowers. They’re perfect for a contemporary office space (send flowers to mom at work) or a home decorated in the trendiest style (send flowers to mom at home or present them to her at lunch).

"Remember Mom" Mothers Day Bouquet

"Remember Mom" Mothers Day Bouquet

Mom “The Traditionalist”

She’s perfect in your eyes. She may not have the latest addition of Interior Design Monthly but you can bet that Family Circle is somewhere in the house. She’s settled but not boring. She’s all about her children (even if grown) but makes time to have fun. She loves a good book or a good movie and will not pass up the opportunity for a relaxing Mothers Day brunch with her daughters and granddaughters.

This mom is awesome. She is selfless and deserves a sweet reward for  her exhausting dedication to her family. For this mom, send the “Remember Mom” bouquet.

"Lasting Love" Mothers Day Basket

"Lasting Love" Mothers Day Basket

Mom “The Old School Sweetheart”

This is for the mom that is very likely a grandmother by now. She’s young at heart with an old soul.  She’s seen a lot in her life and has the wisdom and bearing to prove it. She probably spends a lot of time gardening, relaxing with friends in the Red Hat Society (or is a purple hatter), and has been an empty nester just long enough to still not be completely ok with it.

This mom is precious. She is a giver who has watched many incredible things pass. Her most prized moments though? Moments with you. Why not bring along the “Lasting Love” Mothers Day basket to your get-together this year?

"Lavender Love" Mothers Day Bouquet

"Lavender Love" Mothers Day Bouquet

Mom “The Spritely”

This mom is as active as you are. She’s always here or there doing something with someone. She’s up and about and loves living life to the fullest. She’s charming enough to be everyone’s favorite mother. When your friends wanted a sleepover, they wanted it at your mom’s house.

This mom is perky. She needs something as bouncy and happy in her life as her personality reflects. For the mom who is a constant fount of energy and happiness, give the “Lavender Love” bouquet for Mothers Day.

"Mother Nature's Expression Bouquet"

"Mother Nature's Expression Bouquet"

Mom “The Candid”

(This is my mother and grandmother!) She’s a pip to be around because she always has a witty retort or a wise saying in the form of a wisecrack. She knows her stuff and makes sure that you know that about her. You rarely catch her without an expressed opinion but you’ll never hear her admit that it may be wrong. She’s the life of the party because you want to know what she’s going to say next. No one laughs at this tough cookie though. She’s a very respected mother.

This mom is blunt. She doesn’t fool around with nonsense and expects the same from other people. If your mother is like this (and mine is), send flowers like the “Mother Nature’s Expression Bouquet” because it’s hard to dislike. Just like your mom.

What To Do With Damaged Leaves On A Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum with Leaf Damage

Spathiphyllum with Leaf Damage

Ask the Expert: Pruning your peace lily
recently my peace lily suffered an unexpected “cold night”. It has lots of dead edges on the larger leaves. Would it be best to cut the dead/dying leaves out of the plant to encourage new growth? Or suffer through the ugliness and hope that it flourished on its own? Toni

Reply:

Peace Lily With Damaged Leaves

Peace Lily With Damaged Leaves

I recommend pruning out the damaged leaves this way the plant will place all of its energy into producing new foliage.  To remove the leaves follow the leaf stem to the base of the plant and cut it off.  Since the plant is in stress from the cold temperature, make sure you keep the plant evenly moist.  You can give it a very light solution of fertilizer or vitamin B1 to help it overcome the loss of foliage.  Good luck and keep me posted.

What Perennials Can I Use With Lantana To Extend The Blooming Period?

Ask the Expert: lantana groupings
Last year I created an octagon flower bed with lantanas that looks wonderful when in bloom, but they bloom so late in the season that the bed looks empty now. What can I plant in the bed with them that will come back year after year? I live in Eclectic, AL, close to Montgomery, the bed receives full sun, & the soil is mostly red clay with potting soil in the plant hole. Jennifer

Reply:
If you want something blooming every season, you will need to plant several different kinds of plants.
For winter blooming, I suggest Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose) which grows to about 15″.
For early spring blooming, I suggest Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox) which will need to be at the front of your bed since it will only get about 4-6″ in hgt but will spread.
For late spring try Stokesia laevis (Stoke’s Aster) which will grow to about 15″ in height. Kniphofia uvaria (Red Hot poker) with blooms that can be 3′ height.

You can also plant tulips and daffodils in the bed with the lantana for late winter/early spring blooming. Since lantana last well in to the late fall I would bother with a fall blooming perennial unless you want to plant chrysanthemums.

Good luck and keep me posted on your garden’s progress. I would love to see pictures of it as it progresses.

April Showers Bring May Flowers–Now What?

I ask that question a lot. It’s usually followed by something like this:  “Well great. Lots of flowers are blooming but I have no idea what to do with them. I just know that I want to use them in my house.” Sound familiar? If you’re looking for a good fresh flower decorating tip for Spring, look no further. It’s an oldie but a goodie and I know you’re going to like it.

This spring, decorate your home (specifically your door) with a fun spring wreath. There are lots of ways to make a spring wreath look good and have fun decorating it! If you plan to make your own wreath, stop by your local flower shop and pick up a wreath base. This is usually a standard grapevine wreath or pinecone wreath that can be easily decorated from that point on.  Here are some things that you may want to use when creating your own spring wreath:

  • Flowers–Simply add fresh flowers (you can get those at the flower shop also) and your wreath is ready to go! Dried can be used if you want the wreath to remain up for a while or use the same one the next year. In my personal opinion though, fresh flowers provide a very unique quality that can’t be bested.
  • Glitter–The sun shines all spring. Celebrate its brilliance with sparkly glitter on your spring wreath.
  • Floral Wire or Raffia–If you’re a florist this is easy to obtain and brings a unique appeal. If you are not a florist, simply ask someone at your local gift shop or craft store about metal wire, raffia and other similar materials. Leftover Easter grass is great for spring wreaths.
  • Ornaments–Not your standard Christmas ornaments but something to represent the season. For example, faux birds.

Now of course, there are many other things that you can use to create your spring wreath or enhance one that you’ve found somewhere else. Whatever you choose to use, have fun decorating it! This is a project that kids will love to get in on. Spring wreaths also make great gift ideas for people with spring birthdays. Everyone loves fresh flowers so providing a spring wreath is a fun way to share enjoyment with someone that you love!

A little pressed for time? No problem. You can also stop by your local flower shop or gift shop and ask about their selection of spring wreaths. These include many standard styles such as pine cone wreaths, grapevine wreaths, floral wreaths, and unique ones like feather wreaths. Use as-is or add a few fresh flowers and decorations to yours. Whichever you choose, spring wreaths will make the entry to your home look more inviting than ever.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Thought I would share some flower pictures from the 2009 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. The Tulip Festival is held each year in Mount Vernon, Washington and features somewhere between 400 to 700 acres of planted Tulip bulbs and other fresh flowers. If you are a Tulip lover, this is a must-attend event – you truly must be there to appreciate the beauty of the flowers.

Use this link to find out more about the Tulip Festival.

Enjoy the gallery.

Pink Tulip Field

Pink Tulip Field


[Read more…]

What Does May Mean To You?

It may mean nothing. It may mean everything.

It may mean sports and activities. It may mean the end of school.

It may mean celebrating a birthday. If this is the case, it may mean birth month flowers.

Birth month flowers are beautiful fresh flowers associated with a particular month and are usually sent as unique birthday gifts. If celebrating a birthday in May, get excited about your options this month because the birth month flower for May is the lily!

Lilies Make Unique Birthday Gifts in May

Lilies Make Unique Birthday Gifts in May

Lilies make great gifts because so much meaning can be attached to them. Lilies represent purity. There are tons of great card messages wrapped around encouraging words of purity. Score one for lilies.

Lilies are beautiful, popular flowers. Everyone loves waking up to fresh bouquet of lilies. Whether Asiatic lilies, stargazer lilies, Casablanca lilies or others, these fresh flowers are always big hits. That makes it easy to please any birthday girl or boy with fresh flowers. Score two for lilies.

Lilies are the birth month flower of May. This makes them a unique birthday gift idea. Who doesn’t like knowing that extra thought went into their birthday gift? Sending a unique birthday gift like a bouquet of birth month flowers is a great way to show someone how much you care. Score three for lilies.

Lilies = 3. Reasons not to send Lilies = 0.

Celebrating your own birthday in May? Tell us what you’d think about receiving lilies! Sending flowers to a friend in May? Let us know what they thought about their bouquet of fresh lilies!

Cup Plant Cup Flower What Is This Plant?

Ask the Expert: need the name of plant/patio type nurseryman in southeast Texas called this plant a cup plant but I don’t believe this is correct. Plant height is around 16″ mature, has a woody, branching habit, and bears white or yellow flowers resembling a small 1 1/2 inch primrose or potentilla flower. the leaves are dark green and are very similar to a penta. I was told it will propagate via harvested seed. Donna

Reply:

Cup Plant Silphium perfoliatum

Cup Plant Silphium perfoliatum

I think you are probably right it doesn’t sound like cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) which is shown to the right. I found a picture of cup plant on the Connecticut Botanical Society website. and its minimum height is 4ft.

It could be a form of Nierembergia which is sometimes called cup flower.  However, the white flowering ones don’t grow that tall.  Do you have a picture of the plant? I could probably make an identification from the picture.