Ask the Expert: Wholesale Poinsettias in Houston Area
Our high school drill team would like to sell good quality (large) poinsettias as a fundraiser.  Do you have any referrals in the Houston, TX area? Melissa

Plant Expert Reply:
Poinsettias make wonderful gifts and are an awesome way to raise money.  In fact, I know a grower in Van Buren Arkansas called Parks Brothers Farms who has a fantastic fundraising program. They provide poinsettias for non-profit fundraising in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, North Texas, Eastern Kansas, Western Tennessee and Missouri.  I called Jason at Parks Brothers Farms and he assured me that they could, also, provide the poinsettias for your school fundraiser in Houston.

I assume you will want red poinsettias which are a traditional and popular choice.  However, you might want to consider some of the other poinsettia color options like pink, white, burgundy and marble. Parks Brothers Farms will help you decide what the best poinsettia options are for the Houston area.  So check out their non-profit fundraising page or call Jason at toll-free: (800) 334-5770.

Let me know how your fundraising goes.

Ask the Expert: I recently acquired a peace lily from my brother’s funeral. I would like to know how to prone the plant once a flower blossom dies. I want to keep the plant looking nice. Your care instructions doesn’t say where to cut the flower off at. Or do I just leave it alone and let the stem die too and then pull stem and all out at once. Thank you.    Grace

Plant Expert Reply:

You can leave the stalk and let it die-back on its own, but that makes the plant unsightly.  Follow the stalk to the base of the plant and snip it off.  Removing the spent flowers will keep the plant attractive.  To keep the plant healthy remove the florists wrapping and make sure it is a pot that will allow the plant to drain.  Then keep the plant moist but not soggy.

My best friend recently had a baby. My brother and sister in law are about to welcome a son also. It’s hard to stop the maternal inclination that comes from being around wonderful women like this. It’s also hard to plan a baby shower without thinking about new baby gifts. Of course, it’s easy to opt for the cute gifts with the “ooo” and “awww” factor. It’s just as easy to be practical and get Mommy gifts that she’ll need when little baby arrives. However, the best new baby gift is the one that isn’t about the baby at all-it’s about mommy.

Celebrating the birth of a child, just like with every other occasion, flowers are a great gift for making the woman feel special. Friends of the daddy? Send flowers and you’ll be in momma’s good graces also! The part that most people get stuck on is the card message. It can be difficult to put sentiments into words with new baby card messages. For those of us rather handicapped in regard to this particular ability, the following list makes it easy to say congratulations. Local florists have spoken. Here’s what their top 10 new baby card messages have to say.

Lullabye & Goodnight:  Top 10 New Baby Card Messages

1)       Congratulations on your new bundle of joy.

2)       Best wishes to you and your new little one.

3)       Babies are a gift from heaven. You must be special to have one of its angels.

4)       Congratulations on your new arrival.

5)       May the joy of parenting bring you a lifetime of laughter and happiness.

6)       Wishing your family a happy and healthy life together.

7)       Cheers to you and your growing family.

8)       May your child have a lifetime of health, love, and happiness.

9)       Goodbye tummy. Hello Mommy!

10)     Congratulations on the new addition to your family.

Want to view all 20 new baby card messages? The next 10 are just a click away. There you can print them to share with your customers or email the link to a friend. Brought to you by FlowerShopNetwork.com.

Ask the Expert: tiger lilysme mature flowering plants.
i have some tiger lilys and i was wounering if the little black things on the leavs are seeds and if they are when can i plant them. thank you Brantlee

Plant Expert Reply:

If the black things are actually on the leaves axils, they are called bulblets.  When bulblets mature and fall to the ground they can sprout into new plants. It usually takes 3 years before these bulblets will become mature flowering plants.  However the seeds that form in pods after the blooms dissapear can become mature blooming plants the next year.

If you want to harvest and plant the bublets, collected as they start to fall to the ground.  THe best time to harvest is after a few drop to the ground.

Ask The Expert: Can I reproduce my peace lily with the seeds from the flower? Margaret

Plant Expert Reply:

Although peace lilies can technically be reproduced from seed, other methods give greater results. Large scale growers used tissue cultures for peace lily reproduction as tissue culture offer more uniformity and availability. Homeowners create new peace lily plants through division.

If your peace lily (Spathiphyllum) has any size to it, you can divide the plant into two or more pieces to start new plants. The key is having enough roots to support the foliage. So, always divide your plant from the roots up.

Ask the Expert: What insecticide with soapy water do I need to use
My Scheffelera plant has black mites on it and I was told to use a soapy water insecticide. Becky

Plant Expert Reply:

You won’t need an insecticide in the traditional sense.  Insecticidal soaps don’t contain a traditional “insecticide”.  Instead insecticidal soaps are specifically chosen plant or animal oils that are refined into a soap with a similar consistency of liquid hand soaps and at a ratio safe for plants.  The active ingredients are the natural potassium salts and fatty acids of plants or animal oils.

Insecticidal soaps work by disturbing the cell membranes of the insects rather than attacking their neurological system like most insecticides. Insecticidal soap will get rid of several types of insects mostly soft bodied insects. So if you have a problem with aphids, spidermites, thrips or scale, insecticidal soaps are a safe and effective treatment.

You can use a mixture of water and household soap.  However, this method can cause issues for your plants if you don’t get the proper water to soap ratio or if your household soap is harsh.  Most local nursery garden centers will carry an insecticidal soap at a fairly resasonable price.  If you want to mix your own insecticidal soap, try a mild hand soap mixed at 1 part soap to 3 parts water. Spray the plant lightly.

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Summer is the time for parties. All of the best backyard parties start with great friends and end with big smiles. Count your blessings if you’ve been invited to a backyard barbecue because you’re in for good friends, great food, and fun times! One thing is for certain when attending any party, especially a backyard barbecue — you don’t want to come empty handed.

Hostess gifts are usually simple gifts that say “thank you for having me” in a nice way. They can range from a pair of tongs and a “kiss the cook” apron to my personal favorite which is flowers. Fresh flowers are the pretty much the be-all hostess gift for barbecues and backyard parties. If you’re a little leery about bringing along flowers to a food gathering, enjoy this little story:

Last year was my 22nd year to enjoy a lovely summer. Done with college, 8-5 job, no full-time family responsibilities (at the time)…ah. Life was good. My friends know that I love chilling around a grill and especially around a pool. Chlorine must have been seeping from my pores by the end of the summer after attending all the backyard barbecues/pool parties that my friends threw. One barbecue in particular stood out to me.

My best friend lives fifteen minutes from anything. In this part of Arkansas, that’s not uncommon. She doesn’t have a pool but she does have a huge barbecue grill and a great yard for grilling, frisbee, and being far away from any interruptions. She invited me and a few mutual friends to her place for a backyard barbecue. Well, I showed up with a hostess gift because I’m southern. It’s just what we do. Another friend showed up with nothing. We weren’t offended because we didn’t think much of it until we were playing frisbee.

My best friend’s yard is full of wildflowers. Bees love it there. We tried to walk to a more grassy area but it didn’t work for one of us. She went to catch a long pass and stepped a bit short. After she fell and we all stopped laughing through our concern, she leaned over and picked a flower. She put it to her face and sniffed it. It was at that very moment–I kid you not–when a bee flew up and stung her shoulder. That to me was mother nature saying “get your own.”

She’s brought flowers ever since.

What’s your backyard barbecue story? Does it involve flowers? Whether it does or doesn’t, share it below!

So they don’t really bounce. Rubber plants are still pretty awesome. Even people who aren’t familiar with houseplants know what a ficus is. Well, rubber plants are among the most popular in the ficus genus. Rubber plants (Ficus elastica) are seen in households and offices all over the country. There’s more than one reason for it. Here are several reasons why the rubber plant is so popular with every type of person (*hint* they make great gifts too!):

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

For the person who has too much love to give, rubber plants require some loving. They need moderate attention because they require a moist but well drained environment, a balance of light and shade, and a steady fertilizer regimen over its life.

For the person who has a black thumb, rubber plants are good practice. They’re pretty resilient, even if they do require a little more attention than most houseplants. Ficus elastica can stand up to a moderate black thumb. If someone needs a houseplant to practice plant care on, try the Ficus elastica. It’s a beautiful houseplant and easy to love!

For the person who has a green thumb, it’s enough of a break to be easy but isn’t so “stand back and watch” that it’s boring. Rubber plant care is great for the houseplant lover who has been nurturing houseplants for years. Challenging but not draining, entertaining but not overwhelming.

For the cubicle dweller with a grudge, rubber plants slow the desire to permanently call it a day. Some days at the desk are just not worth enduring, or so it seems when the cubicle is lifeless. Rubber plants are convenient for the office and bring enough natural cheer to the room to inspire more productivity, creativity, and a positive demeanor.

For the sleepless new mom, rubber plants pose no fear of harming the baby. Rubber plants also last a while when properly cared for. This is something that takes only 3 minutes a few times per week. Easy to do when baby is sleeping! Plus, rubber plant baskets pose no threat when babies crawl into them. Use them for climbing support? Maybe.

These aren’t the only reasons why people love rubber plants but they sure are a great place to start!

Ask the Expert: Azalea (indoor plant)
Is there any way I can keep it indoors so that it will bloom again next year.  ? Terry

Plant Expert Reply:

Normally the best place for an Azalea is outside in a shrub bed.  However, potted azaleas that come from a florist have been breed and forced to bloom for indoor conditions.  If you are going to use this type of azalea as a houseplant, keep the azalea in a room with a good light source.  Keep it moist during the summer months and fertilize once a week with a water-soluble fertilizer.  In the fall begin to hold back water slightly and keep it in a cool spot in the house.  When you see the bloom buds start to open move to a warmer location.  Keep in mind these plants do not really tolerate warm temperatures for any length of time.  You may need to move the plants occasionally to keep the temperature to the plants liking.

Ask the Expert: Lucky Bamboo Plants,
My bamboo plants were placed in direct sunlight and the leaves burned.  Is there anyway to save the plants?? Linda

Plant Expert Reply:

Move your lucky bamboo into an area with bright light but no direct sunlight.  You can cut the leaves that have turned brown off, since the damage can not be reversed.  You might try misting the area around your lucky bamboo for a few days to encourage the new growth.  Then give the lucky bamboo time to recover.