Ask the Expert: What do I do to save my Schefflera? My schefflera is dying, I got it at my mother’s funeral in January, It’s done great until this week. I lifted up the inside pot to reveal, 3 inches of standing water, and something that I think is root rot? It’s leaves are all drooping. Can I save it? what should I do? I’ve been trying to drain the water off, and get the soil to dry, but it hasn’t yet. Any help is greatly appreciated. April
Plant Expert Reply:
Although you’ve had your plant for a few months, I suspect it is a result of a common problem that occurs with most funeral plants. Florist usually wrap funeral plants with a colorful water proof page and attach a bow. Why? because it makes a prettier presentation. This water proof paper doesn’t allow water to escape which for a funeral home vistition this is great. However, not so good for the plant in the long run. When you receive a plant from a funeral service remove the decorative wrapping. This will allow the plant to drain off excess water. Check the plant. Does it need to be repotted? If so, repot the plant.

In your case, your Schefflera was not able to drain excess water from the roots. Remove any wrapping that was around the plant or outer pot. Check the root and snip off any rotted roots and you might want to repot the plant. Dampen the soil so that it is moist but not soggy. Then give the plant sometime to recover. Be sure to keep the soil evenly moist. It might take a while but the plant should recover. Good Luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert:  My bamboo house plant has bugs swimming in the water. I have cleaned the water and all the stones and the bugs still return. Please help! Suzanne

Plant Expert Rely:

The bugs probably layed eggs on the lucky bamboo before you cleaned the container and rocks.  Clean the container and rock with soapy water and rinse thouroughly and then take a clean wet cloth and gently wipe each lucky bamboo stem.  This should remove any eggs that are left.  Hopefully this will take care of the problem.  If it doesn’t you may need to use some insecticial soap.  Good luck and keep me posted.

Begonia Rex

Ask the Expert: Do you know the name of this house plant? Can you identify this house plant. I would like it’s name and any other information you may have on it. Thank you! Linda

Plant Expert Reply:

It is a little hard to tell from the picture but it looks as if you have a Rex Begonia. This herbaceous perennial is only hardy in zone 10 to 11 and therefore treated more as an annual or houseplant.  This houseplant needs high humidity and well-drained soil. You will need to be careful not to over water this plant.  If the roots remain soggy for too long, they will rot. You, also, need to fertilize it quite often during the growing season. Fertilizing should begin in spring and end in the fall.  I recommend a balanced fertilizer just slighlty higher in nitrogen that is water soluable every two weeks.  Rex Begonias need lots of bright filtered light. The optimum day time temperature is in the 70 degree range and the night temperature is in the 60 degree range.  Most normal household temperatures will be sufficient. 

Good Luck with your plant and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: Golden Pothos propagation question
Hi
I would like to propagate my Golden Photos and I have found a lot of instructions and advice on the web. But my question is:
My plant hasn’t branched yet, it’s just one long plant, probably almost three feet if you would unfold it. So there isn’t a side branch to cut of.

Is it advisable to simply cut of the top of the plant - three or four top leaves (this would leave 13 or 12 leaves on the mother plant)? Would the mother plant automaticly start growing one or more branches afterwards if i did it?

I’m surprised it hasn’t branched yet. I got the plant from a friend half a year ago - he had had it in his bathroom and it had only about five sorry looking leaves on it. Now it look really healthy and perky, but it anoys me a bit that it’s just one long snake - that it doesn’t split itself.

I’ve been redirecting it towards the soil surface, so that it could re-root itself ith every new length (because it looked like it needed it). I’m wondering if doing his could have caused it to not branch - the fact that it never grew more than five new leaves away from the latest firmly rooted root. Shold i stop doing this in that
case?

Thanks

David

Plant Expert Reply:

Redirecting the plant as you say is one form of propagation.  Once those section have a strong root system you can cut them off the mother plant and you have a new plant.  When you cut it off the mother plant both plants will start to form new leaves.   You can also propagate a new plant by taking a leaf with a node and stick the node in the soil.  You can do this multply times from one long runner.  By doing this you will encourage more growth from the mother plant and often lateral grow as well.  Many times the plant will begin to form roots at the nodes on their own.  This makes it easy to propagate golden pothos. 

The nice thing about pothos is the tolerance of this plant.  You can cut, abuse it or ignore it and it will still live.  I personally find that trimming my pothos makes it healthier and thicker.  Sometimes I will start new plants from my cuttings and other times I don’t bother with it.  The one thing I do when propagating these plants it to keep the soil moist when the roots are forming.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

Summer is the time of weddings and babies. Both special occasions seem to center around this time of year which is why I’ve decided to include baby shower decorations in the fresh flower decorating tip this month. Whether celebrating Mommy’s first child or fourth, you can use fresh flowers to create the perfect occasion. Here’s how!

Tips For Decorating Baby Showers With Fresh Flowers

• Use fresh flower petals of tulips or roses to decorate the gift table. This adds color and uniqueness.
• Put a New Baby flower arrangement on a pedestal in the middle of the gift table or food table. (Gift table is probably best.)
• Present each guest with a rose boutonniere. The “can’t say baby” game is so much more fun with rose petals! Plus, the remaining rose petals or a spare rose is (when dried) a great addition to the baby book.
• Have each guest bring a single flower stem. Use these as a fresh flower bouquet during the party. When the baby shower has ended, have the flowers preserved or dry them old-school style (inside a thick book) for use in the baby book.

Fresh flowers are a quick and simple way to cheer up everyone in the room. Preserving these flowers helps Mommy remember the kindness of her friends when she needed them most. Whether they’ll be a memento or just a way to liven up the room, decorating with fresh flowers will take your baby shower up a notch–but you’re planning it so it will already be great!

How did you use flowers to decorate for a baby shower? Are you planning a baby shower in the future? Let us know what you think is a great idea! Just place your comments in the comment section below.

Try The "Thinking of You" Bouquet with Larkspur

I won’t keep you guessing. The July birth month flower is the larkspur. Of course, regular readers probably remember this from last year’s July Birth Month Flower blog. For those who haven’t gone back that far, here’s a head’s up.

The official birth month flowers of July are the larkspur and the water lily. You’re not going to see many florists with water lily arrangements so most people tend to use larkspur instead. This is great though! Larkspur is gorgeous in birthday flower bouquets. It adds height and shape while looking as beautiful as any flower has a right to be.

What wasn’t mentioned in last year’s blog are the flower colors and flower meanings associated with the birth month flowers of July. Did you send birth month flowers last year? Send them again this year but add another dash of whimsy and character to the bouquet by using just birth month flowers in these colors:  green, russet and red. The flower meaning of larkspur is “laughter” or “levity.” Who wouldn’t want to send something so cheerful?

Whatever bouquet you choose to send this year, make sure you ask your local florist about using larkspur in the flower arrangement!

Avacado Tree 1 Year Old

Ask the Expert: What is wrong with my avocado tree?
The little thing is a year old. It did not get much sun at all this winter but now it has full southern exposure and plenty of light. I keep it inside and ensure it’s nice and warm.
When new leaves sprout from the top the older larger leaves turn brown and fall off the bottom.
I have tried giving it plenty of water and I’ve tried to dry it out.
I’ve tried a little water each day but still can’t stop what’s happening to it. Dianne

Plant Expert Reply:

It looks like you have a water stress issue.  Instead of a little water each day, water it thoroughly and when the soil starts to dry out water it thoroughly again.  At some point you will need to water it with a very diluted solution of water soluble fertilizer.  I would remove the brown leaf.  Do watch for leaf spot.  If the leaves start to get rust colored spots, you will have to treat it for leaf spot disease.  Try to give it as much light as possible.  For the summer you might want to put it outside.  Good Luck and Keep Me posted.

Ask the Expert: Drooping Chocolate Soldier
I have a chocolate soldier that about a month ago got way too much water.  Since then I have transplanted the plant into a pot that drains well.  However, my plant is still really really droopy and I am worried that it may not make it.  The blooms on it are still coming but they do not open.  Any help would be appreciated but please hurry.  Norma

Plant Expert Reply:

Give the plant time to recover.  Try to keep the conditions consistent. Chocolate solider needs to have a visual dryness between watering. Use tepid water when you do water them and try not to get the leaves wet.  Keep them in partial sun or shade (an east, west, or northern exposure). A little direct sunlight is beneficial; try to avoid hot noonday sun. They need warm temperatures above 65 degrees. Follow these care instructions and the plant should make a full recovery. Good Luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: Peace Lily flowers are turning green
We have
several peace lilies planted outside next our patio out of the sun and for
several months they were blooming abundent white flowers but now the majority of
the white flours are turning green.  What can I do to correct this problem. Tyrus

Plant Expert Reply:

This is the natural process of peace lily blooms.  They will start out white then turn green and eventually turn brown.  You need to remove spent the blooms.  Follow the stem to the base of the plant and cut the stem off.  This will encourage the plant to produce new blooms.

Many readers probably remember last year’s post about zodiac flowers for Cancers.  Cancers are people with whose birthdays fall between June 21 and July 21. In my family, that’s a lot of people! Finding unique gifts for each of them becomes very difficult each year. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.  These are the people who have everything, enjoy only a few hobbies, and have spent many years collecting gifts so they don’t seem to need anything either. What to do, what to do!?

Just enough Delphinium to be exciting!

I can say that just like last year I stand beside cancer zodiac flowers as awesome and unique birthday gifts. I mean, come on. Who would expect something which requires so much thought and effort (or so it seems)?

My local florist makes it practically effortless to pick up a pretty birthday bouquet for my friends and family. I just call up June and say “I need an arrangement centered around zodiac flowers for cancer. They are roses, lily of the valley, hydrangea, iris, cornflower, delphinium, and ferns. Can I get something in an X price range?” That’s almost the entire extent of the conversation and the birthday gift shopping is done!

Yeah. As far as zodiac flowers are concerned, two thumbs WAY up for Cancer zodiac flowers!