Ask the Expert: Peace lily flower turning black
I'm not sure what the technical name is for this part of the peace lily - it could be called a stamen (?).

It's NOT the white leaf part of the flower, but comes out from the stem at the point where the flower part comes out of the stem.

The very tips of these white parts are turning black.

Why?  Is the plant being over-watered?  Or is something else wrong?

Thanks for your help.

Kate

Plant Expert Reply:

The protrusion from the peace lily (Spathiphyllum) "bloom" is called a spadix which is a spike with minute flowers enclosed by the spathe  (the white  leaf).

The answer to the black coloring depends on the age of the bloom.  If the bloom is a couple of weeks old, the black color is a signal that the bloom is spent and in decline especially if the leaves are green and healthy.  This is a normal process that occurs with every bloom.  Simply remove the spent bloom by following the stem to the base of the plant and cut it off.

However if these are newly formed blooms, the plant is under stress.  If the leaves are showing the same symptoms, you are probably over-watering them.  Make sure your pot is allowing excess water to drain away from the roots.  Once you correct the water issue the plant should recover.

As long as your peace lily looks healthy, I would continue to care for it as you have been.

Good luck and keep me posted.

If you're happy with the hum-drum, this flower isn't for you.

"Flower Garden" Arrangement with Alstroemeria

When looking at flower meanings this month I ran across alstroemeria. I was impressed right away and instantly thought of someone that I wanted to give these flowers to. The flower meaning of alstroemeria is "aspiring." You know what that says to me? It says that it is time to celebrate someone moving out of the hum-drum and into the ta-da!

I have a friend who just received a promotion. I think her work and her attitude have improved exponentially since starting with that company so I want to let her know how proud I am. There really is no holiday to speak of but there doesn't have to be. Instead of sending a holiday message to her, I'm making it more personal by sending flowers with a special meaning. This occasion calls for flowers that motivate people with the drive to move forward. She's that kind of woman so she deserves alstroemeria!

"Aspiring" can mean a lot of things though. This thoughtful gift can be sent to a little boy or girl going through a graduation at school. Many schools have elementary graduations that recognize children moving into junior high. What a perfect time to give flowers! A bouquet of alstroemeria and a kiss on the cheek are enough to make your baby the king or queen of the class.

Alstroemeria

"Aspiring" can also work for a suite mate in the dormitory who is a drama major (aspiring actress/actor), business major (aspiring executive), or even a zoology major (aspiring Steve Irwin).

Whatever your friend or family member is into, let them know how proud you are with alstroemeria. Celebrate their ability to move forward in life, to make something of themselves, and to make everyone proud.

Know the meaning of your favorite flower? Share it below along with why this flower is your favorite. Not really sure what the flower meaning is? Ask away! Simply log in and comment below.

Mock Orange

Ask the Expert: Flowering Tree/Shrub Identification
The attached tree/shrub is in our backyard. It's bloomed for the first time this year (this month) and I've had no luck identifying it. Any ideas? Any suggestions on care? The blooms are sparse, can I do anything to coax additional blooms in future years?

Philadelphus

Thank you. Aubrey

Plant Expert reply:

I believe what you have is a member of the genus Styrax commonly referred to as snowbells.  There are several spiecies like

Styrax americanus (American Snowbells), Styrax grandifolius (bigleaf snowbells), Styrax japonicus (Japansese snowbells).  What you have is either Styrax officinalis or Styrax japonicus.

Styrax

During the growing season use a well-balanced fertilizer once a month.  This should help with the blooms for next year as well as the health of the plant this year.  These plants bloom on previous and current year's growth and will need minimal pruning.  You can prune these in late winter or early spring when dormant.  Over pruning can keep plants from blooming.

I stand corrected. Jason commented that Aubrey's plant was a mock orange and not a snowbell. I sent this message to Aubrey:

We had someone on the blog you believe your plant is a mock orange instead of a snowbell. One way for us to determine which identification is correct is to discuss fragrance. Did the plant have a sweet fragrance when blooming? Also if you have a picture of it in full bloom could you please send it.

Aubrey replied this morning

The blooms look much more like the mock orange, now that I've looked it up. I only had 3 blooms this year, and they are gone now (this is the first time it's ever bloomed). The blooms had a pleasant fragrance, slightly sweet.

I'm hoping a bit a fertilizer will results in a full bloom next year.

Thanks.
Aubrey

Since the plant had a fragrance and Aubrey believed the actual blooms looked like a mock orange, the plant must be a mock orange. I have changed the name on the original photos to mock orange - Philadelphus. I have also attached a picture of a snowbell.

Thanks Jason for correctly identifying the plant.

Ask the Expert: What perennial is easy to grow?
I want to give my friend seeds to plant on Father's Day to remember her Father who just passed away last month.  I think it would be a nice gift if every year she has a flower that blooms and reminds her of her dad.  I was hoping to find a perennial flower that symbolizes rememberance that is easy to plant and grow in the suburbs of Chicago.  She does not have a green thumb so something that basically requires very little or no attention would be preferable.  Does such a flower exist?  Joanna

Plant Expert Reply:

The first perennial that come to mind is the Myosotis (Forget-me-not flower).  This plant has long been used as a short-lived perennial that symbolizes remembrance or memories.  It come in blue, white, blush and yellow flowers. It should be easy to start from seed.

However, there are several perennials I would choose instead of Forget-me-nots.  Although these perennials don't necessarily have a meaning associated with them, I would choose Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorous), Blanket Flower (Galardia x grandiflora), or Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata). These perennials are easy grow from seed, fairly easy to maintain and bloom longer than most perennials flowers.

Keep in mind perennials even though they come back every year require a lot of work. Your friend will need to tend to the bed throughout the year to keep it free from weeds. If your friend doesn't have a green thumb, an annual bed or pot garden might be a better way to remember her dad this Father's Day. Annual beds and pots are a little easier to maintain because you can start from scratch each year. It could also become a future tradition. She could sow Zinnias which are symbolically used for "Daily Remembrance" in a pot or in an annual bed every year. They are fairly easy to care for and a beautiful way to remember her father.

Whatever you choose for her, I'm sure she will appreciate the thoughtfulness of your gift. Flowers are a wonderful way to help comfort those we love.

Kalanchoe daigremontiana

Ask the Expert: Mother of Thousand Plant.
I have a Mother of Thousand growing in my home, but the problem I am having is that the leaves curl. Am I watering it to much or what. Would you please give me some helpful hints. Would greatly appreciate it     Thank you     Patricia

Plant Expert Reply:

I assume that your plant is a Kalanchoe diagremontiana (mexican hat plant or mother of a thousand - See picture).  These plants are susceptible to thrips, cyclamen mites, and leaf rollers which can all cause leaf curly.  If this is the problem you will need and insecticide or miticide to get rid of the problem.  Use a magnifying glass to verify that you have a insect problem.  Your local garden center should have a houseplant insectide/miticide that will be safe for your Kalanchoe.

These insect usually take over a plant when it is in stress.  Keep you Kalanchoe evenly moist at all times.  Do not keep it soggy this will cause root rot.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: Magnolia Tree….leaves brown and dry
I live in PA.  I have a Magnolia Tree that is about 5 years old.  Last year it got a few flowers.  However, this year it looks dead.  All of the leaves are brown and hard.  We put holly tone fertilizer in the ground.  A few branches (on the lower half) of leaves turned really green after a week, but the rest still look dead and brown. The leaves were never spotted and I do not see anything growing on the trunk. Someone mentioned that there is some kind of worm that gets in the top of the tree trunk and kills the tree…is that a possibility?  If so, what is that called?  Thank you for any advice. Kelly

Plant Expert Reply:

They could be referring to scale or magnolia borers. If you had either there would be signs of it still on the tree in the form of things that looked liked raise bumps or oozing places on the stems or trunks.

Magnolias are susceptible to a few pests and diseases such as baterical leaf spot, magnolia boreres, spot anthracnose, canker, dieback, butt rot, powdery mildew, anthracnose, fungal spots, snails, weevils, scale insects, planthoppers, and thrips.

I believe in your case dieback is probably the culprit.  Dieback is cuased by a freezing injury to the plant.  This usually occurs when the winter has extreme flutuation in the winter temperatures and condition.  The tips or tops of plants usually are effect by dieback.  You will need to prune out all of the dead limbs and branches.

It could be a result of anthracnose, fungal or bacterial problems.  However, normally fungua will present themselves with discoloration on the leaves, trunk or branches.  Since you didn't see any of these signs, dieback seems to be the isssue.

If it was insect damage, you would see evidence of the insects.  Again since there is no evidence of insects, dieback seems to be the problem.

I would take one more careful look at all parts of the tree.  If you see anything out of the ordinary, send me a picture and I will identify what it is.  In the mean time, you will still need to trim out the dead.  Cut branches back until you find live green wood.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Hibiscus

Ask the Expert: cock-eyed hibiscus
I asked a question last year and you answered it so well that I thought I'd bring you another!

My Grandma gave me what looked like two twigs stuck in a pot a year ago. Now that I've learned it's a hibiscus (this is a hibiscus, right!?), I've also learned what an indoor hibiscus should look like. Here are some attached pictures - it seems as though the whole hibiscus was pruned back to a few inches above the soil a couple of years ago. You can see that two large branches have shot off maybe 30 inches at angles, and more branches are coming out of the other stumps rather suddenly with the spring weather. I've been reading up on proper hibiscus pruning and I understand the concept, but my Hibiscus is such an odd duck that I don't know where to start. How do I get this thing to straighten up when it doesn't seem to have a real "trunk" anymore?

thanks for your time!

-_meghan

Reply:

Happy To help as always.

I am having trouble loading the pictures you sent.  But, I think I can answer your question without them.  The main plant is a hibiscus.  It looks as if a few of the other leaves close to outer edge of the pot are something else.

As for the hibiscus, I would try to bring it a more bushy shape.  To do this you will need to cut off a large portion of each stalk.  Make your cut right above the set of leaves closest to the bottom of the plant.  By doing this you will encourage the plant to produce lateral growth instead of  height.  Do this only on the two long woody stalks.  On the small green stalk coming from the based of the plant, pinch the very top leaves from the stalk.  Again this will encourage growth in thickness before height.   The more you pinch or trim the hibiscus the fuller the plant will be.  We do this with hibiscus at our nursery all the time.  You can manipulate the plant to look any way you want depending on how you prune it.

Keep me posted and let me know if you have any other questions.

Kalanchoe

Ask the Expert: I am stumped trying to identify this plant
We were given this plant when my father in law passed away. It grows well in direct sun with daily watering. I have tried everywhere to identify it but can not.. Can you help me. I thought it was a bogonia but everyone tells me Im wrong the flowers arent right.

Thank you for all your help

Bob

Reply:

What you have is a Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Note:  The title is a play off of the "blah blah blah for dummies" books and not an actual reference to dummies or a quote from the books.

Great Idea For Outdoor Parties!

Okay. So we're firmly embedded in Spring and summer is just around the corner. That means that party time is here! It's time to step outside and enjoy barbecues and pool parties with friends. It's time for frisbee, soccer, spirited basketball games, flag football, tennis and other outdoor sports. It's also the season for relaxing in lawn chairs and enjoying the scent of freshly mowed grass and blooming flowers. Ahhhh.

If you're looking for a way to decorate for these occasions, I suggest fresh flowers. No shock to anyone, I'm sure. However biased my love of fresh flowers makes me, this is still a great way to up the level of decor at your outdoor parties. Here are a few ideas for making your garden party, backyard party, or outdoor evening a little more beautiful…naturally.

Decorate the patio table with fresh flower centerpieces. Depending on the specific season, there are many options of flowers that can be used here. As shown in the picture at left, potted plants make a fine showing as well! Your local florist will be happy to discuss them with you. If you want to make it yourself, pick up a few stems from your florist and go from there. This is a quick and simple technique. Stems can be picked up in just a few minutes on the way home. Creating the picnic table centerpiece takes just a few moments also. This is ten or fifteen minutes of prepping for hours and hours of floral joy.

Loving The Table Centerpieces!

Line steps with small flower arrangements, outdoor lights, and perhaps a topiary at the base of each side of the steps. This one is a bit more complicated but delivers an exciting punch during outdoor parties. This is also a very elegant way to decorate backyard parties, outdoor cocktail parties, and other patio parties. If guests are going to enter/exit the home via the steps, this is likely the first impression of the party decorations that each will have. Make it a doozy!

Place "floating flower" arrangements on poolside tables. This is a great idea for pool parties where many poolside tables will need decoration. Giving flowers that "floating" look can be done in a few ways. Your local florist will have great ideas for how to accomplish this.

There are so many other great ideas for how to decorate with fresh flowers outside. If you're looking for more inspiration, contact your local florist or check back and see what other readers are saying about these ideas! Feel free to submit your own ideas here as well!