Find Your Can a Peace Lilly plant be planted outdoors? I received a peace lilly plant for Mothers Day. Would I be able to plant it outdoors in my flower bed, or is it strictly a house plant? – Mary
Where To Plant Azaleas – Sun or Shade?
May 22, 2012 by
Ask the Plant Expert: Where can you plant azaleas?
Do azaleas need full sun when planted outdoors? John
Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
John,
According to the Azalea Society of America, azaleas should be planted in partial shade. In fact, most people claim that azaleas do best with morning sun and afternoon shade. However, it really depends on the type of azalea and where you live. Most azaleas will take sun to partial shade exposure.
For example, I have an azalea called Sunglow that gets hot afternoon sun. These azaleas bloom beautifully every year and their dark rich foliage is always attractive. The deciduous azalea (Admiral Semmes) that I have in my perennial garden gets sun all day long and does very well. My neighbors have ‘Herbert’ Azaleas in a morning sun only exposure and they do fine.
The garden center where you purchased the azalea should know which exposure it will do best in your area.
The greater concern would be the soil type that you are planting the azalea in. Be sure to plant it in loose, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH.
Hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if I can help with anything else.
Help! Why Do My Azalea Blooms Always Buckle After Rain?
September 3, 2011 by
Ask The Plant Expert: Our azalea blooms appear to collapse after any sort of rain – yet other azalea plants, (similar to ours) in the neighborhood, do not seem to have this problem. Could you please explain why this could be so? We have plenty of blooms, but they don’t last in the rain. – Charlie
Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: Charlie,
You might have a different type of azalea than your neighbors. Depending on the species of azalea, the blooms might be more delicate and thus not as sturdy during a rain.
- If you have the same species of azaleas as your neighbors, exposure is the culprit. Your azaleas may get more of the blunt force of the elements, especially the rain. This will cause the blooms the collapse.
- Another factor can be the amount of blooms that your plant has. An abundance of blooms will cause the plant to catch more water. The weight of this extra water will cause the blooms to collapse.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if I can help with anything else.
Can I Grow My Azaleas Outdoor in Texas?
April 18, 2011 by
Ask The Expert: Azalea plants, are they ok to plant in Texas? The weather is so warm in summer and cold in winter. – Gloria
Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: Gloria,
Most azaleas are hardy in zones 7 -9, so they should fine in Texas. If hot temperatures are present try planting them in a filtered sunlight area with bright light and mulch. Dense shade is not good for them.
As for the cold, make sure they are mulched properly before going into winter. For more information about azaleas in your local area drop by your local nursery garden center. The professional nurserymen at your local garden center will know what azalea varieties grow best in your area.
Hope this information helps.
Visit our Houseplant Care & Information section for more houseplant tips!
Fresh Flower Decorating For Dummies: Party Time!
May 26, 2009 by Leave a Comment
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!
Azaleas In Florida – Where Should They Be Planted
March 16, 2009 by
Ask the Expert: A friend gave me two azalea plants but I do not know where to plant them or how to take care of them in the Florida sunshine. Help! Jan
Reply:
In Florida, azaleas prefer a little shade from hot afternoon sun and can do well in dappled shade areas. Keep in mind deep shade even in Florda will cause the azaleas to become thin. Choose an area that contains moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil that is slightly acidic in ph. You can create this type of soil by tilling humus into your existing soil and using an acidic fetilizer like miracid to correct any ph problems. Plant your azalea shallow. A good rule of thumb is to have the top of the root ball 1″ to 2″ above the soil line. I also recommend muching your azleas. Keep your area moist but not soogy during the growing season and a little drier during the dormant season. Fetlizer your azaleas with a slow realease azlea fertilzer during the growing season. I personally like to fertilze with Fertilome’s azalea food with systemic insecidie. It serves two purposes – nutritional content and insect protection. Check with your local nursery & garden center for a similar product. Good luck and keep me posted.
