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Archives for November 2007
Why is the Yellow Spreading in my Lucky Bamboo?
November 30, 2007 by
Ask the expert Dear Flower Shop Network, My Bamboo leaves started to turn yellow, so I change to distilled water. Now the stalk is turning yellow too. How do I fix this? Can it be cut off? Thanks, Kendra Ockerman
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Mystery Plant – Is it a Palm or a Bamboo or something else?
November 29, 2007 by 1 Comment
Ask the Expert: help identify this plant please
i dont have a picture but it looks like a cross between a palm tree and a bamboo has long pointy sharp leaves can you help????
What are these Pink Flowers and Purple Flowers?
November 29, 2007 by 1 Comment
Ask the Expert: flower identification
On a recent visit to the fantastic Craigside house, in particular the walled garden, I noticed 2 plants (1 with pink the other with blue/purple flowers), that I would love to have in my garden. The trouble is I do not know their names. If you could help to identify these plants, see attached photos, I would very much appreciate it. Thanks in advance. Rory
Yellow is Not Lucky Bamboo’s Favorite Color
November 29, 2007 by
Ask the expert: One of the canes of my lucky bamboo is turning yellow. I have had the plant for several years and it has done well until now. What can I do about this? It is still green above the yellow and the leaves look great.
Overcrowded Garden – World of Flowers
November 23, 2007 by Leave a Comment
An interesting post on Dirt called My Overcrowded Garden caught my eye this morning. In this post Amy ponders the issue of a mature garden. Reminiscing the introduction of particular plants to the garden and the difficult decision of whether to eliminate some of the plants. What struck me were the memories and sentiments attached to those flowers. She planted Shasta Daisies because they were her mother favorite. She described the excitement of purchasing new plants and the way a planted tree can mark the passage of time.
Yesterday, I spent the day with my family enjoying an abundance of food, laughter and conversation. We drug out the family photo albums; viewing pictures of my parent’s home and it’s landscaping (which changed several times over the years). Every pictured was accompanied by a memory of particular plant, flower or shrub. Memories like my sister crashing into the juniper at the end of the driveway or the arborvitae that was so big, we had to use a tractor to remove it. Plants and flowers have come and gone over the years but those memories will always be with us.
My garden is due for an over haul this spring. Of course there are memories galore related to this garden. But I have pictures to remind me. Whether from the garden or in a beautifully arranged in a vase plants and flowers seem to create strong emotions. That is why her post caught my eye. Amy doesn’t just enjoy plants and flowers; she lives for them. Yesterday and today made me think, “What would the world be like with out flowers?” I can’t imagine, nor do I want to, a world without flowers. I may rearrange my flower garden but I will always have a one.
Think about the way flowers have touched your life. Flowers remind me that the world is a good place. Certain flowers remind me of a particular place, person or time. How have flowers played a part in your life?
Hydroponic Lucky Bamboo
November 20, 2007 by
Ask the Expert: Lucky Bamboo in Soil
I have a bamboo plant that is currently in soil but would like to re-plant it without the soil. Is that possible?
5 Flower Arrangements Perfect For Thanksgiving – Including Pictures
November 15, 2007 by 1 Comment
Here are my 5 favorite Thanksgiving Flower Arrangements.
I love this cornucopia Thanksgiving flower arrangement; sometimes referred to as a Horn of Plenty arrangement. I use this on the buffet table in my kitchen. I place it in the center of the table and arrange the appetizers around it.
Legend of the Poinsettia
November 15, 2007 by Leave a Comment
How does a plant used by the Aztecs for medicinal purposes and dyes become the quintessential Christmas flower? It began with the legend of the poinsettia. Legend has it that a poor Mexican girl named Pepita had no gift to give at the annual Christmas Eve service. Longing to honor the Virgin Mary and the Christ child, Peptia became distraught as she walked to the service. As tears flow from her face, she was comforted by an angel, her brother or her cousin (depending on the version). At the urging of her comforter, Peptia gathered a handful of common weeds from the roadside. Hesitant to take the unattractive weeds as her gift, Peptia had to be persuaded that giving something perceived as unworthy but from the heart was an admirable gift. Arriving at the church, Peptia sorrowfully placed her weeds as an offering on the alter. Joy overcame her when, as the weeds touch the alter, they burst into stunning red poinsettia blooms. From that day forward the poinsettia was known as Flor de Nochebuena (The Christmas Flower).
History of the Poinsettia
During the late 1820’s, Joel Poinsett was the American Ambassador to Mexico. Although a fine statesman, his passion revolved around botany. During his tenure in Mexico, he scanned the landscape for interesting plants and found the poinsettia. Upon his return to the United States, he introduced the poinsettia to several horticulturists in South Carolina. By the 1900’s, the Ecke Family of South California began producing poinsettias as a landscape plant and a cut flower. Many of the cultivars today are a result work by the Paul Ecke Ranch and the reason the poinsettia has become widely used as a Christmas flower.
Not actually flowers, the big red “blooms” of the poinsettia are actually bracts (modified leaves). The true flowers (cyathia) are the small insignificant yellow clusters in the center of the bract. Despite this misconception, the bract is often referred to as the poinsettia flower. This “flower” has been cultivated into colors other than red such as pink, cream, white, and purple. There are bi-color and marbled poinsettias as well.
Selecting a Poinsettia
Dark green foliage and completely colored bracts are a must when selecting a poinsettia. Optimum poinsettia specimens are full and balanced plants; 2 1/2 times taller than the container and attractive from all sides. Always avoid plants that are wilted, but have moist soil, droopy or yellow leaves all of which indicated the plant is under stress. Look for plants in the early stages of flowering. To find a poinsettia with young true flowers look at the base of the bract. Young true flowers will be green and red-tipped. The poinsettia bract will retain its color longer if you select one with young true flowers.
If the outside temperature is below 50 degrees have the store sleeve your plant. However do not leave the poinsettia in the sleeve for a long period of time. Plants held in decorative paper or sleeves will deteriorate quicker than those in a pot with good drainage.
Poinsettia Care
Keeping the soil moist, but not soggy, is essential when caring for poinsettias. This can be accomplished by watering it thoroughly when the soil is dry to the touch. Make sure the container has drain holes. It is imperative to remove any excess water from the saucer. Poinsettias do best in high humidity with a temperature range of 60 degrees at night and 72 degrees during the day. Avoid exposing poinsettias to temperature swings from cold drafts, heating vents or doorways. Poinsettias need approximately six hours of indirect light. Do not fertilize when the plant is blooming. Temperature swings, over-watering, under-watering, over exposure and lack of light will cause stress to the poinsettia. Stress of any type will cause the bracts to have a shorter life. Poinsettia care if done properly will keep your plant healthy for a long time.
How To Get Poinsettia To Bloom Again
Although getting a poinsettia to re-bloom the next season is a long and arduous process, it is not impossible. Once the holiday season has passed (late February – early March) cut the stems back leaving 4 to 6 inches to stimulate new growth. Continue with the same watering practice used during the holidays and begin fertilizing. Use a balanced (20-20-20) liquid soluble fertilizer every three to four weeks.
Poinsettias need to be re-potted in the late spring or early summer. Select a pot that is 2-3 inches bigger in diameter and has drain holes. Place in a sunny position and keep moist. Rotate the pot about once a week. Rotating encourages a symmetrically shaped plant. Pinch the growing shoots and the top by 1/4 inch to encourage branching. Fertilization and pinching can be done on the same day about every three weeks
Poinsettias can be plant outside once the nighttime temperature is above 50 degrees. Place poinsettia plants in a shady location for about two weeks to acclimate them to the outdoors. Poinsettias can be planted in a sunny but protect area; light shade in the afternoon is acceptable.
In early September move the poinsettia plants indoors and provide six hours of direct light. Poinsettia flowering is “photoperiodcally” induced, meaning flowers begin to appear when the nights are long enough. Hence the poinsettia needs a certain amount of darkness to bloom. From October 1st through mid-December, poinsettias must have 12-14 hours of darkness and 10-12 hours of natural light daily. Complete darkness is imperative to blooming. Once the bract begins to show color the light restrictions are less important and the original poinsettia care begins again.
Florists know how important poinsettias are to the Christmas holidays. After all without an ornately decorated tree, a wreath and the Christmas flower (poinsettia) to adorn our homes the feeling of Christmas just wouldn’t be the same. Whether pink, white, purple or red, the poinsettia is the perfect flower for Christmas. Explore the poinsettia colors at your local florist today.
Send someone a poinsettia today!
Learning more about Poinsettia Trends on the Bloomin’ Blog.
Got plant or poinsettia questions? Ask the Expert at the Bloomin’ Blog.
