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Creating A Casket Blanket

May 3, 2010 by 4 Comments

Ask the Expert: I would like to make a casket blanket to drape ove
to drape over the casket and then left on the fresh dirt after to closing of the grave.  I do not want to use chicken wire and scratch the coffin.  Can’t I use crowning glory and just glue the flowers and greenery onto something soft? Suzy

Bloomin Blog Reply:

Although I have never seen one – let alone make one, the term casket blanket does appear in the AFID Guide to Floral Design – Casket Blanket: a floral blanket design of plant materials constructed on heavy fabric and to drape over the casket, usually covering all sides.  Great definition but what does that mean.

I assume that means you can use a fabric like burlap and fasten plant material to it by means of sewing, stapling or gluing. You will probably want to use foliage and flowers that can hold up with out a water source. Hopefully you can create the blanket, shortly before it is needed.

Unfortunately, I can’t be more helpful. However, I am placing this question on our Flower Shop Network Facebook page to see if other florists have a better idea.

Filed Under: Floral Design Tagged With: ,

Revitalizing Old Azaleas

May 3, 2010 by

Ask the Expert: Need expert advice on how to prune old azaleas
I have two old azaleas, beautiful orange and peach.  I have moved them from one home to another @ 10 years ago.  They have very few blooms, nice leaves but some bare branches.  I would like to prune them to make them healthly and full like they once were but do not want to kill them.  Can someone tell me how to best care for them?  They reside in VA and are about 4 feet tall. Belvia

Plant Expert Reply:

First do the azaleas get at least half a day sun? To be full and beautiful azlaeas need light. If the azaleas are not getting enough light, move them to a better location.  When you move them you will need to trim them. The following trimming instrutions will work whether you move them or not.

Trim your Azaleas back to half their size. Make sure the bottom is a little fuller than the top so that light will get through to all of the plant. Normally you trim azaleas right after they bloom. In your case the timing should be ok. The azaleas in your area should have bloomed already or at least be in bloom.

Once you have trimmed your azaleas, you need to fertilize them. I like to use a slow release granular fertilizer that has a systemic insecticide in it. This way the azalea get the nutrients they need and protection for insect to boot.  A good rule of thumb for healthy azaleas is to fertilize them from April through August once a month.

To keep your azaleas healthy and shapely trim them once a year right after they bloom.  Always make the bottom fuller than the top.

Good Luck and keep me posted.

This plant question was brought to you by local Arlington Florists.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: ,

My Avocado Leaves Have White And Brown Spots

May 3, 2010 by

Avocado Leaf With White & Brown Spots

Avocado Leaf With White & Brown Spots

Ask the Expert: Avocado leaves with brown AND white spots…HELP!
I have brown spots on the leaves are slightly raised and recently i started getting white ‘sugar’ like spots on the leaves, too. What do i do?….Your HELLLP, please….

Thanks, Ken

Plant Expert Reply:

Can you remove the brown spots by scrapping them with your fingernail? If so, you have an insect called scale attacking your plant. As for the white spots, they could be caused by an insect like a spidermite or another type of mite. The white spots could be fungal as well.

To find out what is causing the white spots, we must first eliminate insects as the source of the problem. Use a magnifying glass to see if the leaf has a type of mite. If you see anything moving on the leaf, you will need a miticide – which can be purchased at your local garden center.

It might be helpful to have a picture of the back of the leaf and the stem of the plant. Fugual problems will often present themselves on the stems as well as the leaves.

This plant diagnosis was brought to you by the Local Florists in Los Angeles.

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Plant Care Questions Tagged With: , ,

What Makes Agapanthus Bloom?

May 3, 2010 by

Ask the Expert: how do you get an agapanthus to bloom?
it’s green and growing new frons(sp)curl…so pretty but i read that it only blooms when it’s pot-bound. i repotted it in the fall. Cindy

Plant Expert Reply:

Giving Agapanthus what it needs to bloom is essential. First it needs light. Full sun is best, although it can tolerate some shade. Proper watering is the next important element. Agapanthus needs good moisture content in during the growing season especially in the summer. If the plant is kept to dry during the summer blooming wqill be inhibited. However to avoid rotting during the winter, you will need to keep it slightly drier.  Fertilizer is another key. Agapanthus will need to be fertilized monthly will a well-balanced fertilizer from early spring until flowering.

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When Should Lucky Bamboo Be Transplanted Into A Larger Vase

May 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: When to transplant
I have a Lucky Bamboo plant that is getting really big.  It is in a small vase.  How do I know when I should transplant to a larger vase? Kathryn

Plant Expert Reply:

A good rule of thumb  is to transplant lucky bamboo when it becomes top heavy or is 1 1/2 times taller than the container it is in.

Filed Under: Lucky Bamboo Tagged With: , ,

What Is This Blue Flower Found In Upstate South Carolina?

May 3, 2010 by 2 Comments

agapanthusAsk the Expert: what kind of flower is this
I have no idea what kind of flower this is.  The flower had not bloomed in the past few years.  I live in upstate SC and this plant is always green and never dies even in the winter it still had very bright green leaves.  I cannot identify it. Melissa

Plant Expert Reply:

Since I can’t tell by the picture the true structure of the plant and it’s foliage, I am basing my identification on the bloom only. I believe the plant you have is an Agapanthus (African Blue Lily).  However, I’m not sure which type of Agapanthus it is.

Agapanthus is a genus of about 10 vigorous perennial species, some of which are evergreen.  They are clump forming with large strap-shaped leaves. Agapanthus needs fertile, moist but well-drained soil.  Full-sun is required for good summer blooming.

Your blooming issues could be lack of sunlight, phosphorus deficiency, or the plant could be buried too deep. A change in any of these conditions could stimulate blooming.

This flower identification question wsa brought to you by local South Carolina Florists

Filed Under: Flower Identification Tagged With: , , ,

Filler Flower Cure For Cancer?

May 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Who knew this extremely common, floral favorite would be the next big breakthrough in medical science?

Extracts of Gypsophila paniculata, or Baby’s Breath contain saponins, and could have the ability to boost the efficiency of anti-cancer drugs by a million times!

This makes it easier for the immunotoxins (antibody-based drugs) to attack the cancerous cells. As a result, the immunotherapy used to treat certain types of leukaemia and lymphoma is increased in potency by ‘over one million-fold’.

“I am usually careful about the words I use with things like this but this discovery could truly revolutionise the way these antibody-based drugs work and it will save lives.

“And this doesn’t just apply to leukaemia, there is a really big possibility this can be used for many cancers too.” -Dr David Flavell

The breakthrough was discovered by the charitable organization Leukaemia Busters. The team plans to start clinical trials in the near future and hope in 3 to 5 years to have a usable treatment for Leukemia patients.

So next time you’re stuffing that Baby’s Breath into a bouquet you may think twice about it’s importance. It could be that Baby’s Breath has been the cure for cancer all along!

This article is brought to you by Cambridge MA local florists.

Filed Under: Floral Industry News Tagged With: ,

Did I Prune My Azaleas Correctly?

May 1, 2010 by

Ask the Expert: Help !!! azalea problem
Hi,
After my azaleas blooming..I pruned them…some just a little be but I’ve a couple of them to big so I decided to prune a lot but I concerned that wasn’t a good idea, please see the pictures. the wood looks dark. Thanks for your help Elsa

Plant Expert Reply:

I am assuming that your Azaleas are deciduous and not evergreen. Either way you did the right thing by pruning them after they finished blooming.  All azaleas whether deciduous or evergreen will have dormant buds that will leaf out after a plant has been pruned. So the important thing is to give your plant shape as you prune it.

To keep your azalea full and attractive, you need to make sure light gets to the plant from top to bottom. To do this make sure your plant is like a pear shaped woman – narrow towards the top and fuller towards the bottom.  After a severe pruning it will take shrubs a couple of weeks to leaf back out. In fact, I just butchered the shrubs at my house. By my Memorial day party, they will be flushed back out.

I did notice that a few of your branches have winter damage. If these branch do not leaf out in the next couple of weeks, prune them back to the point where the leaves have flushed.

Now would also be a good time to fertilize them. A good rule of thumb for feeding azaleas is AA – April through August once a month.  In some areas you can start fertilizing sooner and extend the feeding a month longer.

I recommend a slow release fertilizer blended for azaleas. I use an azalea fertilizer than contains a systemic insecticide as well. This will keep the azaleas happy and healthy. Your local garden center and nursery should carry the azalea fertilizer they need. You can ask for Fertilome Azalea/Evergreen Food Plus with systemic or something similar.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: , ,

Top 5 Mother’s Day Favorites!

April 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment

mother-daughter

To get into the mood of Mother’s Day we’ve compiled a list of top 5’s for Moms! These are great little things you can do throughout the day for your mom on Mother’s Day.

Top 5 Songs For Mom

Believe it or not, mom’s listen to music too! These are great songs you can play for your mom on Mother’s Day.

5. Baby Mine – Bette Midler

4. Through The Years – Kenny Rogers

3. You And Me Against The World – Helen Reddy

2. Mama – Il Divo

1. Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion

Top 5 Mother’s Day Food Ideas

Quick little treats you and your mom can enjoy together.

5. Decorating cupcakes or cookies

4. Rice Crispy Treats with peanut butter and M&Ms

3. Pizza with Mom’s favorite toppings

2. Smoothies

1. Breakfast in Bed

Top 5 Places To Take Mom on Mother’s Day

You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to treat mom to a great day! Try one of these easy, local places to take mom.

5. To The Park For A Picnic

4. Shopping!

3. For A Great Massage, Manicure or Pedicure

2. Local Zoo

1. Favorite Cafe

Top 5 Mother’s Day Quotes

5. A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary. -Dorothy Canfield Fisher

4. All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. – Abraham Lincoln

3. My mom is a never ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being.  I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. -Graycie Harmon

2. God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. -Jewish proverb

1. Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
-George Cooper

Top 5 Flowers For Mom

Moms love flowers… all girls love flowers.

5. Tulips

4. Roses

3. Lily

2. Daisy

1. Iris

Top 5 Flower Arrangements For Mother’s Day

Heather Trellis Plum Crazy Garden Greetings From The Garden

Fragrant Memories Victorian Roses

More Mother’s Day Arrangements

Image Credit: Mubina H on flickr
This post was brought to you by Kansas City, MO Local Florists


Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Holiday Info Tagged With: , ,

What To Do With New Shoot From Lucky Bamboo

April 28, 2010 by 2 Comments

Ask the Expert: Lucky Bamboo Plant
I have a new shoot coming out at the root base of one of my Lucky Bamboo plants, how do I take it off and start a new plant.

At the same time, do I trim any of the roots from the three Lucky Bamboo plants that I have in my container?

Thanks,
Wanda Graham

Plant Expert Reply:

If the shoot has it’s own set of roots, you can gently detach it from the main stalk. You now had a new lucky bamboo stalk that can reside in the container with your original stalks or you can place it in its own container.  If it doesn’t have it’s own roots you would treat it the same way as propagating lucky bamboo.

As for the roots, you can trim them. I only trim mine if they are excessive and growing out of the container. Don’t cut to much of the roots off.

Filed Under: Lucky Bamboo Tagged With: , ,
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