Bloomin' Blog

Moving Duranta Erecta Indoors For Winter

August 17, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: I live in the mountains of Western North Carolina
How can I winter-over/indoors my duranta erecta–little tree in a big pot/about 3-4 feet tall.

It’s beautiful & I’d like to be able to bring it in (should it be in the house/sunny room?) or just in the garage over the winter? Gloria

Plant Expert Reply:

Hopefully the pot isn’t so big that you can’t move the plant and all into the house. I would not recommend trying to put the plant in a smaller pot just to get it in the house.

The optimum place for your duranta would be a sunroom that stays above freezing. It doesn’t necessarily have to be heated but it can’t drop below 30 degrees. A garage will work but only if it stays above freezing and has many windows that will contribute good light. Any room in your house will work as long as it has a good light source.

When you bring the duranta indoors for the winter reduce your watering. The plant will not need as much water as it did outside. You can also cut back on the fertilizer. Watch for spidemites, mealybugs and whiteflies when you take it indoors. If these pests due occur, you can spray it with a houseplant spray that controls those insects.

Good Luck and Keep Me Posted.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Duranta erecta, Plant Care Questions, Tips & Tricks

Poinsettia Cuttings and Heat Stress

August 17, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Ask the Expert: what can i do when poinsettias got heat stress
it was after doing root tredem the temp got up to 101c now they are all drooping will they come out of it any help thank you Theresa

Plant Expert Reply:

When poinsettia cuttings have heat stress issues, the first course of action is to place them under cooler conditions. Poinsettia cutting should be grown at an 80-85degree day time temperature and a 70-75degree night time temperature. Keep the cuttings under a shade cloth until they form roots. Keep the humidity high and give the plants adequate moisture with out over saturating the soil with water. Soil that is too soggy will not allow the roots to form and will promote the growth of fungus gnats. Although the plants look wilted many will recover given the right conditions from here on out.

Good Luck and Keep Me Posted.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Plant Propagation, Poinsettias

Yellow Wildflower

August 17, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 7 Comments

Yellow Wildflower

Wildflower Leaf

Ask the Expert: What Flower is this?
4 to 6 foot tall
Multiple blooms up to 3 inches in diameter Paul

Plant Expert Reply:

This one was a little tricky the bloom looks like one kind of plant and the leaf another. However, I believe the wildflower you have is a Rudbeckia laciniata. It is a perennial hardy in zones 3-9. It will bloom from mid-summer ot mid-autumn.

Filed Under: Flower Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Fall Flowers, Flower Identification, Perennials, Seasonal Flowers, Summer Flowers

Watering Lucky Bamboo

August 17, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 1 Comment

Ask The Expert: lucky bamboo i just bought isin a “pot” (more like a glass) about 5-6″ high. It has rocks init. You can\’t see through the container, so how do I know how much water to keep in the plant. do i just keep it so i can feel it at the top of the rocks ?

Plant Expert Reply:

You will want to keep the water level at least an inch or so above the rocks. It is acceptable to fill your container half full of water. You will want to keep this level all of the time. Depending on the hum idity of your room, you may have to add water every couple of days.

Keep in mind, lucky bamboo likes water but doesn’t like the chemicals – chlorine and fluoride. So you will need to use distilled water or you will need to leave your water in an open container, for a minimu of overnight and up to 24hrs, before you place it in your lucky bamboo container.

To help with humidity, you can mist the air around your lucky bamboo every so often.

Good Luck and Keep me posted.

Filed Under: Lucky Bamboo Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Dracaena sanderiana, Lucky Bamboo, Plant Care Questions

Sending Flowers? Leave Alternate Phone Numbers!

August 17, 2009 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Sending flowers? Many florists emphasize the importance of including alternate phone numbers with your order. For instance, provide both a cell phone number and a home phone number (if applicable). Perhaps a work phone and a cell phone if no home phone is available.

Thankfully it doesn’t happen often, but sometimes florists need to reach the sender before the flowers can be delivered. This obviously slows down progress while florists are on the phone trying to get answers to simple questions. Some questions we see a lot are:

“That color is not available. Can I substitute it with the same flower in a different color?”
“The hospital will not give me a room number. What is the recipient’s room number?”
“No one’s home. Is it alright to leave them along with a note or return later?”

These are just a sprinkling of the questions we hear all of the time at Flower Shop Network. Local florists across the country have the same questions but are unable to receive answers because no alternate phone number is listed and the other line isn’t available or working.

Avoid this! Simply include any two or more of the following numbers and you should have no problems getting your flowers delivered quickly!

Cell phone number
Home phone number
Work phone number
Fax number
Number of a close friend or number if no other second number is available

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions Tagged With: Flower Sending Tip, Local Florists, Sending Flowers

My First Time Receiving Housewarming Flowers

August 14, 2009 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

I had plans to move in July. Things started going sour in June but I eventually made it into the new place! A little bit of everything happened during the moving process but it was all made right when I walked in the front door that first night.

My parents helped me move what was left of my stuff at their house. My father and brother did most of the heavy lifting so it seemed only right to take them all out to eat after we finished. Of course, my sweetheart has his own set of keys. He had said that he was going to pick up his daughter and would see me later, preferably after a shower. Yes I know, his humor is something else. I never suspected that what he was really doing was buying me my first housewarming gift!

Now I’ve lived in many different places over my short life. My first apartment was only an hour from my parents and a few miles from my love but apparently “my first apartment” wasn’t significant enough to merit any sort of housewarming gift. Well, mom bought me a load of groceries. Does that count?

But I digress. I put my key in the lock and fiddled with it for a second until it opened. When I finally got it open, I saw a small bouquet of flowers on my makeshift dining room table. There was a card beside it that said “Welcome home.” I could’ve bawled at that point but not being a cryer prevented that embarassment. I decided to call him after my shower so I went to my bedroom to get what I needed. I looked at the bedside table and saw what DID make me tear up. A can of carnation milk and a picture of us together on our first Valentines Day sat beside the framed pictures I have of the three of us.

If you don’t remember, I’ll let you know why this meant so much. On our first Valentine’s Day together, he remembered my favorite flower but couldn’t remember my favorite color of that flower. He wound up picking up a can of carnation milk which has three colors on the front. They happen to be my three favorites (though pink is my true favorite). He didn’t have a picture of us from that day so he had to go through mine to find one of us that day but he did and placed them both where he knew I would see them when I got ready to go to sleep.

In hindsight, that’s probably the reason why I love flowers so much. I know it’s a big part of why I absolutely adore him.

Filed Under: Flower Memories Tagged With: Flower Memories, Housewarming Flowers, Housewarming Gifts, Peaks My Interest

Big News For Anyone In Akron, Ohio!

August 13, 2009 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Did you know that the Akron Community Aids Network is having an open house at their new offices today? This is a really beneficial, wonderful service that everyone in and around Akron, Ohio should check out.

A special thanks to Scott from Every Blooming Thing for the heads up! Every Blooming Thing has donated flower arrangements to the open house. That’s just one more reason to go and support such a worthy cause.

Filed Under: Floral Industry News Tagged With: Akron OH Florists, Every Blooming Thing

Pink Flower With Yellow Center Could Be An Anemone

August 13, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Ask the Expert: pink flower ID
Everyone asks me what kind of flower it is, and I don\’t have an answer. It is a shrubby spreader. Pink flowers with about 4-5 delicate petals and a fluffy yellow center. Sort of reminds me a bit of a pink dogwood blossom. It has firm stocks that feel like velvet, with multiple round buds that have taken weeks to open up this summer. Large green leaves, similar to a grape leaf. About 3-5 feet tall. Thanks for your help in solving this mystery. Kimberly

Plant Expert Reply:

Anemone Hupehensis

Without a picture I am taking a stab in the dark. I think it is an Anemone hupehensis sometimes called a Chinese anemone. I found a picture of this type of anemone on the Missouri Botanical Garden site.

Does your flower look anything like this one?

This particular Anemone is a woody-based, fibrous rootstock perennial. It blooms mid-summer to autumn with pink or white flowers. It can get up to 3′ in height and 16″ in width.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Autumn Flowers, Flower Identification, Pink Flowers, Summer Flowers

Peace Lily Light Requirements

August 13, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: peace lily
Does my peace lily need to have any sunlight? Right now I do not have it near a window at all. Anne

Plant Expert Reply:

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) prefers bright filtered natural light. However, the peace lily is tolerant of low light levels making it an excellent houseplant. It can be used outdoors in warm humid areas with filtered light or partial shade. Exposure to direct light may cause yellowing leaves with a burnt appearance.

Filed Under: Peace Lily Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Peace Lily, Plant Care Questions, Spathiphyllum

A Spicy Anniversary Flowers Idea For August

August 13, 2009 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

August is the official wrap of summer. Parents and children get ready to go back to school. College students begin the countdown to spring break. Couples celebrate anniversaries with the same fervor and passion as they did the very first time — or at least will with this fun idea!

Anniversary flowers are a must. Just like gifts on Valentines Day, most women expect something special on this day. Anniversary flower bouquets are a great way to celebrate your lasting romance, but why not spice it up a bit this year? A themed dinner date is a fantastic way to earn some laughs, share some kisses, and get bonus points for creativity. You never know. Your honey may pay you back with something creative of their own. Here are some ideas for a very special evening with spicy flair from some other cultures:

(Guys) Mexican Themed Anniversary Dinner Date: Become her Latin lover for an evening. If this seems like the cheesiest thing you can think of, great! Your lady will most likely give you credit for creativity, have a few laughs at your expense, and think you’re adorable for trying. Then again, you could pull off the Rico Suave appearance. Her reactions either way are worth a shot.

Anniversary flower ideas for this theme: Keep two small vases of flower stems on the table while you eat. Red is a fiery color that excites the senses, especially the sense of passion. Also, a rose between your teeth as you invite her to tango–hot! Funny, but cute. Don’t forget to shower your senora with compliments and present her with a very special bouquet of flowers for your anniversary. Flowers are something she can keep to remember the evening!

(Girls) Bollywood Themed Anniversary Dinner Date: Become his sultry Indian princess for an evening. Have fun with the outfit. Set the mood for an evening of great Indian food and a little show from the hottest dinner date he’s ever had. As with all spicy foods, be wary of his reactions to spicy foods. If this one seems too much for his tummy, tone down the food but keep the theme of the evening.

Anniversary flower ideas for this theme: Color is a huge part of the bollywood movement. India is full of rich color and beautiful surroundings. Live up to this theme with fresh flowers in vivid colors. Ask your local florist which flowers have the fullest color for your anniversary. Though he may not be riding an elephant to dinner, a large necklace of flowers is a fun way to remind him of the culture that you are celebrating.

What do you think? Think your guy/girl will love it? If this idea makes it way from your head to the anniversary night, please return to Flower Shop Network and let us know how it went. Happy anniversary!

Filed Under: Gift Ideas Tagged With: Anniversary Flowers, Flower Suggestions, Local Florists

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