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Annuals/birds of paradise

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Expert: - 7/20/2007


Question
why are my birds of paradise the flower part turning black?

Answer
Kathryn,
Usually if a flower is turning black it is a fungal condition, often caused by frequent sprinkling with water.  If the flower could be getting damp from morning fog, a sprinkler system or hand watering, that could cause what you are seeing.

If that is not the case, it could be any of the following:  Fertlizer burn - too much fertlizer, or fertlizer when the plant is dry.  Or it could be another substance hitting the flower: a lawn product, a cleaning product used on a nearby house or windows, or a garden product (fungicide, herbicide, insecticide) that hits the flower on a hot sunny day.  

At this point, clip off the blackening flower, water the plant deeply less often (a deep soaking once every five to seven days is better than a little every day) and watch how the plant does from now on.

I hope this helps!
C.L.

Annuals

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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