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Annuals/Questions Answered by Expert Long Island Gardener
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Wilting Petunias | 12/5/2011 |
| Q: Good Morning I live in southern Victoria, Australia. We have a similar climate to coastal ... A: The yellow-and-black Spotted Cucumber Beetle ('Diabrotica undecimpunctata') prefers Corn and ... | |
| Storing geraniums over the winter | 10/22/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if I could take my two outdoor pots,each containing a spike and three geraniums,into ... A: It looks like you have some good, healthy plants growing in that container. I don't blame you for ... | |
| Storing geraniums over the winter | 10/21/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if I could take my two outdoor pots,each containing a spike and three geraniums,into ... A: Not sure what "spike" you are growing there, but the Pelargoniums (I presume) certainly can be held ... | |
| Winterizing Boston and asparagus ferns | 9/10/2011 |
| Q: will they do well in an home (vs professional) Oklahoma greenhouse. Or should I cut them back, put ... A: Boston Fern ("Nephrolepis exaltata") and Asparagus densiflorus Sprengeri are entirely different ... | |
| fountain grass | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: I have purple fountan grass in urns on either side of my steps. I planted them about two months ago, ... A: I'm going to be honest, here: This is going to be tough. Without knowing (you leave really no clue ... | |
| gerbera daisy | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: i bought 6 gerbera daisy plants some are in pots and some are in the ground. it takes anywhere from ... A: I don't know what's in those pots you're using, but if the growing medium is well drained, and your ... | |
| sunflower | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: I grow a few mamouth sunflowers every year.This year I have one that has one flower on top and about ... A: You see this question pop up every once in a while. I've seen all kinds of explanations -- ... | |
| persian shield plant | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: could you please tell me if this plant will survive the winter outside or is this a plant that has ... A: First the bad news: Shade-loving Persian Shield (aka 'Strobilanthes dyeranus' to botanists) sheds ... | |
| marigolds | 7/29/2011 |
| Q: I have been growing marigolds from seed for a number of years. 3 or 4 years in a row I saved the ... A: Eastern Europe... A foreign soil I am not, unfortunately, familiar with. But I love a challenge. ... | |
| marigolds | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: I have been growing marigolds from seed for a number of years. 3 or 4 years in a row I saved the ... A: There are a bloom-less summer landscapes in many parts of the country, all collateral damage arising ... | |
| Hydrangea | 7/23/2011 |
| Q: My hydrangeas have bloomed beautifully..but now some or most of the flowers are losing their color ... A: Hydrangea problems? Blame them on global warming. If you've been suffering through the ... | |
| hydrangea flowers | 7/16/2011 |
| Q: my hydrangeas in Lido Beach had wonderful, colored blossoms until recently. Now some of them have ... A: Hydrangeas are susceptible to several common ailments. Do these photos resemble any of the symptoms ... | |
| petunias | 7/7/2011 |
| Q: I 'm a novice gardner, learning as I go. I have had petunias the last couple of years in window box, ... A: The advantage of "the beer thing" is that you can see the evidence. Keep me posted on whether you ... | |
| petunias | 7/5/2011 |
| Q: I 'm a novice gardner, learning as I go. I have had petunias the last couple of years in window box, ... A: Angela - and I hope you will followup again, because I love a good question, and this is one of ... | |
| purple foundtain grass | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: I hope your experience covers this. Lowe's didn't have but one large purple fountain grass ... A: In a perfect world, all flowers finish blooming and invest enormous sums into generating seeds. You ... | |
| petunias | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: I 'm a novice gardner, learning as I go. I have had petunias the last couple of years in window box, ... A: Angela, without a better description of the "little black things" located in the center of the ... | |
| purple foundtain grass | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: I hope your experience covers this. Lowe's didn't have but one large purple fountain grass ... A: Your Pennisetum setaceum is a perennial ornamental Fountain Grass hybrid, sold in some venues (like ... | |
| Flowers in Coco Basket Dying | 6/3/2011 |
| Q: I live in northern Georgia and I recently purchased (from my local Home Depot) a beautiful hanging ... A: Petunias are tough, drought-resistant tanks in the Summer garden. Play your cards right and you're ... | |
| Something is eating the plants | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: My sister called me this morning from Oklahoma City with a plant question. she lives in an ... A: Years ago, I had a rooftop garden in the heart of Brooklyn. Mid-spring, I planted, and I awoke at ... | |
| Petunias | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: I planted petunias this year in circular bed around a bloodgood red maple. They get enough sunlight ... A: Petunias are beautiful flowers that positively glow off the ground. In addition, White Petunias emit ... | |
| Petunias | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: I planted petunias this year in circular bed around a bloodgood red maple. They get enough sunlight ... A: Fear not - Petunias are a hot-weather mid-summer superbloom that pales in rain and the raw, gray ... | |
| cutting flowers | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I have an Olmstead garden, live across from the L.I. Arboretum and would like to find someone that ... A: Martin Viette has an excellent consulting service. You can see their work up and down Northern ... | |
| scented roses to grow in a planter on long island | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: i never grew roses before but i want to grow scented roses in planters . i live on long island. can ... A: It is a difficult challenge for even the most seasoned Rosarian to grow Roses in planters, Bunni. ... | |
| Trailing Lobelia | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: I've bought some small Sapphire Trailing Lobelia from my local supermarket and have planted them in ... A: Lobelia is an exquisite plant that I have treasured since reading all about it in one of Vita ... | |
| how to kill spider mites on my brooms | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: i recently bought two brooms for my main entrance. I didn't transplant, I just placed them inside ... A: You can order Ladybugs and Lacewings as a package from Gardens Alive. Retailers are loath to carry ... | |
| how to kill spider mites on my brooms | 4/2/2011 |
| Q: i recently bought two brooms for my main entrance. I didn't transplant, I just placed them inside ... A: 'Organic Fungicide?' Yikes! Hate to say it, Alejandra, but if you treated your Broom with a ... | |
| king tut plant | 3/30/2011 |
| Q: I wondered where the seed for this plant is at on the plant. Can you start it from seed or does it ... A: Your Cyperus papyrus 'King Tut' aka 'Egyptian Papyrus' -- known also as Cyperus percamenthus -- is a ... | |
| flower bed design and wood bees | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: Hey! I have a 100 yr old home which has a large porch. Im in search of suggestions on the types of ... A: I understand your attraction to bold, bright colors, especially so with the brilliant light you have ... | |
| Preserving Flower seeds | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: I am from India and presently the winter season has gone and spring has set in. Please advise me how ... A: Each of these plants is its own answer. We'll go over Sweet William, the first plant on your list. ... | |
| cuttings from Camilia | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: How can I start more camilias from the plant [tree] I have? It has such beautiful pink blooms and I ... A: Growing a new Camellia from scratch -- by seed -- takes 4 to 20 years from planting until the day ... | |
| cabbage plants and winter | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: Will ornamental cabbage and kale plants live through the winter? I live in north Florida but we do ... A: These are hardy annuals, but they're not invincible - imagine putting a head of lettuce in the ... | |
| Gardenias | 12/18/2010 |
| Q: My aunt lives in the Middle Island area of Long Island. She has a gardenia that grows leaves but no ... A: You are right to be concerned, Kate. Willynilly pruning can kill a perfectly healthy plant. ... | |
| Plant Maintance | 11/3/2010 |
| Q: I recently moved into a house that has a front lawn that was taken care of by professional ... A: Toronto, eh? My friend, you are in USDA ZONE 5. Anything you plant, anything you grow must be ... | |
| Plant Maintance | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: I recently moved into a house that has a front lawn that was taken care of by professional ... A: You did not mention where you are writing from, Dave - rule number one: Tell me where your plants ... | |
| Dahlias | 10/25/2010 |
| Q: Why didn't my dahlias bloom this year? I did not remove the tubers and they survived and spread ... A: Dahlias self-dividing are a wonderful predicament. But when they fail to blooom, it is a big ... | |
| transplanting shrubs and bushes | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: We are adding a farmer's porch to the front of my house. This project will take approximately 6 ... A: Timing is everything. You could not have picked a better time to undertake this project. Already, ... | |
| No flowers on dahlias | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: My dahlias flowered beautifully at first but gradually the flowers died and the plants no longer ... A: In the world of Kingdom Plantae, much depends on the weather. In the Summer of 2010, over most of ... | |
| Sick Geraniums | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a deep purple ivy geranium. It WAS beautiful, but since I transplanted it, the new growth ... A: As I sit here in my ice-cold-freezing-air-conditioned office, I check your Houston weather and I see ... | |
| impatiens issue | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: my mother has three hanging impatiens baskets in the front of her home and one behind on her back ... A: There are so many reasons for Impatiens to wilt, I am reluctant to post my answer. Let me tell you ... | |
| FOLLOWUP purple fountain grass | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: I bought two small penesetum rubra plants today for containers on my porch, (with ivy planted around ... A: Slice and dice 8 to 12 inches off the ground as nights grow longer and days cool down, almost like ... | |
| hanging petunias | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: just bought a hanging petunia.It has some dead stems/branches. Can i cut/or pinch them off without ... A: Cutting the dead stems and branches off anything is a great idea, for several reasons. One, as they ... | |
| purple fountain grass | 7/20/2010 |
| Q: I bought two small penesetum rubra plants today for containers on my porch, (with ivy planted around ... A: You're in luck. Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' is a perennial ornamental Fountain Grass hybrid, sold ... | |
| Impatiens | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: I have several double flowered impatiens that have an odd flowering problem. As the flower develops ... A: The problem you are describing has a name: BUD ABSCISSION. Sounds like a moisture problem to me. ... | |
| Something is eating the flowers on my petunias | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: What can I do? A: Petunia-eating pests abound, but my guess would be these are Slugs. What do you think? Ther's a ... | |
| Care of potted petunias | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: What is the best solution to get rid of aphids and whiteflies (and prevent them from returning)on my ... A: One-stop shopping is becoming easier thanks to the Green Wave sweeping across the planet. For ... | |
| Impatiens | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: My impatiens were doing beautiful until 2 days ago when my husband fed them Miracid by mistake. ... A: Pity the poor husband who overfeeds the plants. Best of intentions, of course, and the worst of ... | |
| Impatiens | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: I've grown impatiens for many years in a large pot on our front steps, and the flowers always bloom ... A: I have been working on this answer for so long, with so many interruptions (including a 3 day power ... | |
| Impatiens | 6/25/2010 |
| Q: I've grown impatiens for many years in a large pot on our front steps, and the flowers always bloom ... A: Since you are discovering this damage in the morning, it sounds like this is a crime taking place in ... | |
| nut grass | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a flower garden that I plant annuals in and a rose garden. The problem is that nut grass ... A: Nutgrass (aka 'Purple Nutsedge' or 'Cyperus rotundus' to botanists) is famous in certain parts of ... | |
| coffee grounds | 6/19/2010 |
| Q: Is it good to put coffee grounds around any plants. I've heard it is but don't know which ones like ... A: You'll read from time to time advice that Coffee Grounds are an excellent source of organic matter ... | |
| Genista Cytisus Spachiana | 6/10/2010 |
| Q: I bought the above Genista to add to my garden this year. My neighbor told me he had recently ... A: For some reason, people this summer seem to be losing a lot of sleep over Brooms. This is the ... | |
| browning or diseased sweet broom shrub | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: i planted 4 plants for a friend in Friendswood Texas and now 2 of them look like they are diseased ... A: Kathy. I shouldn't answer this question, this being the Annuals forum at AllExperts. Not the place ... | |
| unknown flower | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: years ago I had an annual that grew about 3ft tall with flowers up and down the stalk. Then they ... A: I'm sure with a little more information -- the flower description and the bloom season, for ... | |
| Fertilizing Hibiscus Trees | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: I have eight beautiful hibiscus trees finally planted in concrete containers. I wish to encourage as ... A: and so easy to grow, I don't know why everyone does not have several at home. But these tropical ... | |
| Begonias | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I have gone through and read most of your answers to questions..Amazing knowledge you have. You ... A: Begonias are easy to grow and undemanding when it comes to light. There are 3 kinds commonly sold ... | |
| morning sun afternoon shade | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a container that is morning sun and afternoon shade. I love Geraniums in the old fashion red, ... A: Sounds like you are saying your container is not the problem, it's the location of the container. ... | |
| Impatiens | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: How often should I liquid fertilise my impatiens? And how often should I liquid fertilise my ... A: Like night and day, these 2 plants. Impatiens needs no fertilizing. Fertilizer companies love to ... | |
| It Is Imperative I Save This Plant!!!! HELP! | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: This past Easter I received a beautiful luscious plum colored "mini mum" from my dearest friend, ... A: A plum colored Chrysanthemum - What beautiful flowers your friend has gifted you. I don't blame you ... | |
| picking all my flowers | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: I just wanted to know do you know of anyone who has this problem. A family friend, not mine, comes ... A: Clearly the "friend of the family" has a lot of nerve. At the risk of sounding like Ann Landers, let ... | |
| red cypress vine | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: Should I pinch these seedlings? A: The Plant Biology website offers illustrated instructions on growing this Ipomoea, a close relative ... | |
| geranium | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: !!! well i m not sure whether i m in right place or not ...i just am interested in geranium ...i ... A: We grow Geraniums on Long Island as Annuals, so I suppose I could stretch this answer and turn it ... | |
| tropical plants | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: is it to early to put your tropical plants out yet i live in texas, in the dallas area. what do u ... A: There are a whole bunch of hybrids called "Moonglow" - breeders can register the same name as long ... | |
| about petunia | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: in which month we need a fertilizer for petunia A: SO glad you asked, Jaspreet. Let's repeat it for the class -- to make sure EVERYONE heard this ... | |
| Geranium Frostbite | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I left my geraniums out last night and we had a frost. I heard you could spray with water and it ... A: It's that time of year again, gardeners (like me) head out for a game of Russian Roulette with their ... | |
| dahlia flowers | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: i am planning to plant some big dahlia flowers this winter , what care should i take . 1.fertiliser ... A: Dahlias need heat and sun. Above 88 degrees, and the Chlorophyll A stops working. Below 48 degrees ... | |
| New Guinea impatiens | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: Can you suggest any way to save this poor New Guinea impatiens? A photo is attached; it was taken ... A: I agree, Earth Juice sounds like fertilizer. The Messenger is patent-protected. You won't find it ... | |
| New Guinea impatiens | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: Can you suggest any way to save this poor New Guinea impatiens? A photo is attached; it was taken ... A: Fertilizer companies have programmed plantlovers to fertilizer at the drop of a hat. Fertilizer is ... | |
| Persian shield in zone 6 | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I bought a persian shield this summer and it is beautiful. Then I realized it will not withstand ... A: Yes, it is true - there is no such thing as a true gardener who believes there is such as a thing as ... | |
| reseeding sunflowers from plants | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: should you dead head sunflowers before or after a frost if you want to use the seeds for growing?? ... A: Sunflowers are Burpee posts harvesting tips on its website: ... | |
| Persian shield in zone 6 | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: I bought a persian shield this summer and it is beautiful. Then I realized it will not withstand ... A: Be the first on your block to grow the tender, tropical, exotic Persian Shield ('Strobilanthes ... | |
| cuttings | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: What part of the geranium plant are cuttings taken from? I don't know where to take the cut and the ... A: Two Geranium problems here: (1) How to take cuttings and (2) How to get branches. First, let's go ... | |
| colius cuttings | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: I've started pinching off my coleus leaves now to root them for next spring plantings. I've put ... A: Coleus are incredibly easy to root, ranking with Impatiens as the cuttings champions. Good thing, ... | |
| green "fungus" on tree | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a dogwood tree that doesn't look very good this year...I had some firewood that had what ... A: Sounds to me like you're looking at Lichens -- exotic, harmless organisms considered hypersensitive ... | |
| petunias | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: What insect or bug kills petunias A: Sounds to me like it is time once again for our annual Black Spots On The Petunias question. Insect ... | |
| Hydrangea | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: I planted two hydrangea plants in two separate locations in sandy soil. With all of the rain we've ... A: My friend, The solution to sandy soil is not to fertilize. The solution is to amend the soil - ... | |
| waterlogged petunias | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I understand that we must not over water container petunias, but our weather (excess rain) this ... A: First, the pots have to be perfectly draining. If they're not, change that. Petunia roots can't ... | |
| petunias | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: How do I keep my petunias from becoming leggy A: When you buy them at the garden center, Petunias are almost exclusively rigged behind the scenes ... | |
| annual flower - impatients | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: our flower garden was mulched last year with hard wood. Now my impatients will not grow in the ... A: Interesting problem. Thanks for the additional information. For the record, Impatiens as a genus ... | |
| annual flower - impatients | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: our flower garden was mulched last year with hard wood. Now my impatients will not grow in the ... A: I'm reluctant to answer your question because of your nebulous description of the problem - your ... | |
| Growing Nasturtiums | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I am a beginner gardner and I have some nasturtium plants that I planted from seeds and they have ... A: Depending on variety and weather conditions, Nasturtiums bloom anywhere from 35 to 80 days after ... | |
| Petunia problem | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: My petunias have a sticky feel to the foliage. The blooms do not seem to grow as large or full as ... A: The National Garden Bureau has a thing or two to say about this sticky problem you post: 'Petunias ... | |
| Petunia pests | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: My petunias get small black spots on the leaves and the stems and leaves get very sticky. I have ... A: The problem with bug killers -- and this includes organic bug killers -- is that they work on ALL ... | |
| Petunia pests | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: My petunias get small black spots on the leaves and the stems and leaves get very sticky. I have ... A: Time again for the Annual Black Spots On The Petunias question. As you may have guessed, this is ... | |
| petunias | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: I planted white and dark purple petunias in a big pot about 1 1/2 monthas ago.I think they are ... A: Color in flowers is a complex chemical mystery that yields new surprises every year. A scientist at ... | |
| Dying flowers/shrubs | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: There are two,(and only two) places in my garden where nothing I seem to plant grows. They are in ... A: I hate to say this, mainly because no one wants to be bothered, but the perfect solution to this is ... | |
| impatients | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: What happened when one day your impatients are healthy and blooming (4 in a planter) and the next ... A: Unfortunately this sounds like standard Fungus assault. If you are in the part of the country where ... | |
| starting annuals from seed | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering how to get the flowers I grow from seed to stay relatively short and have thick ... A: There are special, costly chemicals that growers use to get the effect you are asking about. But ... | |
| Sunflowers with multiple flowers | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I have several yellow Del Sol Hybrid sunflowers. A few weeks ago the large sunflower at the top of ... A: Sunflowers are just about the easiest thing in the world to grow. These are basically fancy weeds ... | |
| mulching a flower garden | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: My wife planted some bulbs in our flower garden last weekend (she said about 1/2" to 1" of dirt over ... A: What a great idea you have to spend your summer. Mulch does look beautiful around flowers in the ... | |
| annuals in hanging baskets | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: should there be holes in the the bottom of the pot in an annual hanging plant? A: You NEED drainage for these things. Without drainage, no air. No air, no aerobic bacteria. No ... | |
| Snapdragons | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I planted 10 full-grown, blooming snapdragons two months ago. They have soil rich with organic ... A: Sounds like a soil-borne fungus amongus, Joanne. Water water everywhere? Cool weather -- perfect ... | |
| planting salvia | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I just finished planting a large number of salvia plants from a local nursery. They are quite large ... A: Each 'entire flower spike' is at the end of a stem that will form sideshoots and branches and, ... | |
| planting salvia | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I just finished planting a large number of salvia plants from a local nursery. They are quite large ... A: I don't know who came up with the idea of removing flowers to encourage new growth -- perhaps what ... | |
| gladiolus | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: can they be left in the ground for the winter? and if not can i store them in the refrigerator for ... A: Gladiolus -- officially -- are hardy to around zone 8. But there's that list of exceptions that ... | |
| Parade Rose | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: however if it acts like an annual maybe it qualifies for this forum? Here is my question. I have a ... A: The Nurserymen's Exchange in California and Florida owns the trademark, 'Bloom Rite'. They market ... | |
| flowering cabbage | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: i planted flowering cabbage last summer and let it go all winter with no trimming(i wasn't sure i ... A: Behold the Biennial Bolted Cabbages. Yes, your Flowering Cabbages have Bolted. You've heard this ... | |
| Dahlia | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: ..I just purchased some beautiful Dahlia's from a plant stand they looked great at first but now the ... A: Dahlias are really very easy plants, especially if you treat them as annuals and don't dig them up ... | |
| Wilting Petunias | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: I am in Montana, today is very nice, 60's. I took my hanging basket outside for the second time and ... A: Took me a little investigating to come up with this answer, but I don't often learn something new in ... | |
| Geraniums being hit by frost | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I left my newly purchased geraniums out overnight by accident. They were hit by frost. Is there ... A: Geraniums - domestic Pelargoniums, that is, and not the wild genus that scientists refer to as ... | |
| petunias | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know how I know when I can plant petunias. I see they are just starting to sell ... A: Petunias are comparatively cold-hardy. As long as they have grown accustomed to the cold, they will ... | |
| tidal wave petunias | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: I have no experience with flowers before. I planted wave petunias from seed. After about a month ... A: You can't go wrong with Petunias. Growing these from seed, however, on your first try takes a VERY ... | |
| tea | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: would the Moon Flower(giant white), Evening Promise,Corpses(early sunrise),Columbine(blue ... A: At least one of those flowers on your list -- Moonflower -- is potentially lethal, especially if you ... | |
| deadheading annuals | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I'm growing a number of annuals in a greenhouse and want to known what annuals need deadheading in ... A: Ah ha! You are not deadheading, my friend. You are PINCHING. That is a very good idea. Note ... | |
| container plant | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: Wow! First question. I am planting two 2-3' urns w/morning glories/moon flowers w/obelisks. I ... A: Spring has sprung again, and here come the April showers. Yes, it's so easy to get carried away too ... | |
| Petunias | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I bought a whole of petunias last year and they were beautiful until late Fall. Now it is April and ... A: Petunias, sad to say, are annual plants. They do actually thrive in cool weather and will bloom ... | |
| deadheading annuals | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm growing a number of annuals in a greenhouse and want to known what annuals need deadheading in ... A: Deadhead EVERYTHING, Chuck. Seed-making is exhausting for a plant. It takes enormous amounts of ... | |
| NEW GUINEA IMPATIENT | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE A NEW GUINEA IMPATIENT MY SON GAVE TO ME FOR MOTHERS DAY. IT HAS GROWN WELL UNTIL NOW. I HAVE ... A: It is very hard to i.d. disease without the plant right there in person. Even a photo is not really ... | |
| What to plant | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a large traiangular corner of the yard flower bed. Until last year, it was a shady flower ... A: With some exceptions, perennials are, unfortunately, rarely the answer to plant selection. Few ... | |
| amaryllis | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I have 4 amaryllis plants ,they put out flowers and the leaves turn yellow , but when i cut the ... A: This is NOT an annual, my friend, and the annual experts don't like me to answer questions that are ... | |
| Lychnis Cardenalis Maltese Cross | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: Good Morning!! I would appreciate any advice regarding the soil preparation and appropriate planting ... A: Lychnis 'Maltese Cross' is a dependable, long lived perennial -- no fuss no muss. Autumn or Spring ... | |
| Genista Racemosa | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: For the last two years my sweet broom "genista racemosa" has been doing great. Last year it grew ... A: Genista Racemosa aka Cytisus spachianus aka 'Sweet Broom' is considered hardy to around Zone 8b -- ... | |
| Persian Shield Strobilan | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: My plant does well in the summer, but in the winter the leaves fall off although I protect it from ... A: Shade-loving 'Persian Shield' ('Strobilanthes dyeranus' to botanists) loses its leaves in North ... | |
| Petunias? Surfinias? | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: Are petunias and surfinias the same plant? I thought all of the petunias hang. However, last year I ... A: 'Surfinia' is a trademark owne by Japan's Suntory Limited (most famous here for its delicious, ... | |
| Searching for a flower | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: My looking for the name of a small (one inch) rounded flower with small leaves, green long stems, ... A: Anna, this is a very tough question. It is almost IMPOSSIBLE to find a flower from a description. ... | |
| Plants and Butterflies | 9/29/2008 |
| Q: I live in Lasvegas,Nevada and today i just bought new plants Red, White,puple Petunias, an orange ... A: I admit I am not THAT well versed in the Butterflies of Nevada --- but here's someone who is: ... | |
| sticky impatients with crystaline globules... | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I have had two wonderfully full INDOOR WINDOW BOXES overflowing with Impatiens. But recently I ... A: I have a feeling you're not going to like this. This 'honeydew' you observe, this sticky, clear ... | |
| Lantana | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: I live in Georgia and I've been told that my Lantana will come back year after year, despite being ... A: Technically, the heat-loving Lantana genus is perennial. But it's often grown as an annual as far ... | |
| Annual Hibiscus | 8/22/2008 |
| Q: After purchasing a annual Hibicus in bloom, should it be replanted in soil (garden) or do they ... A: Greetings from the North Shore, neighbor. FYI: There's no such thing literally as an Annual ... | |
| New Guinea Impatients | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a hanging planter with this varitey of impatients. I've had them for about a month and last ... A: Sounds like you wanted to do something nice for your plants, and accidentally burned them with the ... | |
| IMPATIENTS AND GERANIUMS | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: , IVE BEEN CLIPPING FROM MY IMPATIENTS ALL SUMMER AND STARTING NEW PLANTS FROM THE STEMS IVE ... A: Sorry, but there's no easy answer for this beyond what you are doing so competently already. ... | |
| pest on petunias | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: I am growing petunias in pots on my terrace on the 25th floor in NYC. The flowers on one of the ... A: Ah, the annual Black Dots on my Petunias question. This could be symptom of a couple of things. ... | |
| "pinching" petunias | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: What do you mean by "pinching" petunias in a hanging pot? We've already made the mistake of ... A: Pots too often hang from the ceilings of covered porches, where there is never enough strong ... | |
| geraniums | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: I too live on the north shore of Long Island. I planted 4 pots with geraniums and they did ... A: Geraniums ARE easy ... as long as you follow a few basic rules. Let me know if you've broken any of ... | |
| Droopy daisies updated | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: I received your reply asking for more info on the what type of daisies I was dealing with after ... A: Awesome. If you cut them down to the bottom or next-to-bottom set of leaves on the stalk, the plant ... | |
| bugs in the garden | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: I live in Seaford and I would like to find a way to deal with the pests in my garden in an organic ... A: The New York State Health Dept identifies Seaford as a Prostate Cancer zipcode -- rates 15 to 49 ... | |
| Trailing Petunias | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: I have six hanging baskets of Trailing Petunias and they were beginning to flower nicely, in fact ... A: CUT the dilapidated spent Petunia flowers and place the pots in a high Sun location to adjust. By ... | |
| dasies have black spots | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: My Dasie's just planted last year, and was doing well last year and as well as this year until just ... A: Depends on the fly. If you are referring to Thrips or Gnats, this could be a problem with the Soil. ... | |
| care of Petunias' | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: Can you please tell me-I really wish you could show me how to encourage new bloom on Petunias'. All ... A: Forget the Miracle Gro. Petunias don't need it. In this case, they probably bloomed IN SPITE of ... | |
| dasies have black spots | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: My Dasie's just planted last year, and was doing well last year and as well as this year until just ... A: There are about 100 pages of different plants that someone in the world refers to as Daisies, and ... | |
| PETUNIA | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: MY PETUNIA'S IN HANGING BASKETS SEEM TO GET THIN NOT FULL AND THICK LIKE WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THEM,, ... A: Petunias like most other flowering plants will grow straight out of the middle stalk, unless you ... | |
| impatiens | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: Will impatiens grow well when the area where I am wanting to plant them will be getting about an ... A: If you're taking bets on this, put my money on the big red YES answer. Reason being, no Sun is THAT ... | |
| Petunia wilt | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: I thought slugs only ate leaves. Now many of my wave petunias that I have in pots are wilting. ... A: Petunias are MADE to dry out. Over-watering is the kiss of death for them. A textbook case of ... | |
| Pansies | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: I want to keep my pansies blooming as long as possible. We are in the mountains so heat is not a ... A: Cut back ('pinch') to the bottom leaves and don't give up on them as Summer takes off. In Autumn ... | |
| Yellow climbing plant | 6/14/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a few dahlias and wasn't sure if it was okay to put them in a clay pot. Will that dry ... A: Don't water this plant every morning. Water it ONCE and give it LOTS of water. Make sure the water ... | |
| annuals | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: I live in Vermont and just got my husband some flowers. Sonic orange impatiens, double impatiens, ... A: Impatiens of all colors can most definitely be saved through the year -- but you may find it ... | |
| Plants not growing well | 6/11/2008 |
| Q: I live in Benton, Arkansas. Ok, let me see if I can explain this problem we are having with our ... A: Kimberly. Unfortunately I have to ask you a few more questions - and it may seem obvious to you, but ... | |
| Marigolds turning black | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: Why are my Marigolds turning black. They are in large pots(outdoor) with other annuals??? Thanks, ... A: Michigan State University Extension posts a page on one of the more common Fungi known to attack ... | |
| sunflowers | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: Can I mulch my sunflower seedlings with pine straw? I have prepared the soil with peat moss, ... A: Sunflowers are tough plants. They are also annuals. Give them too much of a good thing, and you ... | |
| change in blooms | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: The hibiscus plant I purchased a month ago has been producing large deep colored blooms and very ... A: I guess we can assume this is a tender, Florida-loving Hibiscus? A hardy Hibiscus would be going ... | |
| Calendula | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: I bought the seeds as I'm looking forward to beautiful cut flowers on my dinner table. I'm in London ... A: I have not grown Calendula myself from seed. So I checked to see what the sage, green-thumbed Marie ... | |
| New Guinea Impatiens | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: I have bought 160 plugs of N. G. Impatiens, potted them up last week. Should I pinch out the centre ... A: Sorry I have taken so long to answer to your question, Richard. I have been out with the flu for a ... | |
| impatients | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: I HAVE A HANGING BASKET I JUST PURCHASED FULL OF BLOOMS BUT DUE TO THE COOL WET WEATHER I KEPT IN ... A: The 'Cool Wet Weather' would have eliminated any possibility of Spider Mites, my friend, but by ... | |
| pruning hydrangea | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: This will be my third summer in Lincoln NE. We have three hyrangea bushes that were planted by the ... A: This is too risky to do right now. In a few weeks, when this shrub is covered with leaves, it will ... | |
| pruning/feeding hydrangea | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: I have always trimmed back my many hydrangea (Nikko blue) in fall in our East Hampton gardens. This ... A: Your Hydrangea situation comes up around this time frequently. Hydrangeas bloom on OLD wood. Many ... | |
| Primula | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: I live in Rhode Island. My mom bought me a "Primula" plant for Easter. Can I plant this outside now? ... A: Those pretty Primroses are technically hardy, but it is too early to put them outside right now -- ... | |
| growing under lights | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: this is now my 4th year growing annuals for the summer under lights, and every year i get a slime ... A: Botrytis is usually the pathogenic nemesis for growers of Summer seedlings. Slime mold attacking ... | |
| Ladybug's | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: 000 ladybugs in honor of Earth Day. I thought that this would be a good project for an elementary ... A: First of all, I think it's a wonderful idea. I am basically speechless on this - I am just so ... | |
| geraniums | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: I have two flower boxes of geraniums. I live in Paris France - its been a wet winter. I do not ... A: Wet Winter? Don't you get Snow in Paris? Seems your climate is similar to San Francisco, at least ... | |
| When to start?? | 2/23/2008 |
| Q: I was going to try starting my flowers from seeds this year, so I could have more for a lower cost ... A: Petunias are hog weather annuals that will not survive today's weather. Pansies are cool weather ... | |
| Petunia problems | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: I have wave petunias in baskets outside every summer. The last 2 years, some of them have what seems ... A: Malathion, Grant? Tsk, tsk, no dinner for you tonight. That Malathion is murder on people. What ... | |
| Commack, Long Island garden | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: I have no gardening experience. (Unfortunately I have environmental allergies and lack patience.) ... A: Step 1: Get a soil test. This is the step no one wants to take. Let's face it, what fun is it to ... | |
| what to plant | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: I live outside of Nashville, Tn, zone 7. We lost our dog this winter, and wanted to plant something ... A: Helleborus niger, the Christmas Rose, grows slowly, flowers in the snow, lives best in Sun that ... | |
| Bougainvilla and Freezing Tempatures | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: I live in Florida and have a fairly new bougainvilla plant that I planted late Spring (May '07). It ... A: Bougainvilleas are not Annuals, so I would recommend you get a second opinion over in the ... | |
| Petunias | 12/18/2007 |
| Q: I live in northern VA (zone 7, I think) and have some petunias that have done amazingly well the ... A: Petunias endure triple digit temperatures in the hottest days of Summer. But they can take freezing ... | |
| Flowers inside for the winter | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I have some Geraniums that still look great. Since we have had warm weather until last week I ... A: Geraniums should be fine grown indoors in the sunniest window in the house through the Winter. ... | |
| Need plant ideas | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: I live in the Philadelphia, Pa area. I would like to plant some plants on top of a 2 foot high ... A: You can probably install some nice looking plants right up to Thanksgiving if the weather holds out. ... | |
| new guinea impatient | 10/29/2007 |
| Q: My plant was a gift from my son ,is there away to keep it in the fall and winter? A: Why certainly! Grow it on a windowsill, and make sure you prune it weekly. These are easy plants ... | |
| nasturnium seeds | 10/21/2007 |
| Q: I enjoy picking the nasturnium seeds from my garden during early fall to late fall. My grandkids ... A: Botanists harvest individual Nasturtium Fruits for research by soaking them for 5 minutes in a weak ... | |
| geranium | 10/18/2007 |
| Q: I have a gorgeous geranium which I would like to keep for next spring. I have been told two ... A: Do both. This is not the best time of year to be rooting cuttings. Stem tissue naturally sprouts ... | |
| Impatiens | 10/1/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if Impatiens do well in the house for the winter? How should I care for them, In the ... A: Impatiens grow very well in a Sunny Window during the winter. Biggest problem is Spider Mites. ... | |
| bougenvillea | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: I just bought 2 bougenvillea from a nursery and only few days later, I found that all the leaves are ... A: First off, Cynthia, I am sorry this is something I could not get to sooner. I know you have been ... | |
| bougenvillea | 9/20/2007 |
| Q: I just bought 2 bougenvillea from a nursery and only few days later, I found that all the leaves are ... A: So we have here a case of 'drooping' vs 'dropping' -- my mistake. When a Bougainvillea, or any ... | |
| bougenvillea | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: I just bought 2 bougenvillea from a nursery and only few days later, I found that all the leaves are ... A: Leaf drop on Bougainvilleas can have several causes, and the answer here depends on where you are ... | |
| Morning Glories | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: I have some morning glories currently growing. I live in Zone 5 (colorado) were I believe they are ... A: Morning Glories are Annual plants by nature, and famous for being excellent reseeders. Clusters of ... | |
| Impatients or impatiens? | 8/28/2007 |
| Q: I'm not sure which way you spell that. Mine come back every year and use to flower continually until ... A: Impatiens balsamina and Impatiens wallerana are two commonly grown species of this incredibly ... | |
| Need instructions from scratch | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: I am a first time gardener. So I'll need all the ABCs of growing annuals. I am planning to buy ... A: Gardening Basics: Sun plus Water. That takes care of 99 percent of any Gardening you need to know. ... | |
| help!! | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: I live in richmiond,va and a friend has a bunch of cali lilly's and we want to know when is a good ... A: Calla Lilies are busy growing right now. Roots are active, Chloroplast cells are working overtime, ... | |
| Leggy Petunia's | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: I have grown petunia's for years. This is the first year that they have gotten really leggy. Can I ... A: Cut down to the first or second leaves on the stem and you'll help them branch out more and stay ... | |
| lobelia | 8/1/2007 |
| Q: my lobelia looks great next day it looks like it's dying what's going on? A: Is this the blue Lobelia groundcover you are asking about? It's easy to mis-water Lobelia. The ... | |
| Snapdragon | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: I planted a bunch of snap dragon's but they are leaning over instead of standing up straight. the ... A: Other Flowers may not need as much sun as your beautiful Snapdragons. Part Shade does not always ... | |
| nasturtiums | 7/25/2007 |
| Q: My nasturtiums are very full, but the leaves are often yellow throughout the flower bed. do they ... A: It is highly unlikely that your garden soil is so acidic your Nasturtiums cannot thrive there ... | |
| impatients | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: I've been planting impatients for 15 years in the same spots- on each side of walkway. the past 2 ... A: Impatiens stems are succulent and break easily. Your Impatiens may be suffering from several ... | |
| Snap Dragons and Gerber Daisies | 7/12/2007 |
| Q: I would like to know the correct way to deadhead snap dragons, do I pinch off the blooms or the ... A: Pinching Snapdragons will encourage branching and new spikes. If you deadhead after blooming, or if ... | |
| leggy impatients | 7/8/2007 |
| Q: I live in North Haven,CT. Every spring, after Mothers day, I put inpatients in the railing flower ... A: The term is 'pinching', my friend -- you need to 'pinch' your Impatiens to keep them stocky and well ... | |
| impatients | 7/7/2007 |
| Q: For several years, I have planted impatients in a window box type area (it is made of stone and ... A: My first thought is that the temperature in that stone container is getting painfully high. Pick up ... | |
| Where can you buy Ladybugs? | 7/1/2007 |
| Q: I too am on the north shore of Long Islandnd. In the past I always had a garden (out in the yard) ... A: They make a serious effort to offer a broad selection of organic merchandise, but they sell it right ... | |
| Impatiens with no flower buds | 6/27/2007 |
| Q: I.G. - I seem to have the same problem as the person with the impatiens that are full and lush with ... A: A few possible problems here with your Impatiens. One is that they are getting TOO MUCH sun. Too ... | |
| Petunias | 6/23/2007 |
| Q: I have 6 hanging baskets of petunias & they dont; seem to be doing very well this year.They are not ... A: Impatiens are different from Petunias -- as you probably know. Petunias don't set flowers if you ... | |
| Petunias | 6/22/2007 |
| Q: I have 6 hanging baskets of petunias & they dont; seem to be doing very well this year.They are not ... A: Most legitimate retailers will stand by their products and do what they can to keep their customers ... | |
| impatiens | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: I have a flower bed along side the length of my garage. It has daffodils in spring, along with a ... A: Could be a few things. My money's on destructive root-knot Impatiens-attacking Nematodes: ... | |
| iris's | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: i planted 2 iris's last yr. they both bloomed. this year they got bigger, lots of leaves, but no ... A: Your Irises are Bearded or Beard-less? Beard-less Irises thrive in soil rich in Nitrogen; Bearded ... | |
| hearty ground cover for sunny area | 6/17/2007 |
| Q: do you know any hearty ground cover I can get that will spread quickly, look pretty and grow in the ... A: You left out low-maintenance -- oversight, yes? Low maintenance is the order du jour. Alchemilla ... | |
| Petunias | 6/16/2007 |
| Q: I have 6 hanging baskets of petunias & they dont; seem to be doing very well this year.They are not ... A: Petunias sound like something you have been growing for several seasons, so you're an old hand at ... | |
| impatiens | 6/14/2007 |
| Q: I have a flower bed along side the length of my garage. It has daffodils in spring, along with a ... A: How are these Impatiens dying, Elaine? Do they wilt before they turn Yellow? How many days go by ... | |
| impatients becoming 'leggy' | 6/11/2007 |
| Q: My impatiens get 'leggy' about July each year. How can I prevent this? If pruning is the answer, how ... A: You've hit the nail on the head, my friend. 'Pruning' -- or, more correctly, 'pinching' -- will ... | |
| petunia annual hanging plants | 6/10/2007 |
| Q: why is my plant green and wilting with no flowers and why wont it bloom! A: Hanging plants usually dangle from the porches they are decorating, shaded for the comfort of the ... | |
| dying verbena hanging basket | 6/9/2007 |
| Q: I live in Colorado. I purchased beautiful verbena hanging baskets in May. They were beautiful! ... A: Are the leaves dry and crispy? As is the case with Roses, Powdery Mildew is one of those Verbena ... | |
| Impatients | 5/28/2007 |
| Q: I live in Ms. where the dirt is clay. I planted some impatients and used some miracle grow mixed ... A: Have you done anything to lighten up that Clay soil before you put your Impatiens in? These are ... | |
| ladyslipper | 5/27/2007 |
| Q: Hello - I found a flower wich looks like a lady slipper = but was told it was not and is rare look ... A: Ladyslipper is an Orchid. I cannot think of another flower that resembles this one. There are ... | |
| Betulia | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: I can't find this annual flower in my gardening books.Does it have another name? A: We could have one of two possibilities as far as I can see here, Don. We could be talking about ... | |
| Annuals-petuinas | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: I have three hanging baskets of petunias on my porch they are all like wilting and dying. I water ... A: Sounds like the soil is to blame. Is it very hard when dry? Petunia roots need to breathe like ... | |
| Salvia | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: I recently planted some "firecrackers" in a container and they are very skinny. Would they come back ... A: Skinny = 1 plant? Thicker = 2? Do I understand you here, Susan? Just want to make sure I have ... | |
| petunias | 5/13/2007 |
| Q: How do you take care of potted petunias? A: Put them in the sun -- on the roof -- water once a day and only if they are dry. Don't use great ... | |
| Transplanting a large Camilia | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: I live in Washington and I have just recieved an unwanted camilia tree. It stands about 7 feet tall ... A: Plant it ASAP and retain as much of the rootball as you can possible hold. I know this sounds ... | |
| Petunias | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: My Petunias has become legging. Can I cut them? And if I can, how much should I cut. Should I cut ... A: Take a nice sharp scissors and remove the dead blooms and the little furry green collar that held ... | |
| Lilac bushes | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: Two years ago we planted a lilac bush and it has never produced any flowers. Is there something we ... A: Be patient. Lilacs require a minimum of 3 years, and often take 7 years, to bloom, depending on the ... | |
| BEGONIAS | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: What type of begonia likes full sun? What fertilzer do yall recommend for this begonia? 8b. A: Begonias as a group are not full sun plants. They'll survive, but they'll be stressed. The common ... | |
| verbena hybrida | 4/22/2007 |
| Q: What fertilzer do yall use? How much water? Does it need sun? When the blooms fade away, Do you cut ... A: Dr Jerry Parsons at the Texas Coop Extension has prepared a cheat sheet on this very popular genus. ... | |
| impatients | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: after planting my impatients, we got LOTS of rain. now the plants have white spots and some of the ... A: Downy Mildew attacks Impatiens after long periods of prolonged moisture and humidity. Mildew can't ... | |
| petunias | 4/12/2007 |
| Q: Please tell me exactly how to cut back petunias? I have heard so many different ways what is the ... A: Goodness goodness goodness, Kathy -- this is such a simple exercise and yet the stories I hear... ... | |
| Morning Glory's | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: I live in Denver CO. Zone 5. I planted some morning glories in jiffy pots about 3-4 weeks in my ... A: Morning Glories are tender plants -- do not plant them before the absolute last possibility of all ... | |
| dogwood winter | 4/7/2007 |
| Q: I grew up on LI(!), Levittown, and now I live in Alabama (culture shock), and I have already ... A: Roslyn Heights here. Home Depot in Westbury, Brookville Roses on 25A, Hicks on Jericho Turnpike are ... | |
| Petunias Dying | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: I had these 3 wonderful boxes of the Wave petunias mixed with the multiflora type petunias. They ... A: Petunias in the tropix... this is something I can truly say I have NOT been there, NOT done that. ... | |
| Petunias Dying | 4/4/2007 |
| Q: I had these 3 wonderful boxes of the Wave petunias mixed with the multiflora type petunias. They ... A: No problem, Alex. Those little white insects can be dispatched easily and overnight with a few ... | |
| trouble with rabbits and squirrels | 4/2/2007 |
| Q: These pests eat or dig up my annuals. I have a mixed sun/shade environment here in southern NJ and ... A: Back in the 1850s, some unwitting Australians released into the Australian countryside a few cute, ... | |
| Dusty Miller | 3/26/2007 |
| Q: I was out of town yesterday and when I came home my husband had cut my dusty millers, all 25+ down ... A: I wish I could see these, Sherrie. But I do want to walk over to your husband and give him a piece ... | |
| what's best in hanging flower pots/containers? | 3/21/2007 |
| Q: My containers are narrow and throughout the years I've put in petuna's - to no luck - they are dead ... A: Robin, I think you should give Petunias another shot. But let's go over the procedures for ... | |
| Geranium Tree | 3/13/2007 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. A friend of mine gave me a Geranium Tree (that is what she called it) a few ... A: It is my understanding that the ubiquitous Pelargonium, the "Zonal Geranium", is in fact hardy to 28 ... | |
| re: hydrangas - cutting back potted flowers | 3/5/2007 |
| Q: It is a macrophylia, pink in color. I think my zone is 5, live in the desert of Fernley, NV. Planned ... A: You're perfectly right, Darleen -- This Hydrangea is the one that grows all over Nantucket Island; ... | |
| re: hydrangas - cutting back potted flowers | 3/5/2007 |
| Q: I bought a potted hydrangea, first time, didn't realize how much they needed to be watered. The ... A: Potted Hydrangeas are under-potted to help force the flowers, Darlene. These are not terribly ... | |
| moring glorys | 3/3/2007 |
| Q: a couple quick questions. I live in Denver (zone 5) and want to know when to start these seeds. I ... A: You can start both of them now if you have a soil cable to warm the jiffypots, but it would probably ... | |
| Larkspur | 2/8/2007 |
| Q: What is the difference between Larkspur and Delphinium? Is one more difficult or are they the same ... A: I cannot say it better than Wikipedia. What is Larkspur? "The common name of two closely related ... | |
| Annuals for Zone 7 | 2/3/2007 |
| Q: I have a summer house that was purchased last year for just the summer. We don't spend time there ... A: Some basic answers here - Annuals are fairly basic and undemanding. Most need a great deal of sun, ... | |
| hydrangea | 1/30/2007 |
| Q: can the above plant be transplanted, if so what time of year is best to transplant. thabks A: You have missed the boat on the best transplant time for this shrub, unfortunately. But it would ... | |
| Lilics | 12/21/2006 |
| Q: I have cuttings from a lilic bush my mom had in Whittier, CA (L.A. area) I live in north eastern ... A: Sorry to see this question so late, Dana, but I am just learning about the "experts pool" here. ... | |
| Gazanias planted on a slope and gophers | 11/28/2006 |
| Q: Good morning, We had our yard professionally landscaped about 3 years ago. Gazanias were ... A: So your Gopher won't leave your Gazanias alone? Funny you should say that. Another family is ... | |
| potted mums | 11/1/2006 |
| Q: what can I do to keep my potted mums? do I plant them in my flower bed or what? I live in Indiana ... A: We don't know the Latin name for our potted mums, do we Heather? Because there are hardy mums and ... | |
| Impatients | 10/22/2006 |
| Q: I live in Ft. Lauderdale and just bought a flat-box of impatients - please let me know what distance ... A: Impatiens can grow into small shrubs if you have them long enough and grow them with a little care. ... | |
| Watering house plants | 10/2/2006 |
| Q: Does the temperature of the water I use to water my daises affect how fast they grow or how well and ... A: Amia Marie, I'll try to give you a basic answer on this, but without more information about which ... | |
| Morning Glorys | 10/1/2006 |
| Q: I live in Zone 5 (Denver Colorado) I have heard that morning glorys are annuals in my zone & yet I ... A: Steve, my best guess is that your neighbors are letting those annual morning glories self-seed every ... | |
| winter over annuals | 9/27/2006 |
| Q: Please give me instruction on how to winter over my New Guinea Impatien and my Fushia A: Your Impatiens are a little easier to bring indoors. They are tolerant of dry winter heat and don't ... | |
| Cosmos | 9/15/2006 |
| Q: Most of my cosmos failed to bloom this season. The plants are green and healthy but have not formed ... A: What a great disappointment, Randy, to wait all summer and not see a single bloom. Let's figure out ... | |
| colius | 9/7/2006 |
| Q: I bought a plant today and it is called burning bush. They told me it was a colius. Can you tell me ... A: OK Kathy - I think we are dealing with a Coleus hybrid called "Burning Bush". Readers this spring ... | |
| Impatiens | 8/31/2006 |
| Q: My impatiens were beautiful, until last week. I returned from a 5 day vacation to find my impatiens ... A: If your drainage is less than perfect, large amounts of water will drown them. Fortunately they can ... | |
| Long Term Annuals - Marigolds | 8/22/2006 |
| Q: I started a marigold in a 4" container from seed, it was a yellow small flowering type with uniform ... A: I am so impressed with the size of your very green thumb, and your diligence, Kelly. Your ... | |
| clamatis | 8/16/2006 |
| Q: I have a clamatis that I planted 3 years ago, it has bloomed heavily the past two years, but even ... A: First week in July? Feels like MONTHS ago, Bob! Several possibilities come to mind. One is spider ... | |
| Irregular Incurve Mums (Yellow) | 8/9/2006 |
| Q: I would like to purchase the above flower. They are absolutely beautiful. Are they perenials and ... A: Leslie, I agree with you, they are "absolutely beautiful". Whe the rest of the world is snapping up ... | |
| petunia disease or pest or what? | 8/6/2006 |
| Q: I am a first time flower person. I have wave petunias and regular petunias planted in pots and ... A: Samantha, I didn't get the impression you were rambling at all - a thorough description is key to ... | |
| Impatiens | 8/1/2006 |
| Q: I have a wonderful plant~a kind of yellow-orange color impatien. It is thriving; however it is ... A: So you are growing yellow/orange Impatiens? Congratulations on your successful acquisition of one ... | |
| impatients(no flowers) | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: I have a couple planters with just impatients. They have grown and are full and lush, except they ... A: Sounds like your watering schedule is just fine, Connie. Usually when a flower does not bloom, it ... | |
| impatiens not blooming | 7/15/2006 |
| Q: I planted impatiens in two flower boxes. THey get morning sun and afternoon shade. They started ... A: ooops... I clicked too fast under the "sorry I can't answer that" -- I was just too too IMPATIENT ... | |
| shade plants | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: I have an area along my driveway that is mainly shade. I was considering putting something there ... A: I would consider 3 completely different looking Hostas to group along your driveway, Pat. Along my ... | |
| Lilies selection | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: I was thinking of planting Lilies this year. The bulbs don't cost as much as the main flower that is ... A: You are too late to plant this year's crop of Lilies. It is however time to make decisions and ... | |
| larkspurs and annual poppies,too late to direct seed now in zone 5/6 ? | 7/5/2006 |
| Q: is it too late to direct seed larkspur and annual poppies in zone5/6 massachusetts garden, right ... A: Larkspur and Poppies doesn't narrow it down much, Heidi - I'll give you some basic details and you ... | |
| Petunias not blooming | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: I purchased some white petunias at Home Depot last month. They looked very healthy and were blooming ... A: Biggest mistake people make with Petunias: Too much tender loving care. Leave them alone. Cut off ... | |
| impatients | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: Once impatients have flowered is it necessary to trim and or thin out ? A: Impatiens are one of those care-free garden reliables that are a breeze. Buy, plant, and just add ... | |
| Geranium blooms | 6/25/2006 |
| Q: The buds on the underside never open up. They just eventually stay the same as the top portion is ... A: Well we have a thorough treatise on the matter from Geranium Maven Faye Brawner, who actually is a ... | |
| Geranium blooms | 6/25/2006 |
| Q: What causes the underside or bottom of the geranium head or flower not to open up as only the top ... A: Let me see if I understand your question, Judy. The lower florets on your Geranium are not opening? ... | |
| Carnations | 6/19/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering if carnation varities can be both perannuauls and annuals, and how can you tell the ... A: Carnations that we see in the florist are actually tender perennials, Carol - they are "tender" ... | |
| Pink Poppies | 6/19/2006 |
| Q: I have gorgeous pink poppies blooming now in my garden that reseed themselves and come back on their ... A: Gorgeous pink poppies - well, these could be 1 of 2 things. Oriental Poppies (Papaver orientalis) ... | |
| Geraniums! | 6/10/2006 |
| Q: LIG! First, let me say you've painted a wonderful picture in your profile. Congratulations on your ... A: And it isn't even summer yet. I assume we are talking about "Pelargonium hortorum", the Geranium ... | |
| Hydrangia | 6/9/2006 |
| Q: . .just a quick follow-up . . . when you say cut off the bloom, where on the stem is the best place ... A: Aesthetically speaking, you can cut the dead bloom off anywhere that looks right to you. The only ... | |
| Hydrangia | 6/7/2006 |
| Q: I recently planted a great "Endless Summer Hydrangia" and it's doing great here in California. I ... A: This is a plant with its own website (endlesssummerblooms.com/en/home) so that alone is very ... | |
| Annuals | 6/1/2006 |
| Q: Good morning Expert..... Whenever one purchases an annual at a nursery the young plant usually has a ... A: So, Stanley, you want to know the tricks of the trade that growers use to max out flowers before you ... | |
| coffee grounds | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: I have a friend who works at Starbucks who says she can give me their coffee grounds at the end of ... A: Here it is, the Coffee-Lover's Guide to Gardening. Coffee is an acidic soil conditioner, as any ... | |
Annuals
Answers by Expert:
Long Island Gardener
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Decisions, decisions... If you can't make up your mind which Annuals to grow, you're not alone. Problem with your new flowering Annuals flats? I`ve been there, done that. Petunias, Sweet Alyssum, Larkspur, Marine Blue Lobelia -- they all grow here at my house on Garden Street on Long Island, N.Y.. Cutting and Cottage Gardens, Sun and Shade Gardens, White Gardens and Night Gardens, I`ve done them all. Annuals are the perfect summer flower, bursting with color June through fall's first frost. I can`t speak on Cactus or tender Tropical Plants -- they don`t grow outside in my Zone 7. I`m no Farmer, so I cannot guide you on Fruits and Vegetables. But whether it`s an Annual you want to start from seed, mail-order or pick up at your local garden center, I can help you grow amazing blooms this Summer. Yes, together, we can turn your neighbors green with envy.
Experience
I have a lifetime of gardening behind me here on the North Shore of Long Island. While I have degrees in related fields, there's nothing like hands-on work to build real knowledge. I stay on top of current science -- there's a boom in research, and Kingdom Plantae is filled with surprises. By the way, I really do live on Garden Street.
Publications
Gannett newspapers, The New York Times, and hundreds of others - but not on Annuals.
Education/Credentials
B.A., botany; graduate credits in European Intellectual History and Political Science; minor coursework in related fields, docent training at our local botanical gardens (required for volunteers). I'm currently working on an advanced biochemistry degree.
Awards and Honors
I could tell you, but then you'd know who I am.
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