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| 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 ... | |
Answers by Expert:
Top Expert on this page
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.
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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