AboutTom Alonzo Expertise I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.
Experience I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.
Question I received an intensia pink phlox hybrid hanging basket about 2 months ago. It was absolutely beautiful but lately it has been dying and I am unsure why. I have been sure to water it but it has so many dead stems and I don't know if it should be fertilized or what. I really love it and hope there is a miracle cure. Can you help me?
Answer Hi Kerry,
Thanx for your question. Intensia phlox are supposedly low-maintenance, drought tolerant and heat tolerant. My guess is, growing in a hanging basket, they're still drying out. Do you have a particularly hot and humid climate? If you do, you probably need to water morning and evening. I don't think its fertilizer, it's water and maybe too much sun. You might want to give it some afternoon protection. Once the plant is established, it's supposed to be pretty tough. You can give it a feeding of 12-12-12 balanced fertilizer if you like. Every 2 weeks or so. I hope this helps.
Tom
