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Archives for July 2009

Reproducing Peace Lilies

July 16, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert: Can I reproduce my peace lily with the seeds from the flower? Margaret

Plant Expert Reply:

Although peace lilies can technically be reproduced from seed, other methods give greater results. Large scale growers used tissue cultures for peace lily reproduction as tissue culture offer more uniformity and availability. Homeowners create new peace lily plants through division.

If your peace lily (Spathiphyllum) has any size to it, you can divide the plant into two or more pieces to start new plants. The key is having enough roots to support the foliage. So, always divide your plant from the roots up.

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What Is Insecticidal Soap

July 15, 2009 by

Ask the Expert: What insecticide with soapy water do I need to use
My Scheffelera plant has black mites on it and I was told to use a soapy water insecticide. Becky

Plant Expert Reply:

You won’t need an insecticide in the traditional sense.  Insecticidal soaps don’t contain a traditional “insecticide”.  Instead insecticidal soaps are specifically chosen plant or animal oils that are refined into a soap with a similar consistency of liquid hand soaps and at a ratio safe for plants.  The active ingredients are the natural potassium salts and fatty acids of plants or animal oils.

Insecticidal soaps work by disturbing the cell membranes of the insects rather than attacking their neurological system like most insecticides. Insecticidal soap will get rid of several types of insects mostly soft bodied insects. So if you have a problem with aphids, spidermites, thrips or scale, insecticidal soaps are a safe and effective treatment.

You can use a mixture of water and household soap.  However, this method can cause issues for your plants if you don’t get the proper water to soap ratio or if your household soap is harsh.  Most local nursery garden centers will carry an insecticidal soap at a fairly resasonable price.  If you want to mix your own insecticidal soap, try a mild hand soap mixed at 1 part soap to 3 parts water. Spray the plant lightly.

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: , , ,

Attending A Backyard Barbecue? Don’t Forget The Hostess Gift!

July 15, 2009 by 1 Comment

Summer is the time for parties. All of the best backyard parties start with great friends and end with big smiles. Count your blessings if you’ve been invited to a backyard barbecue because you’re in for good friends, great food, and fun times! One thing is for certain when attending any party, especially a backyard barbecue — you don’t want to come empty handed.

Hostess gifts are usually simple gifts that say “thank you for having me” in a nice way. They can range from a pair of tongs and a “kiss the cook” apron to my personal favorite which is flowers. Fresh flowers are the pretty much the be-all hostess gift for barbecues and backyard parties. If you’re a little leery about bringing along flowers to a food gathering, enjoy this little story:

Last year was my 22nd year to enjoy a lovely summer. Done with college, 8-5 job, no full-time family responsibilities (at the time)…ah. Life was good. My friends know that I love chilling around a grill and especially around a pool. Chlorine must have been seeping from my pores by the end of the summer after attending all the backyard barbecues/pool parties that my friends threw. One barbecue in particular stood out to me.

My best friend lives fifteen minutes from anything. In this part of Arkansas, that’s not uncommon. She doesn’t have a pool but she does have a huge barbecue grill and a great yard for grilling, frisbee, and being far away from any interruptions. She invited me and a few mutual friends to her place for a backyard barbecue. Well, I showed up with a hostess gift because I’m southern. It’s just what we do. Another friend showed up with nothing. We weren’t offended because we didn’t think much of it until we were playing frisbee.

My best friend’s yard is full of wildflowers. Bees love it there. We tried to walk to a more grassy area but it didn’t work for one of us. She went to catch a long pass and stepped a bit short. After she fell and we all stopped laughing through our concern, she leaned over and picked a flower. She put it to her face and sniffed it. It was at that very moment–I kid you not–when a bee flew up and stung her shoulder. That to me was mother nature saying “get your own.”

She’s brought flowers ever since.

What’s your backyard barbecue story? Does it involve flowers? Whether it does or doesn’t, share it below!

Filed Under: Flower Etiquette Tagged With: , ,

5 Ways Rubber Plants Help You Bounce To A Happy Life

July 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment

So they don’t really bounce. Rubber plants are still pretty awesome. Even people who aren’t familiar with houseplants know what a ficus is. Well, rubber plants are among the most popular in the ficus genus. Rubber plants (Ficus elastica) are seen in households and offices all over the country. There’s more than one reason for it. Here are several reasons why the rubber plant is so popular with every type of person (*hint* they make great gifts too!):

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

For the person who has too much love to give, rubber plants require some loving. They need moderate attention because they require a moist but well drained environment, a balance of light and shade, and a steady fertilizer regimen over its life.

For the person who has a black thumb, rubber plants are good practice. They’re pretty resilient, even if they do require a little more attention than most houseplants. Ficus elastica can stand up to a moderate black thumb. If someone needs a houseplant to practice plant care on, try the Ficus elastica. It’s a beautiful houseplant and easy to love!

For the person who has a green thumb, it’s enough of a break to be easy but isn’t so “stand back and watch” that it’s boring. Rubber plant care is great for the houseplant lover who has been nurturing houseplants for years. Challenging but not draining, entertaining but not overwhelming.

For the cubicle dweller with a grudge, rubber plants slow the desire to permanently call it a day. Some days at the desk are just not worth enduring, or so it seems when the cubicle is lifeless. Rubber plants are convenient for the office and bring enough natural cheer to the room to inspire more productivity, creativity, and a positive demeanor.

For the sleepless new mom, rubber plants pose no fear of harming the baby. Rubber plants also last a while when properly cared for. This is something that takes only 3 minutes a few times per week. Easy to do when baby is sleeping! Plus, rubber plant baskets pose no threat when babies crawl into them. Use them for climbing support? Maybe.

These aren’t the only reasons why people love rubber plants but they sure are a great place to start!

Filed Under: Plant Suggestions Tagged With: , , ,

Blooming Azalea As A Houseplant

July 13, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: Azalea (indoor plant)
Is there any way I can keep it indoors so that it will bloom again next year.  ? Terry

Plant Expert Reply:

Normally the best place for an Azalea is outside in a shrub bed.  However, potted azaleas that come from a florist have been breed and forced to bloom for indoor conditions.  If you are going to use this type of azalea as a houseplant, keep the azalea in a room with a good light source.  Keep it moist during the summer months and fertilize once a week with a water-soluble fertilizer.  In the fall begin to hold back water slightly and keep it in a cool spot in the house.  When you see the bloom buds start to open move to a warmer location.  Keep in mind these plants do not really tolerate warm temperatures for any length of time.  You may need to move the plants occasionally to keep the temperature to the plants liking.

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Lucky Bamboo With Sunburn

July 13, 2009 by 1 Comment

Ask the Expert: Lucky Bamboo Plants,
My bamboo plants were placed in direct sunlight and the leaves burned.  Is there anyway to save the plants?? Linda

Plant Expert Reply:

Move your lucky bamboo into an area with bright light but no direct sunlight.  You can cut the leaves that have turned brown off, since the damage can not be reversed.  You might try misting the area around your lucky bamboo for a few days to encourage the new growth.  Then give the lucky bamboo time to recover.

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Pink Blooms & Glossy Green Leaves On Vine Must Be A Hoya

July 13, 2009 by 2 Comments

Hoya Flower & Leaf

Hoya Flower & Leaf

Ask the Expert: What is this plant?
Hi,
A friend of mine had a plant that he inherited with his office.  It had nice shiny leaves that grew on long vines.  They’re about 4′ long.  Green with small white spots.  I took a clipping.

It took some years (3), but it finally stared to grow.  It just grows and grows.  It never bloomed until a few weeks ago (3 more years), and then I got these little sprays of 5-petal pink flowers that are about 1/2′ across.  There are 17 on one spray.

What is this and what do I do with the flowers?

Thanks,
Kevin Ansley

Plant Expert Reply:

Your plant goes by the name Hoya , wax flower, wax plant, wax vine.  The genus for this plant is Hoya and it has many species within this genus.  I believe from the bloom and the leaf that you have Hoya carnosa.

You probably have noticed that the blooms are very fragrant.  You don’t have to do anything with the blooms until they are spent. When the bloom has deteriorated beyond attractiveness simply cut it away from the vine.

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: , , , ,

China Doll: A Delicate But Interesting Houseplant

July 10, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: Can you help identify this plant? It was given. It’s of the green plant family and has dark green leaves resembling ‘cow itch’. I would like to know name and caring instructions. Thanks, Danny

Plant Expert Reply:

Radermachia sinica 'China Doll'

Radermachia sinica 'China Doll'

Does your plant look like this China Doll (Radermachera sinica) – sometimes Aralia is attached to the name.  If so, you have a delicate but interesting houseplant. The foliage texture and glossy green leaves are the reason this plant is quickly rising in popularity.

Although delicate, China Doll can make an excellent houseplant, if it is properly maintained.

China Doll Likes

It needs plenty of bright indirect light (at least 4 to 5 hours) and a moist well-drained soil. It is fussy about temperature. Keep it out of drafts. A normal house hold temperature of 65 to 75 degrees works well.

China Dolls like to be root-bound, so don’t repot until the roots over flow the container.

Fertilize this plant once a month with a water soluble fertilizer like Schultz or Peters houseplant food. To maintain the fullness and shape of the plant prune it occasionally.

China Doll Issues

This houseplant hates changes.  Keep light, water and temperature as constant as possible.

Watch for Aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites.  If you develop a fungus gnat problem, let the soil dry out but not to the point of wilting.

When you water, make sure you pour the water evenly around the plant.  Uneven watering can lead to leaf drop.

It may sound like a high maintenance plant but really it is easy to care for once you get the rhythm.

***Speaking of rhythm – is anyone else hearing David Bowie’s Chyna Doll song in their head?***

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: , , ,

Do You Know What Biking And Flowers Have In Common?

July 10, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Are you into bike riding? I ride my bicycle all of the time. I’m kind of addicted to the feeling of the breeze in my face. The tightness in my abs lets me know that I’m also getting my daily dose of exercise but in a fun way. The burn in my legs drives the feeling home. I never knew that flowers and bike riding had anything to do with each other, but biking with the honey showed me how the two come together seamlessly.

We were biking together at a local state park in June (and every weekend since then) when it just suddenly dawned on me. They may not be cut fresh flowers, but the flowers scattered all over the sides of the path were absolutely gorgeous. We rode a bit farther than we would have otherwise because we were admiring the nature around us. That’s not really like him so I was quite impressed that our surrounding caught him like that also. After all, we’ve been there dozens of times before. It wasn’t until we began biking the paths that we’d walked together before that we discovered just how pretty flowers are whether in a vase or in the woods.

I hope to have a similar experience when I do my other favorite outdoor activity next weekend–kayaking. Even if I don’t, I’ll always have that surreal moment when he and I noticed together that something that we love (biking) was always surrounded by something we take for granted (wildflowers).

Filed Under: Flower Memories Tagged With: , , , , ,

2 Reasons Lacecap Hydrangeas Won’t Bloom

July 9, 2009 by 4 Comments

Ask the Expert: Have a lace-cap hydrangea but no blooms. Help? My lace-cap hydrangea looks healthy with lots of deep green leaves but no flowers. Should I be fertilizing it? Elizabeth

Plant expert Reply:
There are 2 major reasons Lacecap Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) cold damage or improper pruning. Since they form their buds August through September, the Lacecap hydrangea bloom buds are susceptible to frost damage. There is very little  you can do about this type of blooming problem except to use a variety that is a little more hardy.  However if pruning is the cause for lack of blooms, you have all the control over this problem.  Lacecap hydrangeas should be deheaded immediately after blooming and very little true pruning needs to take place.  If you must prune your hydrangea, follow the fantastic pruning instructions I found at Hydrangeas! Hydrangeas.

2 minor reasons hydranges don’t bloom: Not enough sunlight and insufficient nutrients.  Hydrangeas love morning sun and afternoon shade.  Also they will grow in shaier conditions, it does inhibit blooming.  make sure your hydrangeas get half a day of sun.  Fertlize your hydrangeas will a balanced slow-release fertilizer once or twice a summer.  May and july are good months to fertilize your hydrangeas.  Don not fertlize after August.

Hopefully the reason your hydrangea isn’t blooming will become clear and you will be able to correct the problem.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: , , ,
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