Find Your Local Florist:Everything you want to know about flowers!
Ask the Expert: Croton vs. Rubber plant?
I want to purchase either a croton or varigated rubber plant for my southeast window to be placed about4-5 feet away. Which would do better for that location and which would be easier for me to care for?
Susi
Ask the Expert: How to condition plants to lower light
How can I condition houseplants (and which specis) to accept lower levels of light from a southeast window?
I will soon move to Okinawa, Japan, where I hope to plant a lush flower garden (my first!). Okinawa has a subtropical climate. I would like to know if you can help me determine which flowers will do well (and which will not) in such a climate. These are flowers that I am considering planting there:
petunia
pansy
begonia
hollyhock
Sweet William
cockscomb
Cosmos
shell flower / shell ginger / pink porcelain lily / light galangal (Which name is most common?)
kahili ginger (Can this flower be planted in a garden, or does it only grow
in the wild?)
May I ask whether you can identify any of the flowers pictured (the photos
do not appear to be labeled with names):
I really do appreciate your help! Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Richard Tyler
Ask the Expert:
Which dracaena can take low light(opposite of south east window approximatly 14 feet). I would like something varigated. Please advize as to which dracaena or any other varigated plant.
Thanks, Susi Stein Omaha
Susi,
There are few plants that you can use in this situation. You could use a type of variegated Schefflera arboricola. If you want a variegated Dracaena that works well use my favorite the Warneckii goldstar. Another great low light plant that is easy to grow is the Golden pothos seen here . Pothos is also a great trailing plant for baskets. The Aglaonema ‘Silver Bay’ is a fairly easy to grow low light plant that has broad leaves and a silvery variegation. Any one of the above plants should work for you.
Dracaena – Warneckii Goldstar
Golden Pohtos
Aglaonema ‘Silver Bay’
Thanks to Bernecker’s Nursery for the Photos.
Jamie
Ask the Expert
please send a list…. i am looking for edible flowers and herbs that do flower for a restaurant.can you please advise….and this is in south new jersey i cant remember what the zone is here…thanks for your help….ed roberts
Linda Asks:
Several years ago, I read about house plants that are good for ‘eating’ unpleasant or toxic house odors.
I have forgotten what they were, except maybe the Peace Lily. I live in a small apartment, am not able to care for large or troublesome plants, and have limited sunlight. Any suggestions?Thanks for any help.
Staff reply:Thanks for your question. We touched lightly on this subject way back in our April, 2001 newsletter . Many studies have shown that houseplants are effective at removing carbon dioxide and toxic gases such as formaldehyde from the indoor environment. Members of the easy-to-grow Aroid family– including peace lilies, philodendrons, Chinese evergreens and deiffenbachias — are especially effective at this, as are Areca palms, spider plants, ivies, and ficus trees. Interestingly, some of this research has been conducted by NASA, with the intention of studying closed, self-contained environments — such as a space craft — that can utilize plants to generate oxygen while removing toxic elements from the air.
Karen Asks:
My daughter has a science experiment she has to do and she and I want to tint a white flower. I used to do this as a kid with daisys. Since there are no daisys around I thought we could use any white flower, but it’s not working. Is there a secret anybody knows about that you can give me? I’d really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.
Brock’s Reply:
Fresh cut daisy-type spray chrysanthemums should be readily available from a local florist. The experiment should also work with carnations, either the standard or the spray type. In any case, choose blossoms which are not fully open or mature. Leave out of water for an hour to so. Then, cut about 2″ off the bottom of the stem, using a sharp knife and cutting on a slant. Place the freshly cut stem into a vase of lukewarm water containing the dyeing agent — such as food coloring. Color should show up in the petals of the flower within 2 or 3 days, maybe sooner. Hope this helps
Thakujesus Asks:
NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A FLOWERING INDOOR PLANT FOR A HOME THAT IS KEPT “VERY WARM”YEAR ROUND. THIS IS FOR AN ELDERLY COUPLE THAT CANT GET OUT MUCH.
Brock’s Reply:This email address is for www.FlowerShopNetwork.com a directory of florists in the U.S. and Canada. As always we suggest you use our directory to find a local florist who may be more suited to provide information about the availability of plants in your area. A couple of plants come to mind however that may fit the bill.
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
And Bromeliad Guzmania lingulata major
The bromeliad is not truly a blooming plant but it is very hardy and it’s foliage gives the illusion of a flower in eternal bloom.
For more ideas on types of plants available view our plant gallery at:
https://www.flowershopnetwork.com/flower-pictures/all-house-plants/
Can you tell me the name of a fern that similar to the Boston fern but
does not shed like the Boston does? Thank you, Anne
Reply
Ferns are touchy subjects at best in any indoor-growing situation; They prefer a humid atmosphere which is much more damp than most household interiors, particularly during our central-heated winters.
Some of the cultivars of the Boston Fern which have more finely-divided fronds, such as “Fluffy Ruffles”, seem to perform better indoors than the species.
Another choice might be the Dallas Fern, which is smaller than the Boston Fern but is similar in form. It has more leathery leaves which are less prone to drying out and shedding.
Meanwhile, ferns growing indoors will benefit from frequent (daily) misting with water. Place them in a cool, bright location out of direct sun. Keep them away from drafts and heating ducts or air vents; A summer outdoors in a shady spot helps a fern which has suffered through a dry winter indoors to recover and produce new growth.
Grandparents Day is coming up soon, and what better time could there be to remember those senior folks, who are so special in our lives, with a colorful bouquet of fresh flowers? With the advent of autumn approaching, there is a plentiful selection of blossoms available at your local florist, including all sorts of perky varieties which are sure to delight any grandma or grandpa.
History of Grandparent’s DayNational Grandparents Day originated with the idea of a West Virginia housewife, Marian McQuade, who wanted to champion the cause of lonely elderly people in nursing homes. She also hoped to persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide. After years of lobbying and gathering state by state support, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed in 1978 that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day…
…so you see that Grandparents Day wasn’t actually invented by the floral industry or the greeting card manufacturers! Nonetheless, it’s still a good idea to send our cherished elders some lively flowers just to let them know how much we love and appreciate them.
Among the popular blooms for the beginning of the fall season are the chrysanthemums. They’re available in an ever-increasing range of shapes, colors, and sizes, some of which you may not even recognize as chrysanthemums. They also happen to be some of the longest-lasting cut flowers you can buy.
Spray chrysanthemums (sometimes known as “pompons”) feature several individual blossoms on one stem, and can be purchased as daisy, cushion, or button types, as well as many novelty forms, such as spoon-petaled or anemone-flowered. Colors run the gamut of every hue in the spectrum, except blue (so far). A particularly vivid variety is the daisy type known as “Splendid Reagan”, with hot magenta petals around a chartreuse green center….easy to see even with diminished eyesight. “Viking” looks just like a Blackeyed Susan, with its golden yellow petals surrounding the velvety brown middle. “Kermit” is a lime green button type, and “Bayfrank” sports a mauve-toned, semi-double or anemone type flower.
Durable and long-lasting, chrysanthemums may be the perfect metaphor for our wishes for a long and happy life for our grandparents. Your local professional florist can see to it that Gramps and Granny know you’re thinking of them, whether they live near you or across the country, with an arrangement of fresh flowers for Grandparents Day. Besides, they already have everything else!
