Houseplants – Page 7

Blooming Azalea As A Houseplant

July 13, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 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.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Azalea, Houseplants, Plant Care Questions

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

July 13, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 2 Comments

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: Flower Identification, Flowering Houseplants, Houseplants, Hoya carnosa, Pink Flowers

China Doll: A Delicate But Interesting Houseplant

July 10, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 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'

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: Houseplant Care, Houseplants, Plant Identification, Radermachera sinica 'China Doll'

Plant Has Been Invaded By Fungus Gnats

June 24, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Ask the Expert: We Have Plant in our Store and have alot of bug

Bugs a very small like nats we tried to clean each plant out side but the bugs came back. We need help Steve and Kim

Plant Expert Reply:
You probably have a case of fungus gnats. There are a few things you can do to prevent and get rid of the fugus gnats. First moist shady conditions and decaying plant material are conditions that promote fungus gnats infestation. So make sure all of your plants drain well and allow the soil to dry out slightly (don’t let it dry too much). Remove all fallen leaves or blooms from the containers. Then spray the plants with a pyrethrins based insecticide. You will need to spray the plants a couple of times to kill all of the gnats since they lay eggs. Your local garden center can help you find the right insecticide for control and prevention. Good Luck and keep me posted.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Houseplants, Insect Identification, Plant Care Questions

Call This Houseplant Rex – Begonia That Is

June 24, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 7 Comments

Begonia Rex

Ask the Expert: Do you know the name of this house plant? Can you identify this house plant. I would like it’s name and any other information you may have on it. Thank you! Linda

Plant Expert Reply:

It is a little hard to tell from the picture but it looks as if you have a Rex Begonia. This herbaceous perennial is only hardy in zone 10 to 11 and therefore treated more as an annual or houseplant. This houseplant needs high humidity and well-drained soil. You will need to be careful not to over water this plant. If the roots remain soggy for too long, they will rot. You, also, need to fertilize it quite often during the growing season. Fertilizing should begin in spring and end in the fall. I recommend a balanced fertilizer just slighlty higher in nitrogen that is water soluable every two weeks. Rex Begonias need lots of bright filtered light. The optimum day time temperature is in the 70 degree range and the night temperature is in the 60 degree range. Most normal household temperatures will be sufficient.

Good Luck with your plant and keep me posted.

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: Houseplants, Plant Care Questions, Plant Identification, Rex Begonia

What Is Cineraria

April 6, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams

Ask the Expert: What is a Cineraria
I was given one. It is beautiful. I want to know how to care for it. Mrs. Culbreath

Reply:

I need to know does your Cineraria have green leaves and brightly colored aster looking flowers?

Pericallis x Hybrida

If so, you have Cineraria (Percallis x hybrida). Growers often force these plants to bloom so that florists can sell them Christmas through Easter. They prefer climates that don’t have extreme temperature changes. However, they prefer cooler temperatures. In the United States, this type of cineraria is treated as a summer annual or winter blooming indoor plant. Outside, in the summer, they need shady conditions and inside they need bright filtered light. They need humus-rich and well-drained soil. Indoors, watering is crucial. These plants are susceptible to fluctuations in watering, overwatering rots roots and underwatering decreases flowering. They need high humidity, but do not wet the leaves.

Dusty Miller

If your cineraria has dusty gray leaves it probably is dusty miller (Senecio cineraria). This garden plant loves sunny areas and will tolerate drought like conditions once established. It does not like to be soggy and will need a very well-drained soil mixture that contains a little sand.

Although this plant can be biennial and even perennial, it is grown as an annual in the in the garden. It makes a good accent plant in outdoor containers as well. It can produce mustard colored flowers the second year if plants are overwintered.

Hopefully one of these plants is you cineraria.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Cineraria, Garden Plants, Houseplants, Plant Care Questions, Plant Identification

Need Another Gift Idea For February? Send A Plant!

February 16, 2009 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Colorful Croton Houseplant

Valentines Day is over and the chocolates are probably eaten. However, there are many other occasions this month that call for good gift ideas. To the rescue once again, here is a suggestion that should no longer be overlooked:

Send a plant!

The brilliance of that suggestion deserves more fanfare. Customers in flower shops often overlook houseplants as gift ideas when they should instead be drawn to plants for many reasons; practicality, longevity, and beauty among them. Houseplants are as diverse as flowers but bring a lot more to the table (or the corner, or the desk, or the nook). They are definitely worth a mention when discussing gift ideas with your local florist.

Chrysanthemum Blooming Plant

Your florist will be able to guide you as to which plants are easier for beginners and experts. This will help you choose just the right plant for your friend or loved one. When ordering plants from a florist, be sure to ask if they have plant care information available. Many times this information can be included with the enclosure card, helping the recipient’s plant last longer.

If your florist does not have this information, Flower Shop Network has plant care information for many houseplants such as daffodils, African violets, Norfolk Island pine, Schefflera, English ivy and others.

A dish garden or houseplant lasts longer than a typical cut flower arrangement. Want the best of both worlds? Send a blooming houseplant such as kalanchoe, exacum or hydrangea. While the natural beauty of many flowers is unrivaled, houseplants preserve a special memory of their sender. Help perpetuate wonderful thoughts of a budding relationship by sending a houseplant along with plant care information.

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Plant Suggestions Tagged With: Flower Sending Tip, Gift Ideas, Houseplants, Plant Suggestions

Temperature and Indoor Houseplants

October 20, 2008 by Jamie Jamison Adams 2 Comments

Ask the Expert: does the temperature affect the growth of-an indoor plant?

hi, my name is Michaela, i’m in seventh grade, and i’m doing a science project on;
the effect of room temperature on the growth of indoor plants.
[Read more…]

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

Draceana is the Name of Your Houseplant

October 13, 2008 by Jamie Jamison Adams 4 Comments

Ask the Expert: I was wondering what the name of this plant was.
I was just wanting to know the name so I can find out how to care for it. Thanks Samantha

See Attached Photos

Dracaena

Dracaena Up Close

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

African Violets Help Gift Givers Breathe Easily

August 13, 2008 by Flower Shop Network 1 Comment

There’s nothing quite like getting the best of both worlds in something that is important to us. Such is the case with African Violets plants which merge the easy care and health benefits of houseplants with the beauty and wonder of flowers. African Violets (Saintpaulia) are a real crowd pleaser and it’s easy to understand why.

Everyone knows that owning plants in the home increases the quality of [Read more…]

Filed Under: Plant Suggestions Tagged With: African Violets, Gift Ideas, Houseplants, Plant Suggestions

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