I have taken good care of my Impatiens, marigolds, petunias and geraniums all summer and given them Miracle Grow and yet they have been very apathetic until now. I notice this goes on year after year.
Why is it that my annuals bloom their little hearts out just before the frost?
Annuals do tend to fade if you are in an area that gets hot and dry and then quite often do come back for that last effort to reproduce before they die.
It really is all about reproducing. That is why dead heading is so important if you want lots of flowers. The plant know when it has set seeds, and will slow down to concentrate on nurishing the seed pods. If there are no seed pods it will give a burst of energy to try to set some before the end of the season.
Reply:omg me too!!!! my petunias died off like 2 months ago from the heat and now - now - they have decided to bloom again!!! my roses too!
I think it has more to do with how much rain they are now getting (even though i water) and how hot it is. it was so hot in the south this summer, that we almost couldn't keep our grass green!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Can someone help me plant a flower garden?
I live in Northern NJ and I am trying to plant some flowers. I don't even know where to start or when to plant certain flowers. I am looking for deer resistant plants, since there are a real pest here. I was thinking about doing daffodils, Irises, pansies (from seed), geraniums, and I had success with ageratums. Any suggestions on other flowers, and when and how would I plant the above listed flowers.
Can someone help me plant a flower garden?
They wont touch daffodils but you can't plant those until the fall so they come up next spring. I had pansies in my garden but the deer ate those. They tend to avoid Purple coneflowers and Black Eyed susans, foxglove, yarrow and so many more.
Do a google search on deer resistant plants to get many more ideas. Local nurseries have most perennials for sale now for planting now.
Reply:http://www.jacksonandperkins.com
Great place to start, they even have some pre-arranged gardens based on size, zone and if you put "deer resistant" in the search it will give you a good list to choose from.
Reply:Whya are you asking this online. Ask an actual person.....Jees
Can someone help me plant a flower garden?
They wont touch daffodils but you can't plant those until the fall so they come up next spring. I had pansies in my garden but the deer ate those. They tend to avoid Purple coneflowers and Black Eyed susans, foxglove, yarrow and so many more.
Do a google search on deer resistant plants to get many more ideas. Local nurseries have most perennials for sale now for planting now.
Reply:http://www.jacksonandperkins.com
Great place to start, they even have some pre-arranged gardens based on size, zone and if you put "deer resistant" in the search it will give you a good list to choose from.
Reply:Whya are you asking this online. Ask an actual person.....Jees
How can i care well for the following plants in my garden (first time i've grown them)?
First flat and i've gone all out this year.
I have just planted window boxes with trailing geraniums, trailing petunias and trailing fuscia. In my hanging basket and tubs i have similar things. In the ground i have a peony rose and some shrubs including a gorgeous orange blossom (That doesn't actually blossom, or at least it didn't last year, but the leaves are lovely), some heather, a clematis going up the wall and some other things i don't know the name of.
I put fish blood and bone in all the soil and have been watering them alot. I have soluable miracle grow..how often should i use that?
How quick will my baskets grow?
How can i care well for the following plants in my garden (first time i've grown them)?
Your baskets should fill out really quickly.
Different feeds have different strengths so you should follow the instructions on the packet. Baskets and containers need to be fed more often. Make sure you dead head regularly, remove all the dead and dying flower heads from your petunia, geraniums, fuscia- that will encourage the plants to produce more flowers
The Heather plants should be pruned each year immediately after they have finished flowering, which results in additional flowers the following year.
A well prepared soil with good drainage is needed.
The best time to feed them is in late winter or late spring.
There's lots of types of clematis. here's a site to get you started: http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinde...
And some info on peony roses: http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/1997/ar...
Happy gardening!
Reply:Don't feed the heather, they grow in acid impoverished soil and don't like their roots to sit in water.
Your Petunias, Fuchsias and Geraniums will bloom brighter and bigger for a good feed once the flowers are out. The Fuchsias and Geraniums will need to be taken in later in the year or the frost will kill 'em but the Petunias only last the year anyway.
Reply:With the window boxes, watch the fuscias, as they usually like a more shady spot, whereas geraniums and petunias thrive in high sun. For the petunias, the best thing you can do is deadhead them when the bloom gets old/crusty looking. This allows for blooms more of the time.
I would use your miracle grow once a week. Annuals just love miracle grow!
The clematis' base and roots should be kept cool, so make sure the area at the base of the clematis is covered with mulch, or better yet, some medium sized stones that allow air and water to get to the base, but not sun and heat.
As for your shrubs, I have not grown them, so I dont' want to stear you in the wrong direction!
As for watering, do NOT water in the middle of the afternoon or in the evening. Both are not good for your plants. The best time to water is in the morning hours.
Good luck, and enjoy your plants!
Reply:Good for you. Learn by trying and failing, we all do...
Your baskets will need lots of water, maybe twice a day, once it gets warmer and the plants grow, and feeding once or twice a week. Lack of enough water is the biggest mistake, becasue they are up in the air they get dry much more quickly than pots.
I would only use the Miracle gro in pots and things, not in the soil. In the soil the microrganisms will be killed by it and also you are using blood fish and bone which is enough. In autumn put on a couple of inches of rotted horse manure if you can get it, or compost if not ( the cheapest will do, or even the remains of your tubs). In spring put on 2 inches of compost after some heavy rain and that will be enough with your BFB as well.
Clematis - if it flowers before June don't prune it at all except where it gets too big. If it flowers after july cut it down to the ground in february and feed it well. If it flowers in between you've got one of the complicated ones, get a book! They like lots of water and shade at the roots, so if it is planted in the sun find a big bit of slate or something to keep the roots cool.
Baskets will sit, and sit, and sit, and one warm day will go off like mad. Just wait.
lipstick shades
I have just planted window boxes with trailing geraniums, trailing petunias and trailing fuscia. In my hanging basket and tubs i have similar things. In the ground i have a peony rose and some shrubs including a gorgeous orange blossom (That doesn't actually blossom, or at least it didn't last year, but the leaves are lovely), some heather, a clematis going up the wall and some other things i don't know the name of.
I put fish blood and bone in all the soil and have been watering them alot. I have soluable miracle grow..how often should i use that?
How quick will my baskets grow?
How can i care well for the following plants in my garden (first time i've grown them)?
Your baskets should fill out really quickly.
Different feeds have different strengths so you should follow the instructions on the packet. Baskets and containers need to be fed more often. Make sure you dead head regularly, remove all the dead and dying flower heads from your petunia, geraniums, fuscia- that will encourage the plants to produce more flowers
The Heather plants should be pruned each year immediately after they have finished flowering, which results in additional flowers the following year.
A well prepared soil with good drainage is needed.
The best time to feed them is in late winter or late spring.
There's lots of types of clematis. here's a site to get you started: http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinde...
And some info on peony roses: http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/1997/ar...
Happy gardening!
Reply:Don't feed the heather, they grow in acid impoverished soil and don't like their roots to sit in water.
Your Petunias, Fuchsias and Geraniums will bloom brighter and bigger for a good feed once the flowers are out. The Fuchsias and Geraniums will need to be taken in later in the year or the frost will kill 'em but the Petunias only last the year anyway.
Reply:With the window boxes, watch the fuscias, as they usually like a more shady spot, whereas geraniums and petunias thrive in high sun. For the petunias, the best thing you can do is deadhead them when the bloom gets old/crusty looking. This allows for blooms more of the time.
I would use your miracle grow once a week. Annuals just love miracle grow!
The clematis' base and roots should be kept cool, so make sure the area at the base of the clematis is covered with mulch, or better yet, some medium sized stones that allow air and water to get to the base, but not sun and heat.
As for your shrubs, I have not grown them, so I dont' want to stear you in the wrong direction!
As for watering, do NOT water in the middle of the afternoon or in the evening. Both are not good for your plants. The best time to water is in the morning hours.
Good luck, and enjoy your plants!
Reply:Good for you. Learn by trying and failing, we all do...
Your baskets will need lots of water, maybe twice a day, once it gets warmer and the plants grow, and feeding once or twice a week. Lack of enough water is the biggest mistake, becasue they are up in the air they get dry much more quickly than pots.
I would only use the Miracle gro in pots and things, not in the soil. In the soil the microrganisms will be killed by it and also you are using blood fish and bone which is enough. In autumn put on a couple of inches of rotted horse manure if you can get it, or compost if not ( the cheapest will do, or even the remains of your tubs). In spring put on 2 inches of compost after some heavy rain and that will be enough with your BFB as well.
Clematis - if it flowers before June don't prune it at all except where it gets too big. If it flowers after july cut it down to the ground in february and feed it well. If it flowers in between you've got one of the complicated ones, get a book! They like lots of water and shade at the roots, so if it is planted in the sun find a big bit of slate or something to keep the roots cool.
Baskets will sit, and sit, and sit, and one warm day will go off like mad. Just wait.
Which container plants are resistant to aphids?
I have a small front and back porch-- back is shade(north) and front partly sun(south.) I live in Seattle and have horrible aphid problems. The only things that I have luck with are geraniums (front porch), which I like. On the back porch, impatiens and fuchsias have all gotten chewed to bits by aphids (I work a lot and need low maintenance plants, especially for the back.) I think alyssum do OK out there. I love flowers. Suggestions for a shaded porch with skinny planterboxes?
Front porch has round pots. For it, I got petunias last year which I read were aphid resistant and they turned into aphid farms! I now have primroses along with the geraniums and they seem OK but they probably won't last all summer. I also had luck with Sweet William which was kind of grassy looking, but Salvia gets aphids, too. I tried spraying with soapy water and it doesn't help much. I would be happy with anything easy and green and flowery. Anything like that which aphids don't like? Thanks!
Which container plants are resistant to aphids?
tri color plant. cold hardy to zone 9b. i am not sure what zone seattle is. the tri color plant is one of my favorites. it had apids on it, but it never damaged the plant, and then the aphid died off. really nice blooms too.
also bananas are aphid prone so dont get
Reply:What damage do they do to plants?
Like most insects aphids spit on their food and the plants react very badly to that, it causes poor root development. Aphid-infested plants wilt, not because the aphids have taken water out but because the plant has a problem picking water up from the soil.
Then there's a mould problem from the honeydew. This is where aphids on the leaf above have produced a drop of sap from their rear end and it's fallen on the leaf below. That evaporates and becomes pure sugar, black moulds then develop which kill the leaf.
They also transmit plant virus diseases from sick plants to healthy plants.
Is there any way to stop them coming?
Put aluminium foil down between the rows of your plants - this deceives the aphid into thinking it is flying towards the sky! It works well!
Crowd the plants - grow them closer together. It may not be good for the plant but will certainly keep aphids down.
Keep weeds between the rows - aphids are attracted by bare soil and if you have little seedlings growing in the bare soil that's where the aphids will go.
How fast do they breed?
They reproduce asexually - populations can double in four or five days. One minute you see one aphid, a few days later the plant is plastered!
hi, haven't found any plants yet but thought this might be useful!
Fitness Shoes
Front porch has round pots. For it, I got petunias last year which I read were aphid resistant and they turned into aphid farms! I now have primroses along with the geraniums and they seem OK but they probably won't last all summer. I also had luck with Sweet William which was kind of grassy looking, but Salvia gets aphids, too. I tried spraying with soapy water and it doesn't help much. I would be happy with anything easy and green and flowery. Anything like that which aphids don't like? Thanks!
Which container plants are resistant to aphids?
tri color plant. cold hardy to zone 9b. i am not sure what zone seattle is. the tri color plant is one of my favorites. it had apids on it, but it never damaged the plant, and then the aphid died off. really nice blooms too.
also bananas are aphid prone so dont get
Reply:What damage do they do to plants?
Like most insects aphids spit on their food and the plants react very badly to that, it causes poor root development. Aphid-infested plants wilt, not because the aphids have taken water out but because the plant has a problem picking water up from the soil.
Then there's a mould problem from the honeydew. This is where aphids on the leaf above have produced a drop of sap from their rear end and it's fallen on the leaf below. That evaporates and becomes pure sugar, black moulds then develop which kill the leaf.
They also transmit plant virus diseases from sick plants to healthy plants.
Is there any way to stop them coming?
Put aluminium foil down between the rows of your plants - this deceives the aphid into thinking it is flying towards the sky! It works well!
Crowd the plants - grow them closer together. It may not be good for the plant but will certainly keep aphids down.
Keep weeds between the rows - aphids are attracted by bare soil and if you have little seedlings growing in the bare soil that's where the aphids will go.
How fast do they breed?
They reproduce asexually - populations can double in four or five days. One minute you see one aphid, a few days later the plant is plastered!
hi, haven't found any plants yet but thought this might be useful!
Fitness Shoes
Do you use growth regulators in your greenhouse?
I've only been in the business 7 years. So I know there is so much more for me to learn. The previous owner, whom I worked for, for 5 years used pgr's on our Geraniums. B-nine is the one he used mostly. For the past two years now, the new owner and I have been the ones to do all the growing. We grow some things from seeds, but get our Proven Winners and a few other varieties of specialty annuals in by rooted cuttings.
In the past two years, I haven't noticed a difference in our geraniums in a bad way, if anything they are brighter and have more blooms....this is without the PGR.
All my cultural guides say to use some form of a PGR on calibrachoa. We haven't done this either. I am too afraid to use them. It freaks me out to think I could stop their growth and effect the quality of our plants.
Has anyone had experience with growth regulators that would help me feel better about not using them or vice versa? How much of a benefit have you noticed from using them?
Thanks!
Do you use growth regulators in your greenhouse?
Can be messy using growth regulators. Best sticking to controlling water and fertiliser. These are easier to control and corrections can be made.
Regards
Tim
http://www.nuganics.com.au
In the past two years, I haven't noticed a difference in our geraniums in a bad way, if anything they are brighter and have more blooms....this is without the PGR.
All my cultural guides say to use some form of a PGR on calibrachoa. We haven't done this either. I am too afraid to use them. It freaks me out to think I could stop their growth and effect the quality of our plants.
Has anyone had experience with growth regulators that would help me feel better about not using them or vice versa? How much of a benefit have you noticed from using them?
Thanks!
Do you use growth regulators in your greenhouse?
Can be messy using growth regulators. Best sticking to controlling water and fertiliser. These are easier to control and corrections can be made.
Regards
Tim
http://www.nuganics.com.au
First time plant owner here. Teach me the basics?
I went out and bought a bunch of flowers on a whim, and then realized I have no idea how to take care of them! I mean, I understand the watering, sunlight, and temperatures... but what are things I should know, and things to look out for?
The hanging plants I bought are: a fern, two hanging petunia plants, geraniums, and something called a 'new guinea impatiens'.
I also have potted hydrangeas, azaleas, mums, hybrid lilies, and more geraniums.
Questions:
"Annuals" mean that they come back every year, correct? What should I do with my annual hanging pots when they're not in bloom?
Also, can I use the same soil and fertilizer for all of these plants? What kinds work the best?
If I plant the flowers outside, and it rains a lot, couldn't they be drowned?? What about the hanging baskets? I don't want them "over-watered". (I hope that's not a stupid question).
Also, what is the correct way to "prune" my plants, and do all of them need pruning? How often should this be done?
Thanks!
First time plant owner here. Teach me the basics?
perennials are the ones that come back every year,
the hanging basekts you bought (petunias and impatients and geraniums ) are annuals
the fern you need to take inside during the cold months
the potted shrubs, just google some info on them
plants can't really drown outside planted in the ground unless the soil isn't good for draining
you can overwater a plant inside a planter though, so be careful
pruning the annuals just should be taking off the old blooms (dead-heading) sometimes you should take off just the bloom, other plants you should take off more of the stem, down to the last "elbow" of the stem
good luck and happy planting
next year think about doing some veggies too! they are so easy and cheap if you buy them from the seed packs!
Reply:Annuals don't come back. I suggest you Google how to care for your plants in your hardiness zone.
Reply:First off the new guinea impatiens need to be kept in the shade with just a little sun as does the fern. I hang my petunias and geraniums on my open carport so it gets some sun and some shade. Keep watered when the soil drys out.
I don't know what zone you live in so I am not sure what will come back next year. Hydrangeas, azaleas, mums and lilies can be planted in the ground usually. I have never planted geraniums in the ground before but I guess you could.
You could leave them in the rain but I would not all the time it would beat the flowers down. Best to catch you rain water and use it to water your flowers.
I use Osmocot for fertilizer. It will not burn your flowers. Use as directed.
The way you prune is to "dead head" which means to pinch or cut off the dead flowers. With the petunias be sure to get the whole bloom down to the end not just the top. Dead heading helps the plant bloom longer.
What I like to do is plant plants that either re-seed themselves or come back year after year. Not knowing where you are from I can not help you with that. But you can type in on your Yahoo search bar your state and the type Extension Service. See if you find anything there about horticulture or landscape or planting of any kind. This will show you what is best suited in your own state.
cat
Reply:Really all you have to do is make sure they get enough water and sunlight. The impatiens and fern would do best in the morning sun, and shade for the rest of the day. The geraniums and petunias will take full sun and will need to be watered often, depending on how much and how hot the sun that they get is. You can also go through and "dead-head" the geraniums, petunias and impatiens. That is basically picking off the dead (or dying) blooms from the base of the stem, not just plucking the dead flower itself off. It encourages new blooms and new growth and will make the plant more full and thrive.
Annuals are not hardy, and they are only seasonal. Perennials are the ones that come back each year.
The hanging plants I bought are: a fern, two hanging petunia plants, geraniums, and something called a 'new guinea impatiens'.
I also have potted hydrangeas, azaleas, mums, hybrid lilies, and more geraniums.
Questions:
"Annuals" mean that they come back every year, correct? What should I do with my annual hanging pots when they're not in bloom?
Also, can I use the same soil and fertilizer for all of these plants? What kinds work the best?
If I plant the flowers outside, and it rains a lot, couldn't they be drowned?? What about the hanging baskets? I don't want them "over-watered". (I hope that's not a stupid question).
Also, what is the correct way to "prune" my plants, and do all of them need pruning? How often should this be done?
Thanks!
First time plant owner here. Teach me the basics?
perennials are the ones that come back every year,
the hanging basekts you bought (petunias and impatients and geraniums ) are annuals
the fern you need to take inside during the cold months
the potted shrubs, just google some info on them
plants can't really drown outside planted in the ground unless the soil isn't good for draining
you can overwater a plant inside a planter though, so be careful
pruning the annuals just should be taking off the old blooms (dead-heading) sometimes you should take off just the bloom, other plants you should take off more of the stem, down to the last "elbow" of the stem
good luck and happy planting
next year think about doing some veggies too! they are so easy and cheap if you buy them from the seed packs!
Reply:Annuals don't come back. I suggest you Google how to care for your plants in your hardiness zone.
Reply:First off the new guinea impatiens need to be kept in the shade with just a little sun as does the fern. I hang my petunias and geraniums on my open carport so it gets some sun and some shade. Keep watered when the soil drys out.
I don't know what zone you live in so I am not sure what will come back next year. Hydrangeas, azaleas, mums and lilies can be planted in the ground usually. I have never planted geraniums in the ground before but I guess you could.
You could leave them in the rain but I would not all the time it would beat the flowers down. Best to catch you rain water and use it to water your flowers.
I use Osmocot for fertilizer. It will not burn your flowers. Use as directed.
The way you prune is to "dead head" which means to pinch or cut off the dead flowers. With the petunias be sure to get the whole bloom down to the end not just the top. Dead heading helps the plant bloom longer.
What I like to do is plant plants that either re-seed themselves or come back year after year. Not knowing where you are from I can not help you with that. But you can type in on your Yahoo search bar your state and the type Extension Service. See if you find anything there about horticulture or landscape or planting of any kind. This will show you what is best suited in your own state.
cat
Reply:Really all you have to do is make sure they get enough water and sunlight. The impatiens and fern would do best in the morning sun, and shade for the rest of the day. The geraniums and petunias will take full sun and will need to be watered often, depending on how much and how hot the sun that they get is. You can also go through and "dead-head" the geraniums, petunias and impatiens. That is basically picking off the dead (or dying) blooms from the base of the stem, not just plucking the dead flower itself off. It encourages new blooms and new growth and will make the plant more full and thrive.
Annuals are not hardy, and they are only seasonal. Perennials are the ones that come back each year.
Reviving my ferns?
I accidentally sprayed my ferns and geraniums with turf builder instead of miracle grow. I realized my mistake after watering them incorrectly for a couple of days. Now my geraniums are dead and my ferns are hanging on by a thread. Any suggestions to revive my ferns?
Reviving my ferns?
nope.... you have used a broadleaf weed killer to water your broadleaf plant... anything thats not grass will die when in contact with this chemical....
Reviving my ferns?
nope.... you have used a broadleaf weed killer to water your broadleaf plant... anything thats not grass will die when in contact with this chemical....
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