Growing Fragrant Roses in Containers on Long Island: Challenges & Solutions

Growing roses in pots is a demanding endeavor, especially if you crave the intense fragrance of tea roses. Here’s what you need to know before you start. Container Realities Roses have extensive root systems. A pot must

Designing a Cutting Garden: Expert Tips for Long-Lasting Blooms

Creating a dedicated cutting garden lets you fill vases with fresh flowers all season. But success hinges on three non-negotiables: full sun, diligent care, and the right plant choices. Essential Conditions Full sun –

Best Full-Sun Flowers for Containers: Vibrant Picks for Sunny Planters

When your backyard planters bake in direct sun all day, you need flowers that thrive in heat and bright light. The good news? Plenty of colorful annuals love those conditions and will keep your containers blooming from s

Geraniums with Frost Damage: Will They Recover?

Early-planted geraniums in Rhode Island hit a cold snap; bud edges browned but leaves look fine. Geraniums are hardy to 28°F and will recover in 1–2 weeks. Do nothing now—no pruning, no fertilizer. Once new growth appear

Flowers for Covered Porch Coconut Baskets: Shade Plants and Artificial Alternatives

Jeanne in Virginia has coconut wall baskets under a covered porch against a wall. Wants trailing and upright blooming flowers for shade. Concerned about water mess on wall/furniture. Plant Suggestions (C.L.) Bright shad

Wave Petunias Dying After Planting: Fertilizer Burn and Shallow Watering

Wave petunias planted in North Georgia, fertilized the next day, then hit a two-week dry spell, are dying back with tiny flowers. Two likely causes: Fertilizing too soon: Transplants need 2 weeks to establish roots bef

Window Box Plants Disappearing: Birds, Deer, or Human Thieves?

Sister in Oklahoma City: marigolds and morning glory seedlings in window box vanish overnight—whole plants gone. No chipmunks/pack rats. Birds are sparrows. Sisters ground plants two apartments away are fine. Possibiliti

Rescuing a Coconut-Basket Planter After Neglect

A mixed coconut-fiber hanging basket (petunias, verbena, lobelia/nemesia) wilted severely after two days without water in full Georgia sun. Petunias recovered; verbena and lobelia did not. Triage Steps Soak root ball 1

Training ‘New Dawn’ Climbing Roses for Maximum Blooms

‘New Dawn’ climbing roses grow vigorously and bloom on new wood. To cover a roof or walls like Nantucket cottages, annual “shotgun” pruning in April is essential: cut ⅓ of canes low, ⅓ by half, ⅓ lightly at the top. This

Why Wave Petunias from Seed Don’t Bloom Like Nursery Plants

Wave petunias grown from saved or non-commercial seed may not be true to type—Wave is a hybrid, and its seeds revert to parent traits. Nursery plants are greenhouse-grown with optimal light, fertilizer, and often growth

Purple Fountain Grass: Division, Seeds, and Overwintering in Zone 7b

Purple fountain grass is a warm-season hybrid often sold as an annual. It divides easily—most cultivars are propagated this way because seeds are often sterile. In Zone 7b (NC), it will not overwinter outdoors. Indoor ov

Dividing Purple Fountain Grass for Container Planting

A large purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’) can be safely divided into two smaller plants for porch pots. Use a sharp spade to slice through the root ball, replant immediately in fresh potting mix, and w

Asparagus Plumosus: Male vs. Female Plants Indoors

Asparagus plumosus (asparagus fern) has separate male and female plants, but for indoor foliage display, sex doesn’t matter. Berries require both sexes, pollination, and ideal conditions—and they’re not showy. Most growe

Saving a Wilting Petunia: Overwatering vs. Underwatering

A potted petunia with yellowing, hardening leaves likely suffers from overwatering leading to root rot. Petunias need to dry out between waterings. Diagnosis and Rescue Check soil moisture: if constantly wet, stop wate

Hydrangea Rust and Spider Mites: Diagnosis and Organic Control

Hydrangeas with rusty, drying blossoms in full sun may have spider mites, especially in hot, dry weather. Check leaf undersides for tiny moving dots (size of a period) and fine webbing. Spider Mite Confirmation Use a m

Hydrangea Flowers Fading in Heat: What to Do

Hydrangea blooms losing color and drying out during a heat wave are suffering from heat stress, not disease. Extreme temperatures (above 85°F) and low humidity cause leaf stomata to close, halting photosynthesis and tran

Why Marigolds Stop Blooming: Heat, Nitrogen, and Soil Biology

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) that grow tall and green but produce few flowers are often responding to extreme heat (above 85°F inhibits flower bud initiation) or excess nitrogen, which promotes foliage over blooms. A gardene

Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus): Not Hardy in Pennsylvania

Persian shield is a tropical foliage plant (Zone 9–10) that cannot survive Pennsylvania winters outdoors. It must be brought indoors or treated as an annual. Indoor Overwintering Challenges Requires high humidity and w

Watering Gerbera Daisies: Avoiding Overwatering

Gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii) in pots may need daily watering in hot, sunny, low-humidity conditions, but their roots are sensitive to excess moisture. Wilting is a clear signal; if the soil is dry but the plant is

When Are Devil’s Claw Seeds Mature?

Devil’s claw seeds mature inside the seed pod. They are not viable until the pod itself matures—turning brownish, stiff, and eventually splitting open into the characteristic “claw” shape. As the claw opens, seeds may be