Growing Chrysanthemum Flowers

Chrysanthemum is among the most vibrant colored fall
perennial plants.
It can be of varied color type or size like white, pink, yellow,
lavender,
bronze, salmon, orange, or red. These petals of the flower can
be either
single or in daisy form.


Tips on growing Chrysanthemum flowers

1.While buying chrysanthemums select plants having plenty flower buds.
2.It is better not to choose a fully bloomed plant, as their span of
blooming is shorter than the partially
blooming chrysanthemums.

3.Separate the branches from one another and sow the stems of
perennial flowers, which are having healthy roots.

4. The adequate soil of this fall flower is well-drained soil. You need
to add compost to the soil once a year.

Apply one-pound fertilizer per 100 square feet of chrysanthemum
bed during the growing time to have a full blooming garden
of chrysanthemums.

The fertilizer should be mixed within 6 inches
of the soil to have a healthy growth.

The flowers should be sowed 18 to 24 inches
apart form each other.

The specific variety of chrysanthemum needs
30 inches of spacing from one another.

After these fall perennial flowers are six
inches long strip off one or two inches of the stem.

The practice of
stripping off an inch of the stem should be continued
till the beginning
days of August.

This is done to have bushy low plants. Don't do the
stripping very late because then the stem will not
be long enough for the blooming of
fall chrysanthemums.

Do thorough watering so that the roots evenly
absorb the fertilizer.

Cactus Plant Care

Another perennial plant type that is quite famous
all over the world is cactus. Cacti are also known
as low maintenance plants. It is the best indoor
plant type, as they require little attention for
their healthy growth. There is a wide variety
of shapes, sizes and color of cactus. Cacti are
called as perennial plants because they will be
growing year after year.


Cactus plant care

Potting

Cactus should be placed under adequate sunlight.

They should be sowed in pots having a good drainage system.

Remove one inch of soil form the top. Replace it with gravel.

The soil should be a mixture of sand, peat and perlite.

Cactus growing vertically should be sowed in container

whose diameter is half the height of the plant.

• Cacti that are growing breadth wise should be
• grown on containers, which are having 2 inches
  of diameter extra than the plant

Recently sowed or repotted plants have more
chances of getting rot.
The soil should be dry enough while the sowing or repotting

is been done. Watering should be done after a week so that

the roots are healed within the time.

Cactus grows very slowly. Some cactus takes a year

to germinate and to know how they look like it takes
again some years. They can breed through branches
or from a part of the plant. The part of the plant is
removed from the main plant and dried for 2 weeks.
After the cut portion is healed then it is planted in shallow soil.

Watering
Cactus needs less watering so water them when they dry out.

It is better to use clay pots without any glaze, as it needs less

water than glazed or plastic pots.

Most of the cactus plant type requires a period for rest so

that they can flower the rest of the year. The exact time

required for cactus plant keeps varying but in general it

is within three months. They are quite friendly to the chill

weather and during the winter they should be watered less

with no fertilizer application.

What To Do in the Garden in April

If April means spring to you, get out your garden tools

and get moving. As always, we’re slaves to the whims

of nature. It always seems spring drags its heels and

then runs full force into summer. Be prepared with

an organized ‘To Do’ list and take advantage of

whatever nice days we are afforded. Our plants

will still need pruning, feeding and weeding even

if the sun doesn’t always shine.

Where it’s Spring

• Keep ahead of the weeds.
  

• Turn the compost.
  

• Sharpen Tools
  

• Test and amend your soil
  

• Prune flowering shrubs when they finish blooming.
  

• Plant and divide perennials
  

Where it’s Fall

• Think about mulching and protecting tender
  plants for winter
  

• Keep watering trees and shrubs until dormant
  

• Now’s a good time to work on the lawn
  

Candytufts

Candytufts are originally European natives that have
become all-purpose perenniels with an ability to adapt
themselves to every region in the United States.

With their whiter-than-white blooms
(which also come in pink or lilac) candytufts are among
the best flowers for cutting & arranging.

Depending on the variety, versatile candytufts can be
either planted in backyard flower beds, rock gardens
and along edgings, or used in pots, containers,
hanging baskets or window boxes.

Candytufts prefer full sun - although they will tolerate,
but not bloom as well, in part shade.

The one thing candytufts will not tolerate is being waterlogged,
and are known to quickly develop root rot if not grown in
especially well-drained soil.

Bellflowers

Bellflowers are named for the distinctive shape
and are part of the family campanula which has
its roots in the Latin, campana or "bell."

Popular varieties seen in rock gardens and along
flower edgings are the Harebell and perhaps most
notably, the Canterbury Bell with its associations dating
back to Chaucer and medieval times.

Offsetting their delicate form are the vivid colors of
many varieties of bellflowers - ringing out in vivid blue,
violet, pink, rose, gold or white.

Bellflowers prefer well-drained soil and, for most varieties,
a partly shady spot in the garden will usually do. Blooms
begin in mid-summer and last until the first light frosts of autumn.

Hardy perennials, bellflowers usually don't require protection
or mulching for overwintering.

Asters

Asters meaning "star" in Latin, are sometimes commonly
called "colored daises" - but they are actually part of the
same family as sunflowers as seen in their deep yellow
centers - with brightly colored petals in white, lavender,
purple, pink or red.

Perennial asters prefer well-drained soil with full or partial sun.

With seeds slow to germinate, asters can be started
indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, or thereafter
planted directly into the soil. As they establish themselves
they form in to bushy clumps which after a few years should
be divided and transplanted.

Perennial asters and mums both benefit from pinching back
to extend the growing season, resulting in a bushier plant
and a profusion of flowers. Begin pinching back in mid-June,
but curtail any pruning after early July, or it will have the
opposite effect : leaving the plant without any blossoms in the fall.

The "star" of the autumn garden, perennial asters are
a mainstay in any flower garden and provide colorful blooms
at the end of the summer just when most other flowers are fading...

Zinnias

Zinnias get their name from 18th-century German
botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn, who wrote up the
flower's first scientific description. Zinnias are native
to Mexico, where Aztecs originally dubbed these
flowers mal de ojos - hard on the eyes.

It's an apt description, since zinnias come in some
many vivid colors (except blue) that they'll brighten
up any corner of your garden, even on the cloudiest days,
and prove to be a sure-fire magnet for butterflies.

Easy to grow and drought resistant, they are second
only to sunflowers in popularity as kids' school or home
projects. They are are also the perfect cut-and-come-again flower.
The more you cut zinnias, the more they bloom!

Zinnias also make for an excellent dried flower and holds its
color and shape long after being cut.

A secret to growing success with zinnias is to provide them
with plenty of light, airy soil since they intensely dislike the
"pinched toe" effect caused by planting in hard, compacted earth.

Another common problem with zinnias may be mold or
mildew caused by too much rain or watering from above.
To prevent this from happening, simply give your plants a
gentle shake to dispel any drops that have settled on them
after watering or heavy rainfall....

Verbena

Verbena is that no-muss, no-fuss annual with
the deep green leaves and delicately domed
blossoms - and a reputation for being almost virtually carefree.

Heat and drought tolerant, verbena is as easy to find
in local greenhouses as it is to sow directly from seed.

At home in rock gardens or as edging, verbena's small
size also make it a favorite for planting in hanging baskets
and window boxes, where it will bloom continuously with
just a little help - pinch back dead blossoms as often as
they appear to keep verbena flowering throughout the summer...

Sunflowers

Sunflowers can grow to over 20 feet tall during
a single summer and produce flowers more than 2 feet across!

What better way to teach kids how to garden?

With a curious habit of facing the rising sun in the
East, sunflowers provide not only excellent lessons in sun,
earth & sky, but a healthy reward. The copious seeds that
sunflowers produce provide for a fun and nutritious
snack, as well. Little wonder that sunflowers are usually
popular favorite for backyard garden fun or classroom learning
project.

In addition, sunflower seeds are large enough for little fingers
to handle, meaning sunflowers are easy to plant. Just add
water, and stand back!

Just remember to stake them early on to support them
properly throughout the summer, and provide lots of sun
and water as they rapidly grow...and grow...and GROW...

Snapdragons

Snapdragons often hold happy childhood
memories for many adults who grew up in
gardening families and who can recall learning
how to hold the snapdragon's "jaw" for the
first time - and watching it snap back!

The Latin name for snapdragon is Antirrhinum majus -
or "snout-like" - which describes the snapdragons
long probiscus of a bloom which is habitually the
favorite of bees, birds & butterflies.

With a delicate root system, snapdragons thrive in rich,

frequent watering.

Although snapdragons come in a variety of colors and
sizes, the larger types usually need to be staked properly
to keep them standing tall througout the growing season ...

Petunias

Petunias have been popular for years, and its easy to see why.

With a general habit to cascade, the larger types are
ideal flowers for pot containers or hanging baskets.
In this way they can be transported anywhere a splash
of color is needed in a garden, porch, balcony,
or windowsill where they can receive full sun to partial shade.

The main types are grandifloras, multifloras & millifloras,
each with their own characteristics and growing habits,
although all are generally easy to grow, come in a variety
of eye-popping colors (or multicolors), and bloom all summer long.

As the name suggests, grandifloras produce large blossoms -
sometimes up to 6 inches across - although they won't flower
as much as multifloras. The larger, delicate blooms also
usually don't stand a chance against heavy summer rains.

Near summer's end, larger size petunia plants usually
need to be cut back to avoid becoming straggly and to
promote new blooms.

For smaller gardens, and much easier care
(with no need to prune or pinch back), millifloras
have been developed as a new addition to the petunia family,
Their compact size makes them ideal for edging or
groundcover with blossoms a mere 1 1/2" across...

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are those spicy (and delicious!) plants
that will grow in any fair amount of sun and practically
any soil condition in a backyard, pot container or hanging basket.

The proper way to pronounce them is ne-STUR-shums,
- but no matter how you say it - they are the flower most
gardeners choose for areas in which most other plants
don't stand a chance.

Rugged, pretty, and very high in vitamin C, you can
have your nasturtiums and eat them, too. The peppery
flavor of its leaves & flowers are widely used in salads, soups and sauces.

Nasturtium's spicy character is also reported to ward
off some garden pests such as cucumber beetles,
although aphids may become a problem for nasturtiums
at the height of the season.

They only thing they will not tolerate is soggy soil -
so water sparingly - and look forward to blooming success
with nasturtiums all summer long...

Morning glories

Morning glories are prized not only for their ease
of care, but for their incredibly rapid growth -
as much as 15-20 feet tall in practically no time at all...

As such, morning glories can often be seen climbing up
trellises, providing shade for country porches or decorating
chain link fences in town.

So called because their flowers open as the first rays of
sunshine appear over the horizon, the morning glory
belongs to the Convolvulaceae or sweet potato family.

However, families with young kids or pets should
be aware that morning glory seeds are considered
poisonous and may cause digestive upset, stupor,
hallucinations or even coma if enough are ingested.

Since seed coats are very, very tough, they should be
soaked overnight before planting. Pick a sunny spot in
prepared soil and plant about 1/2 inch deep and
12 inches apart. If no trellis or support is handy at
the time, you can plan on having to install one... very soon!

Marigolds

Marigolds are incredibly popular not only for
their easy-going disposition, but their rapid
growth in any sunny spot in your garden or windowsill.

In fact, if you dote over marigolds you may get lush,
green growth at the expense of flowers. Their bright
orange or yellow blossoms are known to attract
butterflies from miles around.

Although science has yet to prove it, the old wive's tale
points to marigolds' beneficial effects in dispelling common
insect pests from the garden.

However, slugs & snails find marigolds extremely tasty
and may gobble up an entire crop if left unchecked.

An excellent edging or border plant, marigolds easily
tolerate reflected heat from garden walks or pavement,
and usually withstand drought conditions without a fuss.
Be sure to deadhead marigolds to ensure a longer blooming
period throught the growing season ...

Impatiens

Impatiens are not, as widely supposed, named
for their fast growth (although they are one of the
easiest garden plants to maintain) but more for the
plant's seed pods which, when touched, may suddenly
"explode" to disperse its seed in all directions.

Also called "Touch Me Not" or "Buzzy Lizzy" impatiens
are second only to the petunia for ease of growth whether
in backyard gardens, windowboxes, containers, pots or in hanging baskets.

You can choose from among wide variety of colors for
spring planting - including white, pink, red, orange, purple, lilac, and rose

Impatiens walleriana, and Impatiens balsamina are
currently the only two varieties widely available among some 1,000 species of impatiens known....

Four O'Clocks

Four O'Clocks, as the name implies,
possess the curious habit of opening its blooms
in late afternoon, remaining open all through the night.

Four o'clocks planted in full sun are likely to do well
anywhere, although ideal conditions will naturally often
produce a healthier plant and many more blossoms!

Perhaps the real beauty of four o'clocks is that often their
delicate appearance belies their tough resistance to prolonged
drought & poor soil - along with a steely resolve against smoke,
fumes and other atmospheric pollution.

In country backyards, hummingbirds are often attracted to
the plant's long, tubular blossoms. It has also been reported
that the leaves of the four o'clock also irresistably draw
japanese beetles to them in a fatal attraction that poisons
the little garden pests.

Four o'clocks should be planted directly into the ground
in early spring. Although usually listed as an annual,
four o'clocks are very efficient about reseeding themselves,
and for all intents and purposes are perennials that don't need
replanting year after year ....

Forget-Me-Nots

Forget-Me-Nots are scientifcally known as
myosotis or "mouse ears" and one look at their
small blue petals and you'll know why.

But... how did they come to be known as forget-me-nots?

Legend has it that the name derives from medieval times,
when a knight and his lady were walking along the side of
a river. As the story goes, the knight picked a bouquet of flowers
for his love, but because of the weight of his armor he fell
headlong into the river. As he was drowning he threw the
bouquet to her and desperately shouted "Forget-me-not!"

Ever since, the flower has been associated with expressions
of undying affection between loved ones. Today, there are
about 50 known species of forget-me-nots. Most variations
fit the description of a light sky blue five-petaled flower that
blooms in spring, but other colors have since been developed
including white and pink.

Easy to grow from seed, they prefer a rich soil, but generally
don't mind overcrowding and are a favorite to grow in lightly
shady areas under large trees or in rock gardens ...