Autumn is Upon Us!
The last day of summer has passed, but fall is finally here!
Beautiful foliage, pumpkin picking, mums in full bloom. Every gardener delights in the harvest season. Since the warm weather is coming to an end, the next few weeks Ask Ivy will concentrate on how to winterize your plants. I will be sharing steps to [...]
Croton Likes the Sunshine
Question: Is it good to put a Croton plant outside?
Answer: In the Summertime, yes it is. Croton loves sunlight and your back yard, or sunny porch would be a great place for it. Make sure the soil doesn’t dry out, this is NOT a drought resistant plant.
If you choose to put it outside, keep an [...]
Christmas Cactus Questions
Q: I have five Christmas cacti that had flowers on them when I brought them home but haven’t re-bloomed yet. What’s the deal? I have them in bright light and I feed them violet food, but no flowers, what should I do?
A: There’s a lot going on in this question. First, when did you bring [...]
Petunia Problems
Q: I think I over watered my petunias. They look like they died, can I bring them back?
A: This classic gardeners favorite doesn’t require much water, so it is likely you have given them more than they could handle. The soil in which you grow petunias should be very well drained. If planting them in [...]
Support for Ivy
Q: My indoor ivy plant is drooping. Is it because I over watered it?
A: It may just need some support! It’s hard for me to guess exactly what you mean by drooping. If you mean the plant is splaying out, and the stems are starting to hang, then not to worry! This is totally normal. [...]
Should I, or shouldn’t I?
Q: Is it good to put a Croton plant outside?
A: It’s good to let them live outside in the Summer as long as you bring them in in the Winter. Crotons love the sun and rain and fresh air. Mine has luxuriated in the full, bright sun all Summer, and it’s loving life!
If you live [...]
Croton Questions and Profile
Q: I bought a croton plant about a month ago but now the leaves are droopy. It still has its colors but what can I be doing to make it like it is?
A: More than likely, it is being under watered, or does not have enough light. Croton greedily gobbles up sunlight and water. It [...]
Reader Mail: Spent Daisy Blooms
Q: My daisies are spent and all that remains are the dead flower heads. Should I cut these off, or leave them?
A: You should snip the dead heads. Daisies are perennials , and will come back next year. Whenever you have a flower or plant that is done blooming, you should cut off the dead [...]
Reader Mail: Hens and Chicks
Q: How often should I water my Mother Hen plant?
A: Rarely! This plant, also known as Hens and Chicks, is a desert succulent. It’s like to store water in it’s fleshy leaves, and let its roots dry out completely. The plant is so called because it sends off little round baby plants that look jut [...]
More Reader Mail!
Q: What is the watering schedule for succulents?
A: This is a good question, reader, but one that is hard to quantify. Succulents are plants, often from the desert, that store water in specially evolved organs. These organs can be in the roots, stems, leaves, or in special potato-like growths that expand and contract.
These plants like [...]