k i d s p e a k o n l i n e

A single white flower on a long, green stem is both striking and fragile. When searching for such a plant, either to your own garden or cut-flower usage, you have a range from which to chose. Select from wax, wax, tropical shrub and wildflower-looking plants which each have one white flower on a long stem.

Tulip

Tulips (Tulipa spp.) Have fleshy, green comes topped with a single flower. These bulb plants have been low-maintenance. Once awakened, tulips return each year. Individual plants develop from 9 inches to 2 feet tall and bloom in mid- to late spring. White tulip varieties comprise Tulipa “Gwen,” Tulipa “Maureen” and also Tulipa “Clearwater.” Tulips are hardy at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zones 3 through 8.

Hybrid Tea Rose

Hybrid tea roses (Rosa) are long-stemmed varieties with a single flower on each stem. John F. Kennedy hybrid tea rose (Rosa “John F. Kennedy”) is a cultivated variety that is hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10. The plant grows 3 to 5 feet tall at a shrublike growth habit, along with its creamy white blooms have a rosy fragrance. The long stems make this white tea rose ideal as a cut flower.

Peace Lily

Long-lasting and well-adapted to low-light conditions, the peace lily (Spathiphyllum x “Clevelandii”) could be grown as a houseplant. In mild climates, it grows well in full-shade places in outdoor gardens. The peace lily is hardy in USDA zones 10b through 11. Long stems with single, white flowers develop over the plant’s verdant, green leaves. Peace lily flowers have a single, large petal that encompasses an erect flower stem.

Snowdrop Anemone

If you would like a wildflower appearance with a single, white flower, subsequently snowdrop anemone (Anemone sylvestris) is one to try. Also referred to as snowdrop windflower, it is a herbaceous perennial which grows 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall. Its 1- to 2-inch broad flowers are easy, open and slightly drooping. Snowdrop anemone is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8 or 9. This plant grows well in full shade and deep, moist soil conditions. Deer tend to jump this plant when browsing in gardens.

See related

If your plan is to start your new lawn from seed, it’s critical to be aware of the very best temperatures for seed germination. Before you purchase seeds and then prepare your lawn for planting, investigate the best seed varieties for your particular climate zone and period of the year, and keep in mind that some varieties may do better when planted with plugs or sod.

Warm-Season Grasses

Warm-season grasses maintain your lawn green through the hot and dry summer season. Plant seeds in mid-spring or early summer. Remember that some warm-season grasses, including some cultivars of bermudagrass and St. Augustine grass, do not do well when planted from seed. The soil temperature range for most warm-season grasses is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and occasionally greater. Optimal air temperatures to get warm-season grasses are 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cool-Season Grasses

Start cool-season grasses in the late summer and early autumn, when temperatures are warm and also the chance of rain is greater than usual. Seed that is sown in the spring is nearly certain to fail, according to the University of Missouri Extension. Air temperatures to get cool-season grasses should be between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with soil temperatures between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other Factors

Temperature is one of the most essential factors in grass-seed germination, however in addition, there are other crucial elements to recall. Water grass seed lightly to prevent drowning the seeds or washing them away in the planting site. If the seeds get a great deal of water from rain, take that into account when you determine how much and when to irrigate. Preparing the dirt website by weeding, tilling, fertilizing and grading if necessary, will also go a long way toward avoiding problems.

Factors

Temperature requirements can make planting grass from seed seem daunting, but having adequate planning and preparation, it is possible to set up a healthy lawn. Additionally, prices are normally significantly lower when the seed is planted at the ideal time and temperature. Other choices, such as sod and plugs, may be more feasible if you missed the window for planting grass from seed. Sod may also require much more water than seed, since grass seeds require minimal moisture before they appear.

See related

The lotus (Nelumbo spp.) Is a perennial aquatic flowering plant which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 10. Lotus flowers bloom from spring through fall. Individual flowers last a few days but are quickly replaced with new blooms. Lotus leaves grow over the water, unlike the leaves of water lilies that float on the surface.

American Lotus

The American lotus (Nelumbo lutea), also referred to as the yellow lotus, grows in the waters of lakes or rivers across the United States and in parts of Canada. Each day during the blossom season, the yellow-white flowers open each morning and close in the day. Yellow lotus leaves are dark green, saucer-shaped and frequently more than 1 foot in diameter. The flower petals open to reveal a big, yellow, flat-topped seed pod which appears like a drain stopper. American lotus grows 3 to 6 ft tall.

Asian Lotus

The Asian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is marginally bigger than the American lotus, growing 5 to 8 ft tall. The colours of the flowers may be pink or white, with pink more prevalent. Open flowers are 8 to 12 inches wide, with all the green leaves growing up to two feet across. The flat-topped yellow seed pod is also present in the Asian lotus flower, surrounded by yellow stamens. Asian lotus isn’t native, but can be increased in water gardens.

Color Meanings

Meanwhile, the lotus flower symbolizes purity in the Buddhist and Hindu religions, with different flower colors with different meanings in Buddhism. The pink lotus flower represents Buddha, his history and his legend. The white lotus flower represents purity of thought and of soul. The gold or yellow lotus flower represents the gaining of enlightenment. Lotus flowers are beautiful things which grow from muddy waters. This signifies how enlightenment can come from suffering. Closed flowers signify the time before enlightenment, with flowers that are open signaling awareness.

Growing Lotus

Lotus need full sun and soil to grow. The plants grow from rhizomes and should be planted in submerged containers rather than straight from the pond to stop them from spreading aggressively. Plant the rhizome at the edge of a shallow, wide, closed, weighted container filled with potting mix and 1/4-cup 10-10-10 fertilizer per gallon of soil. Leave about one-quarter of this rhizome over the soil surface. Cover the ground with 2 inches of gravel to keep it from drifting into the water. Initiate the container at a depth of 6 inches once the water reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the lotus grows, gradually move the container into deeper water.

See related

Thorned and flower-bearing like other members of the rose family, hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) Are not prima donnas. Most members of this massive hawthorn clan are short and gnarly, with thorned branches which create impenetrable obstacles, making them favorite hedge plants. Indeed, the term hawthorn derives from “haga,” that the old-English phrase for hedge. In the wild, hawthorn thickets provide shelter and food for wildlife. The abundant spring flowers and glowing, orange-red fruit create hawthorns attractive garden trees in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8.

Water your hawthorn bush thoroughly when you plant it. Build a short wall of dirt running in a circle round the tree just outside the perimeter of the main ball. Fill with 10 to 15 gallons of water and allow the water to drain into the dirt. In addition to moistening the soil, generous irrigation at planting companies the soil around the hawthorn’s roots. Mulch the plant with several inches of organic compost, taking good care to maintain the mulch from approaching the trunk or foliagethis is going to keep down weeds which would compete with the young tree for water.

Water the hawthorn weekly to get the entire initial growing season. Fill the basin and permit the water to drain through for each irrigation. Alternatively, press on the hose tap into the soil close to the trunk and permit the water to run until it stands on the top layer of the dirt. Should you use the hose at low pressure, operate for about 30 minutes; should you turn the hose to a trickle, count on 2 to 3 hours per tree. You need to provide every single hawthorn with 10 to 15 gallons each time you water, moistening the soil to 12 inches from the drip line. If the bush doesn’t appear vigorous at the commencement of its second summer season, then continue the practice of weekly watering.

Water mature and established hawthorn trees sometimes during dry, hot summers. Although hawthorns can withstand drought, they grow best in moist, well-draining dirt.

See related

Cucumbers, an yearly vine, belong to the cucurbit family and are fairly easy to grow when given a sunny garden location with ample room and loose, well-drained soil amended with organic matter. When properly cared for and kept free of disease, cucumbers create long, slender fruit which vary in length from 3 to 24 inches. It’s ready for harvest in 50 to 70 days from planting, depending on how you want to use them.

Fruit Production

Before cucumbers can create fruit, the crops grow both female and male flowers on the exact same plant. The male flowers open first and grow in clusters of three to five years, while the female flowers grow on one stem. When successfully pollinated, the female flowers develop fruit in the flower base and also the male flower drop off the plant. Male flowers outnumber female flowers 10 to 1. You shouldn’t be surprised if a high number of flowers drop because these are the male flowers which have served their purpose.

Pollination

Honey bees are common pollinators for cucumber flowers, so large populations raise pollination success, while reduced populations can hinder fruit production. For great fruit production, the bees will need to carry pollen from male to female flowers. Poor pollination may also cause misshapen fruit. Unlike what some might think, cucumbers and other cucurbits from the garden cannot cross pollinate, as the female flowers are only fertilized by males of the very same species. Varieties in each species may cross-pollinate, but it does not affect the current year’s fruit, only the seeds.

Failure to Establish Fruit

If cucumber plants fail to flower, it is impossible for them to set fruit. Some common pest conditions that affect flowering include infestation of nematodes. The root knot nematodes feed on plant roots, stunt growth and reduce return. Improper spacing may also cause poor fruit production. When cucumber plants are too close or too far off, it may affect pollination, and plants might produce more foliage and fewer blooms and fruit.

Continuous Fruit Creation

To encourage ongoing fruit production, you want to pick cucumbers when they are still immature. Mature cucumbers are big, yellow and include hard seeds; these are inedible and if you allow the fruit to fully ripen, the plant halts fruit formation. So that the longer you harvest, the more cucumber you may expect to grow in one season. Harvest cucumbers according to usage. Harvest pickling cucumbers when they hit 1 to 6 inches long, slicing cucumbers in 6 to 10 inches long and pepper to get routine dills at 3 to 4 inches long.

See related

The standard for the size of the rootball of seedlings offered by nurseries in the United States is set by the American Nursery and Landscape Association. This standard, which varies in line with the type of tree and species, is supposed to insure that the plant will be able to hold out against the stress of being transplanted.

Measuring Tree Size

The American Nursery and Landscape Association utilizes the phrase “caliper” for the thickness or diameter of a tree. The permitted size of the root ball is based on the caliper of a nursery seedling. For citrus trees, the caliper is measured 1/2 inch above the bud union, where the scion is grafted onto the main stock. On a citrus tree, the bud union should be at least 6 inches in the ground. The minimal caliper for citrus trees is 3/8 inch. Lime, mandarin and tangerine trees might be offered with 5/16-inch caliper.

Minimum Rootball Width

A citrus tree with a caliper of 1/4 inch to 5/16 inch needs to have a root ball at least 8 inches wide. A tree with a caliper of 3/8 to 5/8 inch needs to have a root ball at least 10 inches wide. A tree with a caliper of 3/4 inch or above should have a root ball at least 12 inches wide.

Minimum Rootball Depth

If the width of the ball is less than 20 inches, then its thickness should be less than 65 percent of its diameter. If the width of the ball is greater than 20 inches, then its thickness should be less than 60 percent of its diameter.

Planting the Rootball

A citrus tree ought to be planted in the spring after the danger of frost has passed and at place where it will get whole sun for most of the day. Citrus trees such as well-drained sandy loam or loam soil. To learn if the soil drains properly, dig a hole 1 foot deep and fill it with water. If the hole has not drained by the next day, plant the tree at a different place. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice its diameter. Do not place fertilizer in the hole; that can hurt citrus roots. Wash off about 1 inch of soil from around the root ball so that the roots make contact with the surrounding soil and, being careful not to break the roots, put the root ball to the hole and fill it with soil. Following a light tamping, the cap of the root ball must be 1 inch above the ground. Create a circular ridge of soil about 6 inches high just beyond the main ball to form a basin and water the tree several times to settle the soil around the roots.

See related