Flowers: How to Care for Them?

 Dealing with Rose Diseases

When watching for rose diseases, look for these issues:

  1. Flowers that don’t open or are deformed when they open.

If your flowers are not opening, or aren’t looking quite right when they do, it could be due to Thrips.  Thrips are thin, brownish yellow bugs with fringed wings that suck juices from flower buds. Cut and discard the infested flowers. Orthene and malathion may also treat this problem.

  1. Leaves with black spots on them.

Black spots appear with fringed edges on leaves and can cause them to yellow. Remove the infected foliage and pick up any fallen leaves around the flowers. Artificial sprays may be used to prevent or treat this kind of rose disease.

  1. Stunted or malformed young canes

Known as powdery mildew, this is a fungal disease that covers leaves, stems and buds with wind spread white powder. It makes the leaves curl and turn purple. Spray with Funginex or Benomyl to treat this fungal disease.

  1. Flowers andleaves that don’t form correctly or fully.

Spider Mites are small yellow, red or green spiders that live on the underside of leaves and feed off of them. The application of Orthene or Isotox may help in treating this infestation.

  1. Blistered underside of leaves

Known as rust, this disease is characterized by orange-red blisters that turn black in fall. It can survive the winter and will then attack new sprouts in the spring. Collect and discard leaves that are infected in fall. A Benomyl or Funginex spray every 7-10 days may help.

  1. Weak and mottled leaves with tiny white webs under them

This is caused by aphids. They are small soft-bodied insects that usually brown, green or red. Often clustered under leaves and flower buds, they suck plant juices from tender buds. Malathion or diazinon spray may help roses to survive these bugs. Remember that roses are hungry feeders that require much fertilizer to become healthy bushes.

How to Care for Tulips

Tulips are flowers that enjoy cold weather, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow them in California! If you want to enjoy these beautiful flowers in the spring, you’ll need to get started sometime in November. We will show you the right way to care for your tulips so you can enjoy a colorful spring flowerbed.

  1. Faking Cold Weather

In Zones 8 through 11, the ground doesn’t often get cold enough for tulips to grow. These bulbs like at least six weeks of soil temperatures below 45 degrees, otherwise they’ll stay dormant. If your soil temperatures don’t drop that low, the best thing to do is dig up your tulip bulbs in November and store them in the refrigerator. Keep them in the veggie crisper, and pack peat moss around the bulbs to draw away excess moisture and keep the bulbs healthy.

  1. Planting Your Tulip Bulbs

In January, you can take your tulip bulbs out of the refrigerator and plant them in your garden. Avoid planting your bulbs in areas that are too shady or a spot that is too close to your home. While it won’t hurt the bulbs, shady areas stay cool, which will make your tulips bloom later, while a warm spot next to your home will make the tulips bloom too early. Make sure the flower bed you’re going to plant them in is well drained. Bulbs, including tulips, are prone to rotting if the soil is always soaked. If your soil is hard or has lots of heavy clay, use compost or peat moss to soften it. Tulip bulbs should be planted approximately seven inches deep, with the pointed ends facing upward. Space the bulbs so that they’re four inches or more apart. Water the bulbs once you’ve planted them, but avoid topping them with mulch until the shoots are two or three inches high. Mulch will trap water, and could cause the bulbs to rot. Once you’ve planted the tulips, you’re ready to sit back and enjoy the show! Remember to remove blooms as they fade to promote healthy growth, and when the foliage turns yellow, you’re free to cut it away. In November, you can come back and dig up the bulbs to get ready for the next year.

Interested for more tips on how to care for your flowers? Don’t hesitate to contact us at 805-773-5395 or