Do I prune balloon flowers?
Question:I have a balloon flower and I don't know if i'm supposed to prune it, pick the dead flowers off or just leave it alone. I've looked online but found nothing. I have been clipping the dead flower off, and some white milky stuff comes out of the end. I've done this for a week or so, but now the new buds are starting to die before they even open. Please help!!
Answers:
Balloon flower has little in the way of diseases or insect problems. They do not tolerate wet soils. This can cause root rot. So let your balloon flower dry between waterings. Use your fingure to check the soil moisture. When the top 2-3" of soil is dry, but moist below that level, then water.
You can deadhead to extend bloom period. You can also pinch back this plant in early spring to produce a more compact and bushy plant.
There is an insect that can feed on the leaves & unopened flower buds of Balloon flower. They tend to be more of a problem in greenhouses than in people's yards. This insect is known as the Western Flower Thrip. WFT's small size (1/16 inch) and tendency to remain hidden in flower buds makes it difficult to detect the thrips before severe feeding damage is evident. You can tap the flowers/foliage over a white sheet of paper to look for slender, winged insects. Thrips feed by piercing plant cells with their mouthparts and feeding on the exuded plant juices. This collapse of plant cells may result in deformed flowers, leaves and shoots. Silvery flecked scars or small black "fecal" spots may be seen on the expanded leaves. Here are some pics of thrips: http://www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/greenhs/ht...
You can control with insecticidal soap.
No, you shouldln't prune your balloon flower plants. Just keep deadheading them, as you've been doing to encourage new blooms. The white milky stuff is just the sap of the plant. If you cut flowers to put in a vase, burn the cut stem before putting it in water.
If your buds are falling off, it could be all kinds of stuff, from insect infestation to overwatering. Check gardenguide.com for more answers.
More Related Questions & Answers...