Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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| Keeping bonsai plants alive in Athol MA September 21, 2009 For the past 12 years I have raised bonsai plants in AL and FL, but recently moved back to central MA. My collections consists of Japanese maples, ginkos, bald cypress and ficus benjamina. I have a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for a New York, NY apartment? August 14, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, What are some native Mid-Atlantic/New England plants that can be grown well indoors? I live in an apartment in New York City and have recently realised that the plants I'v... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why do the leaves of my potted Esperanza plant look droopy? August 13, 2009 My Esperanza plant leaves look droopy. I have it in a big pot and have for 3 years. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas native plants in an indoor space in Dallas July 31, 2009 Is there a native Texas plant that would be suited for an indoor application, such as large planters in a lobby space? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Container native plants for New York area June 10, 2009 I live near Lake Ontario (zip 14098). Would like to know what to plant in window boxes that have southern exposure and are in direct sun 4-6 hrs a day View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Container plants for deck in Maine May 18, 2009 I live on the ocean in Maine. Fourth floor deck. I want to plant containers and boxes with annuals that can withstand a lot of wind. We get mostly sun but some shade as well. Of course, there is the s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Container plants for terrace in New York City April 25, 2009 What flowering plants would you recommend that will grow well on a 16th floor terrace ,with all day sun in NYC? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bluebonnets in pots in New Caney, TX April 25, 2009 My mother in New Caney (Texas), would like to plant Bluebonnets in some lovely terra cotta containers on her porch (and will hopefully mail me some dried pressings of my beloved state flower). Other t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for low light in Houston April 21, 2009 I moved from a home in New Jersey to an apartment in Houston, TX -inside court - low light. I can't keep houseplants alive., What do you recommend that I try here? Both inside the apartment and on ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Container plants for Dallas, TX March 28, 2009 I need help with container plants that can endure being out in the full sun and don't need a lot of maintenance. I would prefer something that is about 2-3' at its height and has a rounded shape. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for planting in gourds March 15, 2009 I enjoy painting dried gourds. This spring I got the idea to paint a gourd and cut holes in the side and plant some small blooming flowers. I have seen "hen and chickens" growing out of holes in the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Do plants grow faster in natural or artificial light? March 13, 2009 Do you think plants will grow faster in natural light or artificial light or a combination of both? And why do you think that. and need your answer for my biology project please and thank you for your... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Container plants for pool area in Killeen TX March 08, 2009 We live in Central Texas (Killeen). We want to put some container plants around our pool. (backyard with pool is all cement). We want some larger stuff, like maybe bamboo, elephant ears, etc. What pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Container plants for Bucks County, PA February 18, 2009 I live in Bucks County, PA and I would like to have a garden, but do not have a green thumb. Which plants come back each year that survive in large pots. Are daisies also a good choice for my garden... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen plants with showy flowers for pots in Central Texas January 14, 2009 I'm looking for evergreen plants with showy flowers suitable for Central Texas. Plants need to do well in pots.. they will be planted in flower boxes in my very sunny porch. thanks!!! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant that can move from outside to inside for Denton, TX December 14, 2008 I am looking for a plant that is either native to Texas or is well acclimated to the Denton TX area that can move from a covered outside area to an adjacent indoor area behind large glass walls, to a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for indoor Lemon Cypress November 30, 2008 How do I care for an indoor Lemon Cypress tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small area native plant gardening for an apartment November 14, 2008 Mr.Smarty, We live in an apartment and are fortunate to have a small area, 5'x5', and so want color! Here in Houston the winters don't freeze much and the summers are HOT. Luckily, we are in the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Indoor lantana tree dropping leaves November 06, 2008 I purchased a lantana tree,a lantana hybrid that is only tolerant to 32 degrees. We are zone 5 so I brought it indoors and it only gets the morning sun, and 85%of the leaves have fallen off. The leav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Overwintering a Juncus effusus in Great Neck, NY October 23, 2008 Can I over winter a juncus effusus spiralis indoors or must it be kept outdoors? Whether indoors or outdoors, what is the proper way to keep it alive during the winter months? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Potting soil used in Wildflower Center nursery October 23, 2008 I recently purchased several beautiful little plants at your Fall plant sale and notice how very happy and healthy they all are! Please tell me if you mix your own potting soil and what your potting ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Holding an Acer rubrum in a container for two years October 10, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I am thinking about ordering a Red Maple tree that is cultivated from Mount Vernon. I appreciate the historic nature of such a tree. The tree will be shipped to me and is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Container gardening for pool in southern California October 08, 2008 I have large planters around pool would like to know what plants to use that will not grow to high or to big and will not have large roots home located in camarillo ca. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for pots outdoors in winter in Virginia October 02, 2008 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I was wondering what plants would be best to grow outdoors, in pots, in Virginia, in the winter? This is a lot of restrictions but we just need 2-3 plants for our office pati... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of closet plant August 13, 2008 I have a closet plant that is old and was doing fine and then started having droopy leaves. It needed to be in a larger pot so I transplanted into a larger pot with new potting soil. It continues to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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