Here's a garden tip I didn't know. The dusty miller plant (PS: Dusty Miller) will actually produce a flower in its second year. Here's the plant: I took it in the house over the winter. watered and gave it some tlc. Put it in the greenhouse come summer and now LOOK: A pretty little dainty flower. With this being the case I went out and bought a few more so I could try this again. I think flower gardening is so much fun especially when you learn something you didn't know before. Try this: pick up a flower that you don't know very much about and tell us what you learned about it or if there's a special secret to it...it could be fun.
gardenmama: try taking it up and putting it in the house over winter and see what happens. Thats what I try..begonas, geraniums dusty miller, petunias, a little of anything. Some will make it and some don't. But ya never know till ya try.
I have those plants in my garden and I agree the flowers are dainty little things. Is great when you get surprises with your plants isn't it?
I leave my Dusty Miller in the ground all winter. The following year the ones that survive get that yellow bloom. I usually cut the bloom off as I found them unattractive. But looking at your picture of the bloom, it doesn't look so bad. LOL Maybe next year I'll let them flower
I just noticed the flowers yesterday. I had never had the same plants from year to year until now. muddy
I guess you learn something all the time...I have never seen the flower because mine are tossed after the first frost. Can you answer a question for me please? How do you bring pots inside the house without bringing in bugs? I would sure hate to have a houseful of ear wigs...ugly critters..I have tried spraying the soil and plant and a while later I could see movement so I just tossed them back outside. I tried insecticidal soap and sprayed it on..Thank you...Sherry
Sherry: I know tis might sound unbelievable, but I really never noticed any bugs on my plants when I bring them in. Last winter I brought in geraniums, dusty millers, hanging plants, begonias, and others. I never noticed any bugs. I assure you I'm fussy about the house being clean also. I have a two shelf unit my hubby has made for me that sets in front of a window. Hope this answers your question. I'm not sure what suggestion to give as to bringing in your plants without bringing in the bugs.
Each day we discover new things in our life and it is an endless process. Perhaps I have seen those somewhere else already and these are not new for me.
Petunia: I did not know that about the Dusty Miller! And that is a wonderful challenge that you gave us all about picking a flower to learn about. :-D PS I too bring in plants to overwinter, and have never seen one bug. I wonder if there is so much else outside that they don't bother to hang out, or what
I must have at least 6 types of Scented Geraniums that I overwinter inside. They will flower in late winter. And Geraniums are one of the easiest plants to make cuttings from. Hint- Put several scented geranium leaves in a closed container with white sugar. The geraniums will impart their fragrance/taste to the sugar. Remove the leaves before you use it.
I have quite a few of these plants in my garden. I grew them from seed a few years ago and at the end of each summer season I cut off any untidy stems and also remove the flowers as I grow them for their pretty silvery leaves. Never heard them called Dusty Miller, over here we call them Cineraria.
Wow I have never had these come back in my garden. I really like them in with some other flowers in my pots I put on the deck and front porch. I will have to try wintering some and see what they do. Thanks
Flowerpower & P.D Another plant easy to over winter may be the coleus. you can also take cuttings from it and make new plants.
