Splitting, crushing stems may extend life of cut verbenas

Q: Do you have any tips for making Verbena bonariensis last as a cut flower? The flowers bloom forever in the garden but begin to fall as soon as I cut them. As one of the few things I've still got blooming, I'd love to be able to use them inside.

A: These skinny, branching verbenas are great in arrangements, where they add height and airiness with their tiny, intensely purple flowers perched atop tall stems. They look especially good combined with all the yellows and golds of autumn, an effective contrast in color and shape to sunflowers and helianthemums.

First, I'd suggest cutting the freshest flowers you can find, ones that haven't turned the darker shades of purple yet. Cut first thing in the morning, trim off all the foliage from the bottom part of the stem that will be under water and plunge the cut end immediately into cool water, for it only takes a few seconds to scale over so that it can't absorb water. If you're already doing this basic flower conditioning correctly and they're still falling apart, then I'd try splitting the stem a bit and crushing it to encourage it to suck up more water.

I don't think V. bonariensis "bleeds" when cut like poppies, zinnias and euphorbias do, but you could try singeing the ends of the stems for a few seconds to seal before putting it into water. Good luck — it is worth trying to figure out, because few late flowers are as long-blooming and lovely in arrangements.

Q: We had such a mild winter that I expected to have a big aphid problem this summer, but I've hardly seen any, and even my nasturtiums don't have a single aphid on them. What's going on?

A: Although my garden is overrun with little spiders, aphids do seem scarce. It is curious to be able to grow aphid-free nasturtiums.

I took your question to Sharon Collman, aka "The Bug Lady," officially the IPM/Pesticides Outreach Coordinator, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10.

She sees two possible explanations for the low number of aphids this summer: One, because these little buggers have a soft body cuticle and need moist, humid weather to stay sufficiently hydrated, it may have been too warm and dry to keep them sufficiently moist to go about their business. Also, they favor succulent, soft new growth on plants, and our hot, dry weather slows down plant growth and hardens their tissues, making the plants unpalatable to aphids.

Collman points out, however, that while this weather has slowed down the aphids, the mites love it and are thriving. As are the spiders.

Valerie Easton also writes about Plant Life in Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine. Write to her at P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111 or e-mail planttalk@seattletimes.com with your questions. Sorry, no personal replies.