Question: I bought some large marigolds in 4-inch pots. The plants were in full bloom when I bought them, but they stopped growing. How can I avoid that problem the next time I buy marigolds?

Answer: By buying plants that are in bud, but not yet in full flower. For some odd reason, if you let marigolds go to bloom in their transplant pots, that pretty well shuts down further growth and flowering. Even if the plants are somewhat shorter, they’ll re-establish better and bloom much more heavily. The same thing applies with fall celosias and zinnias.