Question: My santolinas appear to be going down hill. I have both the gray and green forms, and the gray ones seem to be hurting worse. What could the cause be?

Answer: There are two common problems. First, if the plants try to bloom, you need to shear the flower buds off before they ever develop. They aren’t all that showy, and the plants will lose their compact form if they’re allowed to bloom out. Second, santolinas must have good drainage. The gray plants are the more susceptible to root problems in waterlogged soils.