The Coffee Plant (Coffea arabica) produces the invigorating beverage loved all over the world, and it also makes an attractive and easy-to-grow houseplant. It adds a fun dimension to your collection and is a great conversation starter. Let’s take a look at how to care for this famous plant. High humidity, bright indirect light, and moist, rich, well-draining and slightly acidic soil are the most important aspects of Coffee Plant care indoors....

Here’s what you’ll need for the swag in our photos: Making a Christmas wreath is loads of fun, and adds a beautiful touch of natural charm to your holiday decor. But they’re also time consuming to create. And you need to practice your technique first before you’ll get a symmetrical shape suitable for display. So, if you don’t have the spare time for extensive craft sessions, try a swag instead. Loosely structured with a free form, a swag can be completed in well under 30 minutes!...

Information Do coleus plants come back after winter freezes? Can they handle cold temperatures? Will they die in colder weather and need to be replanted? These are questions most first time coleus owners have. In this article, master gardener and coleus expert Laura Elsner walks through what you can expect. By Laura Elsner Last updated: November 9, 2022 | 10 min read Coleus are beautiful tropical plants that add color to containers and in the garden....

Most people are somewhat familiar with what it takes to make a plant grow. A good source of light is deemed pretty much essential. But does that mean the plant stops growing when the sun goes down? What happens to the energy created during the day? Do plants grow at night? Do Plants Grow At Night? Yes! The absence of light actually stimulates plants to grow fastest at night. Plant phytochromes detect darkness, encouraging growth hormone production, causing the plant to elongate in search of light....

Growing acorn squash is low maintenance and rewarding! Because of their large seed size, sowing acorn squash seeds is a great task for young children to get them involved in the garden. If you’d rather begin with pre-started plants then fear not! Squash seedlings are likely available at your local garden center. The growing process is long, but you’ll enjoy watching the acorn squash plant grow throughout the summer and into the fall....

Flowers Amsonia Tabernaemontana, also known as Bluestars can be a beautiful flowering plant addition to just about any garden. They do contain a milky sap that can be toxic and irritating to humans, but otherwise get along well with many other plants within your garden. In this article, gardening expert Madison Moulton explains how to plant, grow, and care for Bluestar flowers. By Madison Moulton Last updated: February 18, 2022 | 15 min read When these flowers pop up in late spring, your garden will be treated with the truest of calming blues....

Cucumber is a refreshing vegetable, especially if picked up fresh. It is known for its crunchy and refreshing taste and is eaten in a variety of ways: raw in salads, cooked, or pickled! It is easy to grow and requires warm, sunny exposure and deep, regular watering. Discover the names of the best climbing vegetables you can grow vertically here Benefits of Growing Cucumbers Vertically One advantage of Growing Cucumbers Vertically is that you can avoid a common problem of fruit rot associated with cucumber cultivation....

Fall and spring gardens can put gardeners in a bit of a pickle. What to grow? With a wonderful crunch and sweetness that can stand on its own or delight stir-fries, growing snow peas is a delicious and savvy choice to add to any late fall or early spring garden with mild temperatures. Table of Contents The snow pea is part of the pea or Pisum family and thought to have originated some 10,000 years ago either in Europe or India....

Succulents If you aren't sure how much water your aloe vera plant needs, you've come to the right place! While it may not need as much water as other succulents, there are some best practices you should follow when it comes to plant hydration. In this article, gardening expert Emily Horn walks through how much and how often you should be watering your aloe vera. By Emily Horn Last updated: December 21, 2022 | 5 min read Aloe vera is one of the most popular houseplants, and for good reason....

Small flowers in luscious shades of mauve, pink, and raspberry red form clouds of color, rising on wiry, branched stems from cushions of pretty, steel blue foliage. Dianthus gratianopolitanus Highly evocative of cottage and rock gardens, Cheddar pinks, Dianthus gratianopolitanus, are members of the carnation family, with delightful, fringed flowers and a spicy fragrance of sweet cloves. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

However, before you plant, be sure to check with your state’s extension service to determine if the cultivation of C. cyanus is permitted in your area. Centaurea cyanus Bachelor’s button, Centaurea cyanus, is a European wildflower that has naturalized across the United States. It is a member of the Asteraceae family that includes asters, chicory, daisies, mums, sunflowers, and yarrow. It’s a vigorous plant commonly found growing among the grain crops in farmers’ fields....

Now an enthusiastic rhubarb convert, the sweet, tart tang of the red-green stalks haunted my winter dreams and made me ache for summer. Even though all of my friends had pie-plant patches in their gardens, I still didn’t. The first time I ever tried rhubarb, it was a squishy mess inside a pie at a chain restaurant somewhere. I never wanted to eat it again. That all changed the summer I moved to Alaska, when my parents convinced me to try the pie at a quaint local establishment, with the best view ever of the surrounding mountains and the Matanuska Glacier....

I don’t really think of myself as having a green thumb when it comes to indoor houseplants. It’s more green-ish. Orchids? I can keep them alive, but I’ve never had one rebloom for me. I have varying success with other plants, depending on what it is and the care required. But I love to buy them—for myself and as gifts. I recommend that you ask at the time of purchase what the care instructions are for the plant you’re taking home....

Those of us who keep aquariums around to enjoy fish swimming around have an unusual outlet for gardening right in front of us. Growing java fern in our fish tanks is a great way to bring greenery indoors. Besides, your underwater pets will love it! Table of Contents Deep green in coloration, these aquarium plants are a perfect back layer plant for a fish tank as a mature java fern can grow to reach upwards of 13″ tall....

This article is going to dive into rain garden benefits, as well as how to go about planning for a typical residential rain garden. It will also offer some suggestions on what to plant. What is a rain garden? During every big rainfall, as water flows down driveways and sidewalks, and off rooftops, it washes everything it encounters in its path—chemicals, fertilizer, dirt, road salt—into storm drains, as well as into our lakes, rivers, and streams....

What are small pumpkins? Small pumpkins are those that weigh less than four pounds, with many small pumpkins being truly miniature and weighing less than a pound. Like large pumpkins, small fruited varieties need a long growing season, often up to 100 days for the plants to grow and the fruits to mature. Different varieties also have different growing habits. Some produce long vines, while others have semi-vining or bush-type plants....

By Jennifer Poindexter Have you ever wondered what you should consider before planting a tree in your yard, especially near your home? One thing that should probably cross your mind is the durability of the wood of any tree you choose. Though there are many trees to choose from, there are certainly a few that should be avoided because they’re known for having weak wood. Yes, weak wood is a thing and some trees suffer from it....

What are snake plants? Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata, formerly Sansevieria trifasciata), also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is a popular indoor plant native to Africa. There are various types to grow with most having upright, vertical growth and sword-shaped or pointed leaves. They’re tough, almost indestructible plants and thrive in a range of light levels – from full, direct sunlight to low light conditions. There’s a type of snake plant for every sized space as certain varieties are compact and grow just 6 inches tall, while others can reach heights of 6 to 8 feet when mature....

by Jennifer Poindexter Are you short on space but would love to have your own vegetable garden? Perhaps, you enjoy gardening on a smaller scale. Whatever your reason for needing a smaller gardening area, you should consider raising a patio vegetable garden. Whether you have a small balcony, a deck, or an outdoor patio, these spaces could work for producing homegrown vegetables. I’m going to share a few tips which will, hopefully, inspire you to grow a successful patio vegetable garden wherever you are....

Information Hydrangeas are some of the most popular ornamental shrubs planted around the world. But they can be sensitive, making them prone to many common mistakes by both new and experienced gardeners. In this article, gardening expert Jill Drago walks through the most common mistakes she sees when gardeners decide to plant hydrangeas. By Jill Drago Last updated: November 24, 2022 | 12 min read When the lazy days of summer are in full swing, hydrangeas are doing anything but taking a nap....