Most gardeners are familiar with worm castings. They’re one of the best organic fertilizers and composts out there. You can generate your own castings using your kitchen scraps and a worm composter, also called a vermicomposter. But what is the best worm composter, and how do you choose with the wide variety that are out there? Table of Contents We’ll break down each type of worm composter for your perusal and help you to make the right choice for your needs....

And when I say “prayer plant,” I mean all the species grown as houseplants that are part of the Marantaceae family and that go by this common name, including marantas, calatheas (renamed and officially known as goeppertias), ctenanthes, and stromanthes. Prayer plants have gorgeous, patterned leaves. They are also sensitive to their growing conditions and known to be a bit fussy. While the occasional brown leaf tip is to be expected, if your houseplant is making this a habit, it might be a cry for help....

If you’ve ever discovered deer eating the plants in your garden, you know first hand just how destructive they can be. This drives many gardeners to go on a mission to find plants that deer hate, so they can stop the damage once and for all! Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a deer proof plant. Deer will graze on anything if they’re hungry enough, especially during the winter....

Heirloom tomatoes, winter squash, and homegrown brussels sprouts are great, but who wants to wait three months or more before you can enjoy your first taste from the garden? Sometimes slow and steady does not win the race. Like all those little kid gardeners, there are occasions when even the adults tire of waiting long periods to see sprouts, or taste the fruits (or should I say greens?) of their labor....

The Arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum) has been a popular houseplant for decades. Easy to care for, with beautiful and varied foliage, and best of all, you can propagate it with ease. In this article, we will look at Arrowhead Plant propagation to help you expand your collection of these wonderful houseplants. An Arrowhead plant can be propagated from cuttings in either water or soil. Cut a 6-12 inch section of the stem just below a node....

Kale is a typical green. It thrives in cool temps, and usually stops producing its best flavors once the weather turns hot. Gardeners who want the largest possible greens harvest know that a spring and fall planting can optimize the best climate and create delicious, mild-tasting leaves without the plant bolting. But what about when it turns bitter cold? Certain varieties were meant to flourish when the first cold snap hits in the fall....

If you want an indoor plant that is known for its tropical looks, then what else then Bird’s Nest Fern Care. While it’s not super easy to grow it, you can still keep healthy and happy if you know these care instructions below. Check out the best indoor ferns here Bird’s Nest Fern Information Bird’s nest fern belongs to the Aspleniaceae family and is native to the tropical forests of Southeastern Asia, Eastern Australia, and Hawaii....

Plants Looking for some edible ground cover to help fill in some areas of your garden or your yard? These 11 plants will help fill in the blank space, while providing some beneficial edibles at the same time. Gardening expert Madison Moulton examines her favorites, and what you can expect when planting any of these edible plants as groundcover. By Madison Moulton Last updated: May 25, 2022 | 9 min read When picturing ground covers, you may imagine a few compact plants, like sedums, hostas, or other beautiful plants that are mainly grown for their ornamental value....

It’s normal to see ants in the garden. But sometimes their populations can get so large, that it becomes a cause of concern for new gardeners. While there are plenty of annoying species, like fire ants or leaf cutters, there are a lot of others that are totally harmless, and even helpful. Ants can serve many beneficial functions, from pollinating to aerating the soil. But a large population can be an indicator of other problems....

By Julie Christensen Herbs are delightfully satisfying to grow because they’re quick, low-maintenance plants that offer a feast for the senses. Their bright leaves and colorful blooms add variety to a vegetable garden, while their scent and flavor enhance almost any fresh or cooked dish. Sadly, the season for spontaneously plucking herbs out of a kitchen garden is all too brief. Most tender herbs, such as basil, die with the first fall frost....

Drawing your vegetable garden layout may sound like a lot of work, but it really isn’t difficult. You don’t need any expensive computer program, or mad geometry skills either. Heck, you don’t even need to be able to draw! When spring comes, and you walk out to your backyard armed with your sketch, you’ll be thrilled that you took the time to do it. It makes planting and growing vegetables so much easier!...

Indoor plants need nutrition to flourish, but the best way to fertilize isn’t intuitive. A plant’s needs are very different than our own: it’s easy to make mistakes or feed too often – or too much. In this article, we’ll explain the mysteries of plant nutrition and show you how to fertilize indoor plants so they thrive. How to fertilize indoor plants: Fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium along with micronutrients for a plant’s energy and growth....

Freezing carrots is easy and doesn’t take much time. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to do it (with or without blanching) so you can enjoy that fresh flavor all year long. Whether from your garden, the grocery store, or the farmer’s market, you can easily freeze carrots so you’ll have them on hand whenever you need them. You can heat them up for a quick side dish, or use them in stews, soups, and so many other recipes....

Hardy in Zones 3 to 9, daffodils are native to the Iberian Peninsula and southwest Europe, with over 50 species in the genus and thousands of hybridized cultivars. Narcissus Bright and cheerful with a heavenly fragrance, daffodils are among the most beloved of spring’s harbingers. The flowers are notable for their hues of yellow or white, but many garden varieties also come in shades of pink, coral, and orange. The central corona is trumpet or cup-shaped, and is surrounded by six petals (technically, tepals)....

By Jennifer Poindexter Are you in the market for a brightly colored flower to liven up your surroundings? Have you considered growing China asters? These flowers come in a variety of colors and could make for a great addition to a traditional flower garden or container garden. If you’re unfamiliar with how to grow this flower, don’t let this stop you. Instead, allow me to walk you through the basic information you must know to grow these flowers....

Texas Ranger Plant is a beautiful specimen that stands out with its light green foliage and matching pink flowers. If you want to add it to your plant collection, keep reading to learn How to Grow Texas Sage Plant in Pot! Botanical Name: Leucophyllum frutescens USDA Zones: 7-10 Read How to Grow Texas Star Hibiscus here Texas Ranger Plant Information Also popular as Purple Sage, Texas Sage, Texas Silverleaf, Cenizo, Silverleaf, and Texas Barometer Bush (Leucophyllum frutescens) is an evergreen, dense shrub famous for soft, silver leaves and rose-purple blooms....

Some of these diseases are more readily treatable than others, and we will provide advice on how to deal with the pathogens that can be controlled. Asparagus plants are prone to a wide range of diseases. In most cases, the visible symptoms will help to determine the cause of the infection, and treatments are generally available. But diagnosing the source of the infection can be challenging. This guide will help you to distinguish between the fungi, water mold, and viruses that could be afflicting your plants....

In this article, we’ll help you pick the best water chiller for hydroponics, whether it’s a water chiller for a DWC system or any other type of system that you need. We’ll tell you the all about water chillers, and why its important to keep your nutrient solution cool. We’ll also provide information about the best water chillers for hydroponics on the market, so you can build an awesome hydroponic garden....

If you are getting into canning, then you know that proper sterilization is one of the most important aspects for safety. But don’t worry, sterilizing jars for canning is much easier than it sounds. You don’t even need any specialized equipment! Below I’ll guide you through how to safely prepare jars for canning, with detailed step by step instructions. Once you’ve gone through the sterilizing process, you’ll be amazed how easy it is....

Plants Thinking of planting some lavender this season, but aren't sure if it will be a one year plant, or if it will come back next season? This is actually a common question many first-time lavender gardeners have. In this article, organic gardening expert and lavender enthusiast Logan Hailey examines if lavender is annual, biennial, or perennial. By Logan Hailey Last updated: July 29, 2022 | 6 min read Known for its blissful fragrance and charming pastel purple flowers, lavender is a staple for any herb garden....