By Bethany Hayes Something about the idea of house plants seems intimidating to even the most experienced gardener. Growing house plants is a lovely way to bring some greenery inside your home while also purifying your indoor air, but too many people think caring for these plants is too hard. Adding a few plants indoors adds a different appeal to your room. Plants immediately create a sense of freshness while also a cozy, homey feel that everyone loves....

By Matt Gibson Costmary is a delightfully fragrant and ornamental perennial herb that smells and tastes like spearmint with a hint of eucalyptus. It’s long, thin, serrated leaves are rounded, but narrow, and greenish-grey. In the spring and summer, it displays clusters of small, white or yellow disc-shaped flowers that are very reminiscent of tansies. Considered a hedge, bush, or shrub, the costmary plant is a bushy, low-growing plant that grows between one to two feet tall and wide....

Many gardeners don’t have a large space for gardening and continually look for ways to grow their favorite vegetables within these small areas. This guide on how to grow sweet potatoes in containers is for those who want to maximize their available space. We hope that we will help inspire you to plant sweet potatoes, whether it be in a larger container or a raised bed. Table of Contents Don’t be afraid to plant sweet potatoes among your decorative plants or other vegetables....

This guide will break everything down to its most basic parts so you can jump in without feeling like you’re in way over your head. Whether you’re looking to dip your toe into the big world of bonsai or you just nabbed a cute little tree on impulse at the store, you’re probably wondering how to handle your first plant. At its most basic, bonsai is a beautiful example of the intersection of art and horticulture....

Butterfly weed is one of my favorite plants that I have growing in my garden. Not only does it add amazing color to the garden, the butterflies flock to it. Plus, it’s a host plant for everyone’s favorite monarch butterfly. Collecting butterfly weed seeds is easy, and doesn’t take much effort – you just need to get the timing right. So below I’ll show you how to tell when butterfly weed seeds are ready to harvest, how to gather them, and what to do with them after you’re done collecting them....

We’ve compiled everything you need to know about these sap-sucking pests, so you’ll know how to deal with them when they show up on your apples or landscape trees. Eriosomatinae Just in case there weren’t enough white waxy insects for you to tell apart already, such as scales and mealybugs, here is another fluffy type. Now introducing the shrub- and tree-loving woolly aphid, an insect that takes the waxy coating game to a whole new level....

Flowers Thinking of adding some lupine flowers to your garden this season? These tall perennial flowers are absolutely stunning, and can add plenty of visual interest to almost any perennial garden. In this article, gardening expert and cut flower farmer Taylor Sievers guides you all you need to know about growing lupines and their care. By Taylor Sievers Last updated: November 2, 2022 | 10 min read Beautiful, yet controversial. That seems to be the resounding thought around the thrilling–sometimes poisonous and invasive–lupine flower....

Being overwhelmed by an over abundance of fresh peppers from the vegetable garden is a great problem to have. But when you end up with more than you can possibly eat before they go bad (ummm… 15 gallons!?), it’s time to find ways to preserve and store peppers for later use. In this guide for preserving peppers, I will walk you through all of my favorite methods for keeping them longer, and the benefits of each technique....

You must be generating enough food waste and leftovers every day that you can utilize to make your own compost. You can use it to feed your plants–the best organic fertilizer. And on your balcony, you don’t have to worry about rodents and other pesky animals getting into your compost, other than your pets. Also Read: Best Composting Tips If you believe composting is a messy job that produces a foul odor and not suitable for balcony gardeners, the fact is, it’s no messier than regular gardening and the smell is easily contained....

Determinate vs indeterminate tomatoes… what the heck is the difference? In this post, I’ll explain what those terms mean, and how to tell the difference between the two types of tomato plants. Then I’ll discuss the pros and cons of each, and show you how to decide which type to grow. How can you tell the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes? This is a very common question that most new gardeners have when they first start growing them....

Information If the leaves on your hydrangea have started turning brown and crispy, there's several reasons why this can happen. The good news is that it can be fixed in most circumstances, and if you catch it early enough, it likely won't cause your plant to die. In this article, gardening expert and hydrangea enthusiast Jill Drago examines the most common reasons for browning hydrangea leaves, and how to fix it!...

Whether you are planning to dig in a new garden bed, or you’ve just moved in and you are assessing what to plant in an existing bed, you want to make sure you get to know the area. A few tips for planning a garden bed First of all, if you’re dealing with a blank slate and you want to dig, be sure to call your gas company to make sure there aren’t any hidden lines you need to worry about....

QUESTION: Is hay scented fern evergreen? I was hoping to plant something that looks good all year. ANSWER: No, this is a deciduous plant. The hay scented fern is frequently used as ground cover because of how thick the plant grows. It spreads through rhizomes and can easily take over an area in only two to three years. In the eastern portion of the United States the hay scented fern is considered invasive....

The use of cosmetics is very common these days. These products can make your skin beautiful immediately but the chemicals and parabens will make the skin unhealthy and dull with regular use and let’s not forget the long term side effects and health issues they carry. Instead of using these full of chemical products, try growing these plants with cosmetic uses and use them fresh. Check out our article on flowers for beautiful skin here!...

Reblooming an amaryllis is not as difficult as you may think, and you can get them to flower again every year. In this post, I’ll give you detailed step by step instructions with plenty of photos so you’re sure to be successful. Amaryllis have become super popular winter blooming plants, especially during the holiday season. But since they have the reputation of being disposable gift plants, many people toss them out once they’re done blooming....

If you’re sick of putting your seedlings in a windowsill that doesn’t get much sun, or you just want to super-charge your indoor gardening process, you should consider T5 grow lights. Your seedlings, herbs, and greens will respond immediately to the increased amount of light you’re giving them. Table of Contents But it’s not enough to just put a few light bulbs over your plants. If you already have lights, chances are they’re T8’s or T12’s​ and you should consider purchasing indoor grow lights that are optimized for your plants....

Buying early spring flowering shrubs Before you rush off to the nursery, consider the growing conditions in your garden and ask yourself these questions: How much space do I have? Some early spring flowering shrubs are very compact and grow just a foot or two tall and wide. Others, can reach heights up to fifteen feet or more. Consider the mature size of the shrub, not the size it is when you buy it....

Waxed amaryllis bulbs are popular around the holidays, and it’s very fun to watch them bloom without any water or soil. In this detailed guide, I’ll show you all you need to know about how they work, what to do with them, and give you tips for the best results. The low-maintenance nature of waxed amaryllis bulbs makes them a popular gift for Christmas and the holidays. But how they work and whether they can live longer than one season is a question beginners often ask....

By Jennifer Poindexter Potatoes are one of the most versatile crops around. They come in different colors, sizes, and even have different textures. There are ten different categories of potatoes that you might want to consider when selecting varieties for your home garden. Some potato varieties overlap in these categories, but it’s important to think about what you want from the crops you grow. We’ll discuss the different purposes for each style of potato, and you’ll also be provided with a few examples of each type of potato....

1. Tree Trunk Planter Upcycle rotten tree trunk pieces to create a rustic succulent planter for your garden or home. Get the instructions at My Repurposed Life. 2. Tree Branch Planter Hollow out tree logs with a spade bit and plant your succulents as you normally do. Find the detailed tutorial here. 3. Succulent Planter Branch This wooden succulent planter was made using a tree branch. Here are the details....