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by Erin Marissa Russell Ready to add a Philodendron to your collection? That’s just the first step. After deciding to get a Philodendron, your next item of business is deciding which variety of Philodendron you’ll grow. There are so many varieties to choose from, from climbing types that will twine up a trellis or hang from a basket to upright styles that will stand tall all on their own. Keep reading for an introduction to our 37 favorite Philodendron varieties, along with a short description of each one....

Among fruit trees, the apricot tree is one of the easiest to grow. With patience and good care, you’ll have access to juicy fruit in spring and summer. It starts as a little tree, and quickly branches into a lovely arching structure with sweet-smelling blooms after a few years. Table of Contents Apricots are great stone fruits for a home orchard. One is great for your very own apricot tree guild too....

Calathea is a beautiful perennial with stunning bold patterns and upright oblong leaves that come in a range of colors! When it comes to maintenance, this tropical plant can be a bit fussy about temperature, light, and humidity requirements. Read the article and find out about Calathea Care in the right way! Check out our article on watermelon peperomia care here! Calathea Varieties Calathea is available in a range of varieties, with unique markings and leaf structures!...

QUESTION: Do I have to wait, or can I eat garlic straight from the ground in my garden? I’ve heard about letting garlic dry, or cure, but I’m not sure whether this is necessary. — Sara C. ANSWER: Yes, you can eat your homegrown garlic immediately after harvesting. Keep reading to find out what curing is and why some gardeners choose to cure their garlic. Then we’ll discuss the storage options for fresh and cured garlic....

QUESTION: Can you grow a fig tree from a cutting? One of my neighbors has a really nice fig and I was thinking about getting a cutting from it. Don’t worry, I was going to ask permission first! 🙂 – Laura S ANSWER: Yes, you can. It’s a simple process that’s like propagating other plants. The first step is to find a healthy fig tree of your desired variety. Once you have this, take a 10-inch cutting from the healthy plant in early spring....

Have you noticed large dark spots forming on the center of leaves of your plants that get larger as time goes on, and eventually cause the death of entire leaves? Did this occur during the wet and rainy summer season? You could be dealing with one of the many species of fungus diseases in the cercospora genus, called cercospora leaf spot. Table of Contents There are dozens of species in this particular genus....

Growing spider plant seeds is easy, and you can harvest new ones ever year. In this post I’ll show you how to collect them and give you the step-by-step planting instructions, as well as seedling care tips. You might be surprised to learn that spider plants can be grown from seed, and you can easily collect them yourself. It’s a fun way to multiply your Chlorophytum comosum (aka airplane plants), and it’s also pretty simple to do once you know how to properly gather and sow them....

In recent years, Growing Hydrangeas in Pots has become popular. Flowering from spring to autumn, these flowers come in white, pink, purple, red, and blue, depending upon the variety. You can grow Hydrangea easily indoors or outdoors in containers, with the right combination of soil, water, and sunlight. Botanical Name: Hydrangea USDA Zones: 4-10 Soil pH: 4.5-7.5 Check out our article on landscaping with Hydrangeas here Best Hydrangea Varieties for Pots Hydrangeas can be great container plants, provided you pick the right variety!...

Strawberries are one of those fruits that are really best right off the plant. The ones at the store rarely compare. Is there anything better than pulling a plump strawberry, warmed by the sun, right off the plant and popping it in your mouth? And is there anything worse than biting into that fruit and discovering that you picked it too late or too early? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Best of all, they’re easy to grow at any time of year, so they’re perfect whether you want greens in a hurry or are starved for something homegrown in the cold months. Alfalfa, Medicago sativa, is an open-pollinated heirloom legume also known as “lucerne.” It’s an impressive cover and forage crop, but it’s important to remember that the fall-planted alfalfa that nurtures your soil or provides mulch for the veggie garden is nothing you’d want to eat....

What many people don’t realize, though, is that there are multiple types of boxwood you can grow – many of which are cold-hardy and can be cultivated by northern gardeners, too. Buxus spp. If you’re looking for a plant that’s terrific for topiaries, great for hedges, and even attractive when left untrimmed, the boxwood shrub is perfect for you. A long-time favorite of Southern gardeners, boxwoods have been grown in the States for centuries....

By Jennifer Poindexter Do you like the simplistic beauty ferns provide? They make wonderful natural décor for a front porch, backyard garden, or for inside your home. Ferns have specific needs which must be met to avoid their lush green splendor from fading into a burnt brown mess. Here are a few tips to help you take care of your ferns and keep them at their ideal beauty. Where to Grow Ferns Ferns naturally grow in humid temperatures below the canopy of the rainforest....

Mamoncillo is a fruit grows on an erect tall-growing mamoncillo tree. Growing mamoncillo in a small patio or garden is not possible. You’ll need a lot of space to grow this fruit tree. Family: Sapindaceae Genus: Melicoccus USDA Hardiness Zones: 10, 11 Propagation Method: Cuttings, seed Difficulty: Moderate Other Names: Melicoccus bijugatus, Chenette, Quenette, Gnep, Guinep, Guaya, Guenepa, Kenip, Genip, Ginnip, Kenepa, Knippa, Spanish lime, Limoncillo About Mamoncillo Also, known as Spanish lime, mamoncillo resembles small lime sold in clusters, it doesn’t belong to the citrus family and is more like indehiscent fruit (fruit that has a hard outer shell and tough to open)....

Frequent inspections help to identify early warning signs, and can curtail potential damage when you respond promptly and accordingly. Nothing beats the fresh taste of homegrown lettuce and sometimes it can feel like every animal and insect in the neighborhood agrees. Lettuce is one of the most commonly decimated plants in the home garden, attracting hungry creatures from miles around. On a sunny spring day, you can practically hear the sounds of munching coming from your plants…...

As so-called “dynamic accumulators,” dandelions can be used to produce a nutrient-dense homemade fertilizer without a lot of effort – it’s surprisingly easy! If you enjoy organic gardening solutions, making dandelion tea fertilizer is a great way to create your own cost-effective products while being self-sufficient. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. The process mostly involves putting the weeds in water and aerating the mixture from time to time, to allow for proper fermentation....

Basil is just one of several herbs that you can propagate, whether you want to transplant the cuttings into the garden or grow in pots on your windowsill. When you learn how to propagate basil, you’ll be able to enjoy a constant supply of this fragrant herb all year round. How to propagate basil. It’s simple and can be done in just a few steps. Start with just one healthy basil plant from which you can get several cuttings....

Information Do you have an azalea that's dying in your yard or garden, and aren't quite sure how to bring it back to life? There are many reasons an azalea can struggle, but the good news is that reviving them is possible. In this article, gardening expert Jill Drago walks through seven steps to bring your azaleas back if they've started to decline. By Jill Drago Last updated: October 3, 2022 | 6 min read Azaleas are well-loved around the world and have become a staple in many home gardens....

Training vines is important in order to ensure they grow and look their best. Some plants will naturally climb a trellis with minimal help from us. While others will need to be trained to grow vertically. In this post, you’ll learn all about training climbing plants to grow on a trellis, with step-by-step instructions. Climbing vines are by far the most popular type of plant used for vertical gardening. But if you’re new to growing vertically, it’s important to understand how to grow vines....

I’ve killed more plants than I care to admit by failing to give them the right amount of water. Can you relate? Who hasn’t had a hard time at some point with trying to keep their plants watered appropriately? If you regularly forget to water or you keep giving your plants too darn much, get yourself a soil moisture meter. These garden tools take the guesswork out of watering for happier plants....

When I ask people what their biggest struggle is, one of the most common answers I get is watering the vegetable garden. Watering your veggie garden be a huge pain during the heat of summer, there’s no doubt about that. Not only is it a chore, doing it wrong can cause major problems. Some you may not even realize are related. It seems like it would be a total no-brainer… but it’s not....