Posts

Christmas cactus plants may look difficult to care for, but they are actually pretty easy to grow. In this post, I’ll tell you everything you need to know to be successful, and enjoy those gorgeous flowers every December. The iconic December-blooming Christmas cactus has become a staple during the holiday season. Not only are they fun to grow, they’re easy to rebloom again year after year. I was lucky enough to inherit one from a friend over a decade ago, and was pleasantly surprised at how low maintenance they are....

Most people with a beginner’s knowledge of growing plants accept that seeds need light to germinate. If you’re starting seeds indoors, you know grow lights are necessary where sunlight is not available. But did you know there are some seeds and plants that don’t need light to germinate? Table of Contents The basic foundational needs of growing are light, water, and soil. These three contribute to photosynthesis. Degrees of these essential elements are required, but sometimes sunlight or light, in general, is not necessary to sprout seeds....

Everybody grows plants from seeds or cuttings, but you will be surprised after discovering that bright and colorful marigolds can be grown from petals! This one trick you’re going to learn below is too easy and super rewarding, so keep reading to find out. Have a look at the best types of Marigolds here Don’t You Know About Marigolds? Marigolds can not just add beauty to any garden with their fragrant flowers in orange, yellow, maroon-red, bronze, and bi-color hues with contrasting fern-like foliage....

Choosing the best fertilizer for your vegetable garden is easy with this detailed guide. Below I will break it all down for you to make it simple to figure out what type of vegetable fertilizer to use. Then I’ll give you a list with tons of options so you can find what will work for you. Selecting the best fertilizers for a vegetable garden can seem complex and overwhelming, especially for beginners....

Here’s all you need to know about growing cucumbers on trellises What Makes Cucumbers Bitter? Extreme differences in temperatures like too cold or too hot, along with a lack of water, can make the fruits taste bitter. However, some cucumbers may taste slightly bitter by nature as they are full of the organic compound known as Cucurbitacins that can make the fruit bitter. Here are the best pickling cucumbers you can grow How to Avoid Bitter Cucumbers and Grow Sweet & Juicy Fruits?...

Fortunately, there are some measures you can take to help them continue growing after cold weather hits. With their bright, colorful flowers and rounded leaves, nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) liven up the garden all summer long. Their edible blooms and leaves add a distinctive peppery flavor as well as a pop of color to salads. Easy to grow, they require minimal care during the summer, but as an annual, these colorful plants are not suited to the cold temperatures of winter....

Houseplants Looking for the best way to regularly clean the leaves of your Monstera plants? These popular plants are quite beautiful when they are well-maintained. In this article, gardening expert and indoor plant enthusiast Madison Moulton takes you through a few simple steps for cleaning the leaves of your Monstera plants. By Madison Moulton Last updated: January 10, 2023 | 7 min read The list of care tasks for Monstera plants can be long....

By Matt Gibson & Erin Marissa Russell Allspice, sometimes called Jamaican Allspice, or Jamaican pepper, is a tropical evergreen tree that is from the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica, but has been naturalized in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. The name allspice, in a culinary sense, is a combination of several spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, juniper and clove, but the allspice tree, also has its place in the culinary world. The reason that this tree is associated with the country of Jamaica, aside from being native to the small island, is because of how the country has incorporated the dried green berries of the female tree into its dishes....

There are several other species of anthurium you may come across, also being grown as tropical foliage houseplants, and they are striking as well – but not colorful, beyond various shades of green. Anthurium spp. Have you noticed that the foliage-oriented houseplants that will grow enthusiastically without a lot of effort on your part tend not to be particularly colorful? And the flowering ones that do well indoors are typically pretty labor intensive....

If you want to know all the details on How to Grow Big Burro’s Tail Like Pictures, then you are at the right place! Let’s dive deep into the secrets of making your donkey’s tail plant big, bushy, and outright stunning! Have a look at the most popular sedums here How to Grow Big Burro’s Tail Like Pictures 1. Prune and Plant The best way to showcase the beauty of the plant is to grow its multiple cuttings together....

by Matt Gibson Learning how to grow chamomile is a simple and easy process. Any gardener, new or experienced, should be able to grow chamomile successfully with just a little bit of knowledge and preparation. Chamomile has been cultivated and consumed for centuries as a natural remedy for several different health conditions, namely as a treatment for insomnia, stress, anxiety, and nervousness. Though drinking chamomile tea does indeed bring about a calming and sedative effect, it’s health benefits are far more widespread than just its ability to help one relax....

They’re ideal in landscapes because they grow fast and large, providing a bright green canopy. This is a desirable characteristic on its own, or it can act as a deciduous background for other plants in your yard. Celtis occidentalis The hackberry tree is one of the most easygoing deciduous varieties. It is remarkably versatile and adapts to many different locations and growing conditions, making it a great option for tricky backyards or urban environments....

By Julie Christensen Looking for a fast-growing, attractive ground cover for your shade garden? Consider lamium (Lamium maculatum), sometimes known as spotted dead nettle. This plant is a member of the mint family and is beloved by gardeners for its compact form and attractive foliage. The leaves are tear-shaped and may be serrated. Most lamium varieties have variegated leaves, with lime green, yellow or white variegations. It is a beautiful plant with colorful spring flowers....

In this article, however, we’ll be talking about Lippia graveolens, a plant that is related to verbena and is native to the southwestern US, Mexico, and Central America. Lippia graveolens Upon seeing the title of this article, you may be thinking, “What is Mexican oregano? Is it different from “regular” oregano?” We’re so glad you asked. To start, for purposes of this discussion, we’ll assume you meant “Mediterranean” when you said “regular” in your question above....

In our guide to growing leeks, we discussed cultivation. In this article, we offer 7 tips for an excellent harvest. The leek, Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, and a close relative of the onion. Sometimes called a long onion, its leaves form a densely packed cylinder at the base, and fan out at the top. The tender cylinder has a succulent, oniony flavor. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

While completing additional research to triple-check my information and resources, I came to a realization. Although we have plenty of instructional lessons on how to forage for edible plants, there is very little consideration for why we ought to do it. I adore my time spent in the garden, but I’m at my happiest rambling through forest and field. Hemlock groves carpeted in moss are home, far as I’m concerned, and the same goes for the aspen trees reclaiming fallow fields....

Read on to learn about these diseases and how to control them. Turnips and rutabagas are vulnerable to a number of diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, and viruses. Many of these pathogens affect the leaves of the plants and ruin the ability to eat or sell the greens. Others damage the turnip or rutabaga roots. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

The good news is that once you know the best gardening practices, it’s not too hard to avoid most problems. And if disease pathogens do attack, this guide will help you to control or eliminate them. Whether you’re frying it, roasting it, steaming it, or digging into it raw, broccoli is fantastically flavorful, not to mention good for you. Maybe it’s all in my head, but I swear it tastes even better when I’ve grown it myself....

At one time or another every tomato gardener has asked how to make tomato plants grow faster. Maybe they’re impatient for the harvest or worried whether their fruits have time to ripen before frost. Whatever your reasons for trying to speed up the growth of tomato plants, below you’ll find 14 steps to help you grow a bountiful – and early – harvest. 1) Plant tomato seedlings in the right spot Quick growing tomato plants start with the right growing conditions....

Canning is a wonderful way to preserve your homegrown food… but buying all the stuff you need to get started can be expensive! Buying used canning supplies and equipment is a great option, and can save you tons of money. But it can also be dangerous (and sometimes MORE expensive) than getting it brand new. So below I will talk about what to look for when shopping for used canning supplies, what is safe and what is not, and how to determine what to buy brand new equipment instead....