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Hardening off is a simple, but necessary step for seed starters. Growing your own plants from seed offers many rewards – save money, grow varieties not available at local garden centres, and enjoy a steady supply of top quality seedlings for succession planting. But, as I learned that fateful spring, you need to properly harden off your seedlings before introducing them to the ‘real world’ outside. Why? Simple! All plants have a waxy leaf cuticle that protects the foliage from sun and wind, and seedlings that have been grown indoors – in a sunny window, under grow-lights or under glass in a greenhouse – have not fully developed their cuticle layer and need a bit of time to build up this horticultural suit of armor....

Can I propagate succulents in winter? Yes you can! I discovered an easy trick that makes propagating succulents in the winter almost as easy as it is during the summer. Keep reading and I will show you exactly how to do it step by step. It’s extremely easy to propagate succulents in the summer. Heck, with all that warmth and humidity, they sometimes even root themselves without any help from us at all....

There’s no doubt that starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a jump on the gardening season. Plus it’s a great way to save yourself some money. But it’s not always easy to grow your own seeds, especially inside the house where the conditions are not ideal for them. Trust me, I know. I struggled for years to get it right, and perfect the art of starting seeds indoors....

Low maintenance shrubs for the landscape Below are profiles of 18 of my favorite low maintenance shrubs for home gardens. Each has its own merits, and I’ve separated them into categories based on their most noteworthy traits. As a professional horticulturist, I’ve worked with may shrubs over the years, and these easy-care selections are among my personal favorites. You may also find our article on low growing shrubs for the front of your house interesting, too....

Shown Here: Variegated Monstera Borsigiana Although all these plants are low-maintenance and striking to look at, they still have their own differences. Here’s a battle of Monstera Borsigiana vs Monstera Deliciosa vs Monstera adansonii so you can grow the most gorgeous one in your own home! Here are the best types of Monstera you can grow Foliage Monstera Borsigiana This plant has stunning, heart-shaped leaves that have very small perforations in them like its fellow Monstera family members....

Peperomia is a diverse group of plants that look fussy, but are actually pretty darn easy to care for. In this post, I’ll tell you all you need to know in order grow the healthiest peperomias around. If you’re looking to add diversity to your home or garden, you’ll definitely want to check out peperomias. They are a popular houseplant with many unique foliage options. No matter which one you have, learning about peperomia care is the first step in keeping your plants healthy for many years....

1. Thriller Thrillers are tall, upright plants that add the height to the arrangement. Thrillers are the great way to add a vertical aspect to your containers. Thriller Plant Options Ornamental grasses Alocasia Canna lily Yucca Aster Coleus Cosmos Dracaena 2. Fillers Fillers are covering plants that spread to fill the gaps between the Thrillers and spillers. Filler Plant Options Geranium Impatiens Petunia Pansy Coleus Dusty miller Begonia Pentas Lantana 3....

With delicate compound leaves and long, lance-shaped fronds that cascade delicately down the sides of its container, the Boston Fern is a perfect choice to bring a touch of the tropics indoors. While not difficult to look after, it does need the right conditions to thrive. This article covers the most common reasons for a Boston Fern dying, and will help you get your struggling plant back to health. The most common cause of a Boston Fern dying is overwatering or persistently waterlogged conditions....

Peace Lilies are the ultimate low-maintenance flowering houseplant, famed for their beautiful spathes and elegant, dark green leaves. Although normally pitched as an easy-care houseplant, there are many issues that can result in your Peace Lily not growing. This article is going to help you work out why your Peace Lily has stopped growing and show you how to get your plant back on track. Insufficient light is the most common cause of a Peace Lily not growing....

Indoor plants have been popular for the longest time, with social media filled with photos of luscious evergreens, cacti, and other attractive greenery. Granted, many of these pictures feature bright rays of sunshine streaming in through large windows and plants bathed in light. This makes sense as they are designed to blossom in the sunshine in their natural habitat. However, there is nothing natural about indoor plants. This man-made concept thus requires us to mimic the outdoor habitat for them to flourish....

by Bethany Hayes Fig trees are one of the oldest fruit trees still available today. We know they existed thousands of years ago and continue to be one of the most popular fruit trees to grow. If you live in an area with warm summers and not terrible winters, you have fig tree varieties you can grow at home. Figs are an easy-to-grow fruit at home. The trees produce large harvests, even on the small trees....

Vegetables Garden grown tomatoes are a favorite amongst many hobby gardeners. But what if you live in a hot and arid desert climate? Can tomatoes be grown in the desert? In this article, gardening expert and former organic farmer Sarah Hyde gives her top tips based on her first hand experience growing tomates in the desert! By Sarah Hyde Last updated: October 4, 2022 | 9 min read Do you live in a desert climate and want to grow stellar tomatoes?...

If you are looking for some inexpensive yet effective remedies to deter the unwanted ticks from your fabrics and pets, try out these Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ticks mentioned in the article below! Check out the best mosquito repelling plants here Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ticks 1. Homemade Tick and Insect Repellent Blend 4-6 drops of tea tree, peppermint, and 6-8 drops of citronella essential oil with 1-2 tablespoons of jojoba or any carrier oil in a spray bottle and spray on the affected areas....

How about growing some quirky-shaped vegetables, in a rainbow of colors, that are as intriguing to look at as they are delicious to eat? Do you want to grow the best tomatoes? Then planting heirloom varieties is the way to go. These are plants that hark back to the days when food crops were about nutrition and flavor, not rushing an unripe, tasteless, and vitamin-deficient crop to market. Stop subjecting your family to the ordinary, pale-fleshed, flavorless fruits that dominate grocery store shelves, or paying premium prices to experiment with gourmet varieties....

If you’re adding a rain garden to your landscaping this year, then you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to figure out the best pants to use. I completely understand, because I’ve been there, and it can be so difficult! The reason picking rain garden plants is so complex is because there are three very different sections to fill. These areas are the top of the berm, the basin, and the inside slope, and each one offers its own unique growing conditions....

There are some really helpful Pencil Uses in the Garden that you can take advantage of! They are easy to implement and the best part—they are cheap! Check out some amazing olive oil uses in the garden here Pencil Uses in the Garden 1. Solve Seed-Sowing Problems It becomes an issue when you have very tiny seeds and a pencil can ease your propagation issues. After filling the pots with moist soil, empty the seed packet into a dish, sharpen a pencil and moisten the tip....

During the winter, moles have deeper tunnels. But come growing season, their tunnels are shallow. They can damage roots of plants and tunnels can leave roots exposed to dry out. Also, voles and mice can travel the tunnels and feed on seeds, bulbs, roots and tubers. Mole Damage in the Garden Be on the lookout for mole damage around the garden. Rarely moles will feed on plant roots. Moles are insectivores and feed on grubs, earthworms and other insects from the soil....

Winter composting can seem like a huge challenge. Especially if you live in an area where it gets freezing cold. But if you’re like me, it feels like such a waste to throw away all of those awesome kitchen scraps, rather than tossing them into your bin, tumbler, or heap. Well guess what? You don’t have to stop composting in winter, and it’s actually easier than you might think. In this detailed guide you’ll learn all about how to prepare your pile in the fall, the benefits of winter composting, and all you need to know to keep going, even through the coldest and snowiest months of the year....

By Matt Gibson What’s the difference between herbs and vegetables, anyway? Let’s take a look and explain what’s different and what they have in common. The quick version is that herbs are mostly just a subset of vegetables that are usually used for flavor, garnish, aroma or medicinal properties. Vegetables in general are usually consumed for their caloric and nutrient content. But let’s look at it in more detail. While fruits are typically known as the part of a plant that contains the seed, vegetables can be made up of any edible part of a plant....

It is always best to grow some veggies in your container garden instead of depending on the supplements that we buy from the counter to give a boost to our immune system. Follow our guide to know everything about How to Grow a Vitamin C Vegetable Garden in Containers. Find out some Healthy Smoothie and Juice Plants for the Garden here How to Grow a Vitamin C Vegetable Garden in Containers If you want to give a boost to your Vitamin C intake, plant these vegetables in containers from our compiled list to make a Vitamin C Vegetable Garden in Containers....