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Want to know—Are Poinsettias Poisonous to Cats & Dogs? Here’s a detailed guide which will clear all your doubts. Botanical Name: Euphorbia pulcherrima Common Names: Easter flower, Christmas flower, Pappagallo, Flor de Pascua, Euphorbia, Pastora, Mexican flame leaf, Painted leaf, Fleur Pentecôte, Lobster flower plant, Étoile de Noël. Check out our article on how to grow Poinsettias here Are Poinsettias Toxic to Cats & Dogs? A study by the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Italy, states that the plant has a milky latex, a strong irritant....

Onions are used in many dishes and are commonly present in kitchens. As onions are so often required, they are also usually kept in stock. However, it’s just a matter of time before they start to sprout. Does that mean you have to throw them in the trash? Well, no! So, can you plant a sprouted onion to get more onions? Let’s find out! Check out our article on growing onions in pots here!...

by Ruth Gulley If you want to grow a vegetable garden this spring, then you also probably want to know how to get the most bang for your buck in your plot. Gardening is hard work, so understanding the most efficient and effective ways to get your plants from seed to food is important. Starting with crops that are known to produce high yields and taking good care of them is the most basic way to achieve this, but how you organize the way your garden is laid out will make an impact as well....

by Jennifer Poindexter When reading through posts on the internet, have you heard people discuss side dressing plants? Are you sure what this means or how to perform this act successfully? You’ve come to the right place. I’m going to fill you in on what it means to side dress your plants. I’ll also provide tips to help you side dress plants properly. There are certain plants which thrive from this process when receiving fertilizer on a regular basis....

Fruit tree spacing varies depending on what you’re growing. In this guide, we’ll show you how to determine the ideal spacing for the most common fruit trees at the nursery. Few things are more thrilling than bringing home the beginnings of your own little informal orchard. But you might be wondering where exactly in your yard to put your fruit trees for optimal growth. How far apart should you plant them?...

Broccoli grows best in the cold weather and provides two crops–Spring and fall, in most regions. It can easily be grown in containers. Choosing fast-maturing varieties ensures that you’d be able to enjoy this protein-rich veggie in no time! Let’s know everything about Growing Broccoli in Pots! Here is everything you need to know about growing cabbages in pots! What is Broccoli? Broccoli is a nutritious green vegetable producing large, dark green flowering heads and light green stems....

For either type, though, you’ll have the best harvest when you use your common sense and set reminders to alert you that the potential harvest window is open. Many human senses may come into play as you determine when homegrown pears are ready for harvest. For Asian varieties, Pyrus pyrifolia, your sense of smell or taste will let you know it’s time to pick. But for P. communis, European varieties that include ‘Bosc’ and ‘Anjou,’ you’ll rely only on your eyesight....

Question: How long does it take to solarize soil? I am interested in trying it out, but I don’t necessarily want to leave a bunch of plastic on the ground for a super long time if I don’t have to. How does it work? – Julia W Answer: It generally takes around eight weeks to solarize soil. Though this seems like quite an investment of time, it’s important to understand the benefits of soil solarization....

Question: How tall do herbs grow? I’m designing herb gardens on either side of my entryway, almost like a cottage garden. I want it to be layered by height, so you can see everything from the walkway to the house. Is there a basic guide I can use to design my herb beds? -Jennifer R. Answer: Herb plants come in almost every possible height, from low-slung groundcovers to those that can reach six feet tall....

You’ll find a range of available colors to choose from, including shades of orange, pink, purple, red, white, and yellow. Often the petals are variegated, and some types are fragrant. Hippeastrum spp. Amaryllis, Hippeastrum x hybridum, is not one specific type, but rather any one of hundreds of hybrids of Hippeastrum species in the Amaryllidaceae family. Suited to outdoor growing as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, this showy flower is often forced to bloom indoors in other zones....

With low water needs and few maintenance requirements, it is also a popular houseplant in all regions. Kalanchoe tomentosa The panda plant is a fuzzy-leaved succulent suited to outdoor cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 11 and 12. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Read on to learn how to grow a panda plant indoors....

Now, I plan to plant celery in my next summer garden here in Alaska. Garden celery tastes much better than the store-bought stuff, and it’s time to properly introduce my three-year-old son to one of my favorite childhood snacks. Apium graveolens I’ll admit it: as a kid, walking past the soldierly rows of celery in my mom’s garden made me shudder. Celery was the stringy offender in the otherwise pleasant garden vegetable soup she offered up on summer nights....

Pilea involucrata is popular for its colorful foliage and easy-growing habit. It can be a spectacular, excellent beginner’s houseplant with a few quirks. Let’s take a look at How to Grow Friendship Plant! Learn about Growing Chinese Money Plant here Friendship Plant Plant Information This cute little specimen belongs to the Nettle family and comes from Central and South America. There are over 600 species in the genus Pilea, including the upright, bushy ones, and trailing plants....

Planting and Growing Lavender Lavender grows best in well-drained sandy loam, but it can grow in less fertile gravelly ground. Your plants need excellent drainage in order avoid root rot. You will, however, need to water young plants at least until they establish themselves Except in cold climates (where spring planting is better), it’s best to plant lavender in the fall, which gives the plants time to establish good root systems before the hot summer....

Though minor cases may be treated with fungicides with some degree of success, prevention is key to protect your plants from this disease. Phytophthora infestans Late blight is a serious disease that may affect tomatoes and potatoes. It can rapidly destroy entire fields and ruin a farmer’s income for the year. And it may affect crops in home gardens severely as well. You may not realize it, but you are probably already familiar with the organism that causes late blight....

Pruning roses is the best way to keep your shrubs and climbers healthy, and blooming their best. In this post, you’ll learn when to do it, and the best tools to use. Then I will show you step-by-step exactly how to prune roses. Roses are one of the easiest plants to learn how to prune, and you really can’t overdo it. Plus it’s very beneficial to the plant. Trimming roses triggers healthy new growth, prevents disease, and creates tons of gorgeous blooms....

Rosemary is one of the most popular culinary and medicinal herb native to the Mediterranean region. It’s also used for ornamental purposes due to its needle-like leaves and flowers. The flowers come in colors of purple, silver, pink, blue, and white, depending on the variety. Taste is somewhat bitter and astringent but is great for flavoring stews, soups, stuffings, sauces, roasts, and meat dishes. Also Read: How to Grow Rosemary...

Ground beetles: Slug snackers extraordinaire! Unless you garden at night, you aren’t likely to encounter this nocturnal beneficial insect on a regular basis, even though ground beetles are extremely common – there are over 2,000 species in North America alone. Each species looks different, of course, but most ground beetles are dark and shiny with ridged wing-covers. They hide in grasses or underneath objects during the day, so if you flip over a rock or a log and see a dark beetle scurrying around, there’s a very good chance it’s a ground beetle....

Step by step mulch calculator Follow this simple plan to calculate how much mulch you’ll need for your garden and landscape. The only tools you’ll need are a measuring tape or a measuring wheel and the calculator on your cell phone. Step 1: Decide on the type of mulch to use There are many different types of landscape mulch to use on planting beds, from shredded bark chips and wood chips to compost and pine straw....

I decided to modify my zucchini pizza idea and come up with some interesting fillings. Of course you can do this with any edible member of the squash family! Basically, I take the top off the squash as I would if I were about to carve a pumpkin, and scoop out the seeds. I scoop out a little more of the flesh if I want to make more room for the filling....