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Exotic invasive insects pose one of the greatest threats to Earth’s ecosystems. Global trade and the movement of people and goods have caused massive shifts in insect populations, introducing insect species to areas where they have no natural predators. Without predators, parasites, and pathogens to keep them in check, invasive insect populations increase unimpeded. When insects travel from continent to continent, this natural system of “checks-and-balances” (you know, the one they co-evolved with for tens of thousands of years) seldom comes along for the ride....

Growing thyme plant is easy! It more or less looks after itself as a low maintenance, high impact herb, and is perfect for the novice gardener. Table of Contents Thyme has a long and varied history. Derived from the Greek word thymus meaning courage, spirit and sacrifice, it was worn in battle by medieval knights as a symbol of their bravery. It’s been used throughout the ages from poultices, to plague posies, to the Victorians believing that carpets of wild thyme provided midnight dance floors for garden fairies!...

First cultivated near Naples in southwest Italy’s Campania region, and named for a town there known as San Marzano, the fruits are fleshy, easy to peel, and nearly seedless – all highly favorable traits in a sauce tomato. Solanum lycopersicum ‘San Marzano’ Growing ‘San Marzano’ tomatoes at home in the US is a tasty reminder that sometimes it’s just fine – good, in fact – to be second best. We are never going to be able to duplicate the growing conditions exactly in order to replicate the terroir of this famed Italian plum variety in our backyard gardens....

Darryl’s book is a comprehensive guide into all aspects of indoor plant care such as watering, fertilizing, soil, pests, propagation, and light. And it’s providing adequate light that is often the biggest challenge for indoor gardeners. The following excerpt from The New Plant Parent, used with permission from Abrams Image, explores the importance of understanding light and offers advice on how to better gauge light in your indoor living spaces....

QUESTION: What can I do with leftover celery leaves? Do I have to compost them or are they edible? -Tiffany R. ANSWER: Celery leaves are entirely edible and actually contain more calcium, potassium, and vitamin C than the rest of the plant. Celery leaves have the same flavor as celery, albeit just a bit stronger. The darker green a leaf is colored and the closer to the outside of the bunch it grows, the stronger its flavor will be....

If your prized Arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum) doesn’t look quite right, with drooping leaves and an unhealthy appearance, this article can help. I’m going to help you find out why your Arrowhead plant is drooping, and what you can do to get your plant thriving again. The most common causes for your Arrowhead plant drooping are overwatering and underwatering. Other possible causes include low humidity levels, insufficient lighting, fertilizer issues, or temperature stress....

A few plants, like short-daylight garden mums, still flower in the fall. But most are finished with flowers by the time cold temperatures arrive. Finding color in the garden during the spring and summer is easy, with so many gorgeous flowers in bloom. But did you know you still enjoy attractive, colorful plants throughout the cooler months of autumn, and right into winter? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Whatever your need, grow lights can instantly provide hours of mock sunshine that your plants need for vigorous, healthy development. Are you looking to bring a little sunshine indoors? Maybe it’s time to start your flower and vegetable seedlings. Perhaps your houseplants are drooping during the short days of winter, or sulking in a new home. Or maybe you simply want to enjoy the taste of your own fresh herbs year round....

Are you someone who forgets to take care of your plants? Do you want to grow specimens that are forgiving? Here’s a list of some Really Beautiful Drought Tolerant Houseplants that you can grow without worrying much about their watering needs! Have a look at some houseplants that love to be ignored here Really Beautiful Drought Tolerant Houseplants 1. Snake Plant Botanical Name: Sansevieria trifasciata Its thick, tall, striped foliage in green and yellow shades with horizontal stripes makes this a popular indoor plant....

Succulents If you are looking for something that's a little more unique to add to your garden, a purple succulent might be exactly what you need! In this article, gardening expert Melissa Strauss walks through her favorite purple succulents to add to your indoor or outdoor garden. By Melissa Strauss Last updated: January 12, 2023 | 16 min read Creating a succulent garden can be an incredibly interesting and fulfilling project, whether you are building an outdoor rock garden, a hanging basket, or an indoor collection of these fascinating plants....

We list the 5 main reasons flowers might not appear when you expect them. You planted your pumpkin seeds and felt that buzz of excitement when they germinated and poked through the earth. They grew into robust vines with huge leaves, but right around the time when you expected flowers, none came. What in the world? If you’re wondering why your pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) isn’t producing flowers, you’ve come to the right place....

These 9 homemade rooting hormones are as good as commercial ones and make the propagation of plants from stem cuttings faster and easier. 1. Aspirin Rooting Hormone Using Asprin as a homemade rooting hormone is one of the easiest and cheapest ways. It is an excellent plant growth enhancer and has half a dozen other uses in the garden as well! Learn all of the uses of Asprin in the garden here in our article....

We all love our tropical houseplants! Growing stuff like Boston ferns, crotons, bromeliads, or even a dwarf banana tree livens up the house or yard. It adds just a bit of that lush greenery to your personal space. Table of Contents And no, that wasn’t a typo. The banana plant can be a stunning ornamental houseplant if maintained properly. Technically not a tree at all, the thick “trunk” of the dwarf banana tree is actually made up of tightly-clumped leaf stalks,...

The huge heart-shaped leaves of the elephant ear plant make it a favorite of gardeners around the world. This tropical plant comes in a range of species with different sizes and colors. So, if you, too, are looking forward to growing one, here are the best Types of Elephant Ear Plants! 1. Alocasia Alocasia is an evergreen perennial that is widely grown for its big, heart-shaped foliage with black, bronze, and dark purple streaks....

Identifying four lined plant bugs This true bug measures a quarter-inch in length at maturity, and both looks and acts like a little speed demon. Four, black longitudinal “racing stripes” grace the otherwise electric yellow-green wing covers of the adults (see feature photo). And with the ability to scuttle beneath foliage in a flash, these little buggers are difficult to spot and nearly impossible to capture. Four lined plant bugs overwinter as eggs inserted into plant stems....

These super cool and easy Vertical Indoor Pallet Garden Ideas will give you plenty of options to Grow More Plants Indoors! Check out the best indoor plant hanging ideas here Vertical Indoor Pallet Garden Ideas 1. Pallet Planks Plant Holder Take a few pallet planks and nail them to the wall strongly. Fix and hang a few of your indoor pots on them, that way, you’ll be able to create a lot of space vertically....

However, unlike these childhood favorites of mine, its double lips do not flex open and closed when pinched, like the mouth of a friendly dragon. Instead, they remain fixed, more like the blossom of a penstemon. Angelonia angustifolia Summer snapdragon, Angelonia angustifolia, is a member of the Plantaginaceae family, a very large group that includes plantain, penstemon, and foxglove. It is cultivated as a tender perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, and as an annual in other zones....

We see nurturing mothers in many animal species, but what about plants? As it turns out, lots of parent plants have close relationships with their offspring, helping and encouraging them to grow up. A classic example is the hen and chicks plant. This low-lying succulent takes on a mother hen persona, keeping her chicks close until they’re mature enough to take on the world by themselves. Table of Contents Besides being a cool example of family relationships in the plant world, hens and chicks plants are fun to grow....

Flower heads are approximately one inch in diameter and consist of a single layer of sparsely arranged blue rays surrounding a yellow center disc. Symphyotrichum oolentangiense Ornamental sky blue aster, Symphyotrichum oolentangiense, formerly Aster azureus, is a native herbaceous perennial that readily naturalizes in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8. It toils away all season long, forming branching foliage. Then it bursts into masses of blue, daisy-like flowers, just in time to bridge the gap between summer’s waning blooms and fall’s spectacular leaf show....

It’s easy to see why this plant has become one of the most popular junipers of all time in the home garden. If you’re eager to make it a part of yours, this guide can help. Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ The fabulous, unfussy ‘Blue Star’ juniper started out as a happy accident, and thank goodness someone stumbled across it. Now we’re all lucky enough to be able to use it as a part of our landscaping....