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There are so many opportunities for gifting plants for special occasions, or simply to say thank you and show your appreciation. Whether you want to give plants for Christmas presents, you’re looking for a housewarming gift plant, plants for birthday presents or good Mother’s day houseplants, or even fun party favors – the list goes on and on. Plants are incredibly thoughtful, and there is something wonderful about giving them as gifts....

QUESTION: What is the best large houseplant for my collection? I want the most dramatic, attention-grabbing large plant I can find that isn’t too hard to take care of. — Jared N. ANSWER: While there’s no one plant out there that is the “best” objectively when it comes to large houseplants, we’ve cultivated a list of the top few options for you to consider. Each of the plants on this list will provide you with a unique large-scale focal point for your indoor plant collection....

Why is knowing when to cut back irises important? There are three primary reasons to trim back irises: While bearded irises put on quite the show for two to three weeks every spring, once their blooms fade, the plants look a lot less attractive. You’ll want to trim off the spent flowers to keep the garden looking its best. In addition to removing the spent flower stalks, disease prevention is another factor that plays into when to cut back irises....

Maggots may be acclaimed for their wound-healing and bacteriocidal properties, but outside the lab, they are an absolute nuisance. What are maggots? ‘Maggot’ is a generic term for the larva of dipteran fly, which can be fruit flies, houseflies or any other species of fly. Female flies hatch eggs that crack open to form maggots. Maggots, in turn, develop into pupae and then these flies. This cycle goes on, and the entire process is completed within a few days....

These wasps can keep stinging (unlike bees that die after one sting) plus large numbers of them can gang up on people. Vespula pennsylvanica / maculiforna / germanica / vulgaris / squamosa and Dolichovespula The dog days of summer…fresh water melon, ice cream, picnics, barbecue, festivals…and yes, yellowjackets. Yellowjackets are exceptionally troublesome wasps. They can become highly aggressive, especially when the available food is getting low later in the season when their colonies are getting larger....

These houseplants have smooth and velvety foliage that make them look stunning. Add them to your collection if you love to have exotic plants. Check out our article on beautifully patterned houseplants here Velvet Leaf Indoor Plants 1. Velvet Leaf Philodendron Botanical Name: Philodendron micans The plant’s velvety and opalescent heart-shaped leaves come in a range of colors from bronze to dark green with pink and purple highlights on new growth....

The best thing about herbs is they are super easy to grow. You can plant them in many ways, and as they take up little space, they’re also very handy. Here are some great DIY Herb Garden ideas you can implement and get immensely creative! Check out our article herbs you can use for these DIY ideas here Creative DIY Herb Garden Ideas 1. DIY Mason Jar Herb Garden Check out our step-by-step tutorial and make yourself a herb garden with name tags that’ll help you to easily recognize them at one go!...

Often those who have a small balcony don’t find ideas to do something due to the size. But with some changes you can decorate a tiny space like that and make it cozy especially in the spring. So check out these 11 small apartment balcony ideas and inspire yourself. Small Apartment Balcony Ideas Spring is coming and even an outdoor smaller space like a balcony can be adapted and furnished according to your taste....

If you want to grow a plant with great looking foliage and air-purifying capabilities, you can never go wrong with an Umbrella plant. Here are the best Types of Scheffleras you can adorn your home with. Check out our article for growing Schefflera indoors here Best Types of Scheffleras 1. Dwarf Botanical Name: Schefflera arboricola Dwarf Schefflera is a compact variety showcasing small, ovate, dark green leaves. This popular houseplant can grow up to 3-4 feet tall and wide....

By Erin Marissa Russell Wondering how you can use trellis creatively in the garden? One of the easiest ways to add vertical interest or a structural element to the garden is to add some trellis. Trellis is a cost-effective way to maximize your growing space and change the look of your yard, while at the same time giving plants a new surface to climb on. Check out these ideas for ways to use trellis to see what you can do....

By Matt‌ ‌Gibson‌ and Erin Marissa Russell Instead of throwing out your fruit and vegetable kitchen scraps, or tossing them into the compost heap, keep them in the kitchen and place them into jars of water to regrow your favorite produce right on your windowsill. For most plants, all you need to do is replace the water regularly and don’t let the water level get too low while they grow. Propagating these common garden plants is so simple, most people can do it without needing to acquire any additional materials other than what they already have in their kitchen cabinets....

When we hear ‘spiders’ it makes us go uncomfortable, as most of us don’t like to have them around in our homes. The good news is, you can grow Plants that Repel Spiders and get rid of them, without using any chemical approach that does more harm than good! Check out our article on natural snake repellent plants here Plants that Repel Spiders 1. Lavender Botanical Name: Lavandula This perennial herb can keep spiders at bay with its distinct aroma....

Pink blooms depict happiness, love, and abundance with a touch of elegance. If you wish to usher your yard with these positive elements, here are the best Bushes with Pink Flowers for you to grow! Discover the Best Pink Flowers here Bushes with Pink Flowers 1. Butterfly Bush Botanical Name: Buddleja davidii USDA Zones: 5-9 As the name sounds, this shrub attracts butterflies and other pollinators like hummingbirds. It displays bright clusters of pink-purple blooms with deep orange throats....

Do you want to include aquatic features in your interiors? Get inspired by these Indoor Plants in Water Garden Ideas and mimic the best one! Look at some DIY Garden Pond Ideas here Indoor Plants in Water Garden Ideas 1. Beautiful String of Hearts in a Round Glass Planter Check out the Best Plants for Your Indoor Water Garden here 2. Hydroponic Snake Plant Garden 3. Gorgeous Peace Lily Glass Bowl 4....

When you grow your own melons at home, you get to choose from a delicious array of options. Embrace the taste of summer with sweet, juicy melons, from spice-flavored cantaloupes to crisp honeydews, there’s a variety to suit everyone’s taste. Discover 33 of the best melon varieties to grow at home in this guide. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

If you’re a rosarian, you must already know–In reality, no real black rose has been discovered yet. Most are just deep, dark shades of crimson, red, or purple. Symbolizing power, elegance, farewell, and mystery, these best Types of Black Roses are a must-have in your plant collection! Discover the names of the best black flowers here Most Stunning Types of Black Roses Do note that the roses on this list do not have typical ‘Black’ color....

by Matt Gibson Composting is the perfect solution for getting rid of food scraps while simultaneously enriching the soil of your garden. An outdoor composting setup is easy to use and even easier to maintain. Gardeners usually prefer an outdoor composting center to an indoor composting center for several reasons. In an outdoor scenario, gardeners need not worry as much about their composting unit attracting bugs. (Pests are much less annoying when they are not in your home....

Aloe vera plants are easy to care for. They make wonderful houseplants, or you can grow them outside. In this post, I will show you all you need to know about aloe vera care, including water, sunlight, soil, fertilizer, and more! There is a common misconception that aloe vera is difficult to grow, but it’s actually quite easy. The key is to neglect it. Yes, that’s right, just ignore it....

Many gardeners grow them purely as a decorative crop. But they are not just a treat for the eyes. Many varieties can also provide delicious and nutritious goodness for your family all winter long. Oh my gourd-ness! It’s easy to see why people go so crazy for ornamental gourds. Nothing says fall quite like harvesting a beautiful bumper crop of these lumpy-bumpy ornamental veggies from the garden. Coming in all manner of shades and shapes, gourds are perfect for adding a touch of autumnal color in the backyard beds, or to table settings and holiday decorations....

This DIY concrete block planter not only looks fantastic, but you can get super creative with it, and come up with your own unique design. It’s also versatile, so you can put it anywhere – and make it as small or large as you need to fill your space. It’s also wonderful way to try your hand at growing vertically, and is excellent for adding height to a boring empty corner like mine....