Feeding Tuberous Begonias I need a moment to process that last part – tuberous begonias. Showy and stunning with so many options. Single or double blossoms. Plain or ruffled flowers. Color palette from white to crimson with bicolor options. Cascading or upright varieties. I LOVE THEM! These are flowers that you definitely want to thrive! Fertilizing tuberous begonia is important because they are heavy feeders, not unlike most plants which are heavy bloomers....

Lawn Substitutes for Warm Regions Groundcovers make excellent lawn alternative plants for the south and they don’t need as much maintenance. Environmentally, alternative plants make sense because they don’t need as much water or chemical treatment as lawn grass. Depending on the plant you choose, they can also serve as wildlife habitat. On the other hand, a dense lawn is a clean air factory, converting much more air than most of the alternatives....

Making homemade scented candles can be a fun and easy DIY project. You can choose safe and natural waxes, like beeswax or soy wax, for your candle. Herb plants from your own garden can provide the fragrance. You can also create beautiful works of art by using plants in candles for their decorative value. How to Use Dried Herbs for Candles When using herbs for candle making, start by thoroughly drying the plant material to prevent mildew....

What is a Legume? The family of legumes is Leguminosae. Legumes are found in most areas of the world and are fast growing and inexpensive food crops. Domesticated legume crops have been in human cultivation for more than 5,000 years. Legumes encompass a wide range of edible nuts and vegetables. There are also legume plants that are not edible but have many of the same benefits for soil health. Legume pods easily break into two equal hemispheres, but not all legumes produce pods....

Elsanta Strawberry Facts Elsanta is a Dutch variety that has risen to prominence over the years due to its reliable yield and disease resistance. It is a supermarket favorite because of its quality, firmness, and long shelf life. It is grown across the United States and Europe. Some people have complained that Elsanta and other supermarket strawberries have lost their flavor, but it is theorized that this occurs when plants are overwatered in order to grow them quickly....

What is Urushiol? The name urushiol is derived from the Japanese word for lacquer, urushi. In fact, the lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) is in the same family as many of the other urushiol containing plants, which is Anacardiaceae. The genus Toxicodendron contains the bulk of the urushiol wielding plant species, all of which can cause allergic reactions in up to 80% of individuals if they come into contact with the plant’s sap....

My Peace Lily Keeps Wilting Peace lily is an attractive foliage plant that produces a flower-like spathe, which is a modified leaf that encloses the real flower, a spadix. While these plants are known for their ease of care, occasional issues may arise. One of the most common is droopy leaves on peace lily. Wilting peace lilies can occur due to several conditions. It is important to look for pest and disease issues, but the problem could also be cultural....

Selecting Flowering Shrubs for Zone 8 Adding some shrubs to new or existing landscaping, or just need to know how to grow flowering shrubs in zone 8? Zone 8 shrubs that flower add extra elegance to the landscape and the special surprise that blooming plants offer. Some regions in zone 8 can be quite challenging with either coastal aspects or hot punishing summer temperatures to consider. There are many plants from which to choose, however, each able to thrive in zone 8....

Interesting Facts About Cup and Saucer Vines The cup and saucer vine was first discovered by a Jesuit missionary priest named Father Cobo. The plant’s Latin name Cobea scandens was chosen in honor of Father Cobo. This interesting tropical beauty grows vertically rather than laterally and will eagerly cling to a trellis and create a lovely display in a very short amount of time. Most vines reach a mature spread of 20 feet (6 m....

What is a Memory Garden? Memory gardens stimulate patients living with memory loss. They can carry gentle reminders of past experiences and jog the memory as plant identification and care are highlighted. Gardens for people with Alzheimer’s are also helpful for the caregivers, whose lives are also turned upside down and need a much deserved place of peace. Alzheimer’s friendly gardens have been scientifically shown to help heal body and mind as well as bring hope and engagement in the form of activities and participation....

Amaryllis Planting Outdoors Amaryllis bulbs are easy enough to grow indoors, and just as easy to grow in the garden, provided you live in a suitable region. They make great specimens outdoors. They perform well in beds, borders, or containers outside. You can also scatter them throughout the landscape in naturalized areas. These plants look exceptionally attractive when planted in groups. Best of all, amaryllis bulbs are deemed resistant to both deer and many rodents....

Problems with Artichoke Plants When you consider the size and roughly serrated, tough leaves of an artichoke plant, it’s hard to see what could harm these mighty thistle relatives. Some of nature’s tiniest organisms can have their way with the plant and there are several fungal diseases that can compromise the plant’s health. Young seedlings are prone to damping off, which is a soil borne disease that causes seedlings to wilt and die....

What is Autumn Crocus? The autumn crocus or meadow saffron is a member of the lily family (Liliaceae), not to be confused with its look alike, the spring-flowering crocus, which is a member of the Iris family (Iridaceae). Hailing from Europe, North Africa, and Asia, the autumn crocus is one species of around 70 in the genus Colchicum. This Colchicum has a rather unusual life cycle in that the colorful flowers appear as its name suggests, in early autumn....

What is an Aztec Lily? Native to Mexico’s rocky hillsides, Aztec lilies are a member of the Amaryllis family, and its flowers are actually a bit reminiscent of an amaryllis. The Aztec lily flower has six 6 inch (15 cm.) long petals in a unique configuration, which are at the apex of a foot long (31 cm.) scape (leafless stem). The top three petals are upright and curled back at the tips....

Considerations for Backyard Pond Waterfalls Waterfall landscaping is a unique way to add dimension and sensory delight to the garden. You may choose to contract professional installers for your project or tackle it yourself. Either way, you need to consider the site carefully and make sure you have a power source nearby. Waterfall garden features run off of pumps that circulate the water. These require electricity to operate. A pond forms the perfect natural reservoir for a waterfall....

Begonia Propagation Info The three most popular types of garden begonias are the tuberous types, which are large-leafed and sold either growing in pots or as brown tubers for do-it-yourself planting; the rhizomatous, commonly called Rex begonias; and the old fashioned wax, which are known as fibrous-rooted. While professional growers use different methods for begonia propagation for each of these types, we home gardeners are fortunate that all three types can be easily duplicated through begonia cuttings....

Brush up on some bell pepper info to learn all about growing these delicious and nutritious vegetables. A little knowledge about pepper plant care will go a long way. What Growing Peppers Need to Get Started Growing bell peppers isn’t difficult, but temperature is an important factor. While they’re fairly easy to grow, pepper plant care in these early stages is critical. Always start pepper plant seedlings indoors. The seeds need the warmth of your house to germinate....

Benefits of Coltsfoot Fertilizer Natural garden care has become popular due to an awakening desire to keep chemicals out of our water table, and the popularity of sustainable gardening. Herbal teas and composts have been traditional methods of fertilizing plants. Feeding plants with coltsfoot tea is just one way to harness the healing and health promoting properties of herbs. It just seems natural that the benefits derived from herbs can translate to strong plants with better vigor....

How to Pot Berry Plants For larger berry plants, like blueberries, use large pots or planters typically associated with small trees or shrubs. It may also be a good idea to pot these near the location where you plan to keep them, as they will be heavy once filled. You could also opt for a planter with rollers for easy moving. While individual plants vary with soil type, the basic planting is the same for berries growing in a container....

Turkey Herbs Most people use a blend of herbs that are typical for roasting a turkey. This doesn’t mean you can’t diverge from the norm. At the end of the day, herbs you grow and use for roasting your turkey should please your palate and those of your guests of course. Some people go wild and use lots of global spices to create a Moroccan spiced turkey or Cajun barbequed turkey, but for the purposes of this article we are focusing on turkey herbs, not spices....