Plants That Bring Good Luck Whether you’re looking for lucky plants inside the home or out in the garden, there are a number of plants considered lucky that you can choose from. Lucky plants inside the house Lucky bamboo: this plant isn’t a bamboo at all but a type of Dracaena. Associated with Feng-Shui, each arrangement of this plant has a specific number of stalks, each with its own specific meaning: three means happiness, longevity and wealth; five stalks are for wealth; six will bring luck; seven good health; eight for growth; and 10 for completion....

Container Size for Growing Beans The depth of the container size for growing beans varies dependent upon the type of vegetable. Pole beans need 8 to 9 inches (20-23 cm.) of soil, whereas bush beans can do with only 6 to 7 inches (15-18 cm.). Ensure that the pot has several unobstructed drainage holes when growing beans in containers. While the appearance of the pot isn’t important, using unglazed pots will help the containers to “breathe” and allow for the evaporation of excess water so the plants don’t drown....

About Foxtail Ferns Foxtail ferns are not really ferns, as they’re multiplied from seeds and produce no spores. The common name likely came from the clumping habit of the plant that is similar to that of a fern. Foxtail asparagus ferns have an unusual, symmetrical look. These fern-like plants have arching plumes of tightly packed, needle-like leaves that look soft and delicate. Foxtail fern plants bloom with white flowers and produce red berries....

History of Skullcap Herb Uses Chinese skullcap is found in China and into parts of Russia. Chinese skullcap herb uses have been employed for centuries to treat allergies, cancer, infections, inflammation, and headaches. Most laboratory studies have been done on the Chinese skullcap variety and may even suggest some antifungal and antiviral benefits. American skullcap is native to North America, specifically throughout the prairie states where there are eight varieties to be found....

Other benefits of a hanging strawberry garden are its resistance to insect infestations and soil borne diseases along with its compact harvest area. If deer or other wildlife tends to nibble on your berry crop before you get a chance at a taste, hanging strawberries may very well be the solution to keeping the tender berries up out of their reach. Hanging strawberry baskets are also easy to move out of the heat or winter cold in order to protect the plant....

Common means of propagation such as cuttings, division, or air layering aren’t usually effective, so if you want to propagate a foxtail palm, seeds are your best option. That project often involves picking foxtail palm seeds and planting them when they’re fresh. Harvesting foxtail palm seeds is easy. Read on to find out how. How to Collect Foxtail Palm Seeds Bright red foxtail palm fruit, about the size of small tomatoes, grow in large clusters, with a single seed in each mature fruit....

Why Create a Parking Strip Garden? Beyond the fact that many of our parking strips look awful, there are a number of reasons to revamp this area. Water scarcity and the increasing cost for irrigation are making it too costly to maintain, and maintenance it needs! The hell strip is usually a poorly conditioned area with compacted, nutrition-less soil that isn’t even owned by you but that you must maintain. People walk across it, dogs poop on it, and it is surrounded by heat reflected concrete and asphalt that can reach temps up to 150 degrees F....

What Is a Christmas Carol Aloe? The fleshy leaves are dark green and triangular underneath the spots and borders of this petite plant. It is easily used as an indoor houseplant during the winter, but may grow outside when temperatures warm. It is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11 where you may leave it outside year-round. An additional feature of this attractive plant is the Christmas Carol Aloe flower, which appears on the healthy, mature plant in autumn....

How to Grow an Avocado Houseplant You may be familiar with growing avocados in pots. In fact, it’s likely you took part in caring for avocados in containers. I know I did. Growing avocados in pots is often the first experience we have when learning about plant growth and where our food comes from. Many elementary school children have taken part in this process. If it’s been awhile, and especially if you have little ones of your own, it’s time to re-investigate how to grow an avocado indoors....

Seed Saving in the Garden In the past, it was a common practice among flower and vegetable gardeners to save seeds. From carrots, lettuce, radishes, and other fine seeded species to the larger seeds of beans, pumpkins, and tomatoes, every gardener kept a stash of their favorites to plant again or trade with friends. Modernization gave us hybridization — cross breeding. In spite of recent complaints, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing....

How Toxic is Peace Lily? As glorious as peace lilies are when they are blooming, there is an underlying menace in these hooded flowering plants. The presence of peace lily and dogs can be an unfriendly equation. Is peace lily toxic to dogs? All parts of the plant, from stems to leaves and even the attractive blooms, contain an irritating toxin that can be dangerous to man’s best friend, so it is best to remove or fence off an area where peace lilies grow....

Is Ginkgo Fruit Edible? Ginkgo is a deciduous tree, hardy in USDA zones 3-9, that is most closely related to ancient cycads. It is a relic from prehistoric times, dating back as far as the Permian period (270 million years ago). Once thought to be extinct, it was rediscovered by a German scientist in the late 1600s in Japan. A group of Chinese Buddhist monks made it their mission to save and cultivate the species....

Jesus was also said to have given Joseph yarrow to stop a wound from bleeding, and yarrow became one of the nine holy healing herbs that early Christian women bundled and passed out to the less fortunate. In early Christian days, a special soup was made with these nine herbs, including yarrow, to ward off evil spirits. In China, yarrow was believed to represent balanced yin and yang. Let’s learn more about the benefits of using herbal yarrow plants....

USDA plant hardiness zones 5 to 9 are best suited for growing Japanese blood grass. Try using this ornamental as a specimen in a fabulous pot or in groups along a path to produce a sweeping effect of crimson and green. What is Japanese Blood Grass? Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica) is a perennial plant. Its foliage begins green with slightly tinged red tips and matures to the blood red color for which it is known....

Protection from cold temperatures is one of the most important aspects of jasmine plant care. Growing jasmine vines can create a perfumed shield over arbors, trellises and fences. The bush types are excellent landscape specimens with starry pink, white, ivory or even yellow scented blooms. Jasmine Plants Jasmine plant care may require a bit of effort, but the results are well worth the work. Not all jasmine plants are fragrant, but the most common and hardy do produce a sweet, carrying fragrance....

What Makes Rose Leaves Turn Yellow? There are a number of things that can lead to Knock Out rose leaves turning yellow. Some of these include the following: Irrigation issues One of the first things to check when noticing yellow Knock Out rose leaves is the soil’s moisture. Perhaps it has been raining for several days or even off and on with misty or foggy conditions for multiple days. The lack of good sunshine and lots of water can indeed spell trouble....

Medieval Herb Gardens No respectable lady would be without her medicine chest, which often proved a lifeline for those afflicted with winter colds and fevers. Failure to secure a good harvest could be the difference between life and death. Herbs and plants grown in manor and castle gardens basically fell into one of three categories: culinary, medicinal, or household use. Some herbs fell into multiple categories and some were grown for their ornamental value....

Controlling Mint Plants Even with the less aggressive varieties, controlling mint in the garden is important. Other than placing barriers deep in the ground to prevent their runners from spreading, growing mint in containers is probably the best way to keep these plants under control. Plant mint plants in bottomless containers that are sunk deep into the ground, or grow them in large containers above ground. When sinking them into the ground, try to keep the container’s rim at least an inch (2....

Outdoor Gardenia Care Gardenias are cold-sensitive and may die during severe winters, therefore, gardenias are typically grown outdoors where the winter weather is reasonably tolerable, or grown in pots and moved indoors for winter. Fall or spring is the most suitable time for planting the gardenia bush. As for outdoor gardenia care, you should keep in mind that when the gardenia plant is grown outdoors, it generally prefers to be kept in partial shade....

How is Soil Made – What is Soil Made of? What is soil made of? Soil is a combination of both living and non-living materials. One part of soil is broken down rock. Another is organic matter made up of decaying plants and animals. Water and air are also a part of soil. These materials help support plant life by providing them with nutrients, water, and air. Soil is filled with many living creatures, like earthworms, which are responsible for keeping the soil healthy by creating tunnels in the soil that help with aeration and drainage....