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What are Blood Oranges? Hailing from the continent of Asia, blood orange trees (Citrus sinensis) thrive in warm climates and are ideal candidates for container gardening in cooler areas. Blood orange tree care dictates the need for a temperate climate; these oranges will thrive in USDA zones 9-10. Growing blood orange trees in containers allows one to easily move trees indoors or to another sheltered area in cooler regions or during cold snaps....

ABC Garden Ideas There are a number of ways to design an alphabet garden theme. Here are just a few ideas to help get you started or use your imagination to come up with some unique designs of your own. General ABC’s – Most alphabet gardens are simply created by incorporating plants that begin with each letter of the alphabet; that’s 26 alphabet garden plants. For example, plant some asters for “A,” balloon flowers for “B,” cosmos for “C” and so on....

Citrus Tree Seeds There is something exciting about starting with just a tiny seed and watching the plant grow to fruition. In the case of citrus tree seeds, it must be noted that the seed you plant from say, a Valencia orange, will not have the same qualities as the original orange tree. This is because commercial fruit trees are composed of two distinct parts. The root system and lower trunk are composed of rootstock, or stock....

What is Cocona? Cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum) is sometimes also referred to as Peach Tomato, Orinoko Apple, or Turkey Berry. The fruit is orange-yellow to red, about ¼ inches (0.5 cm.) across filled with a yellow pulp. As mentioned, the flavor is similar to that of a tomato and is often used similarly. There are several varieties of cocona. Those found in the wild (S. georgicum) are spiny, while those in cultivation are generally spineless....

Common Plumeria Pests Plumerias are subject to many of the same pests as any other garden plants. The most common of which include: Spider mites Whiteflies Thrips Scale Mealybugs Slugs Snails In addition to the pest above, there is one more commonly found insect that affects this plant – the caterpillar of the Tetrio sphinx moth. Plumeria just so happens to be its primary host plant. Identifying Plumeria Pest Problems Examine the leaves on top and bottom, looking for any pest problems....

What is a Corporate Garden? Just like it sounds, a corporate garden is an area dedicated to growing vegetables and garden-type fruit. This can be a green space located on the company’s property or it can be inside an atrium where vegetables have replaced the traditional snake plants, peace lilies, and philodendrons. Touted as a means to improve mental, physical and emotional health of employees, gardening at work does have its benefits:...

Is Cottonseed Healthy for Plants? Is cottonseed healthy for plants? Absolutely. Cottonseed meal fertilizer is highly beneficial with a high organic content which aerates tight, dense soil and aids in retaining moisture in light, sandy soil. Due to its slow release time, cottonseed meal feed is safe to use liberally without danger of possible foliage burn, promotes healthy foliage, increases crop production, and fosters profuse, spectacular blooms. Cottonseed Meal is Best for What Plants?...

A couple of herb garden Mason jars tucked into a bookshelf or resting on a sunny windowsill add a splash of outdoor color to the kitchen. Plus, the added benefit is you can easily snip off a sprig from your jar of herbs for your latest culinary masterpiece. Suitable plants for herb jars include: Basil Parsley Cilantro Chives Thyme Rosemary How to Grow Herbs in a Mason Jar The first step to creating a Mason jar herb garden is obtaining the jars....

DIY candles for Christmas can spruce up your holiday décor with personalized scents and fresh embellishments from the garden. Crafting Homemade Christmas Candles Homemade Christmas candles only require a few ingredients – soy wax or other type of wax you choose, a length of wick for each jar, a Mason jar or votive candle holders, and fragrance. When the DIY holiday candles have completely cooled, you can decorate the jar with fancy ribbon, herb or evergreen sprigs, or printed labels....

What is a Potato Tower? Potatoes are easy to grow, nutritious, and have the added benefit of a lengthy shelf life. Unfortunately, the traditional method for growing potatoes requires quite a bit of space, which may be a challenge for some folks. Homemade potato towers are the perfect solution. Usually, from 2 to 4 feet (61 cm. to 1 m.) in height, these simple constructions are cylinders of metal fencing that have been lined with straw and then filled with soil....

Dragon Fruit Information Pitaya is commonly referred to as dragon fruit in English and is a reflection of its Chinese name which literally means ‘fire dragon fruit.’ It is also called pitahaya, night-blooming cereus, and strawberry pear, amongst other nomenclatures. Dragon fruit is a perennial, epiphytic climbing cactus that has fleshy, jointed green stems composed of three horny scalloped wings. Depending upon the variety, each wing has one to three short spines....

Can You Eat Flower Bulbs? One of the more common questions we hear is “are bulbs edible?” When it comes to flowering bulbs, there are indeed a few that may be eaten. Here are some of the types of flower bulbs you can eat – but only if approved by someone knowledgeable in this practice: Grape hyacinth – Some sources indicate that grape hyacinth bulbs may be edible. In fact, Bucknell University relates that an ancient Roman physician double-boiled the bulbs and enjoyed eating them with vinegar, fish sauce, and oil....

Developing a Perennial Food Garden Annual plants live for only a short time, usually just part of the year. Perennials live much longer, dependent upon species. Many provide food year round, while others spring back when warm temperatures start to appear. There are numerous perennial food crops that can help slash your grocery budget. If you live in a warm region there are more plants than northern gardeners can grow, but cool region growers can still keep many edible perennial plants....

Benefits of Raised Potato Plants Potatoes actually don’t need to be buried under dirt to grow. The reason we do is simply to keep the potatoes from getting green, but there are other ways to accomplish that. The key is to block the light from hitting the actual spud. The advantages of growing potatoes above ground are numerous. First of all, digging the spuds up at harvest often damages them. Growing potatoes above ground eliminates that problem....

Sycamores also go by the names buttonwood or buttonball trees. This comes from the 1 inch (2.5 cm.) balls that hang from the tree all winter and fall to the ground in spring. Each ball hangs on its own stringy 3 to 6 inch (8-15 cm.) twig. Facts about the Sycamore Tree The largest deciduous tree in the eastern United States, sycamore trees can grow 75 to 100 feet (23-30 m....

False Aralia Information False aralia is native to New Caledonia. The lower foliage bears a strong resemblance to marijuana, but the plants are not related. Although you can grow them outdoors in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, they are grown as houseplants in most parts of the country. You can also grow them in outdoor pots, but they are difficult to acclimate to indoor conditions after spending a summer outdoors....

When to Fertilize Plants Fertilizers contain the building blocks for foliar and fruit production, bloom formation, and root and general plant health. In poor soils, the treatment is essential for good plant vigor. The application of fertilizer may be from a soil drench, time-release granular formula, stakes, or foliar spray. Whichever method works best for you, the time of year for fertilizing is a crucial bit of information. Each plant is slightly different, but there is one overall rule for most plants....

Lacewing Life Cycle Lacewings mature in approximately 4 weeks. That takes them from egg to larvae, into the pupal stage, and finally into emergence as adults. Lacewing insect eggs hatch in 4 to 5 days, releasing tiny, alligator-like larvae. The larvae have large, fierce jaws, brownish coloring with red stripes and spots, and rough skin. They are often called aphid lions because they feed on aphids as well as leafhoppers, mites, mealybugs, thrips, and many other soft-bodied insects....

If all flowering bushes don’t carry the same appeal, how to pick the types of flowering shrubs that are most ornamental? No problem! Just use the flowering shrubs list below that includes many of our very favorite selections. Flowering Bushes and Shrubs Bushes and shrubs are virtually interchangeable terms used to describe woody plants that aren’t quite tall enough to be called trees. There is no official height cutoff however, and many taller shrubs are called short trees, while shorter trees are called large shrubs....

Some of our most common plants could show us the dark side of nature if we don’t approach them with caution. The Dark Side of Nature Poisonous plants have a well-established place in history, both for their potential to harm, but also occasionally for their ability to heal. A little bit of some plants can actually be a boon, but you must approach with caution, as these dangerous garden denizens can also kill you....