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What is a Halophyte Plant? A halophyte is a plant that grows in salty soil, saltwater, or one that might experience contact with saltwater at its roots or other parts of the plant. These originate or grow in saline semi-deserts, seashores, marshes, mangrove swamps, and sloughs. Salt tolerant succulents and other halophytes often originate and grow in and near coastal areas and saline heavy habitats a little further inland. These can also grow in areas that have become salty because of unnatural repeated additions of salt, such as road salt used in winter....

What is a Capsid Bug? There are any number of pests that can do damage to your plants. Capsid damage is usually not deadly, but it can seriously reduce the beauty of your plants and make fruit corky and rough. The capsid life cycle spans from larval to nymph to adult. These bugs overwinter in plant material or in trees and bushes. Feeding activity is at its peak from April to May for nymphs and June and July as adults....

What Do Micro Prairies Do? Micro prairie plants– such as grasses, coneflowers, and milkweeds, attract native insects like bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife to seek their natural food sources and overwintering sites. Planting a micro prairie in your own backyard can help sustain wildlife displaced by lack of habitat, as well as increase your knowledge and appreciation of nature. Micro prairies provide natural forms of food for wildlife such as nectar, pollen, seeds, and berries....

What is Cuban Oregano? Plectranthus amboinicus is a perennial succulent with aromatic foliage. It is often grown as a houseplant but can thrive outdoors in warm season regions or in summer. Leaves contain pungent oils, which can be harnessed for cooking. The flavor of Cuban oregano is said to be much stronger than Greek oregano, the herb most frequently used to flavor pizzas and other Mediterranean dishes. Harvesting Cuban oregano and using it in recipes can provide similar flavor to traditional oreganos, but should be used in more moderate amounts to avoid over-seasoning the dish....

Alrighty, so now that you know it’s doable, there are some things to “bare” in mind before you strip off those outer garments and jump right in. What is World Naked Gardening Day? World Naked Gardening Day was established in 2005. Mark Storey began the event with his friends following a survey in which people answered the question, “What do you like to do while nude?” Of course, swimming (skinny dipping) came in at the top of the list but, surprisingly, gardening came in at a close second....

Many times, the problem that people say they have is that a peony just won’t bloom. But sometimes, the problem isn’t getting the buds. The problem is that the buds won’t open. The buds will develop on a perfectly healthy plant but then suddenly they turn brown and shrivel up. Many a peony owner’s hopes have been dashed this way. The good news is that the same thing that may cause a peony not to produce blooms is also the same culprits to look for when the buds die....

Growing Rock Gardens in Zone 5 When you think rock garden, alpine plants seem to come to mind. This is because the natural rocky outcrops in mountains and hillsides sport native plants that hug the rocks and soften their rugged rigidity. Alpine plants are also highly adaptable to a wide range of conditions and provide maximum performance with minimum output. However, there are many perennial rock garden plants for zone 5 with similar appeal and ease of care....

About Hollyhock Bare Root Plants Healthy bare root plants don’t have the susceptibility to the dreaded rust disease as those started in other ways. Seed-grown hollyhocks and those started from cuttings often start life in a weaker form and are more prone to develop rust disease, a disease that plagues long-time hollyhock growers. Plants grown from seed may not be true to the parent plant either. More than 60 species of bare root hollyhock plants are available....

Apple Cider Vinegar for Health Vinegar use dates back as far as 8,000 years ago when it was used primarily as a preservative and condiment. Around 400 B.C., Hippocrates began prescribing vinegar to treat a number of medical ailments. As to apple cider vinegar, it had been a traditional home remedy for many years before D.C Jarvis M.D. published his book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health in 1958....

Bolting in celery means the plant is trying to set seed and ensure its genetic material will be carried on into more favorable growing conditions. Is celery still good after bolting? Well, it’s not going to kill you, but my guess is you would prefer chewable, crispy stalks with a sweet flavor and not the tough ones that develop after flowering occurs. Bolting in Celery The celery we use today is a relative of wild celery and a cultivated crop....

How to Stop Hot Pepper Burn Due to their chemical properties, oils float and don’t dissolve in water. Running water over hot pepper on hands only serves to spread capsaicin. The key to stopping the heat and providing relief is to break up or neutralize the oil. Here are some common household products which can reduce or eliminate hot pepper on hands or skin (Don’t use these remedies in or near the eyes):...

How Can You Be Afraid of Plants? Whether they admit it or not, everyone fears something. For many people, it’s an actual fear of plants and flowers. Considering the world is covered in plants, this phobia can be extremely serious and curtail a person’s lifestyle. Two of the most common plant phobias are botanophobia, the often irrational fear of plants, and anthophobia, the fear of flowers. But both botanophobia and anthophobia are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to garden phobias....

Using Liriope as Lawn Liriope (commonly referred to as monkey grass) is a clumping to spreading plant that is sometimes called a border grass. It is useful in barricading regular turf grasses from garden. There are several species, any of which would be excellent groundcover or substitute for traditional turf grass. Liriope plants are adaptable to many types of growing conditions, which is another plus when using them for a lawn....

Growing clematis successfully depends on the type chosen, however, most plants share the same basic growing requirements. Keep reading to learn more about clematis care. How to Grow Clematis For proper care of clematis, clematis vines prefer sunny locations (at least six hours of sun needed for blooming) but the soil should be kept cool. An easy way to accomplish this is by planting some type of ground cover or shallow-rooted perennial plants around the clematis....

Growing moonwort ferns are not commonly found in domestic gardens, as they are difficult to locate in nurseries and garden centers. Even in the wild, botanists sometimes have trouble finding the small plant. If you find one though, moonwort fern care is fairly simple once the plant is established. What is Moonwort? Simply put, moonwort is a small, perennial fern, with leaflets shaped like a half-moon, hence the common name....

What is Downy Mildew? Often times, when gardeners hear the name downy mildew, they think this disease is related to another common garden disease called powdery mildew. While the two have very similar names, they are two very different diseases. Downy mildew is caused mostly by organisms that belong to either the Peronospora or Plasmopara genus. While powdery mildew is cause by a true fungus, downy mildew is cause by parasitic organisms that are more closely related to algae....

What is Maidencane? If you live in marshy, coastal regions of the southern U.S., you probably recognize maidencane grass. What is maidencane grass? It is a riparian soil stabilizer that forms important root colonies for fish and invertebrates and is widely browsed by deer and other animals. It can also be a noxious weed that pushes out native plants and changes ecosystems. When this happens, it is important to begin maidencane control and prevent loss of habitat....

Preventing Houseplant Problems The first step in controlling most diseases is prevention. Always buy disease-free plants. Use clean soil when repotting, carefully scrubbing pots before reusing to kill any disease organisms that may be present. Providing your houseplants with the proper growing conditions, giving them plenty of TLC and checking them often for problems will significantly reduce the chances of disease, turning desperate houseplants into happy ones. Watering may be the most important aspect of healthy plants, however, most people tend to overwater, creating breeding grounds for fungi and other disease-causing agents....

Fans of pumpkin spice lattes should also know the sugary treat can pack in the calories. Is it possible to make a healthy pumpkin spice latte? If you make your own, you can control the amount and type of sugar, as well as the fat content. It all begins with a recipe for fresh pumpkin and some purchased spices. Learn how to make pumpkin spice latte at home and enjoy a personalized version of this Autumn treat....

Why Teach Hydroponics for Kids? Homeschooling may be part of our regular lives, which means coming up with creative ways to demonstrate various ideas to our children. Teaching hydroponics provides a good lesson on where our food comes from as well as the botany of plants and the care for something living. There are many hydroponic activities for kids that don’t cost much and don’t need any special skills. Children enjoy learning about Mother Earth and all her mysteries....