Types of Hanging Cactus and Succulents Some cacti and succulents are best being allowed to grow tall or straight out of a pot. However, there are many types of hanging cactus and unusual succulents that enjoy growing in a hanging pot so they can stream down as each new piece starts. If you’re not sure which plants to choose, that’s okay. Below you will find some popular hanging succulent plants that are must haves for your home to help get you started....
Brighten up those areas of your garden with these top 15 flowering plants that thrive in shade. Flowering Shade Perennials 1. Astilbe Astilbe, with their fern-like foliage and fluffy flower heads, prefer a spot that is moist to wet. They can tolerate part shade to heavy shade but growth may be stunted in heavy shade. 2. Bleeding Heart The Bleeding Heart is adored for its arching stems of heart-shaped flowers....
What is a Dwarf Lilac? Space challenged gardeners, or those that prefer a tidy looking plant, will love the dwarf lilac varieties. These smaller bushes offer all the same color and scent the standard forms present with a more compact form. Dwarf lilacs are fairly new developments with the Korean dwarf one of the first to be marketed. Syringa are old-fashioned garden classics that conjure warm spring days and crisp nights....
Preserving native and wild species of seeds is an important step in protecting a healthy habitat. Plus, it is easy, takes little space, and the seed can be stored season after season. Starting a seed bank as a home gardener involves little effort and may start with saving seed from home grown plants or sourcing regional and native seed. What is a Seed Bank? Seed banks provide a healthy source of native seed should something happen to natural sources....
What is Greek Oregano? Compared to other varieties of oregano, there really is nothing remarkable about Greek oregano from an ornamental viewpoint. It simply has hairy, dark green leaves with small white flowers. However, whatever aesthetic shortcomings this Mediterranean native may have, it compensates for in culinary value. You may not be aware of this Greek oregano info, but while there are many varieties of oregano, Greek oregano is considered the “true oregano” and is typically the oregano that graces the standard supermarket spice rack....
What is Porcupine Grass? Ornamental grasses come in a wide array of growth habits, tones, and sizes. They are classed by their temperature needs as warm season or cold/hardy grasses. Ornamental porcupine grass is a warm season species which is not hardy in freezing temperatures. It resembles zebra grass but holds its blades more stiffly and doesn’t tend to fall over as much. Porcupine maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’) is a member of the Miscanthus family of graceful arching grasses....
Why Do Pear Tree Leaves Curl? Below are some of the most common reasons behind the curling of pear tree leaves and what can be done to alleviate the problem: Pear Curling Leaf Midge A native of Europe, the pear curling leaf midge has found its way across most of the United States since it first arrived on the east coast in the 1930’s. It is often responsible for curling pear tree leaves in young trees....
Flower Pollination Pollination is an important part of a plant’s life cycle. Before flowers can produce, they must be pollinated. Without flower pollination, most plants could not produce fruit or set seeds. Bees are the best-known pollinators, making their presence in the garden extremely important. Honeybees carry out more pollination than any other insect, which includes ants, beetles, butterflies, and moths. Nearly eighty percent of all crop pollination comes from honeybees....
When you encounter these problems, it is a good idea to fix them as soon as possible. More often than not all you need is to implement xeriscaping techniques. Effective xeriscape design solutions allow the landscape to work with its natural conditions rather than against them. Xeriscape Plantings Many people think of xeriscapes as merely cactus and rock gardens. The truth is that these types of landscape designs are very efficient and make interesting landscapes....
Mandevilla Pest Problems Mandevilla vines are tough plants, but even they are subject to a few pest insects that can cause real problems. Bugs on mandevilla vine are easy to treat if they’re caught early, but you’ll have to keep a close eye out for them since these insects often remain well-hidden. Mealybugs Mealybugs leave small piles of waxy debris on the branch crotches of mandevilla vines, feeding nearby or on the undersides of leaves....
Common Aloe Varieties There are many common varieties of aloe and some that are rare or difficult to find. Most are native to various parts of Africa and nearby areas and, as such, are drought and heat tolerant. The aloe vera plant has been around and in use for centuries. It is mentioned in the Bible. Aloe vera and its derivatives have currently reached an all-time high for both internal and external use....
Can Avocado Trees Grow Indoors? Avocado trees can reach 80 feet (24+ m.) in height. Most plants do poorly where freezing temperatures may occur. Gardeners in United States Department of Agriculture zones 8 and below should be wary of trying to grow these trees as outdoor plants. This fact leads to the question, “Can avocado trees grow indoors?” The simple answer to this question is yes. In fact, there are several dwarf varieties, which can help the cold and temperate season gardener produce the healthy fruits in their own home....
Best Places for Houseplants When you’re thinking about houseplant placement, it’s fine to be concerned about what plant will look prettiest in which room. However, if you want healthy, beautiful, long-lived plants, growing conditions must be considered before anything else. Sunlight is the number one requirement for indoor plants. All plants need light, but the amount varies substantially. Although some plants, including certain types of cactus and succulents, need bright sunlight, most prefer more moderate, less intense light....
Hops Plant Support Most hops are grown for use in making beer, but the cones can also be used in soap, condiments, and snacks. With their reputed mild sedative effect, hop cones are also used in making soothing teas and pillows while the post-harvest bines are often twisted into holiday wreaths or used to make cloth or paper. This multi-use crop needs some careful consideration and planning, as the plants can live for up to 25 years, a long-term garden addition that needs some serious hops plant support....
Read on if you’re seeing tomatoes rotting on the bottom to learn how to stop tomato blossom end rot. Tomato Plants with Blossom Rot The spot on the fruit where the blossom once was marks the center of blossom end rot. Typically, the problem starts on the first flush of fruits and those that haven’t quite reached their full size. The spot appears watery and yellowish-brown at first and will grow until it destroys much of the fruit....
Anyone who has tried to remove one of these brackets will tell you that they are rock hard; so hard, in fact, that they can be carved into works of art and beautiful jewelry. Bracket Fungus Info Tree bracket fungus is often referred to as shelf fungus because of the way it sticks out from the infected tree. They are called polypores. Instead of having spore producing gills, they have many pores lined with spore producing cells called basidia....
Insect Pests of Watermelon Although there are many, many insects that would love to take a bite out of your melons, some are more common visitors to the garden than others. Effectively controlling watermelon pests requires that you understand exactly what is eating your plants so you can nab the culprit and not hurt the beneficial insects that are trying to aid your cause. Keep an eye out for these offenders next time you’re in the garden:...
Can Pumpkins Grow on Trellises? Oh yes, my fellow gardener, planting a pumpkin on a trellis is not an inane proposal. In fact, vertical gardening is a burgeoning gardening technique. With urban sprawl comes less space in general with more and more compact housing, meaning tiny gardening spaces. For less than ample garden plots, vertical gardening is the answer. Growing pumpkins vertically (as well as other crops) also improves air circulation which impedes disease and allows for easy access to fruit....
One of these popular forms is the cascade bonsai. Keep reading to learn about creating a cascade bonsai. Cascading Bonsais Creating a cascade bonsai is intended to reflect the shape of a tree that has had a difficult time, yet perseveres. It is best to imagine a shape that was formed due to the crushing weight of heavy winter snows, land slides, or mud slides. These natural catastrophes will twist the tree downward in nature and so it is with a bonsai in the cascade form....
Popular Gardenia Types All gardenia varieties are members of the genus Gardenia and the coffee family, Rubiaceae. Most types of gardenias in the United States stem from the early Gardenia augusta. Due to their fragrant blossoms and thick, attractive foliage, certain types of gardenia are prized as shrubs for their use as hedges and borders and specimen plantings, particularly near walkways and garden seating areas where their fragrance lingers in the evening....
