Construction of Indoor Water Ponds The only difference between an indoor pond and an outdoor pond is size and location. Indoor ponds can be as small or as large as space allows. The size of the pond and its function will determine its overall construction. A waterfall pond can also be constructed. An indoor pond can be prefabricated, or custom made. You can also purchase plans or build your own pond frame....
Problems Growing Peppers Whether it’s pepper plant bugs attacking them or the numerous diseases that can affect pepper plants, your first line of defense is knowing what to look for. Common Pepper Plant Bugs There are several insects and creatures that enjoy feeding on pepper plants. Most of them can be easily removed by hand or with a spray of soapy water. You’ll need to check your plants frequently for bugs and worms to make sure they don’t proliferate....
The Jerusalem cherry houseplant appears as an erect, bushy evergreen shrub. It can be obtained from the local nursery most any time of year and is listed as a winter-fruiting annual. Jerusalem cherry plants have dark green, shiny leaves which are elliptical and about 3 inches (7.6 cm.) long. Jerusalem Cherry Facts The Jerusalem cherry houseplant bears white flowers looking much like those of tomatoes or peppers. In fact, the plant is a member of the Nightshade family (Solonaceae), of which not only tomato and pepper are members, but also potato, eggplant, and tobacco....
What are Strawberry Leafrollers? Strawberry leafrollers are small caterpillars that feed on dead and rotting strawberry fruit and foliage. As they feed on the leaves, the caterpillars roll them up and tie them together with silk. Since they feed mainly on decaying parts of the plant, their feeding practices don’t significantly impact the yield or decrease the plant’s vigor, but the leaf bundles are unsightly. Leafroller control measures are most effective when the caterpillars are young....
Many gardeners today practice at least some of the concepts of permaculture. The entire movement is a group of philosophies generated by a biologist and his student. Bill Mollison was the initiator behind this response to degenerating ecological conditions and our contribution as a species to such. Who is Bill Mollison? He was an academic scholar and biologist from Tasmania who observed the natural ecosystems and came back with some important lessons....
Tying Math into Nature Gardening is a great outdoor activity many adults enjoy in a number of different ways. It’s only logical to think the kiddos would enjoy it as well. Most don’t realize it but there are actually several ways to incorporate major school subjects into gardening. One of those subjects is math. When math comes to mind, we normally think about long, drawn out and complicated equations. However, math in the garden can be as simple as counting, sorting, graphing, and measuring....
Mondo Grass Information Mondo grass can tolerate almost anything, including deer, but fails without adequate moisture. What is mondo grass? It is not a true grass, but it does have strappy leaves and a clumping habit. In summer it brightens up the area with lavender or white flowers that develop into glossy black fruit. Growing mondo grass is easy, as the plant withstands neglect in regions where plentiful moisture is naturally available....
Pests Causing Yellow Leaves on Viburnum Aphids can cause big problems for viburnums, including puckered, yellowing leaves. Spray aphids with insecticidal soap spray every couple of days, but never when temperatures are over 85 F. (29 C.). A few drops of rubbing alcohol added to the soap mixture creates an even greater punch. Secondly, use bait stations to eliminate nearby ants, as they protect aphids so they have unimpeded access to their sweet honeydew excretion....
How to Prune an Orchid Different types of orchids require different pruning methods. Use the orchid pruning tips below to keep your orchids looking good and healthy. Phalaenopsis Orchid Make sure you have super sharp pruning shears to use on your orchid. The sharper the shears, the cleaner the cut will be. A clean cut makes for a healthier orchid. While the orchid is still blooming, cut back the flowers that are fading....
Types of Pansies None of us living today knew pansies when they were wild, weedy plants in the 1700s. But even this new century has seen many changes in the types of pansies available in commerce. New pansy plant types include cultivars offering huge blossoms, ruffled petals and vivid colors and color combinations. So instead of using these modest, inexpensive blossoms as edging for more flamboyant flower displays, many gardeners are using fancy pansy varieties as the main dish....
What is Par-Cel Cutting Celery? Related to both stalk celery and celeriac, European cutting celery descended from wild celery which grew in marshes throughout the Mediterranean. Bred for sweeter-tasting leaves, varieties of cutting celery spread throughout Europe and Asia as far back as 850 BCE. Par-Cel is a Dutch heirloom variety of European cutting celery. Named for its celery flavor and physical resemblance to parsley, Par-Cel cutting celery grows in a clump....
Planning a Forever Growing Garden Naturally, the first step in creating a forever-growing garden is developing a garden design. As you look around your available space, consider the placement of paths, seating and other hardscaping elements. Once these features are in the design, it’s time to designate space for the forever-growing garden beds. When creating flowerbeds for forever-garden plants, consider which types of flowers and foliage plants you wish to include....
Poison Ivy – the Real Deal Let’s start with poison ivy, an excellent plant to avoid while gardening or hiking. Its stems and foliage contain urushiol, compounds that inflame and blister the skin. The result is itching and sometimes a quick trip to the doctor. This native plant invades forests, wetlands, and mountain landscapes, appearing as a shrub or a vine. What does a poison ivy leaf look like? You may expect this notorious plant to have a dramatic presentation, but no, it looks like many other low shrubs or climbing vines....
How to Propagate Horse Chestnut Trees In general, horse chestnut propagation is not the simplest task. However, it can be accomplished. The process of propagating horse chestnuts can be done by seed (through conkers) or you can choose to propagate horse chestnut trees through cuttings. Propagating Horse Chestnut Conkers To begin the process of growing new horse chestnuts by seed, growers need to collect the conkers. To collect the seeds, it is best to wait until they have naturally fallen from the tree....
What are Kikuyugrass Weeds? Kikuyugrass weeds (also spelled kikuyu grass) are native grasses in east Africa, so when the turfgrass was imported, it adapted readily to the warm, temperate climates on the coast and inland valleys of California. It was planted on ditch banks in an attempt to stop erosion, but it rapidly jumped over into the surrounding countryside. It has been an invasive pest ever since. In ornamental plantings, kikuyugrass invades and chokes out groundcovers....
How to Grow Rhododendrons for Zone 5 When you are planting rhododendrons in zone 5, you need to recognize that rhododendrons have very specific growing requirements. If you want your shrubs to thrive, you need to take their sun and soil preferences into account. Rhododendrons are called the queens of the shade garden for good reason. They are flowering shrubs that require a shady location to grow happily. When you are planting rhododendrons in zone 5, partial shade is fine, and full shade is also possible....
The Science Behind Tomato Ripening Most experienced gardeners can recognize when a tomato is about to ripen. As the fruit reaches its mature size, it changes from a vine-green color to a paler yellow or whitish green hue. This telltale sign is followed by blushes of pink or orange appearing on the blossom end of the fruit. In commercial tomato production, there is a name for tomatoes which begin to show their mature color....
Scaevola Fan Flower Info Known botanically as Scaevola aemula, fan flower is in the Goodeniaceae family. These are mostly herb and shrub plants native to Australia and New Guinea. The plant’s Latin name means ‘left-handed,’ referring to the one-sided nature of the blooms. They are hardy, tolerant plants that are suitable for containers, hanging baskets, rockeries, or just dotted around the flower garden. Gardeners who seek a relatively unfussy, non-stop bloomer for many areas of the landscape should try fairy fan flowers....
Tips for Growing Fruits and Vegetables in Containers Patio fruit trees and dwarf vegetables are smaller cultivars selected not only for their petite size, but also for the volume of edibles they produce. These traits make them ideal fruits and vegetables for containers. If you are interested in growing your own patio garden plants, here are a few tips to get you started: Provide adequate sunlight. These may be small garden plants, but most require large amounts of light to flower and fruit....
Arid, desert-like regions receive blazing sun, cold nights, and very little precipitation. This is a recipe for disaster for Southwest container vegetables without careful preparation and management. The benefits of container gardening outweigh these challenges. They are perfect for smaller sites like patios and lanais, are easy to keep an eye on, and provide a gardening experience for those with limited mobility. Container Vegetables in the Southwest Growing vegetables close to the home keeps them near to hand and within just a few steps for care and harvest....
