Posts

About Dietes Flowers Dietes plant information says this plant is commonly called African iris or Butterfly iris. Dietes plant blossoms are showy and last just a day, sometimes two. Dietes iris normally has a long period of bloom, so you can expect continued blossoms for several weeks. Learning how to take care of Dietes flowers is not difficult, but will vary depending upon the location in which they’re planted. Multiple blooms appear on upright stalks during the bloom season in spring and early summer and often sporadically throughout the year....

Learn as you go along, and you’ll find dieffenbachia troubleshooting is no more difficult than for any other houseplant. In fact, being prepared to correct a disease problem is important information for the indoor gardener. Learning why it has happened to your plant can help you correct it early before it spreads to other areas of the plant. Understanding how disease is passed or picked up may help you avoid it altogether....

About Dragon’s Breath Pepper Plants There are chili eating contests that pit taste buds and pain thresholds against contestants. So far, the Dragon’s Breath chili has not yet been introduced to any of these contests. Probably for good reason too. This pepper is so hot it beat the previous Guinness winner by nearly a million Scoville units. Mike Smith (owner of Tom Smith’s Plants) developed this cultivar, in conjunction with the University of Nottingham....

Heat and Drought Tolerant Plants with Color Selecting drought tolerant plants with color isn’t as difficult as you might think. Here are some popular perennials that will add a pop of color while handling the heat of sun and drought-like conditions: Salvia (Salvia spp.) – Salvia is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant greatly loved by butterflies and hummingbirds. This low-maintenance cousin to kitchen sage displays tall spikes of tiny white, pink, violet, red, and blue flowers....

What are Red or Purple Leaf Peach Trees? There are several peach (Prunus persica) varieties that sport reddish-purple leaves. The most common and readily available is ‘Bonfire.’ Bonfire is a dwarf purple leaf peach tree that only grows to about 5 feet in height (1.5 meters) in 5 years and the same distance across, making it almost more of a shrub than a tree. This cultivar is hardy in USDA zones 5-9 and is tolerant of temperatures down to -10, possibly -20 F....

About Signet Marigold Tagetes tenuifolia edible marigolds are native to North America. With the right signet marigold care, you can have blooms in the garden until autumn. When growing signet marigolds, you may choose from yellow, orange, golden, or bi-colored flowers. Hybrid types include the Gem series: ‘Tangerine Gem’ ‘Lemon Gem’ ‘Orange Gem’ ‘Red Gem’ An old-fashioned variety called ‘Paprika’ has maroon flowers with yellow edges. The fragrance of marigold signet flowers is more like citrus than the skunky scent of the American marigold....

Plants in Eggshells Starting seeds in eggshells begins with re-using both eggshells and egg cartons, and reuse is one of the three R’s of conservation: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. See how easy this is! You’ll reduce landfill waste by not using disposable plastic seedling starters and you’ll be recycling those cartons too. Eggshell seed pots are economical. For a few weeks before you begin your project, start cracking your eggs a little more carefully so that one half to two thirds of each shell remains intact....

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....

Help! My Lima Pods are Empty! Lima beans are sometimes called butter beans and are the stereotypical antithesis for kids. My mom used to get a frozen mélange of veggies that included lima beans and I would collect them all into one mouthful and swallow them without chewing, with a large glug of milk. I’m an adult now and then some, with tastes that have changed and the realization that lima beans are extremely good for you, high in fiber, protein, and magnesium....

Is Epsom Salt Good for Plants? Yes, there seem to be good, relevant reasons for using Epsom salts for plants. Epsom salt helps improve flower blooming and enhances a plant’s green color. It can even help plants grow bushier. Epsom salt is made up of hydrated magnesium sulfate (magnesium and sulfur), which is important to healthy plant growth. Why Put Epsom Salts on Plants? Why not? Even if you don’t believe in its effectiveness, it never hurts to try it....

If you haven’t tried your hand at heirloom vegetables, growing Eva Purple Ball tomatoes is a good way to start. Read on and learn how to grow an Eva Purple Ball tomato plant. Eva Purple Ball Care Growing Eva Purple Ball tomatoes and their subsequent care is no different than when growing any other tomato plant. Like many heirloom tomatoes, Eva purple ball tomato plants are indeterminate, which means they will continue to grow and produce fruit until they are nipped by the first frost....

If you love the drama of autumn leaves, you can create a fall leaf garland to decorate a doorway, inside or out. Read on for tips on how to make a DIY fall garland. Garland of Autumn Leaves People who are into crafting know how easy and cheap it can be to make something wonderful out of found objects for little to no money. In the autumn, those found objects might be gathered under a tree in your backyard or on the street....

How to Make a Pumpkin Bird Feeder Feeding birds with pumpkin isn’t a new idea, but neither is it a common use of the fruit. A few ways to turn a pumpkin into a bird feeder are listed online, but use your imagination for this simple project. This is a simple and fun activity to get your kids involved in wildlife education, and a great way to spend quality learning time with them....

Ficus Tree Division You need to divide a large ficus if the plant has become rootbound. If you aren’t familiar with that term, it’s when the tree roots get heavily tangled and compacted. Rootbound plants cannot grow since the roots are not able to deliver water and nutrients to the canopy. When to split a big ficus? Ficus tree division becomes necessary when the roots outgrow container space and cause the vigor and health of the plants to suffer....

Creating Mardi Gras Decorations The Mardi Gras season comes to a climax on Fat Tuesday, the last day before the start of Lent. From King cakes to crawfish boils, the day centers on food, fun and indulging oneself before 40 days of abstinence begins on Ash Wednesday. It’s the perfect time for creating Mardi Gras table decorations in the traditional colors of purple, green and gold. Chosen by Krewe of Rex in 1872, these colors each have a special meaning....

Reasons for a Dogwood Tree Not Blooming Too Much Nitrogen Many dogwood trees are planted in the middle of lawns and most lawn fertilizers are very high in nitrogen. Nitrogen is good for growth of leaves, which is why it makes a good lawn fertilizer, but too much nitrogen can stop a plant from flowering. To correct this, stop using lawn fertilizer near your dogwood tree. Instead, use a balanced fertilizer or a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus....

Depending upon the region, finding plants that produce blooms in winter may be difficult. Still, there are several options, even for those living in the coldest of growing zones. Below, we have detailed some commonly available ornamental plants which may produce blooms in winter. As always, further research is recommended before planting to learn more about growing requirements, possible plant toxicity, and any invasive status of the plant within your own region....

What is a Fruit? Fruits are the reproductive organs produced by flowering plants that contain seeds. So a fruit is basically an enlarged ovary that develops after the flower has been pollinated. The seeds develop and the extraneous parts of the flower drop off, leaving the immature fruit which gradually ripens. Then we eat it. This description encompasses nuts as well as many fruits previously (even currently) referred to as vegetables– like tomatoes....

If you are interested in donating unwanted plants, the following article contains all the plant donation info you need to get started. Plant Donation Info There are many reasons for unwanted plants. Perhaps the plant has become too large, or you need to divide a plant to keep it healthy, and now you have more of the species than you need. Or maybe you just simply don’t want the plant anymore....

Garden Tool Selection Guide We all have our favorite garden implement. It may be a 20-year-old shovel or your new rototiller, but what they all have in common is their usefulness and comfort. To get to that place where all your tools are exactly as you need them to be, you must first do some research. Whether you are looking at gardening tools for beginners or you are a professional landscaper, the tools you choose need to suit your body and the tasks you require of them....