Whenever you have potted plants in your home, you end up with the issue of rootbound plants. This is when the pot is full of mostly roots and very little dirt is left. This happens as the plant matures. Eventually, the roots grow to the shape of the pot and you end up with a pot shaped clump of roots. How to Prune Roots on Rootbound Plants Most plants will tolerate simple root pruning....
Growing Roses in Zone 4 There are several rosebushes that are not only listed for zone 4 and lower, but many that have been tested to make sure they are hardy enough to grow nicely there. The Rugosa rosebushes developed by F.J Grootendorst are hardy enough for even zone 2b. Another would be the rosebushes of Mr. Georges Bugnet, who brought us the wonderful Therese Bugnet rose. When looking for roses for zone 4, take a look at the Agriculture Canada Explorer and Parkland series, as they are known for their hardiness....
Rusty fern leaves, often the result of normal growth and development, aren’t always an issue. However, in some cases, rust colored ferns may indicate a more serious problem. Rust on Back of Fern Fronds Ferns are ancient plants that propagate themselves in ways that are very different from most plants. One way new ferns are propagated is through the development of millions of tiny spores that fall to the ground where they eventually grow into tiny plants....
Salt Damage on Lawns Anyone living in the north along a busy roadway where salt is used to help melt ice understands how damaging salt is to lawns. The salt draws moisture from the grass and causes it to brown. Salt used to de-ice roads is mostly refined rock salt, which is 98.5 percent sodium chloride. Calcium chloride is less damaging to lawns and plants but is not used as often as refined rock salt because it is more expensive....
About Schimmeig Striped Hollow Tomatoes Another of the wonderful stuffing tomatoes, Schimmeig tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Schimmeig Stoo’) are an open-pollinated German heirloom. Also known as Striped Cavern, of which ‘schimmeig stoo’ translates to in Manx Gaelic, this tomato plant features orange stripes on a red, bicolored fruit. With sturdy walls and hollow spaces inside, they’re great for stuffing with a tasty chicken salad or other mix. Not widely known yet among most gardeners, many chefs have learned of the hollow tomato varieties and use them for unusual presentations in fine dining restaurants....
Shade Plants for Zone 6 Gardens Here are some of the best shade plants for zone 6: Bigroot Geranium – Hardy in zones 4 through 6, this 2-foot (61 cm.) tall geranium produces pink flowers in the spring and the foliage of some varieties changes color in the fall. Ajuga – Hardy in zones 3 through 9, ajuga is a groundcover that reaches only 6 inches (15 cm.) in height. Its leaves are beautiful, purple, and variegated in many varieties....
Originally it known as Chrysanthemum x superbum, the plant was renamed and is now known as Leucanthemum x superbum. Several cultivars of Shasta daisy plants are available to the gardener. Some may reach 3 feet (1 m.) in height while others are just a few inches (8 cm.) tall. How to Grow Shasta Daisy Plants When planting Shasta daisies in the garden, take care to prepare the soil properly. Fertile soil is necessary for the best bloom on Shasta daisy flowers....
Leggy Monstera deliciosa is a common occurrence. Houseplant growers may wonder, “why is my Monstera leggy?” The plant has a rapid growth rate and low light requirements. In severely dim rooms, the plant will naturally stretch to get some light. It may also have an excess of nitrogen, fueling vegetative growth. Fortunately, fixing a leggy Monstera is as simple as arming oneself with nice, sharp pruners and a little know how....
Why an Orange is Too Sour Later I learned that the varieties of oranges I had become used to, and which sell best in the supermarkets, is the orange variety known as “sweet orange.” There are also sour orange varieties which are cultivated for their peels and used in culinary arts. It is believed that sweet oranges originated in India, spread throughout Europe, and later were brought to the Americas by the Spanish explorers....
Does a Spider Plant Flower? Spider plants do occasionally develop small white flowers at the ends of their long arching stems. Many times these flowers are so short lived and inconspicuous that they go completely unnoticed. Flowers on spider plants can grow in a cluster or can be single, depending on the variety of spider plant. Spider plant flowers are very small and white, with three-six petals. My Spider Plant is Growing Flowers Sometimes, certain varieties of spider plants will send out frequent flowers as a young plant but then never flower again as the plant matures....
Using Greek oregano as groundcover is a lazy gardener’s quick and easy way of covering a trouble spot in the landscape. Spreading Greek Oregano Do you want to smell Greek or Italian food every time you walk a certain area of the garden? A Greek oregano plant cover will provide that unique experience and transport you to some of the most romantic cities in the world aromatically. Spreading Greek oregano is hardy and needs little care once established....
Clematis Vines for Spring Spring blooming clematis usually blooms in midspring in most climates, but if you live in a mild climate, you’ll probably see blooms in late winter. As an added benefit, even the spent blooms of spring-blooming clematis add beauty to the garden with attractive, silvery, fluffy seed heads that last throughout autumn. If you’re in the market for clematis, it’s helpful to know that spring-blooming varieties fall into two main species: Clematis alpina, also known as Austrian clematis, and Clematis macropetala, sometimes referred to as Downy clematis....
What are Stinkhorns? Stinkhorn fungi are smelly, reddish orange mushrooms that may resemble a wiffle ball, an octopus, or a straight stem up to 8 inches (20 cm.) high. They don’t harm plants or cause disease. In fact, plants benefit from the presence of stinkhorn mushrooms because they break down rotting material into a form plants can use for nourishment. If it weren’t for their horrible smell, gardeners would welcome their brief visit in the garden....
What is Sudden Oak Death? The fungus that causes sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum) results in a quick death for tanoaks, California black oaks, and live oaks along the coast of California and Oregon. The fungus also infects the following landscape plants: Bay laurel Huckleberry California buckeye Rhododendron Here are the symptoms of sudden oak death: Cankers on the stems and branches. Leaves in the crown that turn pale green, then yellow, then brown....
How to Grow Wormwood Plant Grow wormwood or sweet Annie plant in a sunny location and well-drained soil. This plant doesn’t like being overly wet. Wormwood is generally planted in spring. If starting plants from seeds, sow the small seeds in flats and set the seedlings out in the garden well after the last frost in spring. Once established, wormwood plants require little care. In addition to occasional watering, these plants can be fertilized once a year....
How to Plant Zucchini When planting zucchini, you can plant them either as individual plants or grouped on hills. How you grow zucchini squash is up to you, based on how many zucchini plants you intend to grow and how much room you have to grow them. Individual Zucchini Plants After the chance of frost has passed, plant two to three seeds 36 inches (92 cm.) apart. The seeds should be planted about an inch (2....
How to Grow Endive Lettuce Because endive grows like lettuce, it is best planted in early spring. Start your early crop by growing endive in small pots or egg cartons in the beginning, then place them in a greenhouse or warm, moist environment. This will give your endive a great start. Endive lettuce (Cichorium endivia) grows best after having been started inside. When growing endive, transplant your tiny new plants after any danger of frost at the end of spring; frost will kill your new plants....
How to Keep Houseplants Warm There are a few ways that you can warm indoor plants during the chilly winters. One way is to add a space heater to your room. Just be careful not to place the plants too close to the space heater as this can burn them. Houseplants in general do not like drafts of any sort, especially very cold or very hot drafts. If you’re having too much trouble warming houseplants or don’t want to bother, simply place your houseplants in another room....
What is Cardamom? An interesting and crucial piece of cardamom information is that the plant is in the Zingiberaceae family, or ginger. This can be seen in the aroma and flavor. The many uses for cardamom have made it one of the most sought after of the spices. This forest dwelling plant is a perennial, which grows from large rhizomes. Cardamom spice can successfully be grown in United States Department of Agriculture zones 10 and 11....
Preparing a Firebush Transplant Plan ahead if possible, as advance preparation significantly increases the chance of successfully transplanting a firebush. The best option on when to transplant firebush is to prepare in fall and transplant in spring, although you can also prepare in spring and transplant in fall. If the shrub is very large, you may want to prune the roots a year ahead. Preparation involves tying the lower branches to ready the shrub for root pruning, then pruning the roots after tying up the branches....
