How to Plant Zucchini in Pots A container with a diameter of at least 24 inches (61 cm.) and a minimum depth of 12 inches (31 cm.) is best for container grown zucchini. Any type of container works well as long as it has at least one good drainage hole in the bottom. For example, a large, plastic storage container with drainage holes drilled into the bottom makes a good planter....
Getting Rid of Sago Palm Diseases Here are some common diseases of sago palm and tips on treating them: Cycad scale – This sago palm problem isn’t a disease, but the powdery white substance on the leaves may lead you to believe your palm has a fungal disease. Scale is actually a tiny white pest that can destroy a sago palm very quickly. If you determine your tree is affected by scale, prune heavily infested fronds and dispose of them carefully....
Gunnera Plant Information Sometimes called Dinosaur Food (Gunnera manicata), the Gunnera’s deeply-lobed leaves can get up to 4 feet (1+ m.) across, and the plant can stand up to 8 feet (2+ m.) tall. Gunnera tinctoria, also known as prickly rhubarb, is similar and just as big. Both of these prehistoric-looking greenery plants will fill in large empty spaces in the corners and edges of your yard, and will thrive in boggy ground where other plants’ roots might drown....
Desert Sunflower Info Hairy desert sunflowers (Geraea canescens) are common across much of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This robust wildflower is happiest in sandy or gravelly desert conditions. Also known as desert gold, desert sunflower plants generally bloom in January and February, with sporadic reappearances in October and November. They are among the very first annual wildflowers to bloom in spring. As its name suggests, hairy desert sunflower is a close cousin to the tall garden sunflower that we all know and love....
Eye-catching indoor hanging baskets include trailing houseplants such as pothos, heart-leaf philodendron, English ivy, and lipstick plant. Many ferns also gently spill over a basket edge, creating a flowing effect. A succulent hanging basket can feature one or more succulents, combining trailing plants with erect plants. Trailing succulents such as burro’s tail or fishbone cactus have the added bonus of not needing much water. Hanging Plant Baskets Containers for hanging basket houseplants run the gamut from plastic-lined woven baskets to plastic, ceramic, or even terracotta containers....
When it comes to pruning perennial hibiscus, there’s no need for stress. Although this easy-care plant requires very little pruning, regular maintenance will keep it healthy and promote better, bigger flowers. Read on to learn how and when to prune perennial hibiscus. How to Prune a Perennial Hibiscus Hardy hibiscus pruning isn’t complicated but there are a few things you should know in order to keep the plant looking its best....
Plants that Grow Well with Hosta Once you’ve decided that hostas are the best plant for that shady garden spot, it’s time to think about the best hosta plant companions. Although they’re gorgeous on their own, it helps to add a few plants that show them off to their best advantage. Hosta performs well in full or partial shade, so the best companions for hosta are those that are suitable for the same growing conditions....
Tips for Growing Ferns Indoors There are a lot of species of tropical and subtropical ferns, but there are also a lot of ferns that are native to more temperate climates. These ferns would be well suited to cooler parts of the house but won’t survive in rooms that are too well heated. Tropical ferns survive best in homes with central heating. Below are recommend indoor conditions for optimal fern growth:...
What is a Craspedia Plant? Also known as Billy button flowers or drumsticks, yellow Craspedia globosa are native to regions of Australia and New Zealand. Though the plant has shown to grow as a perennial in USDA zones 8 through 11, craspedia plants started early from seed will often begin blooming in just one season. Large, globe shaped flowers are held high, on wiry stems, above mounds of grass-like foliage. Silvery leaves contribute to the plant’s overall visual appeal in the landscape, while the long vase life of Billy button flowers make them good for cutting and for use in dried floral crafts....
Propagating Corn on the Cob Usually corn is propagated from seed, dried kernels, but it can also be grown from a cob of corn. This is a particularly fun project to do with kids that teaches them how their food is grown, plus the results are awe-inspiring, towering stalks. Propagating corn via corn cobs isn’t particularly difficult. You will want to make sure the cobs you use look healthy with no mold or sign of disease or pests....
How to Identify Weed Types In order to identify weed types and bring them under control, it’s important to understand how they grow. Like other plants, weeds can be annual or perennial. Annual weeds are less troublesome as far as control measures go. While they are known to sprout up nearly anywhere due to seed dispersal, their root systems are relatively shallow. This makes them easy to pull and eradicate, although doing so before they set seed is recommended....
If you want to make your backyard into a wonderful spot for taking pictures, read on for information about how to create a photographer’s garden. You’ll also find tips for garden photography. What is a Photography Garden? What is a photography garden? It is, quite simply, a garden filled with images that someone with a camera would love to snap. This could be a hummingbird sipping from a salvia, a bee on a rose, a tree standing bare in winter moonlight, or dew drops on a birch leaf....
Ginger beer is comprised of just a few ingredients. The old time ginger ale recipe would not have used a carbonated beverage substitute as we can today. It would have been fermented to produce the bubbles, which can still be done in today’s recipes. The benefits of home fermenting include the lacto-bacteria and their properties for the gut. But you can skip that step, which takes up to 10 days, and substitute purchased club soda....
How to Make Dye from Henna Trees In many parts of the world, such as North Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, henna leaves are ground into a green powder and mixed with an acid like lemon juice or even highly acidic tea. This concoction releases the dye molecules, lawsone, from the plants cells. The powder resulting from the dried leaves can be found at specialty shops that cater to people from these regions....
Can You Press Fall Leaves to Preserve Them? Pressing flowers is an ancient art that preserves delicate beauties of nature. The same strategy works with leaves. If you have pressed flowers before, you know that the colors may not remain quite as vivid as with other flower drying methods, but you’ll still get rich, stunning color for fall displays and artwork. As with flowers, leaves can be preserved through pressing because it removes moisture....
Freesia Propagation Methods There are two main methods of propagating freesias: by seed and by corm division. Both have high success rates, so it’s really up to you and how you want to go about things. Freesias grown from seed usually take 8 to 12 months to bloom, while plants grown from divided corms will take a few years. Propagating Freesias from Seed Freesias are hardy in USDA zones 9 and 10....
Learning how to propagate plants just relies on knowledge of some of the most common ways plants reproduce and a bit of info on the ways to utilize each method. Propagation Basics If you ever started a seed in grade school, you probably know the fundamentals of this most basic way to grow a plant. However, there are other propagation basics for certain varieties of plants that go outside of seed starting....
How to Use Lavender in Beauty and Health Products The delicious aroma of lavender should leave you feeling relaxed and soothed. It’s a perfect herb to use in face masks, teas, and body scrubs. Here are some easy ideas: Lavender tea. An infusion of lavender flowers is a great way to unwind at the end of the day. Add one heaping teaspoon of dried flowers to a cup of boiling water and infuse for at least five minutes....
Hummingbird Sage Facts Hummingbird sage is cultivated for its attractive burgundy flowers and aromatic fruit scented leaves. This perennial has a woody base and herbaceous flowering stems which tend to be square shaped, like other members of the mint family. The stems, as well as the bright green leaves of the plant, are covered with fuzz. This spring blooming plant typically reaches a mature height of around 12 to 36 inches (31-91 cm....
Info on Climbing Hydrangeas Climbing hydrangeas (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) are large, heavy vines that need substantial support. A climbing hydrangea plant clings to the supporting structure by two methods — twining vines that wrap themselves around the structure, and aerial roots that grow along the main stem cling to vertical surfaces. The flower clusters consist of a central mass of tiny, fertile flowers surrounded by a ring of larger, infertile flowers....
