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Annual vinca plants are low growing flowering plants that come in a selection of colors, usually white to pink. Also known as annual periwinkle, these plants thrive in a wide range of growing conditions. The ability of vinca to grow and bloom throughout periods of hot weather make it especially popular. However, like many annuals, there are some concerns in regards to pest and disease tolerance. Vinca Plant Diseases When discussing the vinca plant, problems may result for a variety of reasons....

Growing Ixia Bulbs When growing Ixia bulbs, which are actually corms, you may be happily surprised to find they are shaped like chocolate kisses. Ixia plant info says to plant the corms 3 to 5 inches (8-13 cm.) deep and 3 inches (8 cm.) apart into fertile, well-draining soil. Southern gardeners should plant them in fall, while those in USDA gardening zones 4 and 5 should plant in spring. Care of wand flowers includes a heavy layer of mulch for fall planted bulbs in zones 6 and 7....

Japanese Tassel Fern Information Native to Japan and South Korea, Japanese tassel fern plants are a great deer-resistant choice for shady nooks in U.S. hardiness zones 5 to 8. So why are they referred to as tassel ferns in the garden? Well, when the new bright green, tightly coiled young fronds, or croziers, emerge from the crown of the plant, their tips bend backwards and hang down like a tassel as they unfurl, before eventually straightening themselves out....

What is Jewelweed? Jewelweed is a wildflower in the Impatiens family that is commonly grown as a bedding annual. In the wild, you can find dense colonies of jewelweed growing in drainage areas, on stream banks, and in bogs. Wild jewelweed impatiens plants assist wildlife like butterflies, bees, and several types of birds including many songbirds and hummingbirds. Jewelweed plants grow 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) tall and bloom from late spring to early fall....

If you are ready to jump into July gardening, you’ll have plenty of tasks on your plate. Read on for information about what you should be doing in western gardens in July. July Gardening Throughout the western hemisphere, the month of July is the heart of summer, meaning that the weather is sunny and warm. April’s showers brought May flowers, and June saw many western gardeners sowing vegetable seeds and planting annuals....

About Thrips on Houseplants Thrips on indoor plants are not as common as thrips on outdoor plants, but they do occur and it is important to take care of them before the damage becomes too difficult to deal with. Like any pest, it is best to identify them early in order to have the best chance in getting rid of them. There are many species of thrips and some feed on leaves, flowers, buds, and even fruit....

What Does Plant Sunburn Look Like? Plant leaves turning white is often the first, and sometimes the only sign, of leaf sunscald in plants. You can think of this problem as plant sunburn damage and you won’t be far off from the truth. In a greenhouse, plants are exposed to high levels of filtered or artificial light, so they grow leaves that are good at soaking up those wavelengths. The problem with taking a plant straight from the greenhouse to your full sun garden is that they aren’t prepared for the extra UV rays they’re getting outside....

How Does Water Affect Plant Growth? What does water do for a plant? There are three potential situations with water: too much, too little and, of course, just enough. If a plant’s soil has too much water, the roots can rot, and the plant can’t get enough oxygen from the soil. If there is not enough water for a plant, the nutrients it needs cannot travel through the plant. A plant cannot grow if it doesn’t have healthy roots, so the proper balance of water is key when growing plants....

How to Treat Powdery Mildew The first step in how to treat powdery mildew is to remove the conditions in which powdery mildew flourishes. Powdery Mildew Remedies Since powdery mildew is so widespread, powdery mildew remedies are common garden remedies sold in the garden centers. The following is a list of fungicides that can treat powdery mildew: Triadimefon Triforine Thiophanate-methyl Propiconazole Sulfur Potassium bicarbonate The above list will treat powdery mildew, but not all are acceptable for plants you plan to eat....

What is Tar Jelly Lichen? Tar jelly lichen is a creature unlike others you’ll encounter in the garden. They’re created by the intimate paring of a fungus and algae– and both are important to lichen growth. The algae synthesizes all day long, providing enough food for itself and the fungus involved, and the fungus keeps the algae moist so it can live a long, healthy life. Although they’re fascinating, tar jelly lichen information is hard to come by....

What are Deciduous Trees and Shrubs? Deciduous trees and shrubs are some of the most beautiful elements in the home landscape. They range in size, form, and color and shed their leaves each fall before they go to sleep for the winter. The term deciduous is a fitting name for these plants as the word means, “tending to fall off.” Deciduous shrub varieties and trees shed the part that they no longer need to survive for the season....

Propagating Magnolia Trees Starting a magnolia tree from cuttings produces trees much faster than seedlings. Two years after you root a magnolia cutting, you may get flowers, while with a seedling, you can wait over a decade. But starting a magnolia tree from cuttings is not a sure bet. A large percentage of the cuttings fail. Put luck on your side by following the tips below. How to Root Magnolia Trees The first step in propagating magnolia trees from cuttings is to take cuttings in the summer after the buds set....

Guidelines for Shipping Live Plants Sending plants through mail successfully depends upon careful packing as well as acclimating the plant and sending it with enough water to survive several days. Plants that get sent to hot regions or are shipped in winter will benefit from some insulation. You can use the U.S. Postal Service or any of the shipping companies that fit your needs. Either way, you can learn how to package them for the best arrival and least breakage....

Studies have shown that sour beverages are more thirst quenching because they stimulate the salivary glands. This probably explains why shrubs have been around for such a long time. Around the 1700s the drink made its way to the U.S. and was made with common sweeteners like maple syrup or honey, ginger or other spices, and diluted with water. This “hay maker’s punch” was served during harvest season to workers in orchards and the fields....

Tips for Mandevilla Care When you buy your mandevilla vine, chances are good that it’s a lush plant full of flowers. You may wish to transplant it to the ground or into a bigger or more decorative container. Mandevilla flowers need sandy, well-draining soil with plenty of organic material mixed in. A good soil mix for mandevilla plants include two parts peat moss or potting soil to one part builder’s sand....

What are Marionberries? Marionberry plants are crossbreeds made up of two previous hybrids — the small but delicious Chehalem and the larger heavily productive Ollalie. Development of this berry began in 1945 through the efforts of George F. Waldo of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was tested in the Willamette Valley. Subsequently released for cultivation under its name of Marionberry in 1956, it is named after Marion County in Oregon....

Can You Compost Meat Scraps? A win/win scenario for a small amount of effort, composting is the natural decay of organic refuse within controlled conditions that enable tiny organisms (bacteria, fungi, and protozoa) to convert the refuse into rich, gorgeous soil. The question is what qualifies as organic matter suitable for the compost pile. Generally, folks think about grass clippings and fruit or vegetable trimmings, but how about meat? Meat is organic material, right?...

Mikania Plant Info This bushy vine (Mikania ternata) is a showy wonder, having leaves that are green with a rich purple tint and fuzzy hairs that make it look like plush velvet. Growing mikania plush vine can be tricky until you give it the right conditions. Mikania houseplants have their own requirements and only do well if you pay attention to them. Once you learn how to grow mikania plush vine plants, you can add another bit of color to your indoor gardening....

The Milkweed Flower The milkweed flower (Asclepias syriaca) and its cousin butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) are an integral part of the butterfly garden, a source of nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds. Growing milkweed supplies the larvae of the Monarch with food and shelter, providing caterpillars food and a resting place before they leave the caterpillar stage and become butterflies. As the plants can be toxic, consumption of the plant protects caterpillars from predators....

Can You Grow Fruit Trees in Wet Soil? If you’ve found your way to this article, you probably have an area of the yard which retains too much water. You may have even been given the advice that you should just plant a tree in that wet area so the roots can soak up all the excess moisture. While certain trees are excellent for wet soil and rainscaping, damp soil and fruit trees can be a bad mix....