Choosing Houseplants for Kids’ Rooms When selecting houseplants for kids’ rooms, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Most importantly, remember that your child is going to be spending time alone and unsupervised with these plants, which means toxic plants are completely out. Ideally, your child won’t be eating his or her plants, but to err on the safe side, you want to be sure it isn’t a problem....
Why Baby Sapodillas Fall Quite probably a Yucatan native, sapodilla is a slow growing, upright, long living evergreen tree. Tropical specimens can grow to 100 feet (30.5 m.), but grafted cultivars are much smaller at 30 to 50 feet (9-15 m.) in height. Its foliage is medium green, glossy, and alternate, and makes a lovely ornamental addition to the landscape, not to mention its delicious fruit. The tree blooms with small, bell-shaped flowers several times per year, although it will only yield fruit twice a year....
You should also protect the plants from salt spray with a cloche, row cover, or hedge of tolerant plants. Seaside vegetables grow just as well as those inland with a little planning and effort. Raised Seaside Vegetable Garden One foolproof method of growing vegetables on coast areas with high levels of salt is to make a raised bed. Raised beds warm up faster than ground level soil and are easy to cover to protect from salt spray....
How to Stop White Fungus on Soil The number one reason that white, fluffy fungus grows on your seed starting soil is high humidity. Most seed growing tips will suggest that you keep the humidity high over the soil until the seeds have fully germinated. Your seedling planter probably has a lid or cover that helps with this, or you have covered your indoor seed starting container with plastic. Sometimes this raises the humidity to a level that is too high and encourages the growth of this white, fluffy fungus....
Gardening in the Shady Garden First, let’s evaluate that shady area of your yard. Is it located under a tree or next to the house? Most shady spots are not only deprived of sun but also of moisture. The tree’s roots take up a lot of the moisture available; similarly, the average home has an overhang preventing rain from reaching within a foot (0.5 m.) of the foundation. Pay special attention to the water needs of the plants you locate in these areas and don’t skimp on soil preparation....
What is Sneezeweed? Sneezeweed plants (Helenium autumnale) produce pretty little daisy-like flowers, sometimes in shades of pale yellow and sometimes in rich, autumn shades such as gold and reddish brown. The flowers cover 3 to 5 foot (1-1.5 m.) tall mounds of foliage for about three months in the fall. Aside from the name, sneezeweed’s reputation suffers from the fact that it blooms at the same time as some of our worst fall allergy plants....
Some plants are toxic to cats and others are simply overly attractive to these curious fur-balls, especially when it comes to the spider plant. Why are cats so attracted by these plants, and will spider plants hurt cats? Read on to learn more. Spider Plants and Cats The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is a popular houseplant and a common fixture in hanging baskets. When it comes to the nature of spider plants and cats, there’s no denying that cats seem to be weirdly attracted by this houseplant....
What is a Spiral Herb Garden? A spiral herb garden is a sustainable garden design ideal in creating microclimates to suit a variety of herbs and their needs. Many of the herbs hail from Mediterranean climates and need dry, sandy soil conditions while others thrive in cooler, moister soils. A spiral herb design is warm and dry at the top and cools and retains moisture at the base. Additionally, it makes great use of a small amount of space....
Creating Ghostly Gardens You don’t have to connect with your inner goth to enjoy the magic and mystery of ghost-like plants and dark, spiritual spaces. Gothic garden plant varieties are abundant and when mixed with previously used items, religious icons, or even just found relics, the effect can be both welcoming and eerily romantic. Learn how to create a ghost garden so you can enjoy the peace and reflection brought in by gently creepy items and darkly beautiful plants....
Info and Care of Sternbergia This is not to say that your hard red clay won’t need amendments when you’re learning how to grow Sternbergia daffodils. Soil must be well-draining, so you may mix in sand or gravel to assist with drainage. Soil should remain moist, but not soggy. Other than these improvements, you’ll find the winter flowering daffodil does well in existing clay soils. Winter hardy in USDA zones 9 and 10, Sternbergia lutea may provide autumn or winter blossoms in zone 8 and part of zone 7....
Growing Pipsissewa Plants Pipsissewa plants are often gathered in the wild. Do your research first; the plants are vulnerable in some areas and may be protected by law. If harvesting Pipsissewa in the wild is acceptable, dig the rhizomes carefully from a large, healthy population. Take care not to disturb or trample the plant. If you’re lucky enough to have a friend with extra plants, you can easily start your own plants without threatening the native population....
More Yellow Flowers
Why Texas Mountain Laurel Has Never Bloomed Hardy in U.S. hardiness zones 9-11, Texas mountain laurel can be a finicky or reluctant bloomer. These plants bloom in spring, then in midsummer to fall they begin to form the flower buds of the next season. The most common reason for no flowers on Texas mountain laurel is improperly timed pruning. Texas mountain laurel should only be pruned and/or deadheaded immediately after it’s done flowering....
Phosphorus Deficiency in the Soil How can you tell if your garden has a phosphorus deficiency? The easiest way to tell is to look at the plants. If your plants are small, are producing little or no flowers, have weak root systems or a bright green or purplish cast, you have a phosphorus deficiency. Since most plants in the garden are grown for their flowers or fruit, replacing phosphorus in the soil if it is lacking is very important....
Propagating Thyme Plants Thyme propagation can be accomplished in a number of ways. It is a hardy little plant most commonly grown for its essence of thymol, which gives a distinct flavor to foods in cuisines from French (herbs de Provence) and Lebanese to Italian, Greek, Turkish, Portuguese, and even the Caribbean. This herb may be sprouted from seed with additional propagating of thyme plants accomplished via root division, cuttings, and even layering....
Tigridia Plant Info Thirty species of Tigridia shell flowers are found, mainly from Mexico and Guatemala, and are members of the Iridaceae family. Tiger flowers resemble the gladiola, with 3 to 6 inch (5-15 cm.) flowers in colors of pink, red, white, yellow, cream, orange, or scarlet. Triangular shaped petals of solid colors adorn the outer edges of the flower with a center that has a tiger skin or seashell-like appearance....
A small raised garden bed can be used anywhere. On a lanai, on the grass, even on concrete. But how small can a raised bed be? It depends upon the amount of space you have to devote to plants. A raised flower trough can still hold plenty of blooms with some herbs added in to the fun. If your goal is to raise food for yourself, even a tiny raised bed of 2 x 4 feet (0....
How to Grow Garlic Growing garlic needs cool temperatures. Plant hard-neck garlic in the fall. Where there are cold winters, you can plant the garlic four to six weeks before the ground freezes. In milder winter areas, plant your garlic through winter but before February. How to Plant Garlic Follow these steps for growing garlic: Unless your soil is naturally loose, add a lot of organic matter like compost or well-aged manure....
Tips for Where to Put a Garden Convenience The position of a vegetable garden should first and foremost be chosen for convenience. After all, a vegetable garden is for your enjoyment. If you have to walk ten minutes to the location of a vegetable garden, chances are greatly reduced that your spot for a vegetable garden will be weeded and watered as much as it should, and you may miss out on harvesting regularly....
When Do You Fertilize Lime Trees? As mentioned, lime trees are copious feeders that require not only additional nitrogen, but phosphorous to produce blooms as well as micronutrients such as magnesium, boron, copper, and zinc necessary for fruit production. Newly planted young trees should not be fertilized until after they gain 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm.) of growth. Thereafter, fertilizer should be applied around young limes in a 3 foot (just under a meter) ring....
