Night Blooming Cereus This cactus variety is generally grown as a houseplant in all but the hottest regions of the United States. The Cereus night blooming cactus is a tall climbing cactus that may approach 10 feet (3 m.) tall. The cactus is three ribbed and has black spines along green to yellow stems. The plant is a rather untidy jumble of limbs and requires manicuring to keep it in habit....

What is a Yard Long Bean? In my neck of the woods, the Pacific Northwest, a large majority of my friends and neighbors are of Asian origin. First generation or second generation transplants, long enough to enjoy a cheeseburger but not so long as to dismiss the cuisines of their respective cultures. Therefore, I am quite familiar with the yard long bean, but for those of you who are not, here’s the run down....

Citrus Tree Seeds There is something exciting about starting with just a tiny seed and watching the plant grow to fruition. In the case of citrus tree seeds, it must be noted that the seed you plant from say, a Valencia orange, will not have the same qualities as the original orange tree. This is because commercial fruit trees are composed of two distinct parts. The root system and lower trunk are composed of rootstock, or stock....

Clump Maple Trees Maples are one of America’s favorite trees with lovely flowers in the spring, curious whirligig seedpods in the summer, and brilliant, fiery leaves in the fall. While most maples grow into tall shade trees on single trunks, a few varieties of maples grow in clumps. Most clumping maples can be found in commerce in a single trunk growth habit. Maple clumping varieties include the Amur maple, hedge maple, paperbark maple, and vine maple....

Common Hosta Pests What causes holes in hosta leaves? This is one of the most common questions associated with hosta plants. Essentially when bugs are eating hostas, slugs or snails are usually to blame. These nighttime foragers are probably considered the most common of hosta pests, eating small holes in the leaves. Silvery colored slime or snail trail throughout the garden area is a good indication of their presence. Control of these slugs may include the use of beer traps, which they crawl into and die....

Growing Wetland Flowers While it may seem like an ecosystem that is less ideal for plants, a wetland or swamp area is home to a number of native plants, including pretty flowers. Swamp flowers and other plants that are native to your particular area should grow well with little intervention on your part. The most important thing you can do to grow these flowers successfully is knowing their needs. Some, such as blue flag iris, need a few inches (8 cm....

Can Dahlias Be Grown in Containers? Can dahlias be grown in containers? Yes, but it’s a little bit of a process. If you want a bulb you can plant and forget, you may want to pick a different plant. Choose a container that’s big enough in diameter that the tuber can fit comfortably when laid horizontally in the bottom. Just-planted dahlias tubers are at risk of rotting, so make sure your container has plenty of drainage....

About Five Spot in Containers Rarely getting more than 8 inches (20.5 cm.) tall, five spot is ideal around the edges of containers. Its genus name, Nemophila, means ‘shade lover,’ making these pretty flowers perfect in low light situations. They also do well in areas with bright but indirect sunlight. Combining other native plants with potted baby blue eyes eases care and encourages local flora. Potted baby blue eyes have dainty 1-inch (2....

Most importantly, whatever container irrigation system you choose, take time to practice and work out any problems before you leave for a vacation or weekend away. The last thing you want is to come home to a bunch of wilted, dead plants. Here are a few tips on container irrigation systems. Container Drip Irrigation Systems If you travel frequently or you don’t want to spend a lot of time watering potted plants, you may want to invest in a drip irrigation system....

About Russian Thistle Weeds Russian thistle is a bushy annual forb that many Americans know as tumbleweed. It gets to three feet (1 m.) tall. Mature Russian thistle weeds break off at ground level and tumble across open lands, hence the common name associated with the plant. Since one Russian thistle can produce 250,000 seeds, you can imagine that the tumbling action spreads the seeds far and wide. The Russian thistle was brought to this country (South Dakota) by Russian immigrants....

Potato Beetle Signs Both adult beetles and the larvae feed on the leaves of nightshade plants. The adult beetles are small yellow and black striped beetles. The young are hard bodied red insects with a row of ridges across their humped backs. The young also have a line of black dots along each side of their bodies. The eggs of potato beetles are bright orange and laid on the underside of leaves....

How to Get Rid of Sooty Mold on Rhododendrons Sooty mold on rhododendron foliage is easily rubbed off with your fingers. You may be able to remove part of it with a strong spray of water from a hose. These measures are only temporary, however, and the only way to keep the mold from returning is to treat the cause of the problem. Small, sucking insects such as scale, whiteflies, and aphids secrete a sweet sticky substance called honeydew as they feed....

What are Cranberry Hibiscus Plants? Cranberry hibiscus plants (Hibiscus acetosella) are multi-stemmed shrubs that grow from 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) in height with green/red to burgundy serrated leaves. The foliage looks much like that of Japanese maple. Cranberry hibiscus is also referred to as African rose mallow, false roselle, maroon mallow, or red leaved hibiscus. Cultivars to look for include: ‘Red Shield’ ‘Haight Ashbury’ ‘Jungle Red’ ‘Maple Sugar’...

But, what about crushed rock as mulch? There are plenty of good reasons for using crushed rock instead of mulch, but there are also a few major drawbacks. Read on to learn more. Benefits Of Crushed Rock Landscapes: Can I Use Crushed Rock Instead Of Mulch? Yes, you can definitely use crushed rock as mulch. Here are a few benefits of a crushed rock landscape: Appearance: Rock or crushed stone mulches are available in a range of sizes, shapes, and colors, including custom colors to complement your home or garden....

In lower zones, this tropical beauty easily grows indoors as a houseplant. Curcuma alismatifolia is also known as Curcuma or summer tulip, although it is not really a tulip at all. What is Curcuma? Curcuma alismatiffolia is an exotic plant that grows from rhizomes and a member of the large ginger family. Native to Thailand or Cambodia, Curcuma alismatifolia has gray-green foliage reaching three feet (1 m.) in height. Some info sources on curcuma call it a shrub....

Should You Cut Back Alstroemeria? Only a few cultivars of Peruvian lily are hardy to USDA zone 4. The majority of the species will be treated as annuals in zones under USDA 6 or should be potted up and moved indoors for winter. They will remain green in warm climates until the bloom period, so there is no reason to cut them back like you would with many perennials. Cutting Alstroemeria plants to the ground is not recommended, as it will stunt the vegetative growth and diminish blooms the next season....

Pinecone Garland Ideas for Decorating Pinecone garland decorations are easy and inexpensive to make, so start planning all the ways you’ll use them this winter: String a garland of small pinecones and use it to decorate the Christmas tree. Use pinecone garlands in place of evergreen garlands, along a banister or the fireplace mantel.Wind lights around the garland for extra holiday cheer and lighting. Use garlands of pinecones to decorate outside for the holidays, on the front porch or along a deck or fence....

Coreopsis Deadheading Information Coreopsis are extremely low-maintenance plants, tolerating both heat and poor soil. The plants thrive throughout most of the United States, growing well in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 10. The easy-care feature isn’t surprising since coreopsis are native to this country, growing wild in American woodlands. Their tall stems tend to clump, holding their flowers high above the garden soil. You’ll find a wide variety of blossom types, from bright yellow to pink with yellow centers, to brilliant red....

Early Girl Tomato Facts Early Girl tomatoes have it all: a classic round shape about tennis-ball size, speedy growth and compatibility with low-watering methods. Moreover, Early Girl tomato care is easy, and you can grow them almost anywhere, including containers. If you were putting together a book for children identifying fruit and veggies, you might well use a photo of an Early Girl to represent tomatoes. Early Girl tomato facts describe the fruit as round and red – the classic tomato....

Eggplant Seed Preparation Eggplants, with dramatic foliage and colorful fruit, are not only a great choice for a veggie garden, but an ornamental specimen as well. Native to Asia, this tender annual requires full sun, well-draining, slightly acidic, fertile soil and a long growing season. There’s no particular eggplant seed preparation necessary prior to sowing. Eggplant seeds germinate at temps between 60-95 degrees F. (15-35 C.) and seedlings will emerge in seven to 10 days....