What are Cabbage Palms? Cabbage palms are capable of reaching heights of 90 feet (30 m.) or more in the wild, but in cultivation they usually grow only 40 to 60 feet (12-20 m.) tall. The tree’s 18 to 24 inch (45-60 cm.) wide trunk is topped by a rounded canopy of long fronds. It isn’t usually considered a good shade tree, but clusters of cabbage palms can provide moderate shade....

Fertilizing Plants with Caffeine Many gardeners, including myself, add coffee grounds directly to the garden or into the compost. The gradually breaking down of the grounds improves the quality of the soil. They contain about 2% nitrogen by volume, and as they break down, the nitrogen is released. This makes it sound like fertilizing plants with caffeine would be an excellent idea, but pay attention to the part about breaking down....

Tips on Calathea Care in Winter Calathea is a moisture loving plant, but you can cut back slightly during the winter when the plant is dormant, and growth is slow. Don’t let the soil become bone dry and always water if the plant appears wilted. Calathea plants require humidity, especially during the winter months when indoor air is dry. The best way to add moisture to the air is to use a humidifier....

Reasons for Yellow Leaves on Calla Lilies If your biggest plant problem is, “My calla lily leaves are yellowing,” you should look beneath the soil for the answers. Yellow leaves are a sign of problems in the roots of the plant, for a number of different reasons. Yellowing leaves, known as chlorosis, is sometimes caused by a nutrient shortage in the soil, most often nitrogen, iron, zinc or some other trace element....

About Foraging for Ginseng American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, is a native herb from the Aralia family. It can be found in cool, moist woodland areas throughout the eastern deciduous forests. The most sought after ginseng roots are older roots that are larger. Asian buyers prefer not only older roots, but those that are oddly forked, stubby yet tapering, off white, and firm. While roots can be harvested at five years, the most sought after are eight to ten years old....

Can You Grow Sugarcane in Pots? You may have seen fields of sugarcane in photos growing in Hawaii or other tropical locations and longed to try growing a little yourself. If you don’t live in a hot climate, try container-grown sugarcane. Can you grow sugarcane in pots? Yes, you can, and this makes it possible to have a mini-sugar plantation no matter where you live. The secret is growing the canes in containers....

Potted Dill Plant Care The most important thing to keep in mind when growing dill in containers is the depth of your containers. Dill grows a long tap root, and any container shallower than 12 inches (30 cm.) won’t provide enough space for it. That being said, your container doesn’t need to be extremely deep. Dill is an annual, so it doesn’t need extra space to build up a big root system over the years....

When you find carrots forked and deformed, it may be cultural, insect, or even disease related. Learn what causes these deformities in carrots and what easy controls to apply for healthy, sweet vegetables. Carrot Problems Deformed carrots are unsightly and smaller than they might be if they didn’t have any problems. While most carrot problems are usually related to boring and chewing insects, the most common reason you may find carrots forked and deformed is improper cultivation....

Catnip and Insects Common pests of catnip are few but do include the following: Spider mites are difficult to spot, but if you look closely, you may notice telltale webbing and tiny, black spots moving around the leaves. Leaves infested by spider mites are dry and take on a stippled, yellow appearance. Flea beetles are small beetles that jump when disturbed. The pests, which may be brown, black, or bronze, damage catnip by chewing holes in the leaves....

Cedar Trees and Winter Damage Cedars are evergreen conifers with needle-like leaves that stay on the tree all winter long. The trees go through “hardening off” in the autumn to prepare them for winter’s worst. The trees close down growth and slow transpiration and consumption of nutrients. You need to think about cedar trees and winter damage after you experience a few warm days in winter. Winter damage to cedars occurs when cedars are warmed all day by the winter sun....

About Chameleon Plants The chameleon plant is very pretty with its lavender-tinged, heart-shaped leaves and easy-going nature. But it is this nature that becomes the problem. Chameleon plants grow in USDA zones 5 to 11, in moist to dry soils, full sun to partial shade. Once they get going, there is very little that can stop the plants. Controlling chameleon plants is one of those challenges that will test your determination....

Can Charcoal Be Composted? Many commercial compost bins and buckets come with an activated charcoal filter in the lid, which helps to neutralize odors. As a general rule, activated and horticultural charcoal can safely be incorporated into compost, and small amounts will help to neutralize unpleasant odors. However, charcoal from barbecue briquettes or your fireplace charcoal ashes in compost should be used sparingly, as too much can raise the pH level of the compost beyond the desired level of 6....

Plants for Indoor Containers Indoor planting possibilities are endless. The ideas you can come up with are only as limited as your budget, patience, imagination, and space. Whether you are just wintering geraniums on the windowsill or raising orchids in your bathroom, growing plants indoors opens you up to all sorts of fun. Indoors, you can grow plants that are native to the tropics or desert without much trouble. Foliage plants are great for a variety of reasons....

Collecting Spores from Bird’s Nest Ferns Bird’s nest ferns reproduce through spores, which appear as little brown spots on the undersides of the fronds. When the spores on a frond are fat and a little fuzzy looking, remove a frond and place it in a paper bag. Over the course of the next few days, the spores should fall from the frond and collect in the bottom of the bag....

Common Beargrass Plant Info A nature hike around western North America in late spring to early summer, you may see fields of slender, arching foliage with huge, fluffy, white flower heads. The plant is beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax), and the name stems from the fact that young bears seem to like to eat the tender stems. The plant is protected in some of its native range, so if you want to start growing beargrass in gardens, it is best to use seed or transplant an offset from a garden buddy’s plant....

Common Diseases of Houseplants Here are the most common houseplant diseases that you may come across when gardening indoors. Gray Mold Gray mold, or botrytis, is a common disease in greenhouses. It’s not that common inside homes, however. It starts on dead tissue like dead leaves or flowers. Once it starts, it will spread to the rest of the healthy plant. The affected parts of the plant will quickly be covered by fluffy gray mold growth, which gives off lots of spores when you handle the plant....

Mistakes People Make with Houseplants Growing houseplants in our homes brings us a lot of joy and appreciation for natural beauty. Not only are they beautiful, they also purify the air and create a serene atmosphere. But there are a lot of indoor plant mistakes that can derail our efforts. Let’s take a look at the most common indoor plant problems that you should be aware of. Incorrect Labeling – One of the most common houseplant mistakes is buying a plant that is poorly labeled with no specific variety listed....

Contorted White Pine Information Contorted white pine trees (Pinus strobus ‘Contorta’ or ‘Torulosa’) share many of the traits of eastern white pine, a native needled evergreen. Both grow relatively rapidly and can live over 100 years. While eastern white pine trees shoot up to 80 feet (24 m.) in cultivation and can attain 200 feet (61 m.) in the wild, twisted white pine trees don’t. Contorted white pine information suggests that this cultivar tops out around 40 feet (12 m....

Lawn and Garden Flea Control Once fleas find their way into your home, you’ll never completely get rid of them until you learn how to manage fleas in the yard. Every time you and your furry friends step into a flea-infested area outdoors, fleas hitch a ride indoors on your clothing and your pet’s fur. Once you learn how to manage fleas in the yard, taking control of the problem in your home won’t seem like such a challenge....

About Southern Pea Cotton Root Rot Both southern pea cotton root rot and Texas root rot of cowpeas are caused by the fungus Phymatotrichopsis ominvorum. This fungus attacks thousands of broadleaf plants including southern peas and cowpeas. This fungus is nearly always worse in calcareous clay loam soils (with a pH range of 7.0 to 8.5) in regions that are hot in the summers. This means that cowpea cotton root rot and southern pea cotton root rot are found largely in the southwestern United States, like Texas....