Powdery Mildew on Houseplants Powdery mildew on houseplants is a fungal disease. Initially, it produces circular powdery white spots on the foliage of plants. As the disease spreads, the entire plant material can be affected with the fluffy white fungus. Over time parts of the plant will succumb to the disease and die. It is very contagious and, once one part is affected, it will infect the rest of the plant if not checked....

Inexpensive Backyard Design If you don’t already have a deck or patio, you can lay your own paving stones or even pour a patio for very little money. For that matter, you can create a space under a tree or other cozy area of the garden. Once you have an outdoor space, think about adding some shade with umbrellas, a sun sail, or build a pergola. If you do the work yourself on a patio or deck, you may have materials left over....

Are Daylilies Edible? Can I eat daylilies? All of us can! If you have a plant you can harvest 4 daylily edible parts in different seasons of the year. Daylilies originated in Asia but have become naturalized in most of the US. In fact, they are noxious weeds in many states. Wild daylilies are a fortunate sight for serious foragers. You can eat the tubers, young shoots, flower buds, and flowers....

Is Ginseng Frost Tolerant? As a native to much of the eastern United States and Canada, American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a cold tolerant perennial plant that is hardy to temperatures down to about -40 degrees F. (-40 C.). As temperatures begin to cool in the fall, ginseng plants prepare for winter dormancy. This period of dormancy serves as a type of ginseng winter protection against the cold. Ginseng Winter Care Ginseng plants in winter require little care from growers....

Should I Prune my Cucumber Vine? The short answer is yes, it’s okay to prune cucumbers, but I guess that doesn’t really say much. Both cucumbers’ vegetative and reproductive growth needs to be balanced. Anyone who’s ever looked at a cucumber plant can see that it is often the vegetative growth that’s left to run amok. So cucumber vine pruning is a way to check that growth and stimulate reproduction, or fruiting....

How to Compost with Kids Children will get more from the experience if they have their own compost container. A garbage can or plastic bin that is at least 3 feet (1 m.) tall and 3 feet (1 m.) wide is large enough to make compost. Drill 20 to 30 large holes in the lid and in the bottom and sides of the container to allow air in and let excess water drain through....

Knowing when to harvest kiwis can be a bit tricky. Commercial kiwi growers use a tool called a refractometer, which measures the amount of sugar in the fruit to determine the time of a kiwi fruit harvest. The refractometer is a bit pricey (about $150) for most casual kiwi home growers, so another method to determine when to harvest kiwis is in order. When and How to Pick a Kiwi So what, as the home gardener, do we need to know in how to pick a kiwi when it is ready?...

Landscaping Against Brick Walls A brick wall in a garden has a distinct appeal. The structure adds a rough stone texture and a color element that a wooden wall doesn’t have, and makes nearby plants stand out. But brick walls are foundational elements of a home or landscape. The soil near them can be compacted and contain clay, sand, and filler that do not help plants thrive. This makes landscaping against brick walls a challenge....

Reasons for Leaching Houseplants The minerals you’re getting rid of are called salts. They were dissolved in water and left behind when the water evaporated. You might see them in a white buildup on the surface of your plant’s soil or around the pot’s drainage holes. This is evidence that there are even more salts in the soil. As these salts build up, plants have a harder time drawing up water....

What is a School Garden? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to creating school gardens, however, many gardens take on a theme of some kind. A school may have several smaller garden sites, each with their own theme such as: a butterfly gardena vegetable gardena rose gardena sensory garden Or even a combination of these, depending on the objectives for the garden site. A school garden is usually organized by a group of interested teachers, administrators, and parents who agree to take responsibility for the overall upkeep of the garden site....

Ready to hear more about the Couroupita guianensis? Read on to learn exactly how curious this tree is. You’ll understand better why all primary Cououpita guianensis uses are ornamental. Cannonball Tree The cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis) is a deciduous tropical tree that hails from the rainforest regions of the Guianas Island. It is a soft-wooded relative of the Brazil nut family and grows to some 75 feet (25 m.) tall....

How to Tell if Soil is Draining Well Most plants won’t survive if their roots are sitting in water. You may not be able to tell by looking because the problem lies under the surface of the soil. Here’s a simple test to check the soil drainage. Try this test in different parts of your landscape to get an idea of where plants will thrive. Dig a hole about 12 inches (31 cm....

Outdoor Gardenia Care Gardenias are cold-sensitive and may die during severe winters, therefore, gardenias are typically grown outdoors where the winter weather is reasonably tolerable, or grown in pots and moved indoors for winter. Fall or spring is the most suitable time for planting the gardenia bush. As for outdoor gardenia care, you should keep in mind that when the gardenia plant is grown outdoors, it generally prefers to be kept in partial shade....

Growing Wisteria & Wisteria Vine Care The most important factor to consider when growing wisteria is location. Wisteria is a twining vine that requires sturdy support and regular pruning to keep it under control. Open areas surrounded by lawns that can be easily mowed are ideal for growing wisteria. Wisteria doesn’t fair well in cold so make sure it receives plenty of sunlight. This vine requires deep, rich soil that is somewhat moist but will tolerate many soil conditions....

Australia is home to a vast array of botanical species. Red Waratah, or Telopea, is one of the more spectacular. It is difficult to cultivate because of its specialized needs. However, it is widely grown in its native range, both as a crop flower and in home gardens. The plant is a member of the legume family and produces a woody, bean-like pod after flowering. About Telopea Speciosissima The Waratah flower grows wild only in a small area outside Sydney....

Do You Need to Lime Your Lawn Grass? Do you need to lime your lawn grass? Here’s a hint that may help you determine if you need lime lawn treatment: If you live in a dry, desert climate, there’s a chance your soil is alkaline and you may not need to lime your lawn grass. If you live a rainy area where acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons and camellias thrive, your soil is likely acidic and may benefit from lime lawn treatment....

What is a Loquat? You may be wondering exactly what is a loquat. Loquats (Eriobotrya japonica) are trees that produce small, round, or pear-shaped fruits, rarely more than 2 inches (5 cm.) long. Sweet or slightly acidic in flavor, the juicy flesh may be white, yellow, or orange with a yellow or orange-blushed peel. Loquats are tasty when peeled and eaten fresh, or you can freeze the whole fruit for later use....

How to Plan Your Dream Garden In order to make your dream garden a reality, it is important to first decide what type of growing space you would like to create. While many growers choose to focus solely on ornamental and flowering plants, others may wish to design spaces for vegetables. Regardless of the type that you intend to plant, knowing how to use the space is essential. Consider aspects like plant spacing, plant height, and/or any leftover space that can be used for relaxation or for entertaining guests....

The solution to this problem may also be found in the addition of native perennial foliage plants. Ostrich ferns are just one example of visually interesting plants which will thrive under more difficult growing conditions. In fact, many of these ferns grow so incredibly well, that growers often seek solutions for containing them within the flower bed. By incorporating a few simple techniques, you can easily maintain a tidy and well-behaved planting of ostrich ferns....

Mandevilla plants in winter survive the season in fine shape if you live in a tropical climate that falls within the temperature ranges of USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and above. However, if you live in a more northern climate, planting the vine in a container is the best way to go. This tropical plant won’t tolerate temperatures below 45 to 50 degrees F. (7-10 C.) and must be wintered indoors....