Geiger Tree Info So, what is a Geiger tree? It is a relatively small tree with orange flowers and evergreen leaves. It is also known as scarlet cordia or orange cordia. Several related trees in the Cordia genus feature white or yellow flowers and enjoy similar conditions. Geiger trees are native to the Caribbean islands and possibly to Florida. They can grow in zones 10b to 12b, so in the mainland U....
Tortoise Plant Info Attractive, heart-shaped vines grow from the corky bark of the tortoise plant. The starchy tuber, which is partially buried, grows slowly; however, in time, the tuber can reach heights of more than 3 feet (1 m.) and width of up to 10 feet (3 m.). With proper care, the tortoise plant can live as long as 70 years. Native to South Africa, the tortoise plant is drought-tolerant and does fine in extreme heat....
What is a Weeping White Pine? Weeping white pine (Pinus strubus “Pendula”) is a small cultivar of the white pine family. According to pendula information, it is a short shrub with many stems. The branches grow downward and spread across the soil surface like a ground cover. However, with proper early pruning, weeping white pine can develop into a small tree up to 12 feet (3.5 m.) tall. Its canopy outline is irregular....
What is Agave Root Rot? Agave, also commonly called century plant, is a desert plant native to Mexico. It grows best in dry conditions in full sun. Too much shade or soil that is too moist and drains poorly can cause the plant’s roots to rot. Weather fluctuations, such as unusually cold and rainy periods followed by extreme heat and humidity, can also contribute to root rot. Agave is hardy in zones 8 to 10....
Symptoms in Carrots with Cotton Root Rot Carrots grow easily in loose sandy soil where drainage is excellent. They are one of the mainstays of salads, side dishes, and even have their own cake. However, several diseases can wreck the harvest. Carrots with cotton root rot are victims of one of the more common types of diseases, fungal. There are many host plants to the fungus, including alfalfa and cotton, and causes high economic losses in these and more crops....
What is Expanded Shale? Shale is the most common sedimentary rock. It is a find-grained rock made up of mud comprised of flakes of clay and other minerals such as quartz and calcite. The resulting rock breaks readily into thin layers called fissility. Expanded shale is found in areas like Texas 10-15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) below the soil surface. It was formed during the Cretaceous period when Texas was a huge lakebed....
Grapevine Fanleaf Degeneration Grapevine fanleaf degeneration is a common grape virus transmitted by dagger nematodes. Not only is it one of the most severe viral diseases of grapes, but the oldest known, with descriptions going back to 1841. Any species of grape can be infected, but Vitis vinifera, Vitis rupestris, and their hybrids are the most susceptible. You should be on the watch for this disease anywhere grapes grow, especially in states with known infections like California, Washington, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and Missouri....
What is hemlock mulch and what is the plant that is actually unsafe to have in the garden and around pets? Can you use hemlock mulch in a vegetable garden and around other edibles? Read on for answers that will put your mind at ease as you contemplate the right organic mulch for your landscape. What is Hemlock Mulch? Hemlock is a softwood tree used for many industrial purposes. Its bark has a rich, red to orange or burgundy color, which accents plants in the garden and creates contrast among all the green growing things....
What is Herb Robert? Invasive weeds form a common battlefield for the gardener. Herb Robert is in the geranium family and produces the characteristic crane-shaped seed pod that all members of the family bear. The seeds eject forcefully from the pod and can travel up to 20 feet (6 m.) away from the plant, making it a virtual nuisance. The seeds are not the only problem because Herb Robert growing conditions are flexible such that the weed is adaptable to most soil and site conditions....
Rock purslane plants are suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 and above. They can withstand temps as low as 25 degrees F. (-4 C.) and tolerate drought like a champ. In cooler climates, you can plant rock purslane as an annual. This versatile, spreading plant works well in rock gardens and is an ideal plant for xeriscaping. Rock purslane plants are also deer resistant. Read on for information on growing rock purslane....
What is Superbo basil? Keep reading to find out more about this variety of basil and how you can grow this fragrant herb. What is Superbo Basil? There’s basil and then there’s Superbo pesto basil. It is a classic sweet basil and has a starring role in one of the most popular foods from Italy – pesto. Superbo pesto basil was developed specifically for that zesty sauce. According to Superbo basil information, it makes a great substitute for Genovese and has a more intense flavor....
About Pindo Palm Problems Pindo palms (Butia capitata) are slow growing, cold tolerant, upright trees with blue green to silver palm-shaped foliage that unfurls into a natural open-crown shape. These evergreens are native to Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. The trees blossom with showy, white blooms in the spring prior to the production of its yellow/orange fleshy fruit. While pindo palms are cold tolerant and thrive in well-draining soils, they do not do well with “wet feet,” which increases the likelihood that the trees will get a disease....
However, if you’re concerned about daylily plants in winter, digging and storing daylily tubers isn’t a bad idea, especially in climates north of USDA plant hardiness zone 5. Let’s learn what to do with daylilies in winter. Daylily Tuber Winter Care Daylilies don’t grow from bulbs, but from tuberous stems that grow underground, where they send out fibrous roots. These are easy to dig in preparation for winter cold and overwintering daylily plants is easy....
When to Apply Soil Amendments Fall is the best time to amend the soil for several reasons. First of all, most plants are done growing until spring, so it is easier to remove debris and work around them. The weather is more conducive for amending the soil than during spring’s wet rains. There are fewer gardening chores in the fall than spring, so amending the soil at this time makes sense....
What are Wild Tomatoes? Known to botanists as Solanum pimpinellifolium or quaintly “pimp,” wild tomato plants are the ancestors of all the tomatoes we eat today. They still grow wild in northern Peru and southern Ecuador. No bigger than a shelled pea, pimps and their other wild tomato relatives, like wild currant tomatoes, are extremely adaptable and can survive in some of the driest, harshest desert regions to humid, rain-filled lowlands to chilly alpine heights....
Reasons for Wilting Fuchsia Plants Why is my fuchsia wilting? Fuchsias require a lot of water, especially in hanging baskets. Problems with wilting fuchsia plants may be due to lack of moisture. During the heat of the summer, potted fuchsia plants may need water twice daily, especially if the plants are exposed to sun and wind. On the other hand, wilting fuchsia plants may also be the result of too much water, especially if the roots don’t have adequate drainage....
How to Grow a Vertical Onion Garden Vertical gardening with onions is a great way to garden for those with limited space. It’s also a great wintertime project when you’re yearning to see something green growing amidst the freezing temps and snowstorms. This project is fun to do with the kids, although the first part should be done by an adult. It is also an awesome way to recycle and repurpose something we have far too much of on this planet — plastic bottles....
Plants with Berries in Winter Brighten your backyard in winter by installing trees and shrubs with winter berries. Small fruits add a dash of color to winter scenes and, at the same time, winter berry trees and bushes provide an annual, reliable food supply for birds and other critters, whether or not you are around. Fruits are an extremely important source of nutrition for overwintering birds. Even birds that are insectivores in summer—like woodpeckers, thrashers, quail, robins, waxwings, mockingbirds, bluebirds, grouse and catbirds—start eating berries when cold weather arrives....
Preparing Bulbs for Winter Storage Cleaning – If your bulbs were dug up from the ground, gently brush off any excess dirt. Do not wash the bulbs as this can add excess water to the bulb and cause it to rot while you are storing bulbs for the winter. Packing – Remove the bulbs from any plastic bags or containers. One of the things to keep in mind when you are learning how to store bulbs for winter is that if you store your bulbs in a material that cannot “breathe,” the bulbs will rot....
How to Care for Agapanthus in Winter There are at least 10 species of Agapanthus with some listed as deciduous and some evergreen. The deciduous species are a bit hardier, as they come from a cooler part of Africa. A trial in the UK showed these varieties could survive outdoors with a little protection. If you wish to be certain your tubers will bloom again, you can also choose to lift them and store them indoors....
