How to Propagate a Voodoo Lily You will know you are in the presence of a voodoo lily even before you see it if it is blooming. The flower gives off an unmistakable scent that is reminiscent of something that is rotting. This attracts pollinators, such as flies, and ensures that the plant can set seed. The odor is only strong for the first day and fades quickly. Soon seed will set and offsets will form....

Purple Cactus Varieties Growing purple cacti is a fun endeavor and care depends on the variety you choose to grow. Below you will find some popular cacti that are purple: Purple Prickly Pear (Opuntia macrocentra): Purple cactus varieties include this unique, clumping cactus, and it is only one of the few varieties that produce purple pigment in the pads. The striking color becomes even deeper during periods of dry weather. Flowers of this prickly pear, which appear in late spring, are yellow with reddish centers....

Collecting certain species of plants is a common habit amongst serious gardeners. Exotic houseplants top the list of favorite varieties for acquisition. There are plant groups that exchange rare plant cuttings and other ways to source very rare plants. Depending upon the availability, some of these sought after flora are expensive houseplants. Prices of Very Rare Plants Supply and demand are rules of commodity and influence the prices of things....

If the foliage of your lovely Norfolk pine is turning brown or yellow, jump in and try to determine the cause. Although most browning Norfolk pine foliage results from problems with cultural care, it may also indicate diseases or pests. Read on for information on how to figure out the cause of yellow/brown Norfolk pine branches. Yellow/Brown Norfolk Pine Troubleshooting Whenever you spot yellow/brown Norfolk pine foliage, your first and best step is to walk through the cultural care you are giving your houseplant....

How to Reclaim an Overgrown Garden Overgrown landscape beds may just need some hard work to repair or they may need a complete face lift. Deciding which depends upon the “bones” of the garden, and how ambitious you are as a gardener. Recovering an overgrown garden requires hard work and may take many seasons to fully achieve. Some of the tips you should learn include plant identification, dividing perennials, rejuvenation pruning, and controlling weeds....

Redberry Mites on Blackberries Redberry mites (Acalitus essigi) spend their winters deep inside blackberry buds and bud scales that will later become new shoots and leaves. In spring, the mites gradually move to new shoots and flowers, and eventually enter the berries. They concentrate around the base of the berry and in the core. Once they find their way to the fruit, the redberry mites inject the berries with a toxin as they feed....

What is Rice Sheath Blight? When your rice crop looks diseased, the odds are good that you have rice with the fungal disease called rice sheath blight. What is rice sheath blight? It is the most destructive disease of rice in many states. This blight doesn’t only affect rice. Other crops can be hosts of this sheath blight as well. These include soybean, bean, sorghum, corn, sugarcane, turfgrass, and certain grass weeds....

How Much Water Do Rubber Tree Plants Need? Ficus are a large genus of tropical to semi-tropical plants, many of which are perfect for the home interior. The rubber plant produces a perfect home sized tree and is adaptable to indoor growing. Water requirements for rubber plants are consistently moist but never soggy. Soggy plants can get root rot, soil gnats and other problems. Dry soil causes leaves to drop and reduces the overall health and growth of the plant....

Are Citrus Trees Salt Tolerant? As previously mentioned, citrus trees vary in their salt tolerance but most rank rather sensitive to salinity, particularly on their foliage. Citrus can tolerate up to 2,200 to 2,300 ppm of salt on their root systems, but a moderate 1,500 ppm of salt sprayed on their leaves can kill them. Scientists are, however, working on developing salt-resistant citrus trees but, at this juncture, there are none on the market....

‘Perfection Drumhead’ cabbage is just one example of a cultivar that adds both taste and visual appeal to the home garden. About Perfection Drumhead Cabbage Dating back to the 1800’s, Perfection Drumhead savoy cabbage has long been a staple for many vegetable growers. Like most savoy types, these heirloom cabbage plants are known for their textured and wrinkled appearance. In this savoy cabbage, the growing heads form large groups of loosely packed leaves which keep exceptionally well in the garden....

What is a Scent Garden? The best garden hits all the senses, and the idea of a scent garden is just as it sounds: choosing and arranging plants to maximize pleasing fragrances. When you walk into a scent garden, you should know immediately, even with eyes closed. How to Grow a Scent Garden There really are no rules when it comes to planting a fragrant garden, but some ideas help. A scent garden can be a free for all; simply choose the plants that smell best to you and use them....

Starting Seeds Indoors If you’re new to starting plants from seeds, or new to doing it inside first, a few simple steps will get you started. All you need is a seed tray and soil. If you don’t have one, a seed tray can be as simple as an old egg carton. Use a good quality potting or starting soil, and make sure you put drainage holes in your tray before planting....

Shrubs for Shade and Wet Soil If your backyard has more shade than sun and has consistently wet soil, you won’t be able to plant traditional garden favorites like roses or hydrangeas or oak trees. But that doesn’t mean you can’t plant anything. There are some trees and some shrubs that will appreciate light shade and moist soil. You just need to take the time to find them. We’ll give you a hint: native plants are your best bet....

Flowers to grow in shade Best shade flowers – Perennials There is a wide variety of flowers that grow in shade that are also perennials. These shade tolerant flowers can be planted once and will come back with lovely flowers year after year. Astilbe Bee balm Bellflowers Bleeding-Heart Forget-me-not Foxglove Hellebore Hydrangea Jacob’s Ladder Lamb’s Ears Lily-of-the-Valley Monkshood Primroses Siberian Iris Spotted Deadnettle Violets Best shade flowers – Annual Annuals may not come back year after year, but you cannot beat them for sheer flower power....

Silver Princess Gum Tree Info Silver princess eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus caesia) are native to western Australia, where they are also known as Gungurru. They are fast-growing trees that can grow up to 36 inches (91.5 cm.) in a single season, with a lifespan of 50 to 150 years. In the garden, the nectar-rich blooms attract bees and other pollinators, and they make a cozy home for songbirds. However, the fruit, while attractive, can be messy....

What is Silver Spike Grass Silver spike grass (Helichrysum thianschanicum) is an evergreen perennial subshrub, 19 – 24 inches (48 to 61 cm.) in height with a width to 36 inches (91 cm.) It is a member of the daisy family. More than 600 specimens are related to this attractive perennial. Silver spike grass resembles the lavender plant in shape and form, although it is not related. Erect stems and branches with linear 2-inch (5 cm....

Why is My Fig Tree Fruit Small? Figs are unique among fruit. Unlike most fruit, which is composed of edible matured ovary tissue, a fig is actually an inverted flower with both male and female parts enclosed within the stem tissue. Once ripened, the fig contains the remains of these flower parts, including what we most commonly refer to as seeds. It is these “seeds” that give the fig its unique flavor....

Climbing Snapdragon Plant Native to the southwestern United States, the climbing snapdragon plant can also grow in zone 8 if temperatures warm quickly in spring. This heat-loving specimen, also called hummingbird vine, is another of the sub-tropical annual vines southern gardeners can grow for a late summer bloom. Small, arrowhead shaped leaves and colorful, snapdragon-like blooms on a non-aggressive climber make snapdragon vine perfect for small spaces and containers. Flowers of the climbing snapdragon plant are not large, so plant them in an area where they can be seen and appreciated during bloom time....

Southern Magnolia Facts Magnolias are named after French botanist Pierre Magnol. He spotted the trees and liked them so much that he brought some to Europe three centuries ago. Before you start growing southern magnolias, you need to realize that your slender saplings will mature into very large trees. Check the size of your planting site before you proceed. These trees grow to a height of 80 feet (24 m.) tall with a spread of some 40 feet (12 m....

When to Dig Up Hyacinth Bulbs for Storing It’s important not to dig up your hyacinth bulbs at the wrong time, or else your bulbs may not have enough energy to sprout. Once the blooms have passed, cut off the blossom stalk to keep the plant from wasting energy on seed production. Keep the leaves and continue to water them as usual– the leaves are essential for storing up energy in the bulb....