Do I Need to Cut Back Baby’s Breath? You don’t technically need to trim or prune your baby’s breath plants, but it is recommended for a few reasons. One is that, by deadheading, you will keep your plants looking neat and tidy. This can be done for both perennials and annuals. Another good reason to cut back baby’s breath is to encourage another round of flowers. Heavier cut backs after the growing season will keep plants trimmed and neat and will encourage new growth later in perennial varieties....

Gardening in regions with little ambient humidity or precipitation can be challenging. Such conditions explain the American southwest. There are 4 deserts: the Great Basin, Sonoran, Chihuahua, and Mojave. These regions are very dry but experience a brief rainy season. Plants must be able to withstand such arid and hot conditions. Native Arizona bushes and other plants of the region are best accustomed to the natural weather patterns and will establish more quickly than imported plants....

Cited benefits of special needs gardening include improved motor skills, enhanced creativity, increased social skills and improved self-confidence. Gardening also reduces stress and helps children cope with anxiety and frustration. Let’s learn more about gardening with special needs children. Creating a Special Needs Garden Creating a special needs garden does require some planning and attention to details. The plantings and hardscape garden elements should be well suited for the population that the garden will serve....

Growing Different Types of Spinach Why not just grow one variety? Because there are so many great options out there to discover. And, if you plant multiple spinach plant types, you can get an extended and ongoing harvest. Different varieties have different maturation times and best conditions in which to plant, so you can grow them in succession and potentially get fresh spinach from spring through fall. Of course, another reason to grow multiple varieties is simply to get different flavors and textures....

When to Divide Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes grow year-round in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 to 11, but in cooler climates, sweet potato tubers must be stored in a cool, dry area for the winter. Either way, spring is the best time for splitting sweet potatoes. Divide in-ground sweet potatoes as soon as new shoots measure 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.). Divide winter-stored sweet potatoes as soon as you remove them from storage – after all danger of frost has passed....

Can You Water an Air Plant Too Much? Tillandsia, or air plants, are one of the more unique forms of flora on our planet. Air plants are often thought to require no water because they harness it from the air and occasional rain storms. In their native regions, this is almost true but in the home setting, ambient air is too arid and no sudden storms will pass by. Tillandsia need regular moisture but should not be overwatered....

Spring Snow Crabapple Information Is a crabapple tree that doesn’t produce crabapples still a crabapple tree? It is, and anyone growing ‘Spring Snow’ crabapples appreciate the fruitless trees. Many gardeners do not grow crabapple trees for the fruit. Unlike crisp, delicious apple or pears, crabapples are not popular as off-the-tree snacks. The fruit is sometimes used for jams, but less these days than yesteryear. ‘Spring Snow’ crabapple trees offer the ornamental benefits of crabapples trees....

Why Start Seeds on Sponges? While the traditional way to start seeds is to use soil, there are some good reasons to use sponges for seed growing: You don’t need messy soil. You can watch the seeds grow and roots develop. Sponge seed germination happens rapidly. It’s easy to sprout a lot of seeds in a small space. The sponges can be reused if seeds turn out to be unviable. It makes a great experiment for children....

Drying Fruit for Long-Term Storage Drying food removes the moisture from it so bacteria, yeast, and mold can’t cultivate and end up spoiling the food. Dried or dehydrated fruit from the garden then becomes much lighter in weight and smaller in size. Dried food can then be rehydrated if desired or eaten as is. There are a number of ways to dry food. The age-old method is drying via the sun, hence the term sun dried fruit, like tomatoes....

They have become the highest selling potted plant in the United States, bringing millions of dollars in profits to growers in the southern U.S. and other warm climates around the world. But why? And what’s up with poinsettias and Christmas anyway? Early Poinsettia Flower History The story behind poinsettias is rich in history and lore. The vibrant plants are native to the rocky canyons of Guatemala and Mexico. Poinsettias were cultivated by the Mayans and Aztecs, who valued the red bracts as a colorful, reddish-purple fabric dye, and the sap for its many medicinal qualities....

How to Grow Strawberries Inside When considering how to grow strawberries inside, one must consider space issues and the variety of strawberry houseplants one wishes to cultivate. Space-saving ideas such as strawberry pots or growing strawberries in containers that hang from the ceiling are great options. Whole areas of a home or just a windowsill may also be dedicated when growing strawberries indoors, but be sure not to overcrowd the plants lest they become susceptible to disease or mold issues....

Symptoms of Corn with High Plains Virus Symptoms of high plains virus of sweet corn vary widely, but may include weakened root systems, stunted growth and yellowing of the leaves, sometimes with yellow streaks and flecks. Reddish purple discolorations or wide yellow bands are often seen on mature leaves. The bands turn tan or pale brown as the tissue dies. Sweet corn high plains disease is transmitted by the wheat curl mite – tiny wingless mites that are carried from field to field on air currents....

Read on for Thanksgiving holiday cactus information that will keep you growing and giving away these plants for a lifetime. Thanksgiving Cactus Information Schlumbergera truncata is the Thanksgiving cactus. It is called a leaf cactus but is not a true cactus. Rather it is an epiphyte, those plants which live on other plants. The leaves are broad and flat with slight serrations on the edges in the Thanksgiving vs. Christmas cactus, which has smoother edges....

Ideas for a Thanksgiving Fairy Garden If you already have a fairy garden, changing it over to a fall theme could be as easy as switching out a few of the fairy garden decorations. Making a new Thanksgiving fairy garden is a lot more fun though! To start, choose a vessel to house the fairy garden. Try these seasonal ideas to inspire your creativity: Cornucopia shaped basket – Use a coir planter liner, trimmed to fit....

When planting cilantro indoors, it’s best not to transplant the plants from your garden. Cilantro does not transplant well. When you grow cilantro indoors, start with seeds or starter plants. Ultimately, make sure that your plants are 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm.) apart. Tips for Growing Cilantro Indoors It’s best to use an unglazed terra cotta container when growing cilantro inside because it allows for greater moisture and air to pass through the roots....

What is a Titanopsis Living Rock? The Titanopsis living rock, also called concrete leaf plant, is a clumping, mat-forming succulent that stores water in its sizeable basal rosettes. There are a few different species and the jewel plant is one of the most colorful of succulent plants. Leaf colors vary from green, blue, and grey with red to purple tubercules (jewels) to varying forms of white and reddish brown. The jewels, or warts, are on top of the plant in most cases and sometimes line the sides....

1. General Cleanup General fall cleanup is key. Pull spent annuals and vegetables and toss them in the compost. Cut back perennials with care, removing damaged branches, as well as plants prone to disease such as garden peonies, bee balm, and tall phlox. Drain hoses and sprinklers, and clean and sharpen tools. 2. Planting and Storing Bulbs Fall bulb planting and bulb storage are important. Plant spring-blooming bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and alliums....

About Transplanting Lily of the Valley Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) really is a durable plant. Some folks say a little too durable. As mentioned, lily of the valley has a penchant for spreading. In fact, this aggressive perennial can take over a bed in short order, which is why some people are constantly removing lily of the valley. In fact, I would dare to guarantee that anyone who grows this lily has plenty of lily of the valley transplants to share with those of you who are lacking....

What Causes Blueberry Leaf Spot? Spots on blueberry leaves are usually caused by a fungus and some can ruin an entire crop. If you have blueberry shrubs, you’ll need to learn about what causes blueberry leaf spot diseases and ways to treat them early. The two most common leaf spot diseases are anthracnose and septoria. The fungi causing these problems live in the soil or fallen leaves beneath the shrubs, overwintering there....

Why Leaves are Falling Off Dogwood? Dogwoods are elegant, beautiful ornamental trees with several seasonal displays. Their oval to heart-shaped leaves deepen to crimson and orange in fall. The green leaves add charm and movement during the growing season and set a perfect backdrop for the bright flowerlike bracts. Dogwood leaf drop is not only an unsightly problem but it can spell doom for a plant due to reduced vigor. It is essential to determine the cause and preserve the energy gathering foliage....