Why is My Cactus Going Soft? The arid gardener may ask, “Why is my cactus going soft?”. Likely causes are disease, cultivation, and improper site and ambient conditions. Cacti generally have low moisture needs. They thrive in temperatures above 70 to 75 F. (21-24 C.) in sunny locations and require little supplemental nutrients. Potted plants need good drainage holes and a soil mix with plenty of grit. In-ground plants have similar requirements....

Calabash Tree Information The calabash tree has a broad, irregular crown with wide, spreading branched. The leaves are two to six inches (5 to 15 cm.) long. Orchids grow in the bark of these trees in the wild. Calabash tree facts indicate that the tree’s flowers, each about two inches (5 cm.) wide, are cup-shaped. They seem to grow directly from the calabash branches. They only bloom at night and emit a slight odor....

Can You Compost Weeds? The problem of having weeds in the compost bin is the possibility of getting weeds in your garden. Seeds and roots that survive composting can crop up in your beds. Sometimes this means getting a little volunteer tomato plant or a zucchini. When the volunteers are weeds, it’s a lot less fun. You’ve just added to your weeding chore. This doesn’t mean you can’t compost weeds. As plants in the compost pile decompose, it gets pretty hot....

Are Sunflowers Edible? Most people grow sunflowers simply for their statuesque nature and cheerful, large flowers. You may also grow them to eat the seeds. Sunflower seeds are tasty and nutritious. Of course, they are also grown on a large scale to make oil, but you can even make a delicious seed butter out of sunflower seeds. Did you know that you can actually eat much more of the plant than just the seeds?...

What is a Zamia Cardboard Palm? We already ascertained that the plant is not a palm. Cycads, which have been around since the dinosaurs, form cones at the center of the plant. The cardboard palm plant is native to Mexico and has tropical tendencies in its preferred temperature and light levels. Zamia cardboard palm does have pinnate leaves like a palm tree, but they are rounded with a thick tuberous stem....

What are Coralberries? Coralberry shrub (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) is a member of the Caprifoliaceae family and is native to such areas of Texas, eastward to Florida and New England, and north again through Colorado and South Dakota. In its indigenous regions, coralberry shrub is considered to be more a weed than a garden specimen. Growing coralberry plants thrive in clay and loam soils found in the understory or shaded areas of the woods....

How to Grow Stinging Nettle Greens Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) are one of more than 50 varieties of nettle plants worldwide. A distant mint relative, stinging nettles are equally invasive and need to be sternly managed. Stinging nettles are an herbaceous, fast growing plant with leaves as well as stems, which are covered with tiny, hollow, silica tipped hairs and can grow to about 4 feet (1 m.) tall. They developed the stinging hairs to discourage animals from feeding on them....

If you’d like more Stella cherry information about this great fruit tree, read on. We’ll also provide tips on how to grow Stella cherries. Stella Cherry Information If you like cherries, you’ll love Stella sweet cherry fruit. The cherries are exceptionally firm and sweet. They taste wonderful infused with summer sun from your backyard. They are also large and bright red, just like cherries in your dreams. And Stella cherry trees also offer some extra advantages over other popular fruit trees....

Propagating a cast iron plant is done by division and cast-iron plant division is surprisingly simple. Here are tips on how to propagate cast iron plants. Cast Iron Plant Propagation The key to propagating through division is to work carefully, as this slow-growing plant has fragile roots that are easily damaged with rough handling. However, if your cast iron plant is well-established, it should easily tolerate division. Ideally, cast iron plant division is done when the plant is actively growing in spring or summer....

Cat’s Claw Plant Information Growing a cat’s claw vine is easy. The problem usually isn’t so much keeping it alive as keeping it in check. Cat’s claw plants spread through underground tubers and can often pop up out of the ground in unexpected spots. The best way to prevent spreading is to plant it in a restrictive spot, like between a wall and pavement. Cat’s claw is winter hardy in USDA zones 8 through 12, and evergreen in zones 9 and above....

National Pi Day is a relatively new holiday, but its namesake is thousands of years old. While some choose to eat pie to commemorate the date, using big round flowers in arrangements is another novel way to memorialize the day. Round ball flowers perfectly illustrate the concept of pi, plus provide visual beauty that perks up any day. Big Round Flowers and Pi Mathematicians like Fibonacci, Newton, and Gauss spent much of their lives contemplating ideas like pi....

Can I Grow Celery in a Pot? Turns out that yes, container grown celery plants are not only possible but circumvent the vagaries of the weather. Celery grown in pots allows you to move the plant around to keep it in an ideal temperature range. You can also start celery early in pots, well before the frost-free date in your area and then transplant to a larger container to move outside....

Celery Planting Instructions Celery is a biennial plant that is best when harvested in moderately warm temperatures. The stalks can get bitter and pithy in hot weather. Celery has specific soil temperature needs for germination and should experience some light on the seeds to encourage sprouting. This makes the celery planting depth important. Celery is most often transplanted in order to give it a jump start on the season before hot summer days arrive....

What is a Climate Victory Garden? Natural fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and subsequent warming trends have cycled throughout the history of our planet. Since the 1950’s, the amount of heat-trapping gases has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. The result is imminent climate change in the form of global warming. Scientists link this upward trend to our modern lifestyle and the burning of fossil fuels. Reducing our carbon footprint is one way to slow the progression of climate change....

Hardy Outdoor Succulents Succulents are endlessly fascinating due to their broad range of form, color, and texture. Their unfussy nature also makes them a gardener favorite and adds an interesting touch to the landscape even in non-desert zones. Succulents may be hardy in United States zones 3 to 11. The cold tolerant forms, or zone 3 hardy succulents, benefit from a full sun location with some shelter from wind and thick mulch to preserve moisture and protect roots....

Can You Grow Vegetables in Zone 8? Absolutely! You do, however, want to consider a couple of factors before choosing winter vegetables in zone 8. The most important thing to consider is your microclimate. Zone 8 is actually divided into two sections – 8a and 8b. In zone 8a, temperatures will dip as low as 10 to 15 degrees F. (-9 to -12 C.), and in zone 8b it can drop to 15 to 20 degrees F....

About Cold Hardy Bamboo Varieties Bamboo, in general, is a fast-growing evergreen. They are two ilks: Leptomorph and Pachymorph. Leptomorph bamboos have monopodial running rhizomes and spread vigorously. They need to be managed and, if not, are known to grow rampantly and willfully. Pachymorph refers to those bamboos that have sympodial clumping roots. The genus Fargesia is an example of a pachymorph or clumping variety that is also a cold tolerant bamboo variety....

How to Save Foxglove Seeds Foxglove seeds form in pods at the base of wilted blooms when flowering ends in midsummer. The pods, which turn dry and brown and look a little like turtles’ beaks, ripen at the bottom of stems first. Foxglove seed harvesting should begin when the pods begin to crack. Always collect seeds on a dry day after morning dew has evaporated. Don’t wait too long because the pods will soon turn down and the tiny seeds will fall onto the ground....

Preventing Swiss Chard Diseases Infections are more likely to spread and take root when plants are close together, so give your chard plenty of space. One plant should not be touching another. Chard likes moisture and will taste bad after a drought but standing water can increase the chances of infection. Avoid overwatering and make sure your soil drains well. You can also use row covers to protect your plants from insects....

Common Twisted Plants Twisty and curly plants are fun to look at but a little more difficult to position in a garden. Usually, they do best as the focal point and more than one in a small garden may be too much. Here are some of the more commonly seen “twisted” plants: Corkscrew or Curly Plants Plants that twist have stems that are contorted or grow in spirals like the contorted hazelnut (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’)....