What is Stem Rot in Rice? Rice stem rot is a fungal disease of rice plants caused by the pathogen Sclerotium oryzae. This disease affects water sown rice plants and usually becomes noticeable in the early tillering stage. Symptoms begin as small, rectangular black lesions on the leaf sheaths at the waterline of flooded rice fields. As the disease progresses, the lesions spread over the leaf shield, eventually causing it to rot and slough off....

What is a Cascalote? One of the biggest Cascalote tree problems is its thorns, which are similar to rose thorns. This makes it a poor choice for homes with children. There is a new cultivar, however, that has been bred without thorns although, the thorns are what help make the tree so drought tolerant. It’s beautiful foliage and colorful blooms are worth the danger though. Cascalote is native to southern Mexico where it is found in mesas, slopes, and desert washes....

What is a Hand Rake? Hand rakes are small versions of other rakes you use in your yard and garden and are designed to work in tight spaces and close to the surface. They are ideal for smaller areas, garden borders, and places where a large rake won’t fit or will damage plantings. Hand Rakes and Uses Here are the most common types of hand rakes along with how and when they’re used in the garden....

What is a Japanese Black Pine? Introduced from Japan, Japanese black pine trees (Pinus thunbergii) tolerate sandy, salty soil and salt spray much better than native species. This makes it a valuable asset to coastal landscapes. If you’re growing it in an inland setting, give it lots of room because it grows much larger. The average height of a mature tree is about 60 feet (18 m.) but can grow up to 100 feet (30....

What is a Pequin Pepper Plant The only pepper native to the United States, the pequin can be found growing wild in various regions of Texas. As a cultivated pepper, it is easy to grow in almost any type of garden soil. It remains a compact size and is quite productive, making it well suited as a container grown chili. Related, and sometimes confused with the chiltepin pepper, the pequin is thought to have a slightly fruitier flavor....

Preserving native and wild species of seeds is an important step in protecting a healthy habitat. Plus, it is easy, takes little space, and the seed can be stored season after season. Starting a seed bank as a home gardener involves little effort and may start with saving seed from home grown plants or sourcing regional and native seed. What is a Seed Bank? Seed banks provide a healthy source of native seed should something happen to natural sources....

Perilla mint plants are often found growing along fences, roadsides, in hay fields or pastures and are, hence, more often termed a weed in other countries. These mint plants are also quite toxic to cattle and other livestock, so it’s no wonder why shiso is considered more of a noxious, undesirable weed in some areas of the world. Uses for Perilla Mint Plants Prized in Asian countries not only for its culinary uses, the oil extracted from these mint plants is also utilized as a valuable fuel source, while the leaves themselves are used medicinally and as a food coloring....

Thimble Cactus Facts Native to Central Mexico, thimble cactus (Mammillaria gracilis) is suitable for growing outdoors in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Although it tolerates drought and extreme heat, it won’t survive long if temperatures drop below 25 F. (-4 C.). This slow-growing Mammillaria cactus is a great choice for xeriscaping or rock gardens, but it also performs well in a container, making an excellent houseplant. It is generally very easy to grow....

Henbane Weed Info Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) displays large, hairy, deeply lobed leaves with pronounced mid-veins. Funnel shaped blooms, which appear from spring to early autumn, are ivory or yellow with deep purple centers. Urn-shaped pods, each containing hundreds of seeds, develop along the stem and are dispersed when the pods separate from the stems. During the Middle Ages, henbane was used by sorcerers who integrated the plant into magic spells and charms....

How to Grow Lime Basil Lime basil plants are commonly grown as annuals. However, the plant is perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Place the plant where it receives at least six hours of sunlight per day. Lime basil herb requires well-drained soil. If drainage is poor, dig in a little compost before planting. If you’re growing lime basil herb in a container, use a good quality commercial potting mix....

What is Southern Blight? Southern blight, southern wilt, southern stem rot, and southern root rot all refer to the same disease. It is caused by the soil borne fungus Sclerotium rolfsii. The disease attacks a wide range of vegetable crops and ornamental plants at or below the soil line. Southern blight on plants is most likely to occur in the summer months when the soil is warm and moist. Symptoms include discolored lower leaves, wilted foliage, and plant collapse and it usually results in the death of the plant....

What is Summer Bunch Rot? Summer bunch rot in grapes is a fairly common fungal infection caused by a number of different pathogens, including Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus niger, and Alternaria tenuis. Due to the wide variety of pathogens involved, bunch rot of grapes can affect plants in almost any grape-growing climate, although it universally appears as fruits are ripening in the summer. Once the sugar content is above eight percent, grapes become susceptible to grape sour rot....

What is Thimbleweed? You may find tall thimbleweed growing wild in the central to eastern United States and southern Canada in moist, rich prairies, the edges of forests, savannah and among thickets of other native plants. The name comes from the distinct thickly populated yellow pistils that resemble a thimble. The plant is perfect for native flower gardens and caring for tall thimbleweed is a breeze with its easy going nature....

Types of Broccoli Worms Broccoli worms feed on cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts, in addition to broccoli. They usually prefer the undersides of plants, chewing holes and eating their way into the heads from the bottom. There are generally three types of worms in broccoli: Cabbage worms, which are velvety green caterpillars (larvae of white butterflies) Cabbage loopers, which are smooth and light green (larvae of brown moths) Diamondback worms, which are smaller in size and pale green in color (larvae of gray moths with diamond shape on back)...

What Causes Bitter Pear Rot? Few things are as delightful as a fresh, ripe pear. Spots on pears may be a symptom of bitter rot, a disease of apples, pears, peach, quince, and cherry. Various conditions affect the development of the disease including temperature, tree health, site, and soil. Bitter rot on pear affects only the fruit and generally occurs during the hottest periods of the growing season. There are several cultural and hygienic steps you can take to prevent pears with bitter rot....

What is Wheat Rust? Rust diseases of wheat are caused by a fungus in the genus Puccinia. It can attack any above-ground part of the wheat plant. Small, round, yellow spots form first and later pustules containing the spores appear on the plant. When the pustules release the spores it looks like orange dust and it can come off on your hands and clothes. Wheat rust endures through time because the disease spores are truly remarkable....

When to Quarantine Houseplants There are a few cases where you should keep houseplants separate and quarantine them: Anytime you are bringing home a new plant from a nursery Anytime you bring your houseplants inside after being outdoors during warm weather Anytime you spot pests or disease on your current houseplants If you separate houseplants by quarantining them, you will save yourself a lot of work and headaches in the future....

Like all potted plants, occasional repotting is necessary to keep the plant healthy and to provide ample growing space for the roots. Fortunately, repotting mandevilla isn’t difficult. Read on to learn how to repot mandevilla in a new pot. When to Repot a Mandevilla Mandevilla should be repotted every year or two, preferably in early spring. However, if you didn’t get around to pruning your mandevilla vine last year, it’s best to wait until fall, then prune and repot at the same time....

When to Transplant Aloe Plants One of the many things that make aloes such good houseplants is that they tend to like a little overcrowding. If your plant is getting big for its container, moving it isn’t urgent. It will get rootbound eventually, however, so potting it up is a good idea. Repotting an aloe is also important if it’s starting to develop pups. These are smaller offshoots of the mother plant that are still attached to the main root system but can live on their own as full plants....

Orchids growing in the wild is a rare sight for many in North America and parts of Europe, but although not typically spotted, many species are native to these locations. Spotting an orchid in the wild may require the seeker to look up, since most orchids grow on trees. But you can also spot them in other locations depending upon the variety and species. How Do Orchids Grow in the Wild?...