How to Grow Zinnia Plants Growing zinnia plants can be inexpensive, particularly when growing them from seed. Seeds of zinnia flowers should usually be sown directly into the sunny flower bed, as developing roots do not like to be disturbed. If you wish to start growing zinnia plants from seeds indoors, plant the seeds in peat pots, poo pots (pots made from cow dung), or other biodegradable containers that can be planted directly into the garden later....

Roselle Flower Seeds Hibiscus sabdariffa, commonly called Roselle, is a large, tropical, bushy perennial in the Mallow family. Sometimes it is called Jamaican Sorrel or French Sorrel because its edible leaves look and taste like Sorrel. Roselle can be found in humid tropical locations, like Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, where the bright red plant stems are used for making a fiber similar to jute, and its fruits are harvested for beverages, sauces, jellies, and wine....

Harlequin Glorybower Information Harlequin glorybower is a large, deciduous shrub that displays showy clusters of sweet-scented, white flowers in late summer. The jasmine-like blooms are followed by bright, bluish-green berries. Some varieties may turn color in milder climates but, usually, the large, heart-shaped leaves die with the first frost. Growing a harlequin glorybower bush isn’t difficult in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 11. However, harlequin glorybower info indicates that the plant may be hardy to zone 6b....

Heath Aster Information Heath aster is native to Canada and the Eastern and Central areas of the United States. This aster plant thrives in prairies and meadows. In the home garden, it well suited for wildflower gardens, rock gardens, or borders. It is often used in prairie restoration projects, as it responds vigorously after fire. A variety of bees and other beneficial insects are attracted to heath aster. It is also visited by butterflies....

Heliconia Plant Info Tropical gardeners are lucky to get some of the most fascinating flowering plants to grow. Heliconia is in a group of plants that may grow up to 15 feet (4.5 m.) tall in nature but likely only to 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) in a home landscape. They are not at all frost hardy, and therefore not suited for growing outdoors where cold temperatures are common. The thick bracts make excellent cut flowers with a long vase life....

About Hellebore Wedding Flowers Every bride-to-be wants her wedding day to be a beautiful, outstanding event that her guests talk about for months afterward. For this reason, many of the traditional wedding décor and fashions are being left behind and replaced with more unique, personalized wedding ideas. The traditional, formal bridal bouquet of red roses and wispy, white baby’s breath has been abandoned for natural looking wedding bouquets full of less common blooms and accents....

How to Design an Herb Garden When designing an herb garden, you should consider how it will be used beforehand and plan accordingly. For instance, kitchen gardens should be located near the home for easy access to herbs as needed during harvesting. The most basic herb garden needs to be located in an area receiving at least four to six hours of sunlight. All plants should be easily accessible, especially when used for cooking or dried arrangements....

What Is a Christmas Carol Aloe? The fleshy leaves are dark green and triangular underneath the spots and borders of this petite plant. It is easily used as an indoor houseplant during the winter, but may grow outside when temperatures warm. It is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11 where you may leave it outside year-round. An additional feature of this attractive plant is the Christmas Carol Aloe flower, which appears on the healthy, mature plant in autumn....

When To Repot a Snake Plant As a general rule of thumb, snake plants can be repotted every 3 to 5 years. These popular houseplants prefer being a bit snug in their pots. In fact, snake plants won’t produce flowers unless they feel the stress of being rootbound. Yet, holding off the repotting process for too long can be detrimental to the health of the plant. If you’re unsure, look for these telltale signs that it’s time to transplant a snake plant: There are roots growing on the surface of the soil or through the drain holes of the planter....

Some of the deciduous types may leave the landscape looking a little sad in winter when they lose their leaves, but the vast number provides the gardener with more color and foliage opportunities than their counterparts. Deciduous vine care may be a bit more difficult than hardy evergreens but will be worth it when they come back in all their glory in spring. What are Deciduous Vines? Deciduous vines are often noted for their spectacular spring color....

Basic Leaf Types in Plants Leaves have many aspects at which to look during the identification process. The different leaf types all have specific purposes and adaptations to help the plant thrive in its native terrain. It is important to look at all parts of the leaf including: Base Margins Tip Veins Petiole, if present Midrib The most obvious aspect to examine is the shape of the leaf. If it is an uninterrupted shape, it is simple....

Common Immune Boosters You don’t have to be in the middle of a pandemic to appreciate the simplicity and healthiness of brewing up your own immune boosting syrup. Historically speaking, mankind has been making their own medicine practically since we took our first steps. We can learn a thing or two from our grandparents and other antecedents who knew how to keep themselves fit and hale. Pretty much all of us know about the benefits of a healthy diet, plenty of rest, and regular exercise in service of keeping us healthy....

Can High Humidity Hurt Plants? There are some plants that are natives to sweltering tropical locales and love nothing more than air so thick with moisture that a normal person can barely breathe, but your typical indoor plants aren’t among them. High indoor humidity levels cause serious problems for most inside plants by encouraging the growth of fungal and bacterial diseases, which often need very high humidity to infect tissues. The same goes for plants in greenhouses —greenhouse humidity control is vital to preventing the spread of disease....

Importance of Sprout Identification When planning a vegetable bed, you may decide to start from seeds directly in the garden. There are benefits to this, and it eliminates the step of moving transplants from indoors. One issue comes up though – how can you identify seedlings from little veggie sprouts? Make the wrong identification and you’ll pluck what you think is a weed only to find you pulled out your vegetable seedlings....

Jesus was also said to have given Joseph yarrow to stop a wound from bleeding, and yarrow became one of the nine holy healing herbs that early Christian women bundled and passed out to the less fortunate. In early Christian days, a special soup was made with these nine herbs, including yarrow, to ward off evil spirits. In China, yarrow was believed to represent balanced yin and yang. Let’s learn more about the benefits of using herbal yarrow plants....

Jefferson Gage Tree Care Jefferson gage plum trees require another tree nearby to provide pollination. Good candidates include Victoria, Czar, King Damson, Opal, Merryweather, and Denniston’s Superb, among others. Be sure your plum tree receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day. A location away from harsh winds is preferable. Jefferson gage trees are adaptable to nearly any well-drained soil, but they don’t perform well in poorly-drained soil or heavy clay....

If you live in the northern two thirds of the United States or somewhere with the same climate, you should give them a try. Beware though; once you have Jerusalem artichokes growing in your garden, you’ll have a hard time changing your mind! Jerusalem Artichoke Plants Jerusalem artichoke plants (Helianthus tuberous) are perennial relatives of the sunflower. The edible portions are the fat, misshapen tubers that grow below ground. Tubers are dug in the fall....

What to Do in June Gardens Whether a beginning gardener or a seasoned hobbyist, keeping track of gardening chores can be challenging. While online advice can be helpful, information regarding what to do in the garden will vary greatly depending upon your growing zone. Localized growing conditions may add even further confusion. June garden chores, for example, may differ widely across the United States. Northwest June in the Northwest is ideal for continued garden weeding....

What Is Kaolin Clay? A clue to answer the question “What is Kaolin clay?” is that it is also referred to as “China clay.” Kaolin clay is used in the manufacture of fine porcelain and china and also instrumental in the production of paper, paint, rubber, and heat resistant materials. Arising from the Chinese for Kau-ling or “high ridge” in reference to a hill in China where the pure clay was first mined by Jesuit missionaries around 1700, Kaolin clay uses today extend to Kaolin clay in the garden....