What Are Tender Perennials? Tender perennial plants come from warm climates where they don’t need the ability to withstand cold winter temperatures. When we plant them in cooler climates, they won’t survive the winter without special care. Some tender perennials such as begonias, calla lilies, and caladiums add lush foliage or fantastic flowers to shady spots. Many of these shade-loving tender perennial plants come from tropical rainforests where they are protected and shaded year-round by the rainforest canopy....

About Perennials in Winter Winter is different in the many regions of the country. In some locations, winter means ice, snow, and freezing winds. In others, it means a slight shift from mild to cooler temperatures in the evenings. Regardless of where you live, you’ll need to put a little effort into the perennial garden in winter. Otherwise, you may not find your plants healthy and vibrant as spring and summer arrive....

Houseplants grown in large containers are exceptionally popular, but can require a bit of special care, depending upon the type. Another way to add greenery to indoor spaces is by creating terrariums. Learning how to care for terrarium plants can help determine if these unique planters are viable options in your space. Are Terrariums Easy to Care For? Terrarium styles can vary greatly. While some terrariums feature an open top, others remain completely closed at all times....

Thunderstorm Plant Damage Thunderstorms, specifically lightning, are good for plants. The air around us is full of nitrogen, but plants cannot absorb this nitrogen from the air. Lightening and rain put this nitrogen into the soil where plants can absorb it. This is why lawns, gardens, and landscapes look so green after a thunderstorm. Thunderstorms may not be so good for you, though, if a tree limb falls and damages property or if your hanging baskets and containers have flown off to the neighbor’s yard....

What is a Tiered Garden? A tiered garden consists of one or more retaining walls which form two or more level areas. For homes that are built on hills, creating a tiered garden design will not only make the yard more usable, but it can also increase the value of the property by adding outdoor living space. What should homeowners consider when building a tiered garden? Safety is a major concern....

Tiger Aloe Information Tiger aloe will amaze and delight the gardener with a penchant for succulents. This variety has the classic sword-shaped thick leaves and healing sap boasted by more common varieties. Variegated tiger aloe blooms from July through September in its native habits of Namibia and South Africa. Home grown plants will produce similarly with good care and bright sunlight. The arrangement of the leaves provides an interesting tidbit of tiger aloe information....

When to Pick Breadfruit Breadfruit can be found growing and for sale in extremely tropical regions. Breadfruit harvest depends upon the variety and location the tree is being grown. The tree fruits fairly constant in the South Seas with two or three main fruiting periods. In the Marshal Islands, the fruit ripens from May to July or September, and in the islands of French Polynesia from November to April and again in July and August....

When to Pick Jackfruit Jackfruit was one of the earliest cultivated fruits and is still a staple crop for subsistence farmers in India to southeast Asia, where it is also used for timber and medicinal uses. A large fruit, most come into ripening in the summer and fall, although an occasional fruit may ripen during other months. Jackfruit harvest almost never happens during winter months and early spring. About three to eight months after flowering, start checking the fruit for ripeness....

Sweet Corn vs. Traditional Corn So what’s the difference between growing traditional field corn and growing sweet corn? Simple — the taste. Many people grow corn, but what is known as field corn has a starchier flavor and a slightly harder cob. Sweet corn, on the other hand, is softer and has a pleasantly sweet taste. Planting sweet corn is fairly easy and not much different than growing traditional corn. Practicing proper planting will keep it growing healthy throughout the summer so you can be eating fresh corn on the cob in no time....

If you are wondering how to transplant a tree from the woods, read on. We’ll give you lots of great tips on the timing and the process. Transplanting Maple Trees from the Woods If you wish to transplant deciduous trees, like maple seedlings, from a nearby wooded area, the very best times to act are spring and fall. The idea is to wait until the tree has entered dormancy or is just finishing its dormant state....

Mint Plants: Herbs Worth Growing Numerous mint varieties exist, and all are worth growing in the garden. While they’re most often used for flavoring dishes or as garnishes, many types of mint are also grown for their unique aromas. Some of the most commonly grown mint plants include: spearmintpeppermintpennyroyalapple mintorange mintpineapple mintchocolate mint Growing Mint from Seed or Root Cuttings All mint varieties except peppermint can be grown from seed. Peppermint does not produce seeds; therefore, this type must only be propagated by taking root cuttings from established plants....

There are too many tomato plant diseases to list in one article, and the truth is many of them fall under the same types or categories of disease. In tomato plants in the home garden, the type or category and its symptoms are more important than the individual bacteria or virus, which can only be diagnosed through a professional laboratory. The following list of tomato diseases and their descriptions are broken into three categories....

Trimming Pomegranate Trees Pomegranate trees can grow to 18 to 20 feet (5-6 m.) high. They are deciduous in interior, winter-cold areas but can be evergreen to semi-evergreen in milder regions near the coasts. Pomegranates are beautiful plants with an arching, vase-like form; narrow, bright green leaves; orange-red springtime flowers, and large red-husked fruits that bear hundreds of fleshy, sweet-tart, edible seeds. It is important to prune pomegranate trees properly if you want to increase fruit production and maintain an attractive form....

Cool Climate Tropical Gardens There are a few ways to go about creating cool climate tropical gardens. One obvious choice is to select tropical plants that can tolerate the cold. They aren’t too numerous, but there are some tropical plants that can survive outdoors through the winter. The passionflower, for example, can survive in environments as cold as USDA zone 6. Gunnera is hardy down to zone 7. The Hedychium ginger lily can tolerate temperatures down to 23 F....

About Turban Squash Plants Exactly what is a turban squash? It’s a variety of winter squash that, with time, becomes a hollow gourd. Attractive, with an acorn shape, the thick skin is often colorfully mottled or striped. The bottom is most often orange, with colorful stripes and spots, and the top half has a light background for the unique splotches. A beautiful specimen, this of the Curcurbita family and related to pumpkins, squash, and gourds....

Perennial Hibiscus Plants Growing hibiscus in zone 6 is very easy, as long as you choose a hardy variety. Hardy hibiscus plants are usually hardy down to zone 4. Their sizes vary depending on their species, but as a rule, they’re bigger than their tropical cousins, sometimes reaching heights of 15 feet (4.5 m.) and widths of 8 feet (2.5 m.). Their flowers, too, are much larger than those of tropical varieties....

What is Agar? You may remember agar from your high school biology class. It can be used to grow viruses, bacteria, and even plants. This nutrient rich material actually comes from a species of algae. It is transparent, which allows the grower to view the roots of new plants. Agar is also used in some foods, fabric, and in cosmetics. Agar has been part of scientific study for decades, if not longer....

Nebraska USDA Plant Hardiness Map for Gardeners If you live in Nebraska and are planning your garden, it is wise to check your location on the Nebraska planting map. The map above is based on the new USDA plant hardiness map, which is the result of 30 years of data collection across the United States. Depending on the zone you are in, certain plants will be able to survive winter temperatures in your area better than others....

What Do They Use Bat Guano For? There are several uses for bat dung. It can be used as a soil conditioner, enriching the soil and improving drainage and texture. Bat guano is a suitable fertilizer for plants and lawns, making them healthy and green. It can be used as a natural fungicide, and it controls nematodes in the soil as well. In addition, bat guano makes an acceptable compost activator, speeding up the decomposition process....

Tips on Bird Feeder Craft Birds have varied diets depending upon species, but most count plants and insects as their primary food. Cold weather means the disappearance of many insects and the die back of plant life. A bird feeder craft can help satisfy that scarcity and make sure they will stay well fed. Different birds have different dietary needs. For instance, millet may satisfy sparrows, bobwhite, and mourning doves, but sunflower seeds are better for blue jays, cardinals, and finch....