The Christmas orange has generations of appearances. A child or adult finding an orange in Christmas stocking goodies may not be common today, but once was a treasured gift, especially for recipients in colder climes. Citrus was not common, and before modern transportation, it rarely made an appearance in groceries. Most citrus is ready to pick in winter, so it was in season. If one were lucky enough to get a hold of oranges or tangerines at Christmas, it was a special luxury for those living outside of the plant’s growing region....

Do Plants Help with Sleep Issues? For centuries, people have been using herbs to help get them to sleep. These herbs might be in the form of teas or aromatherapy, and yes, many of these plants help you sleep. Chamomile and lemon balm, for instance, are well known for their calming properties and find their way into soothing teas to this day. Lavender has also long been used as a calming herb, but what about other plants that help you sleep?...

Strelitzia Houseplant Info Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is a popular ornamental plant in California and Florida thanks to its huge banana-tree leaves and spectacular flowers. The brilliant orange and blue blossoms resemble exotic birds and are very dramatic. This is even the official flower of Los Angeles. But despite its popularity in this country, these plants are actually native to South Africa. They thrive in the coastal brush of the eastern Cape where the climate is mild and wet....

Seedling bird protection can be frustrating, but you’ve got several options when it comes to protecting garden seeds from birds. How to Protect Seedlings from Birds Gardeners have devised a number of ways to keep birds from eating seedlings, ranging from the complicated to the impractical. Although you can pick up tools like artificial owls and bird scare items at your hardware store, these tricks lose their power over time....

Planting Trees Near Black Walnuts You may have heard that nothing will grow near or under black walnut trees. Their roots exude juglone, a substance that is toxic to many plants. It prevents new seeds from germinating and also prevents existing trees from growing well. When you have a black walnut tree in your garden, any nearby plants that are sensitive to juglone will wither and often die. Symptoms of juglone poisoning include withering leaves and stunted growth....

Bok Choy Planting Time the planting of bok choy so that the plant matures before hot summer days or cold winter nights arrive. Bok choy doesn’t like to have its roots disturbed so it is best to directly sow it into the garden when temperatures are 40 to 75 degrees F. (4-24 C.). Since it does have shallow roots, bok choy does well in shallow beds or as container plants, and careful attention should be paid to spacing requirements for bok choy....

What are Bulb Mites? Bulb mites are tiny critters that feed on bulbs. They aren’t insects – they’re actually arachnids, like spiders. They enter the bulbs of plants through wounds and soft points in the surface. Usually, they take advantage of spots that have already been damaged by an outside force, but they also help the process along by chewing on the outside of the bulb and allowing easy access for bacteria and fungi that cause the bulb to rot....

Flower Bulbs That Deter Squirrels Unlike larger animals, such as deer, who nibble on leaves and flowers, squirrels get right to the heart of the matter and dig up the bulbs themselves. They will eat just about any bulb if they are starving, but squirrel resistant flower bulbs all have some quality that makes them unattractive. Any bulbs with a poisonous ingredient or milky sap are the ones least likely to be dug up and carried away, as well as those that simply don’t taste as good as the rest of your garden....

Should You Divide Calla Lilies? How often should you divide calla lilies? Calla lily division is only necessary when the clumps start to decline, but if you want more rhizomes to fill in the garden, it’s safe to divide them every three to five years. If you divide them too often, however, they will never quite reach their full potential. When to Divide Callas Calla growers have two opportunities to divide the rhizomes:...

Can I Save Seed Potatoes for Next Year? There are many schools of thought with regards to saving seed potatoes for planting the successive year. Many people say to just use USDA certified seed potatoes. This will indeed be the most direct route to a healthy, disease free crop of spuds, but these seed potatoes can also be quite pricey. Although a cheaper idea, attempting to use non-organic supermarket potatoes for seed is not recommended, as they are often treated with chemicals to prevent sprouting during storage; hence, they will likely not sprout after planting....

How to Compost in the Home Exciting, isn’t it? Now the question is, “how to compost in the home?” It’s really very simple. First you must choose a composting vessel or bioreactor suitable for making compost indoors. These containers are much smaller than the outdoor bins, so they need to be appropriately designed to provide the perfect conditions for aerobic heat production, which is responsible for breaking down the food waste....

Can You Grow Daylilies in Containers? Will daylilies grow in pots? Absolutely. Daylilies are well suited to container life, as long as they have enough room to grow. The smaller the variety (and there are some small ones out there), the better they will be able to grow in a pot. As a rule, you shouldn’t plant full sized daylilies in anything smaller than a gallon container. Caring for Daylilies in Containers Container grown daylilies need lots of water....

Lavenders need very warm, sunny weather to thrive outdoors though. If your weather just won’t do, you may wonder about growing lavender indoors. Can you grow lavender indoors? You can if you pick the best indoor lavender varieties and give them the exposure they need. Can You Grow Lavender Indoors? As outside plants, most lavender likes a climate that is quite similar to the hot Mediterranean regions where they grow wild....

Aubrieta Growing Conditions Aubrieta is a perennial suited for United States Department of Agriculture zones 4 to 8. This temperate to cool region plant can spread up to 24 inches (61 cm.) over time and forms lovely purple carpets of color in spring. It is non-invasive and self-sufficient for the most part. Learn how to grow Aubrieta in your landscape so you can enjoy its charm in your border, rockery or even container garden....

About Blackgold Sweet Cherry The Blackgold cherry is a sweet variety. The fruit is very dark, deep red, almost black, and has a sweet, strong flavor. The flesh is firm and dark purple in color. These cherries are ideal for eating right off the tree and can be frozen to preserve the crop for winter use. Blackgold was developed as a cross between the Stark Gold and Stella varieties to get a tree with positive attributes of both....

What are Pigeon Peas? Pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), also known as Congo or Gunga peas, are native to Asia and are grown in many warm and tropical regions throughout the world. This short-lived perennial plant can actually grow into a small shrubby tree and makes an excellent low hedge or windbreak. Pigeon pea seeds contain a large amount of protein and three important amino acids: lysine, tryptophan, and methionine. In India, the peas are combined with lentils to make a popular soup....

Growing Conditions for Plums Growing plum trees is not too difficult as long as you give them what they need. Plums require full sun and well-drained, sandy soil in order to thrive. They prefer a soil with a pH that ranges from 5.5 to 6.5. It is always a good idea to have your soil tested before planting any fruit tree to be sure that they pH is appropriate. You should also work the appropriate amendments into your soil before planting....

There are several varieties available that offer a multitude of colors. Depending on the region and type grown, lantana plants can be treated as annuals or perennials. Grow lantana flowers in the garden or in containers. Trailing varieties can even be grown in hanging baskets. Lantanas also make a great choice for those wishing to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. How to Grow Lantana Flowers Growing lantana in the garden is a great way to add color and interest....

Powdery Mildew on Peonies So what does a peony with powdery mildew look like? You can easily recognize this condition by the white, powdery growth that forms on the plant’s leaves. Occasionally, powdery mildew can be seen on the flowers as well. Any new growth may also appear powdery, exhibiting a stunted or distorted appearance too. In addition to the powdery growth, infected leaves may drop from the plant and flowers become distorted and unattractive....

What Causes a Thick Rind in Citrus Fruit? Very simply, a thick peel on any kind of citrus fruit is caused by a nutrient imbalance. The thick rind is caused by either too much nitrogen or too little phosphorus. Technically, these two issues are one and the same, as too much nitrogen will affect how much phosphorus a plant will take up, thus causing a phosphorus deficiency. Nitrogen and phosphorus are a citrus grower’s best friend....