Maidenhair Fern History Maidenhair fern history is quite interesting. Its genus name translates to “non wetting” and refers to the fronds’ ability to shed rainwater without becoming wet. In addition, the plant is the source of an aromatic, volatile oil commonly used as a shampoo, which is where its common name of maidenhair derived. Another name for this plant is the five-fingered fern due largely in part to its finger-like fronds, which are supported on dark brown to black stems....

How to Grow a Cress Head Cress seeds grow very quickly and are a magical way to show seed to food production in a truly short time. Once the plants have grown, they may be eaten, with the resulting “haircuts” as part of the fun! Some tips on how to grow a cress head will get you and your family on their way to enjoying this little growing project. You can make cress heads in spent eggshells, coir pots, or almost anything else that can be grown in, including egg cartons....

Moon Cactus Info Hibotan cacti are native to desert habitats in various parts of South America. There are over 80 species found in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Bolivia. They are a colorful group of succulents that lack the necessary chlorophyll to produce plant sugars through photosynthesis. For this reason, the plants are grafted onto a species that produces plentiful chlorophyll upon which the moon cactus can sustain itself for several years....

Can I Use Mothballs in the Garden? Using mothballs to repel pests in the garden presents a danger to children, pets and wildlife that visit your garden. Young children explore their surroundings by putting things in their mouths. Animals might think moth balls are food. Ingesting even a small amount of the toxic chemicals in mothballs can cause serious harm that requires immediate medical or veterinary attention. Mothballs in gardens also present a risk if you breathe the fumes or get the chemicals on your skin or in your eyes....

Transplanting Calla Lilies The best time to transplant calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is in the spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is beginning to warm. Choose a location with organically rich soil that holds moisture well. Callas grow well in low, moist areas where most other rhizomes would suffer from root rot. The plants tolerate full sun in areas with mild summer, but where summers are hot they need morning sun and afternoon shade....

Million Bells Not Flowering – Poor Growing Conditions One reason you may be seeing no flowers on Calibrachoa is that your plants are missing some important growing conditions. Inadequate sunlight, for instance, is a common reason they will stop blooming. Make sure you plant million bells where they will get day-long sun. Your million bells plants also need warmth. This is especially true in the spring. Make sure your plants are in a spot where they will be warm and get sunlight....

Sticky Stuff on Orchids Many people who are new to growing orchids panic at the first sight of any sticky stuff on orchids. Avid gardeners know that sticky substances on plants are oftentimes the secretions, or ‘honeydew,’ of insect pests such as aphids, mealybugs, or scale insects. Although these pests certainly can cause a sticky substance on orchid plants, there is a natural sap that is produced by some orchid flowers and buds....

What is Natural Easter Grass? Traditionally, the Easter grass you put in a child’s basket for collecting eggs and candy is that thin, green plastic. There are a lot of reasons to replace that material with real Easter basket grass. Plastic grass isn’t very environmentally friendly, either in production or in trying to dispose of it. Plus, small children and pets can ingest and swallow it, causing digestive issues. Homegrown Easter grass is simply a real, living grass that you use in place of the plastic junk....

Planting Grape Hyacinth Bulbs in Lawns In general, planting grape hyacinth bulbs in lawns is about the same as planting bulbs in the flower bed; the only difference is that you’re working around existing turf. There are a couple of ways to go about planting the bulbs. The easiest method is simply to peel back small areas of turf with a spade or other cutting tool. Flip the corner of the turf, plant the bulbs underneath, and then replace the turf and tamp it gently....

How to Get Bougainvillea to Flower “Why doesn’t my bougainvillea bloom?” It’s a common question that growers everywhere ask about the gorgeous plants they brought home from the nursery, when they find the blooms stop coming shortly after the plant landed in its new spot in the garden. The problem with bougainvillea is that they’re tough plants, hardy to the point of almost being weeds. That being said, they need to be cared for like weeds if you’re to find success with them....

Why Esperanza Does Not Bloom Like most other members of the Bignoniaceae family, this popular landscape plant is loved for its floriferous nature. The flowers have a quaint fragrance too, but it is very mild. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers too. Drought tolerance is another feature appreciated in these plants, which go by the scientific name Tecoma stans, but is more commonly called yellow bells. However, many gardeners who love these bunches of bright yellow, bell-shaped flowers are disappointed by their esperanza not blooming....

Norway Maple Tree Info Maple trees are classics of the landscape genre. Norway maple (Acer platanoides) has made its own place in the culture and is a common shade tree that resembles sugar maples. The plant has several seasons of interest and retains a compact crown and dense growth. Norway maple has a high tolerance to pollution and is adaptable to many soils including clay, sand, or acidic conditions. This elegant tree is a useful addition to the landscape, provided some care is taken to minimize seedlings, which are rampant the following season....

About O’Henry Peach Trees Given that O’Henry peaches are an extremely popular market cultivar, you may have sampled an O’Henry peach. If you haven’t yet, you are really in for a treat. Fruit from O’Henry trees is both delicious and beautiful. The firm, yellow flesh is streaked with red and has a superb flavor. O’Henry peaches are medium-sized trees. They grow to 30 feet (9 m.) tall with a 15 foot (4....

Ornamental Pepper Plants Although ornamental peppers can be grown as perennials in USDA growing zones 9b through 11, they are usually grown as annuals. They can also be grown indoors and make attractive houseplants. Are Ornamental Peppers Edible? Ornamental peppers are safe to eat, but they are normally grown for their attractive color and ornamental qualities rather than their flavor, which you may find disappointing. Most people consider them too hot to enjoy anyway....

How to Winterize Pond Plants The question of what to do with pond plants in the winter depends upon the plant. Some plants will not tolerate winter temps and must be removed from the pond. For cold hardy specimens, overwintering pond plants may simply mean immersion in the pond. Before winterizing water plants, it is a good idea to manage the water garden itself. Remove dead leaves and dying plants. Inspect any pumps and change filters as needed....

Pachira Money Tree Money tree plants are native from Mexico to northern South America. The trees can get up to 60 feet (18 m.) in their native habitats but are more commonly small, potted ornamental specimens. The plant has slim green stems topped with palmate leaves. In their native region, money tree plants produce fruits that are oval green pods divided into five chambers inside. The seeds within the fruit swell until the pod bursts....

Parrot Feather Information Stop: before you make the mistake of planting this seemingly innocent specimen in your landscape, you should know that parrot feather research indicates that these plants are highly invasive. Once planted, they have the potential to readily escape cultivation and overwhelm native plants. This has already happened in numerous areas in the United States. Only female specimens of the plant are known to grow in this country and multiply from root division and plant pieces in a process called fragmentation....

About Insects that Eat Pawpaws Also known as the Indiana banana, hoosier banana, and poor man’s banana, the pawpaw (Asimina triloba) grows naturally in rich, fertile, river bottom soils as understory shrubs. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8 and grows in 25/26 of the eastern states of the US. As a slow growing tree, pawpaws need several years of growth before they produce fruit. Flowers bloom between March and May depending upon weather and cultivar....

What is a Pepino? It is unknown exactly where pepino melon shrubs originate, but it doesn’t grow in the wild. So, what is pepino? Growing pepino plants are cultivated in temperate regions of California, New Zealand, Chile, and Western Australia and appear as a small woody, 3 foot (1 m.) or so shrub that is hardy to USDA growing zone 9. The foliage looks very similar to that of the potato plant while its growth habit is akin to that of a tomato, and for this reason, may often require staking....

Insects that Attack Guava The Caribbean fruit fly is one of the most damaging pests in Florida guava production. The larvae infest the fruit, rendering it unfit for human consumption. To avoid fruit fly damage, fruit must be picked prior to full maturity, which means harvesting at least three times per week. The larvae of the guava moth will tunnel into the fruit, making it inedible, and feed on the foliage of the plant as well....