Why Do Christmas Cactus Leaves Turn Purple? Oftentimes, a purplish tint to your Christmas cactus leaves is normal. That said, if it’s noticeably throughout the leaves, it may signal an issue with your plant. Below are the most common reasons for leaves becoming red or purple on Christmas cacti: Nutritional issues – If you don’t fertilize your Christmas cactus regularly, the plant may be lacking necessary nutrients. Feed the plant monthly from spring until mid-autumn with a general purpose fertilizer for indoor plants....

What is Citrus Alternaria Rot? Citrus alternaria rot, or black rot, is most commonly found in oranges, tangelos, and lemons. However, it may occur in other citrus as well. During periods of rainy and/or humid weather, a fungus called Alternaria citri may begin to grow on damaged or dead citrus tissues. The fungal spores are then released and are able to spread to citrus blossoms and immature fruits. The spores enter the fruit through naturally occurring cracks early in fruit development and begin to cause rot....

Smoke cleansing sticks are traditionally made with sage, but can also be concocted with other herbs such as lavender, cedar, sweetgrass, sagebrush, and other herbs with resinous sap. The herbs are lit and the resulting smoke used to cleanse the home or body. It was thought such a practice would remove negative or evil spirits and humors. In effect, it is similar to incense. You can grow your own incense and experience a similar calm, cleansing effect....

Coffee Grounds for Mosquito Control? In many regions of the world, mosquitoes are among the most troublesome pests. In addition to spreading a plethora of diseases, these insects can cause allergic reactions and a great deal of distress. Without protection from their bites, many people may find outdoor activities to be insufferable. Traditional methods of mosquito control include the use of repellent sprays, citronella candles, and even special lotions. Although some commercial mosquito repellents are effective, the cost of using them on a regular basis can be quite expensive....

Coltsfoot Information Early European settlers brought coltsfoot to the U.S. to use as an herbal remedy. It is said to ease asthma attacks and treat other lung and throat ailments. The genus name Tussilago means cough dispeller. Today, there is some concern about the use of this herb for medicinal purposes because it may have toxic properties and it is known to cause tumors in rats. The undersides of the leaves are covered with a thick, matted, white fiber....

What is Corn Cockle? Corn cockle flowers can be found in part of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It has become rarer in Britain as agricultural measures eradicate the plant. The focal point of Agrostemma corn cockle is the flowers. Stems are so slender as to almost disappear when in a field of other plants. The brilliant purple flowers are produced between May and September. Blooms may also be tinged a deep pink....

Common Pepper Growing Problems and Diseases There are viruses that are transmitted by bugs called aphids. This is why it is so important to control insects in order to control pepper plant problems. Bell pepper plant diseases caused by aphids means you have to control the aphids. Aphids are a major culprit when it comes to green pepper diseases. They congregate in large groups underneath the leaves and on any new growth on the plant....

Companion Plants for Red Hot Pokers Dahlias – Red hot pokers, especially yellow varieties, look great alongside orange dahlias. Cosmos – If you like hot color schemes, imagine red hot poker paired with bright pink cosmos. Daylilies – Bi-color or orange daylilies look great in front of red hot pokers of nearly any color. Heliopsis – Also known as false sunflower, tall heliopsis plants are ideal red hot poker lily companions for that back of the border....

Warm Climate Container Gardening – Hot Weather Container Plants Selecting hot weather container plants that include flowers, grasses, succulents, and herbs can help you create low maintenance, eye-catching containers. Warm climate container gardening requires: The right potWell-draining potting soilA balanced, slow-release fertilizer Hot weather container plants You must keep a close eye on watering needs; plants in containers dry out faster than in-ground plants. Container Gardening in Heat Creating a heat tolerant container garden begins with the correct pot....

Blue Porterweed Groundcover Facts Blue porterweed plants (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) are native to south Florida, though they have since ranged throughout most of the state. Since they are only hardy to USDA zone 9b, they have not travelled farther north. Blue porterweed is often confused with Stachytarpheta urticifolia, a non-native cousin that grows more aggressively and should not be planted. It also grows taller, as high as 5 feet (1.5 m.), and woodier, which makes it less effective as a groundcover....

A crossvine plant is a perennial, and in mild climates, an evergreen. Crossvines are robust and vital vines, and care of crossvine plants includes little more than occasional pruning. Read on for more information about Bignonia crossvine care and information about how to grow a crossvine. Crossvine Climbing Plant The crossvine climbing plant is native to the United States. It grows wild in the northeast and southeast of the country, as well as the north and south-central regions....

Do You Store Crocus Bulbs? Crocus plants require a chilling period of six to eight weeks before sprouting time. The corms are quite cold hardy but in soil that drains poorly, leaving them in the ground can cause rot. Digging them up and curing crocus bulbs properly will ensure years of blooming and allow you the opportunity to divide the corms, which naturalize and develop more plants. Clumps that are old and heavily populated benefit from lifting and separating....

Importance of Pruning Spirea There are several reasons to trim your spirea regularly, at least twice a year. The first is to keep it healthy. A good trim helps get rid of dead branches and leaves and allows more sunlight in to the new growth that is struggling at the bottom or interior of the shrub. Trimming also gets more airflow between branches, which deters fungal infections and is a good way to restore health and vigor to an overgrown, neglected shrub....

Cutting Back Dappled Willows The dappled willow is native to Japan and Korea where it frequently grows near water, like along streams and in marshes. Its shoots were used in yesteryear for basket making. A Dutch breeder brought Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’ to this country in 1979. Today, it is considered an ornamental, which means that dappled willow pruning is a part of many gardener’s to-do lists. All willows grow rapidly, and dappled willows are no exception....

How to Grow Edible Plants and Flowers in the Desert Before growing plants in desert climates, consider the following list before attempting to grow plants in a desert climate: Soil Nutrition There are a number of factors to consider before growing plants in a desert climate. Primarily, one will want to be concerned with the nutrient levels in one’s soil. Although a good quality organic/compost will usually meet your soil’s needs, the best way to determine levels suitable for desert vegetables and flowers is to have the soil tested....

How Many Types of Crabgrass are There? These tough plants may be confused with many other weeds and even turfgrass but they bear some identifying characteristics that point to their classification. The name refers to the plant’s rosette form where leaves radiate out from a central growing point. The leaves are thick and have a vertical folding point. Flower stalks appear in summer and release numerous tiny seeds. In spite of this plant’s similarity to lawn grass, it is an invasive competitor that will outgrow and outperform your average turf over time....

Through breeding, the standard color of tomato plant varieties is now red. While red may be the predominate color among tomatoes now, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other colors of tomatoes available. Let’s look at a few. Red Tomato Varieties Red tomatoes are the ones that you will see most commonly. Red tomato varieties include commonly known varieties like: Better Boy Early Girl Beefsteak Beefmaster Commonly, red tomatoes have the rich tomato flavor that we are accustomed to....

Should You Stake Lily Plants? There is no real reason in terms of the health of the plant to stake lilies in the garden. Your perennial blooms will come back next year, whether they droop now or not. The main reason for staking lilies at all is to keep up appearances. Your perennial beds just don’t look that nice when all the flowers droop over and land in the dirt or mulch....

How to Dry Fresh Basil Dry basil has a more intense flavor when it is fresh but it degrades quickly. Dried herbs are generally three to four times stronger than the fresh herb. The leaves have high moisture content and need to dry quickly to prevent molding. Air has to circulate freely around both sides of the leaf for the fastest drying. Drying fresh basil is an easy way to preserve the fresh lemony-anise to spicy-pepper flavor of the herb....

The separation of kids and nature has resulted in a number of issues lumped loosely together under the expression “nature deficit disorder.” What is nature deficit disorder and what does it mean for your kids? Read on for information about how a lack of nature injures kids and tips on how to prevent nature deficit disorder. What is Nature Deficit Disorder? If you haven’t read anything about this issue, you are likely to ask, “What is nature deficit disorder?...