What is Poisonous to Pigs? The list of plants harmful to pigs is a long one. Many plants that are toxic for pigs kill them quickly. They are so very poisonous to porkers that eating one leaf will kill them. Many will look similar to poisonous plant lists for humans like: Hemlock Nightshade Foxglove Angel Trumpet Others are common ornamentals you probably grow in your flower garden such as camellia, lantana and flax....

How to Grow Rhoeo Plants In most areas, Rhoeo is considered an annual, though in fact, it is a tender perennial. Rhoeo is hardy only in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 to 11. This means that it can only tolerate temperatures down to about 20 degrees F. (-6 C.) before they are killed off. Keep in mind that this is the temperature that will kill them. Temperatures 10 to 15 degrees F....

What is a Sedum ‘Firestorm’ Plant? Firestorm sedum plants (Sedum adolphii ‘Firestorm’) are a special cultivar of the species Golden sedum, a low growing, sun loving, succulent plant. Reaching a maximum height of around 8 inches (20 cm.), this plant spreads out with many rosettes on stems, sometimes ranging to about 2 feet (61 cm.) in diameter. This growth habit makes it ideal for groundcover or pleasantly undulating borders in garden beds....

About Phalsa Sherbet Berries If you’re looking for something a little different in the landscape, then you certainly can’t go wrong with growing sherbet berry plants (Grewia asiatica). This southern Asian native shrub or small tree produces edible drupes that start out green before turning red and then deep purple to black as they ripen. The sherbet berries, which are preceded by masses of bright yellow springtime flowers, are similar in both appearance and taste to grapes – said to be rich and sweet with a hint of citrusy tartness....

Check out these smart garden techniques and take home some inventive ideas that can help you in the landscape. What is Smart Gardening? Smart technology is all the rage, but did you know it translates to useful help in the garden? Whether you are a lazy or simply uninformed gardener, gardening with technology can help with chores and tasks common in the landscape. From smart irrigation systems to self-control lawn mowers, technology has its finger on the gardener’s pulse....

Common Bergenia Diseases Treating any problems first involves recognizing common bergenia disease symptoms. Rhizome Rot – The first noticeable signs of rhizome rot are lesions on the lower stem and drooping and curling of leaves, beginning on the lower part of the plant and moving upwards. Under the ground, the disease is evidenced by browning and rotting of the roots and rhizomes, which become soft and putrid and may turn brown or orange....

What to Do with Starfruit Starfruit grows on tropical trees which were native to Sri Lanka and the Spice Islands. It’s been cultivated for centuries in China and Malaysia. The fruit of the carambola tree can reach 8 inches (20.5 cm.) long and changes from green to yellow as it ripens. Starfruits are oval-shaped and have five ridges which give the fruit its characteristic star shape when sliced. If you’re wondering how to use starfruit, here are ways carambola has been used around the world:...

Kalanchoe Bloom Time Usually, the plant is in full bloom at purchase and produces a constant parade of flowers for weeks or even months. Kalanchoes are forced to bloom by nurseries in order to present their flowers for purchasers. When does Kalanchoe bloom naturally? In its native region, Kalanchoe can bloom almost year-round, but as a container houseplant, it is most commonly blooming in late winter to late spring. This cycle will slow down as lighting increases....

What Herbs Become Invasive? What herbs become invasive? Herbs that spread through runners, suckers, or rhizomes and even herbs that become so large they’ve taken over more than their share of space are the ones to look out for. Then there are the herbs that produce prodigious amounts of seeds as well. Probably the most notorious of the herbs that spread is mint. Everything in the mint family, from peppermint to spearmint, doesn’t just seem to spread but has a rather diabolical desire to take over the world through underground runners....

Why are Watermelons Losing Flowers? Flowers falling off watermelon plants during the first stages of blooms are usually male flowers, not the female blossoms that produce the melons. These first blossoms are borne to pollinate the upcoming female blooms, usually in the following 10 to 14 days. So, while they will drop, watermelons losing flowers in the beginning is normal. We want the female flowers to remain on the vine for pollination and to eventually become melons....

Wild Turkey Control Wild turkeys in garden areas are certainly upsetting, but before you assume that the wild turkey you saw this morning was the same one that ate your corn down to nothing, you’ve got to do a little legwork. More often than not, crop damage is caused by wildlife other than turkeys; they’re simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Look around the damaged plants for signs of scratching or turkey-shaped footprints....

Plain red wiggler worms eat through piles of compost in record time, making worm composting a smart addition to your gardening activities. If you live in a northern climate, though, winter worm composting will take a little more effort. Taking care of worms in winter is a matter of making sure they have enough heat to get through the season without freezing. Winter Worm Composting Worms thrive when the outside temperature is between about 55 and 80 degrees F....

What is a Yellow Rocket Plant? In its first year, the plant forms a rosette of leaves. In its second year, the rosette bolts up with one or more flowering stalks. This cool season annual to biennial grows to about 8-24 (20-61 cm.) inches in height. It has long leaves capped by rounded ends and with a lobed or indented lower section. The flowering rosette becomes an inflorescence of bright yellow blooms in the spring that rise up above the foliage....

About Butterfly Gardening in Zone 5 Before you begin picking out plants for the butterflies, give some thought to their needs. Butterflies are cold blooded and need the sun to warm their bodies. To fly well, butterflies need body temperatures of between 85 to 100 degrees F. (29-38 C.). So, select a site for the zone 5 butterfly garden plants that is in the sun near a sheltering wall, fence, or stand of evergreens that will protect the insects from winds....

Hardy Jasmine Vines Unfortunately, in zone 6, there are not too many choices of jasmine you can grow outdoors year-round. Therefore, many of us in cooler climates often grow tropical jasmines in containers that can be moved inside in cold weather or outside on warm sunny days. As annuals or houseplants, you can grow any variety of jasmine vines in zone 6. If you are looking for a zone 6 jasmine plant to grow outside year-round, winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is your best bet....

Shade Loving Vines for Zone 9 Zone 9 residents are blessed with the climate that supports a variety of great plants, but it can get hot too. A shade vine, growing over a trellis or balcony, can be a great way to create a cooler oasis in your hot garden. There are a lot of vines to choose from, but here are some of the more common zone 9 shade vines:...

How to Water an African Violet When watering African violets, the main thing to remember is that overwatering is the number one reason a plant fails to thrive, or just up and dies. Overwatering, without a doubt, is the worst thing you can do for your African violet. How do you know when to water an African violet? Always test the potting mix with your finger first. If the potting mix feels moist, try again in a few days....

The amount of pinching you put into your Alternanthera plant care routine determines the growth habit of the plant. If you pinch out the growth tips regularly, the plants form a neat mound that looks fantastic in formal borders, and you can also use them in knot gardens. They remain attractive but take on a more casual appearance when you leave them alone. You can make a neat edging for your borders or walkways using Alternanthera....

Annual Phlox Info Drummond’s phlox plants (Phlox drummondii) are named for Thomas Drummond. He sent seed to England from its native Texas, where trials began on their cultivation requirements. The plants don’t do well in the region due to its high rainfall and soil types, but they are still popular in the southwestern United States. When you know how to grow annual phlox, you will have a plant for life even if it dies out in the cooler season....

What is an Annual Plant? The answer to “what is an annual plant?” is, generally speaking, a plant that dies within one growing season; in other words — an annual plant cycle. The annual plant cycle is in reference to a once-a-year cycle of life. Annual garden plants germinate from seed, then blossom, and finally set seeds before dying back. Although they die back and must be replanted each year, they are generally showier than perennial plants with a long bloom period from spring to just before the first fall frost....