Calathea plants, which hail from tropical rainforests, are fun indoor plants to care for. These tropical plants don’t need direct sunlight, making it easy to help a plant thrive in low light. Their lovely leaves are sure to provide your home with joyful pops of color. Table of Contents With so many calathea species out there – 60 total – there’s definitely one suited to you. Proper care of varieties of calathea isn’t hard either....

Helianthus annuus is a playful addition to the garden. Growing sunflowers can reach over 12 feet tall and add to the biodiversity of your garden by bringing in pollinators and wildlife. I love to plant sunflowers in my garden – it is low maintenance and you can reap the benefits of giant bright yellow flowers! Table of Contents Historically, sunflowers have been cultivated for many generations by indigenous peoples. Since then, hybridization has generated a wide variety of sunflowers that range in size, shape, and colors....

Sweet potato plants are a nutritious option to keep the cellar full during winter! Gardeners growing large harvests will need to keep a few things in mind when harvesting sweet potatoes to prolong the life of their delicious bounty. Table of Contents While the growing season is full of high humidity weather, in order to make them last all winter, they prefer cool and moisture free environments for storage. Storage can only happen after a process called curing, during which the starches in the sweet potato turn into sugars, and the tuber forms a second skin that makes it more resistant to injury....

Every gardener instinctively knows that puttering around with your plants can have a profoundly uplifting effect! The mental health benefits of gardening tend to be underestimated, but are definitely present. Table of Contents Our gardens confer a special kind of serenity upon us which is often hard to come by in our frenetic, pressured world. It is only in recent years that doctors and mental health professionals have begun to truly delve into the healing potential of gardening....

Bacillus thuringiensis, or BT, is a naturally occurring bacteria used as a pesticide for various pests that attack gardens. It’s commonly used for caterpillars and mosquitoes, which are arguably two of the most annoying pests in the garden. You can find BT in many forms, including granules, sprays, and dunks. BT spray is one of the more common varieties available for home gardeners or commercial use. Table of Contents There are a few different BT strains that can target specific pests, so it’s wise to keep a few different kinds on hand....

If there’s any herb that has a long and storied history, it’s the white sage plant, also called salvia apiana. Table of Contents Used heavily amongst California tribal people for centuries (and still in use today), this plant has many names given by the tribes who use it. The Tongva or Gabrielino tribe traditionally called it kasiile and found it on hills around the area now known as Los Angeles. A similar pronounciation, qas’ily, was used by the Chumash people who lived along the current Santa Barbara coastline....

Most people know what their plants need to thrive. But how will you know if your garden has everything it really needs? Test the soil, of course! Table of Contents And yet there’s so many test types available. How should you choose? I’ve got tons of information about testing your soil, how to do it, and the like. And for that matter, I can explain all the different types of soil test kits in detail....

Table of Contents While growing microgreens is relatively simple when compared to a lot of hydroponic plants, you can still run into a lot of different problems. In the microgreens business that I have recently started, I’ve found that it’s been a challenge to control for all of the different things that can go wrong when growing restaurant-ready microgreens. Here are all of the microgreen problems I have run into, along with how to solve them!...

Aloes are quirky-looking plants that every gardener should try at least once. These succulents are great for beginners because they thrive on neglect. Aloes also help clean the air and are highly medicinal, particularly the well-known aloe vera. Perhaps one of the most overlooked benefits of aloes is that they’re very easy to propagate. Not only is propagation an exciting project, it results in lots of plants and saved money. Whether you’re propagating aloe to fill out your garden or make gifts to share, we guarantee you’ll have fun!...

If you’re like me, you probably started out in your gardening hobby by growing in soil. I started out with some pepper, rhubarb chard and herb seedlings from the local garden store, threw them in some pots and watered them every few days. Table of Contents Watching them grow over the months was an amazing introduction to the magic of growing my own veggies and herbs. Listen to this post on the Epic Gardening Podcast:...

Madagascar-native Flaming Katy is a real treasure. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a perennial, seasonal bloomer with vivid umbels of bright flowers. These succulent plants with scalloped leaves form a backdrop for the bursts of red, pink, yellow or salmon. And, for a houseplant, their blooming time is quite long! Table of Contents You’ll find that this perennial plant’s a perfect addition for an indoor garden. Those in warm climates can grow them as outdoor plants, too....

The striking, feathery blooms of pampas grass are prized by floral arrangers and gardeners alike. It’s even been used by float decorators for the annual Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, California since the early 1900s! Table of Contents Named for its original home in the grassy plains of Pampas, Argentina, this tall ornamental grass was first introduced to Europe sometime between 1775-1862. It arrived in California in about 1848, going into commercial gardening shortly thereafter, and has become a common sight in coastal areas....

No matter who you are, Mediterranean herbs are a must-have for your herb garden. Originating from the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, these herbs prefer warm climates and well draining soils. Table of Contents Each of these spices or herbs gives a regional expression to the dishes it’s used in. Depending on the Mediterranean spices and herbs you use in cooking, your dish can be Greek, Turkish, Italian, and so on!...

A watering can (also known as a watering pot) is an easy way to water plants by hand and usually comes with a spout and a handle. Most watering cans hold between 1-2.5 gallons of water and are made from plastic, ceramic, or metal. Table of Contents Watering cans have been used since the 17th century (or earlier) and since then have seen countless design improvements. Back then, the metal watering can (or galvanized watering can) was the most common style used....

Hydroponic growing is attractive due to the level of control you can achieve over your growing environment. However, without a quality grow tent, there’s no way you can dial in your growing conditions. Table of Contents A grow tent is just one of the pieces of a good hydroponic system. Grow lights, ventilation, a hydroponic system, and nutrients are also necessary. But a quality grow tent comes before them all — without it, nothing else matters....

You’ve heard of wood chip mulch and straw mulch, but did you know that leaf mulch is just as good? In some situations, it may even be better to use leaf mulch instead of wood mulch. Not only do leaves suppress weeds, but they’re also a great organic material that is free. Table of Contents So if organic mulch is something you’re thinking about as we head toward winter, consider leaf mulch for building and maintaining healthy soil....

Companion planting is an old but popular strategy. Gardeners and farmers have been employing this organic gardening technique for years, and it’s undergoing a revival of sorts in backyard gardening. As people try to abandon artificial fertilizer and pesticides to hone in on more natural practices, growing companion plants has become more important. For those stocking their home pantry, choosing the right onion companion plants is essential to get maximum yields....

Gardeners today are increasingly concerned with ecologically sound practices. Many have focused on building healthy soil, or sourcing materials from companies that provide environmentally conscious products. One topic is very important in this vein: collecting rainwater for irrigation. Table of Contents Rainwater collection has several benefits, and finding the right collection system for your needs is important. So today, we’ll talk about the ways you can begin catching rainwater. Harvesting rainwater will not only give you nutrient-rich irrigations to feed your plants, but it will also help you minimize your water bill....

Most believe that rice plants only grow in a flooded rice paddy. But did you know there’s a method that doesn’t require flooding your backyard? Upland rice flourishes as long as it has the right soil and receives enough water. In this piece, we’ll cover how to grow rice in your garden. Table of Contents Rice is a grain with thousands of cultivars. White rice, long grain rice, and brown rice are sold in every grocery store....

Mustard is an excellent cool-season crop with interesting leaves ranging from purple to bright green. Mustard can taste mild, or it can be spicy and peppery. It is a favorite in Southern gardens. Growing mustard greens is simple, and they are high in antioxidants, a good source of fiber, and are high in vitamins A and C. Table of Contents Mustard greens are popular in a variety of dishes, from microgreens to curries and stir-fries....