Sooner or later, one of your plants is going to have a problem that you just can’t figure out how to solve. When you inevitably run into this, you can do one of two things: Use the Almighty Google to figure out what’s going wrong Ask someone who knows what they’re doing (a pro) When I run into problems like this, I always opt for #2. Go with someone who’s done it before and can explain exactly what’s going on with your plant....
Out of all the problems that plants can experience, fungal diseases are by far the most pervasive and damaging. Many of the world’s most notorious famines can trace their origins back to fungi and fungal-like organisms. The Irish potato famine, for example, was caused by a fungal-like organism, Phytophthora infestans, which can infect a whole field of crops overnight. In the United States, the wheat stem rust fungus, Puccinia graminis tritici, has caused millions of bushels of wheat crops to be unusable....
Monarch butterflies are one of the most easily recognizable butterflies and are important pollinators. They’re at risk of endangerment, so many organizations work hard to keep them thriving and off the endangered list. Narrow-leaf milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, is a key part of monarch conservation because monarch caterpillars are limited to a strict diet of milkweed. Table of Contents Asclepias fascicularis is a gorgeous plant that boasts clusters of small flowers. Whether you choose to grow them for the monarch butterflies or for your own enjoyment, you’ll appreciate this addition to the garden....
Table of Contents It’s a question as old as time. Surely our ancestors asked themselves this same question, though they didn’t use the word we use today. It’s a question is still asked by gardeners around the world, especially if they see their child pick up something from the ground and go for a huge bite: Can you eat crabapples? This question is often quickly followed by other related questions:...
If you are a true gardener, buying flowers, fruits, and veggies as starts just isn’t an option for you. You want to start your own garden from scratch, and that means starting all of your plants from seeds. Table of Contents But you’re going to need some seed starting equipment if you’re going to do it right. There are a lot of things needed to ensure that the seeds you plant can grow into strong seedlings and young plants....
Spaghetti squash is a wonderful winter squash that, when cooked, is valued for its fun inner flesh that resembles spaghetti noodles. Bake or roast the squash, and the soft flesh on can be utilized as a delicious vegetable substitute for your pasta dishes or stir-fries! Not only is this plant a great gluten-free pasta substitute, but is a practical gardening companion. Its massive bushy green leaves provide ground cover and limit sun exposure to the soil....
August is typically associated with the end of summer and the upcoming harvest season. But we firmly believe that August is actually the perfect month to sneak in one last round of planting before first frost sets in and the cold weather arrives for good. Table of Contents Below, we’ve curated our August planting picks for each of the USDA’s Plant Hardiness zones. (If you’re not sure what zone you live in, type in your zip code here....
Exotic and alluring, the Arabian jasmine plant is a native of Southeast Asia. Known botanically as Jasminum sambac, its highly fragrant flowers are prized. In fact, it’s the national plant of the Philippines and one of the three national plants of Indonesia! The floral aroma is used in China to scent jasmine teas, and jasmine flowers adorn leis in the Hawaiian islands. Table of Contents As you can probably guess, this tropical delight is a real treasure in the garden....
Growing hydroponic strawberries can be an efficient, clean, and fun new way to grow one of your favorite berries from the comfort of your own home. You may hear the term hydroponics and think it’s an overcomplicated gardening technique, but it can actually be super simple! Table of Contents There are tons of reasons you may want to give this style of growing a try, and it’s easier to get started than you think....
Table of Contents The garden can be the most magical place at your home. For many people, their garden is a safe haven. Surrounding yourself with foliage and flowers that you’ve grown is satisfying! It can also be a wonderful place to relax and absorb nature. But the garden needs more than just beautiful sights and smells. Another essential element in the garden is sound. This adds more life to your garden and makes it even more inviting....
As an Idahoan, I absolutely love potatoes! There are so many things you can make with them and you can grow them in small spaces. Plus, you don’t have to live in the Spud State to join in on the fun. Potato growing can be accomplished – and enjoyed – practically anywhere. Table of Contents Potatoes are a top staple in the human diet, along with wheat and rice. In fact, it’s the most common non-cereal crop grown worldwide....
If you’re a gardener, you’ve probably experienced this houseplants heartbreak… Table of Contents You get your new spider plant, pot it up, and then the tips of the leaves turn brown or black. I’ve been through it too with my spider plants. Leaves usually start turning a brownish color due to various careless mistakes on our part – moisture, stress, and sunlight overexposure being the most common factors. So, let’s discuss what you can do to prevent your spider plant leaves from turning brown!...
Table of Contents After much hard work, you have a beautiful garden bursting with flowers and glorious harvests of various vegetable and fruity goodness. However, an unseemly horror lurks in the corner of your mini-Eden, long forgotten as the seasons have cycled from one to the next. Yes, that’s right, your unloved garden furniture. It’s there. It looks sad. It needs help. Perhaps you’ve put a tarp over this terrible display of neglect in the effort to protect the furniture from the elements and yourself from having to think about cleaning it all....
For first-time gardeners, one of the most confusing things to deal with is getting the right soil mix. There are so many options out there, all of them claiming to be the best organic raised bed soil. Some bagged mixes are quite good, and they’re usually a great place to start for new gardeners. Table of Contents But soil science is a bit more than opening a bag and having miraculous, healthy plants from it....
Do you have a mouse in your house? Many of us do. But excepting the ones that are famous and found at theme parks, or the cute ones that outsmart cartoon cats, nobody wants these little rodentiae to live with them. That’s when you search for the best mouse trap you can find. Table of Contents From humane and kind varieties to those which cause lasting harm (to the mouse, not you), these gadgets span a wide range of styles....
Cabbage is one of those old-school crops that is easy to grow. It’s resistant to the cold, highly nutritious, and easily cooked into a variety of dishes. Growing cabbage in your garden is a great way to learn how to grow food in your garden, as it’s easy enough for beginners but can challenge even experienced gardeners. Plus, the impressive heads are eye-catchers, filling up garden beds nicely. Table of Contents...
Ah, orchids…some of the most beautiful flowers that exist. Their balance of colorful blooms and woody, thick roots make them a favorite flower of gardeners around the world. A little-known fact about orchids is that in many areas of the world, they grow hydroponically in nature! How is this possible? Well, in tropical climates, orchids typically grow between rocks or tree bark. Because the climate is so wet and rainy, they get more than enough water, and when its’s not raining their roots are being exposed to the oxygen they need to survive....
A favorite flower for many households, Impatiens walleriana is wildly popular in the UK and US. As a ground cover, they create a stunning, flower-dappled display. They make an excellent houseplant as well, growing easily if you give them the right conditions. Table of Contents Impatiens has many crazy names like busy lizzie or sultana. It’s even sometimes called the “patience plant”, although in an ironic way – more on that later!...
Kale has gained notoriety as a superfood, packed full of nutrients and healthy benefits. Kale can be fun and easy to grow, ranging in size from tall lacinato kale to loosely bunched frizzy varieties. It can be grown in extremely hot and extremely cold environments, making it a universally good plant to grow. Let’s talk more about kale companion planting that will help it grow well. Table of Contents Companion plants for kale are any plants that grow well near kale....
If you’re looking for a grass-like, care-free ground cover that will add texture to your landscape, then look no further than this popular evergreen grass, Ophiopogon japonicus, commonly known as mondo grass. Mondo grass originated in Japan and China and is known as the traditional groundcover of many Japanese gardens. This ornamental grass is very similar to black mondo grass, and in fact, it’s a direct relative. While black mondo grass is dark and spooky-looking, the dwarf lilyturf (or just “mondo grass”) is a lovely light green hue and looks great as an accent plant!...
