While true orange cacti are hard to come by, you can achieve the same effect with various “orange” cactus varieties such as moon cactus or cactus that has orange flowers. Read on for more specific ideas. Types of Orange Cactus Moon cactus isn’t actually a true orange cactus, but in fact, a regular green, columnar cactus with a colorful, ball-shaped cactus grafted on top. This collectible little plant, also known as Hibotan or ball cactus, is often grown on sunny windowsills....

When to Plant Pole Beans Weather is an important consideration when planting pole beans. Beans do not transplant well and do best when directly sown into the garden. Sow the seeds when soil temperatures are around 60 degrees F. (16 C.), and the ambient air has warmed to at least the same temperature. Most varieties require 60 to 70 days to first harvest and are normally harvested at least five times during the growing season....

How to Grow Zinnia Plants Growing zinnia plants can be inexpensive, particularly when growing them from seed. Seeds of zinnia flowers should usually be sown directly into the sunny flower bed, as developing roots do not like to be disturbed. If you wish to start growing zinnia plants from seeds indoors, plant the seeds in peat pots, poo pots (pots made from cow dung) or other biodegradable containers that can be planted directly into the garden later....

Saffron Harvest Info Today, the harvesting of saffron crocus is most often done for its resultant spice of the same name used in cooking, specifically in Spanish Paellas or Arroz con Pollo. One of the most expensive food products in the world, Saffron’s outrageous cost is due to the labor-intensive process of obtaining the stigma, of which there are only three per flower. Saffron harvest info lists the price of saffron at anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per pound (454 g....

Best Plants for Bees Bees need flowers but not just any flowers. Bees are attracted to some blooms more than others. They tend to be attracted to plants that flower in full sun conditions. When planting a garden to entice these tiny pollinators, the best plants for bees are those that prefer full sun and that, obviously, bloom. Honeybees, for some reason, are also attracted to tiny flowers of which many herbs have in abundance....

When the first sweet, warm breeze of spring starts to blow, assuring us that winter has finally released its cold grip, most gardeners turn their thoughts to reviving their plants from their long sleep, and wait eagerly for bright blooms and green leaves. Unfortunately, in our haste, we often forget that winter can leave damage that crops up weeks or months after the freezing weather has passed. Holly bush winter damage is a common problem for growers of holly....

Fresh Rosemary Wreaths Even if you aren’t particularly crafty, these small rosemary wreaths come together with only a few simple supplies. The basic supplies needed for a DIY rosemary Christmas wreath are listed below. Fresh rosemary sprigsScissors and/or wire cutters and pruning shearsWire, ribbon, or zip tieOptional: Pen or sharpie/ miniature embroidery hoop or hose clamp, hot glue gun How to Make a DIY Rosemary Christmas Wreath There are several iterations of this project depending on how you wish to use the fresh rosemary wreaths....

Tips for Creating a Mediterranean Garden Mosaic tiles are commonly used in Mediterranean gardens and are seen decorating walls, tables and pots, regardless of size. Substitutes for mosaic tiles can come from broken dishes or stained glass. Simply use mosaic adhesive and sanded grout found in craft and tile stores. Instruction manuals will provide an array of design ideas as well. Alternatively, seashells can be implemented. If space permits, add a small table and chair or two to create your very own sanctuary, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life....

Grass for Cats You may wonder why your cats insist on going outside, no matter the weather. When you look, you’ll often find them munching and chewing on blades of grass in the yard. Cats often do this when there is a deficiency in their diet or possibly just to fulfill some long-established instinct. (Dogs may do this as well.) You can easily fulfill their needs with a few containers of freshly grown grass placed throughout the household....

What should you do if your African violate won’t flower? Read on for info on African violet flowering needs including tips on how to make African violets bloom. No Flowers on African Violet It happens all too often. You buy beautiful African violets and bring them home. As the blooms die, you wait eagerly for more buds, but none appear. You look each morning but see no flowers on African violet plants....

Butterfly Bush Pruning Pruning butterfly bushes is easy. These shrubs are extremely hardy and adaptable. Unlike most pruning guidelines, there is no surefire technique on how to prune a butterfly bush. However, as with most shrubs and trees, it is always a good idea to remove any broken, dead, or diseased limbs by cutting them at the point of origin. Most people prefer to cut back the entire shrub to within a foot or two (31-61 cm....

When Should I Feed My Red Tip Photinia? Photinia is relatively self-sustaining provided it is planted in sandy loam with excellent drainage and good circulation. Feeding photinias is recommended in areas with more challenging soil consistencies and where nutrients are low. Gardeners wondering, “When should I feed my red tip photinia?”, should rely upon common plant guidelines. The best time for most plant fertilizing is just prior to the new year’s flush of growth in late winter to early spring....

How to Transplant Butterfly Bushes Transplanting a butterfly bush requires some preparation of the new location. Butterfly bushes prefer moist, well-drained soil in partial to full sun. For best results, amend the soil with compost prior to planting. After transplanting, there is little in the way of maintenance for butterfly bushes’ care. Transplanting is much the same as for any other shrub or small tree. Gently dig the butterfly bush plant up from its current location....

Is it Safe to Pick Juniper Berries? Those blue berries coated with a white powder are the source of the flavoring in gin. You don’t have to be a gin lover to want to learn when to harvest juniper berries. Is it safe to pick juniper berries? Make sure you can recognize the bush that is the source of the safe seasoning or some very unpleasant experiences may await from harvesting juniper berries off the wrong plant....

Lavandin Information Lavandin is related to the common lavender. What is lavandin? French lavender plants are sterile hybrid crosses between English lavender (L. augusifolia) and Portuguese lavender (L. latifolia). The result is Lavandula x intermedia, or lavandin. There are many uses for lavandin, most in the cosmetics industry, due to the high amount of aromatic oils in the plant. Lavandin only produces flowers once per year, but the plant is filled with blooms and flowers which have a higher camphor content than English lavender....

How to Step-by-Step Prune Wisteria So, first things first. When do you prune wisteria? You will want to prune wisteria in midwinter and again in the summer time. In the summer, pruning your wisteria should be done about two months after it flowers. When it comes to how to trim a wisteria, you first should recognize that regular wisteria trimming should be done to control growth and encourage more flowers. You cut the season’s current shoots back to within three buds from the base....

What Is a Learning Garden? A learning garden is typically a school garden, but it may also be a community garden or even just a family’s backyard garden. Regardless of location and how many people are involved, gardens for education are outdoor classrooms, gardens designed specifically to get children involved and to teach them a variety of lessons. There are many lessons that can go into a learning garden. You can design yours to be focused on one or two, or on a variety....

What Trees Make Good Hedges? Farmers have been using trees as hedge plants for hundreds of years. Often, they would use a local tree species that grows well in the area and simply plant them close together to form hedgerows. Today, homeowners tend to make hedges by planting one type of evergreen tree in a straight line. Popular choices for trees to prune into hedges include slender, upright evergreens like Spartan juniper or Emerald arborvitae....

Problems with Hellebores There is so much to love about hellebores. With shiny evergreen leaves and lovely, long-blooming flowers, hellebores thrive in shade and bloom when other plants snooze. This makes managing hellebore issues a priority. Hellebores are quite healthy and vigorous as well, and not particularly susceptible to pests. However, you’ll invite problems with hellebores if you don’t give them the growing conditions they need. For example, hellebores are very tolerant of different soils, but if you grow them in waterlogged soil, you can expect hellebore plant problems....

What are Velvetgrass Weeds? Velvetgrass is great at stabilizing soil, but because it isn’t native to North America, other indigenous grasses should be established. That means eradicating velvetgrass weeds wherever they are found. If it is allowed to persist, it will spread rapidly, inhibiting the growth of tree seedlings and native plants. Common velvetgrass (Holcus lanatus) is a tufted perennial grass. The foliage is grayish green and the stems are slightly flattened....