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What is Fasciation? So exactly what is fasciation in flowers anyway? Fasciation literally means banded or bundled. Scientists aren’t sure what causes the deformity, but they believe it is probably caused by a hormonal imbalance. This imbalance may be the result of a random mutation, or it can be caused by insects, diseases, or physical injury to the plant. Think of it as a random occurrence. It doesn’t spread to other plants or other parts of the same plant....

The scent is unmistakable and intoxicating. Lilacs have been in cultivation for at least 500 years and represent old money and crumbling mansions. The bushes are hardy and require little attention, including fertilizer, except in nutrient-poor regions. For those plants, rejuvenation pruning might be a better answer, but you can also apply lilac plant fertilizer in spring for added health. Knowing when to feed a lilac will promote better blooms and avoid heavy foliage....

Buying Plants Online When looking for the best place to order plants online, first, start by reading all the information on the nursery’s website. Many online nurseries will show pictures of lush, established plants but then state in the fine print that they ship only bare root or young cuttings of these plants. Read about their shipping methods – are plants individually packaged and protected? Are cuttings shipped in soil? These are important things to know before buying plants online....

Vriesea flaming sword info says there are 250 varieties, providing a range of color in both foliage and colorful bracts. The flaming sword houseplant is commonly named for its red bracts that appear when the plant is three to five years old. It is an epiphyte in its native habitat. How to Grow Flaming Sword Plants The flaming sword houseplant grows best in a one to one mix of regular potting soil and orchid mix....

Planting Fruit Trees in the Garden With a little planning, you can soon be biting into juicy fruit from your own backyard fruit trees – including apples, cherries, plums and pears – even if you only have a small garden. Your first step is to evaluate your site’s soil and sun. Most fruit trees require good drainage and full sun to thrive. If your fruit tree garden ideas are huge but your yard area isn’t, consider selecting dwarf and semi-dwarf cultivars as your backyard fruit trees....

How to Turn your Green Thoughts into a Book Here’s the thing, writing a book about gardening may seem daunting, but you very well may have already been garden writing. Many serious gardeners keep a journal from year to year itemizing plantings and their results. A garden journal in any form can turn into some serious fodder for a book. Not only that, but if you have been ardent about gardens for some time, it’s likely that you have read your share of books and articles, not to mention attending the occasional symposium or discussion on the subject....

Identifying the Garden Pests Whiteflies Whiteflies are part of a group of sap sucking insects that can cause problems in the garden. Other sap sucking insects include aphids, scale, and mealybugs. The effects of these insects, including whiteflies, are nearly all the same. The signs that you may have whiteflies or one of its cousins are a sticky film on the leaves, yellow leaves, and stunted growth. The way to determine if you specifically have whiteflies is to inspect the insects you find on the plant....

Grapevine Types Grapevine varieties are divided into table grapes and wine grapes. This means that table grapes are primarily used for eating and preserving while wine grapes are for, you guessed it, wine. Some varieties of grapes can be used for both. American grapevine varieties and hybrids are generally grown as table grapes and for juicing and canning. They are also the most common varieties of grapes for the home gardener....

Starting Celery Seeds Because a celery plant has such a long maturity time, unless you live in a location with long growing seasons, you need to start celery seeds indoors at least eight to 10 weeks before the last frost date for your area. Celery seeds are tiny and tricky to plant. Try mixing them with sand and then sprinkle the sand-seed mix over the potting soil. Cover the seeds with just a little bit of soil....

How to Grow a Cherry Tree Planting cherry trees requires well-drained, fertile soil. Cherry trees are very susceptible to root rot, so the soil needs to drain well. They also require about eight hours of sunlight daily, so you cannot plant them where they will grow in the shade of other trees. Any cherry tree care manual will tell you that sour cherry trees are self-pollinators. This means they do not require more than one tree to produce the fruit....

When to Take Cuttings from Creeping Phlox If you are a lover of this plant, it’s easy to propagate creeping phlox from cuttings. This is a nearly foolproof way to make more plants and add different colors to your collection for free. Creeping phlox sends out runners, rooting stems that are also a quick way to propagate the plant. Creeping phlox cuttings should be taken in either summer or fall, but seem to root best if planted in autumn....

About Caulanthus Desert Candles Finding unique plants for hot, dry locations is often a challenge. Enter the Desert Candle flower. Caulanthus Desert Candles grow wild in southern California and Nevada. It is part of the wild flora of the hot Mojave Desert. It can be difficult to find plants for sale, but seed is available. This is a heat and drought tolerant plant with an interesting form and very pretty flowers....

What Spices and Herbs are in Pickles? Purchased pickling spices may have a virtual laundry list of ingredients. Some contain the following herbs and spices for pickling: Allspice Mustard seed Coriander seed Black peppercorns Ginger root Cinnamon Bay leaf Cloves Crushed peppers Dill Mace Cardamom Nutmeg Pickle preferences are kind of personal. It all depends on which flavors you prefer, so if you’re up to growing herbs for pickling, pick the ones that suit your palate....

About Guava Leaf Tea As mentioned, indigenous people have been harvesting guava leaves for medicinal tea for many years. Today, guava has found its way into modern medicines, including weight loss products and anti-diarrhea formulas. Researchers are even studying its medicinal properties with regards to treating diabetes. Guava leaves are also a rich source of antioxidants, you know those things making the news that protect your cells by scavenging damaging free radicals....

Growing Male Types of Asparagus Asparagus is either male or female. Most gardeners primarily plant male plants, which produce larger spears in greater numbers. This is because female plants expend tremendous energy producing seeds and small, weedy seedlings that compete with established asparagus plants. Until the last two decades, types of asparagus consisted of a mix of male and female plants. However, researchers have discovered ways to effectively propagate all-male varieties of asparagus....

Are Horseradish Flowers Edible? As mentioned, horseradish is grown primarily for its peppery root. A cold hardy crop, horseradish thrives in either sun or partial shade and is propagated from root cuttings. Horseradish establishes rapidly and even after harvesting the roots, will more than likely pop up in the garden whether you want it to or not. For this reason, many people plant horseradish in pots to retard the possibility of spreading....

What are Horsetail Weeds? The horsetail weed family (Equisetum spp.), closely related to the fern family, contains over 30 ancient species of plants. At one time, horsetail was the dominant plant on the earth and was said to have grown to a very large size. Today, there are two forms of this perennial plant. One is known as “scouring rush,” and has no leaves but instead has hollow and jointed stems....

How to Give Back with Gardening Gardening for the community and giving back make this activity more meaningful. If you’re wondering how you can put your gardening time, talent, and skills to work for others, keep reading for some ideas to get you started. Charity Garden Ideas Donate extra veggies and fruit that you grow to a local food pantry. Call to ask first, but most pantries take fresh produce. If you do have a local food pantry that accepts produce, consider growing a section of your garden just for charity....

If you like eating enoki mushrooms, you might try growing them yourself. If you want to learn how to grow enoki mushrooms, there are plenty of kits and inoculum available. Most of the items needed are easy to find and household glass containers may be used once sterilized. Enoki Mushroom Info Wild enoki mushrooms bear very little resemblance to cultivated forms. They grow on rotting wood, especially dead elms in woodland settings....

About Virginia Bluebells Flowers This pretty wildflower is, unfortunately, endangered throughout much of its native range due to habitat loss. If you’re planning a native garden, this is a great addition. When bluebells first emerge in early spring, they have striking, deep purple foliage. The leaves then quickly turn green and the entire plant will grow up to 24 inches (61 cm.) tall in clump formations. The flowers bloom early to mid-spring and continue into mid-summer, when the plants go dormant....