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Making Terrariums from Soda Bottles Creating a pop bottle terrarium is easy. To make a garden in a bottle, wash and dry a 2-liter plastic soda bottle. Draw a line around the bottle about 6 to 8 inches from the bottom, then cut the bottle with a pair of sharp scissors. Set the top of the bottle aside for later. Place a 1 to 2-inch layer of pebbles in the bottom of the bottle, then sprinkle a small handful of charcoal over the pebbles....

Today, sweet woodruff is most commonly used as a ground cover in shady areas. Sweet woodruff ground cover, with its star-shaped whorls of leaves and lacy white flowers, can add interesting texture and spark to a deeply shaded part of the garden. Sweet woodruff care is easy and taking the time to plant sweet woodruff is well worth the effort. How to Grow Sweet Woodruff Herb Sweet woodruff herb should be planted in a shady area....

There are many types of exotic pitcher plants, all surprisingly easy to grow once you learn how to meet the plant’s basic needs, including proper pitcher plant watering. Read on to learn what’s involved in watering a pitcher plant. Pitcher Plant Watering Pitcher plants like humid, boggy environments; this is the main thing to keep in mind when watering nepenthes. Feel the planting medium regularly, and water whenever the surface of the medium begins to feel slightly dry to the touch....

About Grapes with Downy Mildew Early signs of downy mildew on grapes include small, greenish-yellow spots on the leaves, primarily between the veins. The lesions may be difficult to see, but they will eventually enlarge, and, in severe infections, may turn dark brown and brittle before dropping. Early symptoms of downy mildew on grapes may also appear on tendrils and stems as shiny, water-soaked depressions with fuzzy fungal growth. Young shoots and tendrils are stunted and distorted....

What are the Symptoms of Witches’ Broom Fungus? Witches’ broom dates to the Middle Ages and aptly refers to tangled mats of twigs protruding from many woody plants. Since each broom is unique, how do you go about identifying witches’ broom fungus? Generally, witches’ broom in blackberries is seen as a dense cluster of twigs and/or branches protruding out from the center of the plant. As you may guess, the protuberance looks much akin to a stereotypical “witches’ broom....

What are the most common trees and shrubs for maritime forests? Read on for info on maritime forest plants. What Is a Maritime Forest? Maritime forest trees grow very close to the ocean. That means that trees and shrubs for maritime areas must tolerate salt, as well as wind and drought. The maritime areas with tropical maritime climates are found in warmer areas, while colder zones are home to temperate species....

Cold Frame Hardening Off Seedlings which have been started indoors or in greenhouses have been exposed to conditions much different than those that occur outdoors. Grow lights emit enough light to nurture and encourage growth in seedlings, but the strength of the light is not comparable to that of direct sunlight. Additional factors, like wind, may damage delicate transplants. These outdoor variables can make adjusting to new growing conditions quite difficult for young plants....

What to do with Papaya The obvious thing to do with papaya is to eat it fresh, but that isn’t all you can do. Papaya fruit is so versatile it can be grilled, frozen, pickled, and more. It’s no wonder that papaya can be found among a slew of cuisines, from savory to sweet. A Versatile Plant Papaya is a tree that bears pear-shaped fruit that turns from green to yellow as it ripens....

Vertical Succulent Planters Many vertical succulent gardens are grown in a simple wooden box, with a depth of about 2 inches (5 cm.). The optimum size of the box should be no bigger than 18 inches by 24 inches (46 x 61 cm.). Bigger sizes tend to get out of hand, loosing soil or even plants when hanging on a wall. Since succulents normally have a shallow root system, they can become established in just an inch (2....

Wallflower Garden Plant Most wallflower plants are of the genus Erysimum, with some types being from Cheiranthus, sometimes called Gillyflower. Wallflower plants have perky spring blooms, often in shades of yellow and orange. Newer cultivars of the wallflower garden plant come in shades of pinks, purples and blue; some varieties have chocolate or crimson blooms. Most wallflowers are drought tolerant. Some are short-lived perennials, others are annuals or biennials. Perennial wallflower plants are grown as annuals in colder zones....

What are Microgreens? Microgreens are the sprouted seeds of various lettuces and greens. The seeds are grown in small, shallow containers like seed flats that make it easier to harvest. In addition to lettuce microgreens, you can sprout cruciforms, beets, radishes, celery, basil, and dill. Microgreen production is expensive and time consuming in large scale operations but at home, growing microgreens is very simple. Sprouting Microgreens Many gardeners prefer to sprout the seeds before they plant them....

What are Paphiopedilum Orchids? There are about 80 species and hundreds of hybrids in the Paphiopedilum genus. Some have striped or variegated leaves, and others have flowers with spots, stripes, or patterns. Many of these varieties are prized by collectors. Paphiopedilum orchids are nicknamed “slipper orchids” because of the unusual shape of their flowers. However, they are different from the North American wildflowers known as lady’s slipper orchids. Most Paphiopedilum species are terrestrial orchids, which means they grow in soil....

While many hybrid cultivars offer growers vegetable varieties that perform well under a wide range of conditions, many may prefer open pollinated varieties. What does open pollinated mean when it comes to selecting seeds for the home garden? Read on to learn more. Open Pollination Information What are open pollinated plants? As the name would imply, open pollinated plants are produced by seeds that have resulted from the natural pollination of the parent plant....

What is Atomic Gardening? Atomic gardening, or gamma gardening, is the process by which plants or seeds were exposed to varying degrees of radiation in fields or specially designed laboratories. Most often, a radiation source was placed at the top of a tower. The radiation would spread outward in a circle. Wedge-shaped plantings were made around the circle in order to ensure that each crop received differing amounts of treatment throughout the planting....

Henbane Weed Info Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) displays large, hairy, deeply lobed leaves with pronounced mid-veins. Funnel shaped blooms, which appear from spring to early autumn, are ivory or yellow with deep purple centers. Urn-shaped pods, each containing hundreds of seeds, develop along the stem and are dispersed when the pods separate from the stems. During the Middle Ages, henbane was used by sorcerers who integrated the plant into magic spells and charms....

When to Apply Soil Amendments Fall is the best time to amend the soil for several reasons. First of all, most plants are done growing until spring, so it is easier to remove debris and work around them. The weather is more conducive for amending the soil than during spring’s wet rains. There are fewer gardening chores in the fall than spring, so amending the soil at this time makes sense....

Milkweed Cutting Propagation Although it can be started from seed, milkweed cutting propagation is an alternative method for increasing the number of milkweed plants in your butterfly garden. It’s not much more complicated than taking cuttings of milkweed and rooting milkweed cuttings in a suitable medium. Follow these steps to increase your chances of successfully growing milkweed from cuttings: When to take milkweed cuttings: Mid-summer, when the stems are green and herbaceous is the ideal time to take cuttings of milkweed....

Weed Garden Tips The key to a successful weed garden bed is in your choice of plants. There are many wild plants with weed-like tendencies that are valuable food sources for animals, birds and butterflies. If you change the name to a wildlife garden, creating a weed garden is much more palatable. Weeds are hardy souls that thrive without water, in poor soil, grow fast and need no supplemental care. Some good options that will also make a pretty display are:...

What are Willow Galls? If you don’t know about galls on willow trees, you are not alone. They are unusual growths on willow trees caused by various insects and bacterium. Willow tree galls are different in color, shape, and placement depending on what insect or bacterium causes them. Read on for a run-down on different pests that cause galls on willow trees and what those galls look like. Willow Gall Sawflies – Willow galls can be caused by willow leaf gall sawflies, Pontania pacifica....

What Does International Women’s Day Mean? Occurring each year on March 8th, International Women’s Day was created to celebrate the achievements of women, as well as bring to light issues surrounding gender equality. Though the exact origins of International Women’s Day are not known, many political and social movements throughout the early 1900’s are believed to have laid the foundation for the now annual celebration. At its core, the values which the day represents are said to include: equality, respect, hope, dignity, and justice....