Can You Split a Staghorn Fern? This is a unique type of plant, being both an air plant and a fern. Native to rainforests, this tropical fern doesn’t exactly look like other ferns you may be more familiar with. Splitting staghorns may seem complicated or difficult, but it really isn’t. You can and should divide this fern if it is getting too large for its growing space or if you want to propagate it....
Cape Fuchsia Information Also known as cape figwort, cape fuchsia plants are native to South Africa. In fact, the name refers to that country’s Cape of Good Hope. Look for this bushy plant to reach mature heights and widths of about 3 to 5 feet (.91 to 1.5 m.). Cape fuchsia comes in a range of colors, including creamy yellow, peach, magenta, soft coral, apricot, pale red and creamy white, often with yellow centers....
Common Grass Fungus Leaf Spot This grass fungus is caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana. It is identified by the purple and brown spots that appear on the grass blades. If left untreated, it can travel down the blade of grass and cause the roots to rot. This will result in a thin looking lawn. Leaf spot grass fungus treatment consists of proper care of the lawn. Mow at the right height and make sure the lawn does not stay wet all the time....
Companion Plants for Juniper Tall and tree like or short groundcover? Juniper varieties come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tall enough that they work well for privacy hedges, while others are perfect for foundation planting or covering that slope. For example, Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) presents as a pyramidal tree up to 50 feet (15 m.) tall. It can be a specimen tree in the backyard or part of a very tall windbreak....
About Five Spot in Containers Rarely getting more than 8 inches (20.5 cm.) tall, five spot is ideal around the edges of containers. Its genus name, Nemophila, means ‘shade lover,’ making these pretty flowers perfect in low light situations. They also do well in areas with bright but indirect sunlight. Combining other native plants with potted baby blue eyes eases care and encourages local flora. Potted baby blue eyes have dainty 1-inch (2....
What are Crown Borers? You may not realize you’re looking for crown borer information when you search Google, trying to discover the identity of the creature drilling holes in your caneberries and ornamental plants, but as it turns out, this damage is their most distinctive sign. The larvae of these clearwing moths tunnel their way into plants, eating as they go. The life cycle of crown borer moths begins when adults emerge in June and July to lay their eggs on wounded or stressed plants, either on the bark or on leaves nearby....
Desert Trumpet Plant Info Each desert trumpet plant displays a few spindly, nearly leafless, grayish green stems (or sometimes a single stem). The upright stems rise above basal rosettes of crinkly, spoon-shaped leaves. Each stem has an odd-looking inflated area (thus the alternative name “bladder stem”). For many years, experts believed the inflated area – which measures about an inch (2.5 cm.) in diameter – is the result of an irritation caused by a larva that burrows in the stem....
Caring for Desk Plants Office plant care is important and not as involved as one would think, provided you focus on the needs of the plant chosen. Various plants have different needs, so pay attention to watering, light, and other possible desk plant maintenance that may be required. Watering Improper watering–either too much or not enough– is usually to blame when office plant care goes awry. Water office plants slowly, using lukewarm water, until water trickles through the drainage hole, but only when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch....
Does Gardening Count as Exercise? According to the Second Edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans at health.gov, adults need 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intense aerobic activity each week. They also need muscle-strengthening activities such as resistance training twice a week. Gardening chores such as mowing, weeding, digging, planting, raking, trimming branches, carrying bags of mulch or compost, and applying said bags can all count toward weekly activity. The Physical Activity Guidelines also state activities can be done in bursts of ten-minute periods spread throughout the week....
How to Expand a Garden If you dream of growing more food for your table, or just developing an outdoor green space, you can make your garden bigger. Organizing the garden space and providing adequate water are two key items. Plan the garden so you have the plants you will want to grow. Build or purchase raised beds to consolidate plants and make watering easier. Cut back any existing plants and move any that have gotten too large for the space, if applicable....
My Cyclamen Won’t Flower Cyclamen is a Mediterranean plant. Summers in Mediterranean regions are difficult for some plants to bear because of the intense sunlight and little or no rain. Some Mediterranean plants, such as cyclamen, enter a dormant period during summer. They drop their leaves and flowers and rest until late summer or early autumn. You can help them through their resting phase by providing ideal conditions for their summer nap....
However, many gardeners have difficulty growing lavender, as they have a reputation of being somewhat picky about where they are grown. Fortunately, we live in an age where plant breeders recognize problems and swiftly create new, tougher varieties. One such tough, reliable hybrid is Grosso lavender. Continue reading for all the perks of growing Grosso lavender plants. What is Grosso Lavender? Grosso lavender, scientifically known as Lavendula x intermedia ‘Grosso,’ is a woody perennial hybrid of English lavender and Portuguese lavender....
What are Greens? Cool season crops suitable for spring or fall, greens are the foliage and leaves of edible plants. Greens are an important part of your salad, but some of the more rustic varieties make excellent cooked vegetables too. Greens have an important place in the history of the American diet. They have often been discarded or considered less valuable where a root crop was involved, so farm laborers developed innovative methods of cooking these cast off leaves and created delicious and nutritious dishes....
About Rainier Cherry Trees Rainier cherries resulted from a cross between the Bing and Van varieties. The trees are gorgeous in spring with showy pink-white blooms filling the garden with a lovely fragrance. This is followed by the next act: a large crop of outstanding cherries. For the grand finale in autumn, expect a fiery fall foliage display. The trees bear fruit early. Those with a Rainier in the backyard will be picking Rainier cherries in May or June, while other cherry trees are nowhere near ripe....
Some of those old garden rose bushes, such as Peace rose, Mister Lincoln rose, or Chrysler Imperial rose are still on the market at many online rose companies. However, there are some heirloom rose bushes that are not only older rose bushes but perhaps did not sell all that well in their day or have just gotten bumped out of the way due to the passage of time and new varieties becoming available....
Can Staghorn Ferns Be Potted? This is a good question since staghorns generally don’t naturally grow in soil. The key to growing staghorn ferns in baskets or pots is to replicate their natural environment as closely as possible. Yes, though, they can grow in pots. How to Grow Staghorn Ferns in Pots If you’re interested in potting a staghorn fern, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Wire or mesh baskets are well-suited for growing staghorn ferns, but you actually can grow one in a standard pot....
What is Gummosis? Gummosis is a nonspecific condition where sap leaks from a wound in the tree. It usually occurs when the tree has a perennial or bacterial canker or is attacked by the peach tree borer. However, gummosis can also be caused by any wound to a stone fruit tree, including winter damage, disease damage, or damage from a gardening tool. If you see gummy sap leaking out of your peach, plum, cherry, or apricot tree, it is probably gummosis....
Throwing an Independence Day Garden Party Here are a some ideas for celebrating 4th of July in the garden: Plants and decorations Don’t overdo it with decorations for your outdoor 4th of July party. Keep in mind that less is more in many situations. If you have outdoor patriotic plants already in pots, put them in a grouping. You can also use inexpensive outer pots in red, white and blue for the occasion and add a flag to coordinate with them....
Info on Garden Phlox Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata), also called summer phlox, is a sun-loving perennial with a long flowering season. Large clusters of flowers, called panicles, sit atop stems that grow 3 to 4 feet (91 cm. to 1 m.) tall. This native American wildflower thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 8. Growing hardy garden phlox is a challenge in hot, humid areas because the plant is sensitive to powdery mildew....
Deadleafing vs. Deadheading Many gardeners are familiar with the process of deadheading, but deadleafing garden plants may be less known. Just as deadheading refers to the removal of old or spent flower blooms, deadleafing refers to the removal of dead or dried leaves from the plant. When to Remove Leaves – Is Deadleafing Necessary? For many flowering plants, the process of plant regrowth is constant. Depending upon the time in the growing season, plant leaves will naturally turn brown and die back to the ground or to the plant’s stem....
