When growing edible flowers, avoid the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers and always know which flowers are edible before consuming them. There are many resources available on edible plants and flowers. Always check these reliable sources before attempting to eat anything you are unsure of. What are Some Edible Flowers? Edible flowers come in nearly all shapes and sizes and can perform the same landscape functions as ornamental plants....
These colorful blooms come in bright shades from lavender to orange, spanning the rainbow with a choice of bedding colors. Caring for New Guinea impatiens is no more difficult than any other flower, as long as you keep the plants well-watered throughout the hottest parts of the year. How to Grow New Guinea Impatiens The thing to remember about New Guinea impatiens is that, although it will tolerate moderate amounts of sunshine, it still thrives in light shade....
How to Harvest Cranberries Commercially grown cranberries are known as the American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) or sometimes referred to as lowbush. They are actually woody, perennial vines that can stretch out runners to 6 feet (2 m.). When spring arrives, the vines send out upright sprouts from the runners, which then produce flowers followed by cranberries in the fall. These commercially grown lowbush varieties of cranberry are grown in bogs, a wetland ecosystem consisting of sphagnum moss, acidic water, peat deposits, and a mat-like substance on the water’s surface....
Reasons for Cutting a Succulent Plant Adult succulents growing in too little light often stretch out, a common reason for pruning succulent plants. This involves a process called beheading, or removing the top part of the plant. When cutting a succulent, use sharp, clean pruners to avoid disease or start rot in the stem. Not as bad as it sounds, beheading your plant provides at least one new plant and possibly more, depending on the length of the stem....
If you are wondering when and how to repot bonsai, read on. We’ll give you all the information you need to accomplish the potting chore quickly and safely. When to Repot a Bonsai? Bonsai, like other potted plants, need to be repotted when they become root bound. This means when the roots grow too large for the container and start to impact drainage. One way to figure this out is to keep a close eye on how quickly water drains through the pot....
Causes for Squash End Rot The causes for squash end rot are simple. Squash blossom end rot happens due to a calcium deficiency. Calcium helps a plant create a stable structure. If a plant gets too little calcium while the fruit is developing, there isn’t enough to sufficiently build the cells on the fruit. In particular, the bottom of the fruit, which grows the fastest, doesn’t get enough calcium. As the fruit gets larger, the cells begin to collapse, starting with the weakest cells at the bottom....
Reusing Seed Envelopes The simplest way to make use of your old seed packets is to reuse them. There are two easy ways to do this: Seed holders: Simply reuse seed packets for their intended use. If you collect seeds at the end of the growing season, save those packets for an easy way to keep them separate and identified. You can seal the packets into sandwich bags or plastic containers for storage....
About Indigo Pest Control Indigo not only produces vivid dyes, it is also a nitrogen fixing member of the legume family. In many tropical regions, it is not only valued as “the king of dyes” but is also grown as a green manure or cover crop. In addition to being pretty resistant to insect pests, indigo is rarely grazed on by livestock or other wildlife. In tropical regions where indigo can grow into a woody perennial, it can actually become a pest itself by choking or shading out native flora....
Holly Leaf Spot Symptoms The symptoms of this holly disease are easy to see. Most types of holly plants will first show black, yellow, or brownish spots on the leaves. Eventually, the leaves will start to fall off the bush. Typically, the holly leaves will start to fall off the bottom of the plant and work its way up the plant. Leaves will normally fall off the plant in the spring but the spots will first appear in late fall or winter....
What is Pyrethrum? Pyrethrum is a chemical extract containing two active compounds, pyrethrin I and pyrethrin II. In these forms, the chemical is directly derived from several different species of chrysanthemum as well as the painted daisy. Anything you find in a garden center has probably been highly refined for garden use. There is another group with a similar name, the pyrethroids, which are derived from pyrethrum, but are in all ways synthetic and not necessarily approved for organic gardens....
With its shiny, feathery fronds, arching branches, and ornamental fruit, this tree is not of the low-maintenance school. You’ll want to read up on the care of Canary Island palm trees to be sure the plant stays healthy and happy. Information on Canary Date Palms If you are dreaming of Canary palm trees growing in your backyard, you’ll need lots of room. Information on Canary date palms lists these trees as growing up to 65 feet (20 m....
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....
Harvesting Snap Beans Green, wax, bush, and pole beans all belong to this group. The best time when to pick beans in this group is while they are still young and tender and before the seeds inside are visibly evident when looking at the pod. If you wait too long to pick snap beans, even by a day or two, the beans will be tough, coarse, woody, and stringy. This will make them unfit for your dinner table....
Signs of Burnt Orchid Leaves Recognizing scorched leaves on orchids isn’t rocket science. That said, sunburn in orchids is often evidenced by a white patch surrounded by a dark ring, or you may see several small spots. Severely burnt orchid leaves may display a reddish purple tint or leaves may turn black or yellow. If the scorched spot is contained to a small area, just leave it alone and wait for the plant to recover....
Signs of Sugarcane Disease Is my sugarcane sick? Sugarcane is a tall perennial grass with thick canes and feathery tops. If your plants are displaying slow or stunted growth, wilting, or discoloration, they may be affected by one of several sugarcane diseases. What’s Wrong with My Sugarcane? Red Stripe: This bacterial disease, which shows up in late spring, is indicated when leaves show distinctive red streaks. If red stripe affects individual plants, dig them up and burn them....
Jade Plant Pests The most common of jade plant pests is the mealybug. Mealybugs will form white, cottony patches at the joints where leaves are attached to stems. Their mouth parts pierce into plant tissues and they feed upon the plant sap. As they feed, mealybugs secrete a sticky substance, known as honeydew. This sticky honeydew provides an ideal location for the spores of the fungal disease sooty mold to settle upon....
Causes of Rotting Corn Kernels Fresh corn on the cob, with its juicy kernels and sweet flavor, is best when it comes straight from the garden plot. If harvest time sees you frustrated because there is kernel rot in sweet corn, it’s time to get proactive to prevent the problem next year. Sweet corn with kernel rot is a common sight when weather is wet and humid, and plants exhibit nutrient or cultural deficiencies....
Philodendron selloum – Lacy Tree Philodendron Philodendron plants come in a staggering variety of sizes, leaf shape, color, and variegation. This lacy leaf philodendron has several common names: hope selloum, horsehead philodendron, lacy tree philodendron, and tree philodendron. As a tropical plant, this is most appropriate as a houseplant unless you live somewhere very warm. It grows up to 10 feet (3 m.) tall and 8 feet (2 m.) wide, so it’s a small tree and a good size for a large houseplant....
About Lantana Control in Gardens Lantana is an ornamental shrub that is popular with home gardeners. It has colorful flowers that are small but grow in tight clusters. They change color with time, going from white to pink to purple or from yellow to orange to red, and put on quite a display. Native to the West Indies, lantana is a perennial in warmer climates and an annual or an indoor container plant in cooler regions....
Fuchsia Water Requirements One of the easiest things to do is either over or underwater plants. Moisture meters can be effective in determining how much water is retained in the soil, but they don’t help with the when and how much regarding the plant’s water needs. Watering a fuchsia plant is actually quite easy. They need regular moisture but can’t be standing in boggy water. Your in-ground plants will be more tolerant of a dry day or two while the potted plants need a bit more moisture....
