How to Avoid Camellia Flower Problems To avoid camellia flower problems, it is best to plant camellias where they will be most happy. Camellia plants like moist soil but do not tolerate “wet feet.” Be sure to plant your camellia somewhere with good drainage. An acid soil of 6.5 is best for camellias, and nutrient levels must be kept consistent. Camellias grow well in containers as long as the soil drains well....
Can Vegetable Oil Be Composted? Think about it, vegetable oil is organic so logically you would assume you could compost leftover cooking oil. This is sort of true. You can compost leftover cooking oil IF it is in very small amounts and IF it is a vegetable oil such as corn oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, or rapeseed oil. Adding too much vegetable oil to compost slows down the composting process....
Used Hops in Compost Composting spent hops is similar to composting leaves or grass, and the same general composting guidelines apply. Be sure to combine the hops, which are warm and wet, with an adequate amount of brown material such as shredded paper, sawdust, or dry leaves. Otherwise, the compost can become anaerobic, which in simple terms means the compost is too wet, lacks adequate oxygen, and can become sloppy and smelly in a hurry....
Tabletop grass does not have to cover the entire table and could be done in dishes or trays to add some garden greenery. Creating a Table of Grass Grass-covered tabletops are trending recently and it’s easy to see why. The startling green color, gently swaying blades, and even the smell of grass bring a much-needed brightness to a buffet, seated table, or outdoor picnic space. Tabletop grass can also be used to bring the outside indoors....
Before Planting Apples in Containers There are a couple of things to consider before planting apples in containers. First of all, choose your cultivar. This sounds easy, just pick the variety of apple that you like best, right? Nope. Most nurseries will only carry trees that grow well in your area, but if you wish to purchase your tree online or from a catalog, you may not be getting one that will do well in your region....
Can You Grow Broccoli in Pots? Broccoli is perfectly happy to be grown in pots. It does get very widespread, however, so plant only one per 5-gallon (19 L.) container. You can fit two to three plants in a 15-gallon (57 L.) container. If you’re planting in autumn, start your seeds about one month before the first average frost. Either plant them directly in your container or start them indoors– broccoli seeds germinate at 75 to 80 degrees F....
Potted Naranjilla Trees Loosely translated to “little orange,” naranjilla plants are native to South America. These unique members of the Solanaceae family produce small orange-yellow fruits which are treasured for their use in juices, as well as in baking and in various sweet treats. Intolerant of cold temperatures, mature plants produce clusters of small, 2 inch (5 cm.) fruits. Though technically relatives of tomatoes, the fruits are noted for their sweet (and sometimes sour) taste....
Why Grow Potted Zinnia Plants? There are many reasons to grow zinnias. These pretty flowers come in a range of colors and sizes, they are great cutting flowers and look nice in arrangements, they are easy to grow, and they keep producing blooms all summer, even when it’s very hot. There are also great reasons to consider growing potted zinnia plants. If your garden space is limited, for instance, containers on a patio can add color and greenery....
Candy cane oxalis plants are botanically called Oxalis versicolor, meaning changing color. Candy cane oxalis flowers are red and white, hence the name. In early spring, trumpet shaped blooms appear, even on young plants. Gardeners in some areas may find blooms on the plant in late winter. Flowers of the candy cane oxalis plant appear white once the trumpets have opened, as the red stripe is on the bottom of the petal....
About Cape Marigold Cutting Propagation Cape marigold plants are easily sown from the seeds. However, the resulting plants won’t be true to type, or exact replicas of the parent plants. So, can you grow cape marigold cuttings? Yes. In fact, the only way to propagate exact clones of a certain cape marigold variety is from cuttings. For example, if you wanted to do a stunning border or container filled with purple nemesia and a variety of cape marigold that bears white petals from deep purple centers, the easiest way to save money and guarantee flower color would be to root cuttings of that cape marigold – provided the plant doesn’t have a patent on it....
Heucherella vs. Heuchera Heucherella and heuchera are both North American natives and both are suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Heucherella, often grown as a groundcover or border plant, inherited the attractive foliage of the heuchera plant, but the heart-shaped leaves are usually smaller. The foamy-looking heucherella blooms (reminiscent of foamflower) are available in shades of pink, cream and white. Heucherella is more resistant to rust disease and tends to be more tolerant of both heat and humidity....
If a stem of your mature Christmas cactus is getting woody, it doesn’t mean that anything is amiss. That means that there is no reason to try fixing a Christmas cactus with woody stems. Read on for more information about woody Christmas cactus. Woody Christmas Cactus Stems A Christmas cactus that is cared for properly will last a long time, a quarter-century or even longer. Ideal Christmas cactus growing conditions include light shade in summer and full sunlight during fall and winter....
How to Make Houseplants Thrive Water your plants wisely. Always thoroughly soak your plants and let water escape the drainage hole. Never let your plant sit in water for extended periods of time. Wait until the top one to two inches (2.5-5 cm.) of the soil is dry before watering again. You want to have a happy medium between underwatering and overwatering. Know when to fertilize. Be sure to regularly fertilize during the active growing season....
When to Trim Cassia Trees Prune cassia trees at planting time only if necessary to removed dead and diseased branches and those that cross and rub against each other. Rubbing causes wounds that can provide entry points for insects and disease organisms. Cassia trees are normally pruned in late winter or early spring. Early pruning gives the shrub plenty of time to form the buds that will bloom in late summer....
If you’re an experienced gardener and you’re ready to try something more challenging than pothos or spider plants, consider these houseplants for advanced gardeners. Challenging Houseplants: Houseplants for Advanced Gardeners Boston fern (Nephrolepsis exalta) is a gorgeous, lush plant from the tropical rainforest. This plant is slightly fussy and prefers indirect or filtered light. Like many difficult houseplants, Boston fern doesn’t like cold, and appreciates daytime temps between 60 and 75 F....
Companion Planting with Chard Utilizing companion plants for chard or other vegetables is a natural way to create diversity in the garden. A garden that is rich in diversity will in turn deter pests and diseases that seek out like species. It also engenders habitats that are safe havens for beneficial creatures. Planting companion plants for chard takes out some of the human involvement, allowing you to create a more organic garden....
About Cherry Black Knot Disease Black knot of cherry trees is a fungal disease caused by the pathogen Apiosporina morbosa. Fungal spores are spread amongst trees and shrubs in the Prunus family by spores that travel on wind and rain. When conditions are damp and humid, spores settle on young plant tissues of the current year’s growth and infect the plant, causing galls to form. Old wood is not infected; however, the disease may go unnoticed for a couple years because the initial formation of galls is slow and inconspicuous....
What are the Easiest Roses to Grow? Below are some foolproof roses nearly anyone can grow in the garden: Sally Holmes – This climbing rose produces creamy white blooms that are blushed with pink. Averaging about 8-10 feet (3 m.), this easy-care rose is hardy in zones 6-9. Little Mischief – This is a beautiful shrub rose with deep pink blooms having a white eye, fading to hot pink. Reaching only 24 inches (61 cm....
Determining Your Citrus Blooming Season The answer to, “When do citrus blossoms bloom?” lies in the tree’s stress levels. Bloom can be triggered by temperature or water availability. Producing flowers and fruits is nature’s way of ensuring the continuation of the species. The tree chooses its time based on when the fruit has the best chance of maturing. In Florida and other subtropical regions where citrus is grown, there is usually a prolific bloom following the cooler winter dormancy....
Elements of classical garden design can be easily incorporated into anyone’s garden. Take a cue from these Greek and Roman distinctive features and make them your own. How to Grow an Ancient Inspired Garden The gardens of ancient Roman villas centered on pleasure gardens where they could relax and entertain. Guests were treated to remarkable views and visual elements. Greek contributions to design included symmetry and balance. The clean lines of old-world style were based on simplicity....
