How Much Neglect Can a Jade Plant Take? I love low maintenance houseplants. While I don’t consciously try to neglect these babies, life gets busy sometimes. If I’m out in my veggie patch trying to get dozens of frost-tender seedlings into the ground before it rains, it’s nice to know my indoor succulents and cacti can do without my attention for a few days. Let me just say, this jade plant has been a real trooper....

Like other types of companion plant, nasturtium is best used within rows, or interplanted among several different crops. However, nasturtiums may be more compatible with certain plants than others. Why Grow Nasturtiums as Companion Plants? Companion planting is a technique that helps gardeners more efficiently utilize their planting space. Capitalizing on the concept of mutualism, different species of plants are grown in close proximity to one another as a means to create a polyculture....

How to Propagate a Croton If you love your croton and its beautiful colors, why not create more? Croton plant propagation is simple, although it does tend to root slowly. With patience, you’ll get new plants to keep or share. Croton Propagation from Cuttings A stem cutting is an easy and straightforward way to propagate a favorite croton plant. Take a cutting that is about 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 13 cm) long and that has at least 3 leaves on it....

About Common Garden Moths There are around 160,000 species of moth in the world compared to a scant 17,500 species of butterfly. In the U.S. alone there are almost 11,000 species of moth. You may not notice them as much as butterflies simply because their colors are usually drab and they frequent the garden at night. Moths and butterflies seek out nectar, but their offspring may be the bane of the gardener, ravaging tomatoes and other fruit....

Do Indoor Plants Really Improve Air Quality? Most people who keep houseplants come to love them. Their lush foliage is both elegant and cheerful, and studies suggest that indoor plants can improve concentration and productivity, lower stress levels and improve your mood. But one of the most talked-about benefits of keeping houseplants is their supposed ability to purify the air you breathe. It’s wonderful to think that keeping indoor plants can clean toxins from the air....

How Important Is It to Fertilize Hollyhocks? When it comes to hollyhocks, fertilizer plays an essential role in overall plant vitality. Routine feeding aids in their production of flowers and foliage, as well as other necessary processes. Though hollyhock plants can be grown under less-than-ideal conditions, they will often perform poorly are likely to begin showing signs of nutrient deficiencies early in the season. These include the yellowing of leaves, stunted growth, and even an increased susceptibility to disease....

Some fruit trees thrive under subtropical conditions. Below, we will explore some of the best fruit trees for subtropical climates, learning which are most hardy and which will produce the highest yields. 8 of the Best Subtropical Fruit Trees You Can Grow 1. Avocado Subtropical plants, like avocado, are a good choice for many gardeners living in regions with mild temperatures. In USDA zones 9-11, avocado trees can easily grow in a backyard or when kept in a large container....

When added as an accent to a space, red adds energy and vibrancy. It doesn’t fail to grab your attention – and designers are becoming increasingly aware of its effect. In recent weeks, the “Unexpected Red” theory has dominated interior design discussion on social media. “The ‘Unexpected Red’ theory is basically adding anything that’s red – big or small – to a room where it doesn’t match at all, and it automatically looks better,” says Taylor Migliazzo Simon, who coined the phrase in a recent TikTok video that has been viewed nearly a million times....

This sumac variety bears both male and female flowers in summer. The male catkins remain on the branches all winter long. Female flowers are pretty and produce clusters of red berries that attract wildlife. The shrub’s main ornamental value comes from deep green leaves that burn glorious shades of red, orange and purple in fall. Why “fragrant” sumac? The foliage as well as the twigs exude a powerful fragrance when bruised....

If you are planning an event and want to use confetti, think again. Some confetti is made from plastic, an item that won’t degrade for centuries. It also leaves behind petro-chemical residues that are not earth friendly. Additionally, birds are attracted to the shine and will eat the stuff, resulting in gut damage. Instead of purchasing confetti, consider eco-friendly confetti ideas that will still provide that celebratory feel, while producing no ill effects....

Choosing the right plants for a full-sun rain garden will ensure a low-maintenance habitat. Native plants are ideal, but you also can incorporate non-natives as long since they are not invasive and are pest-free. Rain gardens are an environmentally friendly solution to preventing pollutants from entering our waterways. Storm runoff from roofs, driveways, and other hard surfaces is directed into the rain garden where plants and soil help filter contaminants from the water before it reaches the storm drains....

Orchids are an extraordinarily large group of plants encompassing around 28,000 identified species, across 800 genera. The best method of orchid propagation varies by species – each type has a couple of different ways of reproducing. In home cultivation, orchids are most often propagated vegetatively, through cuttings or division. They may also be grown from seed in specific conditions – but this can be a slow process. Proper orchid care is essential in nurturing both the seedlings and the parent plants, which must be in good health to produce new plants....

Native Shade Plants There are plenty of native shade plants to chose from. Here are 8 of our favorites. 1. Ferns Most ferns thrive in shade, and many species are native to North America. A few examples include maidenhair fern, lady fern, cinnamon fern, and ostrich fern. You can find native ferns in various sizes, from ten inches (25 cm) tall to four feet (1.2 m). These are among the most well-adapted shade native plants....

Small Spring Flowers While the majority of gardeners are already familiar with popular bulbs, like tulips and daffodils, several smaller types of plants are often overlooked. Spring flowers like Scilla and Muscari are just a few examples of such diminutive blooms. Still, Crocus will always remain as one of my absolute favorite spring flowering plants. In my own yard, Crocus is the very first flower to begin blooming. Much before any of my other bulbs have started to even push through the soil, it is not uncommon to find that established drifts of Crocus have already pushed themselves through the snow....

What are Cherry Tomatoes? Named for their shape, cherry tomato plants produce clusters of small fruit that range in size from a marble to a golf ball. One benefit of cherry tomatoes is that smaller fruit size typically means fewer days to maturity. Plus, cherry tomatoes can ripen to beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple, depending upon the variety. Cherry tomatoes are both popular and versatile garden veggies. They are the perfect size for salads and snacking, but these tomatoes also add splashes of color to cooked dishes....

Best Tasting Tomatoes to Grow at Home There are vining, determinate, cherry, grape, beefsteak and plum tomatoes. They come in more colors than just classic red, with some orange, pink, purple-tinged and yellow. They may be monotone, striped or mottled, and anything in between. Sometimes your choice will be determined by whether they are easy to grow – but more often than not, taste is the driving factor. Even the shapes range from rounded common fruits to oval and multi-lobed....

How to Choose Trees for Your Yard Planting a tree sounds like such a simple project. But there are lots of different considerations that should be taken into account when choosing trees for your garden. These include size limitations, tree attributes, disease and pest aspects, and questions about invasiveness. Consider Your Space Dimensions It is clear that not every tree will be an appropriate size for every space. If you have a small cottage garden, a coastal redwood or even a sugar maple will be way too large to squeeze in....

What to Know Before Selling Plants Farmer’s markets are trendy and can be found in most cities of any size. Sellers are usually small scale farmers or even individual growers. Regardless, they must follow a strict set of rules to sell their produce. The same holds true if you want to sell plants online or from home. Plants, like other products, are often protected by plant trademarks or a plant patent....

Characterized by narrow planks, neatly spaced out so as to allow light to filter through, wooden slatting is a simple solution that is extremely versatile. While creating a crisp, modern aesthetic, the gaps in the wood also have the effect of softening the look of screens and barriers. They can serve a practical purpose, too – standing up to high winds where a solid structure may become damaged. Using wooden slats vertically will add height and drama to the garden, and when used horizontally they serve to make an area feel wider....

Some exotic or unusual orchids are rarely seen outside specialty shows, or their remote natural habitat, while others are readily available to the novice grower. Despite having a reputation for being difficult to grow, many orchid types will thrive as houseplants and don’t need to be kept in a greenhouse. While other species are well suited to growing in the garden. Orchid care must be tailored to the individual variety and its compatibility with the growing environment....