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Our guides cover everything from community gardening and sustainability to houseplant propagation and DIY projects from the garden, so whether you’re a master gardener or a beginner, we’re making it easy to find the Know How that you’re looking for. Houseplants The Gardening Know How Guide to Houseplants is among our most popular guide for gardeners of all experience levels. In addition to a wealth of information and inspiration, this guide also includes access to every GKH houseplant article ever created!...

Height: 5-80 feet (1.5-24 m) Spread: 5-12 feet (1.5-3.7 m) Sun exposure: Bright, direct sunlight to full sun Soil requirements: Moist, well-drained Hardiness zones: 10 and 11 When to plant: Spring to early summer If you have the proper climate for them, Ravenea rivularis care outdoors is easiest. But growing palms indoors is always a bit more complicated. Majesty palms prefer warmth and humidity, which isn’t always easy to provide inside a home....

Why the Timing of Blooms Is Important Plants go dormant in cold weather as a matter of survival. They slow down growth, and many plants totally drop their leaves and stop photosynthesis and sugar production. They shut down to conserve energy and protect against cold weather. It’s a little like hibernation in some animals. The timing of flower production is also important, but less for survival of the individual plant than for the species....

Quick Facts Botanical name: Saintpaulia ionanthaHeight: 6 to 9 inches (15 to 23 cm)Spread: 6 to 9 inches (15 to 23 cm)Sun exposure: Bright, indirectSoil requirements: Soilless mixHardiness zones: 11 to 12When to plant: Any time indoors How to Care for an African Violet African violet care can be a little finicky, but they are generally easy to grow once you know what they need. Light One of the reasons people enjoy African violets so much is that they can be coaxed into flowering repeatedly throughout the year....

What to Include in a Bird Habitat Birds are fun to watch, but they bring much more than entertainment to the garden. Many types of birds are responsible for dispersing seeds of various plants, ensuring propagation of the species. Some bird species also help to carry pollen from one flower to another. Birds can also create a mess in their riotous gluttony to get at your berries, and sometimes they take more than their fair share, but overall, they do more good than harm....

Multimedia ProducerGardening Know How Writer Gardening Know How is also always on the lookout for great writers. If you’re interested in becoming a GKH writer, we invite you to click here to learn more. Please note that all Gardening Know How positions are remote. title: “Job Opportunities” ShowToc: true date: “2024-08-25” author: “Victor Sorenson” Multimedia ProducerGardening Know How Writer Gardening Know How is also always on the lookout for great writers....

Homemade Baby Food vs. Store Bought Store bought baby food clearly has some advantages: it’s more convenient, takes less time, and ensures your baby gets a full complement of nutrients. On the other hand, there are also benefits of making baby food that make it worth your time: Homemade baby food, especially if you grow your own fruits and veggies, is often less expensive, so you can save your family money....

About Persimmon Fruit American persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) can be found from New York to Florida on into west Texas, east of the Mississippi river in rocky or dry, open woods and glades, prairies, thickets, abandoned fields, and roadsides. In the winter the tree is easy to identify due to its thick, dark, checker patterned bark. A member of the ebony family, the wood is extremely hard and used for golf clubs, pool cues, and shoe lasts....

Reasons to Use Pot Fillers There are several good reasons to use pot or container fillers for some of your potted plants. It’s most important when you have a large container. Knowing how to fill deep planters provides several benefits: Save money. Good potting soil isn’t cheap. You can save a lot of money by not filling a large container with costly soil. Fill some of the space with a cheap filler instead....

But no fake turf lasts forever, and if a homeowner makes mistakes with the installation, there may be even more problems with artificial turf. If you want to avoid issues when laying artificial grass, read on. We’ll outline some of the most common problems. Common Problems With Artificial Grass Although synthetic turf can be a quick fix for making a landscape look better, it doesn’t come without its issues. It can be more expensive than you might think, and it can cause problems over the long term....

Cold Winters My previous home was in an area that was temperate with mild winters and summers, lots of rain, and very rarely snow. Not so my new home. Here we can expect summer temps exceeding 100 degrees F. (38 C.), certain winter snow, and cold winter temperatures, sometimes into the negatives. I don’t remember when the coldest recorded temperatures were in these last five years but I DO remember one of the latest and shocking cold temps....

What Do Spongy Moths Look Like? Lymantria dispar is the scientific name for the spongy moth. The adults are not as damaging as the spongy moth caterpillar. These larval pests feed on the foliage of more than 300 tree species. The adults are different in appearance based on sex. Females are 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long, creamy white, with a V marking on the back wings. They also do not fly....

I am the kind of a gardener who hits the garden store to buy some potting soil and comes home with 10 different kinds of bulbs or packets of seeds. It’s not that I don’t plant them- I do! But life moves so fast it’s hard to keep hold of what I planted where. That makes for many happy surprises in springtime. Random Planting Locations When I say that I plant my seeds and bulbs in random locations, I don’t mean that I toss them into the air and let they grow where they lie....

Pumpkin Seeds Hands down, my favorite seed in the kitchen is the humble pumpkin seed. My first encounter with them was as a kid when we carved pumpkins for Halloween. We would pull out the goo, separate out and rinse the seeds, and then my mom would roast them. They lasted as snacks for a week or so. Now, when I get my pie pumpkins from my local farm share, I always save the seeds for roasting....

Still, zinnias require consistent care to help ensure that their flower beds continue to thrive throughout the entire summer growing season. Learning more about the needs of this plant, specifically how to water zinnias, can help you to better determine whether or not supplemental irrigation may be required. How Often Do You Water Zinnias? Water is essential for the growth of any flowering plant. When growing zinnias, watering should begin when the seed is sown....

If you’ve had a bad experience with deer in your garden, you’re not alone. Many gardeners have fallen foul of these inquisitive garden visitors, and lost a few of their favorite plants along the way! And while several plants are listed as deer-proof perennials, you’ll often find that if a deer is hungry enough, nothing is off limit That said, there are some deer-resistant perennial plants that are less likely to attract Bambi....

While the discovery of mushrooms may prompt feelings of unease, they pose no risk to the health of your soil and plants. Indeed, they can have environmental benefits that are worth considering. So unless you have children and pets to worry about, mushrooms can be left where they stand. Here, we explain when (and how) to remove them, and when it’s OK to leave them. Why are Mushrooms Growing in My Garden?...

Let’s start by finding trees that can thrive around you. To learn more, simply click the image below that represents where you live. What Type of Tree Are You Looking for? The first question to ask before buying, planting, or growing a tree is: What kind of tree do I want? This seemingly simple question can actually be a tough one to answer. Some people may be looking for specific trees and shrubs to accent their yard or garden, while others may want a fruit tree or plant in their backyard to grow their own snacks....

Perennial herbs will provide you with season after season of delightful scents and tastes. Many of the most beautiful herbs also produce flowers that are magnets for beneficial insects. The majority of perennial herbs are evergreen and may be used throughout the cold season for a touch of freshness unmatched by dried herbs. Your container choice is critical to the success of a perennial herb garden. There are many fantastic herb garden planter ideas to explore, but whatever style you choose, ensure the container is big enough to accommodate the growing plant, and has ample drainage holes....

There are many ways to compost: a tumbler, a three-bin system, vermicomposting, or just an attended pile. The process isn’t difficult but you do need to adhere to a few precise steps, and avoid common composting mistakes, to ensure that “black gold” at the end. Decomposition may take two weeks to two years in unmanaged piles. There are ways to speed up the composting process with an activator, proper management, and other steps....