Petunias are one of those flowers that make non-gardeners want to learn to grow from seed. They’re the flowers lining lawn edgings, putting beautiful bouts of color in gardens around neighborhoods. Some are grown in containers perched by the front door steps, and trailing types of petunias are in hanging baskets giving a stunning decorative…
It’s easy to spot problems in your houseplants when they are visible in the leaves or flowers. What about potential issues that are going on under the soil, with the roots? Don’t forget to take care of your plants even when you can’t see what’s going on. In particular, we’re talking about when a plant…
It has been several months since I propagated one of my succulents and they grew very well and turned out wonderful. I have already given away more than half of the babies to my mom and grandma and today I am going to plant some more of them into a couple of small succulent terrariums….
Has it crossed your mind to start planting in compost without soil? It’d be a lot easier for the practical gardener to fill a container with homemade compost from the backyard, plant some seeds, water the soil and wait for the plant to grow. It’s a nice idea, but does it actually work? Unless you’re…
As any gardener knows, not all dirt is created equal. Wondering about the content of potting soil, and whether or not it’s safe to use potting soil in the ground? You’re not alone. Here are all the answers to safe soil use. What is in Potting Soil? Potting soil isn’t just dirt conveniently packaged in…
For those not familiar with chemistry, you can rest assured that nitrogen is a completely natural and very common element in the environment. In fact, about 80% of the air you are breathing right now is made up of nitrogen. And oddly enough, even with so much gaseous nitrogen around, plants get this important nutrient…
Have you ever looked at your once vibrant houseplant and noticed it has started drooping and looking rather lifeless? You’re not alone! In fact, drooping plants can be a daunting problem for even the most experienced plant parent out there. Luckily, however, there are plenty of things you can do to fix a drooping plant,…
Nobody wants to raise a houseplant only to have it grow so well that it takes over and gets too huge to manage. Understanding how to keep succulents small can mean you enjoy your plants for many (many) years without having to worry about their size. What Are Succulents? Before discussing how to keep succulents…
Over watered house plants are plants on their death bed. Water is food to plants. When humans eat too much food, obesity sets in and that’s often followed up by any number of diseases. Any of those can and often does lead to premature death. The same happens with plants. When you over water plants,…
Petunias are well-known for their big colorful blossoms, almost as much as they are famous for being an easy to grow plant. But no plant is completely impervious to problems and you might find yourself with wilting petunias some day. Knowing what the cause is and how to treat it can help you save your…