Garden Helpers, gardening, Perennials

Should you cut back your perennials in the fall?

Cutting perennial's dead foliage to the ground in the fall certainly won't hurt them. Once the stems are dead, they're dead! Cutting plants back also means one less task in the spring and keeps things looking neat and tidy. However, cutting back the dead stuff may hurt any beneficial bugs that have moved into their… Continue reading Should you cut back your perennials in the fall?

Did You Know, Fauna, Nature

The American Robin

The American Robin is a harbinger of spring. As soon as we see those familiar red breasted birds bopping across our lawns, heads tilted to the side, yellow beaks hovering hopefully for a breakfast worm, we know winter is finally releasing its hold. They are more closely related to Eurasian blackbirds than European robins, but… Continue reading The American Robin

Flowers, Garden Lessons

Daffodils…How Low Should You Grow?

The general rule of thumb is to plant seeds and bulbs approximately two to three times as deep as their size. So a seed that measures 1/8 of an inch could be planted 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch deep. Bulbs by their size, are buried much deeper and can go even lower. Many gardeners… Continue reading Daffodils…How Low Should You Grow?

Houseplants

10 Fast Facts About Air Plants and Their Care (Tillandsia spp.)

Tillandsia is the most prolific and varied genus of the pineapple family or Bromeliacea. There are an estimated 500 different species of these incredible tropical air plants. Most (and all the ones being discussed here) are epiphytic. Epiphytic is fancy-speak for plants that hang about on other plants (mainly tree branches) gathering moisture and nutrients… Continue reading 10 Fast Facts About Air Plants and Their Care (Tillandsia spp.)

Houseplants

The Most Expensive Houseplant Ever Sold…

The most expensive houseplant ever sold was a centuries-old White Pine Bonsai that fetched 100,000,000 yen (approximately $1.3 million US) at the Asia-Pacific Bonsai and Suiseki Convention & Exhibition in Takamatsu, Japan in 2011. Photo by Ala J Graczyk on Pexels.com The above photo is an example of a beautiful bonsai piece - but not… Continue reading The Most Expensive Houseplant Ever Sold…

Houseplants

Your Houseplants Eat Sunshine for Breakfast

Houseplants eat sunshine for breakfast. And lunch. And supper. And also for snacks. When we learn how succulents such as Aloe Vera don't require fertilizer, the most common thought is, "What does it eat?" We know plants need air, water and sunshine, but humans have been patiently taught by fertilizer companies selling "plant food" that… Continue reading Your Houseplants Eat Sunshine for Breakfast

Houseplants, Soil, Succulents

The Most Common Reason Your Houseplants Die…

Water. We need it to live. A human can go without food for three weeks, but we cannot survive much more than three days without water. Perhaps this is why we can't stop ourselves from watering our plants to death. We have the best intentions. We bring home a plant full of determination to be… Continue reading The Most Common Reason Your Houseplants Die…