Growing edible crops in pots is all the rage these days. Many people who choose to grow edible plants in their container gardens don’t think of flowers or houseplants as being the same thing as container gardening. While it is the same basic principle, it’s not generally classified the same way. Most people just think …

One of the biggest compost advantages is it is an environmentally friendly way to improve soil structure that can be done without spending any money! Save money, save the environment and grow a better garden by improving your soil with the precious resource known as black gold! There are many advantages to composting. One, you …

There are a number of vegetables to plant in February outdoors in the garden, even in cold climates. February means the garden season is one month closer. It also means it is time to tap maple trees. Mid-West gardeners know that by the end of February they are just 12 short weeks away from the …

One of my favorite plants to grow is scented grass. Although some of the scented grasses are perennials, most of them are not. Their uses range from medicinal, to culinary and crafting such as making potpourri or smudge sticks. There are so many advantages to growing scented grasses in containers and in the ground that …

Winter sown vegetables not only let you get a head start on the spring garden, but they also are tender and taste sweeter than vegetables grown during the typical garden season. This is because cooler weather tends to bring out the sweetness in many vegetables such as carrots. Lettuce grown during the cool months melts …

Did you know that one way to garden in the winter is by forcing bulbs indoors? There are a number of bulbs that are easy enough to plant indoors in November and December that will produce flowers February. Some of these are ideal for making cut flower bouquets, so even without a greenhouse, you can …

Miniature plants require very little space to grow, making it possible to create one or more miniature gardens in containers if yard space is an issue. There are many types of miniature plants available and they come in a variety of sizes. Creating a trough filled with miniature plants can add interest to an existing …

Pineapples are a tropical fruit native to South America but you can grow and harvest pineapple no matter where you live. Pineapples have been cultivated and grown for a number of years in the region of Brazil, however these exotic fruits make great houseplants. Even in cold climates it is possible to get these plants to …

Well, here I sit at the computer on another hot, sweltering day looking outside wondering if the plants and animals are hotter than me! I never dreamed I'd be gardening during a heatwave where the only people, plants and animals that are happy are in air conditioning. Although tropical flowers are beautiful, I certainly don't …

Hello fellow gardeners. My interest in growing tropical plants came from the fact that I was tired of growing the same plants that everyone else was. I wanted my garden to be unique, something that people would stare at in amazement. With the addition of my greenhouse, my dream has started becoming a reality. However, even …

Most gardeners, such as Jeff Lowenfels, a garden writer from Anchorage, Alaska, are generous people who enjoy sharing the bounty of their garden with others. Lowenfels began the Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) program by asking gardeners to plant an extra row of beans in their garden for an Anchorage soup kitchen. From …

There are many fragrant flowering trees, some bloom during the day and some bloom when night falls. Those that bloom at night have a more intense, wafting fragrance, possibly because the darkness and cooler temperatures keep the scent from dissipating quickly. Night blooming fragrant trees are nice because many people who work during the day …

If you've ever wondered what garden seeds to plant in June, you are not alone. Mid-June is here and with it comes the heat of summer. For many gardeners, the continual rain this year has interfered with getting their vegetables planted. Do not fear if this is the case in your situation. There is still …

There are so many advantages of hydroponic gardening that it just makes sense to convert over to it, especially if you wish to grow vegetables year-round or produce mass quantities of food in limited space. Growing food in hydroponic units lessens our reliance on factory farm produced food. For every person that lessens their need …

Grow more tomatoes that are the healthiest and most delicious you ever tasted this gardening season! It's easy to grow tomatoes organically and get a bumper crop. To key is to follow the easy-to-implement tricks and tips below. Once you find out how well they work, you will use them year after year to consistently …

Commonly called the “Empress Of Brazil,” Worselya rayneri boasts a flower color that is a deep blue-mauve or violet blue fading to almost white in the center and the flowers may also be soft pale lavender with lots of blue spots. Worselya rayneri grows on the side mountains in South America, especially Brazil and is …

Learn how to extend the spring vegetable garden and grow those cool weather plants that normally die out or turn bitter right through the summer and into fall. Cool-weather plants, such as lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, and peas, are happiest when planted in the early spring and harvested before the heat of summer sets in. So …

Healing water gardens in your backyard, in your home or even in your office helps relieve stress, relax or can help you feel closer to nature. From the beginning of time it seems that man has known that water has had healing properties. However in today’s society many people think of water as nothing more …

There are so many reasons to start growing ginger in your garden or for those in a cold climate, in a flower pot. Ginger is a great plant to grow, as well as one that has been used in homeopathic and natural healing. There are varieties with highly fragrant flowers and of course ones you …

My Theobroma cacao story began the moment I learned that this was the plant chocolate actually came from. My quest to learn more about this particular plant has taken me many places - Chicago, New York, Key West, all over Indiana and I even ended up making a good friend in Puerto Rico who grows …

Have you ever thought about how to grow cinnamon? Or maybe if you have, you have wondered if it would grow in a pot as a houseplant. Few of us ever think about where cinnamon comes from, but can you imagine walking down a street lined with Cinnamon Trees? That's everyday life for those who …

Instead of the usual pond plants this year, try a floating water garden. One of the most popular water garden accessories to hit the marketplace is been the Floating Planters and Pools. The Floating Planters made their debut at the 1999 Chelsea Flower Show. Their unique design which was conceived by Paul Cooper won a …

Make a citrus theme garden using a combination of citrus trees and citrus scented herbs such as lemon balm, lime balm and lemon mint. Herbs are easy enough to grow. For those who do not live in a warm climate, certain varieties of citrus trees grow in containers and will in fact fruit. Here are a …

Growing popular medicinal herbs for natural health is gaining traction. While some popular medicinal herbs are a bit harder to grow, there are three that are quite easy to grow. In this article, you will learn about the properties and uses of three popular medicinal herbs - St. Johns Wort, ginseng and ginko biloba.

Knowing when to plant in spring is half the battle of successful gardening. Gardeners who plant too early end up with dead or damaged crops while gardeners who plant too late wait longer to get harvests. The general rule of thumb is to plant after the last frost in your area. Timing is important and …

Disclaimer: I received this item for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. If you're like me and into growing and propagating tropical ornamentals there are two really good books on the market that I would suggest you add to your library. The first one is "Tropical Ornamentals" and the …

My love of exotic pitcher plants is something I blame on HGTV and here is why.  I was watching Home & Garden Television one day when a beautiful red pitcher shaped plant was shown. This made me curious. I went on an all out search for this beauty, nicknamed the pitcher plant, botanically known as …

There are numerous environmental advantages of hydroponics that you may not be aware of. Growing organic vegetables year-round in hydroponic units offer numerous environmental advantages over vegetables grown in soil using traditional methods.

Vegetable growing realities reap more than just economic benefits. Growing vegetables should be about more than just necessity. Gardening should be fun for the entire family since even the tiniest family member can be involved. It should give you a sense of self-sufficiency, bring variety into your diet and help you save money on your …

Learning to grow tropical plants in container culture can be very rewarding, and you will find once you have a routine down, very effortless. Getting in the routine is the hardest part, however you will be glad you did once you get the learning curve figured out. If growing tropical bulbs outdoors in the summer …

Successful Orchid care is not hard if you understand the basic needs of this plant and provide them with what they need to thrive. It’s no wonder that people fall in love with the beautiful, exotic looking flowers of the orchid family as the flowers are quite showy.  Orchid flowers come in a variety of colors, the …

Yes, you can learn how to grow peanuts even if you live in a cool climate! Peanuts, famous for being grown in the south, can be a star of your garden even if you live in a cool climate. For those in zone 8B to 11, there is a perennial variety. Native to South America, …

When it comes to four easy plants to care for, busy gardeners will delight in these  low maintenance perennials that require minimal care once established and bloom throughout most of the summer. Picking the right plants to start with makes it easy to create a beautiful landscape. In addition to looking good in the garden, …

Disclaimer: I did receive these plants for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. One of the most colorful plant combinations that I have found in recent years is the daylily and geranium. While these two plants are not my favorites and in fact, I most likely would not have bought …

I did get my aquaponic 29 gallon tank setup, but not without some major arm twisting and repurposing of some of my hydroponic equipment. Here's the story. All I wanted for Christmas last year was an aquaponics set-up - as some of you may remember. So Jerry went about salvaging things we had on hand …

Plumeria, or Frangipani, is an easy to grow fragrant plant that can be grown indoors in cold climates. Learn about dormancy requirements, pruning, fertilizing and more. Plumeria originates from the Caribbean Islands and Central America and is grown worldwide. Plumeria flowers in many different colors, has a wonderful fragrance and is an easy plant to …

Many people want to learn how to grow Heliconia simply because they are blown away by the colorful bracts the plant produces. This is a fascinating plant that can grow indoors but many people are not aware of that because these plants are not readily available. As with all tropical plants there are small varieties …

According to legend, the Passion Flower (Passiflora spp.) was named by early Roman Catholic missionaries in South America because the flowers bore a fancied representation of the Passion of Christ. Roman Catholic priests of the late 1500’s believed that several parts of the plant symbolized features of the Passion, the suffering and death of Jesus. …

What a grand suprise I had tonight when I opened my greenhouse door – the very first bloom on the Zantedeschia aethiopia Green Goddess I grew from seed was waiting for me! I was so excited I had my daughter Sarah stop decorating the Christmas Tree to come and see the bloom! Angel, my yellow …

These beautiful fragrant plants botanically known as Brugmansia are commonly known as Angel’s Trumpet. Do not confuse them with the other plant also commonly known by the same name but botanically known as Datura. While the plants look similar, Brugmansia flowers hang down towards the earth and Datura flowers face upward towards the sky.   …