Hailing from South Africa, the Strelitzia is cultivated worldwide. The most common, Strelitzia Reginae, is a rapid grower that reaches four feet high and spreads in clumps. The Strelitzia Nicolai, commonly called the “White Bird Of Paradise,” can grow up to fifteen feet high. Its leaves can easily be mistaken for those of a Banana. …

Repairing a neglected landscape can be tricky. Deciding where to start first and then figuring out what you have to work with is the hard part. One of the easiest ways to begin is by clearing out all of the dead or diseased plant materials. Raking leaves, removing broken branches and picking up trash or …

Just as birds, bees, and butterflies need the proper habitat in order to stay in the garden, so do beneficial insects. In addition to bad bugs and nectar-producing plants, shelter and a good water source are important. You can construct bughouses for beneficial insects; however, they are not necessary. Tall grass, thick shrubs, and lush …

Soapnuts are a great natural alternative laundry detergent that you can grow right in your yard if you live in USDA zone 6 or higher. Soapnuts come from the genus Sapindus which contains about twelve species of trees and shrubs. These plants, also called soapberry, are native to warm temperate to tropical regions. There are …

The plants in the greenhouse are doing so well that I decided it was time once again to dig into my seed stash to see what unusual seeds I could come up with. I have a nice stack sitting on the table beside me that I want to germinate over the next few weeks, however …

I’ll never forget the first time I went herb shopping and that was the time I learned there's no better time than now to grow herbs. I read a book about housecleaning with herbs. How cool I thought. The lady who wrote the book talked about putting mint in her wash water, so away I …

Baby, it’s cold outside, but spring is just around the corner, so even if you don’t garden year-round outdoors, now is the time to prepare for spring. Getting a head start on the growing season indoors will insure your garden lights the landscape up come spring. Make a list of what you want to grow, …

    Are you looking to design a garden that is appealing and functional? What about a garden with therapeutic benefits and practical applications? That garden should contain plants bursting with flavor and scent as well as a nice place to sit and relax or maybe even entertain. A citrus theme garden, full of energy …

  Here is a garden that is not only practical but you can have a lot of fun designing. A tea themed garden should grow herbs that are used for tea and be a fun place to entertain. Imagine creating flowerpots out of fancy tea kettles. Many herbs, such as chamomile, would look perfect in …

  Growing plants in a greenhouse environment can rewarding as well as challenging. There’s a whole new set of rules to learn about light exposure, pest problems, and starting seeds. Growing vegetables in a hydroponic unit can make the learning curve steeper. But once you get the hang of hydroponic gardening, it’s really worth the …

  Soil testing is essential for gardening success, especially if you intend to grow plants such as blueberries, rhodendrons or azaleas, that prefer growing in acidic soil. Garden soil testing will tell you the exact pH of the soil in your garden.  Levels below seven indicate acidity, while levels above seven indicate alkalinity. A simple garden …

  Save money and eat better by growing fresh fruits and vegetables year-round in your home garden, even if you live in the north! Fresh produce naturally tastes better than produce that was picked before it was ripe and shipped hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to your local grocery store. Fresh produce also has …

Here are a number of videos on Theobroma cacao by Sheri Ann Richerson.  Enjoy! A New Variety Of Theobroma (2019) Newly updated how to germinate Theobroma video (2016) - Greenhouse video (2010) - Presentation video (2010) - The beginning of my love for Theobroma (shot in 2000, but not uploaded until 2018) - About Sheri …

  Like most gardeners, I can't wait for spring. Nothing compares to digging in the moist, warm soil and inhaling the rich, dark aroma of compost after a long winter. We've been considering adding some everbearing strawberries for several years now. We planted June bearers the first time around, but when I moved them to …

I planted these seeds on October 12, 2004. I placed them in a coldframe. They germinated on October 25, 2004.

Germination Tips: I planted seed of this during the early winter of 2003. I placed the seed in a peat pot filled with ¾ potting soil and ¼ vermiculite. The seed was pressed into the vermiculite and slightly covered. The seeds had just begun to form roots on October 25, 2004. I potted them up …

First flowers from seed grown Brunfelsia americana.   On December 4, 2004 I began soaking fresh seeds. They were in the water for about four days before I planted them directly on top of some vermiculite. On December 23, 2004 the seed germinated. The first flowers appeared on April 28, 2009! Join the discussion on …

Abutilon are soft wooded flowering shrubs that are widespread throughout the world's mild to warm climate countries. Growing tips: Prune after flowering. Germination tips: Propagate from seeds or cuttings. To propagate from seed cover the seed lightly with vermiculite. Temperatures should be between 72 to 75 degrees F. Germination can occur within 3 days. Flowering …

I planted these seeds on October 12, 2004. I placed them in a coldframe. They germinated on October 25, 2004.

This year I have decided to try to germinate some of my seeds in paper towels. Not only can I fit numerous paper towels in one of those plastic shoe boxes with a lid but I can check them every few days to see what has germinated. Once they do germinate I will pot them …

A modest growing forest vine native to tropical and sub-tropical Australia. Seeds resemble crabs' eyes and are poisonous. In India the roots are used to produce a licorice-like compound that is edible. Flowers grow in racemes and are white to deep pink in color. Germination tips: Propagate from seeds. Soak the seeds before sowing.

Small open crowned trees from tropical eastern Australia. Growing tips: Abroma prefer sheltered areas among other trees and good soil. Germination tips: It is best to propagate Abroma from seed.

Small shrubs from China and Mexico. Flowers from spring to autumn in a range of colors. Those colors are red, pink, mauve and white. Growing tips: Abelia prefer rich well drained soil in an open site. Abelia will tolerate some frost. Prune after flowering. Germination tips: It is best to propagate Abelia from new growth …

Botanically speaking a bulb is not always a bulb. Many times plants are sold as bulbs and unsuspecting consumers do not know the difference between a true bulb, a corm, a rhizome or a tuber. Plants such as Oriental Lilies and Crinums come from bulbs which are a modified, shortened shoot that is enclosed by …

Pineapples are exotic fruits that make great houseplants. There are many varieties of pineapple plants. Some are ornamental and some are edible. The various types are sorted by class. There are four classes, according to Purdue University, 'Smooth Cayenne', 'Red Spanish', 'Queen', and 'Abacaxi.' Once the plants are two years old, they will flower, then …

Fall is the time to start enjoying more vegetables. It is getting colder. You would want your meals to heartier and more filling to warm you straight up. Soups, casseroles and stews laced with fall time vegetables are perfect for the cold weather. It doesn't hurt that you make these already filling dishes even healthier. …

Disclaimer: I received this item for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.   As a gardener one problem I frequently run into is the ability to get light into the center of my plants. I grow a lot of tropical plants. Since I …

Disclaimer: I received this item for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own. You may be wondering what a kitchen compost bin review is doing on a gardening site, but if you think about it, it fits right in. Gardeners compost kitchen scraps - …

Disclaimer: I received this item for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own. Haus & Garten Titanium Pruning Shears Review My husband and I both were very impressed with these pruners. They cut really easily through some small sapling weed trees that pop up …

  Disclaimer: I received this item for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own. I've wanted to try LED grow lights for years - and had just trailed one right before the one from #growhobby. LED grow lights are different - and some of …

  This is going to be a new feature of the blog - and although I hope to post on a daily basis, that may not always happen. You can always look at the previous post by clicking on the Daily Indiana Garden Post category to give you an idea of what might need done …

This is going to be a new feature of the blog – and although I hope to post on a daily basis, that may not always happen. You can always look at the previous post by clicking on the Daily Indiana Garden Post category to give you an idea of what might need done during …

Disclaimer: I received this item for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own. Sheri Ann Richerson from ExperimentalHomesteader.com is joined by Jeffrey Rhoades to talk about the Aurosports Soil Moisture Meter Muddler 4 in 1 she received for review. I love this 4 in …

  It's a crisp, chilly morning here in my Indiana garden and it feels more like November than December, but December it is. We are expecting snow later today and that is normal for this time of year. In the garden there are plants in different stages of growth. Some have died back for the …

Disclaimer: I received this item for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own. Sheri Ann Richerson from ExperimentalHomesteader.com talks about and unboxes the Cherry Blossom Series GHB CB003 + GHB CB005 LED Grow Lights she received for review. These Cherry Blossom Series Grow Lights …

  Rivière-du-Loup - Premier Tech Horticulture, a Business Unit of Premier Tech's Horticulture and Agriculture Group, is proud to announce the launch of its fully redesigned line of PRO-MIX® retail products in spring 2013. With its attractive and outstanding new packaging, the PRO-MIX® retail products will continue to offer high-quality, ready-to-use solutions that can be …

Not everyone is fortunate enough to live in a climate where food can be grown and harvested all year long. In northern climates, winter’s chill brings planting and harvesting to a halt for millions of gardeners. A family’s food needs, however, don’t stop after the fall harvest ends. Rather than hang up the garden tools …

Disclaimer: This was a paid advertisement. All opinions are their own. Once you've gotten your led grow lights chosen, half the work is out of the way. Since the led grow lights are so important to the process, we recommend choosing them from https://www.thelashop.com. Hydroponics is basically growing plants without soil, but still using water …

  Great soils make great plants. It’s a secret known by professional and experienced gardeners for many, many years and is now being adopted by the average home gardener. Building soil in pots, mixed containers, garden beds and vegetable patches is well worth it and goes a long way in producing beautiful blooms and bountiful …

  Compelling case study results on the benefits of MYCORRHIZAE™ have lead Premier Tech Horticulture to include these all-natural beneficial organisms in all PRO-MIX® consumer growing mixes. Three new scientific case studies on the benefits of MYCORRHIZAE™ were recently released by Premier Tech Horticulture, makers of PRO-MIX® growing mixes. The case studies were conducted by …