Poinsettia: December Houseplant of the Month
What you first notice about the poinsettia are the beautifully colored leaves. They’re often thought to be the flowers, butContinue Reading
Author: Larry Hodgson
Garden writer and blogger, author of 65 gardening books, lecturer and communicator, the Laidback Gardener, Larry Hodgson, passed away in October 2022. Known for his great generosity, his thoroughness and his sense of humor, he reached several generations of amateur and professional gardeners over his 40-year career.
Thanks to his son, Mathieu Hodgson, and a team of contributors, laidbackgardener.blog will continue its mission of demystifying gardening and making it more accessible to all.
Strawberries for the Ultra-Rich
Omakase strawberry. Photo: Oishii If you’re often disappointed with store-bought strawberries, with a taste more tart than sweet, generally harvestedContinue Reading
The World’s Easiest Houseplant?
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum). Photo: www.crocus.co.uk Which houseplant is the easiest of all to grow? Well, that’s debatable, but forContinue Reading
Vinegar for Clean Flower Pots
Terra cotta pots heavily stained with calcium. Photo: www.olx.pl Frustrated by the endless scraping needed to remove stubborn calcium (lime)Continue Reading
The Surprising Senses of Pollinators
What draws pollinators to flowers is more complex than it seems. Ill.: netclipart.com We humans tend to think that theContinue Reading
Can You Grow Apples From Seeds?
Photo: www.medicalnewstoday.com Question: I’ve been thinking of planting some apple trees, but they’re quite expensive. Can I start new ones fromContinue Reading
How to Recuperate a Gangly Orchid
This top-heavy, wobbly orchid with lots of bare stem should have been repotted years ago. Photo: F. Hardouin Question: Over theContinue Reading
Not-Quite-a-Myth About Hostas
Hosta ‘Undulata Albomarginata’ is a fast-growing, thin-leaved, inexpensive hosta that slugs will adore. Photo: www.gardenworld.co.uk Question: I’ve heard that only so-calledContinue Reading
Pesticides or Fertilizers: Just the Right Dose
Ill.: clipart-library.com & kissclipart.com “If a little is good, more must be better!” That seems to be the motto ofContinue Reading
Winter Use for Glass Cloches
Glass cloches as they were originally used: as season-extenders for the garden. Photo: www.haxnicks.co.uk Cloches got their name because theContinue Reading