Your Poinsettia is Sick… But That’s a Good Thing!
The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) has not always been the compact plant we know today. It is actually a large shrubContinue 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.
The Orchid Primer
Orchids belong to a very large family, the Orchidaceae, which includes between 15,000 and 20,000 species and over 100,000 hybrids:Continue Reading
The Christmas Plant that Came In from the Cold
Traditionally potted Christmas plants, such as poinsettias, Christmas cactus, and Christmas kalanchoes, have always been tropical or subtropical plants. InContinue Reading
When Water Droplets Form on Leaves
Sometimes you’ll see water droplets form on the edge, tip, or the underside of leaves. This is not dew, whichContinue Reading
Voles Beware!
If there’s one animal that seems harmless, it’s the field mouse, or rather, the eastern meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), aContinue Reading
Homegrown Tea in Your Teapot?
The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a tree native to subtropical Asia. Tea is grown commercially in many countries, includingContinue Reading
When Your Christmas Cactus Blooms Too Early
Your Christmas cactus is already in bloom well before Christmas? That’s normal… because it’s not a Christmas cactus. Let meContinue Reading
Yes, You Can Succeed with Amaryllis
The amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) is a popular houseplant, but also a rather unusual one in that it is generally soldContinue Reading
Pesticides: The Reward of Fear
I am, and always have been, an environmental gardener. I’d like to pretend it’s because, in the wisdom of myContinue Reading
Winter Protection That Makes Sense
There’s no denying that autumn has arrived. Falling leaves, freezing plants, cold nights: it’s not July anymore! So it’s timeContinue Reading