Why Do We Plant Amaryllis Bulbs with Their Neck Exposed?
You’ve probably always been told that you have to plant an amaryllis (Hippeastrum) leaving the top third of the bulb exposed.Continue Reading
Category: Houseplants
Fish Waste for Plants
When you change the water in your aquarium or fish bowl, why pour it down the drain? It’s rich inContinue Reading
Overwintering “Geraniums” Without Torturing Them
When I was a very young child, my father always overwintered his “zonal geraniums” (actually, they are zonal pelargoniums: [PelargoniumContinue Reading
Mini Orchids Stay Mini
Those miniature phalaenopsis orchids (Phalaenopsis) with tiny flowers that are sold everywhere these days are not cute little babies inContinue Reading
Kokedamas: Trendy but Hard to Keep Alive
You have certainly seen them: small houseplants growing in a moss-covered ball. They’re very trendy and often sit on decorativeContinue Reading
Why I Don’t Grow Gardenias
No, I don’t grow gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides, syn. G. augusta et G. grandiflora), sometimes called crape jasmine or cape jessamine.Continue Reading
How to Overwinter a Bougainvillea Indoors
Question: I have a beautiful bougainvillea that has bloomed all summer. I was told that I could keep it indoorsContinue Reading
Bring Flowers Indoors… Without Ants!
I regularly receive emails from gardeners who panic at the thought of bringing ants into their home by accident. ForContinue Reading
Pinch Off Those Coleus Flowers
Today’s coleuses (Coleus scutellarioides, formerly Plectranthus scutellarioides and Solenostemon scutellarioides) is very different from the coleuses that used to be available.Continue Reading
Is Wasabi Coleus Edible?
The coleus sold under the name ‘Wasabi’ (Coleus scutellarioides ‘Wasabi’) is a horticultural variety (cultivar) known for the light-green coloringContinue Reading