How the Christmas Cactus Came to Be
There is a beautiful legend about the origins of the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera russelliana). The story is said to be from Brazil,Continue Reading
Latest Posts
Houseplant Fertilizer: Not So Essential
I’ve received a lot of questions lately about how to fertilize houseplants. My correspondents all seem convinced that fertilization isContinue Reading
Save Money: Grow Your Own Aloe
You could have knocked me over with a feather: my local supermarket now sells leaves of aloe vera (Aloe vera)Continue Reading
Keep Your Watering Flexible
To keep your houseplants happy, learn to be flexible in your watering habits. Check the state of their potting mixContinue Reading
How to Make Your Christmas Tree Last
To make your Christmas tree last as long as possible, try spraying it with an anti-desiccant like Wilt Pruf, VaporContinue Reading
Snow is the Best Winter Protection!
Yippee! It finally snowed where I live… and quite heavily at that. A good 6 inches (15 cm) of hugeContinue Reading
Pouring Oil on the… Plant
Horticultural oils are nothing new. They’ve been around practically since humans have been gardening… and encountering insect pests. One ofContinue Reading
Garden Myth: Sterilizing Pruning Tools with Bleach
Most gardeners know that it is important to disinfect pruning tools (pruning shears, saws, loppers, etc.) before moving on toContinue Reading
A Short History of the Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is an old German tradition actually dating back well before the time of Christ. According to theContinue Reading
Another Bay Laurel Bites the Dust!
Last night while doing the dishes, I took a quick look at my bay laurel plant (Laurus nobilis), also calledContinue Reading