Think about doing some Christmas decorating with poinsettias in the home. So, you’re thinking about getting a poinsettia – excellent choice! These festive beauties come in all sorts of colors and types these days, making it a real party in…
Now you received a poinsettia as a gift, now how do you care for it? Give it bright light (a sunny window if not too hot) and keep out of cold areas like drafts. The biggest problem you may have…
If you want a challenge, try growing carnivorous plants. They are attention grabbers and eat insects to boot! If you use a sterile, sandy soil mix which you can buy from a specialty store. Keep the soil moist but have…
Got room on a dresser or counter and the area needs some color? Try African violets. I used a 3-foot fluorescent light on a counter and grew over a dozen plants. My plants came from Marion Burtz the violet lady…
What is bonsai? First, many people think that only certain plants can be used in bonsai. No, any tree or shrub can be made to grow bonsai. You can also buy dwarf trees and shrubs that were grown for bonsai…
The most popular houseplant for the bringing in of Christmas is the poinsettia plant. The plant comes from the tropics so that should tell you it needs some warmth. The most common mistake is when you buy one and transport…
If you can not grow any plant indoors, try an air plant. The varieties come in many foliage colors, textures, sizes (2” to 12” tall), and flower colors. They absorb moisture and nutrients from the air through their leaves. This…
Succulents are mainly plants with thick water-filled leaves that store water. They have the ability to survive drought making them a good choice from busy people who forget to water the plants. There are many different varieties with different shapes…
I’ve been personally perennializing my begonias for many years indoors. I can say from experience that it is super easy. Taking them in their pots in the fall, begonias make excellent houseplants. But before we get into the details, we…
These flowering plants will bring color and warmth to your winter home this winter. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, you may find these plants at florists shops or some retail stores. Coming home from the outdoors inside to some…
I had a message from my cousin about fuzzy bumps on a houseplant followed by three other calls. Mealybugs are clever little devils, they like to hide and then come in for the sneak attack. It seems like overnight there’s…
It may sound odd, but indoor plants need less water during the winter. While it’s true that winter air is drier, plants experience a slower rate of growth during the cold weather. Some even go completely dormant. Less water is needed to…
I have been thinking about terrariums lately. My terrarium happens to be a large vessel with a narrow throat I received for Christmas. The biggest point depending on the success of these types of container gardens is providing for good…
Been getting questions on fungus gnats which are small fly-like insects that may be noticed flying around houseplants. They are commonly associated with over-watered houseplants or those grown in poorly drained potting mixes. If a houseplant pot is harboring fungus…
Determining the light and houseplants you can grow can be daunting. The amount of light each plant needs varies and depends on the time of the year. So where as some plants will be quite happy with semi darkness permanently,…