Gardeners are often quick to blame insects or infectious disease when their plants develop leaf spots. But, in many cases — especially with houseplants — those spots may be due to environment and cultural practices. House plants that experience extremes in soil moisture often develop spots on their leaves, called “oedema” (sometimes spelled “edema”). The spots may first appear as a blister or raised spot, particularly on the undersides of leaves, but may occur on […]

Being creative when choosing containers for your houseplants can add to the decor of a room, but make sure the pot is appropriate for the plant. Almost any container can be used for potting plants, as long as drainage of excess water is provided. Water and mineral nutrients are primarily taken into the plant through the roots. For most plant species, roots must have some oxygen in order to grow and function. If the soil […]

If you’re itching to get outdoors and work on your garden, now’s a good time to survey your landscape and decide what needs pruning. But keep in mind that not all plants need to be trimmed. Landscape plants should be pruned to maintain or reduce their size, to remove undesirable growth, to remove dead or damaged branches, and to rejuvenate older plants to produce more vigorous foliage, flowers and fruits. In some cases, pruning is […]

Gardenias have a well-earned reputation for being difficult specimens for even the experienced indoor gardener. Gardenias thrive on bright light, high humidity, and an even supply of moisture and nutrients. When gardenias are freshly delivered from a greenhouse grower, their glossy leaves and heavenly-scented blooms just about cause the plant to leap into your arms, whether a gift for yourself or for a loved-one. But, then, the plant enters the home environment where hot, dry […]

‘Tis the season for giving, so why not give a gift that lasts all year? A plant is a special gift that brings beauty to the home and to the heart as you help a living thing grow. The poinsettia is undoubtedly the most popular gift plant, but many others are equally festive for the holiday season. Christmas cactus, begonias, cyclamen and azaleas offer attractive blossoms on compact plants and can brighten any room in […]

Purple is all the rage among gardeners and Mother Nature’s palette is well endowed with shades of purple flowers, fruit and foliage. Looking for perennials with purple flowers? Consider bear’s britches (Acanthus), Agapanthus, ornamental onion (Allium), columbine (Aquilegia), Aster, Astilbe,Baptisia, swan river daisy (Brachycome), Siberian bugloss (Brunnera), bellflower (Campanula), Delphinium, foxglove (Digitalis), coneflower (Echinacea), joepye weed (Eupatorium), Hosta, Iris, lavender, Liatris, flax (Linum), purple toadflax (Linaria), bluebells (Mertensia), catmint (Nepeta), Russian sage (Perovskia), Jacob’s ladder […]