Gardening Advice

If you grow rhododendrons, you must have noticed how the leaves curl up in response to the cold. Our weather has yo-yoed back and forth so far this winter and the leaves on my rhodies have curled and uncurled to match the temperature swings. What’s that all about? The way plants can “predict” the weather is fascinating and I’ve written about weather-predicting plants before. This winter, I…

Imagine just walking outside your kitchen to your own food garden—gathering golden cherry tomatoes, juicy strawberries, or sweet-as-candy peas off the vine. Food this fresh is more delicious and nutritious! See how to plant a kitchen garden, based on what you actually like to eat.Cultivating a garden full of your favorite vegetables also makes meal planning a snap and inspires new, healthier ways…

During winter, houseplants can be challenged by low humidity, cold drafts, low light, and insects. See our tips on how to create humidity, water your plants, and take good care of your indoor garden.Create Humidity for HouseplantsHome humidity in winter can be as low as 10 to 20%, but our plants like it closer to 50% humidity.The best way to remedy this is with a humidifier. (You…

Want to start your first vegetable garden? How hard can it be? Just stick a few seeds in the ground and stand back, right? If only it were that easy! Here are 10 garden planning tips to consider before you dig in. 10 Tips For Starting a Garden1. Pick the right location—ideally, a sunny site! Most vegetables need at least 6 hours of sun a day. Some crops such as lettuce and spinach…

A new year means a brand-new growing season. Winter’s quiet may not be as exciting as summer’s first tomato ripening or spring’s first flower opening, but it’s a time of promise, optimism, and a tangible sense of opportunity. Here are my eight gardening resolutions. I hope they inspire your plans!My garden has disappeared under a thin coverlet of white, which,…

If you haven’t started planning your garden, winter—the dormant season—is a good time to start. Seed catalogs are already arriving in mailboxes. Here’s how to go about selecting seeds!Have a Game PlanCatalogs began to arrive in the mailbox early this year, but before you even look at their new offerings, take stock of what you’ve got to work with:Do an inventory of the seeds…

Orchids have babies! Yes, many orchids grow baby plants, or “keikis.” You can remove these plantlets and pot them up to grow more orchids. Here’s how it’s done.I have a Phalaenopsis “moth orchid” which is one of the more common orchids, especially for beginners. This orchid and many others (including Vanda, Dendrobium and Catasetum) can be easily propagated by removing their “keiki” (…

Nature is fascinating. Every wondered how trees and plants survive winter? They certainly can’t move inside to get warm! Plants go through an amazing process similar to hibernation called “dormancy.” Learn more about your natural world.  We have had some snow so far this year, but it’s still early. For once, I am hoping for a lot of snow to insulate the ground and protect my…

Whatever you may think of snow, remember the old saying, “Snow is a poor man’s fertilizer.” Discover five benefits of snow in the yard and garden.There’s another age-old saying, “A good winter with snow makes all the plants grow.” As it turns out, there are explanations rooted in science to these expressions. Snow Deliver NitrogenBoth rain and snow contain nitrogen that…

Color is lacking during the colder months, so I am always glad to see new seasonal plants at the stores. One plant I can’t resist is the kalanchoe. The clusters of starlike, cheerful flowers are long-lived and can add a happy note to a gloomy day. Learn more about this flowering succulent!The laziest gardener is almost guaranteed success. The kalanchoe is very low-maintenance to the point of…

Paperwhite narcissus, with their clusters of fragrant, small, white flowers, must be the easiest bulb to force into bloom. In fact, there is really no forcing necessary—just plant, and they’ll bloom in three to four weeks! Here’s how to do it.Unlike other spring-flowering bulbs that need a cold period before they blossom, paperwhites are native to warm Mediterranean regions and need no…

Why not try your hand at creating a terrarium? These miniature gardens under glass have been experiencing a revival—and we can see why. It’s a mini ecosystem at work. An entire forest in a jar! Learn how to make a terrarium in five steps—to bring joy all year long.What Are Terrariums?Originally popularized during the Victorian era, terrariums have made a big comeback. A terrarium is a…