The winter holidays may be over, but your poinsettia plant is likely still looking pretty. If you opt to grow and re-bloom your plant next Christmas, follow this growing schedule. Keep the soil evenly moist and set the plant in bright daylight. Feed bi-monthly with a house plant fertilizer. Inspect and rid your plants of all […]
Archive for the ‘Annuals’ Category
Re-blooming Poinsettia This Fall
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2019
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Aphids, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Photoperiod (Daylength), Planting tips, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White flies, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Re-blooming Poinsettia This FallTips for Growing Abutilon (Flowering Maple)
Posted by Hugh on November 20th, 2018
Abutilon (Abutilon x hybridum) is a group of tender evergreen perennials (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). In USDA hardiness zones 6 thru 8, abutilon is grown outdoors from mid-spring to mid- autumn, when it is moved indoors and grown as a tropical houseplant. When moved indoors, partially cut back to fit its indoor space. In early spring prune the plant […]
Posted in Abutilon (Flowering Maple), acidic soil, Annuals, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Insect suseptible, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mite susceptible, Mites, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, White flies, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips for Growing Abutilon (Flowering Maple)Overwintering Caladium Tubers
Posted by Hugh on October 15th, 2018
Dr. Mary Lewnes Albrecht, retired dean of the Herbert College of Agriculture at the University of Tennessee, offers her recipe for overwintering caladiums. For many years Dr. Albrecht has been saving several heirloom varieties by this procedure: #1. Plants start to go dormant in late September through October (zone 7a Tennessee) and earlier if summer […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Bulb Crops, Caladium, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowers, Foliage plant, Harvest Time, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Storage Overwinter, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Winter Protection Comments Off on Overwintering Caladium TubersGrowing Morning Glories
Posted by Hugh on August 28th, 2018
Morning glory vines (Ipomoea tricolor) add a dash of old fashion charm to today’s gardens. YES! these aggressive vines demand a high degree of attention. Their funnel or tubular-shaped flowers open in the morning and close late in the afternoon. In a single growing season, vines may grow 6 to 12 feet and more (depending on variety). Morning […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Annuals, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Landscape ideas, Morning glory (Ipomoea), mulching, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Vine, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Morning GloriesNew Angelface Angelonias Produce Larger Flowers
Posted by Hugh on July 20th, 2018
Angelonias, aka summer snapdragons, (Angelonia angustifolia) hail from Mexico. Angelonias are top performing summer flowering annuals (USDA zones 9 -11). The AngelFace® series were recently developed by Proven Winners (PW). Plants are covered with snapdragon-like blooms up and down the floral stems, 18-24 inches high and 12-18 inches wide. Angelface series boast slightly larger green leaves and bigger blooms than […]
Posted in acidic soil, Angelonias, Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on New Angelface Angelonias Produce Larger FlowersFill Summer Flower Beds With Annual Rudbeckias
Posted by Hugh on July 10th, 2018
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a native wildflower. Annual or biennial forms are also called gloriosa daisy and brown-eyed Susan. In recent years public urban gardens are growing annual types. From summer into early autumn, brown-eyed Susans produce showy daisy-like blossoms up to 3-inches across with light or deep yellow rays and brownish-purple centers (“buttons”). Their cut flowers will decorate households. This coarse weedy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annual rudbeckia (R. hirta), Annuals, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Biennial, compost, Container garden, deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fill Summer Flower Beds With Annual RudbeckiasHeat Loving Annuals For Containers
Posted by Hugh on July 6th, 2018
Not all annuals grow well in containers. An aggressively growing annual may not be a suitable companion plant in containers. Small containers dry out quickly. Large containers, a minimum of 16 inches across, should be your beginner size. For an eye-catching container garden, utilize plants that require the same care but differ in colors, heights, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Angelonias, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Container garden, deadheading, Dichondra, Disease resistant, Euphorbias, Fan flower (Scaevola), Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Lantana, Marigold, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), mulching, Overcrowding, Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Persian shield (Strobilanthes), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Scaevola, Setcreasea 'Purple Heart', Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sweet potato vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Heat Loving Annuals For ContainersShort Grasses For Small Places
Posted by Hugh on May 25th, 2018
Many gardeners have small sunny or partially shaded places where select ornamental grasses thrive, including using them as companion plants in containers. Enjoy their winter architecture. Perennial grasses should be cut back to 3- to 6 inches in late winter. Here are an assortment of six of the very best along with several varieties that you should […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Calamagrostis, Carex (Sedges), compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Hakone grass, Landscape ideas, Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), Native Plant, Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium), Ornamental fruit, Ornamental Grasses, Pennisetum spp., Pennisetum spp., Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Short Grasses For Small PlacesGrowing Celosia In The Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 16th, 2018
Celosias (Celosia argentea), aka cockscomb, feather, and plume amaranths, are summer flowering annuals in most of the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 10-11). Mature plant height varies by cultivars, generally between 6 inches and 3 feet in height, taller types grown for the florist market. Celosia plants are classified into three groups: a crested type (C. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Bees and other pollinators, Celosia, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mites, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Growing Celosia In The Summer GardenOur Native Bumblebees In Trouble
Posted by Hugh on February 7th, 2018
In 2017 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognized 10 more animal species as Endangered Species, giving them protections under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. These 10 species include 7 species of bees. Endangered status would afford the rusty-patched bumblebee protection under federal law. Honeybees, which are not native to the U.S., build and live […]
Posted in Annuals, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Beneficial Insects, Bumble bees, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Dahlia, Flowers, Ground nesting bees, Honey bees, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering Comments Off on Our Native Bumblebees In Trouble
