Phytophthora disease (Phytophthora spp.) is the fatal cause of root rots, stem cankers and crown rots. Several hundred species of plants are susceptible, including redbuds, dogwoods, rhododendrons, camellias, white pines, firs, yews (Taxus spp.), and fruit trees. It thrives in warm moist saturated soils. Phytophthora may lie dormant in the soil for several years, waiting for a […]
Archive for the ‘plant nutrition’ Category
What Can Be Done About Phytophthora
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2012
Posted in Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Camellia, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, mulching, mulching trees, Pines (Pinus spp.), plant nutrition, Planting tips, Redbud, Rhododendrons, root injury, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips 
Comments Off on What Can Be Done About PhytophthoraPhalaenopsis Orchids Easy To Grow
Posted by Hugh on January 8th, 2012
At one time, growing orchids was a hobby that only rich doctors, lawyers and fictional detectives could afford. Today, the very affordable “moth orchids” (Phalaenopsis spp.) are commonly available at supermarkets and big hardware chain stores at reasonable prices. They’re easy to grow and produce large showy flowers which bloom for two or more months. Moth […]
Posted in Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Interior (house) Plants, Orchids, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips Comments Off on Phalaenopsis Orchids Easy To GrowGrow And Re-bloom Christmas Cactus
Posted by Hugh on December 28th, 2011
Holiday cacti, aka Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas cactus (S. x buckleyi ), are popular houseplants which grow (and re-bloom)for many years with good care. Christmas cactus has rounded (scalloped) stem segments while Thanksgiving cactus has 2-4 pointed teeth paired along each segment edge. The latter blooms 3-4 weeks earlier than Christmas cactus and […]
Posted in Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Interior (house) Plants, plant nutrition, Pruning, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Grow And Re-bloom Christmas CactusNew Poinsettia Varieties Make Your Holidays Bright
Posted by Hugh on December 23rd, 2011
Poinsettia is a gift which keeps on giving. Many gardeners save and nurture their plant to re-bloom again over the next winter holiday season. By early February the plant has likely dropped most of its bottom leaves and flower bracts. Cut back the bare stems by two-thirds […]
Posted in Interior (house) Plants, plant nutrition, Poinsettia, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on New Poinsettia Varieties Make Your Holidays Bright‘Nellie R. Stevens’ Holly Sets A High Standard
Posted by Hugh on November 20th, 2011
‘Nellie R. Stevens’ (‘NRS’) is a tall growing red fruited female holly, a cross between the English (Ilex aquifolium) and Chinese (I. cornuta) hollies. ‘NRS’ comes highly recommended for Southern Appalachian landscapes (USDA zones 6 and 7). Hollies are dioecious, requiring both male and female parents for fruit production. ‘NRS’ holly produces small numbers of seedless parthenocarpic […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Garden Maintenance, Green Privacy Screen, Ilex (hollies), plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ Holly Sets A High Standard‘Chocolate’ White Snakeroot Is A Better Choice
Posted by Hugh on September 7th, 2011
White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum) is native to moist woodland areas in most eastern and midwestern states (U.S.). It grows in average, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. It is a long-lived and an aggressive perennial. ‘Chocolate’ (E. rugosum ‘Chocolate’) earns its namesake for its chocolaty or burgundy tinted foliage. ‘Chocolate’ white […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', plant nutrition, Poisonous plant, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Chocolate’ White Snakeroot Is A Better Choice‘Autumn Bride’ Started A Heuchera Evolution
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2011
Autumn Bride heuchera (Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’) is blooming now. This native ground cover, aka “hairy alumroot”, displays wide lime-green foliage which is not as colorful as many new H. villosa hybrids introduced in recent years. However, the white flowers on Autumn Bride are showier and more numerous. Heucheras prefer a moist, well-drained, compost-rich soil. Plants are heat and humidity […]
‘Kim’s Knee High’ Coneflower For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on August 11th, 2011
We are in the midst of an Echinacea revolution. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a popular 5-6 foot tall native perennial commonly planted in meadow and butterfly gardens. Kim Hawkes, former owner of Niche Gardens Nursery in Chapel Hill, N.C. introduced compact growing ‘Kim’s Knee High’ a decade ago. It is still one of the finest cultivars. ‘Kim’s Knee High’ […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), deadheading, Fertilizing plants, Hummingbird, Perennials, plant nutrition, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on ‘Kim’s Knee High’ Coneflower For Small Gardens‘Morning Calm’ Trumpet Vine
Posted by Hugh on August 5th, 2011
Our native trumpet vine, aka trumpet creeper (Campis radicans), may instill fear in gardeners. A wild vine may climb a utility pole, 30- 40 feet in one year. The late horticulturist Dr. J. C. Raulston at NC State University in Raleigh recommended its tamer Chinese cousin (C. grandiflora) and the cultivar ‘Morning Calm’. Trumpetvine climbs and […]
Posted in Campsis grandifolia 'Morning Calm', plant nutrition, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vine, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Morning Calm’ Trumpet VineTo Grow Crocosmia Or Not?
Posted by Hugh on July 19th, 2011
This South African native, also called ‘montbretia”, thrives in full sun in well-drained average garden soil. A richly composted soil tends to boost foliage size and bloom count, but often weakens bloom stems, requiring some staking. Crocosmia may struggle in a wet soggy wintry soil. Established plants are exceptionally summer heat and drought tolerant. Brightly colored […]
Posted in Crocosmia (Montbretia), Mites, Perennials, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter Protection Comments Off on To Grow Crocosmia Or Not?
