Despite its name, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera buckleyi) is an epiphytic plant that grows on trees and rocks in habitats that are generally shady with high humidity. This tropical member of the Cactus family (Cactaceae) is not a true cactus. Tiny roots may cling to the plant or rock that it’s growing on. It is […]
Archive for the ‘Potting Mix’ Category
Growing The True Christmas Cactus
Posted by Hugh on December 25th, 2023
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Light requirement, Mealy bugs, Non-native, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Thanksgiving cactus, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest 
Comments Off on Growing The True Christmas CactusAmaryllis Make Great Holiday Gifts
Posted by Hugh on November 22nd, 2023
What do you gift the gardener friends in your life? Let me suggest a flowering amaryllis bulb or one that is blooming in the plant shoppe. Amaryllis is a tropical bulb that blooms indoors usually in winter season (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). It is a big, beautiful bouquet that is among the easiest plants to grow. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Amaryllis, Amaryllis (Bulb), Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Deer resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Wind protection, Winter flowering, Winter Protection Comments Off on Amaryllis Make Great Holiday GiftsPrecise Care For Calatheas
Posted by Hugh on January 24th, 2023
Calatheas, also called Peacock plants, are among the most beautiful of foliage house plants, but their care can be challenging. Plants prefer low to medium bright spot in your home and look their best away from direct sunlight. The key to success is high room humidity and are best paired up with similar tropical favorites […]
Posted in Calthea, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Humidity, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mites, Non-native, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy) Comments Off on Precise Care For CalatheasGrowing Jewel Orchids
Posted by Hugh on January 12th, 2023
Jewel Orchids (Ludisia discolor) are native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Compared to the tree-climbing epiphytic Phalaenopsis and Cattleya orchids, Jewel Orchids are terrestrial plants that grow on tropical forest floors. Jewel orchids are grown primarily for their spectacular dark and colorful veined ovate foliage and secondarily for their flowering. Jewel orchids grow in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Interior (house) Plants, Jewel orchid (Ludisia), Landscape ideas, Orchids, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering Comments Off on Growing Jewel OrchidsSuccess With Succulents
Posted by Hugh on October 6th, 2022
Succulents are beautiful, low maintenance plants that are popular among plant addicts who grow them outdoors and as indoor house plants. Most are indigenous to desert or dryland conditions. They hold water in their fleshy leaves, stems and roots. Overwatering succulent plants is their nemesis. Adequate soil drainage and light are of key importance. These […]
Posted in acidic soil, Agave, Agave, Annuals, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Cold tolerance, Container garden, Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia), Euphorbias, Kalanchoe, mulching, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Stonecrops (Sedum), Succulents, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Success With SucculentsPoinsettia Care
Posted by Hugh on December 21st, 2021
Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) have become a symbol of Christmas and the winter holidays. Their colorful bracts (most people call them “flowers”) are actually modified leaves. Red remains the most popular color, but select from white, pink, burgundy, marbled, speckled and new “tropical shades”. Buy a healthy poinsettia! The small yellow flowers in the center of the […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Container garden, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Planting tips, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Potting Mix, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Wind protection, Winter flowering, Winter Protection Comments Off on Poinsettia CareAnthuriums Thrive in Low Light
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2020
Anthuriums are easy to grow houseplants. They have become wonderful plant gifts around the holidays and birthdays. First and foremost, anthuriums are low light tropical plants. They grow best in bright, indirect light, but produce fewer flowers in low light. Anthuriums sport long-lasting glossy, deep-green leaves and sturdy flowering bract-like blooms. The flowers of an […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anthurium, Aphids, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Mealy bugs, Mites, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sun scald, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Anthuriums Thrive in Low LightGrowing Cyclamen In The Home
Posted by Hugh on November 22nd, 2020
Cyclamens, the non-hardy forms, have become popular gift plants. Cyclamens are incorrectly labelled as tropical houseplants at garden shops. Many people enjoy this flowering plant for long as possible and toss it once blooming has stopped. Cyclamens enjoy a long blooming period indoors in a cool room and are fussy, a bit of a challenge […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Cold tolerance, Container garden, Cyclamen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, plant nutrition, Potting Mix, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Cyclamen In The HomeGrowing Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia)
Posted by Hugh on April 26th, 2020
Angel trumpet (Brugmansia) is tropical plant native from Venezuela to Peru (USDA hardiness zones 7-b to 10). Plants are surprising hardy outdoors in zone 6-b in protected areas. This beautiful perennial/shrub, grown in tree form, reaches heights of 6-10 feet. It is a member of the Solanaceae family which includes tomato, potato, petunia, nicotiana and other great garden plants. They’re […]
Posted in acidic soil, Angel trumpet (Brugmansia), Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Fruits poisonous, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous plant, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia)Lipstick Plant (Vine) – Lovely Flowering House Plant
Posted by Hugh on December 11th, 2019
Nothing brightens up a room more than a flowering plant. One of my favorites is lipstick plant or lipstick vine (Aeschynanthus spp.), a close relative of the African violet. The green leaf form A. radicans is very popular with shiny dark green leaves and orange, pink, purple flowering varieties. Lipstick plant is a free bloomer, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Lipstick vine (Aeschynanthus), Mealy bugs, Mites, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Thrips, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Vine, watering tips Comments Off on Lipstick Plant (Vine) – Lovely Flowering House Plant
