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 […]
Archive for the ‘Potting Mix’ Category
Growing Cyclamen In The Home
Posted by Hugh on November 22nd, 2020
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 PlantAnnual Geraniums Make Garden Comeback
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2019
Once popular annual geraniums (Pelargonium x) are making a comeback with U.S. gardeners. Geraniums are also planted in window boxes or hanging baskets. Three types of geraniums are sold at garden centers: zonal or bedding geraniums (P. x hortorum), ivy-leaf geraniums (P. peltatum), and Martha Washington geraniums (P. x domesticum). Color choices include red, pink, rose, salmon, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Autumn flowering, Botrytis disease, Cercopora leaf spot, Container garden, deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Geranium, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Leaf diseases, mulching, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Sanitation, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Annual Geraniums Make Garden ComebackRe-blooming Poinsettia This Fall
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2019
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 […]
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 FallAll About Soil Drainage
Posted by Hugh on January 20th, 2019
Many landscape plants die because they were planted in soil that was too wet or soggy. Poorly drained soils are generally poorly aerated. A high water table in an area limits your choices of plants that you may grow. Plants that grow naturally along streams and ponds are good candidates for poorly drained sites. During periods of heavy […]
Posted in compost, Container garden, Daphne odora, Garden ecology, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Moss (in lawn), mulching, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Purchasing Plants, root injury, Root rotting, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Transplant problem, watering tips Comments Off on All About Soil DrainageTips 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)New 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 FlowersPrincess Flower Excels Where Summers Are Hot
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2018
Princess Flower or Glory Bush (Tibouchina spp.) is a tropical shrub (from Brazil) that produces beautiful showy purple flowers. It blooms over a long time span (USDA hardiness zones 9-12). The most popular species in cultivation is T. urvilleana. A well-tended plant can be trained into a miniature tree in a large container for patios and decks. This […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Landscape ideas, Nematodes, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Princess Flower (Tibouchina), Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Princess Flower Excels Where Summers Are HotTips On Repotting Container Plants
Posted by Hugh on March 7th, 2018
Eventually, all potted plants outgrow their containers. This includes potted roses, Japanese maples and other small trees, shrubs, dwarf conifers, elephant ears (Colocasia, Alocasia), cannas, lotus, papyrus, and lots more. A rule of thumb is to transplant every 2 years in early spring before bud break. In the case of perennials and tropicals, this is a good […]
Posted in Alocasia, Banana (Musa spp.), Canna lily, Canna lily, Colocasia, compact shrub, compact tree, compost, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous conifer, Disease resistant, Downy mildew, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, Hybrid teas, Japanese maple, Landscape ideas, Overcrowding, Papyrus, Perennials, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, root injury, Root rotting, Roses, Rust diseases, shrub roses, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Tapioca plant (Manihot), Trees & Shrubs, Tropical Waterlilies (Nymphaea), watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips On Repotting Container Plants
