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 […]
Archive for the ‘watering tips’ Category
Phalaenopsis Orchids Easy To Grow
Posted by Hugh on January 8th, 2012
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 GrowGet Past The Winter Blahs With Paperwhite Narcissus
Posted by Hugh on January 4th, 2012
A wonderful, easy indoor gardening project this winter is to start a dish (pot) of paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus tazetta). Paperwhites make a lovely white centerpiece on your dining table. Paperwhite bulbs are outdoor hardy in USDA hardiness zones 8 – 10. Store the bulbs in a warm dry location such as on top of a refrigerator until you’re […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Failure to Bloom, Interior (house) Plants, Paperwhite narcissus, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Staking, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter flowering Comments Off on Get Past The Winter Blahs With Paperwhite NarcissusVolcano Mulching Harmful
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2012
Piling up mulch around trees or shrubs, called “volcano mulching”, is a bad practice and is killing them. Perhaps you’ve seen a neighbor or a professional landscaper doing it, and assumed that it must be alright. It’s not! The deep mulch pile smothers the natural buttress flair of the trunk which breathes and absorbs air for […]
Posted in Disease prone, Disease resistant, Garden Maintenance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Millipedes & centipedes, Mulch Quality, mulching, mulching trees, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Volcano Mulching HarmfulGrow 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 BrightTrifoliate Orange –The Barbed Wire of the Plant World
Posted by Hugh on December 12th, 2011
Trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) is a hardy citrus native to China. T-orange is hardy to -15° F. This strong growing large shrub or small tree can reach 15 to 20 feet in height. Its foliage is deciduous and compound, compared to citrus trees with single simple evergreen leaves. T-orange prefers full day or partial (minimum of 6 hours) […]
Everbearer Raspberries Harvest from July To Frost
Posted by Hugh on December 5th, 2011
Raspberry Production at Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC Everbearer raspberries are easier to grow compared to the June-bearer types. Everbearer types are often called “fall bearers” because they produce berries from very late July to late September. Pruning becomes a simple chore – in late winter simply cut down all canes (shoots) to the ground. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, compost, Fertilizing plants, Fruits & Vegetables, mulching, Pruning, Raspberries, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, watering tips Comments Off on Everbearer Raspberries Harvest from July To FrostGrowing Elderberries in the Garden
Posted by Hugh on December 2nd, 2011
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is native to eastern North America, commonly found growing in open fields, thickets, fence rows, and along roadsides. Elderberry has pinnate leaves with toothed leaflets. Large flat clusters of small white flowers are evident by early summer, followed by large clusters of round purple-black fruit in late summer and fall. The fruits are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Disease prone, Elderberry (Sambucus), Fruits & Vegetables, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Growing Elderberries in the GardenThujopsis: Semi-Dwarf Evergreen Shrub
Posted by Hugh on November 28th, 2011
Hiba or false arborvitae (Thujopsis dolobrata) is a slow to moderate growing evergreen shrub or tree. It is also called elkhorn cedar and deerhorn cedar, referring to the shape of its scale-like leaves. Tall 50-80 feet tall tree forms arefound in the forests of Japan. This native of Japan and China has a pyramidal form and beautiful dense foliage, similar […]
Posted in acidic soil, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Landscape ideas, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, Winter Protection Comments Off on Thujopsis: Semi-Dwarf Evergreen ShrubEuropean Beech Prefers Cool Climes
Posted by Hugh on November 18th, 2011
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is native to the cool temperate regions of Europe. In the U.S. it is more at home in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Northwest regions (USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 7) where summers are cool. European beech grows in full sun and moist, well-drained soils, ranging from mildly acidic to low basic. The tree suffers in […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Disease prone, European beech (F. sylvatica), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on European Beech Prefers Cool Climes
