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 ‘Foliage plant’ 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 CactusRaise The Humidity Around House Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 28th, 2022
Tropical plants thrive in a 70-75° F room temperatures during the fall / winter months. Frequently, the central heating system is running at maximum warmth and results in low room humidity. The lush foliage of many tropical plants suffers leaf edge burn and tip dieback caused by low humidity. Here are nine (9) methods listing […]
Posted in Anthurium, Calthea, Container garden, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Ferns, Foliage plant, Humidity, Landscape ideas, Orchids, Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Raise The Humidity Around House PlantsCreating A Tropical Look
Posted by Hugh on December 8th, 2022
Here are some ideas for designing a tropical landscape in your yard. Start with large leafy trees that are hardy in zones 6-7 include catalpa (Catalpa spp.), hickories (Carya spp.), some oaks (Quercus spp.), large leaf maple (Acer macrophylla), American sycamore (Platanus americana), American linden (Tilia americana), and Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa). In zones 7-9 […]
Posted in Angel trumpet (Brugmansia), Banana (Musa spp.), Caricature Plant (Graptophyllum), Catalpa, Colocasia, Elephant ears (Colocasia), Fertilizing plants, Firmiana simplex, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, Linden (Tilia), Magnolia, Magnolia macrophylla, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Paulownia (Empress tree), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Smoketree (Cotinus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Creating A Tropical LookHeartleaf Iceplant (Aptenia)
Posted by Hugh on April 26th, 2022
The world of succulents is a treasure trove for many cool garden plants that attract many collectors, including house plant enthusiastics. Heartleaf iceplant (Aptenia cordifolia), also called Baby sun rose, is a non-hardy succulent or evergreen ground cover. This herbaceous subshrub is indigenous to South Africa and favors a Mediterranea- like climatic conditions (in USDA […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Ground cover, Heartleaf aptenia, Heat Tolerance, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Heartleaf Iceplant (Aptenia)Next Generation Of Kousa Dogwoods
Posted by Hugh on April 16th, 2022
‘Scarlet Fire’ is a 2017 introduction from Rutgers University with 4-5 inch wide, fade-proof, dark pink floral bracts. This Kousa dogwood tree is also heat and drought tolerant and highly disease resistant. ‘Wolf Eyes’ is a compact tree (10-20 feet tall) or multi-branched shrub form; creamy white variegated foliage is scorch-resistant. Wolf Eyes flaunts eye-catching gray-green […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Next Generation Of Kousa DogwoodsEight Colorful Annuals Thrive In Shade
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2022
1. Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) are excellent shade plants, traditionally planted in hanging baskets and window boxes. Asparagus fern (Asparagus springeri) is also nice additions to shady areas. 2. Coleus (Solenostemon) are known for their colorful foliage is nice in a pot or around trees or shrubs. For moderately shady areas, select the Mosaic™ or Kong™ series. 3. Begonias […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Bee Favorite, Begonia, Begonia boliviensis, Butterflies, Caladium, Coleus, Container garden, Ferns, Flowers, Foliage plant, Fuchsias, Impatiens, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Torenia (wishbone flw.), watering tips Comments Off on Eight Colorful Annuals Thrive In ShadeElephant Ears In Motion
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2021
Elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) and their aroid cousins have become commonplace in not only hot, humid southern gardens, as well in temperate landscapes. Gardeners grow them in large containers and overwinter them indoors in a non-freezing environ. Also, my neighbors in zone 6 blanket in-ground plantings with several inches of loosely packed leaves overwinter. Colocasia […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alocasia, Attracting birds, Colocasia, Container garden, Disease resistant, Elephant ears (Colocasia), Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowering Bulb, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Elephant Ears In MotionPlant Awards Of 2021
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2021
For 2021, the National Garden Bureau (NGB), the non-profit organization promoting gardening in North America, has announced the five (5) plant classes that will be featured in the 2021 “Year of the” program. Annual: Year of the Sunflower Vegetable/edible: Year of the Garden Bean Perennial: Year of the Monarda Bulb: Year of the Hyacinth Flowering Shrub: Year of the Hardy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Butterflies, Calamint, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Ferns, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Fruits & Vegetables, Green Beans, Herbs, Hibiscus acetosella, Hosta, Hummingbird, Hyacinth, Landscape ideas, Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Native Plant, Nepeta (catmint), Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Sunflowers, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Plant Awards Of 2021Is Your Home Ready For Monstera?
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2020
Monstera, aka Swiss Cheese Philodendron or Split-leaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) is a climbing evergreen member of the Arum family (Araceae) native to the tropics of Central America. It may also be grown outdoors in (USDA plant hardiness zones 10-12). Monstera is grown for its large cutleaf foliage, sometimes perforated, that may grow up to 3 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, Monstera (Split leaf Philo), Philodendron, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Is Your Home Ready For Monstera?Houseplants Improve Your Home Atmosphere
Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2020
Houseplants decorate as well as clean the air at work and in homes or apartments, particularly when windows are closed over the winter months. Doctors tell us that an environment filled with lots of plants help to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve mind function, particularly our ability to concentrate. Here are six easy […]
Posted in Bromeliads, Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), Dracaena, Ferns, Foliage plant, Fragrant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering iris, ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas) Comments Off on Houseplants Improve Your Home Atmosphere
