Houseplants drop leaves for many reasons, and the first step is deciding whether the drop is a problem at all. Lower leaves that yellow and fall gradually are part of the normal life cycle of many species. A sudden shower of leaves, or healthy green leaves falling off, points to a change in growing conditions. […]
Ornamental onion, the allium, earns its place in the garden with round heads made of dozens of star-shaped blooms. It is fast-growing, deer-resistant, and tolerant of both drought and cold, which makes it a low-fuss bulb for borders and cutting beds. Planted in fall, the bulbs need full sun and slightly acidic, well-drained soil to
Small, low-growing evergreen shrubs anchor a landscape in every season. They work as accent borders, container specimens, or groundcovers, and they hold live foliage while deciduous trees and shrubs stand bare. That winter color is why gardeners place them near entries, along foundations, and at the front of mixed beds. The design logic behind colorful
People have paired plants with the stars for thousands of years, weaving folklore, seasonal cycles, and healing traditions into a practice known as botanical astrology when it involves plants and astroherbalism when it centers on herbs. The idea connects each sun sign with specific plants whose traditional properties echo the sign’s character. A raised bed
Cacti and succulents are closely related, but the two words describe different levels of classification. Cactus denotes a single botanical family, the Cactaceae. Succulent is a much broader term for a type of plant spread across many families. Every cactus is a succulent, yet plenty of succulents are not cacti. The confusion even extends inside
Those long, brownish tendrils growing out of a monstera stem are not pests and they are not a mistake. They are aerial roots, root tissue that a plant produces above the surface of the soil while the rest of its roots stay buried. Many popular houseplants grow them, including monstera, pothos, and philodendron, and in
Good-quality compost is sometimes called garden gold, but the equipment used to make it can feel priced like the real thing. Retail composters often cost more than $100, which makes the DIY route attractive for anyone who wants finished compost without the retail price tag. A homemade bin built from plastic storage containers costs $20
Impatiens are among the most popular bedding plants in North America because they produce brightly colored, profuse blooms in the shady spots where many other flowers refuse to grow. These shade-loving flowers thrive under trees, along north-facing walls, and in beds that get only morning sun, and they keep flowering from late spring until the
Ficus ruby is a type of rubber tree whose glossy green leaves are edged in pink, red, and cream, which makes it one of the more colorful houseplants you can grow indoors. This variegated selection of Ficus elastica shows its brightest, most pronounced color when it gets plenty of light, and it prefers the warm,
Oregon grape is the rare shrub that earns its place in every season. It is a broadleaf evergreen that keeps green and burgundy foliage through winter, opens clusters of bright yellow flowers in spring, and follows them with purplish-blue fruit in summer, all in a plant that tops out around 3 to 6 feet tall
