Orchids carry a reputation for being fussy, but the plants that fill grocery store shelves are hardier than the reputation suggests. Phalaenopsis orchids, the most common type sold to beginners, bloom for up to three months at a stretch and settle into ordinary room conditions once a few basics are met. Most are sturdy perennials […]
Every summer, gardeners, hikers, and foragers stop to stare at a tall plant with flat white flower clusters and wonder whether it is safe to touch. Poison hemlock and Queen Anne’s lace share the same general silhouette, and confusing the two carries real consequences: poison hemlock is one of the most toxic plants in North
When a prayer plant suddenly sends up flower spikes, many owners assume something has gone wrong. The worry is not unreasonable: some plants, such as most bromeliads, die after they bloom. The prayer plant, Maranta leuconeura, does not. Flowering indoors is uncommon for tropical houseplants, and when it happens it means the plant is thriving.
Dwarf mondo grass is a lower-growing cultivar of mondo grass, botanically Ophiopogon japonicus ’Nana’, valued as a low-maintenance alternative to turf in spots with full shade or partial shade. Despite the common name, it is not a true grass: it belongs to the Asparagaceae family and is often compared with creeping lilyturf, a plant with
Gladiolus spikes are among the most reliable late-summer flowers in a garden, but the plants behind that display are not as cold-tolerant as they look. Most gladiolus are hardy only in USDA zones 7 through 10, so gardeners in colder regions must lift the corms each fall and carry them through the winter indoors. The
Every winter storm presents the same choice: grab a shovel, start a snow blower, or leave the snow where it fell. The right answer depends on the surface. On driveways, walkways, and steps, snow has to go for safety and access. On the lawn, the opposite is often true. Natural snow cover insulates turf and
Pulling weeds in winter sounds like the kind of chore that belongs on a list of things to avoid, but the off-season is when weed control does the most work per minute. Winter weeds are small, their roots are shallow, and the soil is often soft from rain or snow melt. Remove them now and
January sits in the middle of the dormant season, when deciduous shrubs have dropped their leaves and the branching structure stands fully exposed. That bare framework makes winter the easiest time of year to see what a shrub actually needs: crossing branches, dead wood, and crowded stems are visible at a glance. Gardeners who prune
Sprinkling cayenne pepper around a yard sounds like an old wives’ tale, but the trick has real chemistry behind it. Capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their burn, irritates the mouths and noses of most mammals, which is why deer, rabbits, and squirrels avoid treated plants. The method costs pennies, needs no special equipment,
Brown, crispy leaf edges on houseplants are winter’s most common plant complaint. The causes range from dry air to watering mistakes, and most are easy to reverse once you know what you are looking at. Plants adapt to indoor life well when conditions and care line up; a sudden spread of brown leaves means something
