Salvia is a large genus with more than 1,000 species, and the plants gardeners call salvias, also known as sages, belong to the mint family (Lamiaceae). They are prized for a strong, pleasant scent and long bloom times, some running from late spring to fall, and most are easy to grow and propagate. Choosing among […]
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) grows fast, handles heat better than most vegetables, and keeps producing pods for weeks, yet it still depends on the plants around it. Companion planting is an organic method for controlling pests and diseases that keeps plants healthier and increases harvest yield, and the same logic used to choose companions for thriving
Sunflowers make a statement with blooms from pale yellow to golden, white, red, and nearly black, plus bicolor and even purple heads. Most garden types are grown as annuals, though some reseed easily and come back every year, and a few perennial wild sunflowers are native to the United States. Sizes run from compact two-foot
A houseplant that wilts no matter how much you water it, drops yellow leaves, or leans at an odd angle is often suffering from root rot. The disease attacks the roots below the soil line, and by the time the leaves look bad, the root system is already compromised. Catching it early and treating it
Basil is one of the easiest and most productive herbs to grow in containers, and a pot on the deck or a sunny windowsill keeps fresh leaves within arm’s reach of the kitchen. Container growing gives you control over sun exposure, soil quality, and watering that garden beds cannot match, and the container techniques that
Cut tulips arrive upright and leave drooping. Within a day, the straight stems you arranged can be leaning over the vase rim, and first-time buyers often assume the flowers are dying. Tulips actually keep growing after they are cut, bending toward light and lengthening by an inch or more a day. That movement is normal,
Hydroponic gardens grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers without soil. Instead of digging beds, you bathe plant roots in nutrient-rich water, so the system needs a reservoir, a growing medium, and a way to move solution to the roots. The approach fits small balconies, spare rooms, and garages where a traditional garden will not fit, and
Zinnias deliver some of the brightest, longest-lasting color a home garden can produce, and they do it from seed with almost no fuss. The plants germinate in days, bloom within weeks, and keep producing flowers from early summer until the first hard frost. For gardeners who want a high-impact bed without high-maintenance plants, zinnias are
Roses have a reputation as fragile plants, but most rose problems start in the soil. Well-prepared ground lets roots establish quickly, keeps water moving at the right pace, and prevents the stress that invites disease. Gardeners who skip soil prep and plant straight into packed clay or builder’s sand fight the same losing battle all
Orchids can live indoors for many years, yet a common misconception is that the plant dies when the flowers fade. The flowers are only one phase of a longer cycle. Orchids bloom repeatedly over their lifetime, with each blooming period lasting two to three months. Phalaenopsis, the species most often sold in nurseries and grocery
