Have you struggled with your succulents and you’re not sure why they’re not thriving? The answer could easily be the soil, especially if you’re not sure what the best soil for succulents is in the first place as general-purpose potting soil usually won’t work without amendments. Succulents require different soil to do well, and indoors
Potting soil has several benefits for your plants in the fact that it contains a higher nutrient content than you’ll find in the soil and it retains moisture. However, various plants need a specific pH range so it can accommodate their growth patterns, and this is where acidic potting soil comes in. This pH should
As any gardener knows, good, healthy earth is the foundation of a healthy, productive garden. One of the main benefits of creating a raised bed garden is that it enables you to fully control the quality of your growing medium. This is ideal if your garden earth is poor, filled with thick tree roots or
It’s a known fact that you should make a point to regularly fertilize your garden, but many people aren’t sure how to go about it without using chemical fertilizers. We’re going to outline exactly how to accomplish this task using worm castings, touch on how they help your garden, how to apply them, how to
Growing plants takes work, dedication, effort, and the best potting soil available. No matter if you have indoor or outdoor plants, the best potting soil for your plant type can help give them the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. There are dozens of different types available from reputable companies that it’s challenging to
How do you make a gritty, well-draining cactus mix for cheap? After I bought my first cactus, I fell into a black hole of researching everything I could to keep my new cactus plant happy and thriving. This research very quickly took me on a journey that looked like this: buy a new cactus plant,
The sun is not the only factor in choosing full sun perennials. It is important to understand that there is no list of full sun perennials that would be suitable for any garden. Of course, the plants that are right for your garden will depend on where you live. The climate is important. And the
Succulents like Chicks and Hens and cacti are different from your traditional plants. They have different care needs, including having a specialized succulent soil. In their natural habitat, these plants typically face drought, and this means that they store moisture in their leaves or stems. The soil in which they grow is also very different,
Are you having issues knowing when it’s time to water your houseplants or the plants outside? If you are, you’re not alone. Having a soil moisture sensor on hand is one way to combat this issue, and you can quickly and easily tell at a glance whether or not you have to water your plants.
If you’re someone who has uneven ground outside of your home that is prone to eroding, you’ve probably already thought of a few retaining wall ideas. A well-built retaining wall can help keep the soil on one side of the wall while allowing for a lower floor level on the opposite side. Traditionally, most retaining
If you’ve ever tried gardening in heavy clay soil, you know what a challenge it is. Digging is back-breaking work, and you might end up with plants that don’t grow very big or just struggle and die. This doesn’t mean that clay soil is the worst thing ever. Clay actually has some benefits that are
Getting the correct balance of nutrients in your garden soil is key to helping your vegetables, plants, and flowers thrive and grow all season long. However, your soil’s nutrients can fluctuate depending on the environment, the soil itself, and whether or not you add things like fertilizer in. This is why it’s important to have
Here’s everything you need to know about how to make soil acidic using natural methods. Use a soil test kit to determine how acidic or alkaline your soil currently is. You can have the best soil in the world and give your plants the right amount of sunlight and water, but if they don’t have
Two tropical fruits that are similar in appearance, when it comes to choosing between durian vs jackfruit, you can be forgiven for struggling to tell the two apart. However, there are some key differences between these two tropical fruits. Once you learn how to spot these differences you will be able to tell them apart
A raised bed vegetable garden is a great growing solution for many people. Ideal for a range of growing environments, planting a 4×8 raised bed vegetable garden provides a good way to grow your own food if your soil is poor. This growing solution not only enables you to make the most of limited space,
One of the easiest garden projects, growing pea sprouts provides a quick and easy way to enjoy your own microgreens. A low maintenance crop that is suitable for growing both indoors and outside, this is a reliable, year round crop that is suitable for gardeners of all abilities. Rich in flavor, pea sprouts are also
Succulents provide an attractive, low maintenance way to grow plants. Ideal for cultivation as houseplants, succulents are resilient plants that tolerate a little neglect. This has helped to make them a popular choice for people who may not otherwise have the time to care for other types of houseplant. One of the most attractive types
Are you looking for a houseplant that is a little different? A plant that stands out from the crowd. If so, the distinctive lace aloe may be the plant for you. Visually arresting, the lace aloe is a stemless flowering succulent that produces soft lanceolate white-spotted leaves in a rosette pattern. This attractive plant not
One of the most useful herbs, learning how to grow lemongrass can also add visual interest to your garden. Its long leaves sway gently in the summer breeze filling your outdoor space with color, interest and movement. As summer turns to fall the leaves turn from light green to pleasing shades of red or burgundy
There is nothing like the taste of a home grown, freshly picked tomato. If you want to enjoy this taste but worry that you don’t have the space, growing small tomatoes is the ideal solution. Taking up surprisingly little space, small tomatoes can be grown in pots, planters, hanging baskets and even on kitchen windowsills.
When it comes to planning your garden’s planting scheme, foliage is often neglected. Considered simply the backdrop against which spectacular floral displays are showcased. However, for many plants, it is the foliage that is actually the star of the show. Selecting shrubs that have colorful, textured or unusually shaped foliage enables you to create year
A popular ornamental spring flower, did you know that there are over 300 different types of iris? These different varieties come in a range of different shapes and colors, from large border filling specimens to smaller container plants. Part of the Iridaceae plant family the iris is not only visually attractive it is also easy
There are many drought-tolerant plants available, including vines, trees, shrubs, and flowers that can look great and thrive, even if you go weeks without rainfall. These plants will help you minimize the money and time you have to spend on watering your yard or garden. Some even prefer to thrive planted in poor soil, so
Photinia is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that can come with striking red coloring on the new leaves. As the shrub matures, the foliage takes on a deep, leathery green appearance. Many people choose to use this plant as a privacy screen or hedge due to the dense growth habit. However, fungal leaf spot can quickly
Are you new to the pepper world? Shishito peppers are one of the best pepper plants you can start with. Not only do they have very simple growing requirements, but they have a mild flavor profile that blends well with dozens of recipes. They also have an earlier harvest, so you’ll have mountains of peppers
The weeping blue atlas cedar is a very majestic ornamental specimen to have as part of your landscape design. The sculptural form of lightly cascading branches make a very eye-catching display, and the bluish-gray coloring on the foliage is also very unique. It’s a perfect specimen plant to add a dramatic focal point to your
Grown as a shrub or the loquat tree, this fruiting plant is very interesting. It’s a relative to the rose, and it produces small fruits that taste like a mixture of mango, citrus, and peaches, and many people claim it has a honey note. However, most people have never tasted this fruit and know virtually
Many people don’t have access to large plots of land to grow a garden, and a lot of people have to make do with a balcony or porch. However, if you don’t have a lot of space and you still want to experience picking fresh fruits and vegetables from a garden, you can try growing
Liatris, also called gayfeather or blazing star, is a perennial wildflower that has a long blooming period and is native to the eastern part of North America. It’s a member of the bigger, Asteraceae family, but it doesn’t have the daisy-like blooms most plants in this family produce. Instead, you get very unusual flower heads
The snake plant (Sansevieria) is a hardy low maintenance houseplant. Tolerant of a range of conditions and even a little neglect, the snake plant is one of the easiest plants to care for. However snake plant problems are all too common. Being able to quickly identify any problems helps you to solve the issue quickly,
A popular member of the vegetable garden, crunchy cucumbers freshly harvested from the garden are one of the joys of summer. If you don’t like eating these nutritious fruits, you can also use them to flavor water or as part of your skincare regime. As the summer draws to a close, excess fruit can be
Once considered an exotic delicacy today the banana is one of the world’s most popular fruits. This popularity is largely due to the fruit’s delicious flavor and creamy texture. They are also packed with nutrients such as potassium and vitamin C. A popular choice at the grocery store, but did you know you can also
Kalanchoe Daigremontiana is a visually unique houseplant. Further adding to its popularity is the fact that it is pleasingly easy to care for. Best described as a forgiving plant, Kalanchoe Daigremontiana is an ideal choice for inexperienced and nervous plant parents. In return for just a little care it produces lots of rich, green serrated
A gorgeous addition to the home, the lyre-shaped leaves of the Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) have helped to make it one of the most popular houseplants. Its glossy, lyre or violin shaped green leaves make it a great addition to a room. Taller varieties, which can grow up to 6 ft tall, can also
One of the most popular members of the vegetable garden, lots of people, myself included, love growing tomatoes. As many gardeners will tell you, once you have tasted a homegrown tomato freshly picked from the garden, store bought types will never taste as good again. While many people buy young plants or transplants from garden
One of the most popular flowers in the garden, peonies are popular for their large, showy blooms. While the peony flower is not one of the longest lasting blooms, they are certainly one of the showiest flowers, providing your garden with lots of colorful, frilly interest. Surprisingly easy to grow, particularly as a cut flower,
One of the most exotic plants you can add to the garden, turmeric has a range of benefits. In addition to its large, green leaves providing you with lots of visual interest, the plant can be used to add flavor to dishes such as curries. This useful herb also has a range of health benefits.
Hostas are popular ornamental plants, their lush green leaves are an ideal choice to fill a difficult space in the garden. Once established the hosta provides long lasting interest. A resilient, shade perennial, the hosta is versatile enough to work in a range of planting schemes. Providing further interest, the plants are also available in
Do you want to give your indoor plant support with a moss pole to help it climb? While you can go out and buy moss poles from online retailers or your local nursery, they’re an easy DIY project you can make at home for a fraction of the cost. Plus, making it yourself allows you
If you’ve ever gotten a hydrangea in a pot, you probably enjoyed how it looked for a few weeks then watched as it faded and slowly died off. This experience may have led you to believe that hydrangeas in pots aren’t a good idea, but this isn’t necessarily correct. Most gifted, potted hydrangeas don’t thrive
While you may spend the most time relaxing outside during the spring and summer months, caring for your lawn is an all year round project. If you don’t follow some type of do it yourself lawn care schedule, it’s easy to miss something vital, like fertilizing or watering. It takes a large amount of discipline
If your plant is drooping, this is usually a sign that it is slowly dying. If you are a plant lover or gardener, you know how frustrating it can be to see once healthy plants withering away. So, if your plant is drooping, why? There are several reasons why your plant is drooping, and a
Globe amaranth is a tropical annual that has globe-shaped blooms that last for a long time, and they come in a range of colors. They work well in rock gardens, beds, borders, and xeriscapes as they’re very tolerant to drought. This plant is one of the 90 Gomphrena species of flowering plants that you find
Dieffenbachia is a tropical perennial genus that has several species that people commonly use as houseplants. They feature ovate, pointed leaves in a range of combinations of cream, green, and white. A very large dumb cane plant that is well taken care of can easily top 10 feet, and it’ll have leaves that are up
The bitter melon plant is a favorite in Southeast Asian and Asian cooking, and you can stuff it with shrimp or pork and pickle or steam, or curry it before serving it in a soup or with meat. As the name suggests, bitter melons are a very strong acquired taste, and you can liken the
If you’ve just bought or received a bouquet of flowers, you’ll want to get them into water to make sure they last as long as they can. If you don’t get a food packet to go into the flower’s water to make them last longer, you can make your own flower food with a few
For centuries, purple has had close associations with royalty. The deep color implies a level of decadence that lasts to this day, and it’s no wonder that many gardeners seek out purple flowering shrubs and flowers for their garden or beds. If you are someone who loves this color, you’ll be happy to note that
There are some plants that need a lot of water to survive and thrive, and this can be an interesting challenge for some gardeners. Unlike a lot of moisture-sensitive species, they can tolerate a large range of growing conditions and planting zones. Landscapers and horticultural specialists value these plants for their ease of growth and
Guava is a fruit that you can eat, and it’s technically a large berry. It grows on the guava fruit tree, and you’ll find it growing in warm weather in subtropical locations in hardiness zones 9b. No matter the type of guava tree you have, if the temperature dips below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, it could
Cumin is a very popular herb that gets used in Mexican and Indian dishes. The cumin plant has very fragrant foliage that you can add to salad mixes and it resembles dill. Although the foliage looks like the dill plant, cumin is actually a part of the parsley family. Along with being added as foliage