Excitement ran high in botanical circles of Michigan following the recent discovery here of one of America’s rarest plants, Hart’s tongue fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium). This plant has simple, lanceolate fronds, sometimes auricled at the base, but their resemblance to the tongue of a deer has prompted its distinctive common name. It lives in moist, shady … Read more
When I bought my little house in September 1954, the former owners moved out of the kitchen cabinet to take to their new house. However, when the rubbish collector took the top by mistake, they thought the cabinet would be worthless. Idea Of Making a Poor Man’s Greenhouse Then, I had the idea of making … Read more
In our grandmother’s day, this plant was known as the plume plant or plume flower. In today’s catalogs, among the several species listed Jacobinia cornea, relutina, and magnifica. Great Plumes Of Rose-Pink It seems to be the same or very similar with great plumes of rose-pink terminal blossoms, each a narrow long tube. The leaves … Read more
Two worthwhile ideas come to mind for making the most of summer in the small greenhouse. These are useful crops or tropical displays. Permanent flowering plants, especially those which are winter-blooming in the cool or moderately warm greenhouse, need 2 months or more outdoors and may be plunged into the ground in a protected place. … Read more
My wax plant, Hoya carnosa, was given to me as a small rooted cutting a few years ago. I had never seen a plant like it before, but fortunately, I gave it the right care—a sunny window, water whenever the topsoil seemed dry, and a pot trellis on which to climb. The Wax Plant’s Features … Read more
To beat the Christmas rush, start your gifts in April. Plant herbs and everlastings now; they will be ready to deliver long before the madding holiday scramble. Every good cook appreciates herbs. So do gardeners—they take little room and require minimum bother. What Plants To Try For Your First Herb Garden If this is your … Read more
Remember how you stepped into your greenhouse one cold, snowy day last January, and the warm, moist atmosphere and freshness of green, growing things made you catch your breath? With shading and proper ventilation, you can make your greenhouse almost as pleasant in the summer. If you live where summer temperatures soar into a dry … Read more
So you are interested in propagating African violet plants! Once you start growing Saintpaulias, it will not be long until you are interested in African violet propagation. Soon you will feel like the old woman in the shoe — you’ll have so many “children” you won’t know what to do. There is no stopping Saintpaulia … Read more
The plant world is often full of controversy, sometimes over names or whether a plant is a species, hybrid, or cultivar, and sometimes it’s both. But one plant, in particular, takes the cake for being controversial, even above the heated issue of whether sansevierias are dracaenas. This perennial plant is a relative of the spider … Read more
Fiddle leaf fig trees are one of the most popular house plants and for a good reason. They have interesting, dark-veined foliage, strong stems with heavy bark, and a look that feels like you’ve got a miniaturized tree in your house. Indeed, the fiddle leaf fig tree is a truly compelling house plant. But if … Read more