Amateur gardeners are always interested in propagating plants from cuttings or seeds. This is not always possible in the average home because insufficient light is generally available. When fluorescent lights came into use as a new method for growing plants, amateur gardeners without facilities found that they could grow plants from cuttings or seeds in … Read more
Stand behind a gloxinia sales counter at a country fair, and in a few hours, it is evident how greatly this plant is admired. Many names will call it; gloxinia, gloxinia, tuberous begonia, and even petunia, but on one point, everyone is unanimous—it is the most beautiful plant. However, beauty alone is not the sole … Read more
Coffee Arabica, commonly known as the Arabian coffee plant, is an old plant known in Europe since the 18th century. It’s a gorgeous houseplant in the United States, but in its native habitat in Ethiopia, it can grow as tall as 15′ feet! Because of its large size, it’s often seen as a hedge in … Read more
Philodendron erubescens is a beautiful exotic plant known for its large glossy leaves. Philodendron comes from the Greek words “Philo,” which means love, and “dendron,” which means “tree.” This Greek name is due to the Philodendron’s habit of climbing on or up trees. While it is an aggressive climbing plant outdoors, it is also happy … Read more
Dracaena fragrans (dra-SEE-nah FRAY-granz) is a slow-growing, perennial shrub in its native habitat but is primarily known as a houseplant in the United States. It is often referred to as a Corn plant because it can appear like a corn stalk. However, it has many common names, ranging from the Dragon Tree plant to the … Read more
If it is the middle of September, there is still time to order tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths for forcing on the window sill, or in your greenhouse. Potted from mid to late October and left outdoors in a cold frame for a rooting period of eight to ten weeks, they may then be brought indoors … Read more
As one snowflake does not constitute a blizzard, neither does successfully growing a single orchid makes one an orchid authority. Nevertheless, the experiences of one person and his method in blooming an orchid under ordinary window-sill culture, and without the benefit of a greenhouse or any fancy equipment, can lend encouragement to others who have … Read more
Perhaps the one time that indoor plants are most appreciated is in the long gray wintery months that precede spring. Average Indoor Plants Foliage plants, African violets, gloxinias, and begonias are about the extent of what the average indoor gardener has to work with. Summer Months: Growth and Bloom of Plants Actually, with proper light, … Read more
I grow Rex Begonias on my window sills, on stands, tables, and in my breezeway. At one time they were thought to be strictly for the greenhouse hobbyist. Such is not the case anymore! Basic Cultural House Plants Today anyone can have the basic cultural know-how to grow these most luxuriant and beautiful of house … Read more
Zantedeschia aethiopica (zan-teh-DESK-ee-uh ee-thee-OH-pih-kuh), commonly known as White calla lily, is a common florist’s calla around the world. Despite its common name, White calla lily, Zantedeschia Aethiopica is not a true lily. Instead, it’s a clump-forming herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennial that belongs to the genus Zantedeschia and is a member of the Araceae family, also … Read more