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
Would you like to have a brilliant, dependable flower this winter and next spring in contrast to your usual house plants? Spring Colors of Plants You can have generous spreads of color —yellow, blue, pink, and red—if you plan now to force bulbs such as tulips and daffodils. They’re easier than you think and very … Read more
If you like to have green plants around but don’t have a lot of time to take care of them, then Hypoestes phyllostachya might be a good plant for you. Hypoestes phyllostachya is a perennial plant that is native to Madagascar. It’s a member of the acanthus family and is also known as the painted … Read more
Our dining room windows face southeast; during the winter, they get all the light from the sun as it moves across. We thought it a good spot for a window greenhouse, and since two windows are close together, we bought two window greenhouses and set them side by side. There is a radiator under the … Read more
Hemigraphis alternata, also known as Strobilanthes alternata, is a tropical perennial known for its colorful oval leaves. The leaves are usually green with a red or purple tint, giving the plant its unique appearance. Native to India, Malaysia, and Indonesia, Hemigraphis alternata is usually seen as a groundcover or border plant, reaching medium heights of … Read more
Fittonia verschaffeltii (fi-TOE-ni-a ver-shaf-FEL-tie) is a beautiful plant grown and cultivated for its unique leaves. They are commonly sold as houseplants in the United States, but in their native habitat of Peru, they are wild on the forest floor. Requiring low light makes the Fittonia verschaffeltii a relatively easy-to-maintain houseplant. However, the plant needs warmer … Read more
Radermachera sinica (rad-er-MACH-er-a SIN-i-ca) is a beautiful evergreen perennial that is relatively easy to maintain. Native to China and Taiwan, Radermachera sinica was initially grown as a subtropical plant in mountainous areas. However, it is primarily grown as a houseplant in the United States. Because of its subtropical origins, Radermachera sinica fares well outdoors in … Read more
Tolmiea menziesii (TOL-mee-uh men-ZEE-see-eye) is a flowering hairy-leaved herbaceous perennial that often grows as a groundcover in wetlands and forests and along rivers and streams. The foliage resembles maple leaves and forms a thick groundcover. The plant is relatively fast-growing. The mature plant forms baby plantlets where the leaf meets the stem. These baby plantlets … Read more
Every house-plant lover should have a kit containing the materials necessary for keeping their plants healthy and well-groomed. Three Major Components For A Gardener The three major components of such a kit should be plant food, an insecticide, and a leaf cleaner and shiner. Proper use of all three will give more beauty and longer … Read more
Cyanotis kewensis [Sy-an-NOH-tiss][Kew-EN-sis] is a trailing plant most often referred to as Teddy Bear Vine. It is known for its chocolate brown fuzzy leaves (hence its common name, Teddy Bear Vine). The plant is in the Commelinaceae family and is synonymous with the following: Cyanotis beddomei Belosynapsis kewensis Cyanotis kewoides Erythrotis beddome Tonningia kewensis Cyanotis … Read more