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Rainbow Bush Info The elephant bush, native to Africa, is so named because elephants love to eat it. Rainbow portulacaria plant is a warm-weather plant, suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. For this reason, it is usually grown as an indoor plant. In its natural environment, variegated elephant bush can reach heights of up to 20 feet (6 m.). However, this slow-growing plant is usually limited to 10 feet (3 m....

Native to Central and Southern America, where many species grow on trees in the rain forests, just one anthurium plant can give a room a more tropical feel. Naturally, homeowners are adding this exotic plant to their outdoor rooms as well. However, while anthurium tends to grow well inside, anthurium outdoor care is more difficult. How to Grow Anthuriums in the Garden Anthuriums grow very well in controlled environments of the home when given indirect sunlight, consistent temperatures, and regular waterings....

When to Plant Collard Greens Collard greens are a cool season vegetable and are often planted in late summer to early autumn for winter harvest in the South. In more northern areas, collards may be planted a little earlier for fall or winter harvest. Collards are frost tolerant, so growing collard greens in USDA growing zones 6 and below is an ideal late season crop. Frost actually improves the flavor of collard greens....

Children love to learn about and explore nature. A child as young as three years old will marvel at the different and exciting scents that are available in a fragrant herb garden. Children are delighted to learn that they can grow many of the herbs that you use in cooking their dinner. Starting a Children’s Herb Garden Young children may not have heard of many of the herbs that they eat or come into contact with daily....

Growing Windowsill Orchids Far from needing lots of light, orchids are actually quite sensitive and will suffer in bright light. Orchids on windowsills perform best in east- or west-facing windows, where they receive some light in the morning or afternoon. The ideal amount of light is about five hours per day. If you place them in a south-facing window you may have to hang a screen or a curtain to scatter some of the light....

Can I Grow Quince from Seed? Many types of fruit can be started from seed. Not all of them will be true to the parent plant, including seed grown quince, but if you are a curious, experimental gardener like me, then by all means, try growing quince fruit from seeds. How to Grow a Quince Tree from Seed Quince seed germination isn’t particularly difficult, although it takes some planning since the seeds need a period of cooling or stratification prior to planting....

About Rainier Cherry Trees Rainier cherries resulted from a cross between the Bing and Van varieties. The trees are gorgeous in spring with showy pink-white blooms filling the garden with a lovely fragrance. This is followed by the next act: a large crop of outstanding cherries. For the grand finale in autumn, expect a fiery fall foliage display. The trees bear fruit early. Those with a Rainier in the backyard will be picking Rainier cherries in May or June, while other cherry trees are nowhere near ripe....

What Is Sorghum? Sorghum doesn’t enjoy as much popularity today as it did in the 1800s. Then it was an important sweetener and many cuisines featured it in classic recipes. It has received more interest in recent years due to its important properties. The Sorghum plant is a southern crop in the grass family. The flower stalk matures in hues of yellow, red, brown and combinations of each. This is Sorghum bicolor, a nutrient rich food for humans and animals....

Hanging Pitcher Plant Care Hanging pitcher plants in baskets is the most effective way to grow them. In the wild, the plants vine up trees, and providing them with plenty of empty space will give them the air circulation they crave and allow the pitchers to grow to their full and most impressive extent. Hanging pitcher plants thrive in light, well-draining soil that’s poor in nutrients but high in organic matter....

About Cashew Harvesting When cashew nuts form, they appear growing out of the bottom of a big swollen fruit. The fruit, called a cashew apple, isn’t really a fruit at all, but is actually the swollen end of the stem just above the cashew nut. Each apple is paired with a single nut, and the visual effect is pretty bizarre. The apples and nuts will form in the winter or dry season....

Before You Start Propagating Holly Growing holly is easy; however, in order to produce the bright red berries they’re commonly known for, you need at least one female holly plant and one male. Holly shrubs can be container grown indoors or outdoors as foundation or specimen plantings. While they are hardy and tolerant of a variety of soil, holly prefers moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. They also enjoy sun or partial shade....

Rooting Succulents with Honey As you’ve likely heard, honey has healing properties and is used to help with some medical conditions, but it’s also been used as a rooting hormone for plants too. Honey contains antiseptic and anti-fungal elements which may help keep bacteria and fungi away from succulent leaves and stems you’re trying to propagate. Some growers say they dip succulent propagation pieces in honey to encourage roots and new leaves on stems....

How to Split Hostas Should hostas be divided? Yes, they definitely should be divided for several reasons. One is that division is the only real way to propagate new plants. Hostas from seeds don’t grow true in most cases. Division is also a great way to clean up your hostas, remove dead portions, and keep them the size you want. Here’s how to do it: Start hosta plant division by digging up the entire root clump....

What is an Organic Herbicide? Herbicides may be inorganic, that is, synthetically created in a lab, or organic, meaning the product is made from chemicals that naturally occur in nature. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Organic herbicides break down quickly, leaving no residual effects, and have low levels of toxicity. Organic herbicides are gaining in popularity due to both environmental and health concerns. That being said, organic herbicides for weeds can be expensive for the commercial organic farm or the home grower....

Forcing Grape Hyacinth Indoors To force grape hyacinth indoors, you’ll need to dig up existing bulbs or purchase them in late summer or early fall. To enjoy blooms from January through March, pot the bulbs for chilling in September or October. Grape hyacinth bulbs require a cold period of 35 to 48 degrees F. (2-9 C.) for at least ten weeks. Plant the bulbs, anywhere from 12 to 15 inches (31-38 cm....

Planting Corn Indoors Start with corn seed. If you are growing corn indoors, it’s probably a good idea to plant a dwarf variety of corn such as: Miniature Hybrid Golden Midget Early Sunglow When indoor corn growing, the corn plants will be relying entirely on you for nutrients. Add plenty of composted manure or fertilizer to the soil for growing corn in containers. Corn is a heavy feeder and will need it to grow well....

Sorbaria False Spirea If you plant Sorbaria false spirea, don’t expect a prim and proper shrub that knows its place. The charm of false spirea is entirely different. Those who choose to grow Sorbaria shrubs must be ready for the plants’ unruly nature. These shrubs offer masses of overarching branches, with dark green, pinnate leaves. They also supply billowy sprays of summer flowers. Native to Eastern Siberia, China, Korea, and Japan, false spirea shrubs grow to 10 feet (3 m....

Harvesting Flowers from Cutting Gardens While these types of specialty gardens are popular with market growers, hobbyists also find considerable joy in the creation of their own flower arrangements. Success in arranging your own cut flowers will require knowledge and consideration for the harvesting process, as well as the conditioning needs for various types of blooms. When to pick cut flowers and how to harvest cut flowers can be one of the most difficult aspects of growing your own....

Identification of Woodpecker Damage to Trees Woodpecker tree damage normally appears as holes in trees. Depending on the species of woodpecker that is pecking at your tree, these holes may be clustered or in a straight line. While most of the time these holes are small in diameter, if the woodpecker has settled on your tree as a nesting spot, the hole can be quite large. Woodpecker holes in trees happen for a variety of reasons....

Can You Move a Greenhouse? Since the greenhouse was obviously put in place, it stands to reason that it can be moved. The question is how? Greenhouses that are fiberglass or plastic are lightweight and fairly easy to manhandle. Those with glass, however, can be very heavy and require a bit of forethought before relocating. The first thing to consider, as simple as it sounds, is where you want to move the greenhouse....