Bonsai are the topic this week for two reasons. First – I saw someone selling some for a Valentine’s Day, but also because the Asian New Year is about to begin, and bonsai are a Japanese tradition that spread throughout many parts of Asia. What is a Bonsai? Bonsai is […]
It’s January as I write this, and National Houseplant Appreciation Day is in January. Not all of the Southwest has warm gardening weather in January, in fact many of areas have freezing nights and snow – enough for skiing! If you long to the brightness of flowers in you […]
Cold is coming and tender tropical plants are at risk! In all but the hottest zones of the Southwest, you will have to bring some (or many) plants indoors before frost. If you are a plant person, you may have some, or many, of these. Depending on your elevation the […]
African violets can add charm and a grace note to your home, and they come in a vast variety of charming colors. You may have tried them before and not been successful, but I believe they are worth another chance. If First You Don’t Succeed If you have been […]
Houseplants are pampered pets compared to their outdoor cousins. Even in air conditioning, these pets can be feeling the effects of summer in a number of ways. Summer Light Summer light quality is more intense. The quantity is greater too, although that’s changing as we head towards autumn. Have you […]
Orchids are gorgeous, beautiful, intricate, spectacular, and a number of other superlatives. They also have a reputation as being hard to grow, but that “ain’t necessarily so,” to quote the old song. Botany Nerd says – So Many Orchids to Choose From! The Orchid family is divided into four tribes, […]
America’s favorite holiday flower is the poinsettia. To help you celebrate, here is a little of the rich and sadly bloody history of this alternately loved and reviled plant. Do you prefer cyclamen as a holiday flower? Here is my post on growing cyclamen. Poinsettia are from a Beautiful Area […]
Celebrate Houseplant Appreciation Day – January 10 Houseplants are “in” once more – which is super! But here in the Southwest, where humidity is low, if you want to be successful with houseplants, you need to select your houseplants with some consideration. Look at their Genes When caring for any […]
Silver dollar plant is one of those plants that is a houseplant for folks back East – but it can be grown outdoors here in the Southwest. You Can Grow Silver Dollar Plant Silver dollar plant (Crassula arborescens) has many common names – and quite a few cultivated varieties with […]
