Did you know Friday was National Houseplant Appreciation Day? There are dozens of studies that show that having houseplants are good for us! They do help “clean” the air in our homes–although, the more the better. One or two little pots of philodendron won’t do as much as a lot more plants. Plants Improve Emotional … Read more
It’s that time again—time to make my New Year’s Gardening Resolutions! So here they are: Even though it is tedious, I resolve to go through my plants and examine them top to bottom for insect pests that may have hitchhiked a ride inside for the winter and are now chowing down on my plants. Outside, … Read more
Saturday, December 21st, was the Winter Solstice–the day with the longest night and shortest day of the year. We have a Winter and Summer Solstice because the Earth is tilted on its axis. This means that as we orbit the sun, one hemisphere will get more sunlight, hence the four seasons. The Winter Solstice is when our … Read more
Almost every door seems to have a sprig of mistletoe at Christmas. So, what exactly is it? What is Mistletoe? Believe it or not, mistletoe is a parasite. It sends its roots down into its host plant, tapping into its water and nutrients to keep it alive. Its botanical name is Phoradendron, which comes from the … Read more
Last week, I discussed one of my favorite holiday plants: the amaryllis. This week, I’ll discuss another one of my favorite holiday plants: the poinsettia. From Mexico With Love: The History of Poinsettias In 1825, Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, was intrigued by some beautiful red flowers he saw growing … Read more
Is it Christmas or January? One of my favorite holiday flowers is the Amaryllis. This beauty has flowers that range in size from six to ten inches—and all this from a bulb that ranges in size from three to five inches. Now, some people grow amaryllis as an annual—that is, they enjoy the blooms and … Read more
You see them everywhere this time of year, don’t you? Christmas cactus. So here is some “need-to-know” info about these beautiful bloomers. Where They Come From Christmas cacti are native to the tropical rainforest in Brazil, and, believe it or not, they are epiphytes. Epiphytes are plants that live on other plants. Now, they are … Read more
Okay, so you’ve pulled all your houseplants back in for the winter. Now what? Well, I’m happy to say not much. What to Remember We must remember that winter means one thing to plants—less sun! Plants rely on chlorophyll, which is activated by sunlight. In the winter, when days are short and the sunlight is … Read more
Last week, I discussed what to do with citrus over the winter. This week, I’ll discuss what to do with orchids over the winter. How Many Species? Really? First, a little background: there are over 30,000 naturally occurring species of orchids, with well over 100,000 manmade hybrids. 30.000??? That’s right! Orchids are the single most … Read more
Last week, I brought all my citrus back inside for the winter, so I thought I’d talk about them this week. I have a Meyer lemon, a Key lime, and two kumquats. Citrus is fairly easy to grow if you’ve got the right spot. How Citrus Trees Found Their Way to The Americas Citrus trees … Read more
