Flower Basics

Gardening can be very therapeutic for those with a green thumb. It is also a lovely way to accent any front lawn or backyard for a home. With so many varieties or flowers and bulbs available, it...

Flowers make a lovely addition to any garden. The trick to flowers is keeping them healthy without allowing them to be choked by weeds, which prohibit flower growth and look terrible. Weeds are...

Where did the phrase "stop and smell the flowers" come from? Chances are that it came from the flowers themselves. The reason flowers smell so sweetly is due to the flower's necessity to pollinate...

Pollination is an essential survival tool for plants because it ensures the continuation of the species. When flowers are pollinated, it stimulates the process that creates new seeds and...

Judges pore over flower entries at shows, scrutinizing every detail to separate the elite from those that don't quite measure up. Consider the criteria judges look for when choosing the blue...

Having flowers delivered to a friend or loved one is a warm gesture. Few gifts can lift the spirit, inspire a smile and brighten a room like a bouquet of beautiful blooms. But there is a way to...

There's nothing quite like a floating flower centerpiece for a special occasion. A flower floats when the sunken portion of the flower weighs as much as the water it displaces. Although some wide,...

Each state in the Union has a designated state flower or state floral emblem, typically voted on and ultimately approved by their state legislature. In most cases, the flower or emblem has a...

Careful gardeners prune back outdoor plants in the fall to prepare their garden for winter. If you're new to gardening, there are some basic maintenance measures that will get your plants ready...

Hybridizing your flowering plants is a great way to create custom landscape designs filled with flowers that meet your exact specifications. For centuries, gardeners have used hybridization to...

Sedum morganianum or burro-tail sedum is commonly planted in a hanging basket. This herbaceous succulent does very well in basket because when mature it has trailing branches that are 3 to 4 feet...

Flowers planted in window boxes and hanging baskets have specific needs different than flowers planted directly in the ground. Using garden soil for your container plants will not provide adequate...

If you want to decorate your home, consider making flower pot hangers to display your plants. Hanging flower pots add color to both inside and outside of your home by suspending your plants at or...

PayPal enables you to shop online at while keeping your payment information hidden. As opposed to paying through the retailer's website, you can instead pay through PayPal's. This increases the...

Water features in yards can include any thing from a lavish waterfall to a small tranquil koi pond. The sounds of flowing water contribute to a luxurious backdrop that can be elevated by the...

If you're creating flower arrangements as decorations for your home or for a special event such as a wedding, you may not be a professional florist but you can act like one. By learning florist...

Short-term exposure to extremes will not kill houseplants but extended time spent in below freezing temperatures, extreme high temperatures, drought, flood or malnourishment will cause damage....

While it's easy to buy perfume at any drugstore, you typically have no idea what blend of ingredients comprise the scent, whether they are natural or synthetic and, until you apply and wear them...

Gardeners and farmers looking to get the most out of their seed investments may find it useful to treat dormant seeds with potassium nitrate. This substance has been used for years to speed along...

Magnolia blossoms are beautiful flowers that usually grow on tree branches. Having access to magnolia blossoms gives you the opportunity to pick a few and place them in your home as an addition to...

Generally speaking, plants don't require pollination by hand-collected pollen. However, collecting pollen allows you to cultivate species for desirable characteristics such as color or hardiness....

Just like snails, slugs are soft-bodied creatures that have shells. There are 40- plus types of slugs in the United States, according to GH Organics (see references). Slugs are a gardener's enemy...

The geranium is an annual flower that is commonly propagated by taking cuttings from the stems to grow new plants. The cuttings may be placed in rooting medium but water can also be used to...

You can grow medicinal plants at your home, or in your office. It is important to make sure that you can produce and harvest seeds from your medicinal plants so that you can continue to have...

Propagating flowers from cuttings is a quick and easy way to expand your plant supply with the types of flowers you like best. Some plant cuttings, such as those from many roses and hydrangeas,...

For hundreds of years, poets have written about flowers, using them to symbolize love and many other human emotions. Commonalities between humans and flowers may explain why the plants have such...

When epsom salt is mixed with water and used to water your household plants, not only does it provide hydration and nutrients, it also helps to flush away any toxins or fertilizers that have...

Flowers add visual appeal to any indoor or outdoor environment. They come in a wide assortment of shapes, sizes and colors. Combining different colors of flowers can enhance their natural beauty....

Cut flowers add color, fragrance and life to any environment. They lift spirits, commemorate important events and make an appropriate gift for a variety of occasions. The process of buying...

As temperatures begin to warm at an earlier date in the South than in most other areas--usually when spring hits on the calendar--flowers can be planted so that they will bloom shortly thereafter...

Flower plugs are commonly sold at nurseries and gardening supply stores. They are developing plants that are ready to be planted into the landscape of the yard. Plugs are preferred by many...

Hydrangeas can be a beautiful addition to the garden, especially with their large pink, blue or white blooms, the color of which can change from one season to the next or sometimes during the same...

Watering your house plants sounds easy right? But so many house plants comes to an early demise due to under-watering or, the most prevelant, over-watering. Knowledge is power and after you read...

Four-o'clock flowers are flowers that bloom in the late afternoon and remain open all night. The most common variety of four-o'clock flowers is the Mirabilis jalapa. Mirabilis translates to...

The acronym LED stands for "light emitting diode." LED lights are commonly used to encourage plant growth. There are many benefits derived from using LEDs to provide light for plants. They are...

Because soap contains oils and fats, it leaves a film on whatever it touches. Plants breathe through their leaves and stems, taking in oxygen and giving off carbon dioxide. When soap is applied...

Irises come in several varieties and are hardy flowers grown from a root system known as the rhizome, which resembles a potato. The taller classes of iris, which range from 16 to 27 ½ inches...

Ivy plants provide both beauty and durability inside the home. The shiny, evergreen leaves require minimal light and can even be trained to grow under fluorescents. When properly cared for, the...

Sedum (also known as stonecrop) is a perennial plant used often in gardens. They are sturdy plants that are easy to grow in well-drained soil. They are capable of living through just about any...

Science has not been able to prove definitively why flowers close at night. There are, however, two main theories, both of which have to do with the preservation of reproductive organs and...

Flowers have been popular as a gift, decoration, or adornment for centuries. Different flowers have different meanings depending on their history. Knowing the symbolic meanings of flowers can help...

By freezing flowers, you can preserve their natural beauty and shape. A regular freezer, though, will not preserve your flowers. The key is to remove all the moisture, which a freezer will not do....

Tagetes is the scientific name for the much-loved annual, the marigold. Marigolds come in shades of yellow, gold, orange, white and mahogany red, including stripes and bi-colors. Ranging in height...

Flowers have always been a source of pleasure and enchantment for humans, and since ancient times have served as symbols. During the Victorian period, the language of flowers, or floriography,...

Many sizes, shapes and types of potted plant containers are available. The most common are made of wood, plastic, ceramic, copper, clay and fiberglass. Although each of these materials has certain...

Learning to make artificial flowers is fun. It's a an enjoyable rainy-day craft for kids and adults alike. Once you've learned how to make artificial flowers, you can also learn to arrange them...

Delivering flowers is a gregarious gesture, but it can get complicated when your intended recipient is rarely home. However, flower delivery companies suggest alternatives to leaving roses in the...

Petunias are small flowers whose blooms come in all different shades of color. They require some care and attention, especially when it comes to cutting them back. If you let them go too long,...

Flowers or flower arrangements that are received as a gift or for a special occasion can be kept for long periods if they are properly stored. The key to storing flowers is to slow down the...

Hostas are popular, hardy plants that are tolerant of shade and easy to grow. Many charcoal companies and gardeners claim that charcoal can improve garden soil.