Flower Basics

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...

Orchids are well known as a tropical plant but are also found in all other climates, except deserts and glaciers. This great variety of habitats means that the care an orchid requires will vary...

With all the different fertilizers out there, how do you know which one is right for your orchids? Every company has their version of a 'Growth' formula and a 'Bloom' formula and promises that...

Many flower gardens will survive with little or no added fertilizers. An added supplement of nutrients will help the garden thrive, increasing the quality and quantity of the flowers and plants....

The blue daisy, categorized as a perennial, is a beautiful flower that can be planted in any type of garden and still coordinate with the plants around it. Blue daisies should be spread out among...

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Plants and flowers were grown in elevated gardens and harvests were abundant. You can create your own hanging...

Bringing dying flowers back to life to is no easy task, but it can be done if you have the right tools. One of the most important is a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus. When applied as...

Many people may not realize the importance of fertilizing your plants in the winter. This is something you want to think about if you want to see your plants return in the spring. Plants that have...

The daylily is sometimes called the "perfect perennial" for many reasons. Daylilies can be found in a large variety of colors and sizes, can be grown in most climates, and are very easy to care...

When you grow the Kordana rose, you must know how to care for it so that it grows to be a strong and healthy plant. This type of rose grows very well indoors in a pot or outdoors during the summer...

Geraniums are brightly blooming garden and container plants. They make great hanging baskets as well as porch or deck potted plants. Geraniums are sun-loving plants, requiring up to 6 hours of...

Pansies' name comes from the French word "pensée," meaning "a thought or reflection." This form of viola plant received the name because each five-petal pansy bloom resembles a human face and...

Many people who opt to grow jasmine do so because of the smell of its small, white flowers. These flowers have such a strong scent that oil from the plant is used to add scent to many perfumes and...

The tuberose plant is very similar to the jasmine plant. Instead of losing its scent like most other flowers do once picked, this plant continues to give off a noted fragrance after it is picked....

Centaurea, also known as cornflower and bachelor's button, is an annual plant. The brilliant blue blossoms of the centaurea cyanis bloom in late spring and throughout the summer. They can be used...

Banana peels are a solid source of potassium, a nutrient that can foster strong flower growth and help prevent diseases. Potassium can be used to enrich many types of flowering plants but is...

The spider mum, also called the football mum, is a large flowered chrysanthemum with long thin petals. The flowers grow to be about 6 inches in diameter. Although spider mums may be more difficult...

Daylilies are hardy perennials that will grow in almost any soil and light condition. Daylilies are not true lilies, but their name is appropriate as their blooms resemble lilies and only last for...

Petunias have long been a popular flowering plant for the garden. These plants produce trumpet-shaped blooms from spring until frost. Wave petunias are hybrid flowers that are characterized by...

Flowers get their food from sunlight. Flowers are the reproductive parts of plants, and plants are unique among living things in that they make their own food in special cells called chloroplasts....

There is a lot to be said for fall fertilization of a garden. Learn how to successfully fertilize for a more bountiful crop of vegetables and flowers for the next spring.

Do you want to give your plants a little boost and see them produce larger, more colorful blooms? Do you want them to leaf out and spread quickly to act as a ground cover or fill that empty patch...

Hydrangeas are a Japanese native flowering plant that thrive, according the USDA, in cold hardy areas. There are 23 different species of Hydrangea, only five are actively cultivated in the United...

Peonies are an attractive perennial plant with colorful flowers and attractive green leaves. Flower colors include yellow, pink, deep red and cream. Blooming each spring, typically in May, the...

Pansies are popular with gardeners for a very good reason- they are one of the few flowers that will continue to bloom throughout most of the winter! The big, beautiful blooms are very showy and...

A fertilizer consists of an organic or chemical substance with the aim of improving the quality or amount of plant growth. When correctly applied, fertilizer makes plants more vigorous, helps...

A balanced schedule of fertilizer is essential to a plant's overall health. If too much is applied, it will burn plants. If too little is applied, the plant will suffer deficiencies that will...

Begonias are some of the prettiest flowers to bring beauty to any area and caring for them is fairly easy. There are quite a few varieties to choose from and all of them are very colorful and full...

Most commonly known as African daisy, this beautiful flower is native to South Africa and grows best in coastal regions cooled in the evenings by the ocean breezes. Osteospermum was virtually...

Looking at beautiful blooms is one of the best reasons to garden, either indoors or out. Flowers are uplifting and brighten your day, but sometimes they need some encouragement to bloom. All...

Nicotiana, also called a flowering tobacco plant, has highly fragrant pink, rose, white and red flowers. These star-like 2-inch blooms have five large petals. The plants grow to a height of 24...

This tree is aptly named because the edible juicy fruit is abundantly ripe and ready for harvesting in May. Most commonly found in the southern United States, the Mayhaw tree is becoming a popular...

Red ginger, or Zingiberaceae Purpurata, is one of a number of ornamental gingers. These ornamental gingers are a different species from Zingiber officinale, which is the edible ginger. The flowers...

Vermicomposting is a method of using worms to transform organic waste into a nutrient-rich fertilizer. It is a healthy and clean way to eliminate wastes going into our landfills, which improves...

Calibrachoa is a fast-growing, compact annual that works well in hanging baskets and window boxes because of their trailing branches. They also look great as garden borders. A very heat- and...

Candytuft is an evergreen shrub that originated in Spain and has both perennial and annual varieties. Fluffy-looking flowers range in color from red or white to pink, and bloom from early summer...

Daphne is a shrub that loves shady areas in the garden. Its fragrant flowers bloom around mid-February and boast soft eye-pleasing colors such as pink, purple/lavender and white. This slow growing...

There are many types of fertilizers, and they affect plants in different ways. When you apply fertilizer, you should feel confident that you are giving your plants what they need. But if you don't...

Clematis is an impressive vine that grows up to 15 feet in height, depending on the variety. Its profuse blooms and rich green foliage create a wall of color when planted against a fence or...

Vinca flowers are drought-tolerant, and require little maintenance. The leaves are green and glossy and the flowers are beautiful clear colors. The vinca flower blooms in late spring and continues...

Fertilizer is something we all use on our lawns and plants but how do you read fertilizer numbers? Each number is the percent by weight of either nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or potassium (K).

Here is a great mix for your Azalea bushes or plants. This fertilizer is easily mixed at home and will help produce beautiful Azaleas that will be heavy with flowers, you'll be amazed!!It's a...

The Abbotswood Rose Lychnis is quite tolerant of poor soils. The cultivar is Abbotswood Rose and the plant family is Caryophyllaceae. It can be grown as an annual or perennial. It thrives in zones...

The A.G.Perry Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is a perennial that thrives in zones 4 to 8. The AHS Heat Zone is not defined for this plant. The cultivar is A. G. Perry, and the plant is in the...

The adorn mum (chrysanthemum) is an outdoor plant that produces excellent cut flowers. The cultivar is adorn and the plant family is asteraceae. This plant is low maintenance and can be planted as...

The Adorable Fuchsia is a shrub that can be planted as an annual or biennial. The fruit is edible but not very appetizing. The cultivar is Adorable and the plant family is Onagraceae. This plant...

The Adobe Sunset Spuria Iris is just one of over 200 species and cultivars of the Iris plant. This particular cultivar is Adobe Sunset and the plant family is Iridaceae. It thrives in zones 2 to 9...

The low maintenance Admiration Kurume Azalea is a Japanese hybrid that is prized for flashy clusters of flowers. The cultivar is Admiration and the plant family is "Ericaceae." This plant thrives...

The Admiral's Braid Daylily (Hemerocallis hybrida) is an evergreen perennial. It is low maintenance and tolerates a number of things, including deer, rabbits, heat and humidity, pollution, the...

The Adirondack Crabapple (Malus halliana) is a deciduous tree. The cultivar is Adirondack and the plant family is Rosaceae. It is used for landscaping and is deer, rabbit and pollution tolerant....