Plant Basics

Brassica plants include mustard, collards, kale, broccoli, turnips, cauliflower, and cabbage. The Bassica rapa variety completes its life cycle in roughly 35 days. Because of this rapid...

The tomatillo plant or Physalis ixocarp is a type of vegetable that is native to Mexico. The tomatillo is a member of the same family of plants to which potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and peppers...

The Desmodium plant, more commonly known as Beggar's lice, is a weed that's actually a member of the legume family. It's most commonly found in Florida and Texas, although it can also be found in...

Some types of mushrooms can be frequently found growing in circles, which are commonly known as "fairy rings." Mushrooms are the fruiting part of the fungus, which actually grows underground and...

All seeds require specific environmental conditions in order to sprout. This includes sufficient moisture, the right temperature range and enough oxygen. Different types of seeds have different...

Plants are usually divided into two categories: vascular and non-vascular. While these two types of plant have some different characteristics, such as having cells that transfer water from one...

Tropical palm plants are a popular choice for indoor planters. They require slightly more care and attention than other houseplants, but are still relatively easy to grow. However, palm plants...

Edible fruit baskets have replaced the bouquet of flowers as the table centerpiece in many homes. With worldwide shipping and overseas fruit production, it is possible to have fresh tasty fruit...

Swedish ivy, or Plectranthus australis, propagates easily from cuttings. The lush, bright green foliage makes Swedish ivy a favorite among house plants. Take cuttings from Swedish ivy to replace a...

A wide variety of fungi live in the soil and can take up residence in your plants. Infection can sometimes be prevented through application of chemical solutions early in the growing season. ...

Succulents make an ideal house plant because most are resilient and require little care and attention. With over 60 families and 300 genera there are many different varieties to choose from, each...

If you own a home with a yard or garden, chances are good that you're anxious to spruce up that land with flowers, plants, vegetables or a lawn. Plants, flowers and vegetables can also be grown...

Every plant has different requirements and preferences as to soil type, moisture, sunlight and temperatures. Some plants are easier to grow and cultivate in sandy soil.

Mung beans are best known in their sprouted form, when they're referred to as bean sprouts. Mung beans are most commonly grown in in warm, arid environments such as India and Asia, and are used...

Gardeners are always on the lookout for pests that can eat and destroy outdoor plants and flowers. The most common pests that can infect elephant ear plants are mites, mealy bugs and aphids....

The peat moss used in gardening is actually decomposed sphagnum moss. Peat moss retains moisture without becoming soggy. It is also sterile so does not harbor plant diseases, which makes it well...

You love gardening. What you don't love is organizing the many seeds you have for your garden. You buy seeds when they are on sale and sometimes you forget what you have at home. One way to...

Identifying a plant may seem like a daunting task. However, if you break the plant down into more manageable pieces you will begin to notice small features that can help you make a positive...

Geraniums are as beloved for their fragrance as they are for their attractive, often velvety leaves and colorful blooms. Many geraniums have a pleasant, rose-like odor that emanates from the...

Mold on houseplants is a problem that is important to overcome. Mold will grow on houseplants on a screened porch because the porch is prone to moisture, and excess moisture allows mold to grow...

Topiaries are small varieties of trees that are trained to grow into nontraditional shapes. Topiaries can range in size from small potted plants to larger outdoor trees. The practice of training...

Eastern redbud trees grow 20 to 30 feet tall with light to dark pink flowers blooming in the spring. The tree is particularly susceptible to the scale pest. Adult scales appear as little bumps on...

The color, shape and fragrance of a flower is important and even vital to its survival. This is because in order for the plant to make seeds and reproduce, male pollen has to be transferred in...

Double knock out roses are hardy, easy to care for shrub roses valued for their double flowers. They have a pleasing fragrance and are quickly becoming one of the more popular varieties of roses...

Skunk cabbage is a perennial plant that likes to grow at the edges of streams, ponds and marshes. It produces its own heat and as such is one of the first plants to bloom in late winter. The plant...

Telegraphs plants, also called semaphore plants or Codariocalyx motorius, are tropical shrubs native to Asia. They are unique in that the leaves have special hinges allowing them to move--at...

Heritage raspberry plants are a recently developed breed of raspberries. Heritage raspberries are hardy bushes that produce large, juice raspberries. The bushes are vigorous, and can thrive in...

Spanish moss is a hanging plant that inhabits the trees of the southeastern states, from Texas to Florida. This Bromeliaceae family member is a welcome addition to many projects, such as packing...

Leftover seeds and seeds harvested from heirloom and other favorite flowers and vegetables should be stored in a sealed paper or plastic envelope, and labeled clearly to ensure that they will be...

Even the healthiest, most vigorous and cold-hardy plant will be shocked by the move from a warm, sunlight room to an outdoor, unheated greenhouse. The temperatures will be colder, especially at...

Green plants come in many kinds of shapes and sizes, ranging from the giant redwood, which towers over 300 feet high, to minuscule algae organisms, which are only visible under a microscope.

Since milk is chock-full of vitamins and minerals, it is only natural to wonder if plants would get an extra boost if hydrated with it instead of water. Milk is full of protein and fats, which...

For many people, gardening is one of the most relaxing and beautiful experiences in their lives. Every garden is an individual statement about who its owner is as a person and what her tastes are....

The crown of thorns plant, also known as the Christ plant, is as unique as it is popular. It is a succulent that originates from Madagascar and comes from the plant genus Euphorbia. With its woody...

Buying plants by the flat can be a convenient and affordable way to purchase annuals for your garden.

The average watermelon available for purchase in a store are deep pink to red inside. However, to some people's surprise, they cut open the oblong melon to find that it is yellow inside.

Viable seeds are the products of successful fertilization in flowering plants using sexual reproduction. In many plants, a seed will have two individual parents; and in others it will have only...

If lime green algae begins to cover the surface of your pond, it most likely indicates your pond has a healthy crop of filamentous algae. Also called blanket weed, filamentous algae is common in...

Broccoli sprouts are highly nutritious and are crunchy and tasty in salads and sandwiches. Although they are sometimes available in health food stores, they can be difficult to find in grocery...

Sowing your own seeds is an economical way to have a gorgeous flowerbed every season without the cost of buying them. Anglelonia is a native plant in Mexico and the West Indies. The leaves smell...

Powdery mildew is a fungus that infects a wide range of plants. Although it may not seriously harm all plants it affects, serious injury can and does occur in some varieties.

Sugarcane, which is grown in tropical and subtropical climates around the world, is a perennial grass that serves as an energy source for people and, more recently, for producing bio-fuel for...

Pot hanging plants in the spring to accommodate their new growth, or transfer hanging plants any time of year if their root growth or soil conditions require attention. The plant will benefit from...

You can make money off of Agave. Agave, or century plant, are a plant that is closely related to the lily, but if you've ever seen an agave, you know you aren't going to be picking it and placing...

You can call them angel's trumpets, brugmansia, or just plain pretty. Angel's trumpet flowers bloom in shades of yellow, pink, orange, red and white, from spring to fall. Although the seeds...

For the most part, soapy water affects plants beneficially. Reusing your gray water can be good for the environment, and it contains nutrients as well as fertilizing ingredients for your plants....

Using indoor bedding plants is a strategy that allows gardeners in northern climates to extend their growing season. Plants that require a longer growing season than nature has provided are...

Bouvardia plants are shrubby, clustered and have very fragrant, tubular, white flowers. The plants can grow up to 4 feet tall, and the flowers bloom during summer to early winter. With the right...

Native to Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the Phillippines, Australia, Africa, Madagascar and the United States, staghorn ferns (Platycerium holtummii) are lush tropical epiphytic perennials or "air...

Lantana is a hardy flowering plant similar to a shrub that produces an abundance of colored blooms during the spring, summer and fall months. With over 150 varieties of Lantana available, every...