Plant Basics

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...

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.

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...

Green plants use the process of photosynthesis to convert energy from sunlight into sugar. Using cellular respiration, the plant to transforms the sugar into adenosine triphosphate or ATP, the...

The ficus bush, also referred to as the weeping fig, is an indoor plant that can be seen in homes and offices everywhere. Though the bush is void of flowers, the dark green foliage complements any...

Geraniums are well-loved flowering annuals--plants that live for only one bloom season. Many gardeners start the seeds indoors and then transfer the plants outside when the weather is warmer....

The passiflora, which is also known as the passionflower, produces spectacularly colorful flowers. This beautiful plant family can be found in most parts of the world and are very easy to care...

Trees are often the most prominent feature in yard and can block sunlight received by large areas beneath them which can create an unsuitable environment for many plants. Barren areas of dirt or...

Most plants need light to live, so houses or apartments with light-blocking windows or insufficient natural light present challenges to plant-loving residents. You can change your choice of plants...

According to the website Enchanted Learning, a plant's leaves individually can convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into the sugars and starches needed for the plant's survival. To ensure...

Most mail order companies put special care into their plants while they are being shipped. However, these plants often arrive after minimal sunlight and water. It is important to immediately care...

Plants clean our air, provide us with food, provide habitat for animals and make our environment more pleasing to the eye. Although needs may vary with different types of plants, there are six...

Venus flytraps are a one of more than 700 species of carnivorous plants that exist in the world. Carnivorous plants gain nutrients by trapping and digesting insects, small mammals such as mice and...

Lacking both flowers and seeds, ferns are a popular non-flowering plant choice for their wide spreading leaves and deep green color. Kept both indoors and throughout landscape plans, ferns can be...

Different plants have different lighting needs. Some plants prefer little light and do best in shady spots, while other plants do best with at least 8 hours of bright, direct sunlight. When...

For most of Earth's history, sunlight has been the only source of energy for photosynthesis. Agriculture still relies predominantly on outdoor growing and solar energy to provide the world's...

Plants need sun because sunlight allows plants to carry out photosynthesis, the process they use to create their food. Unlike mammals who must find their food, plants are autotrophs, which means...

Knowing how to take care of a plant will mean that the plant stays healthy and continues to grow. Without proper care, the plant will die or its growth will be stunted. But all plants are not the...

The neem tree is a member of the mahogany family and is native to parts of Asia and Africa. In India, the neem tree is commonly called the "Divine Tree," because of its many different uses....

Chile peppers are a staple of international cuisines such as Mexican and Asian, and a must-have for spicy food lovers. Chile peppers can be grown just about anywhere in the United States, either...

Plants are one of the few organisms that have leaves. Leaves are part of the way plants make food. The raw materials used are water and carbon dioxide. They enter the leaf while the other...

All species of bamboo can be divided into two types: clumping and running. Clumping bamboo tends to grow at a slower place, and it doesn't spread out as much. Running bamboo, on the other hand,...

Cut bamboo, also known by the name "lucky bamboo," is not really bamboo at all. It actually comes from the lily family. It's botanical name is Dracaena and it grows in the dark regions of South...

Plants get energy from sunlight through a process called photosynthesis, where the plant absorbs the light, produces sugars and carbohydrates, stores that energy in the root system and produces...

Coleus plants were first discovered being cultivated in the Dutch colony of Java by Karl Ludwig Blume. Its original origins are not known, and as of today there are 150 different varieties of the...

Yellow spots on leaves are a sign a plant is undergoing a troublesome environmental change. Sometimes this change is caused by pests, but yellow spots usually mean the plant is being deprived of...

Learn how much sunlight house plants should have with expert gardening tips on house plants in this free video clip.

Flowering houseplants enhance anyone's home. There are times when a houseplant will not bloom. Many things can cause this, but with a bit of investigation, you can find the problem. With minimum...

Do you have a ficus that is in trouble? Did this once beautiful plant, with lots of green leaves and healthy branches, turn to a lifeless looking, unhappy plant? Does the ficus now have hardly any...

Having lived in places like Arizona, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, I've dealt with the challenge of growing house plants in several different climates. Although there are some things that plants...

Aloe Vera make for excellent houseplants because they supposedly thrive on neglect and "anyone" can keep a houseplant alive. But then you pass a second glance one day at the kitchen windowsill and...