Plant Basics

Salvia Divinorum is an ornamental plant of the mint genus. This plant can grow up to eight feet in height when properly propagated and cared for on a regular basis. Salvia Divinorum is typically...

The degree of acidity or alkalinity of soil is rated on a pH scale of 0 to 14. Acidic soils are in the range of 0-7 while alkaline (basic) soils range from 7-14. A neutral pH is 7, although the pH...

A hydrangea is a versatile plant that looks beautiful in any garden. Hydrangeas provide beautiful blooms that are perfect for bouquets and floral arrangements, both fresh and dried. The 'Glowing...

Harvesting seeds from your plants is quite easy and will save you money by allowing your plants to continue to produce its own offspring. There are many different types of plants out there that...

Growing grass in a fully shady area of your property can be difficult. If the soil also has a little sand mixed into it, growing grass there may be even more of a challenge. The secret to lush...

There are a number of causes for brown spots to appear on green leaf plants. These may include disease, insects, dehydration or a combination of the three. You can better the appearance of your...

Bananas are herbaceous plants native to tropical Southeast Asia. Banana plants produce the seedless banana fruit, valued worldwide for its sweet taste, sticky texture and high vitamin content....

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....

Pre-sprouting, also called chitting, seeds is done with older seeds, seeds that have a poor germination rate and to speed up the germination process. Pre-sprouting takes two to four days, whereas...

When you have a yard, you typically want it too look good. If your yard is very large or you simply do not have the time to care for a garden, consider easy-to-care-for or low-maintenance plants....

Native to Africa, the Aloe plant has around 400 different species ranging in size from one inch to three feet in diameter. Most commonly known is the Aloe vera, or "true" Aloe. This semi-tropical...

Mealybugs are small insects that can do major damage to your plants if you don't take measures to get rid of them. The mealybugs look like small white cotton balls. When they attach themselves to...

Venus flytraps are a type of carnivorous plant. These insect-eating plants have traps that snap closed when an object contacts the tiny "hairs" inside. After the plant absorbs the nutrients from...

Plants need room to grow. A plant that outgrows its container becomes root bound and starts to weaken. The roots form a ball and can not absorb the nutrients and water needed for proper growth and...

Though aloes are native to Africa they are grown all over the world. You can grow aloes indoors or outdoors if you live in a climate that does not freeze. There are more than 250 types of aloe and...

There are more than 250 different species of aloe plant throughout the world. Many aloes are native to Africa. The plants have a broad range of sizes from tiny plants that do not grow above an...

Jasmine is a beautiful, fragrant plant that comes in many forms. It is commonly seen as a shrubbery, but it can also grow as a vine.

Queen Anne's lace is the plant that our current garden carrots were originally cultivated from. The seeds of Queen Anne's lace have appeared in works as a natural contraceptive as early as...

Plants reproduce and spread in many ways. The use of seeds is one way that gardeners and farmers grow plants, but humans have found other ways of growing or creating plants without the use of...

Vermicomposting, also known as raising worms, is a fun and rewarding hobby for the entire family. The worms will dispose of organic kitchen waste while producing a rich and chemical-free compost...

Hibiscus flowers, annual plants that belong to the Malvaceae family, come in a vast array of colors and sizes. The Hibiscus, with an equally wide range of uses from aesthetic to medicinal, can be...

Coneflowers tend to thrive in the wild but when domesticated and added to our landscape and gardens, they can develop different problems. From overwatering and dried out leaves to aster yellows...

Plants and flowers fall into one of two categories: perennials or annuals. Perennial plants will bloom, die back, go dormant and return to your garden the next growing season. Annual plants...

Pond plants, like regular plants, require oxygen to grow and thrive. Although oxygen is present in pond water, water that is not kept clean and properly aerated cannot provide the oxygen levels...

Stephanotis is known as the "bridal veil vine" because the fragrant blooms are often used in bridal bouquets. It has also been called Madagascar Jasmine. Stephanotis has leathery, thick leaves and...

Banana plants are usually associated with a tropical climate, and for those interested in plentiful fruit production, these mild conditions are best. There are also many varieties of banana...

Seed cones, or conifer cones, are commonly referred to as pine cones and contain the reproductive structures of conifer trees. Many people are familiar with the woody female cone; the female pine...

Ferns are nonflowering vascular plants, meaning that they have a tissue network of roots and stems for conducting water and nutrients through their systems. They are an ancient plant which...

We have all experienced this---we are out in our yard, park or woods enjoying nature when we come across a plant we have not seen before. We look at it for clues but just cannot figure out what it...

Duckweed is considered a floating plant, meaning it has no root structure that anchors it to the water body bottom. It is a perennial plant that forms colonies. It is found throughout the United...

The swamp azalea is native to North America, and you can find them anywhere from Texas and Oklahoma to Maine and Florida. It is a late-blooming azalea that produces fragrant blooms that are...

Plants make their own food through photosynthesis, so the term "plant food" isn't really accurate. Plants need water and sunlight to make their food. They also take nutrients out of the soil....

Some feel a garden is just not complete without plant stakes. They can help you remember what you have planted or they can just decorate your flowerpots. Whatever the reason you choose for making...

Sometimes just hearing the word "watermelon" can make your mouth water. Juicy and sweet, it has long been a staple in the summertime diet of Americans. Watermelons are not difficult to germinate...

Adding sugar to your plants that are not healthy and are on the verge of dying is actually one of the best things to do to try and save your plants. The natural nutrients found in the sugar water...

House plants are a great way to add color and life to your living space. There is a large variety of house plants to choose from. You can pick some everyday favorites, such as the spider plant or...

Several kinds of flowers look like artichokes, but the one that most resembles them is the cardoon, a mostly decorative thistle species that sometimes features in Italian cooking.

The muscadine fruit grows on a vine and is native to the southeastern United States. The plant prefers the hot, humid summer months and produces a dark purple berry with a thick skin. Muscadines...

Crotons are slow-growing plants that do well as either an outdoor or house plant. Their leaves come in a vivid array of colors, such as red, orange, yellow, purple or green. They are a...

Drip irrigation systems, often called micro irrigation systems, are a great way to easily water your plants efficiently and cost effectively compared to other types of watering systems. Small...

Oh those pesky, awful little fungus gnats--they look like fruit flies, but they live in over-watered houseplant soil and thrive on rotten plant roots. Using Mosquito Dunks or watering with BT,...

Research on the metabolism of vitamins in plants has recently reached new levels. Most studies have shown that specific vitamins added to a plant's food supply dramatically improve its metabolism...

Seeds are often kept in the freezer for long-term storage. Many seeds can germinate for several years when stored this way. It's important to keep seeds dry so that they remain viable. Once you...

Trees, grasses, garden vegetables and other green plants get energy from the sun. Plants are a vital part of Earth's ecosystem because they produce clean, breathable oxygen. Plants use sugar as...

Louisiana is a humid, subtropical state with a rich array of native plants and flowers that love heat and moisture. As Louisiana's second largest city, Baton Rouge is not particularly green with...

Bean plants are a common garden species. They are legumes that are planted for their nutrient value and to keep garden soil rich in nitrogen.

Cucumbers are a tropical vegetable that thrives when the weather is hot and water is plentiful. They can dazzle a salad or be pickled to enjoy later, but a gardener must ensure proper pollination,...

Starting a landscape nursery business is a great way to utilize farm space or achieve your dreams of profiting from your green thumb. A landscape plant nursery can sprout from your backyard or...

The agave plant is common in Mexico and the southern United States. Although it looks similar to aloe, the two aren't related. Agave is white, blue or green and has a large central spike when it...

Crown Vetch is an introduced species that has become an invasive plant, problematic due to its ability to take over an area and shade out other plants. Crown vetch is a member of the legume family...