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The clusters of tiny flowers produce a large bloom held aloft on stems above the majority of the foliage. If you wish a second bloom, it is incumbent to know how to take care of a kalanchoe. These plants need short winter light periods to form new buds. Learn how to grow kalanchoe and the perennial can reward you with several seasons of bright, colorful flowers. About Kalanchoe Plants The deep green, scalloped leaves of the kalanchoe are just as attractive as the flowers....

The common periwinkle plant (Vinca minor) is often spotted creeping down steep hillsides and banks, offering a green and growing effect in areas which might otherwise be bare. The periwinkle plant is exceptional as an erosion control specimen. Periwinkle is also used as a spreading shrub in USDA garden zones 4 to 8. Periwinkle may often be called creeping vinca or creeping myrtle as well. Periwinkle is most often grown as a groundcover....

Can I Grow Vanilla Orchid? The home grower can certainly cultivate a vanilla orchid. The easiest way to raise an orchid is to use a greenhouse or room with carefully controlled heat and light. Unfortunately, even the best care often does not result in the pods, which are the source of the vanilla flavor. The glossy green vine will still add an attractive accent to your home. Planting Vanilla Orchid Good orchid growers know that planting vanilla orchid properly is the first step to a healthy plant....

When Do You Harvest Garlic? The easiest way to know when to harvest garlic is simply to look at the leaves. When the leaves are one-third brown, you’ll need to start testing the bulbs to see if they are the proper size. This is easy to do. Simply loosen the dirt above one or two garlic bulbs and get an idea of their size while still keeping them in the ground....

How to Make an Elizabethan Herb Garden If you have an empty flowerbed or gardening space, you may wish to create your own Shakespearean herb garden. The Elizabethan style was formal in tone as these gardens were owned primarily by the wealthy. Symmetrical patterns using squares or rectangles were common and often contained an herbal knot garden at the center. The entire garden was usually surrounded by English holly, which was planted and pruned into a hedge....

Why Tomatoes are Hollow Inside? Tomato fruits may end up hollow if they weren’t completely pollinated as flowers or something failed in early seed development. This happens for a variety of reasons, including improper temperature or excessive rains that may interfere with pollinator activity, or incorrect fertilization, especially when levels of nitrogen are high and potassium are low. Hollow fruits, also known as puffiness in tomatoes, can’t be reversed in fruits already developing, but future fruits can be protected by doing a soil test before fertilizing....

How to Make White Oil So you’re likely asking, “How do I make my own insecticide?” It’s actually quite simple. While there are a number of homemade recipes to choose from, this popular white oil recipe for do-it-yourselfers seems to be one of the easiest: 1 cup (250 ml.) vegetable or white mineral oil 1/4 cup (60 ml.) dish soap (without bleach) or Murphy’s oil soap Mix the above ingredients in a jar, shaking well (should turn white color upon mixing)....

Fortunately, there are several gifts for homesteaders that prove to be both thoughtful and practical. Gifts for Backyard Farmers and Homesteaders In exploring homesteader gift ideas, consider the individual. Gifts for backyard farmers will vary depending upon need and size of one’s own homestead. Consider setting a budget for the gift. While many much needed items for the farm can be quite expensive, this doesn’t mean more budget friendly options are without merit....

Growing Raspberries in Zone 8 As a rule, raspberries are hardy all the way from zone 3 through 9. There are a wide range of raspberry varieties, however, and some are much better suited to growing in hot summers and mild winters than others. Raspberry plants come in two main types: erect and trailing. Erect canes tend to be better suited to cold climates, while trailing brambles perform better in warmer zones like 8....

Do Insects Care for Their Young? Do insects care for their young? Well, not in the same sense as humans or even other animals. Much of the insect life cycle consists of laying eggs and moving on. Most species are not especially attentive parents but often do give their children a way of protecting themselves. Nature has a way of creating the necessary defenses so young have a chance to grow up and reproduce themselves....

With proper care, like watering, this dark (yet beautiful) plant will produce vibrant, dark green foliage and elegant, white and pink-purple blooms. About Mandrake Care Mandrakes are perennials that are winter hardy to many growing zones. These toxic plants are generally easy to grow and do well in container culture. As with any toxic plant, special care should be taken to keep them away from kids, pets, or any other potential hazards....

Growing Conditions for Beets Beets grow best in deep, moist, well-drained soil with a near neutral pH. Amend heavy clay soil well with organic compost to improve drainage. Sandy soil should be supplemented with compost to assist with water retention if it drains too quickly. How quickly or slowly the soil dries out plays a major role in determining the watering schedule for beets. They should be kept evenly moist, but never “swamped....

Do Plants Have Immune Systems? Plants do have an immune system that both differs from and is similar to the human immune system. Both can fight off an infection and have similar signaling pathways and related compounds, but plants use different mechanisms. Plant immunity is not adaptive like human immune systems. It doesn’t remember specific pathogens in order to mount a targeted defense the next time around. Instead, it deploys more general strategies for fighting off pathogens....

Read on for information about planting flowers that attract bees and other steps you can take to encourage these important pollinators. Attracting Bees to Gardens There is more than one key to creating a honeybee garden. Putting in flowers that attract bees is an important step, but that’s not the only factor to keep in mind. Bees can be affected by even slight amounts of chemical pesticides, so be sure you don’t use any....

How to Grow Serbian Bellflower Serbian bellflower information indicates the 1 inch (2.5 cm.) flowers grow in shades of blues and purples. Flowers of Serbian bellflower plants are thick on each bunch and star-shaped, making an attractive groundcover option. The Serbian bellflower plant is easy to get started in spring. Plant seeds or take basal cuttings from existing plants. You may find already growing Serbian bellflowers at your local nursery in small six-packs....

What is a Summercrisp Pear? If you don’t like the soft, grainy texture of most pear varieties, Summercrisp may be a perfect choice for you. Although Summercrisp pears definitely taste like pears, the texture is more akin to a crispy apple. While Summercrisp pear trees are grown primarily for their fruit, the ornamental value is considerable, with attractive green foliage and clouds of white blooms in spring. The pears, which show up in one to two years, are summery green with a bright blush of red....

Avid grazers know about the many wild plants nature provides for our recipes. But you don’t have to be a wild forager to enjoy some unique taste sensations in your recipes. Eating squash leaves provides many health benefits and may be enjoyed just like Swiss chard or spinach. Learn how to cook squash leaves for a quick, heart healthy meal. Can You Eat Zucchini Leaves? Squash leaves of many varieties provide a rich source of the Vitamins A, B, and C, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, zinc, potassium, and magnesium....

Where to Cut Philodendron for Propagation The easiest way to propagate philodendron plants is to take cuttings and root them. To do this, find a node on the vine. This is usually near a leaf, where there may even be aerial roots already starting to grow. Cut just above the node at a 45 degree angle with clean clippers. If you’re taking from a leggy plant, your cutting might be too long....

Crown Rot in African Violets Also frequently known as root rot, crown rot develops when an African violet’s growing medium is too wet. There’s more at work than decomposition, however. Crown rot is a disease, and the disease is caused by a fungus called Pythium ultimum. The fungus thrives in wet conditions, spreading through the growing medium and feeding on the plant’s roots and crown. If the fungus spreads too far (and the wetter it is, the quicker it spreads), it will kill the plant....

What is Impatiens arguta? Impatiens arguta is a semi-shrubby, upright type of impatiens that grows 3 to 4 feet (1 m.) tall and wide. Upright impatiens is native to regions of the Himalayas and grows as a perennial in U.S. hardiness zones 7 through 11. In zones 9 to 11, it may grow as an evergreen and bloom all year. When temperatures in these zones dip too low, or there is an unseasonal frost, the plant may die back to the ground, but then regrow from their thick tubers when the weather warms back up....