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What Causes Pear Flyspeck? Planning and planting a home orchard can be a labor of love. Whether designing a large-scale operation or just planting a few trees for your family to enjoy, the process of maintaining a healthy orchard is quite an investment. Knowing how to properly prevent and identify some common fungal issues, like flyspeck on pears, will help maintain plant vigor and ensure better overall health. Flyspeck is caused by a fungus....

Growing coral trees is only appropriate outdoors in USDA zones 9 and up. Coral tree care is easy if you are in the correct region, but some growers may find them messy. Find out how to grow coral trees and add some of their intense beauty to your garden. What is a Coral Tree? Coral trees are members of the genus Erythrina and are primarily found in South Africa and South America....

What is a Graptoveria? Graptoveria is a hybrid cross that originated from a combination of Echeveria and Graptopetalum succulent plants. Most exhibit a compact rosette 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm.) across. Some, such as ‘Moonglow,’ may reach 10 inches (25 cm.) in width. Offsets develop readily, tightly filling out your display. Graptoveria maintains vivid colors when they are somewhat stressed, usually from limited watering or cool temperatures. The frosty pink cultivar ‘Debbi’ becomes a deeper pink and even more frosty when growing in a sunny spot while water is withheld....

How to Grow a Lemon Cucumber So you want to know more about lemon cucumber planting. Well to start with, growing lemon cucumbers isn’t difficult. However, lemon cucumber plants require full sunlight and rich well-drained soil – much like any other cucumber variety. A scoop of compost or well-rotted manure gets lemon cucumber plantings off to a good start. Plant lemon cucumber seeds in rows or hills after the soil has warmed to 55 F....

What is a Mini Bougainvillea? Regular sized bougainvilleas are gorgeous drought tolerant vines that grow rather rapaciously and have wickedly sharp thorns. Miniature bougainvilleas also have thorns but they are much less worrisome because of their diminutive size. Like its larger relative, dwarf bougainvillea can be grown in USDA zones 9 to 11, where it provides lovely pink or purple blooms year-round. Bougainvillea Dwarf Varieties The only true dwarf bougainvillea is the ‘Helen Johnson’ variety....

What is a Peanut Pumpkin and is Peanut Pumpkin Edible? So, what is a peanut pumpkin? Peanut pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima ‘Galeux d’Eysine’) is an heirloom pumpkin varietal notable for its distinctive peanut-like growths peppering the exterior of its pink hued rind. Certainly unique looking, some might say unattractive, the “peanuts” are actually a buildup of excess sugar in the flesh of the pumpkin. Excess sugar, you ask? Yep, peanut pumpkin is more than edible; the flesh is sweet and delicious....

How to Grow a Rice Paper Plant Consider your climate and growing zone before planting. You can grow rice paper plants year-round with no worries if you live in the warm climates of USDA plant hardiness zone 9 and above. Rice paper plants grow in zone 7 and 8 (and maybe even zone 6) with plenty of mulch to protect the roots during the winter. The top of the plant will freeze, but new shoots will grow back from the rhizomes in spring....

What is a Rock Elm? If you’ve never seen one, you may be wondering what does a rock elm tree look like? Rock elm trees are similar to the more common American elm, but with a straighter trunk and narrower crown. Rock elms tend to grow much taller before the trunk begins to branch. Evaluating the shape of the tree is the first step toward rock elm tree identification. Rock elm leaves also look similar to those of the American elm, so more definitive methods of rock elm tree identification are necessary....

The Differences Among Pumpkins, Squash and Gourds In the simplest terms, we carve pumpkins, cook squash and decorate with gourds. Yet, the lines between these three terms are somewhat blurred. Not all pumpkins are grown for jack-o-lanterns and some gourds can be eaten when young. Let’s unravel this mystery by first talking about the similarities between the three. They are all members of the Cucurbitaceae family. In addition to pumpkins, squash and gourds, this family is also home to cucumbers and melons....

What is Aspergillus alliaceus? Growing cactus, whether in a pot or in the landscape, can seriously challenge a gardener’s wit and skills. They’re so different from most ornamental plants as to almost be a different creature entirely, yet there are a number of features that cactus share with other landscape choices. For example, they still get sick from much the same types of disease. Cactus stem and branch rot, for instance, is caused by a species of an already familiar fungal pathogen: Aspergillus, though the species particular to this cactus problem is alliaceus....

What is Ergot Fungus? Ergot is a fungus that has lived side by side with mankind for hundreds of years. In fact, the first documented case of ergotism occurred in 857 A.D. in the Rhine Valley in Europe. Ergot fungus history is long and complicated. At one time, ergot fungus disease was a very serious problem among populations who lived off of grain products, especially rye. Today, we’ve tamed ergot commercially, but you may still encounter this fungal pathogen if you raise livestock or have decided to try your hand at a small stand of grain....

What is Purple Needlegrass? Scientifically known as Nassella pulchra, purple needlegrass is native to the coastal hills of California, ranging from the Oregon border south to Baja, California. It is believed that before European settlement, purple needlegrass was the dominant bunch grass species in the state. However, it reached near extinction until recent conservation and restoration projects shed light on this almost forgotten plant. Historically, purple needlegrass was used as a food source and basket weaving material by Native Americans....

What’s Wrong with My Bromeliad? Bromeliads are extremely resilient plants. Their cultural requirements are very simple, few pests bother them, and they thrive in indoor light. Bromeliad plant problems usually start with water. Too much or too little can affect the health of the plant and promote disease. We’ll go over the three most common bromeliad plant issues. Water Related Problems Watering is a very important part of bromeliad care. Too little and the plant dries out, too much and they are prone to stem rot....

When Do I Plant Bok Choy? Bok choy is a cool weather, cabbage-like vegetable that is grown for both its thick, crunchy white leaf ribs and its tender, green leaves. Since it thrives in cooler temperatures, the answer to “when to plant bok choy,” is either in the spring or fall. This allows you to extend your fresh supply of greens throughout much of the year. Spring Bok Choy Planting Time Since bok choy tends to bolt once the warmer temps of summer arrive, plant it early in the spring, close to the date of your region’s last frost....

While cooler growing zones may experience dieback, lantana can actually exhibit invasive qualities in warmer regions. This trait makes lantana ideal for growing in containers or ornamental raised flower beds. With proper care, gardeners can enjoy the small showy flowers for many years to come. In doing so, learning how to repot lantana will be important. When to Repot Lantana Growing lantana in containers is popular for many reasons. Blooming throughout the entire growing season, lantana in pots can be used to add a much-needed “pop” of color just about anywhere....

Why Do Snapdragons Wilt? To understand why snapdragons are wilting, it’s important to understand what wilting really is. When a plant wilts, it’s because of a lack turgor pressure within the plant’s cells. Plants need a certain amount of water within their cells to maintain their functions, much like animals; but unlike animals, they also use that water to help maintain their shape. When a plant is lacking water, either because there isn’t enough available due to a drought or because there’s a blockage in vascular tissue from a disease like Verticillium wilt, the plant will continue to try to respirate, which causes it to release water into the atmosphere....

Why Won’t My Freesia Bloom? You’ve done everything right. You planted your freesia corms in well-draining soil, in full sun in spring, and they didn’t experience any hard freezes. Now you are asking, “Why won’t my freesia bloom.” Freesias are native to South Africa and prefer things hot and dry. In some regions, the conditions after planting are extremely wet due to spring rains. This can slow or even stop sprout production, but it may not be all that is going on....

American Rose Society Consulting Master Rosarian – Rocky Mountain District Wild roses tend to stir one’s thoughts towards Medieval times of knights, kings, queens, princes, and princesses, as many of them date back well into our history. The botanical term for them is “Species Roses.” Though this term does not conjure up the same emotions, it is the classification where you will find them listed or placed for sale in rose catalogs and nurseries....

Winter Palm Tree Care Frost and freezing temperatures damage the tissue of plants, in general weakening them and leaving them susceptible to diseases. Cold snaps, in particular, are of concern. Winterizing your palm tree to protect it from cold damage may be of paramount importance, especially depending on your region. Winter palm tree care usually requires wrapping palm trees in winter. The question is how to wrap the palm tree for winter and with what?...

What are Alpine Strawberries? Although similar to modern strawberries, alpine strawberry plants are smaller, lack runners, and have significantly smaller fruit, about the size of a fingernail. A member of the rose family, Rosaceae, the alpine strawberry is a botanical form of the wood strawberry, or “fraise de bois” in French. These tiny plants can be found growing wild along the perimeter of woods in Europe, North and South America, and northern Asia and Africa....