Chemical pesticides are effective, but often the wrong choice for indoor use. They pollute indoor air, are dangerous for children and pets, and also kill beneficial insects. Biological alternatives are at least as effective, while being safe and sustainable. Here are the best biological methods against houseplant pests. Beneficial Insects: Nature’s Own Enemies The most…
Periwinkle (Vinca minor) is a trailing, evergreen ground cover that solves one of gardening’s most persistent problems: what to plant in dry shade where grass won’t grow and few flowering plants thrive. Its glossy dark green leaves stay attractive year-round, punctuated in spring by delicate blue-violet, five-petaled flowers. Where Periwinkle Thrives Periwinkle is exceptionally shade…
Photo: Ddra5202 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: peganum from Small Dole, England (CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Jeremyida002 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) When a Plant Propagates Itself Many plants produce small offsets all on their own — you just need to recognize them and treat them properly. Pups, runners, and plantlets are…
Photo: Ddra5202 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: peganum from Small Dole, England (CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Jeremyida002 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Not every plant can be propagated from cuttings. Many houseplants produce natural offsets or can simply be divided when repotting. This type of propagation is especially easy and has a…
Few houseplants combine elegance and ease of care as successfully as the Phalaenopsis, or moth orchid. Its arching sprays of flat, waxy blooms can last for months, and unlike many orchids, Phalaenopsis is genuinely well suited to average home conditions once you understand a few key habits rooted in its life as a tree-dwelling epiphyte…
Photo: Agnes Monkelbaan (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Ezhuttukari (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Wilfredor (CC0, Wikimedia Commons) Anthurium — Caring for the Exotic Flamingo Flower The anthurium, also known as the flamingo flower, is one of the most eye-catching flowering houseplants. With its heart-shaped, brilliant red bracts and striking yellow flower spike,…
The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is one of the most forgiving and popular houseplants, valued for its glossy, deep green leaves and elegant white blooms that can appear on and off throughout the year. It is also famous for being one of the most communicative houseplants around – it tells you exactly when it needs water…
Photo: Wildfeuer (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Felloni claire (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Mk2010 (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Light and Placement African violets (Saintpaulia, now botanically classified under Streptocarpus) are among the most popular flowering houseplants, prized for their velvety leaves and near-constant clusters of purple, pink, blue, or white blooms….
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) produces some of the most spectacular blooms of any bulb, sending up thick, sturdy stalks topped with enormous trumpet-shaped flowers in red, white, pink, or striped patterns, often perfectly timed for the winter holiday season with proper planning. Planting the Bulb Choose a pot only slightly larger than the bulb itself, with good…
Photo: H. Zell (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: H. Zell (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: H. Zell (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Monstera Deliciosa – The Ultimate Trend Houseplant Monstera deliciosa, also known as the Swiss cheese plant or split-leaf philodendron, is arguably the houseplant of the moment. With its bold, deeply slit…
