Photo: Serigalakampus (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Ianaré Sévi (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Hbrosche (CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Why Start with Phalaenopsis Orchids? If the word “orchid” conjures images of finicky, temperamental plants that require a greenhouse and a botany degree, the Phalaenopsis orchid, commonly called the moth orchid, is here…
Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: CarlosMoralesPompa (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Tangopaso (Public domain, Wikimedia Commons) Why Propagate Succulents? Succulent propagation is one of the most satisfying activities in indoor gardening. There is…
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) Why Monstera deliciosa Is the King of Houseplants Few plants command attention the way a mature Monstera deliciosa does. Those enormous, glossy leaves with their characteristic holes and splits (botanically called…
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Plant pests and diseases (CC0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Natalka Ukraine (CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Even the most carefully tended houseplants attract pests sooner or later, especially when the air turns dry indoors during heating season or when a new plant arrives from the…
More houseplants die from incorrect watering than from any other single cause — usually overwatering, not underwatering. The good news is that correct technique is simple once you understand what roots actually need: oxygen as much as water. Here’s how to water properly and the mistakes that quietly kill plants over weeks or months. Check…
Photo: Aleksey Gnilenkov from Moscow, Russia (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: division, CSIRO (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Aleksey Gnilenkov from Moscow, Russia (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons) Few things are more frustrating than watching a carefully tended plant suddenly fall victim to tiny pests. Within just a few weeks, pests can ruin…
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…
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…
Growing plants from seed is the most fundamental form of propagation. A tiny grain transforms into a plant that you’ve accompanied from day one. Sowing takes a little more patience than cuttings, but rewards you with one of the most satisfying gardening experiences there is. Here’s how to successfully grow houseplants from seed. Which Plants…
