Q. How do I grow a lemon tree indoors? A. Lemon and other citrus trees are best grown outdoors during the summer months in a location that receives full sun. A lemon tree should be brought indoors during the winter and placed in a cool area free of drafts that receives direct sunlight. Soil should be kept evenly moist; however, be sure that the plant is in a container with good drainage. …
Type: Plant Info
Q. Is it possible to grow a beautiful, large fuchsia indoors in winter? A. When bringing a fuchsia indoors during cold weather, best results come from letting it rest and slide into dormancy. Bring it inside before the fall frost and place in a cool (45 degrees at night, 55 degrees during days), bright room. During active growth a fuchsia needs moist soil, but as it prepares for dormancy, …
Type: Plant Info
Q. My Phalaenopsis orchid just finished blooming and I’m not sure what to do with the flower stem. Do I cut it? If so, where? A. Proper pruning of the inflorescence on a Phalaenopsis orchid can encourage rebloom. The inflorescence of small plants should be removed at the base because it is unlikely that it will produce new blooms until the plant reaches a larger size. Inflorescences of larger …
Type: Plant Info
Q: My peonies have overgrown their space. When can I divide them? A: Fall is the best time to divide and transplant peonies. Although peonies do not require regular division, when they begin to overtake an area or you find them growing in too much shade, it is time to move them. Plants transplanted in the fall will have plenty of time to establish their roots and still produce spring blooms. Dig …
Type: Plant Info
Wait until trees and shrubs drop their leaves or undergo color change before planting them or digging and moving them to new sites. At that time they are entering dormancy and will not suffer as much transplant shock when moved. Broadleaved and needled evergreens, both dwarf and standard, are best planted or moved by October 1. Water deeply and thoroughly at planting time and each week up until …
Type: Plant Info
A great way to get into the winter spirit is to create your own wreath, featuring embellishments inspired by nature. Don't be intimidated: We will take you step by step through the process. The best part is that you can add your own touches to make your wreath truly one-of-a-kind. Here are some combinations to try: A mixed evergreen wreath with a woodland theme. Add magnolia leaves, shelf …
Type: Blog
Crinum augustum 'Queen Emma', commonly known as Queen Emma giant spider lily, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family. Native to tropical Southeast Asia, the plant is commonly grown in Mexico's hot lowlands. Its fragrant white, star-shaped flowers with purple on the back of the petals are borne on large inflorescences on red stems. The handsome, strappy foliage arises from giant fleshy bulbs, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
Delphiniums are perennials in the buttercup family that can best be described as "stately" or "majestic," producing large spikes of showy flowers from June to September. Modern cultivars, often called candle delphiniums, are derived mostly from the Eurasian Delphinium elatum . The Magic Fountains series comes in varying shades of blue, lavender, or white, with semidouble flowers that open wide, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
SPRING SENSATION™ deutzia features small white blossoms in spring that cover the arching stems. Foliage is dark green throughout the growing season and may turn burgundy in the fall. The genus Deutzia consists of medium sized flowering shrubs native to Asia, generally with slender stems and a fine-textured arching habit. The clusters of small flowers that appear in spring or early summer are …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
YUKI SNOWFLAKE™ is a miniature deutzia (24" tall) notable for its abundant small white bell-like flowers as well as its small stature. It also features burgundy fall foliage. This cultivar is the most widely planted deutzia at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The genus Deutzia consists of medium sized flowering shrubs native to Asia, generally with slender stems and a fine-textured arching habit. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
