… tipped in pink are borne at the nodes of 1-year-old upright pseudobulbs. They grow and flower best if exposed to full sun to bright light, allowed to experience a slight drying in summer, and grown in … number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals—often …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. What sort of spring care should I provide for my roses? A. April is the appropriate month for some basic and necessary pruning. Pruning not only promotes improved … for good overall plant health. Timing is important. Begin pruning when dormant roses begin to leaf out in the spring. It is best to wait until temperatures moderate and wide fluctuations are not predicted before …
Type: Plant Info
… Natal lily ( Clivia miniata ) is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family native to damp woodlands in southern Africa, where they … to no water during the winter. Although it is one of those rare plants that actually blooms best if slightly potbound, its roots are perennial, and the plant resents root disturbance (which …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Early November is a good time to plant spring-flowering bulbs in containers to be "forced" into early indoor … fresh, unplanted bulbs on hand, specialty catalogs and retailers often recommend and stock the best varieties for forcing. To start an indoor bulb garden, use shallow pots 4 to 12 inches wide …
Type: Plant Info
… tree that can reach a height of 50 feet with a spread of 25 feet. This sugar maple cultivar is an excellent shade tree for lawns and parks. Tiny yellowish-green flowers appear in spring … the leaves emerge. The tree's winged fruit, or samaras, matures in the fall. Autumn color is a beautiful golden-orange-red. One of the best known trees of eastern North America, sugar maple is as prized for its ornamental value as …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. Is there anything that I should be doing in March to my houseplants? A. March is the time when … ( Araucaria heterophylla ). When repotting a plant that has outgrown its container, it is best to select a pot one size larger than the original. Be sure the new pot has adequate drainage …
Type: Plant Info
… Renowned for its healing powers, common St. Johnswort is now found in most parts of the world. It has been used as a sedative, a treatment for malaria and depression, and a salve for wounds, burns, and insect bites. Its name is derived from a belief that its healing powers were enhanced by smoking it on the eve of St. … growing 2 feet tall, common St. Johnswort flowers from May through August, performing best in full sun, where it produces yellow blooms with five petals, five sepals, and many …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… “There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson … start shutting down soon after Labor Day. That’s changed. “Back then, we were getting ready to pack it in,” says Tom Soulsby, senior horticulturist for the Rose Garden, Heritage Garden, and … the rose collection involves editing. “We had a lot of older roses that weren’t hardy or the best for a Midwest garden—hard to manage, fussy, and they got a bad rap,” Tom says. When the …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. I enjoy growing plants from cuttings and seeds. What is the procedure for starting a pineapple plant at home? A. Both adults and children will have … 1 inch of gravel in the bottom of the pot. Fill the pot with potting soil, leaving enough room to plant the stalk firmly in the soil without covering any of the leaves. Water the soil, not the … once a week and fertilize with a balanced houseplant fertilizer once every two months. The best environment for growing a healthy pineapple plant is a sunny, warm, humid room away from …
Type: Plant Info
… are the features most gardeners request. And yet the gradual, long-lasting autumn leaf change is one of the most beautiful displays in the plant world. It lasts longer than any spring flower … time of year is seeing how plants play off each other; how color combinations shift from year to year; how much beauty is to be found in the subtle combinations as well as the more brilliant … Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’) A the hardiest of the Japanese maples and the one that performs best in Chicago gardens. Its distinctive palmate leaves are red-purple in summer but change to …
Type: Plant Info
