… are in a winter dormancy and require bright light but very cool conditions with no water for up to two months. Overwatering will create soft brown patches on stems and foliage. Monitor houseplants for insect problems that often occur when plants become stressed due to insufficient light; … harbor pests. Isolate these plants before adding them to your collection. Pests to look out for include the following: Spider mites — Look for webbing in leaf axils, stippled foliage, and …
Type: Plant Info
… flower he ever saw and he would probably shout out "sunflower." Ask a prairie aficionado for a list of the top ten prairie plants blooming now, and a sunflower will surely be on that … associated with the farmlands of the Great Plains—a plant cherished by the Native Americans for its seeds, its silage and later on, for its oil. There are dozens of different varieties of annual sunflowers, some 10 feet tall, …
Type: Plant Info
… The start of the new year is an ideal time for homeowners to begin making plans for enhancing their garden's beauty. As with making resolutions, it's easy to dream big. But the … to the north and west—trees of all sizes can save money by reducing the need for winter heating and summer cooling. This spring, consider planting a sapling that's right for …
Type: Plant Info
… with the roots of a healthy tree, or by contaminated pruning tools. There is no cure for the disease once a tree is infected. Susceptible Plants American elms ( Ulmus americana ) are … streaking in the sapwood immediately under the bark. Tissues must be cultured in a laboratory for positive identification of Dutch elm disease. Because there are other wilt diseases that can … no chemicals available to homeowners to cure this disease. Commercial fungicides are available for Dutch elm disease; however, only licensed applicators are able to purchase and apply these …
Type: Plant Info
… Ash Tree Alternatives Looking for a replacement for an ailing ash tree? Dr. Andrew C. Bell, curator of woody plants, offers these suggestions. … Arborists as the 2012 Urban Tree of the Year, Accolade™ elm is one of the top-performing trees for urban and residential planting in the Chicago region. This hybrid elm provides the iconic …
Type: Plant Info
… in the Midwest, it is truly a delight to discover plants that have saved their showier sides for the last months of the year. At this time especially, we welcome the graceful conifers, the … winterberry or coralberry, Ilex verticillata is the finest among the deciduous hollies for winter hardiness, berry display, and pest and disease resistance. Winterberries are at home … plants is their berry display, try planting them in masses against an evergreen backdrop. For every 10 to 20 female plants, remember to plant one male plant to pollinate the female …
Type: Plant Info
… the coming fall at the Chicago Botanic Garden —just the way our ancestors have done for centuries. As the growing season winds down , it’s a busy time for gardeners, ahead of the fall equinox on September 23 in the Northern Hemisphere. Six days … goes to eligible patients in our free prescription produce program, VeggieRx . You can shop for the farm-to-table produce, depending on availability, at our Farm on Ogden indoor market in …
Type: Blog
… artificial lights. Avoid overwatering houseplants. Cut back on fertilizer in general, except for plants intended to bloom all winter, such as miniature roses or geraniums. Most houseplants … appreciate a 10- to 15-degree difference in day and night temperature. Monitor plants for early signs of problems. When indoor heat is turned on, natural humidity disappears. Try to … raise humidity. Pot up pretreated bulbs, such as amaryllis, paperwhite narcissus, and others, for holiday blooms. Continue to fertilize orchids with very dilute orchid fertilizer until they …
Type: Plant Info
… is to enhance the connection between people and plants. Jessica and her staff are responsible for updating records of the Garden’s living collection with current planting and location data as well as ensuring that plants are properly labeled for visitors. For decades the Garden had a custom-built plant records database along with several other …
Type: Staff bio
… Q: Should I cut back my perennials to prepare them for winter? If so, when? A: Cutting back perennials in the fall can be confusing because there … Susan ( Rudbeckia ) and false indigo ( Baptisia )produce beautiful seedheads that look great for most of the winter. Vines like Clematis have beautiful seedheads; and others, such as … reseed, such as coneflower ( Echinacea ), should not be deadheaded and can remain standing for the winter. Many perennial plants should be cut back to the ground in the fall for sanitation …
Type: Plant Info
