… Antonio Musa Brassavola. They have long, thin, tubular leaves that can reach up to a foot in length and sometimes appear unrolled or flattened. The tubular leaves are designed to reduce … frequent water than many other epiphytic orchids. Lady-of-the-night orchid is generally found in lowland tropical forests or mangrove swamps, growing on trees or on exposed rocks and cliffs near the shore. The white to pale green flowers are usually about 3½ inches in diameter and extremely fragrant in the evening. Each flower has long, slender sepals and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The first species in this genus to be discovered, it produces large, fragrant, showy white or orchid colored … to be grown by homeowners, the following approach has produced repeat bloom. Once temperatures in summer have warmed up, move the plants to a full sun location on the patio and water daily … fertilizer weekly. The plants should dry completely between waterings, ideally given early in the day. When temperatures begin to cool in fall bring plants indoors and place under full sun …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… given medium light and temperatures to 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night and daytime temperatures in the mid-70s. A famous native of Japan, Neofinetia falcata was the favorite orchid of the … the orchids of Japan and China. The type of species was introduced to the West from Japan in 1784 by Carl Peter Thunberg. Known as fuh-ran , or the orchid of the winds, in pre-industrial Japan, Neofinetia falcata could only be grown by samurai warriors, which led to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… we move closer to winter. Frost or Freeze? The typical average date for the first fall frost in the greater Chicago area is October 15. In some years, the first frost happens in September or as late as November. Frost can form on the ground on clear, calm nights even …
Type: Plant Info
… Have you ever noticed how lovely houseplants look in area nurseries or garden centers? Such lush foliage! Such strong stems! Such gorgeous flowers … we find houseplants irresistible, and bring them into our homes. Most of us also know that, in addition to being attractive, indoor plants help purify the air we breathe. In fact, NASA proved houseplants reduce indoor air pollution. Sounds like a win-win situation, …
Type: Plant Info
… their flower display. Allow all stems to wither before cutting them off the bulb. Keep the pot in a bright, warm location, out of direct sun. Water the plant as needed. The green, strappy … to grow. When all danger of frost has past, take the pot outside to the garden and keep it in a location protected from afternoon sun. Fertilize the bulb every 10 to 14 days with a liquid … or 15-15-15 mix. This fertilizer helps refuel the bulb for another season’s flower show. In February many houseplants might show signs of stress caused by light deprivation, …
Type: Plant Info
… most effective precyclers and decomposers . Without them, we would be buried miles deep in dead leaves and logs. Other fungi are plant pathogens . In large forests that extend miles, … native plants host a wider diversity. Fun(gi) Facts $$ fungi: Ever wonder why some mushrooms (e.g., truffles, chanterelles, and morels) are so expensive—as much as several thousand dollars … If you do collect in the wild, be aware of and follow rules for collecting at that site, e.g., collecting fungi is not allowed on any forest preserve property in the greater Chicago …
Type: Plant Info
… warm-colored hues. Amber browns, golden yellows, and blazing reds cover many natural areas in the Midwest, including the Chicago Botanic Garden. It’s all thanks to fall’s shorter days and … to know and love? This season, we’ve seen high temperatures upward of 80 degrees Fahrenheit in early October in the Chicago area and droughts happening across the country. Those kinds of changes have an …
Type: Blog
… In general, gardeners are game folks—always ready to grow a new seed, experiment with an unusual … gardening ventures that can give pause to even experienced midwestern gardeners. This month in Smart Gardener, we dive into one of them: the watery world of waterlilies. Nymphaea is the … rather than submersed plants; the latter live fully underwater, while waterlilies are rooted in underwater rhizomes that send long, flexible stems (called petioles) up toward the light. They …
Type: Plant Info
… Raspberries ( Rubus idaeus ) Raspberry bushes are either summer-bearing or everbearing. Even in Chicago, where the temperature can drop to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, these shrubs are still … gardeners choose them because they are guaranteed to attract birds. Raspberries ripen in mid- to late June in northern Illinois. They like a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and full sun, and are grown in rows with at …
Type: Plant Info
