… it’s time to start thinking about moving your houseplants inside. The best time to do this is when temperatures outside are relatively close to the temperatures indoors, meaning mid- to … unsightly growth from your plants. 2. Lightly trim back plants as needed. This step is optional, and you really only need to do it if your plants have become large and overgrown. … for pests, and treat as needed. One of the biggest ways to set yourself up for success is to start with clean plants. There are several pests that can cause problems indoors. The most …
Type: Blog
… can also be an expensive endeavor for the home gardener. The first step in prepping the beds is removing the top layer of soil. Plantings include succulents and drought-hardy plants. They … by 4 to 5 inches of pea gravel. The gravel allows plants to grow in sharp drainage, which is a very desirable attribute when growing many native prairie plants or other dry-loving plants. … (Penstemon x mexicali ‘Red Rocks’). The key to establishing the plants in a gravel garden is to prevent the root balls from drying out until they have a chance to root down below the …
Type: Blog
… the radicle through the seed coat of a sunflower seed Although it may not look like it, spring is on its way, which means it’s time to start prepping for the anticipated spring planting season. This is a great time of year for horticultural therapy contracts. Everyone is itching to start planning and prepping for a successful horticultural therapy outdoor garden …
Type: Blog
… One of the top questions we have been getting about Spike the titan arum is “How do you know how much water to give it?” The care and feeding that we have given Spike … arums—our collection of nine Amorphophallus titanum growing in our production greenhouses—is very specific! Yes, the cultivation requirements for these plants are strict. Titan … to their natural conditions in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra. Therefore, the cultivation is not particularly suitable for most beginners or homeowners with minimal greenhouse facilities. …
Type: Blog
… and others. The national flower of Brazil— Cattleya purpurata (formerly Laelia purpurata) —is also an orchid. The native orchids of Brazil are often epiphytes growing on trees and shrubs, … elevations in cloud forests. The care of Brazilian orchids and their hybrids in cultivation is as varied as the number of species and their habitats, but where they naturally occur provides … recognized and still more commonly referred to as Sophronitis coccinea , C. coccinea is one of perhaps six to nine species and as many varietal color forms included in the former …
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… Gardening is all about embracing change. You plant seeds and wait to see which ones will sprout. You … for the Garden—and how the Garden will look when we are able to reopen. Only essential staff is on-site at the Garden and health and safety guidance on social distancing means big changes in the …
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… There’s nothing quite like a fresh start to the new year. For gardeners, this is a great time to set goals and to think through plans for the year. We asked our dedicated team … advice for gardeners everywhere. Chester Jankowski, Jr., senior horticulturist Goals: My goal is to travel to another growing zone to familiarize myself with the plants growing there as much … new, and have fun! Chris Baker, curator of bonsai Goals: My goal at the Garden every year is to produce and maintain the highest quality bonsai for our visitors to enjoy all season long. …
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… How much do I put down? When’s the best time to mulch? How often do I need to amend the mulch? Is mulch the best weed barrier? Great questions about a basic garden element. Fall is the best time to give your trees a good layer of mulch. Mulch is an important facet of your garden, and too often, its use and application are ill-informed or …
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… Anyone who reads the volumes of research can easily see all the reasons why a nature preschool is not just a real preschool, but should be a standard for all preschool environments to aspire … Many children spend time in preschool working on one-answer solutions. Their work is very cut and dry, limiting the amount of critical thinking or creativity needed for the answer. Play in nature allows children to try several solutions to a problem. Nature is unpredictable, and often, answers might not be what we would like, but we learn from this …
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… This is the story of a road trip I took with some corpse flowers, the rock stars of the plant world. One of the hallmarks of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s plant collection is the more than 70 species of Amorphophallus . In particular, Amorphophallus titanum , also … flowers, in 2003. There’s a worldwide conservation effort to preserve the species, as it is considered “vulnerable”—unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction …
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