A friend has asked me how to grow herbs indoors during the winter. Since she started using fresh herbs, the dried version just doesn’t cut it any more. She spends a lot of money on the little sprigs that are for sale in the grocery store produce department. She would prefer to save that money [...]
Last fall, I blogged about overwintering tender plants like geraniums, coleus and begonias by taking cuttings. Since cuttings from these plants break new roots so easily, I just put them in a vase of water and wait for the roots to form. It’s kind of like having a row of flower arrangements in my window! When [...]
Seed starting time is approaching. I’ll be starting my tomato and pepper plants, cabbage family plants and others next week. The one thing that has made the biggest difference to my seed-starting success has been growing the seedlings under supplemental light. I just set up the light stand above, and moved a few plants into [...]
This time of year, the seed catalogs arrive on your doorstep, with their enticing pictures of vegetables, herbs and flowers. If you are like me, you want to plant one of everything, and you want to do it NOW! How can you possibly wait ‘till spring? Actually, you don’t have to – because you can [...]
There’s not much blooming on this cold, showy day in Cincinnati. I’m not even going to traipse outdoors, but will settle for showing a few interesting plants from my living room and kitchen greenhouse window. I have poinsettias, Euphorbia pulcherrima, still blooming, but they are not nearly as interesting after Christmas as they were before. [...]
Paperwhite narcissus bulbs are fabulous to force for holiday bloom. “Forcing” is when you get things to bloom outside of their usual season. Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus, from the Tazetta group of daffodils) are great for forcing because unlike most other daffodils, they do not require a cold period. Their fragrance is wonderful. And they usually bloom [...]
Green leaves on houseplants add a relaxed ambiance to a room, while bold red, orange or yellow colors provide a dramatic statement. And a single colorful plant among a group of green plants makes the whole grouping stand out. Plants with colorful leaves and flowering plants usually require brighter light to put on a good [...]
Houseplants bring a breath of fresh air to a stuffy winter indoor landscape. If you’re thinking about adding a few, you may wonder which houseplant to choose – especially if you lack a “green thumb”. This depends on your interior style, your personal taste, and few practical considerations including light, day and night temperatures, the [...]