For your Christmas cactus, you can prepare ready-made soil from turf soil, leaf mold, humus, peat, coarse sand, and perlite in a ratio of 1:6:4:2:2:0.5. Mix the components with a trowel in a large container, pour the resulting substrate into a deep baking pan, lightly moisten it, and place it in an oven heated to…
Indoor plant pots can amaze you with their variety of sizes, shapes, textures, and colors. So, how do you pick the right—and eye-catching—container that will help your plant grow quickly and bloom abundantly? Before you accidentally buy something you don’t need, let’s first figure out the difference between a flower pot and a cachepot—because some…
For many winter plants, the shortening daylight hours and cooler temperatures act like a green light for blooming—did you know that’s exactly when our favorite houseplant, the Christmas cactus, awakens its flowers? Also known as Schlumbergera or zigocactus, this beauty throws a party of color right when the days are getting dark. Nothing lifts that…
For seedlings to grow well, not stretch out, not overgrow, and be ready for transplanting into the ground at just the right time, you need to sow seeds at the optimal moment—sounds obvious, right? But how do you figure that out for different crops? What factors affect the sowing date, and does it vary between…
Growing your own fresh herbs doesn’t require a massive planting. If you pay attention to basic care, basil plants can grow lush and deliver a plentiful harvest. Cutting basil so it keeps growing is surprisingly simple. The very first leaf trimming happens when the basil plant reaches about 6–8 inches tall. After that, I make…
I know how confusing it can feel when you’re trying to tell these two beautiful bulbs apart. Even seasoned gardeners can mix them up! Both belong to the Amaryllis family, yet they hail from different regions and show unique traits in blooming times, bulb shape, and much more. But once you learn the key distinctions,…
Gardeners of all skill levels can benefit greatly from knowing how long it takes for a particular vegetable seed to germinate. First, this knowledge helps you better plan when to plant seedlings and when to sow seeds. Second, it spares you a lot of unnecessary stress. For example, does it really matter that your carrots…
The main limiting factor when growing vegetables indoors has always been the lack of light. Watering? Simply water well when the potting mix is dry. Air too dry? Run a humidifier. Fertilization? Follow the instructions on the package. But a windowsill in fall or winter, even if it faces south, just isn’t enough. Due to…
In nature, peace lilies grow outdoors in tropical climates. Yet, most of us who don’t live in tropical regions know them as potted plants. I will share how to create the best possible soil for these lovely plants, so you can give them the life they deserve. Soil with excellent drainage and aeration is best…
A live Christmas tree in a pot is a beautiful New Year’s decoration. However, without proper care, it won’t last any longer than a cut tree. Let me share with you how to help this little tree that you’ve brought into your home. It’s important to understand that a Christmas tree is not a houseplant,…