I’ve always admired the String of Turtles (Peperomia prostrata), with their trailing vines of fat round leaves. The sudden appearance of long, menacing-looking spikes on the bodies of these plump-leafed sweethearts can be pretty startling. Is there something wrong with the Turtle String? What exactly is going on? The string of Turtles plants is a …

You’d be surprised how simple it is to propagate a String of Dolphins (Curio peregrinus) plant. This charming cross between the Candle Plant and the String of Pearls combines the Candle’s distinctive leaves with the Pearls’ playful trailing vines. How similar is this new plant to its parents? Is it as simple to propagate? A …

Aloe plants, regardless of variety, are as resilient as a Camden punk and can withstand almost any abuse you can dish out. If the tops get too big and noisy, or you want more of these lively plants, cutting them off is easy and safe. A drastic haircut won’t hurt them. For some species, a …

Are you concerned about your Elephant Ear plant during the winter? It’s understandable; they don’t like the cold! However, you can protect these dramatic beauties from even the coldest weather by giving them the proper care over the winter. When the temperature outside reaches 60°F (15°C), bring potted Elephant Ear plants inside. Allow Elephant ear …

Most gardeners keep Elephant Ear plants because of their beautiful leaves, but did you know they also bloom? Regardless of the type of Elephant Ear you’re growing, you can still coax these tropical diva plants to bloom. Elephant ear plants are slow to bloom and must have their needs met before they bloom. Depending on …

Yellow spots on the leaves of a vibrant pepper plant are the last thing you want to see in your garden. So whether growing a small ornamental pepper or hoping for a bumper crop of crisp fruits, it’s critical to protect your plant’s foliage. Diseases or pests are the most common causes of yellow spots …

If you’ve noticed that your poinsettia is drooping, you’ll want to find a solution quickly. The first step in reviving a drooping poinsettia is diagnosing the root of the problem so you can treat it appropriately. Poinsettia drooping, curling, and crunchy leaves are typically caused by underwatering. Overwatering causes soft, floppy, and yellowing foliage. You …

More than five years passed while my first container hosta flourished in a tiny plastic pot on my balcony. I saw a beautiful plant about 1.5 feet tall, bought it, and put it on my balcony. I didn’t think to ask myself if I could grow a hosta in a pot at the time. I …

The hosta has a well-deserved reputation for being a low-maintenance plant resistant to many pathogens. However, hostas are in danger from a hosta virus X (HVX). The disease caused by the hosta virus is tricky because it can stay dormant for a long time. You can buy an infected plant that seems healthy, plant it …

Brown spots on gardenias are one of the hardest things for a gardener to deal with out of all the problems they can have. There are several reasons their leaves have these ugly spots, which I’ll talk about today. The bacterial and fungal leaf spot diseases Rhizoctonia and Cercospora are common culprits in developing brown …