You enjoy showing off your spider plants in pots or hanging baskets. They grow naturally in the ground in their tropical native lands, however. To keep your spider plants thriving and beautiful, you want to mimic the properties of this natural soil. Organic-rich, well-draining potting soil is the best potting soil for spider plants. Perlite,…
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a plant quite as cheery & bright as bamboo (Bambuseae spp.). Their interesting foliage and easy-going nature make for a stunning houseplant. Most types of bamboo call for bright conditions – but how much of it do they need? How much light your bamboo needs will depend on the cultivar…
Spider plants are a great choice if you want a low-maintenance, trouble-free houseplant. Aphids, mealybugs, scale, spider mites, and whiteflies can annoy them at times. Thankfully, you can easily prevent and eliminate spider plant bugs. The most common spider plant bugs are aphids, mealybugs, and scales. Eliminate the majority of spider plant pests with a…
I must confess that I am a calathea fan. I’ve had these dramatic beauties for years, and nothing threatens them more than root rot. Let me show you how to identify the source of the problem and save your calathea from root rot. Root rot commonly occurs when you’ve overwatered your calathea. Rapid yellowing of…
You might mistakenly believe that, due to their large, robust leaves, Monstera plants are invulnerable to pests. But let me assure you, over the past few years my Monstera fell prey to harmful pests, which can significantly damage its stunning aesthetics if you do not identify and address promptly. Infestations of pests such as spider…
Seeing your plant’s stems begin to turn black is the last thing you want to see. Is it a telltale sign that your plant is about to die? Stem rot, blight, stem rust, bacterial canker, and other stem infections are common causes of blackened plant stems. Other possible causes include pest infestations and stem and…
It is not uncommon to find Monster Siltepecana mislabeled in a nursery. Such mix-ups are not entirely the plant person’s fault; the species can be pretty confusing. Its appearance changes so radically in the course of its growth. Later at maturity, it might be hard to tell it apart from its cousin Monstera Peru. There…
Ferns have a reputation for being difficult to grow but in fact, they are quite un-demanding providing you give them the conditions that they require. One of the foremost reasons for people having problems with their indoor ferns is that they overwater them. When a fern is overwatered, its leaves turn yellow and begin to…
Having pebbles on hand is an excellent practice for any forward-thinking plant parent. I frequently use polished pebbles, rocks, and stones in a variety of colors and sizes. Pebbles have numerous advantages for the soil, but they can also cause a few problems. The addition of pebbles improves the drainage capacity, water retention, aeration, and…
The begonia’s eye-catching, asymmetrical leaves make it the star of any collection, but what if your begonia is more stem than a leaf? When a previously lush and leafy specimen produces an excess of stems and stalks, it shoots up until it’s nothing more than a tuft of greenery on a long bundle of sticks….