Plants Archives - Page 5 of 11

15 Cactus Myths – Learn to Enjoy Your Spiny Friend

Cactus are very weird plants. They almost never have leaves. They sit there and do nothing for a good part of the year. They don’t flower – or do they? If you are old enough to remember all of the cowboy movies on TV, you are sure to know that you can always stop by a cactus and get a drink.

My first foray into horticulture was a collection of over 100 different cactus, under lights in my bedroom. At that time I went to Europe, in part to see “native cacti”. I’ve grafted them, and even grown them from seed. Fast forward 40 years, and I still have a cactus growing in the garden (zone 5).

For this post I have collected together all of the cactus myths that I could find. Enjoy.

15 Cactus Myths, Golden barrel cactus source: Pamla J. Eisenberg

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Fake Orchids – How to Convert Ugly White Orchids Into Blue, Orange and Even Green Ones

Orchids are one of the most beautiful flowering houseplants you can buy and yet they are just not good enough – according to some people. Commercial growers have found a way to add even more color to them so that you can enjoy blue, orange and even green orchids.

How is it done, and how long does the color last?

Blue Orchids - Are they Real or Dyed? — Blue Orchids – Are they Real or Dyed?

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Why Can’t You Trust Gardening Information on the Internet – Using a Ghost Writer

Why can’t you trust gardening information on the Internet? As part of my effort to bust gardening myths, I also try to understand how the myths are created in the first place.

I decided to run a test to illustrate why gardening information on the internet can’t be trusted. I hired someone to write an article on how to flower indoor plants more. How accurate will the information be? Will it be suitable for posting on one of my blogs?

Why Are So Many Gardening Websites Wrong? — Why Can’t You Trust Gardening Information on the Internet?

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How to Get Indoor Plants to Bloom More

There is nothing like flowers in winter time but indoor plants don’t always cooperate and bloom well. Why? What can be done to make them bloom better?

In this post I’ll help you play detective and figure out how to get your houseplants to bloom more.

How to Get Indoor Plants to Bloom More, Streptocarpus, photo by Nzfauna

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Does Real Garlic Seed Exist?

Go to any nursery or garden center and ask for garlic seed. What you get are garlic cloves, just like the ones you get from the grocery store. Hold on a minute, you asked for seed and what you got were cloves, so you head over to racks of seed packages and look for garlic. You won’t find any. Check your favorite seed catalog and they won’t have garlic seed either.

If there is no such thing as garlic seed, where does garlic come from? How can we have so many different varieties of garlic if they don’t make seed?

Here is the true story about garlic and garlic seed.

Does Garlic Seed Exist? — Does Real Garlic Seed Exist? Photo by GARLIC ANALECTA

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Mertensia virginica

Mertensia virginica, photo by Robert Pavlis

Mertensia virginica is a delightful spring ephemeral with soft blue flowers. Easily grown in shade or part shade, and requires no effort from the gardener. Plant and forget it. You don’t even have to clean up the foliage as it just disappears under other garden stars that grow later in the year.

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Hyacinthoides hispanica

Hyacinthoides hispanica, or Spanish bluebells are one of the best spring bulbs. Any type of bluebell is a great addition to the garden, but Spanish bluebells put on a better show than most of the others. They flower later than other bluebells and are much taller, allowing them to make a big splash in the garden.

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Acanthus hungaricus – Hungarian Bear’s Breeches

The first time I saw Acanthus hungaricus, the Hungarian Bear’s Breeches, in flower I was mesmerized. This is such a spectacular architectural plant that it should be in every garden.

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21 Common Indoor Plant Myths – That Save You Time and Money

The popularity of indoor plants has skyrocketed in the last year and so have the myths surrounding them. I have gathered a long list of common houseplant myths to save you the trouble of making mistakes and getting into bad habits. Each myth has a brief description, and where appropriate, a link to a more detailed discussion.

Growing indoor plants is fairly easy if you take some time to research the plant you are growing and follow some basic rules. Don’t get sucked into internet hype about new ways to deal with problems. Experienced gardeners keep things simple.

Common Houseplant Myths That Save You Time and Help Plants Grow Better, photo by Proline

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Ginkgo Biloba Tree Myths – The Maidenhair Tree

Ginkgo biloba (also spelled gingko) has become a popular tree, and many people are able to recognize it. It’s a living fossil that has been around for millions of years. Dinosaurs roamed the ginkgo forests, and it has been part of Chinese herbalism for centuries. It is unlike any other tree we grow, and it has become the symbol of strength, hope, and peace.

Several ginkgos stood near the detonation site of the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima. They not only survived the blast, but they fully recovered and are still standing. It is now regarded as a symbol of endurance and vitality.

Its long history and unusual botanical attributes have contributed to a number of myths about Ginkgo biloba.

Ginkgo Biloba Tree Myths - The Maidenhair Tree — Ginkgo Biloba Tree Myths—The Maidenhair Tree

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Increasing Humidity for Indoor Plants – What Works and What Doesn’t

Indoor plants do better with higher humidity and there are several recommended ways to create this increased humidity. Some of these suggestions, like misting and pebble trays, have been used for many years and are still being recommended today. But do they work? Do they increase humidity and are they good for houseplants?

The heating we use in winter dries the air in our home and this makes it more difficult for plants to grow. The same thing can happen with air conditioning in summer. Tropical houseplants are particularly vulnerable.

What is the best way to increase the humidity around your indoor plants and how high should the humidity level be?

Increasing Humidity for Indoor Plants - What Works and What Doesn't — Increasing Humidity for Indoor Plants – Pebble Trays Don’t Work

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Don’t Pick The Trillium Flower and Other Trillium Myths

The trillium is one of the main harbingers of spring, at least here in Ontario. It is not the earliest ephemeral to flower, but it is the most spectacular, and if you find the right location, a deciduous forest without a lot of visitors, the ground is covered with them. It’s the prettiest weed I know.

It is an odd plant. Takes forever to grow big enough to bloom and is mostly distributed by ants. It blooms white but then fades to a light pink. If you transplant one in flower, it could take years before it flowers again. This is one plant that is best left alone.

Many people think that it’s illegal to pick, probably because it is the Ontario flower. Why would it not be protected? This and several other myths about trillium need some attention.

Don't Pick The Trillium Flower and Other Trillium Myths. Photo of Trillium grandiflorum — Don’t Pick The Trillium Flower and Other Trillium Myths. Photo of *Trillium grandiflorum*

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