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How to Care for a Dieffenbachia Plant Problems with dieffenbachia plant can be easily overcome in most situations. The most common problem with growing dumbcane dieffenbachia is too much moisture. Overwatering is a common problem with many houseplants and the dieffenbachia houseplant is no exception. Plant the dumbcane in a well-draining soil and water lightly, keeping the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Check the soil to make sure it is dry an inch (2....

Artichoke Plant Types Artichokes are one of those playful foods that have both the leaves and choke to enjoy. I’m a leaf kind of person myself and have always grown these beautiful, big plants for eating and as ornamentals. All types of artichoke can be quite expensive in the supermarket but are easy to grow and can give diversity to your produce selections. Artichokes are thistles and related to one particularly wicked one – the stinging thistle....

Different Varieties of Roses The first roses started with the Old Garden or Species roses. Old garden roses are those that existed prior to 1867. Species roses are sometimes referred to as wild roses, such as Rosa foetida bicolor (Austrian Copper). Other varieties of roses, to some degree, are products of these types. With so many rose varieties available, how does one choose? Let’s take a look at some of the most common along with their descriptions....

Types of Gardening Forks First, there are the forks used for digging or aerating soil: the garden fork, digging fork (a.k.a. spading fork), and border fork. Garden fork – The garden fork is the largest of these and is useful for larger spaces. When to use a garden fork? These tough tools are great for heavier tasks like breaking up hard soil or establishing a new garden. Other garden fork uses include double digging and aerating soil....

Passion Flower Types The genus Passiflora has some 400 species, most native to tropical and subtropical regions in the Americas. They are shallow rooted and grow as understory plants in rain forests. The unusual flowers are the stand-out features and many different types of passion flower vines are grown only for their flowers. Of all the species of Passiflora, only one, Passiflora edulis Sims, has the exclusive designation of passionfruit, without qualification....

To get your feng shui on with your landscape design, you must consider some foundation planting tips, especially those regarding foundation plant spacing. Read on to learn how to space foundation plantings. Foundation Planting Tips Foundation planting originated during the Victorian Age to hide the high foundations that were in favor at the time. Today’s homes generally lack this unattractive feature, so the nature of foundation planting has changed. Foundation planting is often limited to lining the foundation of the house with rows of shrubs, often evergreens with larger shrubs planted at the corners of the house to camouflage the sharp lines of the building....

About Divina Lettuce Plants There are many types of salad greens available for gardeners to grow. Divina is an outstanding variety of butterhead, with delicately ruffled leaves and a tender crunch. Care for Divina lettuce is minimal because once started in a good site and soil, it mostly fends for itself. There are a few serious pests to watch for when growing Divina lettuce and the variety is resistant to powdery mildew and sclerotinia....

Developing a Perennial Food Garden Annual plants live for only a short time, usually just part of the year. Perennials live much longer, dependent upon species. Many provide food year round, while others spring back when warm temperatures start to appear. There are numerous perennial food crops that can help slash your grocery budget. If you live in a warm region there are more plants than northern gardeners can grow, but cool region growers can still keep many edible perennial plants....

How Do You Cut Back False Sunflowers? Cutting back false sunflowers is an easy process, though it helps to trim false sunflowers in stages to keep the plants looking their best throughout the growing season. For example, pinch the growing tips of young plants in spring to create full, bushy plants, then keep the plant deadheaded throughout the blooming season to prevent false sunflowers from going to seed prematurely. Cut the plants back by about half if they begin to look floppy or scraggly in early summer....

Tiger Jaws Plant Info Tiger Jaws succulents, also known as Shark’s Jaws, are Mesembryanthemums, or Mesembs, and belong to the family Aizoaceae. Mesembs are species that resemble stones or pebbles, although Tiger Jaws succulents look more like small fanged animal jaws. This succulent grows in clumps of stemless, star-shaped rosettes amongst rocks in its native habit. The succulent is a low growing perennial that only reaches about 6 inches (15 cm....

Major Fungal Diseases of Fig Trees Of the pathogens that cause problems with fig trees, fungi take the cake. Fig disease problems caused by fungi can affect nearly any part of the plant, including fruits, leaves, and internal tissues. There is little that can be done once some fungal infections are in full force, so always practice good sanitation and beware of how much you’re watering your fig to reduce favorable conditions for fungal germination....

If you enjoy figs (whether fresh, dried or in preserves) and if your tree is getting old (or your generous neighbor’s tree is getting old), you might be wondering how to propagate fig trees as opposed to buying a replacement. Fig propagation is an economical way to continue or increase production. Methods for How to Start a Fig Tree How to start a fig tree from fig cuttings is a simple process that can be accomplished in one of three ways....

About Fish Compost If you, a family member, or a close friend is an avid angler, then you know that often the general practice is to dump the fish innards or other fish waste back into the aquatic sphere it came from. The problem with this method of disposal, more specifically in commercial fishing, is that all that waste can damage the ecosystem, disrupting the delicate balance and wreaking havoc with the watery flora and fauna....

Importance of Fruit Tree Distance Fruit tree spacing for your backyard orchard is different than that for a commercial grower. Spacing for fruit trees is determined by the type of tree, soil quality, expected tree height and canopy for the mature tree, and any dwarfing characteristics of the rootstock. Giving your fruit trees some distance may mean the difference between crowding them out, thus shading each other, which results in a low fruit set....

Why is My Fuchsia Plant Not Blooming? Fuchsia plants always flower on new growth. Therefore, no fuchsia blooms on a plant is generally an indication that the plant needs to be cut or pinched. Pinching will force your fuchsia plant to grow new branches. Once the plant produces adequate growth in early spring, the end tips are usually pinched to encourage blooming. Your fuchsia plant should be pinched continually through the summer to keep it producing flowers....

What are Fungi? It might be surprising to know what common items and conditions are caused by fungi. The types of fungus range from dangerous to beneficial and they occur in all environments. Yeast is a fungus. Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus, and the lifesaving drug penicillin is made from a fungus. Mushrooms are a common fungus growth in gardens, but fungal byproducts are also found in some cheeses, beer, champagne, and bread....

Visiting Botanical Gardens The first thing you want to do in preparing for your botanical garden experience is to dress comfortably. So just what should you wear when visiting a botanical garden? Your attire should be comfortable and appropriate for the season – many botanical gardens are open year-round. Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes for walking or hiking. Expect that your shoes will get dusty or dirty. Bring a sun hat or visor to protect your face from the sun....

What is Interplanting? This type of gardening takes some planning, but vegetable intercropping can also reduce disease and pests when done in proper combinations. The practice involves pairing taller plants with shorter ones growing under them. It also includes combinations of companion plants, which help repel pests. Intercropping with nitrogen-rich plants, such as beans, allows them to fix nitrogen in the soil and increase the macro-nutrients availability for other plants. Cyclical plantings for consistent harvest are also an important facet of interplanting....

Using Flower and Plant Baby Names Garden-related baby names are a great choice for many. Whether choosing a more unique name or one that has long been used throughout history, the options are limitless when choosing baby names inspired by plants. Garden names for babies are also quite versatile. While many may assume that flower baby names might only work for girls, many of these plant baby names also make a good choice for boys....

The Importance of Gardener Sun Protection The most important reason to pay attention to sun exposure is to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. Millions of people receive a diagnosis of skin cancer every year. The good news is that this is one of the most preventable types of cancer. Another reason to avoid too much sun is the damage it can do to your skin’s appearance over time—of course, having a gardening sunburn is no fun either....