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Gardening with Crystals Using crystals and other precious stones for their healing energies is not just a New Age fad. Native American shamans and other healers from all around the world have relied on the powers of gemstones for thousands of years. Different stones were believed to possess different healing properties for different ailments. These energies were used to aid in the healing of humans, animals, or plants. Using stones in healing is still popular amongst holistic healers today....

Now, more than ever, first-time gardeners have nearly unlimited access to the resources necessary to be successful. Let’s explore some gardening tips for beginners. How to Start a Garden The most frequently asked question of first-time gardeners is how to get started. How to start a garden will vary greatly from one person to another. While some people have access to yard space, others may find that growing in containers is their only option....

Can You Grow Bananas from Seed? As mentioned above, the banana you are eating for breakfast has been genetically tinkered with to lack seeds and are usually Cavendish bananas. There are many other banana varieties out there and they do contain seeds. Cavendish bananas are propagated by pups or suckers, pieces of rhizome that form into miniature banana plants that can be severed from the parent and planted to become a separate plant....

Blooms of the Cardiocrinum Himalayan lily are large, nodding, trumpet shaped and a creamy white color with reddish purple centers. As the name indicates, this is a large lily, reaching 6 to 8 feet (2 m.) in height. Some giant lily plant facts say this lily can reach 14 feet (4 m.). It is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9. How to Grow Himalayan Giant Lilies Giant Himalayan lily care includes planting bulbs in a partially shaded location....

What is Wild Quinine? Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolim) is an upright perennial wildflower, native to Illinois, that is not seen in the home landscape often. This lovely flower has aromatic foliage similar in appearance to mustard greens and bright white, button-shaped flowers that bloom from late spring throughout summer. Wild quinine is a tall plant that reaches 3 to 4 feet (1 m.) at maturity and actually makes a lovely addition to a perennial bed....

What is Orach? A cool-season plant, orach is a warm-season alternative to spinach that is less likely to bolt. A member of the Chenopodiaceae family, orach (Atriplex hortensis) is also known as Garden Orache, Red Orach, Mountain Spinach, French Spinach, and Sea Purslane. It is also sometimes referred to as Salt Bush due to its tolerance for alkaline and saline soils. The name orach is derived from the Latin ‘aurago’ meaning golden herb....

How to Care for African Daisies Osteospermum is from Africa, hence the name African daisies. Growing African daisies require conditions similar to those found in Africa. It likes heat and full sun. It needs well-drained soil and, in fact, will tolerate dry soils. Osteospermum is an annual and, like most annuals, it enjoys extra fertilizer. But the nice thing about African daisies is that they are one of the few annuals that will still bloom for you if they are planted in poor soil....

Bad Fish for Aquarium Plants If you want to combine plants and fish, research carefully to determine what aquarium fish to avoid. You may want to skip the following fish that eat plants if it’s foliage you’d like to enjoy too: Silver dollars (Metynnis argenteus) are big, silvery fish native to South America. They are definitely herbivores with giant appetites. They devour entire plants in nothing flat. Silver dollars are a favorite aquarium fish, but they don’t mix well with plants....

Growing Chinese Lantern in a Container Attractive, glossy heart-shaped foliage combines with detailed pods in yellow and orange, turning red and closely resembling a Chinese lantern. These are great additions when creating colorful, autumn decorations and accents. The papery pods are textured much like their namesake. These are called calyxes, which initially are green. Insignificant white flowers bloom before calyxes develop. It is a great plant to grow but is not without its challenges....

Rapsodie Tomato Information Rapsodie, may also be spelled Rhapsody or Rhapsodie, is a beefsteak variety of tomato. If you buy beefsteaks in the store, you are most likely getting the cultivar called Trust, but vegetable growers are starting to put in more Rapsodie, and this is a great choice for your own garden. Like other beefsteak tomatoes, Rapsodies are large and bright red. The skin is thin and ribbed. Each tomato has multiple locules, the seed compartments inside the fruits....

Can You Grow Succulents in Zone 8? Parts of Georgia, Texas, and Florida as well as several other regions are considered to be in the United States Department of Agriculture zone 8. These areas receive average annual minimum temperatures of around 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 to -9 C.), so freezing does occur occasionally in these warm regions, but it is not frequent and it is often of short duration....

Where Do Hanging Ferns Grow Best? Growing conditions may vary somewhat depending on the type of fern; however, most ferns don’t appreciate intense sunlight. Outdoors, a fern in a hanging container will generally do well with morning sunlight but needs afternoon shade. Indoor ferns in hanging baskets usually do best in bright, indirect light such as a spot a few feet (1 m.) from a sunny window. Ideal temperatures are between 60 and 70 degrees F....

Why is Citrus Fruit Hard to Pull Off the Tree? If your fruit won’t come off the tree easily when harvesting citrus fruits, the most likely answer is because it isn’t ready yet. That’s an easy answer, but one fraught with seeming debate. In a search on the internet, it seems that citrus growers are of two dissimilar minds. One camp says that citrus fruit is ready when the fruit slips easily from the tree by grasping it firmly and giving it a firm, yet gentle, rotating tug....

Tall Tree Harvesting Your tree is tall and laden with gorgeous fruit. Whether those fruits are apples, lemons, figs, or nuts doesn’t matter; a gardener doesn’t want to waste the harvest. What if the fruit is too high up to reach from the ground though? Tall tree harvesting is tricky because “tall” can mean anything from 15 feet (5 m.) to 60 feet (20 m.) or more. The techniques you can use for harvesting fruit from tall trees depend, to some degree, on how tall the tree is....

Most are herbaceous perennials, dying to the ground in winter. Lush, beautiful flowers appear in summer, dying back to be replaced with more of the bountiful blooms the following year. The attentive gardener, accustomed to removing the spent blooms of many flowering plants, may nonchalantly be deadheading hibiscus too. While this task is seemingly part of the process of hibiscus flower care, maybe we should stop and inquire “do you have to deadhead hibiscus?...

Vinegar flavored with fruit, or fruit infused vinegar, is a simple process as long as you adhere to a few rules. Read on to learn about flavoring vinegar with fruit. About Flavoring Vinegar with Fruit Vinegar has been used for centuries with the first evidence documented about 3,000 B.C. by the ancient Babylonians. Initially, it was made from fruit such as dates and figs as well as beer. Fast forward and vinegar is now a hot commodity, flavored with fruit such as:...

Herbs for Zone 9 Herbs thrive in warm temperatures and at least four hours of bright sunlight per day. The following list provides good examples of zone 9 herb plants that thrive in plenty of morning sunlight, with a little protection during the afternoon. Basil Chives Cilantro Mint Oregano Parsley Peppermint Rosemary Sage Tarragon The herbs below need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Otherwise, these hot weather herbs won’t produce the essential oils that provide their distinctive aroma and flavor....

What are Potager Gardens? Potager gardens combine the utilitarian nature of the English kitchen garden with the style and grace of French fashion. It is basically an ornamental vegetable garden. Plants are chosen for both their edible and ornamental natures and are put together in such a way that it looks pretty while still providing food for the household. What is a Potager Design? There is no one potager design. There are many different potager designs....

Rose hips form on many of our species, but the rosa rugosa hips are one of the largest and tastiest. Wild rose hips have been used for centuries in many recipes. They can be used fresh or save dried rose hips for off season enjoyment. High in vitamins and minerals, rose hips add a delightful fragrance and flavor to daily recipes. About Rosa Rugosa Hips Rose hips are the ripened ovary of the rose flower....

How to Plant a Freesia Corm in the Garden Knowing how and when to plant freesia bulbs is important for their success in the garden. Start by choosing a location with full sun or light morning shade and well-drained soil. Prepare the bed by digging and loosening the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches (20 cm.). Plant the freesia bulbs, or corms, at least 2 inches (5 cm....