Petunia Problems
Q: I think I over watered my petunias. They look like they died, can I bring them back?
A: This classic gardeners favorite doesn’t require much water, so it is likely you have given them more than they could handle. The soil in which you grow petunias should be very well drained. If planting them in [...]
Support for Ivy
Q: My indoor ivy plant is drooping. Is it because I over watered it?
A: It may just need some support! It’s hard for me to guess exactly what you mean by drooping. If you mean the plant is splaying out, and the stems are starting to hang, then not to worry! This is totally normal. [...]
Airtight Terrariums
Q: What will happen to a plant in an airtight jar placed by a window?
A: The working theory is that plants can be kept in an air tight, static (unchanging) environment, and through their own processes and those of the soil, would remain alive and even thrive. The plants take in carbon dioxide, and give [...]
Reader Mail: Spent Daisy Blooms
Q: My daisies are spent and all that remains are the dead flower heads. Should I cut these off, or leave them?
A: You should snip the dead heads. Daisies are perennials , and will come back next year. Whenever you have a flower or plant that is done blooming, you should cut off the dead [...]
Reader Mail: Hens and Chicks
Q: How often should I water my Mother Hen plant?
A: Rarely! This plant, also known as Hens and Chicks, is a desert succulent. It’s like to store water in it’s fleshy leaves, and let its roots dry out completely. The plant is so called because it sends off little round baby plants that look jut [...]
Reader Mail: Venus Fly Trap
Q: Can I use a five-gallon fish tank to grow my Venus Fly trap?
A: Absolutely! Actually, that would be ideal! Venus Fly traps (Latin name Dionaea muscipula) are an interesting little plant native to the Carolinas in the Eastern US. They grow in swampy bog areas where the soil is very acidic. They cannot obtain [...]
Reader Question
Q: Are money trees poisonous?
A: If you have to ask if a plant is poisonous, then it is! Now I know most of you don’t go around putting bits of exotic houseplants in your garden salads, but I would strongly caution anyone with curious house pets or children. Do some research! It’s usually pretty [...]
Composting 101
You may be spending dough on store bought fertilizer for your plants while throwing away valuable bits of it every day. I have seen the beauty of decomposing organic material, readers! It’s so easy and beneficial to compost, I don’t know why I never did it before. The steps are simple and you can go [...]