ZZ Emergency
Dear Ivy,
I had 2 very healthy ZZ plants (several branches over 2 feet long), that I left outside for a few weeks in the Sydney winter. They were in a dry spot but when I brought them in side, most branches died off, lost their leaves and even fell off the plant; one has [...]
Gardenia Bonsai
Dear Ivy,
I was given a Gardenia Bonsai as a gift. How do I care for it?
Dear Reader,
Excellent question! I had to figure this out for myself earlier this year! I was given one as a gift as well. It arrived in a box full of styrofoam packing peanuts. So far, it’s done pretty well. I [...]
Special Ivy Plants
Dear Ivy,
I have two ivy plants from a family member’s funeral. They are turning brown and dying. What do I do? Please help!
Thank You
Dear Reader,
Let me start off by saying I am so very sorry for your loss. I know many people that have “funeral plants”. I personally have one. These are living plants used [...]
New Addition
Dear Ivy,
I just got a 6″ Celosia plant as a gift. How do I care for it? Where do I place it? How frequently do I need to water and fertilize it?
-Curious
Dear Curious,
I would say that whomever gave you this plant surely thinks you have good taste, and a green thumb! Celosia are beautiful [...]
Reader Mail
Dear Ivy,
When you dead-head a petunia, can you just pluck the dead flower or should you snip it a little lower? What about those little mini petunias, do you have to deadhead those too?
Thanks very much,
Evary
Dear Evary,
This is a great question! A good opportunity to explain to my readers the practice of “Dead [...]
Beans, beans, the magical fruit…
Oh, Summer camp. The valuable songs you taught me…
In spite of the recent high temperatures, my garden has finally started pulling its weight around here! In addition to the salad greens, radishes, sunflowers and raspberries, I now have delicious and nutritious green beans! I used plain old fashioned elbow grease. Also, compost and manure! I [...]
Christmas Cactus Quandary
Dear Ivy,
How often should I water my Christmas cactus?
-Christmas Chris
Dear Chris,
Let’s explore some things about this interesting little exotic! First off, let’s get one thing out of the way… The “Christmas Cactus” Is not actually a cactus. In fact, it’s an epiphyte, like an orchid. CC’s and orchids share the same habitat in the wild. [...]
The Elusive Orchid
I’ve finally cracked the orchid code! My orchid re-bloomed last month, and it’s the first time I’ve ever gotten an orchid to re-bloom successfully. I know, I know. I’m as embarrassed as you are shocked. Here I sit, with the greenest of thumbs, and I have trouble with orchids. Well, I’ll tell you what it [...]
Give your plants a bath!
When the heat gets to be too much, set your plants in a few inches of water. This will allow them to fully absorb all the liquid they can hold, without you having to worry about over or under watering. You can spray or mist the top of the plant and get all the dust [...]
Reader Mail
Dear Ivy,
What would happen if you put a plant in an airtight container?
-Curious Carey
Dear Carey,
Here’s the short answer… It’ll die.
I’ve seen those enclosed containers that you can order from catalogs that say “TOTALLY ENCLOSED CONTAINER!!” “NO CARE NECESSARY!!” And I’m here to tell you that they are… well, they’re a crock, to be honest…
You see, [...]