On the walking trail a few weeks ago, some orange berries in clusters caught my eyes. I was keeping an eye on the plants. This week, as I took another trail, I noticed the same type of berries, this time some yellow and some red. So I decided on a close inspection and to do…
How to train the orchids for indoor space
There are more than 28,000 species of orchids in the world. Most of the orchids thrive in warm days and cool nights. Each and every species have their unique growth characteristics. In the wild neither the plants nor the flower spikes are disturbed because they have the necessary space to grow. Many outdoor orchid growers…
Heat Tolerant Greens for summer
Who doesn’t love the idea of having fresh greens in salads. Are you worried about your spinach, kale or lettuce bolting as soon as the warm weather kicks in? Here are a few varieties of greens that thrives well in heat which will produce throughout the summer. They need heat to grow well and can’t…
Should you save vegetable seeds from your garden
It is springtime, the time of the year when everybody goes through the seed catalog to plan for the year’s garden. It is relieving to have a cup of coffee with seed catalogs and a pen to jot down the varieties for upcoming season. Such a joy of garden planning. What if I told you…
Choosing the right potting mix for container garden
If you are a space limited urban gardener and want to have a small garden of your own, often your only option is to do patio or balcony gardening. Welcome to the world of container gardening or smart-pot gardening. In addition to selecting the right container for your plant, you also need dirt to grow…
Growing Cucumber in Balcony Garden
If you are short on garden space and have decided to growing food in your balcony – cucumbers should be on the list for you. It is easy to grow cucumber in a balcony garden setting. In this article I am going to explain everything you need to know to grow your cucumbers in small…
How to grow your own baby orchids
Orchids are such an wonderful plant that anyone would fall in love with. They are very delightful to grow. In some genus like Phalaenopsis, the flowers will stay for months. If you have been an orchid person for some time, you know that Orchids are expensive. If you are wondering why these plants are so…
How to grow Basil in your garden
Basil is a warm weather plant that grows well with less care and has strong fragrance. It is an easy to grow herb which any beginner gardener can take on in their own garden. Basil is generally an annual plant. Some varieties need hot sun to thrive well, while others can thrive well in part…
Are you watering your Orchids correctly?
Orchids are easy to grow and care for once you get the hang of it. Location, water and fertilizer are a few factors that contribute to the health of the plant. I will say that growing orchids and caring for them is an art – there is no specific right way to do it. You…
Overwintering Container Plants
Not all plants are made for the winter. Do you want to keep your potted rose which is so dear to your heart or Hibiscus gifted for your birthday going strong year after year? Looking to get a good start of your favorite pepper in early spring? Then you should look at over wintering your…
Growing Marigold
Marigold is adored by many gardeners because they are easy to grow, drought tolerant and generally undisturbed by pests. Marigold comes in many different forms – from tall plants suitable for vegetable or summer garden to dwarf varieties suitable for borders and containers. The main types are Tagetes patula – They are also called as…
Growing Dahlias
Dahlias are tuberous plants that belong to the same family(Asteraceae) as Daisy and Chrysanthemum. They will bloom in midsummer or late summer until first frost. It’s difficult to select a single variety, because they come in lot of varieties/cultivars – tall to dwarf with giant blooms from dinner plate to pompoms. Dahlias can be growth…
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Portulaca is a fast-growing annual, it almost looks like a succulent. Most of us would have seen this weed popping up in the flower bed or on the roadside. Instead of pulling out this weed we can make good use of this plant. Purslane can be grown from seeds or stem cuttings. They can thrive…
Katuk
Katuk(Sauropus androgynus ) is a heat loving shrub. They can be grown as perennials in warm weather region. In cold winters they can be brought indoors or in greenhouse, they cannot tolerate frost. They will go dormant during winter, but will come back in spring. Once the plant has established well no further effort is…
Radish
Radish is a cold weather / fall crop and is really easy to grow for beginners. Some varieties of radish can be harvested in 30 to 50 days. The edible portion is the root. The tender leaves are also edible. They grow well in containers also. Start the seeds indoors or sow them directly about…