Houseplants

Hibiscus

2009-06-04T19:23:00.002-04:00

If eye-popping color and a tropical flair is what you’re looking for, the hibiscus has it. While there are hardy and cold tolerant varieties of hibiscus, the tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is usually the one used as an indoor plant. It is the most vibrant and exotic of all hibiscus types.It may at first be difficult to know whether a hibiscus is tropical or hardy, but some key

Staghorn Fern

2009-05-31T11:17:00.002-04:00

Staghorn Ferns (Platycerium bifurcatum) were once a rarity, but they have seen a tremendous surge in popularity. Also known as Elkhorn Fern, the Staghorn is interesting because it has a very different appearance from other ferns. Most ferns have delicate, lacy fronds. Staghorn ferns have two types of fronds: one type is a flat, branched frond, resembling the horn of an elk, and the other type

Chinese Evergreen

2009-05-28T12:49:00.003-04:00

If you’re looking for an understated, easy to care for foliage plant, you’ll find that there are a lot of choices in the Aglaonema genus. Aglaonemas are often seen in malls, restaurants and offices in mixed planters. They are most commonly green with light green, white, or yellow markings although breeders have come up with some pretty reds and pinks as well.Aglaonemas prefer moderate light.

Urban Homesteading

2009-05-26T21:59:00.004-04:00

I came across this article tonight when I should have been getting ready for bed. This is the kind of thing I'm really looking forward to someday when I actually have a yard; using it to its full potential! Of course, I love my ornamentals far too much to ignore their important place in the landscape, but it would be great to garden an entire yard edge to edge.It seems like Denver is really

Unhappy Catt and happy cat

2009-05-22T15:06:00.006-04:00

I must admit that I've really been slacking with my own personal collection, lately. It has a lot to do with having just graduated from Michigan State's Horticulture program (as in 2 weeks ago!) and everything to do with being 8.999 months pregnant.I brought this gorgeous Cattleya home about a month ago. It was in serious need of division, but time was the last thing I had. I finally got time

Dracaena

2009-05-21T14:59:00.002-04:00

Dracaena is one of the first plants I learned about when I was shopping for my very first houseplant. They are found at nearly every store that carries plants and seem to be a staple plant for interiorscapers. I’ve seen them in offices, malls, hair salons and dorm rooms. Virtually anywhere there are people, there are Dracaenas.The most popular Dracaenas grown as houseplants are D. fragrans, D.

Arrowhead Plant

2009-05-21T14:55:00.002-04:00

Nephthytis, the Arrowhead plant, is a popular houseplant for those who have shadier spaces or maybe lack special talent in the care of plants. I love this plant: it is so easy to grow and always looks great! I have a beautiful variety that has pale pink and green leaves, but it is more often seen in green or green and white, and occasionally can be found with silver markings, or even red.This

Begonias

2009-05-21T14:51:00.002-04:00

Why grow begonias? There are so many good reasons why someone might want to grow begonias as houseplants, not the least of which is their beautiful flowers and simple care requirements. With so few choices when it comes to plants that will bloom indoors, it is fortunate that begonias are easy to come by, inexpensive and forgiving of forgetful watering.There are lots of different kinds of

Dwarf Umbrella Plant

2009-05-21T11:29:00.002-04:00

Schefflera arboricola is a nice, easy to care for plant. It is one of those plants that a lot of people enjoy growing because it is tolerant of a wide range of horticultural skill. I have seen it for sale in the most common places over the last several years; at florist’s shops, grocery stores, big-box stores and of course the specialty greenhouses. The most popular varieties of Schefflera

Mother-of-Thousands

2009-05-21T10:21:00.002-04:00

Kalanchoe daigremontiana goes by a couple of common names. The most familiar of those is Mother-of-Thousands, or Mother-of-Millions, but some call it the Mexican Hat Plant. There are also other plants in the same genus Kalanchoe that are also referred to as Mother of Thousands such as Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi. The name Mother-of-Thousands refers to the fact that these plants are viviparous;

Purple Passion Plant

2009-05-21T10:19:00.001-04:00

Gynura aurantiaca is one of those plants that when you’ve seen it, you absolutely must have it. Purple Passion, Purple Velvet, Royal Velvet and Velvet Plant are all names for the same gorgeous plant and each one gives a wonderful idea of how special this plant is. The lush purple fuzz of the deeply colored leaves is very unique and the plant itself is so easy to grow that it would almost be a

Indoor Banana Trees

2009-05-21T10:17:00.002-04:00

I love plants that really make a splash in a room, and banana trees do it well. Tropical plants are gaining popularity again, not just for indoor gardeners like me, but as annual plants in the garden or patio containers for those in cooler regions.I’m really excited about this because it means that more and more varieties of tropical plants are becoming available. With banana trees, this is

Haworthia

2009-05-21T10:15:00.000-04:00

Some very interesting and attractive succulent plants are found in the Haworthia genus. There are as many as 90 identified plants in the genus, each with its own unique appearance. These plants are close relatives of Aloe vera, and many of them resemble aloe closely. Haworthias are small and compact making for nice windowsill specimens or residents in a mixed container. When you start to

Money Tree

2009-05-20T15:54:00.001-04:00