A moldy fruitcake leftover? That’s hardly the peak of holiday disappointment. The true Christmas anticlimax is when your Schlumbergera refuses to Schlumbergera. It’s not for lack of trying, though. It’s for lack of darkness, proper temperature, and perhaps too little (tough) love. If a stern talking-to, then begging on your knees hasn’t worked, welcome to…
At one moment, your poinsettia was whole and bold, and now it looks like it’s gone through a hole and is bald. What happened? Poinsettias are overly sensitive to their surroundings, like an introvert with social anxiety. Before you too panic and toss the poor thing into the compost heap, know this. They are not…
The truth is, while many dream of a full and abundant garden, not nearly so many actually want to work for it. There’s one thing you should do at the very beginning as an aspiring gardener. You need to clarify your garden’s purpose. Does it exist as a full-time job, or as a spectator sport?…
Perennials are the good kids of every garden. Reliable, low-maintenance, appearing clean and nice smelling in the spring with no fuss. Then they hit their version of puberty, the annual growth cycle, and suddenly things get complicated. While you cannot simply wish away the winter, ten common plant parenting mistakes keep your sweet garden kids…
Most gardeners start stowing their trowels about the time the Sun rises in Scorpio. And November is usually reserved for contemplating seed catalogs and wondering where the squirrels hid all the nuts. Like a fall Easter nut hunt. However, the truly clever plant people know the best garden work happens when no one is watching….
The Poinsettia is not a Christmas decoration but a houseplant with feelings, wearing a red holiday party costume for your sake. And yet, every January, an average gardener ponders: Do I toss the green stick out, or do I dedicate a large part of my life to appeasing my tropical housemate? I say, don’t send…