Balcony apartment can be a great place to greet the day with a cup of tea; there is something very peaceful about being able to enjoy the open air as often as the weather permits. But the balconies may feel a little exposed. If you do not want the neighbors and passers-by getting an eyeful of morning hair, there are several things you can do to improve privacy on the balcony....

Other tasters compare it to a stronger version of oregano, anise, fennel, or tarragon. It’s also been called spicy. Dysphania ambrosioides Show of hands – who’s ever heard of epazote? If you’re a fan of southern Mexican or Guatemalan food, you may be familiar with this ingredient, which is comprised of the leaves and stalks of the epazote (eh-puh-ZO-tay) plant. This plant is considered a weed by some, but proudly cultivated by others who treasure its unusual flavor, described by some as “earthy,” or as having lemony, acidic qualities....

ZZ plants are typically started from leaf cuttings, which means you can create many new plants from a single parent. Zamioculcas zamiifolia, or the ZZ plant for short, is an ideal houseplant for beginner gardeners. It can thrive without a lot of light or water, and it is easy to propagate and share. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Walking outdoors with your new puppy, a growing child, or a curious cat can cause you to panic when they start touching, sniffing, or chewing strange leaves (or one of your precious azaleas). I know I always start to worry when my cat walks through the garden with me. That’s why it’s important to know which common plants can be poisonous. A small problem like a rash, or a big one like a heart health issue, can arise in sensitive people or pets from interactions with some of these common plants and flowers:...

In our Christmas cactus growing guide we discuss how to cultivate this colorful houseplant in your home. The Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera spp., is not a desert cactus. It grows instead in the moist understories of South American rainforests. As a houseplant, it’s easy to maintain in a container of well-draining, organically-rich potting medium in a location with indirect sunlight. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Cacti are fun to grow and easy to maintain plants. They do not require a lot of care and their evergreen color makes them the right choice to add them anywhere! You can create some amazing cactus garden and proudly display them in a variety of ways! If you don’t know how to use them, take a look at our DIY Cactus Garden Ideas! Check out the best types of cactus you can grow here!...

Here’s what we’ll cover: As implied by its name, you might assume the ornamental sweet potato vine is for decoration only. Is this plant edible, like the root vegetable we know and love, or is it merely for show? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. What Are Ornamental Sweet Potatoes? Best known for their colorful green or purple leaves, this vining plant works well indoors and out....

Eggplant is a delicious vegetable that grows easily in many different climates. It thrives in hot, humid summers, and can produce dozens of pounds of eggplants in a single season. The fruit is sometimes prone to pest attacks, so it’s an excellent candidate to use companion plant methods on. Let’s talk more about eggplant companion plants that will help it grow better. Table of Contents There are many different benefits from planting different crops near eggplant....

Do you absolutely love growing your own food? Maybe you already have chickens and a garden in the backyard, but want to take your sustainable lifestyle to the next level. Table of Contents That’s where aquaponics comes in. It’s been around for hundreds of years, with roots in ancient China and South America, but is becoming more and more popular in modern society due to its incredible efficiency in growing both plants and fish....

Dill is one of the most widely used herbs in the culinary world. It is harvested for its frond-like leaves and flavor-packed dill seeds. When used in soups or stews, it adds a punch of flavor to the recipe. It is often used in seafood dishes, salads, yogurt sauces, and even bread. Many people use dill as a garnish or for pickling. All in all, knowing how to harvest dill can take your ordinary recipes to the next level....

There’s more than one way to make herbal tea with M. officinalis, and I encourage you to try both cold and hot infusions to experience the difference between the two. Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, is a staple in my herb garden for a few reasons. Firstly, this easy-to-grow aromatic plant provides plentiful harvests during summertime. And secondly, the aerial parts make a delicious and calming herbal infusion. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

In this article, we talk about reasons why your non-native bushes may not change from green to their signature scarlet color in autumn. The burning bush, Euonymus alatus, is famous for its showstopping autumn leaves. Unfortunately, this non-native woody shrub in the Celastraceae family is classified as invasive in almost half of the United States. In our guide to growing burning bushes, we discuss the cultivation of non-native E. alatus, in areas where it is not prohibited, as well as an alternative native species, E....

If you recently moved to a big city to get closer to your job or you still want to carry on farming in the dead of winter, do not fret; indoor gardening is a viable option for you. Aside from reaping a bounty harvest of your favorite vegetables, indoor gardening is suitable for growing seedlings for transplanting into a farm or continuing growth after transplanting. Indoor plants do not require a lot of space and can survive in room corners, window sills or balconies, and they grow in containers in a process called potting....

There are two nutrient deficiencies in particular that may plague roses: insufficient nitrogen, or a lack of iron. A rose can be deficient in any nutrient, but these are the most common. Like all living things, plants need nutrients to survive. Most gardeners have heard of the plant macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. But they also need micronutrients such as copper, nickel, zinc, and boron....

Table of Contents Lurking in your garden, there’s a pest which is feasting upon the leaf sap in your plants: the leafhopper. This relative of the cicada insect is nowhere near as noisy as its distant cousin. Instead, it announces its arrival by damaging the tender leaves of your favorite crop plants, sucking the life right out of them. But what is a leafhopper, other than a jumping plant devourer? Is there a good way to prevent this pest from invading your garden, and if so, how do you do it?...

Any plant that enjoys a bit of shade in your garden can be grown inside your home too! Have a look at some of the best Outdoor Plants that Can be Grown Indoors Check out some great blooming indoor plants here Outdoor Plants that Can be Grown Indoors 1. Coleus Botanical Name: Plectranthus scutellarioides This ornamental plant with colorful, variegated, and patterned leaves can brighten up any shaded area of your home....

Juicy and flavorful tomatoes go well with just about any dish. Being extremely versatile, you can grill or roast them or simply toss over a salad to relish their awesomeness! Here are some of the best Types of Tomatoes you should definitely try! Check out our article on best tips to grow tomatoes in pots here Best Types of Tomatoes 1. Heirloom Tomatoes Best Varieties: German Johnson, Oxheart Pink, Black Russian....

Instead of throwing away those old garden fence boards, reuse them to create these Spectacular Objects for your home and garden! 1. DIY Love Headboard At House Tweaking, find out the steps to create a rustic love headboard like this from old fence boards, for your bedroom. 2. DIY Fence Table They made this backyard fence table from new boards, but if you have access to old boards, head over to Sensibly Sara for the tutorial....

We humans have a lot going for us physically. Dermal sweat glands, opposable thumbs, an upright gait for energy-efficient locomotion… the list is rather long. Yuccas may be prone to frost damage, but at least they can grow back their succulent leaves in time! We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Not to mention our super-high intelligence and sociability as a species, which has allowed humanity to establish itself at the top of Earth’s food chain....

Red spider lily Lycoris radiata has a bit of an ominous reputation. In Japan, it is believed to be a flower of the afterlife. They are planted at the tombs of ancestors, and believed to help guide a soul into their next incarnation. Table of Contents Spooky stories abound. So too do the myriad of names it’s known by. Called red magic lily, corpse flower, resurrection lily, or equinox flower and more, it’s a stunning beauty....