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If you’re looking for a succulent houseplant to make a striking statement, look no further than the pencil cactus or Euphorbia tirucalli. This firecracker of a plant goes by many names: aveloz, firestick plant, Indian tree spurge, naked lady, and milkbush. Table of Contents That last name refers to the cloudy, latex sap it releases if it’s damaged, which can be toxic. But with a little precaution, you can successfully plant, cultivate, and enjoy a pencil cactus plant in your home or landscape....

You may not think that you can garden if you’re living out of an RV or tiny house. But you’d be wrong! A small home garden can travel right along with you. Table of Contents Container gardens are the perfect solution for people who’re living out of an RV. Nothing beats picking fresh veggies and herbs outside your front door! Let’s take a closer look at small garden design and how you can take yours on the go!...

Pistachios are one of the most popular nuts, consumed on a large scale in the entire world, both fresh or roasted. China tops the consumption, followed closely by America. It is also rich in protein, dietary fiber, and Vitamin B. When this nut is so popular, questions like Where Do Pistachios Come From? Where do they originate are quite common? Want to know where do peanuts come from? Click here. About Pistachios Native to Western Asia, Pistachios are a member of the cashew family....

In our guide to growing corn, we cover how to cultivate maize in your garden, but if you find your seedlings are looking sickly, you will need this guide. There’s nothing more frustrating than planting corn and imagining juicy homegrown ears to roast on the grill, only to watch your seedlings get sick and die. But seedlings are tender things, and I know how this feels. Back when I first started growing maize years ago, I planted some corn indoors with the intention of transplanting it outside with the arrival of warm weather....

Citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), is a fatal bacterial infection in citrus plants most commonly transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri). Huanglongbing is Chinese for Yellow Dragon Disease because infected citrus leaves develop an irregular mottled yellow color, similar to the skin of a mystical yellow dragon. In addition, citrus greening is sometimes called yellow shoot disease. Table of Contents It can be hard to tell when a citrus tree is infected because trees may not show any symptoms immediately....

How to Prepare Soil for Vegetable Garden Proper soil preparation when growing vegetables is the key to successful and bountiful harvest but if you neglect to do this, it can greatly hinder the cultivation of demanding plants. Ideal Soil for Growing Vegetables Every garden has different soil type and if it is not according to the ideal soil type recommended for growing vegetables it needs to be amended. The ideal soil for growing vegetables should be neither too light nor too compacted, it should be crumbly and have a balanced texture....

As a beginner hydroponic gardener, one of the things that confused me the most was how to control and maintain my nutrient reservoir. There are a lot of different variables to consider, one of the most important being the oxygenation of your nutrient reservoir. Table of Contents There are three pieces here: your air stones, your airline tubing, and your air pumps. In this piece, we’ll look at air pumps, why they’re needed, and what to consider before you buy....

Before the problem progresses that far, knowing how to spot indications of trouble in the bulbs themselves – and provide excellent care for Hippeastrum plants from the start – can help yours to avoid this fate. If you think amaryllis flowers bring a special sparkle to the holidays, you are not alone! The word amaryllis actually derives from the Greek amarysso or “to sparkle,” and this common name is certainly fitting....

Native to northeastern Europe and Asia, the colors of wild species are typical of an autumn palette, in hues of red, white, and yellow. Chrysanthemum spp. November’s flower is the delightful chrysanthemum, an easily grown herbaceous perennial that adds a lovely splash of warmth to the cool autumn garden. These late-season flowers can handle a light touch of frost, and colors often deepen and improve with cold weather! A member of the large Asteraceae family, close cousins include asters, cosmos, daisies, dahlias, marigolds, sunflowers, and zinnias....

Sage is a wonderful herb to use in the kitchen and adds delicious flavor to meat and vegetable dishes. It’s easy to grow sage yourself at home, in the garden, or even on a sunny windowsill. For anyone growing sage already or looking to start, here are some useful tips on how to harvest sage to optimize use, storage, and how to keep your sage plants looking healthy and productive....

Grown as an annual in much of the country, bat-faced cuphea is evergreen to the upper 20s°F and root hardy to the lower 20s°F. In some areas, it will die to the ground and – with heavy mulching – grow back from the roots. Cuphea Ilavea Don’t you just love unusual plant names? There are species with names like turpentine bush, and of course there’s snake plant and Persian shield, too....

Are you having problems with Japanese beetles eating your plants? These adults burrow into the ground in the fall to lay eggs which eventually turn into grubs. And anyone with a lawn knows these grubs can devastate lawns and gardens. One organic control developed to tackle the Japanese beetle problem is called milky spore powder. Table of Contents Japanese beetles (especially adult beetles) take little time to eat up grass roots, actively feeding on whatever they can in their time above ground....

Table of Contents When growing indoors, it’s essential to match the natural sunlight changes throughout the seasons to initiate the different growth stages of each plant. Different temperatures surrounding a plant and the intensity of the sun are triggers for plants that allow them to release chemicals internally that will start them off into the next stage of their lifecycle. The size if your indoor garden space, as well as the plants you are planning on growing will determine the type of lighting, and the strength of lighting you should use....

Porch swings are easy projects and require not much of time and effort. Moreover, making one will greatly enhance the look of your house and will be a great addition to your patio furniture! If you too want to make one without spending too much, then check out these amazing DIY Outdoor Swings ideas! Check out our article on porch and patio decor ideas on a budget here DIY Outdoor Swings Ideas 1....

Lawn sprinklers are an easy way to ensure the entire yard gets watered evenly. They not only save you a lot of time, but their mechanism ensures that you just have to turn on the tap and the rest is taken care of automatically. Especially during the hotter summer months when this functional DIY Garden Sprinkler will come to your rescue! Check out our article on DIY garden projects here DIY Garden Sprinkler – Required Materials Plastic Bottle Drill Machine PVC Pipe Wire Pliers Screws 1....

In this article, we’re going to be unlocking the secrets of how and when to harvest arugula, so that you get the tastiest homegrown greens possible for use in salads and other dishes. With regrets to all the lettuce lovers out there, I must proclaim that there is no better base for a salad than freshly grown arugula. I planted the leafy green in my vegetable garden last summer and was surprised by how quickly and easily it grew....

Crossvine is native to forested areas of east Texas, as well as parts of the southeastern, eastern, and midwestern United States. Bignonia capreolata Years after the fact, I remain flummoxed as to why my neighbor Daniel – an otherwise normal, rational person – ripped down and pulled out a spectacular, 20-foot-tall labyrinth of colorful crossvine that was growing on a trellis he had built up against his house. Crossvine is a fast-growing climbing vine that can reach 50 feet tall....

USDA Zones — 4 – 10 Difficulty — Moderate Other names — Asian Ginseng, Asiatic Ginseng, Chinese Red Ginseng, Ginseng Asiatique, Ginseng Chinois, Ginseng Japonais, Oriental Ginseng, Ginseng Panax, Ginseng Radix Alba, Ginseng Rouge, Guigai, Hong Shen, Japanese Ginseng, Korean Ginseng, Korean Panax Ginseng, Oriental Ginseng, Radix Ginseng Rubra, Red Kirin Ginseng, Red Korean Ginseng, Red Panax Ginseng, Renxian, Tibetan Ginseng, White Panax Ginseng. Conditions for Growing Ginseng Ginseng is a medicinal plant known for thousands of years in Asia, it is cultivated for its roots that is consumed fresh or dried....

Cultivars like ‘Genovese’ produce large, green leaves with a sweet flavor of cinnamon or cloves. Thai varieties have narrow leaves with a distinct hint of anise to their flavor, plus gorgeous spires of purple flowers. And there are striking purple-leaf and variegated varieties as well. Beloved for its sweetly spicy flavor, aromatic basil is easy to grow from seed for a steady harvest over the entire growing season. Many different varieties are available for home gardens, each with their own unique charm and characteristics....

So you’ve got your indoor grow lights rocking and rolling… Table of Contents Your hydroponic system is up and running, you have the right lights for your garden, and everything seems to be all good… But you have no grow light reflector or hood. And you don’t know how to choose the right one. It’s one thing to have a well-optimized system with great lighting, and it’s another to use that light effectively....