What are These Aphids on My Oleander? You may see oleanders and aphids together regularly if you live in some southern states, like Florida. When you have oleanders, and aphids attack these shrubs, the odds are great that the insects are oleander aphids. What are oleander aphids? They are bright yellow, sap-sucking insects that can be found in warm regions throughout the world. These aphids probably originated in the Mediterranean, which is also the native country of oleander plants....

White Queen Tomato Info What is a White Queen tomato? Developed in the U.S., the White Queen is a cultivar of beefsteak tomato that has very lightly colored skin and flesh. While the fruits usually have a slight, yellow blush to them, they are often said to be the closest to true white of all the white tomato varieties. Its fruits are medium in size, usually growing to about 10 ounces (283....

How Light Affects the Growth of a Plant All things need energy to grow. We get energy from the food we eat. Plants get energy from light through a process called photosynthesis. This is how light affects the growth of a plant. Without light, a plant would not be able to produce the energy it needs to grow. What Kind of Light Do Plants Need? While plants need light to grow, not all light or plants are the same....

What are Woodland Tulips? There are so many tulip varieties out there in a rainbow range of colors that it’s possible you’ve never heard of woodland tulips. They are an old variety of bulb flower with brilliant butter-colored flowers that make themselves right at home in your garden. Woodland tulip plants begin as bulbs, just like other tulips. However, these are wildflower tulips with distinctive yellow, lemon-scented flowers. The petals are pointed and the flowers look like stars....

Worm casting tea is what you get when you steep some of your castings in water, just like you would steep tea leaves. The result is a very useful all-natural liquid fertilizer that can be diluted and used to water plants. Keep reading to learn more about how to make worm casting tea. How to Make Worm Casting Tea There are a few ways to make worm-casting tea for plants....

Vegetables for Zone 6 The average last frost date in zone 6 is May 1, and the average first frost date is November 1. These dates will probably vary somewhat for you depending upon where you live in the zone, but regardless, it makes for a pretty long growing season that will accommodate most hot weather plants. That being said, some annuals need more time, and growing vegetables in zone 6 sometimes requires starting seeds indoors ahead of time....

Also known as silberfeder grass, this plant adds beauty and interest to the landscape all year. As an added bonus, it is deer and rabbit resistant. While silver feather grass plant is a beautiful focal point, it is a versatile, ornamental grass that works well in large beds, or as hedges or privacy screens. Some gardeners like to surround silberfeder grass with tulips and other bulbs that bloom in early spring while the grass is still dormant....

In spite of their exotic appearance, growing an Aechmea bromeliad is actually very simple. Read on and learn how to grow Aechmea bromeliads. Aechmea Bromeliad Info These plants are epiphytic. In their natural environment they grow on trees, rocks, or other plants. Aechmea bromeliad care can be achieved by mimicking this environment or by growing in containers. The plants do well in a container filled with a potting mix that drains quickly, such as a combination of half commercial potting soil and half small bark chips....

Basic Anthurium Care Anthurium plants can tolerate all levels of indirect light, but anthuriums growing in low light will have fewer flowers and will grow slower. These plants cannot tolerate direct light, however, as this can burn the leaves. They grow best in bright, indirect light. Anthurium care also requires that the soil be free draining but hold some water. If you are growing this plant as a houseplant, a half and half mix of potting soil and orchid soil or perlite will provide the kind of soil anthuriums prefer....

Recognizing Bacterial Leaf Spot of Turnip Bacterial leaf spot of turnip begins to appear on the upper sides of leaves. It isn’t very evident initially, but by the time the disease progresses it is fairly easy to spot. When left unchecked, bacterial leaf spot on turnips will defoliate the plant and reduce its vigor, which can also diminish turnip production. The first signs will be on the upper surface of the leaves, usually at the edges....

The berries, also known as goji berries, have a tart, tomato-like flavor. They are good to eat raw, dried, or cooked. However, the leaves are toxic when eaten in large quantities. About Matrimony Vine Plants Native to the Mediterranean, matrimony vine has escaped cultivation and is naturalized in the warm climates of Louisiana, North Carolina, and Florida. It is a member of the plant family that includes nightshade, potatoes, and tomatoes....

Do I Need to Prune a Begonia? Pruning a begonia plant depends on different factors. For instance, how and when to prune a begonia plant depends on your location, as well as which type of begonia you have. In warm, frost-free climates, begonias can grow outdoors as perennials and certain types may even bloom all year. In cool climates with frost and snow in winter, begonias need to be discarded or brought indoors to a sheltered location when temperatures begin to dip below 50 degrees F....

My Butterfly Bush Looks Dead Butterfly plants not leafing out in the spring is a common complaint, but it’s not necessarily a sign of doom. Just because they can survive the winter does not mean they will come bouncing back from it, especially if the weather has been particularly bad. Usually, all you need is a little patience. Even if the other plants in your garden are beginning to produce new growth and your butterfly bush is not coming back, give it some more time....

Mandevilla Ground Cover Info The same qualities that make mandevilla an excellent climbing vine also make it great ground cover. Using mandevilla as a ground cover works well since the foliage is dense and the flowers attractive. The leathery vine leaves – up to 8 inches (20.3 cm.) long – are dark forest green, and they contrast beautifully with the bright pink flowers. The blossoms appear in early spring, and the mandevilla vine continues flowering prolifically through fall....

About Strawberry Chill Hours Strawberry chilling is important. If the plants don’t get enough chill hours, the flower buds may not open in the spring or they may open unevenly, resulting in a reduction in yield. The production of leaves may be delayed as well. The traditional definition of a chill hour is any hour under 45 degrees F. (7 C.). That said, academics quibble over the actual temperature. In the case of chilling requirements for strawberries, the period is defined as the number of accumulated hours between 28 and 45 degrees F....

Late blooming clematis plants are those that start blooming in mid to late summer, and then continue blooming until the first frost. Keep reading to learn about a few of the best fall blooming clematis. Clematis Plants for Fall Below are some common types of clematis that bloom in autumn: ‘Alba Luxurians’ is a type of fall flowering clematis. This vigorous climber reaches heights of up to 12 feet (4 m....

Growing David Viburnum Plants David viburnum is a small rounded shrub that reaches heights of 24 to 48 inches (0.6-1.2 m.) with widths about 12 inches (31 cm.) more than the height. The shrub is evergreen in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, but it may be deciduous in the northern edges of that range. Growing David viburnum plants isn’t difficult, as this is a hardy, low-maintenance plant with no serious threat from pests or disease....

What is a Flame Tree? Also known as royal Poinciana or flamboyant tree, flame tree is one of the world’s most colorful trees. Every spring the tree produces clusters of long-lasting, orange-red blooms with yellow, burgundy, or white markings. Each bloom, which measures up to 5 inches (13 cm.) across, displays five spoon-shaped petals. Flame tree reaches heights of 30 to 50 feet (9-15 m.), and the width of the umbrella-like canopy is often wider than the tree’s height....

Do Gladiolus Plants Need Staking? It depends on the variety, as plants can reach heights of 2 to 6 feet (1.5-2 m.). Gladiolus staking will prevent tall gladiolus falling over in a strong wind as the plant matures, or even under the weight of the beautiful blooms. The good news is that staking gladiolus isn’t difficult and won’t take much of your time. How to Stake Glads Place a stake near the base of the plant....

Do Quince Trees Make Good Hedges? Flowering quince is spectacular for a few weeks in late winter to early spring, but a single specimen may seem little more than a tangle of thorny branches. A hedge of quince trees as a mass planting will be even more spectacular early in the season when still yearning for flowers and growing plants. A hedge of flowering or fruiting quince trees makes a perfect screening or security barrier with its spreading form and spiny branches (flowering type)....