Growing English Ivy Plants Plant English ivy in a shady area with an organically rich soil. If your soil lacks organic matter, amend it with compost before planting. Space the plants 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm.) apart, or 1 foot (31 cm.) apart for quicker coverage. The vines grow 50 feet (15 m.) long or more, but don’t expect quick results in the beginning. The first year after planting the vines grow very slowly, and in the second year they begin to put on noticeable growth....

About Farao Hybrid Cabbage Farao is a hybrid green cabbage of the ballhead form, meaning it forms a tight head of dense leaves. The leaves are a pretty, deep green and the heads grow to about 3 or 4 pounds (1-2 kg.). In addition to the compact head, Farao grows a generous layer of looser, protective outer leaves. The flavor of Farao cabbage plants is mild and peppery. The leaves are thin and tender....

When grown as houseplants, they need a regular misting or dousing in water, but do air plants need fertilizer? If so, what type of air plant fertilizer is used when feeding air plants? Do Air Plants Need Fertilizer? It is not necessary to fertilize air plants, but feeding air plants does have some benefits. Air plants only bloom once in their lifetime and after blooming produce “pups” or small offsets from the mother plant....

Field Pansy Information The leaves of common field pansy form a rosette. They are smooth and hairless, with small notches around the edges. The flowers are a lovely, pale yellow or a deep violet, each with five petals and five sepals. The little plant rarely grows above 6 inches (15 cm.) tall, but it can form thick mats of vegetation in fields of no-till crops. It germinates in winter or spring, springing out of the ground so fast it has been nick-named “Johnny jump up....

Spots on My Gardenia Buds First, let’s look at three stress factors that cause problems with gardenia flowers. Brown spots may be caused by warm night temperatures, too little sunlight, or too little water. Pests can also be to blame. Temperature – When night temperatures are above 60 degrees F. (15 C.), flowers and buds may drop off or brown. This temporary condition improves when night temperatures cool. Buildings and pavement retain heat and keep the surrounding air warm at night, so plant gardenias in the open areas and away from structures....

Causes of Ornamental Grasses Falling Over Preventing flopping grass in the garden is easier once you understand why ornamental grass falls over. Most of the problems associated with flopping ornamental grass is because of gardeners taking too much care of the plants, not too little. The most common cause of ornamental grasses falling over is too much nitrogen in the soil. If you have a habit of fertilizing your ornamental plants on a regular basis, you’ll be causing the problem you’re trying to avoid....

Goodwin Creek Grey Lavender Info Goodwin Creek Grey lavender plants (Lavandula ‘Goodwin Creek Grey’) are known for their attractive silver to gray foliage and for their relatively short spikes of deep purple to blue flowers. The plants tend to reach 2 feet (61 cm.) without flowers and 3 feet (91 cm.) with flowers. While it is difficult to grow lavender indoors, largely because it can so easily fall victim to humidity and fungus, this variety tends to fare better inside than most....

Growing Bergenias in Winter One of the most charming things about bergenia plants is the transformation they undergo in autumn and winter. In the summer, they are known for their lush, rich, green foliage. But these plants are evergreens, and in autumn and winter, their leaves will usually turn very attractive shades of red, bronze, or purple. Some varieties, such as “Winterglow” and “Sunningdale” are sold specifically for the dazzling color of their winter leaves....

Growing Bulbs in Shade Shade gardens in the yard generally fall into two categories: gardens next to buildings and gardens underneath trees. Each has its own particular set of issues to deal with. Bulbs planted next to buildings may suffer from lack of moisture due to overhanging roofs and patio awnings. These gardens may need extra watering, as nature isn’t as likely to provide all the moisture they need. Gardens underneath trees pose their own challenges....

Container Grown Queen Palm Plants Tips Caring for queen palm in a container is relatively straightforward as long as you meet its basic needs. When growing queen palms, make sure your potted queen palm gets plenty of bright light, but avoid intense sunlight that may scorch the leaves. Water queen palm when the top of the potting mix feels dry to the touch. Water slowly until moisture drips through the drainage hole, then allow the pot to drain thoroughly....

Hawaiian Ti Plants Ti plants (Cordyline minalis) come in a wide variety of colors, including green, red, chocolate, pink, orange, variegated and combinations of all of these. They grow in a tiered rosette and do not often flower. They make excellent houseplants on their own or can be combined with other houseplants with similar needs to make a stunning display. How to Grow a Ti Plant When potting up your ti plants, it is best to avoid potting soils that contain perlite, as some perlites can contain fluoride as well....

What are Hebe Shrubs? The majority of hebe shrubs are native to New Zealand. They range in size from small bushes that may grow about 3 feet (1 m.) tall to larger tree-like varieties reaching heights of up to 6 feet (2 m.). There are also both large and small-leafed types available. While evergreen in nature, their foliage provides year-round interest with additional colors in burgundy, bronze or variegated. Most hebes bloom in summer and last throughout fall....

About Jack in the Pulpit Seed Germination After jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) flowers are pollinated by insects crawling into the spathe or hood of the plant, the spathe withers and small clusters of green berries appear. The berries continue to grow and change hue from green to orange by August and then to a brilliant red by September. This fire engine red is the signal to harvest the berries for propagation....

About USDA Indiana Hardiness Planting Zones If you’re looking for USDA Indiana growing zones, the map above can help determine the proper hardiness zone for your area. Knowing the correct zone for where you live in Indiana can make gardening easier and more successful. To determine plant hardiness for your Indiana climate zones, check the map above for the approximate locality in which you live. Compare the growing zone color for your area to the colors found in the legend on the right....

How to Plant Indigo Seeds Indigo is a member of the legume family, so if you grow it in your garden you get the added benefit of adding more nitrogen to the soil. The shrubby plant will grow up to six feet (2 m.) tall and produce pretty pink to blue flowers. Whether it grows as an annual or perennial depends on the climate. It does best in zones 9 and warmer, but in colder climates, it will grow as an annual....

Caring for Chinese Juniper Chinese junipers prefer moist, well-drained soil, but they will adapt almost anywhere as long as they get plenty of sun. They tolerate drought better than excessively wet conditions. Keep the soil evenly moist until the plants become established. Once they begin to grow, they are practically carefree. You can reduce the maintenance even more by reading the mature plant measurements on the plant tag and choosing a variety that fits the space....

About the Integro Cabbage Variety Integro is a hybrid variety of red, ballhead cabbage. Ballhead varieties are the classic shapes you think of when imagining cabbage – compact, round balls of tightly packed leaves. This is the most common type of cabbage and all ballheads are great for eating fresh, pickling, making sauerkraut, sautéing, and roasting. Integro cabbage plants are medium in size, with heads that grow to about 3 or 4 pounds (around 2 kg....

Raising Pigs at Home For many, backyard pig farming is worth consideration. Unlike many livestock animals, pigs require less space to be raised. This is especially attractive to those wishing to keep pet pigs in the backyard or for homesteaders on small farms who wish to raise their own meat. Before keeping backyard pigs, there are several factors that will need to be considered. Raising pigs at home can be difficult for a variety of reasons....

Getting Rid of Dollar Weed Naturally Since this weed thrives in overly moist areas, the best way to treat dollar weed is by reducing moisture in the affected area with proper mowing and irrigation. You should also improve any drainage issues that may be present. In addition, dollar weed can be easily pulled up by hand, though this can be tedious and in larger areas, it may not be feasible. Organic control involves methods that may work for some while not others, but it’s always worth a try to see if one will work for you before resorting to chemicals....

Late Spring To-Do List After the initial excitement of finally getting outdoors has passed, growers often find themselves overwhelmed by garden maintenance tasks. However, the late spring to-do list can feel much more manageable when broken into smaller sections. The completion of late spring garden chores is an excellent time to make certain that the garden will be laid out as planned. The removal of weeds and old growth will make way for newly sown seeds and transplants....