Do Hosta Plants Have Flowers? Every hosta plant grows flowers. But not every hosta plant flowering is a welcome sight to the gardener. Many gardeners select hostas for the shade garden because of their lush foliage, not hosta plant flowers. The mounding leaves of cultivars can be spectacular, ranging in color from standard green to blues, white, and gold. They also come in many shapes, sizes, and textures. For example, if you want a very small hosta, you can plant “Baby Bunting” that even at maturity is only a few inches wide....

Dracaena plants are easy to grow and tolerate a fair amount of neglect. Although most are purchased when they’re small, adventurous gardeners may like to try their hand at dracaena seed planting. Growing dracaena from seed is easy, but the slow-growing plants require a little patience. Let’s learn how to plant dracaena seeds. When to Sow Dracaena Seeds Early spring is prime time for dracaena seed propagation. How to Plant Dracaena Seeds There are a few things to consider when growing dracaena seeds....

What are Aloha Lily Plants? Aloha lily Eucomis refers to a specific series of dwarf pineapple lily cultivars – Also known as Eucomis ‘Aloha Lily Leia.’ During the summer, Aloha pineapple lilies produce large flower spikes that usually range in color from white to pink purple. Aloha lily plants are also prized for their glossy green foliage which grows in low mounds. Though Aloha lily plants thrive in hot weather, the bulbs are only cold hardy to USDA zones 7 to 10....

They can also frequently be found in backyards and home landscapes. But these homeowners and gardeners may find themselves wondering: how much fertilizer does a pindo palm need? Keep reading to learn more about pindo palm fertilizer needs and how to feed a pindo palm tree. How Much Fertilizer Does a Pindo Palm Need? As a rule, palm trees do best with regular applications of fertilizer, and pindo palm fertilizer needs are no different....

Fertilizer for Garden Ferns About the most harmful thing you can do for ferns is too much. Ferns are very sensitive to over-fertilization. In nature, they get the nutrients they need from fallen leaves or evergreen needles and rainwater running off their tree companions. The best thing to try if ferns look pale and limp is to add organic material like peat, leaf mold, or worm castings around the root zone....

Growing Tomatillos When you plant your tomatillos, make sure the area you choose in your garden gets full sunshine and is well-drained. They don’t like soaking wet ground because they are native to a hotter climate. You also want the soil to be as close to a pH of 7.0 as possible. You can buy your plants from a garden center in your area. If you can’t find them, start seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before the last frost is expected....

How to Till Soil by Hand with the Double Digging Technique Start by spreading compost over the soil where you’ll be tilling by hand. Next, dig a 10 inch (25 cm.) deep ditch along one edge of the space. When you double dig the garden, you’ll be working from one end to the other. Then, start another ditch next to the first. Use the dirt from the second ditch to fill the second ditch....

Mulberry Tree Harvest Mulberry trees attain a height of between 20-30 feet (6-9 m.). They make lovely, fast-growing landscape trees with the added bonus of producing delicious berries and leaves suitable for steeping as tea. The berries really stand out though. They look much like elongated blackberries and are sinfully sweet. Starting a mulberry tree from seed can be difficult. The seed needs 90 days of cold, moist stratification and even then has a low germination rate....

When to Pick Summer Squash Summer squash includes any squash that has a thin, tender skin such as: Zucchini Yellow crookneck Patty pan/Scallop Yellow straightneck The size of summer squash can become rather large, but you will enjoy them more if you pick them small. The best time to harvest squash of these varieties is while they are still small. The size of summer squash when it is ready to be picked is around 6 inches (15 cm....

When to Prune Hibiscus When to prune hibiscus usually depends on where you live. However, most hibiscus pruning occurs during spring. For the most part, hibiscus plants can be lightly pruned in late summer or early fall, but no hibiscus pruning should be done during late fall or winter. One of the downsides to waiting later in the season to prune is that plants may not develop as many branches and they will put out fewer blooms....

Iochroma Growing Conditions Iochroma (Iochroma spp.) is suitable for growing in the warm climates of USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. However, most varieties can be grown successfully in climates as far north as zone 7, but only if the roots are well insulated with a layer of mulch. If temperatures drop below 35 F. (2 C.), the plant may die to the ground, but will resprout in spring. Although Iochroma prefers full sunlight, the plant benefits from shade in warmer climates where temperatures regularly top 85 to 90 F....

About African Hosta Plants The African hosta goes by a few different Latin names, including Drimiopsis maculata and Ledebouria petiolata. Its placement in a plant family is not fully agreed upon, with some experts putting it in the lily family and others with hyacinth and related plants. Regardless of its classification, African hosta is a warm-weather plant, growing best outdoors in USDA zones 8 through 10. What draws most gardeners to the African hosta is its unique, spotted foliage....

What is Big Vein Virus of Lettuce? Big vein lettuce virus is a viral disease. Both Mirafiori Lettuce Big Vein Virus (MLBVV) and Lettuce Big Vein Associate Virus (LBVaV) are associated with big vein infected lettuce plants, but only MLBVV has been identified as a causal agent. It is certain, however, that this viral disease is transmitted by an oomycete, Olpidium virulentus, previously known as O. brassicae – also known as water mold....

What is Xylella? Xylella is thought to be one of the most dangerous and harmful bacterial diseases in the world. Although it is native to America, it has spread to a number of countries in Europe, including Italy and France. The bacterium is of special concern in the U.K., where authorities are taking steps to prevent an outbreak, including controls on imported plants, a ban on purchase of plants from countries where Xylella is known to exist, and stringent requirements for inspections....

When to Plant Caladium Bulbs One of the most important things you can do for proper care of caladiums is to plant at the right time. But when to plant caladium bulbs varies depending on where you live. The list below outlines the proper time for planting caladiums based on USDA hardiness zones: Hardiness zones 9, 10 – March 15 Hardiness zone 8 – April 15 Hardiness zone 7 – May 1 Hardiness zone 6 – June 1 Hardiness zones 3, 4, 5 – June 15...

What is Pachyveria ‘Little Jewel’ Pachyveria glauca ‘Little Jewel’ succulent plants are hybrid perennials. They form spiky rosettes composed of tapered, thick, cylindrical leaves that are a dusky, powdered blue tipped with red and violet hues. The shape and colors of Little Jewel really does remind one of small faceted gemstones. Even more so in the winter when Little Jewel blossoms with melon colored flowers. These little beauties are suited for growing in a rock garden or miniature succulent garden, either as part of a xeriscape landscape or as a houseplant....

Olive Tree Appetizer Begin with a Styrofoam cone measuring about 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm.) in height. Wrap the cone securely with plastic wrap. Spread a generous spoonful of room temperature cream cheese over the flat bottom of the cone, then place the cone on a serving tray or plate. Press the cone down lightly so secure it to the plate. Spread cream cheese on the remainder of the cone, then chill it for about an hour (if you like, you can mix a small amount of chives, chopped parsley, onion powder, or garlic salt into the cream cheese)....

Symptoms of Oak Root Rot on Plum A tree with plum oak root fungus generally displays yellowing, cup-shaped leaves and stunted growth. At first look, plum armillaria root rot looks much like severe drought stress. If you look closer, you’ll see rotted stems and roots with black, stringy strands developing on larger roots. A creamy white or yellowish, felt-like fungal growth is visible under the bark. Death of the tree may occur rapidly after symptoms appear, or you may see a gradual, slow decline....

Regional To-Do List: Southwest Gardening in October Planting new perennials in October will give the roots time to establish before the cooler days of winter. Fall is also a perfect time to divide existing perennials that are overcrowded or unproductive. Toss out old, dead centers. Replant the divisions or give them away. Harvest winter squash, leaving 1 to 3 inches (2.5-8 cm.) of stem intact. Put the squash in a sunny spot for about ten days before moving them to a cool, dry spot for storage, but be sure to bring them in if nights are frosty....

Pagoda Dogwood Information Cornus alternifolia trees have a graceful, horizontal branching habit that resulted in the common name “pagoda dogwood.” The pagoda cultivar Golden Shadows (Cornus alternifolia ‘Golden Shadows’) is a light and lively little dogwood. Like the species tree, Golden Shadows is deciduous, losing its leaves in winter. It is also small, rarely growing over 12 feet (4 m.) tall. The branches spread wide, making the mature tree almost as wide as it is tall....