Colocasia Varieties for Zone 6 When it comes to planting elephant ears in zone 6, gardeners have only one choice, as most elephant ear varieties are viable only in the warm climates of zone 8b and above. However, Colocasia ‘Pink China’ may be hardy enough for chilly zone 6 winters. Luckily for gardeners who want to grow zone 6 elephant ears, ‘Pink China’ is a lovely plant that displays bright pink stems and attractive green leaves, each with a single pink dot in the center....

Pests and Bugs That Eat Sorrel The good news about sorrel is that there aren’t a lot of pests that like to nibble on it. Sorrel pest problems are limited mostly to aphids, snails, and slugs. You may also find that some species of butterfly or moth larvae will feed on the leaves. It should be easy to determine the type of creature that is causing your sorrel pest problems. You may see slugs and snails in or around the plants early in the morning....

Companion Plants for Summer Squash Here are some good zucchini plant companions for the garden: Radishes – Often considered the workhorse of the garden, radishes are small plants that are easily planted amid zucchini plants. These companion plants for summer squash and zucchini help repel common zucchini pests such as aphids, squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and others. Radishes are good to eat, but they’ll help your zucchini more effectively if you allow a few plants to bloom and go to seed....

Ferret Manure Fertilizer Is ferret poop good fertilizer? Unfortunately, no. While manure from cows is extremely popular and beneficial, it stems from one very important fact: cows are herbivores. While manure from herbivorous animals is great for plants, manure from omnivores and carnivores is not. Feces from animals that eat meat, which includes dogs and cats, contains bacteria and parasites that can be bad for plants and especially bad for you if you eat vegetables fertilized with it....

Are Crepe Myrtle Roots Invasive? The crepe myrtle is a small tree, rarely growing taller than 30 feet (9 m.). Beloved by gardeners for its luxurious summer blossoms in shades of pink and white, the tree also offers exfoliating bark and an autumn foliage display. If you are thinking about planting one in the garden, don’t worry about the invasiveness of crepe myrtles and their roots. The crepe myrtle root system will not harm your foundation....

What is Monkey Grass Crown Rot? Monkey grass crown rot, like any crown rot disease, is caused by a fungus that thrives in moist and warm conditions. Normally, this problem is found in warmer, more humid states, but it can occur in cooler areas as well. Symptoms of Monkey Grass Crown Rot The signs of monkey grass crown rot are a yellowing of the older leaves from the base of the plant....

Why are My Eggplants Seedy? If you find too many seeds in an eggplant, it’s time to fine-tune your eggplant harvesting practices. Timing is everything when it comes to harvesting the perfect eggplant. Once the flowers bloom, the fruit develops and matures quickly. Eggplants are at their peak for only a few days, so check for ripe fruit every time you visit the garden. When eggplants are ripe and at their best, the skin will be glossy and tender....

Frosty Fern Information What is a frosty fern? Common consensus seems to have trouble on this front, because the frosty fern (sometimes also sold as a “Frosted Fern”) isn’t actually a fern at all! Known as Selaginella kraussiana, it is actually a variety of spike moss (which, confusingly enough, isn’t really a kind of moss either). Does any of this matter for knowing how to grow it? Not really. What’s important to know is that a frosty fern is what’s known as a “fern ally,” which means that even though it isn’t technically a fern, it behaves like one, reproducing via spores....

Female fruit flies can lay up to 25 eggs per day on the surface of ripe fruits, vegetables, salad remains, or even in drains or moist mop buckets. Controlling fruit flies in the home and even fruit flies in garden areas, is not difficult once you get rid of the source of attraction. Keep reading for tips on getting rid of fruit flies. How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Inside Fruit flies are attracted to overripe fruits and vegetables and are especially fond of bananas, tomatoes, squash, grapes, and melons....

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas Thanksgiving is just around the corner and you need a Thanksgiving centerpiece idea. While there are plenty of ideas to be found, not everyone is crafty. Don’t despair; fall tea light gourd votive holders are so simple to make children, under supervision, can help. About Gourd Votive Holders Early evidence of squash consumption and use dates back through the late Prehistoric era. Ornamental squash was likely used as containers which are exactly what this Thanksgiving centerpiece idea is all about....

When to Sow Marigolds When to sow marigold seeds really depends upon your climate. Planting marigold seeds at the right time is important. Marigolds are very frost sensitive, so they should not be sown outdoors until all chance of frost has passed. If your final frost date is late, you’ll really benefit from planting marigold seeds indoors four to six weeks before the last frost. How to Plant Marigold Seeds If you’re starting indoors, sow the seeds in a well-draining, rich, soilless growing medium in a warm place....

Schisandra Information Schisandra magnolia vines (Schisandra chinensis) are very cold-hardy, growing best in USDA zones 4 through 7. As long as they go dormant in the fall, they can tolerate very low temperatures and actually need the cold in order to set fruit. The plants are vigorous climbers and can reach 30 feet (9 m.) in length. Their leaves are fragrant, and in the spring they produce even more fragrant flowers....

Growing Seaberries in Containers Can I grow seaberries in pots? That’s a good question, and one that doesn’t have an easy answer. The temptation to grow seaberries in containers is clear– the plants multiply by suckers shot up from huge root systems. The tree aboveground can get very large as well. If you don’t want your garden to be overrun, container grown seaberry plants make a lot of sense. However, the very fact that they spread out makes keeping sea buckthorn in pots something of a problem....

Growing Sago Palm from Seed Those wishing to grow sago palms have several options. Most commonly, the plants can be purchased online or at garden centers. These transplants are generally small and will take several years to gain size. However, their care and planting is simple. More adventurous and budget savvy growers, on the other hand, may look into the process of how to plant sago palm seeds. Sago palm seed germination will first rely on the seed itself....

While many fairy gardens are grown outdoors throughout the summer, smaller potted versions can be easily grown indoors year-round. Since these little green spaces are only limited by your imagination, it is easy to understand how they can be adapted and changed over time. Learning how to make a Christmas fairy garden is just one example of the potential for festive home décor. How to Make a Christmas Fairy Garden Christmas fairy garden ideas can vary widely, but all have the same general composition....

Dividing a Lady’s Mantle Plant Lady’s mantle plants were once used for medicinal purposes, but today they are mostly grown for their attractive flowers and growth patterns. Their thin stems produce large, beautiful clusters of tiny yellow flowers that are often so heavy they cause the stems to bow down slightly under their weight. This makes for a lovely mound of bright flowers that stand out against a green backdrop. The plant is a perennial down to USDA zone 3, which means winters have to get awfully cold to kill them....

When to Cut Back Fountain Grass The best time for when to trim fountain grass back is in the late winter or early spring. The exact timing is not as important as just making sure that you prune fountain grass back before it starts actively growing. You want to avoid doing fountain grass pruning in the fall, as the plant has not yet died back all the way. If you try to cut back fountain grass in the fall, you may cause it to go into a growth spurt, which will make it more vulnerable to the coming cold weather and will reduce its chances of surviving the winter....

What Blackberries are Invasive? Of all the species of blackberry (Rubus), cutleaf blackberry (R. laciniatus) and Himalaya blackberry (R. discolor) are the most destructive. Fortunately, these invasive blackberry plants are easy to distinguish from other blackberries. While most blackberries have round stems, cutleaf and Himalayan blackberries have ridged stems with five angles. The leaves of Himalayan and cutleaf blackberries have five leaflets where most other types have only three leaflets. Weedy blackberries spread underground and take root wherever the long, arching vines touch the ground....

This question on crepe myrtle pruning time has a different answer depending on why you wish to prune a crepe myrtle tree. Most likely you are either pruning for general maintenance or to try to coax a second bloom out of the tree in one year. Crepe Myrtle Pruning Time for General Maintenance If you are just looking to perform general maintenance on your tree, the ideal crepe myrtle pruning time is either in the late winter or early spring when the tree is in its dormancy....

Can you Reuse Potting Soil? The answer is a resounding yes. Not only can you reuse potting soil, but you should. Reusing potting soil saves money, time, and resources. If you reuse potting soil, however, you need to do a little tweaking to the medium. Reusing Old Potting Soil: Step One The first thing you want to do with used potting soil it to sterilize it. Sterilize old potting soil to rid the medium of soil-borne fungi which cause diseases and to kill any harboring pests....