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Pyrola Plant Info Pyrola is a perennial herb with slender stems that emerge from clusters of heart-shaped leaves. Depending on the variety, between one and 20 white, pink or pale purple Pyrola flowers grow along the stems. Pyrola herb plants are generally found in organically rich forests and wooded areas. However, some varieties perform well in moist meadows and along lake shorelines. The plant prefers filtered or dappled sunlight but tolerates bright light or full shade....

Is My Air Plant Rotting? Symptoms of a rotting air plant start as a purplish black color creeping up from the base of the plant into the foliage. The air plant will also begin falling apart, the foliage will begin to drop, or the center of the plant might fall out. If you see any of these signs, the answer to “is my air plant rotting?” is a resounding, yes. The question is, what can you do about it?...

How to Grow Healthy Ageratums Ageratum problems can be largely prevented if you grow these plants under the right conditions. They need full sun and will tolerate only very light shade. The soil should drain very well but remain moist most of the time. The soil should also be fertile and amended with compost, if necessary. Deadhead spent flowers for more blooms and to reduce disease risk. Troubleshooting Problems with Ageratum With the right conditions, this plant is relatively trouble free, but there are some ageratum plant issues that may plague your beds and borders....

Phony Peach Disease Damage First observed in Georgia around 1890, apricots with phony peach disease (PPD) have a compact, flat canopy– the result of shortening of the internodes. Foliage tends to be a darker green than normal and infected trees usually flower and set fruit early and hold their leaves later in the fall than those uninfected. The result is smaller fruit combined with a considerable reduction in yields. Twigs on diseased apricots not only have shortened internodes but an increase in lateral branching....

Where to Plant Male/Female Kiwis Okay, let’s address the question, “Are female kiwis toxic to male plants?”. No more toxic than my boyfriend can be to me sometimes; I guess the word would be irritating. The female, in fact, needs the male to fruit. The male’s only job is to produce pollen and lots of it. That said, the number of male kiwis per female needed for fruit production is one male to every eight females....

Blue Vervain Information Blue vervain (Verbena hastata) is also known as American blue vervain or wild hyssop. The plant grows wild in nearly every part of the United States. However, this cold tolerant perennial doesn’t do well in climates warmer than USDA plant hardiness zone 8. Blue vervain is a traditional medicinal herb, with the roots, leaves or flowers used to treat conditions ranging from stomach aches, colds and fever to headaches, bruises and arthritis....

Cabbage Head Tying Easy to grow, provided cool temperatures abound, cabbages are nonetheless havens for a variety of pests such as: Cabbage loopers Slugs Imported cabbage worms Cabbage root maggots Aphids Flea beetles To avoid the ravage that accompanies their presence, it’s important to keep the garden clean of debris that fosters pest infestation. Some people use panty hose to tie up cabbage heads to deter cabbage moths from laying their eggs, which in turn become pesky cabbage worms....

Cyclamen Plant Division There are two types of cyclamen: Florist cyclamen, which are the common Christmas cyclamen grown as houseplants, and hardy cyclamen plants, which can be grown outside in zones 5 through 9. Both plants can be divided the same way, though the hardy variety has a better survival rate from divisions. Florist cyclamen plants need cool temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F. (18-21 C.). Yellowing leaves or lack of blooms can be a sign of temperatures not being satisfactory, or too little sunlight; but it can also be a sign the plant needs to be divided up and repotted....

Are Cremation Ashes Good for Plants? Can plants grow in human ashes? Unfortunately, the answer is no, not very well, although some plants may be more tolerant than others. Human ashes are also bad for the environment because unlike plant matter, ashes don’t decompose. There are a few other problems to consider when thinking about planting in cremation ashes: Cremation ashes may be harmful when placed in the soil or around trees or plants....

Using Aquarium Water to Irrigate Plants “Dirty” fish tank water isn’t healthy for fish, but it’s rich in beneficial bacteria, as well as potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and trace nutrients that will promote lush, healthy plants. These are some of the same nutrients you’ll find in many commercial fertilizers. Save that fish tank water for your ornamental plants, as it may not be the healthiest thing for plants you intend to eat – especially if the tank has been chemically treated to kill algae or to adjust the pH level of the water, or if you’ve recently treated your fish for diseases....

Can you Kill Weeds with Plastic? You may have heard of or even have in your landscape, plastic sheeting laid under bark mulch or gravel; one way to prevent garden weeds with plastic, but can you kill existing weeds with plastic sheeting? Yes, you can kill weeds with plastic. The technique is called sheet mulching or soil solarization and is a terrific organic (yes, the plastic is environmentally unfriendly but it can be saved for reuse over and over) and no fuss way to rid a potential garden space of weeds....

Is Caraway Good for You? Caraway is a member of the carrot family, with the same type of feathery leaves. Its tiny flower clusters become caraway fruits. Caraway seeds are actually half-seeds, and they are used in cooking and holistic medicine. Flowers, foliage, and fruits of the caraway are all edible and all have caraway benefits. It is both good to eat and also offers significant health benefits. Caraway Plant Uses Most people have eaten rye bread with crunchy caraway seeds on top of it, but putting the delicious seeds on rye is only one of the many caraway plant uses that can be applied....

Growing White Flowering Rosemary Although white flowering rosemary tolerates partial shade, it thrives in full sunlight. This drought-tolerant Mediterranean plant needs light, well-drained soil. Add fertilizer such as a water-soluble fertilizer, a balanced, slow-release fertilizer, or fish emulsion at planting time. Allow at least 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm.) between plants, as rosemary needs adequate air circulation to remain healthy and disease free. Caring for White Rosemary Water white flowering rosemary when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch....

What Causes Tomato Leaf Spots? Alternaria Alternata, or tomato early blight alternaria, is a fungus that can cause cankers and plant leaf spots on tomato plants. It normally occurs during hot weather when there has been a significant amount of rain and humidity. Plants that have been damaged are particularly susceptible to being infected by tomato early blight alternaria. When a plant is infected with Alternaria Alternata, it will normally appear first on the lower leaves of the plant in the form of plant leaf spots that are either brown or black....

Citrus Gummosis Information What causes citrus foot rot? Citrus foot rot is a disease caused by Phytophthora, an aggressive fungus that lives in the soil. Phytophthora requires moisture to move to trees via rain, irrigation, or whenever spores splash on tree trunks. Trees can develop citrus root rot symptoms very quickly in rainy weather and cool, moist climates. Citrus Foot Rot Symptoms Citrus foot rot symptoms include yellowing foliage and leaf dieback, along with reduced yield and smaller fruit....

Coral Champagne Cherry Information Nobody quite knows the exact origin of Coral Champagne cherries. The tree may have been a result of a cross between two selections called Coral and Champagne in UC’s Wolfskill Experimental Orchard. But that is far from certain. What we do know is that the variety has come into its own in the last decade, paired with rootstocks Mazzard and Colt. The cherry ‘Coral Champagne’ variety has gone from being relatively unknown to becoming among the most widely planted varieties in California....

Discolored Breadfruit Leaves Soft rot is a fungal disease that causes wilting and yellowing of breadfruit leaves. It is especially common after long rainstorms when the soil is starved of oxygen. The water-borne spores are spread by rain splash, often occurring during windy, wet weather. Fungicides containing copper may be effective when breadfruit leaves are yellowing. Otherwise, prune the lowest branches to prevent disease spores from splashing on the tree during heavy rain....

Does Mulch Cause Termites? You may, on occasion, see termites in mulch piles. But mulch does not cause termites. And termites don’t typically thrive in mulch piles. Termites typically pre-exist deep underground in moist environments. They tunnel through the earth to find woody food products for their food. Mulch typically dries out enough that it is not a conducive environment for termites to build a nest. Termites in mulch piles are possible only if the pile is constantly kept very moist....

How Often Does Pineapple Bear Fruit? Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a perennial plant that flowers once and produces a single pineapple. So yes, the pineapple does die after fruiting, sort of. Pineapple plants do not fruit more than once– that is, the mother plant doesn’t fruit again. Commercial growers’ favored cultivar is ‘Smooth Cayenne,’ grown for its flavorful, seedless fruit and lack of spines. Commercial pineapple plant fruiting is grown on a two to three year fruit crop cycle that takes 32 to 46 months to completion and harvest....

European Chestnut Information European chestnut (Castanea sativa) is also called Spanish chestnut or sweet chestnut. This tall, deciduous tree belonging to the beech family can grow to 100 feet (30.5 m.) tall. Despite the common name, European chestnut trees are not native to Europe but to western Asia. Today, however, European chestnut trees thrive throughout much of Europe as well as northern Africa. According to European chestnut information, humans have been growing sweet chestnut trees for their starchy nuts for centuries....