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Dymondia Lawn Alternative Native to South Africa, Dymondia consists of low-growing mats of narrow, grayish green leaves with fuzzy white undersides that give the plants a silvery appearance. In summer, this environmentally friendly plant produces masses of tiny, daisy-like blooms that are frequently visited by bees. Using Dymondia as a grass substitute isn’t the best option if your lawn receives a lot of activity, as Dymondia tolerates only light to moderate foot traffic....

Growing Galia melons isn’t difficult, even in humid or rainy climates. However, Galia melon plants need two to three months of consistently warm weather. Let’s learn how to grow Galia melon plants. Care of Galia Melons Plant Galia melon seeds directly in the garden when soil temperatures are at least 60 degrees F. (16 C.). If you live in a climate with short summers, start seeds indoors about a month earlier....

Growing jacaranda trees is mostly a matter of having the right environment, as they’re strictly southern trees that thrive in Florida and parts of Texas and California. Gardeners living further north often have success growing jacaranda as a large houseplant and they have been known to make spectacular bonsai specimens. Jacaranda Tree Information Jacarandas are true southern trees, thriving in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b through 11. Jacaranda tree hardiness is tested when the temperature drops below 15 degrees F....

What is a Madder Plant? Madder (Rubia tinctorum) is a plant native to the Mediterranean that has been used for centuries to make reliably vivid red dye. The plant is a perennial that is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, but in colder zones it can be grown in containers and overwintered indoors. Madder plant care is not difficult. It prefers sandy to loamy soil (the lighter the better) that drains well....

Seed Pods on Plumeria A plumeria plant can take up to 5 years to send out its first blooms. In non-sterile plumeria cultivars, these blooms will be pollinated usually by Sphinx moths, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Once pollinated, plumeria flowers will fade and begin to grow into seed pods. These seed pods will take 8-10 months to mature into viable plumeria seeds. Propagating plumeria by seed is a test of patience but, generally, is a better method of propagation for plumeria than taking cuttings....

Uses for Sweet Flag Plants The most commonly used part of the sweet flag plant is its rhizome, which can be used to repel insects, scent a room, or give you something tasty and interesting to chew on. The flavor is usually described as spicy and strong, similar to ginger or cinnamon, with a bitter aftertaste. The leaves, too, can be bruised and hung around the room for their pleasant scent....

Now, more than ever, it is vital that consumers are able to separate fact from fiction in regard to the use of “healing herbs” for seniors. Learning more about healthy senior herbs will be key in determining whether or not these products are a good option for use. Best Herbs for Seniors When it comes to staying healthy, senior herbs are often sought to improve specific health needs and/or overall functioning of the body....

Reasons for No Fruit on Pitaya Cactus There are a few possible reasons your pitaya won’t fruit. The most likely cause is inadequate growing conditions. The dragon fruit cactus is a tropical plant, which means it likes heat. If temperatures are below 65 degrees F. (18 C.), your plant is unlikely even to form flowers. If it’s cool out, bring your plant indoors or, better yet, move it to a greenhouse to try to induce flower and fruit production....

You can buy “safe” plant pesticides at any garden center, but when you make your own indoor garden pesticides, you know exactly what substances go into the mix. Here are four easy insecticides for indoors. All these indoor garden pesticides can be tweaked to suit your needs, so don’t be afraid to do a bit of experimentation. If you aren’t sure how a plant will react, treat a couple of leaves and wait a couple of days before spraying the entire plant....

About Itea Shrubs The Itea bush grows 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) in height, with a width of 4 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) when growing in the wild. Cultivated Itea sweetspire often does not reach this size. Cultivars such as the dwarf form ‘Shirley’s Compact’ reaches only 18 inches (46 cm.) and ‘Merlot’ tops out at just 3 1/2 feet (1 m.). Itea plants have medium green leaves up to 4 inches (10 cm....

Fertilizing Lavender Plants Lavender is a tricky plant to grow, though its needs are actually very simple. But time and again gardeners find theirs dying on them. Why is this? More often than not, the plants have actually been cared for to death. Lavender needs very little water to survive, and it’s frequently drowned by well-intentioned gardeners who think they’re doing it a favor. And the very same thing goes for fertilizer....

What is Summer Bibb Lettuce? Summer Bibb is a butterhead lettuce variety, one of many types of lettuce known for loose heads of leaves, pretty bright green colors, and a delicate texture and sweet, mild flavor. Butterhead leaves can be used in salads, but they’ll also stand up to light sautéing. Use the large, sturdy leaves to make wraps, or even through a wedge of a head on the grill. With Summer Bibb you can enjoy lettuce in all these ways, even if you live in a warmer climate where lettuce is typically more difficult to grow....

How to Grow a Marble Queen Plant Native to Australia and New Zealand, marble queen plants (Coprosma repens) are suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and up. They work well as hedges or windbreaks, along borders, or in woodland gardens. This plant tolerates wind and salt spray, making it a great choice for coastal areas. However, the plant may struggle in hot, dry climates. Marble queen plants are often available at nurseries and garden centers in appropriate climates....

How to Use Mayhaw Fruit The mayhaw is a type of hawthorn that blossoms with clusters of showy white blooms in the spring on the upright 25- to 30-foot (8-9 m.) high tree. The blossoms yield fruit in May, hence the name. Mayhaws are small, round fruit that, depending upon the variety, may be red, yellow or orange in color. The shiny skin surrounds a white pulp that contains a few tiny seeds....

When it comes to growing Medinilla plants, gardeners have a few options. The easiest way is to acquire these ornamentals as transplants. Though available in some garden centers, this may be difficult in cooler growing zones. Luckily, Medinilla can also be started by planting viable seeds. How to Grow Medinilla from Seed To successfully plant Medinilla seeds, growers will first need to locate a reliable seed source. While seeds are available online, it is important to use only reputable sources in order to obtain the best chance for success....

Never be afraid to pinch a few sprigs of mint when you need them, but if you need a large quantity of mint, wait until pruning time. If you want a low-growing bed of mint, you can keep it as short as 4 inches (10 cm.). This is a good height for mint grown in small containers. Otherwise, let it grow 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm.) tall before you prune it....

Okra Blight Information So, what causes okra blossom blight? The disease organism is known as Choanephora cucurbitarum. This fungus thrives when warmth and moisture are available. Though it is present throughout most of the world, it is most prevalent, and most troublesome, in warm and humid regions, such as the Carolinas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and other parts of the American south. The same fungus affects other vegetable plants including eggplants, green beans, watermelons, and summer squash, and is common on these plants in the same geographic regions....

What is an Olla? Did I confound you with the above last statement? Let me clarify. An olla is an unglazed clay pot used in Latin America for cooking, but it’s not only that. These earthenware urns were also used as olla watering systems. The conquistadors brought olla irrigation techniques to the American Southwest where it was used by Native Americans and Hispanics. With the advancement of irrigation systems, olla watering systems fell out of favor....

Orach Plant Harvesting Orach is an ancient crop entertaining a more recent resurgence in popularity. Botanically its name Atriplex hortensis comes from the French “arroche” and the Latin for “golden.” Orach can also be found under the common names of French spinach, German mountain spinach, Garden orache, or saltbush. It is a member of the Amaranthaceae family, the goosefoot subfamily, and so named due to the plant’s leaves, which look somewhat like the foot of a goose....

What Can Plane Trees Be Used For? Wood: Although plane tree uses are primarily focused towards their ornamental value, their wood also has a number of purposes. While plane tree wood isn’t well-suited for outdoor use, it is prized for indoor furniture because of its attractive, lacy appearance. In the early history of the United States, people have been using plane trees for boxes, utensils, paneling, flooring, buckets, butcher blocks, carvings, veneers, and even barber poles....