Easy-to grow-houseplants are more popular than ever. Even people who have never grown plants are adding houseplants to their indoor spaces. These new houseplant growers would never call themselves “gardeners,” yet they are going crazy over indoor plants. Why are easy-to-grow houseplants trending? Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, whose website at TheHouseplantGuru.com is a great source of information and inspiration about indoor plants, says houseplants nourish the body and the soul. “So many studies have been done that show the benefits houseplants have in the home and the workplace,” said Steinkopf. “Plants clean the air, they make people feel happier and actually lower their blood pressure. In office environments, plants also reduce the occurrence of sick days. What more could we ask for?” Expert Advice on Easy-to-Grow Houseplants Lisa Eldred Steinkopf (Twitter handle: @TheHouseplantGuru) says that anyone can successfully grow houseplants. “Growing a plant successfully is … [Read more...] about Easy-to-Grow Houseplants for Beginners
New Plants and Garden Products Win 2019 Green Thumb Awards
Six of the best new ornamental plants, garden products and edible plants have won 2019 Green Thumb Awards presented by the Direct Gardening Association (DirectGardeningAssociation.com). Honored in the Ornamental Seeds, Bulbs and Plants division were: Illuminati Tiny Tower Mock Orange from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. Peppy Le Pom Ornamental Pomegranate from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. Honored in the Gardening Tools and Accessories division were: Vertex Lifetime Tomato Cage from Gardener’s Supply Co. Bamboo Home LED Grow Light Garden from Gardener’s Supply Co. Honored in the Edible Plants division were: Wood Prairie Organic Colossal Potato Collection from Wood Prairie Family Farm. Tomato Purple Boy Hybrid from Park Seed. Winners of the 2019 Green Thumb Awards were chosen by an independent panel of garden writers and editors. The winning products were selected based on their uniqueness, technological innovation, ability to … [Read more...] about New Plants and Garden Products Win 2019 Green Thumb Awards
Kill Fungus Gnats Naturally with BTI
Looking for a way to kill fungus gnats naturally? Sooner or later you will have to deal with fungus gnats infesting your houseplants. Fungus gnats are the tiny flying pests that can swarm like an annoying black cloud whenever an infested houseplant or outdoor potted plant is moved. Fungus gnats (Bradysia species) are small, mosquito-like insects that commonly infest the soil or growing medium of potted plants. When outdoor plants are brought indoors for the colder months, fungus gnats in the potting mix are brought indoors. That's when they can quickly infest the soil of other houseplants. Fungus gnats thrive in moist potting soil, where they lay their eggs. After the eggs hatch, fungus gnat larvae live in the top two to three inches of the potting soil. Fungus gnat larvae can cause plant damage by eating plant roots. After about two or three weeks, the fungus gnat larvae pupate in the potting soil. Then they become the tiny black adult gnats that fly erratically when a potted … [Read more...] about Kill Fungus Gnats Naturally with BTI
Natural Insect Control Uses Mother Nature
Natural insect control has gone mainstream. An increasing number of homeowners, gardeners and homesteaders are teaming up with Mother Nature to kill and control insect pests. Using natural insect control can take many forms. But natural insect control typically involves encouraging Mother Nature to fight insects by using organic and environmentally friendly control methods. The growing interest in less chemically intensive, natural and organic living has resulted in a dramatic increase in eco-friendly product choices. The products below prove that you can kill insect pests without resorting to using harsh chemicals. Mother Nature’s mosquito control uses BTI to kill mosquitoes Homeowners looking for an effective way to control pesky, disease-spreading mosquitoes don’t have to resort to harmful chemicals. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in pools of standing water. That's why the first step in controlling mosquitoes is to eliminate standing water wherever … [Read more...] about Natural Insect Control Uses Mother Nature
Oven Roasted Parmesan Potatoes
Delicious recipes don’t have to be difficult to prepare. In fact, great chefs will tell you some of their best dishes are the easiest ones to make. That’s certainly the case with Oven Roasted Parmesan Potatoes. This is a great side dish to complement virtually any meal, and it’s quite simple to make. Too often (especially in restaurants), potatoes are fried. The result is a greasy mess that doesn’t taste like potatoes at all. But roasting potatoes brings out their natural taste, and the roasting process gives potatoes just the right amount of oven crispness. This recipe is especially great for flavorful homegrown potatoes! Bonus: make your meal extra healthy by serving a tasty side of cooked lambsquarter and purslane along with the potatoes. Oven Roasted Parmesan Potatoes Recipe Ingredients 2 pounds of potatoes (There’s nothing wrong with using one variety of potato such as Yukon Gold. But to make this a fancier dish, use an assortment of different-colored fingerling … [Read more...] about Oven Roasted Parmesan Potatoes
