Zach discusses the Phalaenopsis orchid, also known as the moth orchid. Tips for keeping roots healthy, watering, and fertilizer requirements.
10 Drought-Tolerant Texas Native Plants for Houston
Looking for plants that are suited for our hot summers that don’t require much watering? Here is our list of ten drought-tolerant Texas native plants for Houston.
Tillandsia: Creative Ideas and Tips
Tillandsia. You know, those little spiky plants you find glued to seashells and driftwood. Ever wonder how they survive without any soil? Turns out they are epiphytes – which means they absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. They’re the largest genus of the bromeliad family, native to the southern parts of the US, Central […]
Fall Vegetable Gardening Tips
While it may be hot and steamy outside right now, for vegetable gardeners, fall is just around the corner. Whether you already have a vegetable garden or want one, now is the time to plan for fall. Here are some helpful tips for Houston area gardeners.
4 Easy Ways You Can Help Pollinators
Where would we be without pollinators? It’s important to recognize the vital role they play in our ecosystem. Pollinators are the birds, bees, insects, and animals that move pollen from flower to flower and that’s how plants produce fruit and seeds.
Contain Yourself
Container gardening has been around for thousands of years. Legend says… in 600 BC, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II constructed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for his wife, Amytis of Media. An elaborate series of private terraced gardens made for his homesick queen, who missed the trees and fragrant plants of her homeland. These examples […]
Going Native: Our Top 10 Native Plants for Houston
Native plants. The term has different meanings for different gardeners. There are Texas natives, US natives and those plants that act like natives. All in all, what most of us want in our garden are low maintenance plants that are attractive and functional. Plants that are not invasive and are a benefit to wildlife. When […]
Fungus Prevention and Treatment in Houston Area Gardens
Gardening in Houston is challenging… especially with our high humidity, which can lead to a host of fungal problems in our gardens. Methods of prevention and treatment have changed over the years with continued research. Today we are seeking methods that are greener and better for the environment. The primary fungal issues we face is […]
The Nose Knows
Gardeners smile when flowers are blooming in their garden beds. But it is the nose that delights in the sweet fragrances of the garden. With virtually year round gardening available to us in Houston, don’t forget the importance of adding fragrance in your garden. Our sense of smell is our most primal sense and it […]
Avoid Getting Tangled: Choosing the Right Vines
Vines are often overlooked by new gardeners when designing a garden space. Incorporating well-placed vines into your landscape, can not only add visual interest, it creates vertical walls that help frame your space. Choosing the right vines for the right place will give your garden an added dimension of interest as well as preserve the beauty of your garden design. Think vertical.
Fresh Air… Indoors!
Want to improve the quality of air in your home/office? Add some indoor plants. We’ve always known that living plants play an essential role in adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But what about the air inside? Air quality indoors can be far worse than outdoors, especially in our climate. We tend […]
Creating a Butterfly Habitat Garden in Houston
In Harris County, butterflies (Scientific Order: Lepidoptera) can be seen almost year-round. About a hundred different species of butterflies regularly occur in Houston and surrounding Southeast Texas neighborhoods. From swallowtails to monarchs, these butterflies dance about our gardens in a visual symphony that is joyful to watch. The life cycle of a butterfly occurs in […]
