Fertilizers Ideas, Tips & Guides

One of the best things about being in the plant business for over 40 years has been trying out new and rediscovered plants. Every year I like to grow the latest perennials and annuals, testing them to see if they’re worth ordering again the following year. The herb garden—though it seems a pretty staid and quiet sanctuary—has actually had its share of exciting new plants too. Visions of sauces and meats, drinks, and pastries flavored with delicious herbs tended by my own hands are all the inspiration I need to try something for the first time. Additionally, these plants add color, texture, and scent to my containers and gardens. In many cases, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that these improved options are actually better looking and/or tasting than the familiar staple. The following are some of my favorite herb varieties. Some are new—and some have simply flown under the radar for far too long.

Few things are as satisfying to a gardener as picking a homegrown, sun-warmed berry right off the plant and tossing it straight into your waiting mouth. If you’ve never grown your own berries because you think you don’t have enough room—or you think it requires too much effort—boy, do we have some great news for you! Growing berries in containers is the easiest and most foolproof way to grow your own small-space fruit garden. Plus, it’s fun! Why grow berries in containers? Berry plants are great candidates for container gardening, especially if you pay careful attentio

Plants need a certain amount of specific nutrients to grow well. Most of the time, garden and houseplants do fine without any help from you. But fertilizing actually gives plants a boost that helps them flourish. “Photosynthesis is how plants make food,” says Stacey Hirvela, horticulturalist withSpring Meadow Nursery andProven Winners Color Choice Shrubs. “But fertilizer is like giving them vitamins.”

Coffee wakes you up in the morning and might do the same for your plants! Well, not in the same way, but this quick homemade fertilizer does wonders and is the best way to put coffee dregs to good use!

When the South begins to alight in tulips, you know spring is well on its way. But before those glorious blooms start to burst forth from the earth, there are a few things to keep in mind. From the best time to plant in the South to how to care for your bulbs once in ground, these are the tulip tips you need to know for springtime success.

Homegrown tomatoes taste heavenly when they are sweet with a hint of tart, acidic flavor. If you want to grow the same, there is a science behind it. And what is it, find out below!

You can give your plant the best soil, container, fertilizer, and water to a tee, but without enough daylight, it will stubbornly wilt and perish, even if it’s a tolerant pothos or spider plant. You obviously can’t force the sun to shine on demand! So, here are the things you should do when growing plants in low light.

Crocuses, calla lilies, dahlias, irises, and tulips are some classic flowers that don't grow from seeds but from bulbs, an underground structure. Bulbs have short stems, and fleshy leaves and go through a period of dormancy. Growing bulbs requires planning because you don't plant them in the same season the flowers bloom. For example, if you want to enjoy beautiful tulips in the spring, you'll be planting them in the fall.

Annuals are a topic that elicits strong responses from many gardeners. With the word come visions of manicured plantings, most frequently including foliage obscured by a lavish floral display. While some folks love the bright and reliable spreads of color, others meet them with disdain for their intensive use of resources and stiff appearance. Typically, when I think of annuals, I think of a different group and look entirely: increasingly, I usewater-wise annuals as texture-rich fillers that compete with weeds in new or revamped plantings, and as filler color where I expect to have a dull spot in the perennial beds and meadows. I’ve begun using them also as cut flowers, complementing the smattering of perennial blooms I cut for the kitchen counter. Such annuals blend effortlessly with naturalistic and cottage plantings, and reliably reseed each year. Many of these plants aren’t what come to mind when someone says “annuals”; if you’re more interested in annuals that complement your beds rather than replace them, read on.

Savvy gardeners know that deadheading spent blooms keeps annuals and many perennial plants looking their best week after week. But not all plants require deadheading. Some plants continue to bloom their hearts out with little to no pruning, while others are self-cleaning, meaning spent flowers drop off naturally by means of wind, rain, or plant growth. These plants keep on blooming even when you don’t remove the old flowers. If you’re looking to save time in the garden, consider growing plants that don’t require deadheading to stay in bloom.

If you’re a pepper geek like me, you start to anticipate the homegrown pepper harvest as soon as the seedlings are planted in the garden. Pepper plants start off slow and you may wonder how to make peppers grow faster so that you can start picking hot and sweet peppers as soon as possible. In this article you’ll get tips on encouraging quick growth from your pepper plants as well as an early harvest. Why it’s important to know how to make peppers grow faster Whether you live in a region with short seasons like me or one with lo

Go beyond fertilizers and other expensive ways to help your plant thrive. With this trick, you can use an ingredient straight out of your kitchen–lemon juice, to get amazing benefits for your Peace Lily.

When and How to Fertilize Persimmons

Pothos plants are popular for their lush growth and low-maintenance nature. This houseplant is quite hardy and can flourish in a range of conditions; these traits make the gardeners careless about pothos, and they ignore signs that indicate the plant is in trouble. This article will focus on the Most Common Pothos Plant Problems and Their Solutions and keep you in check.

We can expect a dip in hummus supplies thanks to a forthcoming chickpea shortage.

Pay attention to a few Dichondra Silver Falls care basics and you’ll be rewarded with a great feature plant that’s perfect for creating a cascading effect in a rock garden, along the edge of a raised bed, or from atop high window boxes or tall containers. With its silver stems and small, fan-shaped leaves, elegant Silver Falls Dichondra combines beautifully with low-growing flowering plants like lobelia, dianthus, and dwarf ageratum. In warm climates—think zones 8 and up—you can expect Dichondra to perform like a tough perennial plant. Elsewhere, it works as an annual or an indoor houseplant. Let’s get to know more about this wonderful plant. Meet Dichondra Silver Falls Known as Silver Falls Dichondra or sometimes just Silver Dichondra, this plant’s official botanical n

Rosemary is one of the easiest herbs to grow if you grow it right; if not, it can be a bit tricky to maintain and even harder to keep in the pink of its health. Discover those right things in this article to grow the most flavorful, productive, and thriving rosemary plant.

A cayenne pepper plant is a productive, easy-to-grow hot pepper perfect for anyone that wants medium-hot fruits. Grow them in garden beds or pots and expect each plant to yield dozens of slender glossy peppers. The 4 to 6 inch long fruits are typically green maturing to red and can be eaten fresh, dried, or used for hot sauce. In this article you’ll learn all about how to plant, grow, and harvest cayenne peppers from your garden. Cayenne pepper plant facts Cayenne pepper plants (Capsicum annuum) are incredibly popular in home gardens thanks to their

The jade plant is more commonly known for its fleshy, ovate leaves, but did you know that it can produce blooms, too? If you want a flowering jade plant, then these hacks will help you get more flowers! Don’t miss reading it till the end as we have kept the best one for last.

From kitchen gardens to edible landscapes, rosemary pairs beautifully with a wide range of plants. Many of the same herbs and vegetables that mingle with rosemary in the pot, like peppers and oregano, also work well as garden neighbors. Rosemary companion plants also include ornamental species. With upright and spreading forms available, rosemary can be used in a variety of garden settings, from containers to rock gardens. The soft blue flowers attract pollinators and other beneficial insects while complementing ornamental grasses and perennials.

New Zealand Flax, or Phormium, is a handsome long-lived evergreen shrub that forms bold clumps of elongated sword-shaped leaves. The attractive, often colourful foliage looks good all-year round, and makes the perfect foil for other plants in borders, raised beds, gravel gardens and pots. Leaf colour is extremely varied and includes olive-green, purple, yellow, cream, red and apricot variegations, in wide or fine stripes.

Are your tomato vines covered in plump green fruits that refuse to turn red? While tomatoes are relatively easy to grow, they can be finicky at times. Several factors can slow or stop fruit from ripening, causing tomatoes to linger in the green stage. Extreme temperatures are the most common culprit, but soil nutrition and plant care can also play a role. If your tomatoes are not turning red, don’t fret. Discover the reasons behind this common challenge and easy ways to promote tomatoes to ripen in the garden and kitchen.

When and How to Fertilize Cosmos Flowers

Adapted from Rodale’s All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, pages 541-550, with permission from Rodale Institute

Yes, cactus corking is normal! It’s like your cactus growing tough outer skin as it ages or faces stress. It might not be pretty, but it’s usually harmless. Here’s why it happens and how to take care of it!

Houseplants like the Tradescantia Zebrina are known for their colorful foliage, but sometimes, those wonderful colors fade. Why? What is the reason? How can you get that color purple back and metallic stripes glowing again? Everything is answered in this article.

There are so many great gardening hacks out there. From using eggshells as fertilizer to creatively sourcing free plants, we all know you can create a stunning outdoor space with plenty of things you can't buy at your standard garden center.

Whether you’re just getting started on your spring and summer garden or you’ve been planting and pruning all winter, some gardening advice is always welcome. It often feels like the tricks, tips, and hacks for helping your plants thrive are endless—and for every great piece of advice, there are some really bad suggestions out there, too.

There’s nothing like the clean lines of freshly cut grass. But, what if we told you skipping your final step of bagging those grass clippings can actually help you grow lusher, thicker grass—and at no additional cost to you? Allowing your mower to leave behind grass clippings can have a variety of benefits for your lawn.

Stay true to your vegan lifestyle with your own homegrown produce! This guide will teach you the basics of vegan gardening, using all-natural methods to get organic and delicious harvest. Let’s get our hands dirty!

I have a passion for green things—and all things related to green things. Plant and container specimens line my greenhouse shelves, carport, and driveway. Come summer, I put all worries of frost and cold weather aside and start pairing things up from my collection. 

You know how people get paranoid and confuse a heartburn with a heart attack? They do the same with plants! We help you identify six such plant disorders commonly mistaken for diseases so you may diagnose them easily and address them with a calm and informed mind.

You may notice leggy growth in your Wandering Dude plant for various reasons. Before it gets worse, learn how to make it lush and colorful again with these tips.

If you are looking for an option to save money while enjoying fresh coriander sprigs right at your home, then learn How to Grow Cilantro from Stem Cuttings!

When it comes to nutrition, oatmeal water packs a punch for plants. It nourishes the soil and is an affordable home food for your botanical babies. Now, oat water may not be as effective as commercial fertilizers, but it definitely boosts plant growth. Let’s dig in and see if it’s worth a try in your own garden as well!

Tips for Growing Boston Ferns Outdoors