Tall-stemmed and elegant, calla lilies are loved for their chic and colorful trumpet-shaped flowers along with their handsome, upright foliage.With their classy good looks, Zantedeschiaplants make h
28.06.2023 - 09:00 / southernliving.com
The orchid family, Orchidaceae, is one of the largest plant families with an estimated 30,000 species and many more cultivars. There are hardy orchids that live in temperate climates, but 80 percent of orchids live in tropical conditions in Central and South America, Asia, and Africa. What we grow as houseplants are tropical in origin which is important to know—the plant’s natural environment indicates their desired cultural requirements.
Orchids are epiphytes, semi terrestrial, or terrestrial. Epiphytes are plants that do not grow in soil. They are often found clinging to trees with thick, aerial roots. Terrestrial orchids grow on or in the ground. Most of the orchids we grow in the home are tropical epiphytes requiring a special orchid mix, high humidity, warmth, and bright light.
All orchid flowers are zygomorphic. If you look directly at the flower, you can only divide it in half along one plane so that the two halves are mirror images of each other. The flower has three outside sepals (looks like petals), two inside petals, and one labellum. The labellum is the prominent “lip” which is a modified petal serving as the landing platform for pollinators.
This alphabetical list of easy to grow orchids is made for all orchid enthusiasts. All are epiphytes except where noted. For each genera, look at the flower structure—the lip, the three outside sepals, and two inside petals—and you will begin to see the difference among them. Note too that you might not be purchasing the species for your home. You may be purchasing a cultivar within the genus—a plant with a name in single quotation marks that has been bred for particular characteristics.
01of 13Lady of the Night (Brassavola nodosa)This flower is unusual in that it has a
Tall-stemmed and elegant, calla lilies are loved for their chic and colorful trumpet-shaped flowers along with their handsome, upright foliage.With their classy good looks, Zantedeschiaplants make h
One day in early May, I was driving past the hardware store. I glanced over in the direction of the gardening center and what I saw made me slam on the brakes.Finally, after months and months of dreary
Long before the advent of electronic security systems, plants were used as “biological razor wire” to protect homesteads from marauding outsiders, or as livestock enclosures.By strategically planting thorny, spiky, dense b
Dianthus species like carnations, pinks, and sweet williams are old-fashioned charmers with delightful, ruffled flowers and a sweetly spicy scent.And choosing the right companions to plant
If you’re like me, you’ve ruined more than one pair of shoes in the garden.You know how it happens – you’re dressed to
For reliable, long-lasting color, you can’t go wrong with petunias.And for bold red hues that last and last
It’s hardly a meal in the South without green beans on the table! Fortunately, the common garden bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is one of the easiest vegetables to grow, even if it’s your first garden. Sometimes called snap beans, garden beans are inexpensive seeds and fast growers, with some types ready in as little as 50 days. They’ll produce bumper crops so you’ll have plenty of green beans to cook fresh, freeze or pickle. With top picks fromAll-American Selections (AAS), which trials seed performance for home gardeners, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, extension services at Clemson University, North Carolina State University, Louisiana State University, University of Georgia, and University of Kentucky, here are the best types of beans to grow in the South:
There’s absolutely nothing as amazing as a fresh-picked tomato still warm from the sun. In fact,tomatoes are one of the most popular plants in home gardens, alongsidebeans, summer squash, andherbs such as basil. But with hundreds and hundreds of tomato cultivars, or cultivated varieties, it’s tough to choose which ones you should plant to stand up to the heat and humidity of the South. Whether you’re a traditionalist and plant only heirloom types your Granddaddy grew or you’re all about experimenting with new types bred for improved disease resistance, you’ll get the highest yield when you grow a few different types. Just make sure to set plants out after all danger of frost has passed in your area, and give them at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Tomatoes do not do well in shade.
Lettuce, an annual plant of the Asteraceae family, is commonly grown as a leaf vegetable. This plant category has clusters of leaves, a short stem, and reaches 19 inches tall. The plant prefers cool weather and comes in a range of colors.
The fleshy leaves of easy to maintain crassula look adorable with all types of home decor. Have a look at some stunning Pictures of the Best Types of Jade Plant Varieties and include them in your rooms!
Anything grown in a pot can give your house a little bit of greenery. But can you imagine the beauty a greenhouse and the best greenhouse plants can add to your homestead?
Hedges are a classic garden feature. They’re a beautiful way to mark a boundary that avoids the blandness of garden fences and these living walls can dampen noise pollution, soak up groundwater, and provide a windbreak. Hedgerows are also a vital habitat for British wildlife, providing both food and shelter, so regular maintenance is an ecological as well as aesthetic necessity. Hand shears are a simple way to trim but if you have a lot of hedges or mobility issues, powered trimmers make the job much easier and quicker.