Date: 18 Nov 2021
Philodendrons: from the Magic Rainforest...
by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
...Tropical rainforests have been called the "jewels of the Earth" and
the "world's largest pharmacy", because over one quarter of natural medicines
have been discovered there... One of the most excellent representative of
this green world is a Philodendron... Taxonomically, the genus Philodendron is
still poorly known, with many undescribed species...
...Philodendron care is easy because if you watch for the signals, the
plant will tell you exactly what it needs. Even inexperienced houseplant owners
will have no trouble growing philodendron plants because the plants adapt
readily to conditions inside the home. This makes learning how to care for a
philodendron incredibly simple...
CONTINUE READING >>
Date: 10 Nov 2021
Yerba Mate Tea from Argentina
(llex paraguariensis)
by Ed Jones, the Booster guy
...My first introduction to Yerba Mate happened many years ago when my stepson returned home for a visit after graduating from college and then touring with a vocal group from the school. One of the stops on their tour included the country of Argentina. While there, they took in the local customs, one of those being the sharing of a cup of tea made from this tree. He brought a bag of the dried tea home along with a special vessel that is used to steep and drink the concoction and gave it to my wife as a gift...
CONTINUE READING >>
...Yerba Mate is high in antioxidants, contains 24 vitamins and minerals and several amino acids...Find out more...
Date: 18 Oct 2021
Season star:
The Purple Tango of Hypnotizing Jacaranda
by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
...Hypnotizing bluish-purple, trumpet-like flowers create the magical image of the tree. Incredible, long-lasting purple blooms in spring give way to rich, yellow hues in the fall, making the Jacaranda Tree a season-to-season star that stands out. Fern-like foliage lends volume to its bold, dramatic silhouette for a landscape look unlike any other. When the trumpet-shaped blooms finally fall, they form a lilac carpet beneath the awe-inspiring Jacaranda for luxuriant curb appeal...
CONTINUE READING >>
Date: 8 Sep 2021
Nepenthes: Deadly Traps of Monkey Cups
by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
...The name "monkey cups" refers to the fact that monkeys were once
thought to drink rainwater from the pitchers. This is false; monkeys do not drink
from them, and the pitchers are filled with digestive juices, rather than
rainwater. The trap contains a fluid of the plant's own production, which may
be watery or more viscous, and is used to drown the prey...
...The lower part of the trap contains glands which absorb nutrients from
captured prey. Along the upper inside part of the trap is a slick, waxy
coating which makes the escape of its prey nearly impossible...
...Prey usually consists of insects, but the largest Nepenthes species may
occasionally catch small vertebrates, such as rats and lizards. Records of
cultivated plants trapping small birds have been made!..
CONTINUE READING >>
Date: 30 Jun 2021
Black Magic of Colocasias
Spectacular unusual plants
Q: I need something unusual to plant next to a small pond at my front yard. It is full sun location. I need a plant that is not too messy and doesn't require much maintenance. Preferably without flowers, so they don't drop into the water, and not too tall. Any suggestions?
A: Your ideal solution is - colorful Colocasia hybrids with
spectacular large leaves. Our favorite is variety Black Magic - it creates a magic tropical atmosphere. The color of the
leaves in full sun is dark purple, almost black, and the brighter the light,
the deeper the color.
Light colored varieties - Royal Hawaiian Maui Sunrise, with bright sunny stripes, or Illustris, in case you want to create a bright, mixed-color border
around your pond. Colocasias are perfect plants for perimeter borders, and
naturally are marginal plants around lakes and along river banks.
Photo above: for enhanced effect of your Black Magic Colocasias, use Black Magic Ti Leaf for the background planting... Cordyline fruticosa Black Magic