Date: 30 Jan 2019
How to set up indoor lighting for tropical plants
Q: My tropical plant collection goes indoors for winter. I have over 100 plants now and all windowsill space is taken. I am planning to build some shelves so I can also start some rare seeds indoors. Can you advise me on the choice of the grow lights so I can do it right?
A: Indoor plants are very unlucky: they have to grow in "caves," and everybody knows that plants don't grow in the caves. The luckiest plants win sunny windowsills, but even there they dwell rather like in underbrush under tall trees, where the sun illuminate them only early in the morning or in the evening, and its light is diffused by foliage. Usually, domestic plants are in desperate lack of illumination not only in winter but also in summer. No light - no growth, no flowering. So, plants need extra light to compensate for the lack of illumination in the "room-cave" conditions. And here is some science behind it...
Check out our selection of tropical plants tolerant to low light conditions
Date: 25 Jan 2019
Featured Plant. Callisia fragrans variegata - Variegated Golden Tendril
Callisia fragrans variegata - Variegated Golden Tendril
This is an extremely rare variety of the Russian Holistic Medicinal Plant - Golden Tendril. The plant has wide medicinal use in Europe and Russia, literally every household, millions of Russians use this plant as a home remedy...
Date: 25 Jan 2019
BELOVED AMAZON LILY
By Mark Hooten, the Garden Doc
Question: I'm hoping you can recommend a lush looking houseplant which will be happy in an otherwise bright "sun room" which receives only a little actual sunlight. Something that looks tropical and exotic, and maybe even makes flowers which are fragrant?
Answer: Perfect timing because at this moment, my much beloved Amazon Lily (Eucharis grandiflora) is currently flowering spectacularly! I've had this particular plant for nearly twenty years, and it's one of my absolute favorites.
Check out our large selection of rare beauties that are great as houseplants.
Date: 21 Jan 2019
Featured Plant. Achras (manilkara) zapota - Sapodilla Silas Woods
Achras (manilkara) zapota - Sapodilla Silas Woods
The Silas Woods is an outstanding variety of Sapodilla.
The tree has dwarf growth habit (under 20 ft in the ground) and adapts
well to a container.
This variety is highly productive.
Trees are producing year round, the branches often require support as they get very heavily loaded with fruits. Perfect fruit tree for small yards and container culture!
Date: 21 Jan 2019
Garden-burned Calories in 30 minutes
This is interesting! According to Harvard Medical School research, gardening activities are compared with some serious workout! Calories burned in 30 minutes by:
Walking 178
Bowling 133
Gymnastics 178
Dancing 244
Planting seedlings, shrubs 178
Planting trees 200
Gardening-weeding 205
Digging, spading dirt 222
So what are you waiting for? Start losing weight now by planting a tree and dancing!