Don’t eat these peas! The succulent known as string of pearls—otherwise known as string of beads or string of peas, for obvious reasons once you’ve seen it—is poisonous. However, in a pet and toddler-free household string of pearls makes an ideal houseplant. The long trailing stems festooned with round green leaves that look just like … Read more
Does your succulent look like an adolescent—tall, gangly, and awkward, with limbs that look thin as toothpicks? Does it resemble a Charlie Brown Christmas tree more than it does than the bushy succulent you brought home from the store? What did you do wrong? The simple answer is that your succulent is leggy (or, in … Read more
If your succulents are covered in little white crumbs, it isn’t because your significant other was eating crackers over them. The problem is more likely mealybugs , a species of scale. And, they are the most common pest that infests succulents. Eliminating mealybugs can be a daunting challenge, but there are some good strategies you … Read more
GrowCube Overview When you first see the GrowCube, you would think it’s a small PC or an external hard drive case. Its white plastic case looks very modern and would likely fit in with almost any decor. In terms of performance, the GrowCube doesn’t disappoint. It can monitor moisture levels and automatically water four plants … Read more
Many people have a love-hate relationship with their mother, so it makes sense that Mother of Thousands, Kalanchoe daigremontiana, is considered both a charming and beloved houseplant and a toxic invasive weed. Its bluish-green foliage is eye-catching, mainly because it grows dozens of adorable baby plantlets along the edges of its leaves. Once they fall … Read more
Bear Paw, Cotyledon tomentosa, is an adorable and easy to grow succulent known for its chubby, hairy paws with ridges at the tip reminiscent of little claws. It can also produce small bell-shaped flowers that vary in color from yellow-green to red-orange. But how do you grow and care for this succulent? If you aren’t … Read more
There’s a common misconception that succulents are idiot-proof. Succulents are mostly low maintenance and resilient to neglect, but that doesn’t make them immortal. Growing a plant from a semi-desert and in a north-facing window in Wisconsin is asking a lot. So if your succulent is wilting, discolored, or covered in bugs, don’t take it personally; … Read more
There is no one perfect succulent pot. The truth is most pots and planters will work, but there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Different kinds of pots will create slightly different care needs for your succulents (for example, affecting how often you water). This guide will help you choose the best pot for your … Read more
You (yes, you!) are definitely capable of growing a healthy succulent. After all, succulents are resilient, low-maintenance plants that grow abundantly in environments that would challenge most plants. However, when you take a plant from Mozambique or Mexico and grow it in Maine or Minnesota, some challenges are inevitable. And, for many houseplant lovers, it … Read more
The word propagation may sound intimidatingly scientific, but take heart. Reproducing your succulents couldn’t be easier. The joints of succulent leaves and stems contain special “meristem” tissue–like human stem cells–designed to replicate the plant when a leaf drops off a plant and falls to the ground. In other words, succulents easily replicate themselves without human … Read more
For many people, a house isn’t really a home without two things: pets and plants. Flora and fauna can be compatible cohabitants, but not all plants are pet-safe. Even the most well-behaved pets will occasionally snack on a succulent. And, many popular, attractive succulents are highly poisonous that can lead to medical emergencies and the … Read more
Succulents are supposed to be so easy to grow that anyone can do it. But if you’ve killed a succulent with root rot or let it dehydrate to a crisp, you aren’t the only one. Watering succulents isn’t as easy as it seems because they do not drink water the same as most other plants. … Read more
Healthy soil breathes like a living creature — it inhales oxygen from the air, circulates it through the gaps between soil particles, and uses the oxygen to support life. When it’s waterlogged or lacks oxygen, it is unhealthy like a person with pneumonia, lungs full of fluid. Fortunately, you can rehabilitate some anaerobic soil. If … Read more
According to Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh, a rose bush can teach us an important lesson. To reduce our suffering, we must accept that much like a flower, all things and people we value are impermanent. What is born will die. If you want to know how long rose bushes live, the answer depends on the … Read more
Nothing grows up big and healthy without eating well. Whether you’re growing tomatoes, tulips, turf, or toddlers, they don’t grow unless you feed them, and what you feed them matters. And understanding how compost and fertilizer function differently will help you grow green grass, tasty tomatoes, abundant alliums, and squash the size of a small … Read more
A greenhouse does more than extend the growing season. With the right equipment, it can allow you to grow fresh produce all year long. This is true even if your space is limited to just a small area in the yard or on the deck. Finding the right small greenhouse to fit your needs can … Read more
The only three guarantees in the life of a gardener are birth, death, and weeds. If you’re a compulsive composter like me, you can’t stand the idea of stuffing all that free green material into a plastic bag and sending it to a landfill. The problem is that if you compost weeds incorrectly you’ll plant … Read more
If you’re new to gardening or landscaping, you may be tempted to omit a mulch layer, but the longer you grow plants outdoors the more obvious the benefits of mulch become. Whether your aim is to make your growing area prettier, healthier, or lower maintenance, mulch is the solution. The enormous variety of types of … Read more
The Flowtron BK-80D is a no-fuss bug zapper that has an impressive 1-1/2 acres of land coverage and a mosquito attractant.
Read our honest review here.
Coppertone Sedum has a split personality. It is a dramatic, gold, and coral succulent that grows into short bushes and spreads as ground cover when grown outdoors. Indoors, it is a cute but easily overlooked succulent, with leaves like green bananas just beginning to ripen. Wherever you grow it, Coppertone succulent is a resilient, low-maintenance … Read more
