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What is a String of Beads Houseplant? Also called rosary string of beads or string of pearls plant, this creeping succulent is an odd looking plant that many people enjoy adding to their indoor gardens. Though the flowers may seem small and unattractive to some people, if they’re even lucky enough to get them, others find the faint white blooms (which smell a bit like cinnamon) quite welcome. Still, it’s the thin thread-like stems and fleshy round, bead-like leaves that make this unusual houseplant a great addition to the home....

Effects of Sugar on Plants All plants benefit and grow best in nitrogen rich soils. Nitrogen is the basis for green, leafy growth and promotes the healthy uptake of other necessary nutrients. Nitrogen is yielded by composting or rotting organic matter. Sugar is a carbon nutrient and contains no nitrogen. Sugar on weeds has the ability to limit growth in some plants, especially those that are not adaptive to low nitrogen environments....

Suncrest Peach Tree Info Suncrest peach trees are a heavy producing, large freestone peach. First introduced in California, Suncrest peach fruit is firm with juicy yellow flesh. Though generally easy to grow, there are some requirements in which growers must take into account when choosing to plant peach trees. Thriving in USDA growing zones 5 through 9, these trees will require at least 500 to 650 chill hours to ensure a beautiful springtime bloom....

All About Sunny Japanese Gardens If you’re considering creating a Japanese garden in your sunny yard or sun-drenched bed, you’ll need the right plants. But there is much more to this style of garden than simply plant choice. These are some of the elements you may want to include along with the full sun Japanese plants: Streamline plantings and pay attention to space between plants. Don’t overcrowd plants — minimalism is key....

What are Survivor Peas? For a shelling pea, Survivor plants are desirable for a number of reasons. This variety is self-trellising, so you don’t need to plant it against some type of structure to support its growth. It produces a lot of peas that are easy to pick, and it takes just 70 days to reach maturity from seed. Of course, the flavor of the pea is also important, and this one is superior....

If you’d like to learn more about sweet birch trees, read on. We’ll give you sweet birch tree facts as well as growing information. What Is a Sweet Birch? Sweet birch trees are a Betula species native to the Midwest. You can find them in the wild from Southern Maine to Eastern Ohio, and growing all the way down to Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia. Several sweet birch tree facts make this tree a standout....

Language of Flowers: Gratitude Did you ever wonder which plant says “thank you?” What flower symbolizes gratitude? Flower and plant symbolism became fashionable during the Victorian era in England, when floral gifts were often used to express one’s feelings. If you wish to follow traditional plant and flower symbolism, gratitude is often expressed by one of these five species: Roses – Perhaps best known as the flower of love, red roses are the traditional Valentine’s Day gift....

How to Grow Primrose Indoors The first thing to remember about your primrose houseplant is that the people who sold it to you did not expect you to keep it as a houseplant. Primroses indoors are typically thought of by the houseplant industry as a short term houseplant (much like orchids and poinsettias). They are sold with the intention of providing a few weeks of bright flowers and then discarded after the blooms have faded....

Grapes with Thick Skin Grapes that have thick skin were actually the norm at one time. It’s taken over 8,000 years of selective breeding to create the types of grapes we use today. Ancient grape eaters might very well have had someone, no doubt a slave or servant, peel the thick-skinned grapes and not only to remove the tough epidermis but also to remove the unpalatable seeds. There are many different varieties of grapes, some grown for specific purposes and some with crossover uses....

Tilling and Soil Health Tilling and working soil increases porosity for root growth and moisture penetration and drainage. It also allows the gardener to work in important soil amendments such as compost, leaf litter or other organic aids. Turning the soil allows oxygen to penetrate the earth for root uptake and to aid aerobic bacteria in their composting work. The process also helps to smooth garden bed and allows a chance to remove rocks, invasive roots and other debris, making way for tender seedlings....

Do Choose Healthy Tomato Plants Whether you start your own plants or purchase seedlings, the health of the tomato plants has a big impact on their future success. Tomato seedlings should have a bright green color, a hardy stem to support the plant, and be free of pests. Unless the tomato seedlings will soon be transplanted into the garden, it’s advisable to repot any plants which are root bound or have become leggy....

Upper Midwest Gardening August in upper Midwest states may include blistering hot days, dry spells, and also cooler days. The August weather can be pretty different from one year to the next. In the garden, this means that there are standard tasks to do, but you also may have to pivot and change plans as needed. This is the time of year when much of your hard work has come to fruition....

Tropi-Berta Peach Fruit Info The story of the Tropi-Berta peach is a fascinating one, full of plot twists. A member of the Alexander B. Hepler, Jr. family planted a variety of peach pits in cans in Long Beach, California, and one of them grew rapidly into a tree with delicious August peaches. The L. E. Cook Company considered growing the fruit. They researched the temperature record in Long Beach and found it had only 225 to 260 hours of weather under 45 degrees F....

Propagation of Tulip Trees from Seeds Tulip trees grow flowers in the spring that produce fruit in the fall. The fruit is a grouping of samaras–winged seeds–in a cone-like structure. These winged seeds produce tulip trees in the wild. If you harvest the fruit in the fall, you can plant them and grow them into trees. This is one type of tulip tree propagation. Pick the fruit after the samaras turn a beige color....

Growing Tuscan Blue Rosemary All varieties of rosemary bloom with delicate flowers. The color of the flowers can vary from type to type, ranging from shades of pink to blue to white. Tuscan blue rosemary plants (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’), true to their name, produce deep blue to violet flowers. The plant should bloom from winter to spring. Flowers may come back again for a smaller showing in summer or autumn....

About Garden Stone Varieties Choosing decorative stones is crucial when planning outdoor hardscapes or when xeriscaping. Coming in a wide range of colors, sizes, and textures, different varieties of rock are best suited to different uses. When using types of decorative stone, it will first be important to consider the purpose of the stone. While some stones are more suited for high traffic areas, others may be best used as accents in flower beds or in borders....

Most Popular Unique Indoor Plants Here are a few of the more common interesting plants you can grow indoors: Bromeliads Bromeliads are unique and beautiful indoor plants. In nature, most bromeliads are epiphytes so they grow attached to trees and branches. They are different because they have a central cup which you should keep filled with water. In the home, you should give your bromeliads three to four hours of sun....

About Growing New-to-You Crops There are probably hundreds, if not more, unusual edible plants that have never found a place in your garden. When looking for exotic vegetables to grow, be sure that they are well suited to your USDA hardiness zone and that you have the proper length growing season for a new and unusual crop. There may be a reason that you have never grown dragon fruit, for instance, which is hardy to zones 9-11....

Care and Feeding of Worms Worms love to eat and spend most of their time doing so. Just like you and I, worms have culinary likes and dislikes. So what to feed worms and what should you avoid putting in the worm bin? What to Feed Worms Of the vermicomposting do’s and don’ts, veggies and fruits are a resounding “DO.” Worms will eat any of the following: Pumpkin Leftover corn cobs Melon rinds Banana peels Fruit and veggie detritus...

How to Grow Water Hyacinth Growing water hyacinth plants is easy. Once established, they require no special care except occasional thinning to keep them from choking out everything else in the pond. Under perfect conditions, a colony of water hyacinths can double its size every 8 to 12 days. Water hyacinths need full sun and hot summer temperatures. Introduce them to the garden by scattering bunches of plants over the surface of the water....