Stephanie Suesan Smith 
Many people who grow Mandevilla are looking for dark glossy leaves and showy blossoms. Outdoors, the flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Mandevilla grows fast, and the vines can grow quite long. Some Mandevilla don’t seem to climb as they should. You may be wondering, “Why is my Mandevilla not climbing?” Buying a Mandevilla to grow … Read more
Wild Mandevilla is a genus of gorgeous vines with dark green heart-shaped leaves and large showy flowers. Newer varieties grow as small, mounded plants. Variegated varieties are also available. Mandevilla is very popular but only grows outside in USDA zones 10-11. You may be wondering, “Can Mandevilla grow in pots?” Living in a cold region … Read more
There are over 200 different types of iris. Many people grow Japanese irises (Iris ensata or Iris kaempferi) and Siberian irises (Iris sibirica) in their gardens. You may wonder, “What is the difference between Japanese Iris and Siberian Iris?” Irises are addictive. Many people try to grow as many species as possible. This guide will … Read more
Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is native to Eastern and Southern North American and Central America to Guatemala. It is hardy to USDA hardiness zones 6-9. The grass has soft pink blooms resembling cotton candy. The blooms dry and last into the winter. You may wonder, “Can pink muhly grass grow in containers?” Pink muhly … Read more
The Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.) is a colorful tropical vine that can be grown in a hanging basket or trained to grow up a trellis. Newer hybrids are small mounding plants. Mandevilla doesn’t like low temperatures, so it is usually grown as a houseplant. You may be wondering, “How do I propagate Mandevilla?” Mandevilla has showy flowers … Read more
The string of hearts (Ceropegia woodii) is an evergreen vine from South Africa and Zimbabwe. This plant is often grown as a hanging plant or trained to grow up a trellis. In the wild, it grows up plants, using them as a living trellis. If you are thinking of growing a string of hearts vine, … Read more
Avocado trees are great indoor plants. They have dark green foliage and can grow to be seven feet tall. You may wonder, “How do you prune indoor avocado trees?” If you fail to prune your avocado tree, it can get leggy, grow too tall, or may get diseases. This guide will help you prune your … Read more
Wild Mandevilla are vines that have dark green leaves and showy blossoms. Some newer hybrids are mounding but still have impressive flowers. Mandevilla is a popular plant to grow. You may be wondering, “Does Mandevilla need full sun?” Picking the best spot to grow a new plant can be confusing. Read this guide to find … Read more
Wild Mandevilla is a vine with dark green or variegated leaves and showy blooms. Newer hybrids are small mounding groundcovers. Outdoors, the flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Indoors, they brighten any room. You may be wondering, “What do I need to know about Mandevilla blooms?” Mandevilla flowers are beautiful. They are the reason most people … Read more
Wild Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.) is a fast-growing tropical vine with large, showy flowers. Newer hybrids of Mandevilla are low, mounding plants. Mandevilla is often grown as a hanging basket or up a trellis indoors. Outdoors, the flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. However, you may wonder, “Can you plant Mandevilla in the ground?” You may have … Read more
Olive trees (Olea europaea) have been grown by humans for thousands of years. An olive tree can grow 10-40 feet tall in the ground and live for 500 years. In pots, olive trees grow smaller and live for about ten years. If you have problems with your olive tree, you may wonder, “Why are my … Read more
Philodendrons are popular plants whether grown indoors or outside, depending on your climate. Unfortunately, as with any plant, philodendrons have some disease problems. You may wonder, “Why Does My Philodendron Have Brown, Yellow, Black, White… Spots?” It is always distressing when a plant you love gets spots or other signs of diseases. This care guide … Read more
Lots of people grow basil to cook with. Basil is not hard to grow but does have some disease problems. If your basil is in trouble, you may wonder, “Why is My Basil Root Rotting?” You may be frustrated because your basil is having trouble. This guide discusses root rot causes and how to prevent … Read more
Basil is a popular herb to grow. This herb adds flavor to many dishes. Growing basil is easy. However, you may be wondering, “Does basil need fertilizer?” Fertilizers have gotten more expensive and may seem like an unnecessary expense. This guide will discuss whether you need to fertilize your basil or can grow it without … Read more
Many people do not want to use harsh chemicals like DEET to repel pests. There are lots of claims about which plants repel bugs. You may be asking yourself, “Does basil repel bugs?” Finding good, researched claims about what plants repel what bugs can be difficult. However, this guide will tell you everything you need … Read more
Basil is a popular culinary herb. It is easy to grow and tastes good. However, you may want to know “Does basil attract bugs?” before deciding whether to grow it. It is frustrating to plant herbs and have the bugs eat them before you get any. Some types of plants attract more bugs than others. … Read more
Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis) is a popular vegetable right now. It is a Brassica, or Cole crop, related to cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi. Because cauliflower is picky about its growing temperature, you may be wondering, “Can cauliflower grow in the summer?” Cauliflower is one of the hardest Brassicas to grow. This guide … Read more
Cauliflower is a popular vegetable to grow. However, cauliflower only makes one head per plant. Therefore, if a worm causes severe damage to the plant or head, the head may not grow or may not be good to eat. There are ways to protect your cauliflower from worms. Prevention is easier than treatment. Read on … Read more
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is a popular vegetable with home gardeners. It grows best at temperatures between 65-75 degrees F, so is considered a cool-season crop. Most people who grow broccoli in their garden buy transplants. However, you may be wondering “Can you plant broccoli seeds straight in the ground?” Broccoli can be grown … Read more
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis) is a very nutrient dense food with lots of vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, potassium, and fiber. According to Dr. Heilig with the Michigan Extension Service, homegrown vegetables are higher in vitamins, which start to deteriorate as soon as the vegetable is picked. Because of this, you may be wondering … Read more