Your All Things Plants weekly news: November 16, 2013

There were 7 new gardening ideas posted last week:

Fresh Herbs for Winter

By Sharon
November 16, 2013
Fresh Herbs for Winter

I live in zone 7a and though our winter weather is unpredictable, for the past three years it hasn't stood between my fresh herbs and me. In fact, it was last year's severe drought that taught me the very best lesson. Here are some hints that might help put fresh herbs on your dinner table every winter day. (521 words - Read the full article)

(no comments)

Watering Houseplants

By imapigeon
November 15, 2013
Watering Houseplants

Water indoor or outdoor planters (especially hanging ones) with ice cubes. The ice melts slowly, giving the plant's roots a thorough watering, and the water doesn't drip everywhere.

(4 comments)

How To Store Elephant Ears and Other Tropical Bulbs

By Swayback
November 14, 2013
How To Store Elephant Ears and Other Tropical Bulbs

Tropicals are really catching on, and more gardeners are finding the rewards of growing these fantastic foliage plants outside of their normal zones. It's really very easy, and I'm happy to show you some tricks to growing them in your gardens. (1,458 words - Read the full article)

(9 comments)

Growing Hoyas and Other Tropicals

By AlohaHoya
November 13, 2013
Growing Hoyas and Other Tropicals

There are different ways to grow hoyas and other tropical plants, and everyone has to find the way that works best for them. I'm going to share with you the way that works for me. (1,350 words - Read the full article)

(7 comments)

Use Milk on Houseplant Leaves

By LarryR
November 12, 2013
Use Milk on Houseplant Leaves

Never use oil to polish plant leaves. It clogs leaf pores and interferes with their functioning. Use milk instead. It’s inexpensive and provides a good shine once it dries.

(6 comments)

Plumerias - Can You Grow Them?

By Dutchlady1
November 11, 2013
Plumerias - Can You Grow Them?

Plumerias are large trees in their native habitat that can grow up to 20 feet tall. These days, however, they are being bred much smaller and more compact, allowing more regions of the world to enjoy these beauties. (414 words - Read the full article)

(13 comments)

The Most Perfect Houseplant

By bennysplace
November 10, 2013
The Most Perfect Houseplant

It may interest you to know that the literal definition of the word perfect is completion. So, when we say something is perfect, we deem it the most complete state of being that exists. This is how I feel about a certain houseplant. (948 words - Read the full article)

(14 comments)

The most popular images last week from our plant database:

Photo of Hen and Chick (Sempervivum 'Positively Glowing') by JungleShadows:
Image from plant ID 613431

Photo of Hen and Chick (Sempervivum 'Polly Bishop') by JungleShadows:
Image from plant ID 613433

Photo of Hen and Chick (Sempervivum 'Borscht') by JungleShadows:
Image from plant ID 613430

Photo of Hen and Chick (Sempervivum 'Rosebud') by JungleShadows:
Image from plant ID 613432

Photo of Hen and Chick (Sempervivum 'Roasted Chestnut') by JungleShadows:
Image from plant ID 613429

Photo of Hen and Chick (Sempervivum 'Helen Payne') by JungleShadows:
Image from plant ID 613434

The most popular Multi-Plant Photos from last week:

Multi-plant photo by TBGDN:
Image by TBGDN

Multi-plant photo by bonitin:
Image by bonitin

Multi-plant photo by chelle:
Image by chelle

Multi-plant photo by pirl:
Image by pirl

Multi-plant photo by pirl:
Image by pirl

Multi-plant photo by bonitin:
Image by bonitin

Noteworthy acorn tips given this week:
4 people gave for the idea "How To Store Elephant Ears and Other Tropical Bulbs" by Swayback

4 people gave for the Multi-Plant Photo #669 by TBGDN

4 people gave for a post in "Awarded or earned microbadges" by Minderella83

4 people gave for the idea "The Most Perfect Houseplant" by bennysplace

4 people gave for the Multi-Plant Photo #666 by bonitin

3 people gave for a post in "Banner for November 11, 2013 by Dutchlady1" by Dutchlady1

2 people gave for the idea "Fresh Herbs for Winter" by Sharon

2 people gave for the idea "Plumerias - Can You Grow Them?" by Dutchlady1

2 people gave for the Multi-Plant Photo #671 by 4susiesjoy

2 people gave for the Multi-Plant Photo #672 by pirl

The most active threads this week:
Subject OP Area Replies
OT - The Porch Swing daylily Daylilies forum 436
Update to the Charter ATP Badge dave Sandbox forum 47
Purple base foliage in pictures Misawa77 Irises forum 36
Oh No! Hard Freeze Coming - Way too soon! Xeramtheum Sandbox forum 32
Did you have a gardening mentor? bluegrassmom Daylilies forum 31
4 years later .... beckygardener Garden Rooms forum 30
can you tell me what these are svp mick64 Sedum forum 28
What happens when you cross a cultivar with itself? beckygardener Daylilies forum 23
what to do with naked lady bulbs I had to dig up? Frillylily Bulbs forum 23

Some new recommendations from our members:
valleylynn recommended Secret Garden Growers and wrote:

I found out about this nursery 3 years ago, at a hardy plant sale. Their plants are amazing, and many are difficult to find. They are very knowledgeable and helpful in helping to select plants for my needs. This year I came home with two new hardy begonias for my shade garden. I was amazed to find out that they are hardy in my zone 8 garden, just by placing a nice layer of mulch/compost around the base of the plants. Last year I experimented with a Begonia sutherlandii they said would be hardy for me. Well, guess what: It is. Sutherland's Begonia (Begonia sutherlandii)Photo by valleylynn This year I got Begonia hemsleyana and Begonia sp. aff. pedatifida DJHC 98473. I look forward to watching them come out of dormancy next spring. My next thing to do is visit their nursery, which will be like the plant lover's version of Disneyland, only better.

pirl recommended Mischel's Greenhouses Ltd. and wrote:

Mischel's Greenhouses sells wonderful annuals and the packages never fail to please. I've ordered from them for many years (probably 15 or 20 years) and always look forward to the day when the plants arrive. If there is any problem with the plants or due to manhandling in transit, they are eager to send replacements.

mmcgann2 recommended Spring Fever Daylilies and wrote:

Spring Fever Daylilies specializes in growing northern, hardy daylilies. They have 300 varieties in the daylily garden, with 200 of those varieties for sale. Ken McGann, owner, is the largest grower of daylilies in the state of Montana. Spring Fever Daylilies sells and ships daylilies from May through the first week in September. Check out their website: http://www.springfeverdaylilies.com

pirl recommended Caladium Bulbs 4 Less and wrote:

Caladium Bulbs 4 Less is simply the best place to buy caladiums. Bill's variety is terrific and I value his help. His bulbs are the biggest and firmest possible. He only sends the bulbs after consulting the weather in each zone so the bulbs won't face freezing during transit. I've used only Bill's caladiums for about 7 years and each year the little girl statue gets to spotlight another one of Bill's great bulbs. The huge (larger than super colossal) bulbs are more than amazing, as you can see from the collage. They grew with amazing speed from bulbs to a huge plant in less than a month. Superb! The planters in the shade did so well - pure pleasure for months. Bill's pup, Harley, is not the brains behind Bill's business but certainly is the heart. If I couldn't get bulbs from Bill, I wouldn't grow any caladiums at all.

Some numbers from last week: