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For many people, winter means gray, cold days and much pining for warmer weather. However, not only can you grow some interesting plants in winter, here is one that will grow and bloom for you in winter! You won't have to worry about it in summer because it will be dormant then! Read on for more about this wonder . . .
These are among the largest of the plants in the genus Philodendron, producing thick trunk-like stems and cord-like roots that can wrap around nearby trees or anchor to the ground like guy wires. Known also as "tree philodendrons", they are spectacular in the tropical landscape but can become unwieldy indoors . . .
The beauty we enjoy in our gardens and indeed, in the entire natural world, seems so awe-inspiring at times that it brings us to speechlessness. But what if you learned that, instead of "evolutionary" origins, we should be looking for "iterationary" origins of the world and all in it? In this article I will introduce you to the fascinating and wonderful world of fractal geometry as it relates to the natural realm . . .
Few of the Jewels have the startlingly exotic look that this plant has. Seeing one of these transports you to a tropical nirvana where every plant is like a fantasy. You, too, can grow one of these, if you know how. . .
Few other plants say "tropical" as clearly as plants in the genus Alocasia, and few Alocasia plants are as exquisitely beautiful as the ones I have chosen to call the "Jewels". They are jewels because they are almost all small growers whose spectacular beauty makes up for their size, if only you can keep them alive - read on to see why. . .
While the genus Rafflesia may hold the record for the largest individual flower, the Titan Arum takes the award for largest unbranched inflorescence. However, the size of the inflorescence is not the only strange thing about this plant; read on to learn more . . .
Think of flower pollination and most often, bees come to mind. After all, they do the lion's share of pollination, especially in our agricultural and garden plants. However, some of our plants don't attract bees at all. What they do attract, and how they do it, may surprise you . . .
Whether your garden is large or small, in the ground or in pots, you are likely to need a garden hose and accessories of some type to water your plants from time to time. But with all the sizes and hose-end doodads out there, how to choose the right one? Read on for some tips . . .
Most of the Alocasia species that I consider to be "jewels" are small growers suitable for a windowsill or small conservatory. However, not all Jewel Alocasias are so diminutive! Read on to learn about this Giant of the Jewels . . .
Several new Alocasias have appeared on the market in the recent year or so. One of them is Alocasia princeps, also known as 'Purple Cloak'. With my interest in this genus of plants, you can be sure I got my hands on one, and it is now blooming. Read on for more about this Jewel . . .
The monastic lifestyle leaves monks with an abundance of time on their hands. So it is no surprise that significant discoveries have been made over time by these cloistered fellows. But most of them pale in significance when compared to the achievement made by a little-known German monk of the 13th century. This man's astounding discovery predated that of Benoit Mandelbrot by over 700 years! Read on for the incredible facts . . .
If there is any image that can be considered iconic of the Deep South, it must surely be the sight of Spanish Moss drooping lazily from a Live Oak tree. I remember seeing this sight when I was much younger, and even remember seeing this adaptable bromeliad festooning power lines as well. Alas, it seems that one doesn't see the plant around as much as before, and there is a sobering reason. Read on for more . . .
Pressure-treated wood seems the perfect solution for outdoor wood construction such as decks and sheds. However, until relatively recently, the pressure treating process involved arsenic, a poison that is able to leach out of the wood and into the soil around the wood structure. If you have old pressure-treated structures on your property, or have had them, you'll want to read this article . . .
One of the banes of gardeners worldwide is cold temperatures. We even have zone designations to tell us if our area is too cold for certain kinds of plants to grow in. But what if you could change your hardiness zone without moving and without a greenhouse? This revolutionary idea is actually a breakthrough on the verge of coming on the market - read on for a BIG surprise . . .
Herbaceous plants and exotic flowers are impressive enough in a tropical garden, but to really complete the look, you need some genuine trees with the tropical look as well. You don't need a greenhouse for this because the palette of trees you have available is sufficient to the task; read on to learn more . . .
With the interest in tropical gardening surging amongst people who live far north of the tropical zones, anything that makes this easier is a boon. For those who don't have a greenhouse, a warm, lit basement or an extra room in which to overwinter their favorite tropicals, a garden consisting of tropical-looking plants that go dormant in winter can be the next best thing . . .
Now that your experiment is set up and ready to run, you need to consider the "what and how" of your research. This means what kind of information, or data, you wish to collect and how you intend to collect this data. You'll also need to decide how long your experiment needs to run before you stop collecting data from it. . .
So you are out in your garden and you notice something very unusual going on with one of your plants. You've never seen this before, and you want to learn more about what is going on. In this article, I'll show you, step by step, how to go about doing your own open-source research. You can even collaborate with other Dave's Garden members and publish your findings on a forum!
Think of the word "research" and images of labcoat-clad technicians busy in a spotless laboratory might come to mind. To be sure, much scientific research is performed in just such an environment, but that doesn't have to be the only place where discoveries are made. You may be surprised to learn that very important discoveries have been made by individuals working in their gardens. Read on to see how you, too, can be one of them . . .
While many folks think of colorful waxy flowers from Hawaii when the word "Anthurium" is mentioned, the genus Anthurium consists of a host of different plants, only a few of which produce colorful flowers. Here you'll find diminutive creepers, vines and even huge-leaved behemoths that remind one of the larger Alocasia plants . . .
It's the day after a night when temperatures dipped near freezing, but all your plants look OK in spite of it. Are your plants off the hook? Not necessarily, because many plants don't show injury or damage until a week or more after exposure to near-freezing temperatures. Read on to learn more . . .
Once you have your drip irrigation system up and running, you might find that you have extra time on your hands; time you used to spend watering your plants by hand. I suggest you reserve some of this time for regular reviews of your system's operation and performance and, yes, upgrades . . .
Here is where the pipe hits the ground, as it were! You know where your water is coming from, you've planned for filtration and valving, and you have an idea about what kind and how many of the drip emitters you want in each zone. Let's piece it all together and see what we've got . . .
Once you've reviewed your plant collection and determined (roughly) how many zones you will need in order to water all your plants, it's time to begin the building process. Your first consideration is water filtration, followed by what kind of valves you'll use and the type and number of drip emitters you will need. So let's get started . . .
If you are anything like me, you have plenty of potted plants of many sizes around (and in) your house and/or greenhouse. This makes for a wonderful environment, except when it comes time for a vacation. Who will care for your beloved plants while you are away? If you've ever entrusted your plants to someone, only to return to find struggling or dead plants, this ongoing story is for you . . .
Many lovers of tropical plants are smitten with the very large leaved Alocasia species, and many of them lust after a plant as large as Alocasia robusta is reputed to grow. One result I have been seeking in my breeding work, a holy grail of sorts, is a giant-leaved Alocasia that is easy to grow for all. Here I'll share about what I've come up with so far . . .
Of all the types of Philodendrons, this group is most diverse. Some of our most beloved and well known house plants are in this group, as well as some of the most exotic and difficult to grow members of the genus. Join me for a look at these attractive vines . . .
You may be surprised to discover that among the amazing images one can produce using fractalic equations can be found ones with a holiday theme! Here's a fractalic holiday greeting for you . . .
Now we'll move on to a larger scale than ground level plants and animals. I'm talking about mountains, clouds, rivers, valleys, and the like. Fractals play a vital role in the manifestation of all of these. So let's start exploring . . .
Plants are the most conspicuous source of fractal structures, some of which are very similar to those generated from the Mandelbrot Set. Leaves, too, show the fractal structure clearly in some instances. So the geometry is there, hidden, yet manifest at times in nature and tantalizing us with questions . . .
This group of Philodendron plants is among the most ornamental of all, having a variety of leaf textures, colors and shapes that are rivaled only by the climbing members of the genus. If you like these plants, you owe it to yourself to obtain some of these for your collection . . .
The name "Philodendron" means literally "tree loving", which most likely refers to the tree hugging/climbing habit characteristic of many Philodendron species. However, not all members of this genus hug or climb trees, but many of them are eminently suitable as indoor or house plants. And if you are fortunate enough to live where you can grow these in your garden, well . . .
Money doesn't grow on trees, but if you look quickly at the thumbnail picture here, you'll get the idea that birds might! As amazing as this may seem, it is a real bloom on a real plant and the photo has not been retouched or tampered with in any way. The story is, as you might expect, quite a winding road. Read on to learn more . . .
The headline is more than just an attention-grabber, as you can see from the thumbnail picture. As incredible as it appears to be, this organism was not cooked up in a top-secret transgenic lab somewhere. The Crawling Leaf (Elysia chlorotica) is a naturally living and breeding life form that has been on this planet since well before humans started tinkering with recombinant DNA. Read on for the startling story . . .
Strangely different plants are also often parasitic organisms. Cynomorium, the subject of this article, is no exception. Read on to learn about a fascinating plant with a colorful history . . .
Aglaonemas are durable, versatile plants that are very popular for use indoors and for interiorscape settings. The old standby varieties and newer hybrids come in shades of green with silver or white stripes or splotches. However, the incredible dawn of a new day for this plant is nearly upon us, as you will soon see. Read on to learn about the revolution to come . . .
Did you know that keeping certain plants indoors can actually improve the air quality of your home or office? The Peace Lily, or Spathiphyllum, is one of these plants, and while they help clean up your inside air space, these plants are beautiful and durable as well. Read on to learn more . . .
In a previous article I introduced you to a parasitic jungle plant called Rafflesia, the world's largest single flower. Here I'll introduce you to a group of parasitic desert plants that are even more bizarre. One species actually flowers underground! Read on to learn more about these enigmatic plants . . .
As a fan of science fiction, I've read a lot of interesting and thought-provoking stories over the years. Back in the 1960s, I remember reading a few stories that featured peculiar new kinds of organisms developed by what was at that time a wildly fictional technology called genetic engineering. Well, science has now overtaken fiction with a vengeance - read on to see why . . .
