This Friday, May 30th, is National Water a Flower Day. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Or maybe it isn’t. Improper watering is probably the number one killer of houseplants—and garden plants, too. We’re so concerned about keeping plants watered, that we often forget they also need air. Yes, plants do breathe! Let Your Plants Breathe…
A common occurrence during the ongoing pandemic is the cancellation or postponement of events, interrupting common traditions and rituals for students and adults alike. BUT NOT GARDENING!! With all my years working in a retail gardening center, I have never spoken to so many families before who are wanting to try doing some vegetable gardening…
Is anything tastier or more essentially “summer” than fresh corn? Because the sugar in corn begins to convert to starch soon after picking, Grandma always said to get the water boiling then go pick the corn, but there are now sugar-enhanced varieties that hold their sweetness for a few days after picking. Still, fresher is…
Are you planting your first vegetable garden this year—or have you gardened in the past but always seem to wind up with one problem or another? Unfortunately, our commonly grown garden vegetables are prone to certain problems. Tomatoes can get Early Blight, Late Blight, Southern Blight, Gray Leaf Spot, Septoria Leaf Spot, Verticillium Wilt, Anthracnose,…
Ah, May. All danger of frost is past—mostly. Although we have had a frost as late as May 10th here (it was a LONG time ago), we’re pretty safe in considering ourselves out of the woods now. And I’m proving it by moving my orchids, citrus, and other houseplants outside for the summer. Here’s How…
WITH WARMER DAYS COMES THE CROP OF BUGGY PESTS Here we are the end of May after Memorial Day weekend and the “unofficial” start of summer. And, hotter days. Unfortunately, it is also the beginning of bugs on our plants and flowers. It is frustrating to watch plants we’ve struggled so hard to get going…
I’ve enjoyed writing blogs for The Great Big Greenhouse for the past few years. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is learning new and interesting facts. I thought I’d share with you 12 of the most fun and interesting things I’ve learned so far: There are several species of fireflies native to Virginia. Most…
ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER FOR OUR BELOVED HYDRANGEAS Many customers have recently come into the garden center so excited that their blue hydrangeas are in bud and bloom for the first time in two or three years. This past couple of years so many customers were wondering why and if they did something…
We got in some beautiful Dragon Wing begonia hanging baskets and I bought one and hung it by the front door last week. Two days later, as I was walking in the door from work. I saw a few bits of debris on the ground. I sighed, knowing what I was going to find—the beginnings…
STACHYS ‘HUMMELO’ IS THE CHOSEN ONE. SOME GARDENERS MAY CALL IT BETONY. Many of you may not know that every year the Perennial Plant Association selects a perennial to highlight. The chosen perennial is voted on by hundreds of growers, designers, and perennial plant geeks. The winner is a good plant that is hardy in…
