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A Pink Polka Dot Plant Growing in the Garden, Hypoestes phyllostachya
A Pink Polka Dot Plant Growing...
Plant of the day

Polka Dot Plant Hypoestes phyllostachya

The Polka Dot plant grows best in a humid environment, needs bright light but not full sun. Use water that has been allowed to set for 24 hours to keep the soil slightly moist. Pinch back for bushiness. Hardy in zones 10-12

Term of the Day

Bedding Plant

Plants (mainly annuals), nursery grown and suitable for growing in beds. Quick, colorful flowers.

More definitions

Gardening, Flowers and House Plant Care

There are 0 days and 19 hours left until Spring! What should you be doing in your garden right now? Check our March gardening guide here.

Spring Gardening - March

The fickle weather of March makes it impossible to set exact dates and schedules for planting, so proceed with caution! March is the month when many of the beautiful spring flowering perennials and shrubs begin to bloom. Aubrietia, Candytuft, Rock Cress, Bergenia, Snowdrops, Witch Hazel and many others will soon be brightening your days.

With Spring just around the corner, it is time to get serious and get the garden ready!

Wild Willy the Garden Helper I know that most of us still have a long wait before we can start growing in the garden again, but if you take a peak at the map of last expected frost dates and do a little math, many of you will find that it is almost time to start seeds indoors for many cole crops like Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage and Cauliflower as well as a few other vegetables.

In some areas, you may even be able to plant seeds for root crops like Beets, Carrots, Radishes and Turnips directly into your vegetable garden very soon. Perennial vegetables like Rhubarb, Horseradish, Asparagus and Artichokes can all be planted now.

Its Still Winter in the Garden

Frost on a Blackberry Plant
Frost on a Blackberry Plant
It is important to heed the warning when your local forecaster announces a chance of frost, and take precautions to protect the plants in your garden from frost damage.

In the event of snow, be sure to shake or brush off the white stuff from the branches of your evergreens and shrubs. The light fluffy snow poses no real threat, but if it should become wet and frozen, the weight dramatically increases. Branches are more brittle when the plants are dormant, and the weight of the snow may snap them off.

Feed the Birds!

A Baby Bird sunning itself in the Garden
A Baby Bird sunning itself in...
Please! Feed the birds and other small critters that may not be able to find food due to snow on the ground or other causes. For only a few dollars you can feed an enormous number of birds. You'll want them to stick around to help you in insect control when the weather warms again.

Caring for House Plants in Winter

Winter heating dries the air out in your home considerably. Help your house plants survive by misting them or placing the pots on a pebble filled tray of water to ensure adequate humidity and moisture. Keeping your plants near an aquarium will help as well. A Large Selloum, Elephant Ear Philodendron, Philodendron bipinnatifidum

A Large Selloum, Elephant Ear Philodendron, Philodendron bipinnatifidum
A Large Selloum, Elephant Ear Philodendron,...
Most house plants go dormant during the winter months and should be watered less, then be allowed dry out before watering again. Clean the foliage of your House Plants regularly with a damp cloth to remove dust. This will not only help the appearance of your plants but will help the plant to breathe, and remove some of the pests that tend to gather on the underside of the leaves. Continue to watch for insects or disease damage and take the necessary steps to control the problem.

You can still pot up some spring flowering bulbs for indoor color during the winter. Store the pots in a cool, dark place, until new growth emerges from the soil, and then move them to a bright window.


Gardening for Beginners

If you are a new or less experienced gardener who wants to start a new garden for the first time, I suggest that you begin here...



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