Elsa 
There’s a reason so many people say the garden is where they feel most like themselves. The benefits of gardening for mental health are real, and research links time with plants to lower stress, better mood, and a stronger sense of wellbeing. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how gardening supports your mind and … Read more >>
Boston ferns can live outside all year in USDA zones 9 to 11, and everywhere else they make great summer porch plants as long as you bring them in before nights drop below 50°F. Outdoors, a Boston fern wants shade or filtered light, soil that stays evenly moist, and shelter from wind and hot afternoon … Read more >>
A Boston fern stays alive and lush when you give it bright, indirect light, soil that stays evenly moist without turning soggy, and humid air around 50% or higher. To keep a Boston fern alive, water it whenever the top inch of soil feels dry, keep it in filtered light between 60 and 75°F, and … Read more >>
Yes, many ferns survive winter just fine. Hardy ferns like ostrich, lady, and Christmas ferns go dormant in the ground and come back in spring, while tropical ferns like Boston ferns need to come indoors before nights drop below 50°F. The species you grow and your USDA zone decide which group your fern falls into. … Read more >>
Houseplants can help your mood, but in a modest way. Small studies link indoor plants for mental health to calmer feelings, lower stress after mental work, and a sense of comfort at home, so a few easy plants are a reasonable, low-cost addition to your mental wellness habits. They aren’t a cure for anxiety or … Read more >>
Spider mites on areca palm leaves start as a faint, dusty speckling on the feathery leaflets. Left alone, they spread into fine webbing and yellow fronds. The good news is that a mite problem on a Dypsis lutescens is very fixable when you catch it at the speckling stage. My advice is to isolate the … Read more >>
Lemongrass needs at least six hours of direct sun a day, and it grows best with eight or more. For thick, flavorful stalks, I’d give lemongrass a spot with six to eight or more hours of direct sunlight, adding afternoon shade only in desert heat. That rule holds in garden beds, in pots, and indoors. … Read more >>
Yes, you can eat lemongrass. The tender, pale lower stalk of lemongrass is edible once you peel off the tough outer layers and slice or mince it finely, while the green leaves and woody tops are best used for tea and infusions, then strained out. The whole plant is safe for people in food amounts. … Read more >>
Lemongrass grows well from seed if you give it warmth, light, and a head start indoors. To grow lemongrass from seed, press the seeds onto the surface of moist seed-starting mix about 8 weeks before your last frost, keep them at 70 to 80°F until they sprout in one to three weeks, then plant the … Read more >>
For most American homes, I’d pick the cat palm if your room gets moderate light and you want a fuller plant that stays around 3 to 6 feet tall. I’d pick the areca palm if you have a bright window and want a taller, feathery palm that can reach 6 to 8 feet indoors. Both … Read more >>
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