Elsa 
The best lotus fertilizer for a home water garden is a slow-release aquatic fertilizer tablet pushed deep into the pot’s soil, starting once standing leaves rise above the water and repeating every three to four weeks until late August. I recommend tablets made for water lilies and lotus because they feed the roots directly and … Read more >>
A Boston fern is one of the easiest houseplants to keep in a home with pets. The ASPCA lists the Boston fern as non-toxic to both cats and dogs, so a nibbled frond won’t poison your pet. That’s good news if you’ve just found a shredded frond on the floor. Boston ferns are safe for … Read more >>
If you want one lotus for a backyard water garden, I’d grow a compact sacred lotus cultivar in a container. It comes in far more sizes and colors, and the dwarf types fit a patio tub. If your pond drains into a creek or lake, or you live where sacred lotus is listed as invasive, … Read more >>
My top pick for most bedrooms is the snake plant, because it handles low light, dry winter air, and weeks without water better than almost any other common houseplant. If your room is darker still, a ZZ plant is the next safest bet, and a spider plant or parlor palm is the better choice if … Read more >>
For most small ponds, I’d pick a dwarf lotus like ‘Momo Botan’, because it stays around 1 to 2 feet tall, blooms heavily with double pink flowers, and grows well in a 16 to 20 inch pot. If your space is a half-barrel, a compact type such as ‘Chawan Basu’ or ‘Baby Doll’ in a … Read more >>
Lotus can get through a cold US winter just fine, as long as the tubers in the mud stay unfrozen and wet from fall until spring. In zones 3 to 7, I’d either sink the pot below the ice in a pond that never freezes solid or move it, still full of water, into a … Read more >>
If you want healthy eggplant, wait for real warmth. The best time to plant eggplant outdoors is 2 to 3 weeks after your last spring frost, once nights stay above 55°F and the soil 4 inches down reads at least 60°F (65 to 70°F is even better). In most of the US, that lands somewhere … Read more >>
The most reliable way to get rid of ferns in a garden bed is to dig out the crowns and the creeping roots, then keep cutting or pulling every new frond until the plant runs out of stored energy. Small clumps often clear in a single season. Large, spreading patches take repeated work over two … Read more >>
Lemongrass that shows purple or red is usually reacting to its surroundings. Most of the time the cause is cool nights, a reddish stalk base that’s normal for the plant, or stress from sun, dry soil, or hungry roots. In most cases, lemongrass turning purple is a harmless response to cool weather or mild stress, … Read more >>
For most homes, I’d pick a ZZ plant if your room is dim and you want a full, leafy shape, and a snake plant if you need height in a narrow spot or have a brighter window. Both handle dry indoor air and missed waterings. The ZZ plant copes better with low light, while the … Read more >>
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