Elsa 
Every December, the same question pops up in my inbox: are poinsettias poisonous to cats and dogs? The red leaves look festive, but if you share your home with a curious pet, it’s smart to know what you’re bringing inside. The good news is that poinsettias are far less dangerous than their reputation suggests. They … Read more >>
A good hanging basket looks full, spills over the edges, and keeps blooming long after spring planting. The trick is picking plants that fit your light, your heat, and how often you can water. Below are the best plants for hanging baskets, sorted by sun, shade, foliage, edibles, and tough heat lovers. I’ve included 20 … Read more >>
A poinsettia can stay bright red well past New Year’s if you give it the right start. Good poinsettia care comes down to a few basics: bright light, careful watering, and steady warmth away from drafts. Most of the plants that drop leaves in December run into one of those three problems. In this guide, … Read more >>
A hanging basket can look amazing in May and tired by August. The difference almost always comes down to a few simple habits. Good hanging basket care is mostly about water, food, light and a little trimming. In this guide, I’ll walk you through each step, from picking the right basket to getting it through … Read more >>
Amaryllis is one of the easiest ways to get huge, bold flowers indoors in the middle of winter. A single bulb can push up a tall stalk topped with red, white, pink, or striped blooms in about two months, with very little help from you. Good amaryllis care comes down to a few simple habits: … Read more >>
Yellow blades, wilting, brown tips or a mushy base? Match what you see on your lemongrass to the cause and the fix, and learn when to start over.
Stand store-bought lemongrass stalks in water and most will root in 1 to 3 weeks. Here is how to pick the right stalks, plant them and harvest.
Lemongrass needs full sun, steady water and regular feeding. Here is how to care for it through spring, summer, fall and winter anywhere in the US.
A Christmas cactus is one of the few houseplants that can stay in a family for decades. It’s forgiving, it doesn’t need much space, and it puts on a show of pink, red, white, or orange flowers right when the days are darkest. Good christmas cactus care comes down to a few simple habits. The … Read more >>
A basil plant left alone grows tall, thin, and eager to flower. A pruned one turns into a full, leafy bush that keeps feeding you all summer. The difference comes down to a few well-placed snips. In this guide, I’ll show you how to prune basil the right way. You’ll learn when to make the … Read more >>