Elsa 
The best homemade fertilizer for areca palm plants is finished compost or worm castings, used as a thin top layer on the soil. For most indoor areca palms, I recommend a half-inch of worm castings or finished compost each spring, plus a store-bought palm fertilizer at half strength once a month in spring and summer, … Read more >>
To keep raccoons and squirrels out of the garden, start by identifying which animal is causing the damage, then remove food sources and protect the plants it targets. The right fix depends on the visitor: raccoons often raid gardens at night, while squirrels usually feed and dig during the day. No single trick works everywhere, … Read more >>
A head of iceberg lettuce and a head of green cabbage can sit side by side in the produce bin looking like twins. Pick them up, though, and the difference shows right away. Cabbage is the heavy, dense head with thick, waxy leaves and a peppery bite, while a head of lettuce is lighter, softer, … Read more >>
Yes, podocarpus grows well in pots. Podocarpus can grow in pots for years as long as you use a container with drainage holes, a loose, well-drained mix, and enough light, and the compact forms like Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Maki’ are the easiest choice for patios and bright rooms. It’s a slow, steady grower, so a potted … Read more >>
Yes, podocarpus is poisonous to cats, and the ASPCA lists it as toxic to dogs and horses too. The plant is sold as yew pine, Buddhist pine, or Japanese yew. If your cat chews the needles or seeds, expect stomach trouble such as vomiting and diarrhea. The good news is that podocarpus is far less … Read more >>
Podocarpus survives cold weather well in the South and along the West Coast, and it struggles once winters get truly hard. Established podocarpus plants survive outdoors in USDA zones 8 to 11 and handle brief dips to about 10 to 15°F, but young plants and potted roots can be damaged in the low 20s°F. Podocarpus … Read more >>
Napa cabbage and bok choy are two forms of the same plant, Brassica rapa, but they grow and cook very differently. Napa cabbage forms a tall, tight head of pale, crinkly leaves that shine raw in slaws and kimchi, while bok choy grows as a loose cluster of thick white or green stalks with dark, … Read more >>
Most yellowing on a podocarpus comes from one of four things: old inner needles shedding naturally, soggy roots, a nutrient shortage tied to soil pH, or stress from cold, sun, or pests. The pattern tells you which one. Old inside needles going yellow is normal, while yellow new growth or a whole plant fading pale … Read more >>
Growing podocarpus from seed works best when you start with a fresh, ripe seed from a female plant, strip off the fleshy stalk, and sow it right away in a warm, airy, evenly moist mix. To grow podocarpus from seed, sow fresh, cleaned seed about ½ inch deep in a well-drained mix, keep it at … Read more >>
You make podocarpus grow thicker by giving it at least six hours of sun, then pinching or lightly shearing the soft new tips each spring and early summer so every cut stem branches into two or more shoots. Add a light spring feeding of slow-release fertilizer, deep watering in well-drained soil, and a hedge shape … Read more >>
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