Geranium Plants Brighten the Day

A close-up photo of a single pink geranium flower with velvety petals and delicate stamens, surrounded by green leaves.

Geraniums are one of our most popular outdoor plants; and they make great indoor flowering plants once the weather turns cold.  The plants we call Geraniums are really part of the genus Pelargonium which means “stork” in Latin.  There are over 200 Pelargonium species, most of them originally from South Africa. Geraniums come in a … Read more

How to Identify and Treat House Plant Pests

Spring is here and summer is approaching and with these seasons come open windows, screen doors, and an invasion of house plant pests, not that we haven’t been have our fair share all fall and winter. Once an insect infects one or your plants, the chances are fairly good that it will spread to the … Read more

Begonia Rex Plant

A close-up photo of a Begonia Rex plant, showcasing its vibrant green leaves with prominent red veins and ruffled edges. Dewdrops glisten on the leaves, adding a touch of sparkle.

How to grow and care for a Begonia Rex with it multicolored patterned leaves, also called a Painted leaf Begonia. Learn lighting needs and how to water, fertilizer, propagate, and prune a Begonia Rex. See a picture and read answers to begonia Rex care questions.

Pygmy Date Palm

A miniature oasis springs to life with a pygmy date palm, its slender trunk and textured fronds casting intricate shadows in this sunlit scene.

How to grow and care for a Pygmy Date Palm, also called a Phoenix roebellenii. Learn lighting needs and how to water, fertilizer, propagate, and prune an indoor Pygmy Date Palm. See a picture and read answers to Pygmy Date Palm care questions.

Calla Lilies Make Great Indoor and Outdoor Plants

A close-up photo of two white calla lilies with yellow centers.

As Easter approaches, the stores are going to be filled with Easter Lilies. They are quite beautiful but the blooms don’t last very long. My favorite “houseplant lily” is the Calla (Zantedeschia aethiopica).  Alternate Names for this plant are Trumpet Lily, Lily of the Nile,  Arum Lily, and my favorite, Varkoor Lily (an Afrikaans name … Read more

Clean Air Office Plants

A variety of lush green office plants in different shapes and sizes fill a brightly lit workspace, adding color and life to the environment.

For the next few months many of us are going to be stuck inside as the snow falls and the cold winds blow. So I thought this would be a great time to talk about how certain  houseplants can clean the air in our homes and offices and make us feel  better. A study sponsored … Read more

Shamrock Plants for St. Patrick’s Day

A close-up photo of a shamrock plant with three green leaves and a single white flower.

Shamrock Plants, or Oxalis, appear in plant departments around St. Patrick’s Day. They  have the nickname,  Shamrock Plant, because of their soft, thin, triangular leaves that are divided into three leaflets, just like a lucky clover. Oxalis regnelli, the green leafed version, has small delicate white flowers, while Oxalis triangularis, or False Shamrock, has dark … Read more