Your All Things Plants weekly news: November 16, 2013

There were 7 new gardening ideas posted last week:

By Sharon
November 16, 2013 Fresh Herbs for Winter
I live in zone 7a and though our winter weather is unpredictable, for the past three years it hasn't stood between my fresh herbs and me. In fact, it was last year's severe drought that taught me the very best lesson. Here are some hints that might help put fresh herbs on your dinner table every winter day. (521 words - Read the full article)
(no comments)

By imapigeon
November 15, 2013 Watering Houseplants
Water indoor or outdoor planters (especially hanging ones) with ice cubes. The ice melts slowly, giving the plant's roots a thorough watering, and the water doesn't drip everywhere.
(4 comments)

By Swayback
November 14, 2013 How To Store Elephant Ears and Other Tropical Bulbs
Tropicals are really catching on, and more gardeners are finding the rewards of growing these fantastic foliage plants outside of their normal zones. It's really very easy, and I'm happy to show you some tricks to growing them in your gardens. (1,458 words - Read the full article)
(9 comments)

By AlohaHoya
November 13, 2013 Growing Hoyas and Other Tropicals
There are different ways to grow hoyas and other tropical plants, and everyone has to find the way that works best for them. I'm going to share with you the way that works for me. (1,350 words - Read the full article)
(7 comments)

By LarryR
November 12, 2013 Use Milk on Houseplant Leaves
Never use oil to polish plant leaves. It clogs leaf pores and interferes with their functioning. Use milk instead. It’s inexpensive and provides a good shine once it dries.
(6 comments)

By Dutchlady1
November 11, 2013 Plumerias - Can You Grow Them?
Plumerias are large trees in their native habitat that can grow up to 20 feet tall. These days, however, they are being bred much smaller and more compact, allowing more regions of the world to enjoy these beauties. (414 words - Read the full article)
(13 comments)

By bennysplace
November 10, 2013 The Most Perfect Houseplant
It may interest you to know that the literal definition of the word perfect is completion. So, when we say something is perfect, we deem it the most complete state of being that exists. This is how I feel about a certain houseplant. (948 words - Read the full article)
(14 comments)

The most popular Multi-Plant Photos from last week:

Multi-plant photo by TBGDN:

Multi-plant photo by bonitin:

Multi-plant photo by chelle:

Multi-plant photo by pirl:

Multi-plant photo by pirl:

Multi-plant photo by bonitin:

Noteworthy acorn tips given this week:
4 people gave for the idea "How To Store Elephant Ears and Other Tropical Bulbs" by Swayback 4 people gave for the Multi-Plant Photo #669 by TBGDN 4 people gave for a post in "Awarded or earned microbadges" by Minderella83 4 people gave for the idea "The Most Perfect Houseplant" by bennysplace 4 people gave for the Multi-Plant Photo #666 by bonitin 3 people gave for a post in "Banner for November 11, 2013 by Dutchlady1" by Dutchlady1 2 people gave for the idea "Fresh Herbs for Winter" by Sharon 2 people gave for the idea "Plumerias - Can You Grow Them?" by Dutchlady1 2 people gave for the Multi-Plant Photo #671 by 4susiesjoy 2 people gave for the Multi-Plant Photo #672 by pirl

The most active threads this week:
Subject OP Area Replies

OT - The Porch Swing daylily Daylilies forum 436

Update to the Charter ATP Badge dave Sandbox forum 47

Purple base foliage in pictures Misawa77 Irises forum 36

Oh No! Hard Freeze Coming - Way too soon! Xeramtheum Sandbox forum 32

Did you have a gardening mentor? bluegrassmom Daylilies forum 31

4 years later .... beckygardener Garden Rooms forum 30

can you tell me what these are svp mick64 Sedum forum 28

What happens when you cross a cultivar with itself? beckygardener Daylilies forum 23

what to do with naked lady bulbs I had to dig up? Frillylily Bulbs forum 23

The most active threads this week:
Subject	OP	Area	Replies
OT - The Porch Swing	daylily	Daylilies forum	436
Update to the Charter ATP Badge	dave	Sandbox forum	47
Purple base foliage in pictures	Misawa77	Irises forum	36
Oh No! Hard Freeze Coming - Way too soon!	Xeramtheum	Sandbox forum	32
Did you have a gardening mentor?	bluegrassmom	Daylilies forum	31
4 years later ....	beckygardener	Garden Rooms forum	30
can you tell me what these are svp	mick64	Sedum forum	28
What happens when you cross a cultivar with itself?	beckygardener	Daylilies forum	23
what to do with naked lady bulbs I had to dig up?	Frillylily	Bulbs forum	23

Some new recommendations from our members:

valleylynn recommended Secret Garden Growers and wrote:
I found out about this nursery 3 years ago, at a hardy plant sale. Their plants are amazing, and many are difficult to find. They are very knowledgeable and helpful in helping to select plants for my needs. This year I came home with two new hardy begonias for my shade garden. I was amazed to find out that they are hardy in my zone 8 garden, just by placing a nice layer of mulch/compost around the base of the plants. Last year I experimented with a Begonia sutherlandii they said would be hardy for me. Well, guess what: It is. Sutherland's Begonia (Begonia sutherlandii)Photo by valleylynn This year I got Begonia hemsleyana and Begonia sp. aff. pedatifida DJHC 98473. I look forward to watching them come out of dormancy next spring. My next thing to do is visit their nursery, which will be like the plant lover's version of Disneyland, only better.

pirl recommended Mischel's Greenhouses Ltd. and wrote:
Mischel's Greenhouses sells wonderful annuals and the packages never fail to please. I've ordered from them for many years (probably 15 or 20 years) and always look forward to the day when the plants arrive. If there is any problem with the plants or due to manhandling in transit, they are eager to send replacements.

mmcgann2 recommended Spring Fever Daylilies and wrote:
Spring Fever Daylilies specializes in growing northern, hardy daylilies. They have 300 varieties in the daylily garden, with 200 of those varieties for sale. Ken McGann, owner, is the largest grower of daylilies in the state of Montana. Spring Fever Daylilies sells and ships daylilies from May through the first week in September. Check out their website: http://www.springfeverdaylilies.com

pirl recommended Caladium Bulbs 4 Less and wrote:
Caladium Bulbs 4 Less is simply the best place to buy caladiums. Bill's variety is terrific and I value his help. His bulbs are the biggest and firmest possible. He only sends the bulbs after consulting the weather in each zone so the bulbs won't face freezing during transit. I've used only Bill's caladiums for about 7 years and each year the little girl statue gets to spotlight another one of Bill's great bulbs. The huge (larger than super colossal) bulbs are more than amazing, as you can see from the collage. They grew with amazing speed from bulbs to a huge plant in less than a month. Superb! The planters in the shade did so well - pure pleasure for months. Bill's pup, Harley, is not the brains behind Bill's business but certainly is the heart. If I couldn't get bulbs from Bill, I wouldn't grow any caladiums at all.

Some new recommendations from our members:
valleylynn recommended Secret Garden Growers and wrote: I found out about this nursery 3 years ago, at a hardy plant sale. Their plants are amazing, and many are difficult to find. They are very knowledgeable and helpful in helping to select plants for my needs. This year I came home with two new hardy begonias for my shade garden. I was amazed to find out that they are hardy in my zone 8 garden, just by placing a nice layer of mulch/compost around the base of the plants. Last year I experimented with a Begonia sutherlandii they said would be hardy for me. Well, guess what: It is. Sutherland's Begonia (Begonia sutherlandii)Photo by valleylynn This year I got Begonia hemsleyana and Begonia sp. aff. pedatifida DJHC 98473. I look forward to watching them come out of dormancy next spring. My next thing to do is visit their nursery, which will be like the plant lover's version of Disneyland, only better.
pirl recommended Mischel's Greenhouses Ltd. and wrote: Mischel's Greenhouses sells wonderful annuals and the packages never fail to please. I've ordered from them for many years (probably 15 or 20 years) and always look forward to the day when the plants arrive. If there is any problem with the plants or due to manhandling in transit, they are eager to send replacements.
mmcgann2 recommended Spring Fever Daylilies and wrote: Spring Fever Daylilies specializes in growing northern, hardy daylilies. They have 300 varieties in the daylily garden, with 200 of those varieties for sale. Ken McGann, owner, is the largest grower of daylilies in the state of Montana. Spring Fever Daylilies sells and ships daylilies from May through the first week in September. Check out their website: http://www.springfeverdaylilies.com
pirl recommended Caladium Bulbs 4 Less and wrote: Caladium Bulbs 4 Less is simply the best place to buy caladiums. Bill's variety is terrific and I value his help. His bulbs are the biggest and firmest possible. He only sends the bulbs after consulting the weather in each zone so the bulbs won't face freezing during transit. I've used only Bill's caladiums for about 7 years and each year the little girl statue gets to spotlight another one of Bill's great bulbs. The huge (larger than super colossal) bulbs are more than amazing, as you can see from the collage. They grew with amazing speed from bulbs to a huge plant in less than a month. Superb! The planters in the shade did so well - pure pleasure for months. Bill's pup, Harley, is not the brains behind Bill's business but certainly is the heart. If I couldn't get bulbs from Bill, I wouldn't grow any caladiums at all.

Some numbers from last week:

35 new members.
159 new threads.
3,494 new posts.
1,176 new images to the plant database.
63 new comments in the plant database.
24 new Multi-Plant photos.