Tips on Preparing Indoor House Plants for Winter

When Old man winter is right around the corner, it means more time inside to care for your houseplants. I know you don’t want to think about it but… it’s just about time to climb up into the attic or rummage around in the basements to start digging out those holiday decorations.

When putting out all those blinking lights, ornaments and other odds and ends it’s easy to push a Dracaena, peace lily, Ficus or any number of your houseplants into corners and out of the way places. One of the most important factors in caring for your houseplants is matching and maintaining the plant’s needs to its indoor environment even through the winter months.

More on Preparing Indoor House Plants for Winter

Cast Iron Plant Inspires Novel?

Few plants are tough enough to carry the name “Cast Iron Plant”. Few plants can claim to be among the elite in ease of care under a wide variety of indoor environmental conditions.

But fewer plants and especially houseplants can claim they helped inspire or carry the lead in a novel. However, the Aspidistra is one plant that can boldly make these claims.

In 1936, George Orwell wrote his novel “Keep the Aspidistra Flying”. The main theme of the book was the romantic ambition to give up money and status, and the “undesireable” life that results.

I guess the life of many houseplants can be described as just that - undesireable! They get placed in some difficult positions, overfeed and over watered with considerable neglect.

But the Aspidistra continues to push on as a rock solid indoor houseplant.

More on the tough, durable Cast Iron Plant…

Buying a Moth Orchid - Phalaenopsis - Video

Who doesn’t need some help when buying plants especially orchids. The biggest bang or the buck today is the Phalaenopsis or Moth orchid. They really are not difficult to grow.

Watch the Moth Orchid buying Video below! Pick up more Orchid Care here!

The Importance of Landscape Design Plans

Recently I was asked just about landscape design plans. Here’s was the question! “How important is a landscape design plan for our new home? We’ve found our “Dream Property” and plan on building a house. We’ve spend a lot of money already getting our home plans drawn up and approved, but spending more money on a landscape plan before even starting the house seems like a waste of money. Can you offer any tips? Allison Franklin, NC

Answer: Building a new house is a big undertaking; I know I’ve done it! But a landscape design plan is more than a bunch of lines. The landscape plan turns a blank area into a planned, organized part of nature.

More on landscape plans here…

The Growing Landscape

More and more homeowners understand that the landscaping of the home is a valuable investment. For example the landscaping of a patio can raise property values by an estimated 12.4%. Realtors from around the the country also validate the plus of a landscape investment with an estimated return of 15% to 20%.

Most homeonwers lay out their hard earned cash on lawn care services. However, the growth in money spent in new and expanding areas for landscape contractors includes the installation of decks, gazebos, patios, pools and water features. More families are embracing outdoor living spaces which include the design and installation of outdoor kitchens, barbecues and outdoor living rooms.

Most Americans use referrals as their top resource for hiring landscape contractors and in 2003 one in three paid for professinal lawn or landscape services.

Even in a sluggish economy, Americans spend money on landscape and lawn services. Over the past few years with low interest rates and the increased awareness of the value and return on investment in a landscape investment, growth continues to move upward.

Next Page »