Repotting - Prune Roots Instead

Very often new houseplant buyers rush home with their new purchase and repot the plant right away. I think they believe repotting will make the plant grow. The other side of the houseplant repotting frenzy is the “annual” right for repotting... Read More...

Sterilizing Soil Is It Required

Question: Is it necessary to sterilize the soil in which spring and summer bedding and garden seeds are started when growing them in the house? If so, how is this done for small quantities of soil? G. F., Iowa. Answer: If fresh soil is taken from the... Read More...

Repotting Ficus Trees - Losing Leaves in Winter

Judy asked a question on winter Ficus tree care. When replying to the question I thought that since the Ficus is such a popular indoor house plant the question and answer needed to have a place all of it’s own. Question: I have a ficus which is... Read More...

Japanese White Pine Dense and Conical Needs Full Sun and Good Drainage

The Japanese White Pine - Pinus parviflora - a dense and conical form when young. However, later it develops into a tree with a graceful, irregular shape, which is 25 to 50 feet tall. Its needles are between 1 and 2.5 inches long, and grow in groups of... Read More...

Japanese Kingsville Boxwood Slow Growing Bonsai Perfect

The Japanese Kingsville Boxwood - Buxus Microphylla - has tiny light green leaves that make it an ideal bonsai candidate. The tree grows slowly, is easy to care and can be shaped into a round ball through proper trimming. Its only disadvantage... Read More...