General Gardening
Grow Better Zinnias with Full Sun
My zinnia flowers grew really tall and thin, and they had really small blooms. What happened?
Using Strawberry Planter Pots
To grow strawberries, herbs or other small plants in a compact and attractive way, consider using strawberry planter pots. A strawberry planter is a terra cotta or plastic container in the shape of an urn that has planting holes scattered along the sides of the pot. It also has a large open section on the top where gardeners can plant strawberries.
Edible Plants for a Shady Garden
Can you recommend any shade-loving plants that will grow in the California Central Coast? We would most like an edible kitchen garden of fruits and veggies, but we are okay with flowers and shrubs. We get full shade to partial shade, but we might get more light after we trim our trees. I was thinking mint, basil and berries. What else loves shade?
How to Easily Bring Water Outdoors
Are you sick of walking in and out of your apartment to fill up your watering can so you can water your balcony container plants? Sick of tracking potting soil inside? Wish you just had a hose hookup outside? You’re feeling what a lot of balcony container gardeners feel. There are those few who are lucky enough to have water hose hookups, but most balcony gardeners have to traipse in and out over and over to give water to their container plants.
10 Tips for Healthy Container Plants: Part 1
1. Do not overwater. Probably the biggest mistake that new container gardeners make is overwatering their container plants. Watering too much is more often worse for plants than not providing enough water. When plant roots are submersed in water for too long, they don’t get enough oxygen and the roots rot. Overwatering can also cause mushrooms and fungus in the container's soil, which will attract fungus gnats in your balcony garden. Learn more about watering>>
