How to Grow and Care for a Monstera
Bring houseplant royalty into your home and keep your monstera happy with this guide. PHOTO: TORRIPHOTO / GETTY IMAGES Nicknamed the swiss cheese plant, monsteras are hard to miss with their large, distinctive leaves. They’ve become an iconic tropical houseplant with foliage ranging from emerald to forest green. These vining plants are originally native to rainforests in Central America. For the majority of growers, monsteras are houseplants. But, if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 or 10, these beauties can be grown in your front yard. Outdoors, monsteras can reach up to 60 feet high with leaves spanning two feet long. When grown indoors, their size is much smaller due to container size, variety, and available light. Monstera Overview GENUS NAME Monstera COMMON NAME Monstera ADDITIONAL COMMON NAMES Swiss cheese plant PLANT TYPE Houseplant, Vine LIGHT Part Sun HEIGHT 4 to 15 Feet WIDTH 3 to 8 Feet FOLIAGE…
How to Plant and Grow Mondo Grass
Contrary to the name, this plant isn’t actually a grass at all. Instead, it’s related to lilies. An easy-to-grow, attractive perennial groundcover, mondo grass is a good option for a turf alternative in shade gardens. Hardy in Zones 6-10, its grass-like foliage forms dense tufts that slowly spread over time and require no mowing. On top of the crisp foliage, small stalks of flowers appear in summer. Mondo grass can also make a minimalist statement as a container plant indoors or out. Mondo Grass Overview GENUS NAME Ophiopogon COMMON NAME Mondo Grass PLANT TYPE Perennial LIGHT Part Sun, Shade, Sun HEIGHT 4 to 15 inches WIDTH 6 to 15 inches FLOWER COLOR Pink, White FOLIAGE COLOR Blue/Green, Purple/Burgundy SEASON FEATURES Summer Bloom SPECIAL FEATURES Good for Containers, Low Maintenance ZONES 10, 6, 7, 8, 9 PROPAGATION Division, Seed PROBLEM SOLVERS Deer Resistant, Groundcover, Slope/Erosion Control Where to Plant…
Mint
Plant mint for fresh recipes or to help attract beneficial insects to your garden. Colorful Combinations When people typically think of mint, two types come to mind: peppermint and spearmint. There are several other lesser-known species, all with a distinct taste. Mint plants are easily crossed with one another, and several hybrids occur naturally, resulting in a range of delicious flavors, scents, and intensities. Most commonly grown for their culinary appeal, many species are attractive. In summer, clusters of small blooms appear in shades of lavender, but can be white or pink, too. There are also attractive variegated mints, which make eye-catching garnishes. Look for variegated pineapple mint with its cream-edged fuzzy leaves or ginger mint with deep green leaves and golden veins. Mint Care Must-Knows No matter which variety you decide to grow, mint tolerates a variety of soil conditions. For the most productive plants with the strongest…
Milkweed
A Toxic Relationship Milkweed is a fascinating group of plants that have developed a set of defense mechanisms to keep predators away. The main source of this is also where the plant gets its common name—from the milky sap. The milky sap and all parts of the plant contain high levels of a compound toxic to all vertebrates. Monarch butterfly larvae have evolved with this plant and developed the ability to store this lethal compound in their body, making them toxic to vertebrates as well. This is what gives monarchs their characteristic bad taste. The second defense these plants have is the characteristics of the milky sap itself. Milkweeds actually don’t like being preyed upon by monarchs. These plants are taken advantage of for their toxic sap by fellow prey looking for defense. To protect themselves, milkweed plants keep their lethal latex under high pressure, so that when they…
Milk Thistle
This striking member of the daisy family has thorny, variegated foliage and purple blooms that resemble large thistles. Remove the blooms before seeds mature to prevent the plant from self-seeding and becoming weedy. When cut, the plant produces a white, milky liquid, which is how it got its name. The plant has been used for centuries as a treatment for diseases of the liver and gallbladder. In its native range, it is an annual, but it may overwinter in zones 5-9. Milk Thistle Overview GENUS NAME Silybum marianum COMMON NAME Milk Thistle PLANT TYPE Annual, Herb LIGHT Part Sun, Sun HEIGHT 3 to 8 feet WIDTH 2 to 3 feet FLOWER COLOR Blue, Purple SEASON FEATURES Summer Bloom SPECIAL FEATURES Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance ZONES 10, 11, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 PROPAGATION Seed
Melon
Some of the sweetest flavors of summer are easy to grow at home. Types of Melons Melons are round fruits with a strong aroma and netted skin. Their flesh is usually orange, but green-flesh types are also available. Honeydew melons have smooth skin, and their pale flesh may be white, green, or orange. When choosing which melons to grow in your area, note the length of your growing season. If you garden in Zones 6 and above, any type of melon can be planted in spring and ripen before the threat of frost. In Zones 5 and below, look for varieties that require 65 to 80 days to harvest. This is called “days to maturity”; info can be found on the seed packet. Melon Care Must-Knows Melon grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Plants thrive when they receive at least 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. Quick-draining…
Marjoram
Say hello to this easy-care herb perfect for container gardens, rock gardens, and flower borders. Planting Marjoram Marjoram’s attractive gray-green foliage adds visual contrast to sun-loving herbs that have dark green leaves, such as chives, mint, and parsley. It’s also a good complement to plants with silvery foliage, such as lavender, basil, sage, and thyme. Because of its tidy size and drought-tolerant nature, marjoram is a natural for container gardens. Grow it with other herbs or vegetables, or enjoy it with low-maintenance flowers. This easy-care herb is also a natural for rock gardens and flower borders. ANDY LYONS Marjoram Care Must-Knows Like most Mediterranean herbs, marjoram needs a spot that gets plenty of sun (at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun is best) and good drainage. If the ground stays wet too long, marjoram roots develop root rot and die. If your yard has clay soil, grow it in containers or raised beds. Once established,…
Maple
Choosing A Site Maples grow best in a planting site with full sun or part shade. But check the tag that came with your specimen. Some species, such as Japanese maple, grow best in filtered light where their leaves are protected from direct sunlight (thus preventing leaf scorch). Maple trees also prefer moist, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil, although they grow well in a vast range of soil types. A few species, such as silver maple, thrive in moist to wet soil. Some species, such as Norway maple, can become invasive pests; check local restrictions before planting. Maple Tree Care Purchase your maple from a reputable local nursery that specializes in varieties that are well-suited to your area. Big-box stores can be a good source of trees, but it is important to carefully examine the tree prior to purchase. If possible, slip it out of its growing container and look at the…
Manzanita
Manzanita Overview DESCRIPTION Flowers, drought tolerance, evergreen foliage, and colorful red, purple, and gray bark on some species make manzanitas great landscape plants. They easily earn the label year-round plants. Ranging from just a few inches tall to towering 20-foot-tall plants, manzanitas vary greatly in shape and form. There is likely a great cultivar for your temperate landscape. Flowers vary from pink to white and are a favorite of hummingbirds and bees. Manzanitas grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. They do not grow well in soil that is moist in summer. They prefer life on the dry side. Do not fertilize. GENUS NAME Arctostaphylos COMMON NAME Manzanita PLANT TYPE Perennial, Shrub, Tree LIGHT Part Sun, Sun HEIGHT 8 to 20 feet WIDTH null to 10 feet FLOWER COLOR Blue, Pink, Purple, White SEASON FEATURES Colorful Fall Foliage, Spring Bloom, Winter Interest SPECIAL FEATURES Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers ZONES…
How to Plant and Grow Mandevilla
Add a splash of color to any sunny vertical space in your garden with this flowering tropical plant. A classic tropical vine, mandevilla (Mandevilla) is a great way to add a splash of color to any sunny vertical space in your garden. With big, showy blooms that continue all summer and the fact that the plant is low-maintenance makes it a top vine choice. Mandevilla vines have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, and breeding work continues to expand the vine’s varieties. Bill Stites. Mandevillas are all about the big, tropical-looking blooms. They come in shades of pink, red, and white, and many shades in between. Now there’s a new color added to the range, a beautiful apricot. The large five-petaled blooms often have a rich golden throat inside that adds to the tropical look. Flowers are borne in clusters that will continue to grow and add more buds all the time.…