Blog
Schefflera: How to Propagate by Cuttings, Air Layering, and Seeds
A schefflera cutting comes from a stem with a node, planted in moist soil. Discover tip cuttings, single-node cuttings that yield multiple plants, air layering for tall specimens, why a leaf alone will not sprout, and how to preserve variegation.
Schefflera with Yellow Leaves: Which Leaf Turned Yellow and What to Do
A single lower leaf turning yellow at a time is just the schefflera shedding an old leaf. Many yellow leaves dropping, the whole plant turning light green in winter, or yellow speckles call for something else. Here is the one-minute test for each cause.
Philodendron Yellow Leaves (Silver Sword Too): Read the Cause from Where the Yellow Shows
One lower leaf yellowing at a time, with new growth emerging at the top, is simply your philodendron shedding an old leaf. Soft leaves with wet soil, a washed-out plant, or specks on the underside point to something else. Here is how to test each cause, including on silver sword.
Philodendron Care: Vining, Upright, and Collector Types
Philodendron is a plant group with three growth habits, and each habit requires different care. Learn how to identify yours, when to water using the finger test, where to place the pot, and what to do with aerial roots.
How to Care for Dracaena: Light, Watering, Fluoride, and Brown Tips
Dracaena tolerates low light and missed waterings, but has three weak spots: fluoride in the water, too much moisture at the base of the stem, and the shock of shedding lower leaves. Find out which dracaena you have and what each sign requires.
How to Care for a Venus Flytrap: Water, Sun, and Black Traps
Store-bought Venus flytraps usually die in weeks for three reasons: tap water, potting soil, and low light. Here is how to avoid each one, when a black trap is normal, and how winter works in Brazil.
How Often to Water a Venus Flytrap: The Tray Method
Venus flytraps need constantly moist soil, with water in a tray under the pot. Learn when to refill the tray in hot and cold weather, how much water to leave, how to water during dormancy, and which water won't kill your plant.
How to Propagate Dracaena Marginata Tricolor: One Cut, Two Plants
Cutting the top off a leggy Dracaena marginata Tricolor gives you two plants: the crown roots in a new pot and the remaining cane regrows. Learn where to cut, how to plant cane segments right side up, how to air layer, and why tap water interferes.
Bromeliad Potting Mix: Can You Use Orchid Bark?
Yes, and it is one of the best choices for tank bromeliads because their roots function more as anchors than for drinking water. Here is which orchid mix to use, the DIY recipe, the right pot, and the exception for terrestrial bromeliads.
How to Care for an Inch Plant (Tradescantia zebrina): Light, Water, Pruning
An inch plant fades and loses its lower leaves when the light is wrong, both in a dim corner and in harsh afternoon sun. See where to place it, when to water, and how to make it full again with its own stem tips.
How to Propagate Bromeliads: When to Separate Pups and Where to Plant
A bromeliad pup is the offshoot that grows at the base of the plant after it blooms. Learn what size to separate it, where to cut, whether to let the cut dry, where to plant, and how long rooting takes.
How Often to Water a Bromeliad: The Cup, the Soil, and the Deciding Test
Potted bromeliads drink through their central cup, while the soil stays only slightly moist. Learn the starting frequency, how to change the cup water, what water to use, and when to empty the cup in the cold.