Category Archives: Houseplants

Another Plant that Refuses to Stop Growing

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Mary Schier

Sweet potato vine makes an encore. I wrote earlier this week about the weirdly warm winter we are having and its effect on a few perennials in my yard. But I have another plant that just won’t stop in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Amazing Plants, Houseplants | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Lavender Blooms in December

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Mary Schier

I was really hoping this would happen when I brought in a French lavender (Lanvendula dentata) plant from outside in November. Because of the extended Indian summer we had — which now seems decades ago due to the relentless snow … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbs, Houseplants | 1 Comment

A Bloom from Beyond?

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Mary Schier

I spent a good part of yesterday editing copy for the November/December issue of Northern Gardener. (It’s going to be a good one!) And, one of the columnists wrote about care of common houseplants, including Hoya carnosa or wax plant. … Continue reading →

Posted in Amazing Plants, Houseplants | 4 Comments

Spring Fever with Plants

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Mary Schier

The wonderful sunshine we’ve been having the past few days and exciting natural phenomenon like Sun-Still-Up-at-5:30 p.m, have got me itching to grow things. It’s still a little early to plant seeds here (though I’m sorely tempted), so I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Container Gardening, Herbs, Houseplants | 1 Comment

Someone Gave Me a Poinsettia—Now What?

Posted on November 28, 2008 by Mary Schier

I suspect my sister, Suzy, is among the many holiday hostesses looking at a leafy, lovely poinsettia this morning and wondering, how do I take care of this? I bought several of the gorgeous poinsettias being sold by the Northfield … Continue reading →

Posted in Houseplants, Seasons | Leave a comment

Water pH and Your Plants

Posted on March 27, 2008 by Mary Schier

Malcolm Burleigh, an award winning grower and breeder of cacti and succulents, approached me last summer with an idea for an article in Northern Gardener about the pH of city water and its effect on plants. Malcolm and one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Houseplants, See it in Northern Gardener | 1 Comment

Hey! It's Working!

Posted on March 13, 2008 by Mary Schier

I don’t know why, but I am always surprised when some new gardening endeavor actually turns out. About a month ago, I decided to try to force some red-twig dogwood branches. I followed the instructions for making a sugar water/bleach … Continue reading →

Posted in Houseplants, Seasons, Shrubs, Winter interest | 2 Comments

Update on the Instant Garden

Posted on February 25, 2008 by Mary Schier

My Instant Garden seeds have germinated and tiny little cotyledons (first leaves) are stretching toward the light. I was concerned about how much stretching was going on, so I moved the pot to this precarious post under some florescent lights … Continue reading →

Posted in Container Gardening, Houseplants, Seed starting | 2 Comments

Repotting Houseplants

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Mary Schier

The Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia) that I have been taking care of for my mother had been looking wimpy for a couple of weeks, so I decided to put it in a bigger pot. This plant is one of two … Continue reading →

Posted in Houseplants | 1 Comment