A Crash Course in Aquaponics: How to Grow Plants and Raise Fish Together
For the experienced gardener and aquarium-keeper, aquaponics is a natural next step. Combining plants with fish allows the excrement from the fish to feed the plants, while the plants clean the water for the fish. You can create a symbiotic environment in your home...
Cool Examples of Moss Graffiti and Plant Art
The hustle and bustle of the city can be contagious. Everyone’s got somewhere to be, something to do, and people move quickly along the streets and avenues lined with multi-story buildings, apartment complexes and neighborhood shops. But nearby, many cities...
Why Are There So Many Plants In the Rainforest?
The biodiversity of plants in the rainforest is staggering. Some rainforests have more species of plant than entire continents, and a single tree in the rainforest may contain more species of epiphyte (plants that grow on other plants) than most countries. But why are...
Barrel Cactus vs Saguaro Cactus: What’s the Difference?
To those of us new to the desert, it can be hard to tell the difference between a barrel cactus vs saguaro cactus. These large cacti grow across the southwestern United States. Young saguaros can closely resemble barrel cacti, adding to the confusion. Let’s break down...
Cuttings: The Magical Way to Grow Plants
Fall is here! The sweaters are warm! The pumpkins are spiced! And leaves are falling from their trees! While many regular gardening activities are winding down, it is the perfect time to begin starting new plants from cuttings. Many of the plants you see every day...
Why Do Desert Plants Have Fat Leaves and Stems, Spines, or No Leaves?
As you wander around the desert or peruse the succulent section of your local garden shop, you might start to wonder why desert plants have such fat leaves. Cacti are famous for their spines, but they (and other desert plants) have other trademark characteristics. The...
How Do Some Trees Get So Big?
Anyone who’s ever visited a rainforest in the tropics or the Pacific Northwest will findi it impossible to ignore how tall the trees are. A defining characteristic of a tree is definitely the fact that trees are taller than bushes -- but why are trees tall? Let’s look...
Magic Plants in the Real World
We’re never too old for fairy tales. Folk stories about gingerbread houses, witches cauldrons, glass slippers, and cursed frogs have shaped our imaginations and cultures since humans first gathered around the fire. To this day, they continue to delight, enchant, and...
Enjoy These Nine Gorgeous Decorative Christmas Plants: Classic to Chic
As the snow starts to fall across the northern U.S., you may be ready to bring some greenery into your life. Festive plants will help you get into the holiday spirit and stave off seasonal depression during the winter months. If you’re not ready to put up your...
18 Plants You Can Grow from Table Scraps (With Instructions)
Composting leftover food is great and all, but what if you could make more food come from your table scraps? This isn’t the stuff of dreams for starving college students - it’s real. You can grow plants from table scraps. It's nice to know where your food comes from...