Savvy Gardening

Firecracker plant care: How to grow Russelia equisetiformis

If you’re looking for ways to add pops of color to your garden, you’ll find it’s as easy as learning all about firecracker plant care. Firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis) is every butterfly’s and hummingbird’s dream plant, and it’s featured in many butterfly and hummingbird garden plans. The traits that make firecracker plant so appealing to those pollinators will also delight you. Also called the fountain plant, coral fountain, or coral plant, its brightly colored tubular flowers seem to burst forth from narrow green bracts. Firecracker plant care is easy enough, as you’ll read in this article. Here I’ll cover the plant’s origins, where and how to grow firecracker plants, and how to get the brightest show from your new ornamental garden companion.

A stroll through Hunte’s Gardens in Barbados

Written by Tara Nolan

It was on a walk through Hunte’s Gardens where I saw a poinsettia growing outside for the first time. While my own potted specimen was withering away after the holidays in my cold, dim house in the dead of winter, I had escaped to sunny Barbados with my husband and friends. Hunte’s Gardens, a tropical haven that bills itself as “The most enchanting place on earth” had piqued our interest enough when deciding on a day trip, that I didn’t feel like my friends were indulging the garden writer in the group. Everyone was interested in checking it out.

How to plant carrot seeds: A seed to harvest guide

Written by Niki Jabbour

Carrots are a vegetable garden staple grown for their sweet crunchy roots that come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes. And while they’re not difficult to grow, carrots can be a bit fussy to establish. Knowing how to plant carrot seeds can mean the difference between a so-so harvest or a bumper crop of homegrown roots. In this article you’ll learn when to plant carrot seeds, how to do it right, and get tips on caring for your crop.

How deep should a raised garden bed be?

Written by Tara Nolan

As you research project plans for building a raised bed, or you’re considering kits to buy and put together, you may be asking yourself: How deep should a raised garden bed be? There isn’t really one universal measurement when it comes to designs. That’s the beauty of raised beds! But, I’m going to share some tips on how to figure out the right dimensions for your garden—especially if you’re building something from scratch.

Plants that grow in water: A no-fuss, mess-free technique for growing houseplants

Written by Niki Jabbour

I love my growing collection of indoor plants, but admit that I’m a semi-negligent plant parent. Because of this, I’ve learned to focus on plants that grow in water. There’s no soil to spill or worries about pets digging in my houseplants. Plus, there are fewer pests (no fungus gnats!) and I’ve discovered so many awesome houseplants that thrive when grown in a jar, glass, vase, or propagations station filled with clean water. If you want to learn more about plants that grow in water, read on!

Annual vines: 12 great choices for the garden

Written by Tara Nolan

While it takes years for perennial vines, such as climbing rose or wisteria, to properly take hold, annual vines can really shine—and grow quickly in a single growing season. There are several flowering vines that are breathtaking and also pretty easy to grow. So, whether you’re drawn to vibrant blooms and intoxicating scents or especially unusual leaves, you’re bound to find a few contenders here. Best of all, you can use these annual vines to address specific challenges in your landscape, attract bees and other important pollinators, create interesting container and window box arrangements, and more.