Savvy Gardening

Ledebouria: How to grow and care for silver squill plants

Ledebouria, also known as silver squill, is a colorful houseplant with attractive, lance-shaped leaves heavily mottled in silver and green. The undersides of the leaves have a purplish hue and the foliage emerges from teardrop-shaped bulbs that sit above the growing medium. Gardeners love ledebouria because it’s compact and thrives in average room temperatures with minimal watering. It’s also super easy to propagate so you can get more plants for your collection or to share with friends and family. Keep reading to learn how to care for this popular plant.

Begonia Gryphon: Advice for growing this cane begonia indoors or out

Written by Jessica Walliser

An eye-catching evergreen perennial that’s often grown as a houseplant, Begonia Gryphon has the “tropical vibe” down pat. With its thick, colorful leaves and unique appearance, it’s a beautiful addition to shady gardens and houseplant collections. The official botanical name of this plant is Begonia x hybrida ‘Gryphon’. Commonly, it is called either the Gryphon Begonia or Begonia Gryphon. Read on to learn both essential and general information about how to care for this plant both indoors and out.
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Bokashi composting: A step-by-step guide to indoor composting

Written by Niki Jabbour

Gardeners know the value of compost, but it can be tricky to find space to produce enough compost for an outdoor garden or even an indoor plant collection. This is where bokashi composting comes in handy. You don’t need much space or equipment to reap the benefits of bokashi composting. In fact, you can even keep a bokashi composting bin conveniently indoors. The bokashi method enables you to turn meat scraps, dairy products, cooked leftovers, and more into usable nutrients for your soil and plants. Also known as bokashi fermentation, this composting process uses beneficial microbes to pickle food waste that isn’t well-suited for traditional composting. Keep reading to learn more about bokashi composting.

When to plant daffodil bulbs: Plan for spring flowers in the fall

Written by Tara Nolan

Daffodils are among my favorite spring flowers. Those cheerful faces in various shades of yellow grin and bear it, even on the coldest of spring days. The flowers are easy to snip for a vase to bring that cheerfulness indoors. And, if you plant a variety with different bloom times, you can stretch out your daffodil season. Knowing when to plant daffodil bulbs (and when to order or buy them) is a good way to ensure you’ll have some flowers opening at a time of year when we’re all eager for signs of life in the garden. In this article, I’m going to share tips on when to plant daffodil bulbs, where to dig them into the garden, how far apart to space them, and a few other helpful tips.

North facing window plants: 15 houseplants for northern exposure

Written by Jessica Walliser

While the lower light levels of windows that face north may seem like less-than-ideal conditions for growing houseplants, there are a surprising number of north facing window plants that thrive in the indirect light they provide. In this article, I’ll explain how to determine whether your windows are north facing, and I’ll introduce 15 of the best north facing window plants for your home.
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Sinningia: A complete guide to growing and caring for sinningia plants

Written by Niki Jabbour

Sinningia, also known as gloxinia or bright eyes, is a popular houseplant with velvety green leaves and large bell-shaped flowers. The dazzling blooms come in a range of brilliant colors including red, purple, pink, and white, as well as many color combinations. Cultivation is relatively easy, but gloxinia does have particular light requirements and the plants go dormant for several months of the year. Keep reading to learn how to grow, care for, and propagate sinningia plants.