Frequently Asked Questions

We get asked some questions over and over.  While we never mind answering your questions, here are the most asked questions with answers. 

General Plant Care 

How often should I water my plants? 

Most indoor plants should be kept evenly moist.  If you feel dry soil when you put your index finger in the soil up to your knuckle, you need to water your plants.  Buying a cheap soil moisture meter makes telling when to water even easier.  Insert it into the soil and if the readout says it is dry, water the plant.  Letting the top of the soil dry out between waterings helps keep fungus gnats from laying their eggs and swarming around your plants. 

Outdoors, if you have just planted something, you will need to water it every day for two weeks.  Then start spreading the watering out a few days at a time until you are watering once a week.  If the temperature is hot, you may have to water twice a week.  Again, a soil moisture meter can help you tell if the soil is too dry or too wet. 

What type of soil is best for different plants? 

The best soil for all plants is sandy loam.  However, most people do not have sandy loam soil.  You can add an inch of compost to the top six inches of soil to make the soil better.  If you have clay soil, try a raised bed and add a mix of topsoil (bags from the store) and compost.  Sandy soils need compost mixed into them so the water will remain in the soil, not drain away before the plant can use it. 

Another factor is the pH of the soil.  Blueberries, for example, require acid soil.  So do dogwood trees and  .  In contrast, blackberries require neutral to alkaline soil.  Your County Extension Agent can tell you how to test your soil, so you know not only the pH of the soil but the nutrients you need to add for your plants to grow best. 

What are the signs my plant needs fertilizing? 

Plants turn yellow, grow poorly, and produce few flowers or seeds.  In general, fertilize when you see new growth.  Do not fertilize when the plants are drought stressed or dormant. 

Plant Selection 

Which plants are best for beginners? 

Flowering plants are easy plants for most beginners, such as sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, and black-eyed susan.  You can get 15 different easy to grow plants in our 15 Monarch Pollinator Plants package.  

How do I choose the right plant for my climate zone? 

All the listings for our plants have the climate zones they grow in right on the listing.  If your zone is listed for a plant you want, it will probably grow there. 

What are some low-maintenance indoor plants? 

Spider plants, jade plants, and succulents are easy indoor plants. 

Which outdoor plants thrive in shaded areas? 

Hostas do really well in partial shade.  Hellebores, some types of phlox, autumn fern, and Virginia bluebells do well in shade, too. 

Planting and Propagation 

What is the best time to plant perennials, trees, ground covers? 

The best time to plant these is in the fall.  It allows the roots to get established before the winter comes.  You can plant these in early spring as well, but fall is best. 

How do I propagate plants from cuttings? 

Some plants can be grown from cuttings.  Woody plants are propagated in the spring by cutting the tips of the branches.  Dip these in rooting hormone and put them in some potting soil.  Water the plant so the soil is wet, then put a plastic bag over the plant from the top to the soil.  Place in low light for a week to ten days and keep the soil moist to let the cutting grow roots.  Remove the bag and place in indirect light to grow the cutting out. 

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