houseplants Archives - A Way To Garden

‘fat’ houseplants: caudiciforms and more, with ken druse

margaret — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:32:25 +0000

IF ANOTHER HOUSEPLANT dropped all its leaves for several months each year, you’d think you killed it. But with some of Ken Druse‘s and my favorite indoor companions, from Bowiea to Jatropha and more, a regular dormant period is just part of their lifecycle. And even if all their leaves are missing in action for a while, these curious plants’ sculptural, swollen bases are still there to admire—water- and nutrient- filled structures that are also the plant’s secret to survival. Ken and I are fans of what are sometimes called fat plants—some of which are technically classified as caudificorm (having a caudex at the base), and on a recent podcast, we talked about these collectible curiosities (like my Pseudobombax ellipticum, whoe caudex is in the photo above). Ken is the author of 20 garden books, and gardens extensively, outdoors and indoors, in New Jersey. He’s also my co-host of the Virtual Garden Club series of online classes the last several years. Read along as you listen to the March 3, 2025 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify (and browse my archive of […]

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secrets to holiday-cactus success, with matt mattus

margaret — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 11:38:48 +0000

I WAS SCROLLING through Instagram the other day—yes, sometimes I just can’t help myself—when I saw a post by Matt Mattus about Christmas cactus. So even though it’s still high summer, it made me long for one of my own. I haven’t grown a holiday cactus since my very old plant took a nasty spill in a move of houses years ago. Seeing Matt’s post also made me think it was time for a review of how to get those lavish bloomers to do their colorful thing, and that was what I asked him about when we spoke recently. Matt Mattus gardens in Massachusetts and is the author of various garden books, including “Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening” and “Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening.” When he isn’t tending his own ambitious garden and greenhouse or hosting Open Day tours, he also provides consultation services, both virtually and in person, to help others with garden design and plant-care issues. Read along as you listen to the Aug. 19, 2024 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts […]

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propagating houseplants, with hilton carter

margaret — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 19:10:54 +0000

I,FOR ONE, have a number of houseplants that would look a whole lot better right now if given a pinch or two or three, plus I could potentially enjoy the benefit of more plants from those trimmings, whether to keep, or better yet, to share. A new book by plant stylist Hilton Carter demystifies multiple methods of making more plants, including by various types of cuttings, and he filled me in, including on why rooting in water is his favorite medium of all. “The Propagation Handbook” (affiliate link), just out, is Hilton’s fifth book, and you may know him from one of those, or his popular Instagram channel, or his merchandise at Target, his latest plant-decor collection there—including rotating pots so turning yours to give them even exposure to light is simpler than ever—is also just out. He shared some propagation tips and also the story of how the idea of his living wall, above, got started. Plus: Comment in the box near the bottom of the page for a chance to win a copy of his newest book. Read along as you listen to the April 15, 2024 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. […]

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