Think orchids are too hard to grow? Well, think again. It doesn’t take a high-tech greenhouse or a horticulture scientist to successfully grow and bloom these exotic beauties. Growing orchids is no harder than growing any other houseplants - it's just different. But like most plants, you just need to give them what they need – adequate light, humidity, water and ventilation. With proper care, they will grow and re-bloom, rewarding you with their stunning color, form and, sometimes, fragrance. If you cannot identify your orchid, then start with these six basic care guidelines:
There is a special grace to the long, arching stem of the orchid. Each breath of air sends the graceful flowers fluttering and dancing in mid-air. Millions of people have been introduced to the beautiful and rewarding world of orchids. McDonald Garden Center has one of the largest collections of orchids in Hampton Roads. Below are some of the types you will find.
CYCLAMEN
Try Cyclamen for big, bold winter color! This cool weather bloomer boosts unusually shaped, colorful blossoms and variegated gray-green elliptical leaves. Depending on the variety, the blossoms may be pink, lavender, deep purple, white, or red. Cyclamen needs cool temperatures to continue blooming, so be sure to keep this plant away from heat sources and, preferably, in the coolest part of the house.
Just weeks ago you picked the perfect Christmas tree, and it doesn't have to go to waste. To us, the outcome is not only sustainable, but a fitting way to complete the cycle for this truest symbol of Christmas.
Treecycling is the practice of recycling Christmas trees in order to extend their usability. Common practices include chipping trees for use as mulch in community areas, erosion protection in fragile areas such as river deltas, underwater habitat creation and shoreline stabilization.
Bird watching is one of America's fastest-growing hobbies, and backyard bird feeding is a convenient way to enjoy these fine-feathered friends. Surveys reveal that nearly half the households in the United States provide food for wild birds. What has made watching birds the fastest growing hobby in the country second only to gardening? The attraction is obvious - feeding birds brings them closer, so we can see them more easily. Their colorful and entertaining presence is fascinating to observe, especially through the long, dreary days of winter.