A bold, flowering bulb, amaryllis is popular for its winter blooming habit and makes a colorful indoor plant as well as a great gift for anyone with a green thumb. But how much do you really know about these familiar flowers? What Is Amaryllis? These plants are part of the flowering bulb genus Hippeastrum, which is native to South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean in tropical and subtropical regions. It must be noted that the familiar amaryllis can easily be confused with the...

There are many delicious greens perfect for the fall garden, and it is easier to grow them than many gardeners realize. There are even ways to extend the autumn growing season to grow your favorite fall greens for extra weeks, giving you healthy, delicious produce to enjoy long after traditional harvests have ended. Top Greens to Grow in Fall A wide variety of greens are hardy in fall and can easily be grown in the garden as well as in containers or window boxes. Depending on your tastes and...

Devised in 1909, the pH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. Its scale ranges from 0-14. Pure water is “neutral” and has a pH of 7, midway between 0 and 14. If a solution has a low concentration of hydrogen ions, the rating will be a higher number and is considered basic or alkaline. Likewise, a high concentration of hydrogen ions rates a lower number and is considered acidic. What pH Means to Your Garden There are four important reasons to monitor your soil’s pH...