Malia Marin

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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.

As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Malia Marin

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    Produce By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    How To Revive Bird Of Paradise Plants

    How to Revive Bird of Paradise Plants. The bird of paradise plant (Strelitzia reginae) is a surprisingly hardy tropical beauty, with upright, paddle-shaped leaves and striking, long-lasting flowers. It can be grown outdoors, as a landscape specimen in frost-free areas. In colder climates, this plant will thrive in large containers. When their requirements are met, bird of paradise plants are generally pest-free and vigorous. However, plants that have been growing in the same location or container for a long time may show signs of decline. When this happens, they can be successfully revived by following a few easy steps.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    Ground Cover Plants For Hawaii

    Ground Cover Plants for Hawaii. Ground covers are arguably the hardest working plants in the garden, holding strong against weed invasions, and protecting soil from erosion and desiccation. This is certainly true in Hawaii, where a year-round growing season gives weeds a distinct advantage. Well chosen ground covers can give your garden a neat, polished appearance, and significantly reduce maintenance. Selecting the right ground cover is largely a matter of matching the plant's cultural requirements with the conditions of your location.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    Hawaii Vine Plant Identification

    Hawaii Vine Plant Identification. From sun-drenched shore to misty tropical rain forest, the Hawaiian Islands are home to many spectacular vines. A few are natives, and many others have been imported over time from far away places. Different types of vines living in Hawaii often prefer very different habitats. Some vines are easily identified by their flowers or scented foliage. Sorting out which is which is largely a matter of knowing where to look.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    How To Identify Papaver Somniferum

    How to Identify Papaver Somniferum. Papaver somniferum, better know as the opium poppy, is a Eurasian native, widely cultivated for the sticky gum produced by maturing seed pods, which is the source of opium, morphine and codeine. Its nutritious seeds, which contain no narcotic substances, are used for baking. The opium poppy has naturalized over much of the United States, and can sometimes be found growing along roadsides. This showy annual bears large, papery flowers in white, red and shades of lavender. There are several varieties of Papaver somniferum, some of which superficially resemble their cultivated and wild relatives. When they're in bloom, you can identify them by a few distinguishing characteristics.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    Salt Water Plants Of Hawaii

    Salt Water Plants of Hawaii. The Hawaiian Islands support numerous species of marine plants, including seaweeds and other algae. Various kinds of seaweed, called limu in Hawaiian, were collected for food, medicine and ritual, and used by ancient Hawaiians. They are still incorporated into the diets of Hawaii's people. Many of these marine plants have salty, spicy flavors. Limu is also very rich in minerals and vitamins A, B12, C and riboflavin. Hawaii's waters also support introduced alien marine plants, some of which have become invasive.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    What Are The Benefits Of A Greenhouse In Hawaii?

    What Are the Benefits of a Greenhouse in Hawaii?. With year-round balmy temperatures, plentiful rain and sunny skies, few would ever think that it would be beneficial to grow plants in a greenhouse in Hawaii. While it seems counter-intuitive at first, a greenhouse makes a lot of sense in the Hawaiian Islands. While many plants thrive outdoors in Hawaii, some gardening situations may work better in a greenhouse.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    How To Trim Citrus Trees In Hawaii

    How to Trim Citrus Trees in Hawaii. The first citrus trees were brought to Hawaii in the early 1800's. These first trees grew and produced so well in Hawaii that many more varieties were imported and hybridized in the following centuries. Today Hawaiian gardeners enjoy growing many different types of citrus in backyard gardens and small orchards. Even dwarf cultivars can produce tremendous harvests for little effort in just a few years. Proper regular pruning is one of the most essential factors contributing to vigorous citrus trees and abundant yields in Hawaiian gardens and orchards.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    How To Take Care Of Hawaiian Lava Rock Plants

    How to Take Care of Hawaiian Lava Rock Plants. The fine art of bonsai arrived in Hawaii when the first Japanese immigrants came to work sugar plantations in the late 1800s. Bonsai masters in Hawaii continued to shape dwarf trees in the traditional manner until the 1940s, when many Japanese Hawaiians destroyed or abandoned their bonsais to avoid being persecuted as pro-Japanese sympathizers. After WWII, new enthusiasm for bonsai emerged in Hawaii, and we have the adventurous spirit of this new generation of artists to thank for lava rock plants. Dwarfed tropical plants rooted into chunks of Hawaiian lava rock represent the fusion of cultures, and are surprisingly easy to care for.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    How To Hand Pollinate Vanilla Bean Flowers

    How to Hand Pollinate Vanilla Bean Flowers. Vanilla has become synonymous with "plain" in American culture, but in reality, it is anything but. This truly exotic spice is derived from the specially cured seed capsules of a vine-like tropical orchid, native to Mexico. The greenish white flowers last a single day, opening just before sunrise and wilting before nightfall. If they are not pollinated during this period, they fall from the plant. In their native habitat, they are pollinated by small, stingless bees, but due to the particular anatomy of the flowers, pollination rates in the wild are low. In cultivation, vanilla must be pollinated by hand.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    What Is Ficus Tree Scale Disease?

    What Is Ficus Tree Scale Disease?. Ficus trees are relatively resistant to most common plant pests, but a notable exception is scale. When an apparently healthy ficus tree suddenly loses vigor, yellows and drops its leaves, closer inspection might reveal clusters of brown, to gray, shell-like insects, coated in a sticky substance. Adult scale insects make a living sucking juices out of plant tissue with specialized mouth parts. Understanding these insects' life cycles can help keep ficus trees healthy.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    How To Grow Deciduous Fruit Trees In Hawaii

    How to Grow Deciduous Fruit Trees in Hawaii. In Hawaii, most fruit stands feature exotic mangoes, bananas, coconuts and other tropical fare. While deciduous fruit is not commercially grown in the State, it is possible to grow certain varieties in the home garden or orchard. Since these trees require a period of chilly temperatures to set fruit, they grow best at elevations above 2,000 feet in Hawaii. Some low chill cultivars will grow well and dependably produce fruit in warmer locations, provided they receive proper care.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    Fruit Tree And Vegetable Gardening In Oahu, Hawaii

    Fruit Tree and Vegetable Gardening in Oahu, Hawaii. Gardening is a big part of Oahu's outdoor lifestyle, where residents enjoy a year-round growing season with dependable moisture brought by trade winds. An astonishing variety of fruits and vegetables can be grown here--due in part to the exotic food plants brought to the island by many cultures. Gardening on Oahu is not without its challenges; however, with proper plant selection, you can grow healthy, delicious food in your own backyard.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    Plants Recommended To Prevent Soil Erosion

    Plants Recommended to Prevent Soil Erosion. Plants are nature's way of stabilizing soil. Good plants for erosion control share several characteristics. Because erosion-prone terrain is often harsh, plants must be tolerant of extremes such as flooding and drought. They must be perennials with aboveground parts such as twigs or dried stalks that persist year round to catch and hold eroding soil. Finally they must not be invasive. Native plants make excellent choices because they are well adapted to local conditions.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022

    Hawaiian Tropical House Plants

    Hawaiian Tropical House Plants. Because tropical house plants thrive in Hawaii's warm, humid climate, many species are cultivated commercially for export. Some of these plants, such as orchids, have been grown by Hawaiian nurseries for so long that many people think of them as Hawaiian, even though they are not native to the islands. Most house plants grown in Hawaii for export are generally hardy and easily grown indoors.

    By Malia Marin November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin November 3rd, 2022

    How To Propagate Anthurium

    How to Propagate Anthurium. Once you have seen the impossible flowers of the anthurium plant, you won't forget their almost plastic texture, their heart-shaped form and their brilliant shades of red, orange and pink. Anthuriums, also called flamingo flower, are natives of South American rain forests. They live in the moist, deeply shaded understory, on porous, infertile soils, with constant humidity. These lovely plants can be quite hardy when their basic needs are met. Hybrid anthuriums rarely produce seed, and are most often propagated by offsets, which they produce freely. By choosing the right potting mix, and maintaining high humidity, you can propagate your own anthuriums from developing offsets.

    By Malia Marin November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    Hawaiian Banyan Tree Facts

    Hawaiian Banyan Tree Facts. Banyan is the name given to several species of the genus Ficus. These large trees, which are native to the tropics and subtropics, were brought to the Hawaiian Islands in the late 1800s. Although they are not native plants, banyans have become an integral part of the Hawaiian landscape.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    Drought Tolerant Ornamental Trees

    Drought Tolerant Ornamental Trees. Trees are an integral part of the water-wise landscape, providing cooling shade and favorable micro-climates. Many drought-tolerant trees are also ornamental, featuring lovely flowers, fall foliage or sculptural trunks and branches. Selecting the right tree for your water-wise landscape means finding species with requirements that match your climatic conditions and water budget.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    High Desert Shade Plants

    High Desert Shade Plants. Shade is a scarce commodity in the sun-drenched high desert. Yet cool, inviting shade is a must-have for gardens. The challenge is to find shade-loving plants that can handle the rigors of high desert life. Fortunately, there are many native plants that are adapted to life in the shade. Some plants are dependably hardy in high desert shade as well.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    How To Propagate A Sea Grape Plant

    How to Propagate a Sea Grape Plant. The sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) is a small, multi-stemmed coastal tree native to Florida and the Gulf Region. This attractive tree takes salt spray, poor soil and drought in stride. It produces a rounded canopy up to 25 feet high with leathery, dark green, disk-shaped leaves that turn bright red in fall. A delicious jelly is made from the mature fruits, which resemble rounded, green grapes. These tough trees are often used in coastal gardens, parking lots and streetscapes. They can be easily propagated by using cuttings.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    The Best Vegetables To Grow In Hawaii

    The Best Vegetables to Grow in Hawaii. Hawaii's year-round growing season makes it an ideal place to grow vegetables. But paradise is not without perils for many crop plants. Insect pests and pathogens can decimate plants not adapted to the tropics. The key to a successful vegetable garden in Hawaii lies in selecting disease-resistant plants, which are well-adapted to tropical growing conditions.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    Suitable Plants For Bali Gardens

    Suitable Plants for Bali Gardens. In Bali, the outdoor environment is considered just as much a part of the living space as indoor rooms. Outdoor rooms, like walled courtyards, are seamlessly connected to living areas by wide sliding doors. Terraced pools and gardens adjacent to buildings stretch the living space out into the landscape. In Balinese gardens, plants are used architecturally, to define and enclose space. With their varied colors and textures, they are used to furnish living rooms in the landscape.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    Mint Plants Of Hawaii

    Mint Plants of Hawaii. Hawaii's native mints are a charming, paradoxical group of plants which don't look, or even smell anything like other mints. Some botanists theorize that the absence of predators in Hawaii caused these mints to gradually lose the aromatic defenses of their ancestors. These diverse beauties more than make up for the lack of aromatic foliage with their beautiful, often fragrant flowers and lovely habit. The mint family is represented by four genera in Hawaii.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    How To Plant Tropical Onions

    How to Plant Tropical Onions. The tropical onion (Allium cepa) forms a single, rounded bulb with no offsets and usually is propagated by sets or seeds. These onions are short- to medium-day length types, which produce bulbs during the short days of winter through spring. With careful soil preparation and good timing, you can grow a healthy crop of tropical onions in just a few months. Onion sets produce ripe bulbs in 90 to 120 days, and seeds mature in about 160 days. A little attention to detail can yield tasty homegrown onions, even in the tropics.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    How To Propagate A Water Hyacinth

    How to Propagate a Water Hyacinth. Water hyacinth is a floating aquatic plant from Brazil, with bright green, fan-shaped leaves, which emerge from clusters of fleshy bulbs. Its spikes of showy, purple flowers held above the floating plants are reminiscent of Dutch hyacinths. Water hyacinth is considered an invasive weed, especially in areas where it is not killed by annual winter frosts. In warm regions, it can reproduce very rapidly and has been known to double its population in as little as six days. Nevertheless, with a little care and routine maintenance, this plant can be an attractive addition to closed backyard ponds. It is easily propagated by division.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    The Best Hawaiian Indoor Plants

    The Best Hawaiian Indoor Plants. Hawaii's lush greenery and floral fireworks can also be coaxed indoors to add a touch of tropical paradise to homes and offices. Since dependably warm temperatures, gentle breezes and constant mild humidity characterize much of the state's climate, the biggest variable in indoor plant culture in Hawaii is the amount of available light. By evaluating how much light is available, you can match plants' light needs with their environment and enjoy success with indoor plants.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    Common Plants Of Hawaii

    Common Plants of Hawaii. Hawaii's inviting tropical climate makes it the perfect place to grow lovely tropical plants and flowers from all over the globe. Shortly after Western contact, foreigners who came to live in Hawaii brought familiar plants with them from their homelands. A very small number of these plant species proved to be invasive, and have severely damaged Hawaii's native plant communities. Hawaii's native plants are quite beautiful themselves, and in recent years have been increasingly incorporated into constructed landscapes.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Produce By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022

    How Does Ginger Root Reproduce?

    How Does Ginger Root Reproduce?. Used widely in Asia and India for food and medicine since ancient times, ginger remains a popular spice in kitchens today. The pungent taste and aroma in curries and baked goods is actually the plant's defense against predators and pathogens. The golden, hand-shaped roots are a common sight in grocery stores, but the story of how ginger grows and reproduces is much less familiar.

    By Malia Marin September 6th, 2022 Read More