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How to Use Wicks to Water Plants. A temporary wick-watering system is easy to create at home, and it will keep your potted plants watered and happy while you're away or otherwise unable to water them by hand. A plant can survive for a long period of time via wick watering if the reservoir holding the water is large enough. You can also use wicks to water container plants permanently with a little modification to the system.
Read MoreHow to Care for Cornflower. Cornflower, also known as Bachelor's Buttons, is a perennial or annual flowering plant native to Europe and the Americas. It is typically grown as an annual in the United States, although some perennial varieties can be grown in warm climates. Cornflower plants produce bluish-lavender flowers in the late spring and early summer, which are characterized by their fringed, thistle-like appearance. They are popular in cut flower gardens, borders and edging, and wildflower gardens. If allowed to set seed, cornflower will return year after year with only minimal care and maintenance.
Read MoreHow to Care for Celosia. Celosia, also known as cock's comb, is a genus of tender annuals made up of about 60 different species. They are edible, but are more commonly grown for ornamental purposes. They can produce one of three different flower structures depending on the species. Celosia flowers can be red, gold, yellow, orange, purple or multi-colored. Celosia is native to South America, Africa and Asia, and can be easily cultivated in most temperate climates.
Read MoreHow to Care for Tick Weed. Tick weed, more commonly known as tickseed or coreopsis, is a flowering perennial native to North America. Plants reach up to 4 feet in height and produce yellow, daisy-like flowers in summer through early fall. Valued for its ease of care, dependable performance, adaptability to a variety of growing conditions and attractive blooms, tick weed is generally undemanding once established. Hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 9, tick weed thrives in most areas of the country with very little care.
Read MoreIce Plant Care. The ice plant, also known as Lampranthus, produces attractive, daisylike flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, purple or cream, depending on the variety. This succulent perennial's common name refers to its blossoms, which seem to sparkle in the sun and cover the foliage completely. Originating from South Africa, ice plant performs well with only minimal care in many temperate areas of the world. The plant rarely reaches more than 2 feet in height with an unlimited spread, making it ideal for ground cover.
Read MoreHow to Grow Capsicum Annuum. Capsicum annuum is a vegetable plant that produces ornamental and culinary fruit. Many cultivars are available, including bell peppers, sweet peppers and hot peppers. Capsicum plants are native to tropical areas and cannot survive in cold conditions. They are grown as annuals in most areas of the United States. They may, however, be grown as perennials in tropical regions where temperatures remain between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit year round. Capsicum annuum take a bit of effort to grow, as they must be started from seed. The fruit is ready for harvest after about 120 days.
Read MoreHow to Take Care of a Mandevilla Hoop Plant. Mandevilla, also known as hoop plant, is a perennial vine valued for its climbing growth habit, ornamental flowers and ease of care. The plant blooms during summer, producing flowers in shades of pink, yellow and white, depending on the variety. Mature vines can reach 6 feet in length, though most only reach a fraction of this size when grown indoors. Native to Central and South America, mandevilla thrives outdoors in zones 9 through 11, but is commonly grown as a houseplant throughout the United States.
Read MoreShooting Star Plant Care. Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia), a perennial wildflower native to North America, produces star-like, pendulous flowers in shades of white, pink and violet in late spring to early summer. Closely related to primroses, shooting star grows wild in open woodlands, glades, meadows and prairies across the country. In cultivation, the plant performs best in woodland, rock and wildflower gardens. Once established, the long-lived shooting star plant returns year after year with only minimal care and maintenance.
Read MoreHow to Care for Irish Moss. Irish moss, also known as Scotch moss or Sabina subulata, is a flowering perennial commonly grown as a ground cover because of its short, dense growth habit. The plant naturally self-seeds and can rapidly spread to cover an entire lawn in only a few years. Irish moss blooms during spring and summer, producing small, white flowers. Native to Europe, Irish moss is hardy in planting zones 4 through 10 and thrives in most regions of the U.S. with minimal care.
Read MoreHow to Care for Ginger Lily Plants. Ginger lily, also known as butterfly ginger or by its scientific name, Hedychium coronarium, is an herbaceous flowering plant native to India. The tropical plant thrives in warm temperatures and is winter hardy in zones 7 through 11 in the United States. Although it may die back to the ground with a hard freeze, ginger lily typically returns when temperatures warm again. Gardeners value the plant for its fragrant flowers, attractive form and ease of care in the home landscape.
Read MoreHow to Care for Dusty Miller. Dusty miller is a perennial flowering plant native to the Mediterranean, although it is typically grown as an annual in the United States. Its botanical name is Senecio cineraria. Dusty miller cannot tolerate heavy frosts and cold winters, but it may survive all year in very warm climates. The plant is valued for its attractive silver-green foliage, which may be lacy, deeply cut or ruffled in appearance. Dusty miller is often used in edging borders, flowerbeds and containers, and is available in garden centers across the country. It will provide beautiful foliage from spring through late fall with proper care and maintenance.
Read MoreHow to Take Care of Cannas. Cannas, also called canna lilies, are tropical flowering plants with large, showy foliage and red, yellow or orange flowers. Cannas are grown from rhizomes, which are actually horizontal stems that send out roots and shoots of growth from their nodes. Although native to tropical climates, canna plants can be successfully grown in temperate climates with proper care and maintenance.
Read MoreHow to Care for Matthiola Incana Flowers. Matthiola incana, also known as common stock or gilly flower, performs as a cool weather annual or biennial. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 7 through 10, the flowers may return for a second year of blooms in warmer climates. In most areas of the United States, however, Matthiola incana flowers do not survive the heat of summer. Gardeners prize common stock for its ease of care, early bloom time and clusters of aromatic blossoms that appear in spring. The flowers are often harvested for use in floral arrangements and decorative displays.
Read MoreHow to Care for African Daisy. African daisies, also known as cape marigold, are annual flowering plants native to the arid regions of southern Africa. They are grown most commonly as ornamental garden plants and produce numerous showy, colorful blooms in early summer through fall. The large flowers close at night and during bad weather but shine in full sun. Flower colors include white, yellow, orange, red, pink and violet. The African daisy is very easy to grow and requires very little maintenance after planting.
Read MoreCare of Snowball Bush. Snowball bush, also known as Viburnum opulus, is an ornamental flowering shrub that produces large clusters of white flowers resembling snowballs, hence the plant's common name. Hardy in Zones 3 through 8, snowball bushes thrive in most areas of the United States. Gardeners value the shrub for its attractive foliage, showy blossoms and ease of care. The plant's leaves turn yellow to purplish-red in fall, which adds interest to the autumn and winter garden. The snowball bush reaches up to 10 feet in height with an equal spread when given proper care, making it ideal for hedges, borders and foundation plantings.
Read MoreHow to Grow Tuberous Begonias from Seed. Growing tuberous begonias from seed takes a little more effort than beginning with started plants or tubers. However, if started in winter, the plants will reward you with large, colorful blooms the following summer. Tuberous begonias are prized for their flowers, which can be single or double and come in colors of white, yellow, orange, pink and red. Seeds are typically available in garden centers or through seed catalogs year-round. Start tuberous begonia seeds indoors in December or January for summer blooms.
Read MoreHow to Care for Red Yucca Plants. Red yucca, also known as hummingbird yucca, is a perennial plant valued for its large, ornamental flowers, attractive foliage, drought tolerance and ease of care. The plant blooms during early summer, producing large, red, tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds to the garden, hence the common name. Native to North and Central America, the red yucca plant thrives in USDA zones 5 through 11, making it ideal for lawns and gardens across much of the United States.
Read MoreHow to Care for a Pieris Japonica. Pieris japonica, also known as lily-of-the-valley shrub, is an evergreen shrub valued for its pendulous flower clusters, ease of cultivation and attractive foliage. The plant blooms from summer through winter, producing numerous fragrant flowers in shades of pink and white. Pieris japonica typically reaches 10 feet in height, though a smaller size can easily be maintained with annual pruning. Native to Japan, Pieris japonica thrives in most temperate regions of the world and makes an excellent hedge, perennial border or stand-alone specimen.
Read MoreHow to Look After Geraniums. Geraniums, also known as Pelargoniums, grow natively in South Africa and require warm temperatures to survive. Because they are sensitive to both heat and cold, gardeners grow the plants as annuals in the United States. Popular as bedding and container plants, geraniums thrive during the spring and summer in most areas of the country. Growers value geranium plants for their colorful blossoms and attractive leaves. Flowers appear in shades of white, pink, purple and red, and the entire plant reaches up to 15 inches in height.
Read MoreHow to Care for a Chinese Fan Palm. Chinese fan palm (Livistona chinensis) produces large, attractive, fan-shaped leaves with fringed tips. Native to southern Japan, China and Taiwan, the plant requires warmth to thrive and cannot survive cold temperatures. In the United States, gardeners grow Chinese fan palm indoors, except in the extreme southern areas of the country. Grown as either a single-stem tree or mutli-stem shrub, Chinese fan palm reaches heights of up to 40 feet in its native habitat, though it typically stays much shorter indoors.
Read MoreOsteospermum Plant Care. Osteospermum, also known as cape marigold or African daisy, produces daisy-like flowers with dark centers in shades of white, yellow, pink, purple and blue. Native to South Africa, the plant tolerates heat but slows down in extremely hot or humid conditions. Osteospermum blooms in summer through fall, and is perfect for natural gardens throughout the United States. Commonly grown as an annual, the plant may perform as a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11.
Read MoreHow to Care for the Nandina Firepower Plant. Fire Power, a compact cultivar of the popular nandina shrub, reaches up to 2-feet tall and produces large, white flowers in spring and red-tinged leaves in summer. As winter approaches, the leaves turn an attractive, deep-red color that match the red berries borne in fall. Nandina Fire Power grows slowly and spreads through underground stems, eventually creating a large clump that makes an attractive ground cover or specimen planting. The shrub performs best in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10, lives for up to 100 years or more with proper care and is considered relatively low-maintenance.
Read MoreCare of Firecracker Plants. Firecracker plant, also known as cigar flower or its Latin name, Cuphea ignea, is a perennial plant valued for its ornamental flowers, lance-shaped foliage and ease of care. The plant's long, tubular flowers resemble small, red firecrackers, hence the common name. Firecracker plant blooms during the spring and summer months, producing numerous flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. Native to Central America, firecracker plant thrives in consistently warm temperatures and is hardy outdoors in USDA zones 10 through 12 only. Gardeners in most of the United States grow the plant indoors. Caring for firecracker plants is not difficult.
Read MoreBaby Rubber Plant Care. Baby rubber plant, also known by its botanical name, Peperomia obtusifolia, is a succulent perennial native to tropical America. Commonly grown as a houseplant in most areas of the United States, baby rubber plant thrives outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. Gardeners value this small, compact plant for its thick, waxy foliage, ornamental flowers and ease of care. In warm climates, the plant serves as an outdoor ground cover, although it rarely reaches over 12 inches in height.
Read MoreHow to Take Care of a Fern as an Indoor Plant. Ferns are perennial plants commonly grown for their attractive foliage and ease of care. The plants grow from rhizomes that creep along the surface of the soil, and many gardeners consider them to be ornamental. Ferns can grow from 6 inches to 5 feet in height, depending on the variety, though most reach a fairly compact size when grown indoors. Native to tropical and sub-tropical regions, ferns require constant warm temperatures and a humid environment to thrive as indoor plants.
Read MoreCare for Obedience Plant. Obedience plant (Physostegia virginiana), an erect perennial more commonly known as obedient plant or false dragonhead, derives its common name from the stem's ability to remain in place when moved. This makes the plant especially valuable for use in cut flower arrangements or for planting in a child's garden. In addition, obedience plant tolerates soggy conditions where other flowering plants may fail. Native to eastern North America, the plant grows wild along streams, creeks, swamps, ditches, damp meadows and bogs. In the home garden, obedience plant requires only minimal care if you provide it with an optimal planting location.
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