Tropical container gardening has become increasingly popular because it is well-suited for small spaces and brightens up every patio. Whether looking for a foliage filler or a flowering plant with exotic blooms, tropical plants are the perfect companion for your summer garden.
Placing a few tropical plants into your garden beds and container designs can transform your traditional planters into a tropical jungle filled with unique foliage textures and lavish, bright florals.
The gladiolus, also known as “glads”, is a beautiful symbol of summer’s arrival. These impressive flowers look stunning in the garden or as an elegant arrangement in a vase.
Easy to grow, gladiolus are ideal for novice gardeners. The corms are planted in the spring and within a few weeks, their orchid-like blooms will quickly fill your garden with colour.
The gladiolus originated in Africa and Eurasia, finding its way to North America in the mid-1900s. Their impressive size prompted experts to deem them the Latin term Gladius or “sword”, leading to their appropriate nickname, the sword lily.
Standing on stems that can reach upwards of five feet, gladiolus come in a variety of striking colours, with each flower adorned with smaller blooms. These blooms reach a width of about 3 to five inches across.
Here are some helpful hints on how you can grow delightful gladiolus in your garden.
Do you have trouble keeping your houseplants healthy and alive? We all may be a little guilty of losing a plant or two, but while you may believe you are destined to have a black thumb, perhaps you just need a little more information and understanding of what NOT to do with your plants.
If you have one houseplant or one hundred around your home, you will have made at least one of these mistakes.
As 2022 welcomes the year of the Peperomia, it is an excellent opportunity to add this easy-to-manage tropical plant to your home.
Native to Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean, the Peperomia is a member of the pepper family that allows you to incorporate lush tropical vibes into your decor.
Not only do plant lovers choose the Peperomia for its hardiness, but also for the stunning foliage that sets it apart from other houseplants.
Leaves come in a variety of colours, including red, grey, green, and purple, beautifully blended to create a marbled effect. This plant makes a statement with heart-shaped leaves that come in assorted sizes, so you can easily find a colour and size that fits your taste. Blooms are long, narrow stalks in green or brown. They don’t actually resemble flowers, and often people pinch them off as they can take away from the overall aesthetic of the plant. In a home setting, blooming can be a rare occurrence.
The Peperomia is known by several other names, including: