Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with plants

I'm looking for flowering or edible, shade-tolerant container plants.

ohsnapdragon — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:23:18 -0800

I'm looking for flowering or edible, shade-tolerant container plants. I have a front balcony, and I want to populate it with pretty plants. However, it is really shady. It is covered and faces east, also open to the south and north, but I think it only gets about two hours of sunshine a day. I have tried a variety of pretty plants from the garden supply center (recommended to me by employees) but they have all died. The only thing still growing is my lettuce I planted from seed, but the other veggies have died too. (It's possible I'm doing something else wrong, but I'm not sure what - they are all in fairly large containers, with a container mix soil, and I water them as needed.)

So I'm looking for plants in a range of sizes - I have some hanging baskets that I would like to fill, and I'd like some larger shrub types to stand alone too. I only like flowering plants unless the leaves are extraordinarily cool somehow, or unless they are edible. And, of course, they have to be amenable to growing in containers instead of the ground.

I also have dogs, so would prefer non-toxic plants as my younger has been known to nibble. Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks.

What tree is this?

vanar sena — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:13:17 -0800

Please help identify this tree. The photo was taken in Vancouver yesterday.

Thorny, sharp-leaved plant with yellow flowers?

warble — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:08:05 -0800

I (foolishly) let a plant with thorns and sharp leaves get rather large next to my house. Now I'm finding it tough to tear it all out because it's so well established. Can anybody help me identify the plant so I can try to figure out if I'm killing enough of it so that it won't come back? I live in Colorado. A picture of the plant is here and a close up of the yellow flowers/leaves is here. The leaves are a shiny green with sharp, pointed edges. The stems are thick and woody and yellow inside, with thorns. They are a couple feet tall now. I can't get all the roots up - I'm digging down a bit before cutting it, though, and I just had the idea that I could spray the cut root with a bit of Roundup too. Should that kill everything?

My lawn! My perfect lawn! It's... under attack.

kbanas — Sat, 11 May 2013 08:26:50 -0800

So, about a year and a half ago, we bought a house! Awesome. For the first time, I have a back yard and a front yard and a lawn and... stuff, and I don't know, maybe because I'm old and boring now, I've started to give a crap about making my lawn look nice. Something is really starting to piss me off... We're in Michigan, if that helps from a geographical perspective.

Here's a wide shot of the scene of the battle. This is the foe. And this. And this.

My first thought was my old nemesis, Glechoma hederacea, or plain old ground ivy, but it doesn't seem quite right. The leaves don't look the right shape, and each of these little buggers seems autonomous, as opposed to being part of some kind of hive mind.

The other crazy idea I had is that maybe the seeds from the tree were falling down and germinating and sprouting, but that's crazy, right? .....Right?

Other thoughts? I just want to know what it is. So help me identify, hive mind!

Homescaping Query

Miko — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:41:16 -0800

What's a good bush to plant next to the front door? This is in coastal Massachusetts. We moved into a house last year which has a bush by the front door that has to come out - it's a Common Buckthorn, which is a horrible aphid vector. What kind of nice bush could we plant in its place? I wouldn't mind something that flowers. It needs to be a bush that takes more of a tall/narrow form instead of a round spreading form, otherwise I'd love a hydrangea there. But it's a skinny space between the door and a bay window. Thanks for your suggestions.

Will I kill my window box plants with Miracle Gro?

miss-lapin — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:03:30 -0800

Now that I have a balcony, I wanted a little garden out there with window boxes. I purchased window boxes and a bag of Miracle Gro online. I already had two potted flowers that were about to burst from their pots. (I was going to buy more tomorrow after the boxes arrived and I had an idea how much room I would have.) The Miracle Gro arrived and despite no warning on the website, it says "Not for use in containers." Will I kill my flowers if I go ahead and use it? I've ordered another bag of organic potting mix (I should have used Ask sooner I guess, but, as I said, there was no description on the site saying this was JUST for lawns just soil for flowers and plants, which is what I was going to plant in the box. Le sigh.) I've temporarily mixed the Miracle Gro with the soil from the pots and planted the flowers in the window box. The potting soil arrives Tuesday. Will it be ok if I mix the Gro with the potting soil or should I should just give it to my mother upstate and order a ton of potting soil?

(PS any general balcony garden advice-it's a very small balcony-is welcome as my only experience gardening is in the country.)

Is this a Chinese or Japanese character?

Fiasco da Gama — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:02:09 -0800

I'm fairly sure this thing I saw this morning is going to be a vertical growing tower for plants. Is it also a Chinese or Japanese character? If it is, what is it? For what it's worth, it's in a laneway in Parramatta, NSW, Australia.

The catproofed terrace

thebordella — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:07:14 -0800

I am looking for ideas for adding privacy, plants, and catproofing to the rather large terrace at my new place. You can see a picture of the terrace here (with bonus cat). Terrace facts:

- About 6 feet wide by almost 40 feet long.
- One story above street level. (Only garages are below.)
- No secret ingress or egress routes. The only way onto or off the terrace is through a patio door to the apartment. There are no adjacent objects or balconies that can be leaped to from this terrace.

Terrace goals:

- I'd like to improve privacy, at least up to the level of the top of the iron railing.
- I'd like to use plants, to maintain a respectable appearance from street level.
- I can't permanently modify the terrace or railing (this is a rental) although I can probably subtly tie planters to the railing.
- I'd like to keep this mystery solution pretty but cheap.
- Even better, the solution should cover/obscure the little "ledge" at the base of the railing, to eliminate feline temptation to try to jump up there.

I am only a novice at gardening but not a total newbie. I was thinking maybe using some ornamental grasses? I am not sure what sort of planter/container would be low profile enough to keep from taking up too much terrace space but hold enough soil to support the grasses. But that's just one idea.

I do not want to do the common "bamboo wrap" around the railing because, frankly, it looks a little low rent and this location is very visible from the street.

BTW, this is in Southern California, so looking for planting ideas that will rock on year round.

Any and all ideas welcome! I'm willing to think inside or outside the box.

Plant Identification

Erasmouse — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:33:36 -0800

This is our plant, Plant. What kind of plant is it? I picked Plant up a few years ago in a fancy garden store but it was unlabelled and they didn't know what it was either. A few more clues inside. Additional information: it has very sharp little thorns all along the stems, and interesting peanut-shaped, spongy tubers on the roots. It's never shown any inclination to flower. The stems are woody, number of leaves per cluster is variable, on the whole Plant is disorganised in shape. It likes sun. It's well-nigh indestructible, at least we haven't been able to destroy it. It's a bit prone to mite infestations.

I haven't seen anything resembling it in houseplant websites. It's vaguely hemp-like but has thorns, I guess it's some sort of Rosales? I repotted it yesterday and discovered the tubers so now I'm curious!

Strange Plants Now Flowering What are They?

watercarrier — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 03:12:05 -0800

A new bunch of plants flowering now - they are very unusual - can you tell me what they are? Spring, Negev, What are these and what are they useful for? Thank you very much..

Plants that like cat pee?

mmmmbobo — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:38:44 -0800

Are there any plants that will actually thrive from regular doses of cat urine? And that would grow in pots outdoors in Western Oregon? We have an enclosed deck off the second floor of our house. My cats like to go out there because it is safe from the aggressive neighborhood strays who frequent our main yard. Last year I planted some passionflower in pots, hoping to train it along the wire 'walls'. At some point the cats decided that peeing in the flower pots on the deck was better than using their own litter box and they continue to do this whenever they have the opportunity. The passionflowers look pretty sad and I'm not optimistic that they will be coming back this spring. Is there anything else I could put in the pots that would do ok with the cat pee? Bonus points if it is semi-attractive and will climb along the wire mesh. Thanks!

Seeking recommendations for books about plants and gardening

sciencegeek — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:35:42 -0800

This past week I was at a job interview and was asked what my favorite book on gardening was and I had trouble answering. I eventually said Dirr, but felt that my answer was kind of boring; this led to the realization that I should probably do some reading. Please help me find some good books about plants. I work in the field of ornamental horticulture, so I would prefer books that are not so much about the joys of veggies. I live in NYC so if the book you suggest only has plants that work in CA or WA or the UK (a quick trip to my local library found a lot of these) I'm happy to hear about them, but would like to know about their geographical focus before I try to hunt down copies.

I'm interested in: practical/reference books, garden memoirs, garden history, and gorgeous photography coffee table style books (as long as those photos have some captions).

That said, if the book doesn't fit my criteria and is really, really excellent, go ahead and let me know about it.

I've looked at this question from last year and it is targeted to the beginning gardener.

Hope all you northern hemisphere gardeners are enjoying the beginnings of the season.

I don't want my apartment to smell like a rustic old cabin all the time.

kensington314 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:10:47 -0800

How do I change the way my apartment smells? I'm in a long-term sublet. The place has a kind of dankness to it that I find less than ideal. It's not a bad smell, it's just kind of stifling. But because it's a sublet, there's not a lot I can do in terms of getting rid of the possible sources of any smells. Quite honestly I just think it's got a stubborn kind of lingering smell from years of not opening windows and doors, and keeping kinda crappy couches.

So what can you all suggest for things to either absorb, transform, or mask the current smell of the apartment? What has worked for you?

I'm starting to buy plants, so if there are any specific suggestions for air purifying plants, that's helpful too.

(I am aware of a similar AskMeFi post from 2004 but the responses were limited, so I went ahead and posted a new question.)

Un-Depressing a small grey lounge

you're a kitty! — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:20:01 -0800

Suggestions for greening up an indoor space when I can't use real plants. I'm trying to decorate an interior lounge area in an academic building to make it friendlier to humans. It gets almost no natural light and the artificial ones won't be on a lot of the time, so houseplants are out, and in any case there wouldn't be anyone reliable to water them. I was thinking of using vinyl decals to help bring in some color (such as these or these), but it would be nice to add a touch of nature. I was considering sculpture, or maybe dried branches... Do good fake plants exist? Any other ideas? Thanks!

Black Thumb + Cold + Bad Light = Super Easy, Right?

amicamentis — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:44:33 -0800

What are some hardy, pretty, or useful houseplants for a small space in the Pittsburgh/Western PA/Northeast region? I am... not great with keeping plants alive. The survivors I have right now are some rosemary and basil in my kitchen window. It's also cold by my kitchen window. It's south-facing so it gets some sun during the day. Here's a pic.

I prefer keeping them in the kitchen because a: I won't forget to water them as easily, b: the cats don't go up there, and c: if one tips over I can clean up the dirt easily.

I would love to have a more herbaceous kitchen. Residents of or near this area: what has worked well for you? Bonus points if it has a cooking function or is super pretty.

Secondary question: how best to set up that corner for plants? Hanging plants? A shelf?

Third question: Where are great places to buy such plants around the Pittsburgh (preferably East End-city) area?

Thanks!!

ID this plant?

MansRiot — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 01:54:26 -0800

Asking for a friend; please help ID this particular bit of shrubbery.

Locating Manzanita

Infernarl — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:47:32 -0800

Does anyone know where specifically (like near what street) I might be able to find wild Manzanita Trees in Alameda County or Contra Costa County? I have heard they may grow on Mt. Diablo... Sorry for the super specific question. I am trying to make my own Parrot Furniture.

What can I eat and use to grow a new plant indoors?

neilb449 — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:21:28 -0800

I already know about avocados, celery and pineapples. What else can I buy in the supermarket, eat and then plant a seed from which will grow a nice indoor plant? Bonus points if you can provide links or instructions as to how to actually do it!

What has gone wrong with my squash, cucumbers, and peas?

Scientist — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:22:07 -0800

Oh no! My winter squash, cucumbers, and peas are failing. Can anybody tell me why and what, if anything, I can do about it? Pictures inside. In November, my sweetheart and I planted some winter veggies in our community garden. All was well and everything was growing great. The peas in particular were happily producing as much as we could eat, and after some early insect damage from some kind of pentatomid hemipteran everything else was as well. Most of the garden is still doing great; the brussels are sprouting, the carrots are nearing harvest size, etc. However, after coming back from a trip over Christmas, the squash and cukes and peas are all dying back. Here are some pictures of the damage:

Squash/Cucumber Bed
Squash Leaf Closeup
Pea Row
Pea Shoot Closeup

Can anybody tell me what's going on here? Everything else in the garden is fine and the weather has been mild and moist. The affected plants are all in the same corner of the garden but that area is not substantially different from the rest of the plot (it's not in a bowl or anything like that and it gets the same sun). I haven't noticed any insects and the plants are still flowering and trying to produce fruit, especially the squash. Is this a disease of some kind? Some pest I am unaware of? A watering issue? It seems to be getting slowly but progressively worse; can my plants be saved? What should I do?

Can you identify this plant?

New England Cultist — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:03:56 -0800

Can you identify this plant? I recently moved into a new place with a very large garden. The grounds are weeded over somewhat, and I'm making a concerted effort to de-weed everything and pull out things that are encroaching where they shouldn't be.

This plant grows at the back of the house, from underneath the back porch steps. I have no idea what it is. If it's a weed it's coming out.

PHOTOS

What does an elm look like?

Rustic Etruscan — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:38:00 -0800

I can't identify trees, bushes, shrubs, or flowers. How can I learn to do so on sight? I've been reading a lot of fiction lately. The writers keep mentioning elms, oaks, birches, and the like. I never know what to picture. Dictionary definitions don't help. Google is no replacement for real knowledge.

I know that some birches have white bark that peels off easily, but I never noticed their leaves. Do willows have catkins? I don't know. What distinguishes a cypress from a cedar? And so on.

It would be cool to have a clearer picture of these writers' worlds. It would also be cool to be able to look at a tree or a flower and name it. I would better appreciate the outdoors.

What books, web sites, and other reference materials could I use to learn this skill?

Some info about carnivorous plants

mermaidcafe — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 14:35:48 -0800

I am a creative writer (NOT a gardener or botanist) and have some questions about carnivorous plants. I'm wondering what some of the more "out-there" examples of carnivorous plants are and how they work. I was also wondering how a person could modify a carnivorous plant so it doesn't eat insects (it doesn't matter if this would kill the plant; just need to know how to do it.) Have read wiki page and some other basic info. Again, please keep in mind that I'm just using this info for creative writing projects, not as practical gardening advice. Also, since I'm not a gardener, my plant vocabulary isn't all that advanced.

It smells so nice, what is it?

fancyoats — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:37:25 -0800

Help me identify this houseplant, please. The first pic is of its flower, which is yellow and very fragrant and pleasant-smelling. The second pic is of a group of plants, but the plant in question is on the floor, in the back row, the middle plant of the three. It has long, straight, thick stems, with large, smooth, alternating leaves. The flower is at the end of the stem, and both stems have buds, though only one stem's bud has begun to open. This is the first time it has ever flowered in the several years I have had it. I keep it on the patio in the summer and bring it into my kitchen for the winter, and noticed it beginning to flower when I brought it inside a week ago. It must be happy, otherwise it wouldn't have flowered. But what is it?

Possibly a Prickly Peruvian

General Tonic — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:36:01 -0800

What kind of cactus did I just adopt? A Replanting Challenge A coworker just gave me a cactus he has had for 3 years, which he kept outside sitting on his south-facing deck except during the winter. What kind of cactus is this? Cactus and succulent identification can be difficult. I've turned up possibilities including Echinopsis peruviana, Cereus peruvianus, and Trichocereus peruvianus. (The last two links refer to some of the taxonomic controversy regarding peruvian cacti.)

Whatever the name, please look at how thin the base is, and how bulbous the rest of the plant. The plant seems very healthy, even though it has been growing in plain dark garden soil, not a cactus mix. A few questions at this point:

- Is this growth pattern normal? Is it common?

- Is this going to be a problem for the cactus, causing it to fall over without support?

- Should one artificially support a cactus like this, propping it up with rocks or something? Will that weaken it over time?

- Can one ever replant a cactus deeper than it was before? I've read recommendations against that.

Can I grow herbs in an indoor wall-mounted planter?

RobotVoodooPower — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:12:43 -0800

Can I grow herbs that hang on the wall indoors and make them look nice too? I'm getting two of these for our apartment, and wondering how to best use them.

We're planting to mount them on a wall adjacent to a large east-facing sliding glass door, so they can get plenty of light for a few hours in the morning (we're at a lower latitude so that helps). The rest of the time it's just indirect light.

We'd like to have several plants in the same pot for variety -- they're pretty big (24" x 15"). I'm unsure though if we are able to grow herbs this way. We're thinking stuff like chives, thyme, cilantro (or Vietnamese coriander) and sage, plus some low-maintenance decorative stuff in there to make it look nice. But we have black thumbs so we're unsure what to plant, or whether to punt on herbs and just do decorative stuff.

Thanks!