-Pam Scott- Of all the beautiful tropical houseplants we offer at Fifth Season Gardening, I find the Staghorn Fern (Platycerium) to be the most strikingly dramatic. When mounted and hung on a wall, the Staghorn Fern becomes more of a living sculpture than a houseplant. With Staghorns, as with all tropical plants, it is helpful to know how and where the plant grows in its natural habitat in order to maintain its optimal health. Staghorn Ferns are epiphytes, as are air plants and most … [Read more...] about Mounting a Staghorn Fern
Urban D.I.Y.
Repotting Guide: Finding the Perfect Pot
-Ginny Shafer- You finally did it! You assessed the lighting conditions in your home, had an honest conversation with yourself about how often you’ll *actually* water your plants, and you’ve found your perfect houseplant! Now to find the perfect pot to show it off. Just like with lighting and soil, every plant has different needs with respect to planting, so it’s important to choose a pot that’s well suited to meet those needs. When Should I Repot? Houseplants can be repotted when … [Read more...] about Repotting Guide: Finding the Perfect Pot
Make Your Own Soda at Home (despite the tank exchange shortage)
-Jonas Hill- Over the past few months, the home soda maker supply chain has taken a hit. Large, centralized processing facilities in populous areas have seen their home soda canister output drop as necessary measures are taken to ensure the safety of the workforce and general public. That said, folks love their soda, and it’s a great refresher during these hot summer months after a long day in the garden. Stay hydrated and ‘in bubbles’ with this helpful explainer on a simple DIY home soda tap … [Read more...] about Make Your Own Soda at Home (despite the tank exchange shortage)
Tutti Frutti, A Magical Elixir
-Pam Scott- The long warm days and cool nights of May and June have made our fruiting trees and bushes flourish. Berry picking has become a daily pastime in our neighborhood. I just got a call from my neighbor that her sour cherry trees are laden with fruit needing to be picked, soon to be made into pies, tarts and liqueur soaked Maraschinos. Another neighbor has more strawberries than she can keep up with. The rush to get blueberries and raspberries picked before the birds eat them brings me … [Read more...] about Tutti Frutti, A Magical Elixir
DIY Moss Poles
-Kristin Weeks- The popularity of houseplants has ushered in all kinds of interesting DIY projects that offer an aesthetic boost and promote healthy growth habits of our botanical friends. Plant influencers and individuals all over the web and the ‘gram demonstrate techniques and practices that eventually make their way back into our shop by way of our customers. It is always exciting when a customer asks me if I’ve heard about this or that, which then becomes my new favorite thing! Recently, … [Read more...] about DIY Moss Poles
Homemade Coffee Liqueur
-Luis Guerra- Looking for a delicious homemade gift to give your friends and family? This easy to make Coffee Liqueur is a simple and delicious way to show them how much they are loved. Similar to the Popular Kahlua or Tia Maria, this alcoholic coffee drink is simple to make at home with little effort. I’m going to walk you through the process I used in making my last batch of this delicious treat! First, combine ½ Cups of Espresso Coffee Grounds and 3 Cups of water in a Quart Mason … [Read more...] about Homemade Coffee Liqueur
Get Ready for Cold & Flu Season with Elderberry Syrup
-Tracey Broome- Winter is approaching, which means it’s time to prepare for cold and flu season. Time to slow down, take a breath, rest, and nourish our bodies with natural and organic foods, teas, and natural remedies that help stave off sickness. Elderberry (Sambucus Nigra) syrup is one tried-and-true way to help support the immune system during the winter months. Elderberries are naturally high in immune-boosting compounds that are known to help relieve cold and flu symptoms and … [Read more...] about Get Ready for Cold & Flu Season with Elderberry Syrup
Happy Houseplants
-Gabrial House- Today on the blog I wanted to take a look at the basics of caring for your houseplants. Too often we hear people say “I have a black thumb” or “I killed that aloe plant within a week.” If you follow these basic practices you will have a house full of beautiful lush plants that make you happier and healthier. The first piece of advice I have is to know your plants – different plants require different amounts of water and light, so knowing what you are caring for is really … [Read more...] about Happy Houseplants
Forcing Bulbs For Winter Blooms
-Pam Scott- As the days become shorter, we start to see signs that the outdoor growing season is coming to an end. Summer annuals and perennials set seeds for the birds and other wildlife to eat. The trees shed their leaves. As gardeners, many of us still have the urge to nurture color, scent, and life into the slowly greying pallet of the shortening winter days. In this week’s blog, I’m going to talk about how you can do just that by forcing spring-blooming bulbs for a succession of fabulous … [Read more...] about Forcing Bulbs For Winter Blooms
DIY Hard Seltzer: A Trend Worth Trying
-Kristin Weeks- Summer is the busiest season of the year nationwide for beer sales, and over the past several months, the adult beverage industry has witnessed a major rise in popularity of a new kind of boozy beverage, hard seltzer. This light, low-cal, low-carb alternative to beer is attractive to consumers preferring more health-conscious drinking habits and an active lifestyle. Hard seltzer offers that with its sessionability (low ABV, 5% typically) and convenient packaging. Both national … [Read more...] about DIY Hard Seltzer: A Trend Worth Trying
