Elephant Bush Care
Elephant bush is a great beginner succulent. Not only is it a keystone species in its native habitat, but it is a beautiful way to add a little green to your daily routine.
Elephant Bush Care
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American Ginseng – Panax quinquefolius (Plant Profile)
American Ginseng – Panax quinquefolius (Plant Profile)
Ginseng has been used for centuries as a medicinal plant, known across the globe for its powerful properties, but did you know that ginseng is also native to the Western world?
Unfortunately, this plant is endangered and facing extinction in the wild, so learning about the plant, its habitat, and the significance of its situation is critical to conservation efforts.
Elephant Bush – Portulacaria afra (Plant Profile)
Elephant Bush – Portulacaria afra (Plant Profile)
There’s a beautiful succulent that is gaining popularity with houseplant enthusiasts. You might have heard of it, with its cute, rounded leaves and a beautiful stem that pops with color. The elephant bush, or Portulacaria afra, is native to South Africa from the Little Karoo of the Western Cape, into the thickets of the Eastern Cape.
Featured in Botany
Elephant Bush – Portulacaria afra (Plant Profile)
Elephant Bush – Portulacaria afra (Plant Profile)
There’s a beautiful succulent that is gaining popularity with houseplant enthusiasts. You might have heard of it, with its cute, rounded leaves and a beautiful stem that pops with color. The elephant bush, or Portulacaria afra, is native to South Africa from the Little Karoo of the Western Cape, into the thickets of the Eastern Cape.
The Lewd Origin of the Venus Flytrap’s Name
The Lewd Origin of the Venus Flytrap’s Name
You might be surprised to learn that the Venus Flytrap does not have such an innocent name as many people have been led to believe in recent years. In this article, HerbSpeak dives into the sheepishly dirty and downright lewd origin of the Venus Flytrap’s name.
The Parts of a Plant: The Root System
The Parts of a Plant: The Root System
Roots are almost always underground, but these hidden systems are responsible for a range of functions from securing the plant in the soil to absorbing water and nutrients. You can think of the root system as the foundation of a building: it's what keeps the plant stable, nourished, and capable of growth throughout its life cycle.
Featured in Environment
How to Connect with Nature
How to Connect with Nature
The routine of modern life can be toxic to human spirituality in any form - no matter what religion you do or do not prescribe to - especially when it comes to our connection to nature. In this HerbSpeak article, you’ll learn how to connect (or re-connect) with...
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
You should always try to use refined sugar in hummingbird feeders. This is the regular, pure white table sugar you can purchase at any grocery store. This sugar is pure sucrose, which mimics nectar when combined with water.
The Threat to Our Birds in 2020 and Beyond
The Threat to Our Birds in 2020 and Beyond
Chances are, while you are in lockdown, you’ve popped up a bird feeder, or you’ve taken to birdwatching, even if it’s off-and-on from your new home office window. You might have even found yourself asking “have these brightly-colored birds always been here?” They...
Featured in Gardening
(Top 20) Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs
(Top 20) Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs
Keeping houseplants is a hobby that is on the rise in recent years. The more time you spend at home, the more you want to fill your home with beautiful foliage. In fact, plants are great at helping reduce the stress we experience on a daily basis. But what do you do if you also have pets?
Does Ginseng Have Thorns?
Does Ginseng Have Thorns?
When you’re first learning how to identify ginseng, you’ll hear a lot about ‘prongs,’ It may leave you wondering whether ginseng has thorns or not. Furthermore, there is confusion about a plant that commonly goes by the name ‘Siberian Ginseng’ that does indeed have...
Venus Flytrap Care 101
Venus Flytrap Care 101
The Venus Flytrap is a common impulse buy at many grocery stores and plant nurseries, with the plant’s unique carnivorous features enthralling many children and adults alike and inspiring the creative minds of many writers and movie directors in popular culture. Unfortunately, not many people understand how to care for the Venus flytrap, leading to the plant’s early demise and an unfair reputation for being a difficult plant to care for.
Featured in Microgreens
What Are Microgreens?
What Are Microgreens?
Learn everything you need to know about the nutritional baby plants known as microgreens and why they’re taking the food industry by storm in recent years.
Best Growing Mediums for Microgreens
Best Growing Mediums for Microgreens
What is the best growing mediums for microgreens, and how will it affect your overall yield? Do certain microgreens need certain soils? There are a lot of questions.
Fortunately, however, there are also a lot of answers despite indoor urban farming being a relatively new concept in agriculture.
How to Grow Microgreens: Ultimate Guide
How to Grow Microgreens: Ultimate Guide
One of the best things about microgreens is that they don't require a lot of space. You can grow them in a small container on your windowsill, balcony, or even your kitchen countertop. Since they grow quickly, you can enjoy fresh greens in just a few days for most beginner-friendly varieties.
Featured in Reviews
Review: The Green Planet by BBC Earth
Review: The Green Planet by BBC Earth
There is nothing not to love about the recent series from BBC Earth 'The Green Planet' narrated by David Attenborough. Originally airing in 2022, it was primarily celebrated in the UK as a groundbreaking series focused on the world from the perspective of plants. Unfortunately, it was not available in the United States, and as time went on, many of the potential audience forgot about this series. Now that it's available in the US - is it any good? Let's find out.
Garden in the Woods: Botanical Garden Spotlight
Garden in the Woods: Botanical Garden Spotlight
In this spotlight, you’ll learn about a wonderful outdoor botanical garden focused on highlighting native plants in the New England region. Garden in the Woods is a great way to learn more about sustainable gardening practices, ecosystems, and habitats of the...
How to Use iNaturalist
How to Use iNaturalist
The naturalists of today may not spend most of their time sailing the seas and looking under crude microscopes, but there is still plenty to explore in the world. With the advancement of science comes an advancement in technology - which further aids science. While...
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