Topic: houseplants

Green Thumb Guide: How to Grow Mint

Green Thumb Guide: How to Grow Mint

Used in cooking, cocktails, medicine or just for it’s lovely scent, mint is one versatile herb. There are actually hundreds of mint varieties, but the kinds people most commonly grow in U.S. gardens are spearmint or peppermint Peppermint, which is actually a hybrid of spearmint and watermint, is the most therapeutic of the mint varieties; it can help treat irritable bowel syndrome, and reduce all sorts of not-to-be-mentioned in polite company problems, like gas, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation and cramps. And peppermint’s oils may also help relieve headaches. More »

Green Thumb Guide: How To Grow Arugula

Green Thumb Guide: How To Grow Arugula

Arugula is one of the easiest greens to grow, if not the easiest of all. In America, arugula somehow got a reputation as an frou-frou, elitist food, which I’ve heard boggles the minds of many in European countries, where the green (also known as ‘rocket’ or ‘roquette’) grows like weeds and, until recently, wasn’t usually cultivated intentionally. Regardless, arugula’s zesty, peppery-tasting leaves have become a popular salad staple and pizza garnish here in recent years. The strong taste of this green is usually one people love or hate: If you fall on my side of that divide, you should really try growing some yourself. Here’s how: More »

5 Houseplants That Not Even You Can Kill

5 Houseplants That Not Even You Can Kill

Exercise your green thumb with this post from Tess Whitehurst at Lemondrop.

Some say that being able to keeping houseplants alive is proof that you’ve finally hit adulthood. Whether or not this is true, houseplants certainly infuse your home with a feeling of energy and freshness like nothing else can. They make it, well, home-y.

What’s more, they oxygenate the environment and clean toxins out of the air. So, if you’re one of those people who shies away from adopting plants for fear you’ll unintentionally send them to plant heaven, here are five houseplants that are as attractive as they are hearty. Along with each, you’ll also find foolproof tips to keeping your new leafy-green friends happy, vibrant, and alive. More »