Flower & Plant Care

Orchids are well-known for their striking beauty and unique petal shapes — something that entices orchid lovers but can scare away first-time growers. Despite what their exotic looks might suggest, caring for orchids is not much different than caring for ordinary houseplants. In fact, many people would say that orchids are an “ordinary houseplant,” as the desire for them has skyrocketed over the years thanks to their ability to bloom year-after-year. Though orchid care may be a little different than you’re used to, it’s by no means harder!

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Indoor plants are easy to maintain when you give them the proper care. No matter how bad your green thumb is, these plant care products from Miracle-Gro® are sure to keep your plants, happy, vibrant, and growing! Better yet- our plant sale is currently going on so you can buy plants for your home or office at discounted prices! We consider this a win-win.

Plant Type: Cactus Dish Garden

Product Recommendation: Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food

About the Cactus Dish Garden: Cacti and succulents are trendy plants that are easy to grow. Your Cactus Dish Garden will love a sunny spot near a west or south-facing window. Cacti and succulents don’t take kindly to being overwatered, so wait until the top 2-3 inches of soil feels dry before watering. Feed your dish garden regularly from spring-fall when they are actively growing with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food which specially formulated to feed all succulents including cacti. Continue Reading…

Don’t let stories of bad experiences with trying to grow an exotic flower turn you off to the idea of indoor plants. Even if you’ve never grown so much as a daisy, this is the season to try your hand at caring for plants. And while even the hardiest of plants aren’t completely indestructible, these guys will forgive you when you completely forget about them and leave for a week-long vacation.

Succulents

Not only can most succulents survive without much water, but it’s actually better for them. Since watering succulents more than about twice a month can cause them to rot, most people suggest giving them just a bit of water at the beginning and middle of each month. That’s simple enough to remember, right?

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When you think of Christmas flowers, you probably think of poinsettias. And while we love a good poinsettia here at 1800flowers, there’s another popular plant during the holiday season called the Christmas cactus.

When you see how unique and festive these flowers are, you’ll be crossing your fingers that Santa leaves one under your tree. And if he does, it’s important that you know how to care for it.

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The holidays are an awesome time of year for a number of reasons, but one of our favorites (and maybe yours too) is putting up a Christmas tree. Whether you take an annual family trip to cut down your own or pick one off your local tree lot (you may even have a smaller Christmas tree as a holiday decoration within your home), the fun doesn’t end after you’ve found the perfect one – you get to decorate it, and, most of all, enjoy it all season long!

However, a common debate that many families have is when they’ll pick out their tree. Why? Often, many people fear that getting one too early will result in a Christmas morning where presents are left under a sulking and sagging tree filled with brown needles. The good news? You can keep your Christmas tree alive & fresh all season long with some Christmas tree care tips from our flower & plant experts:

Trim The Trunk

Before you secure your tree in its stand, make sure that the trunk undergoes a good trimming. If you aren’t sure how much to cut off, about ½ inch should suffice. And remember, cut straight across the trunk, you don’t want to start cutting on any angles! Continue Reading…

While you may not recognize the name right away, odds are, you’re one of the many people who love succulents. After all, what’s not to love about them? Succulents are essentially another name for uniquely beautiful desert plants, like, aloe vera, snake plants, or jade.  Indoor growing of succulent plants can be tricky, but with a few helpful tips, you can care for your plants properly.

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Caring for Gardenia Plants

If you’ve recently received or purchased a gardenia plant—with its beautiful dark glossy foliage, fragrant blooms, and several buds—you might have difficulty getting these buds to mature and open. If the air is dry, the buds have a tendency of not opening (and dropping off). The problem is that the average home is warm, with low humidity. A gardenia plant, however, requires high humidity.

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The care and handling of fresh flowers depends on how they are to be displayed. The three most common ways to display are: simple cut flowers; cut flowers in a vase; and an arrangement of cut flowers in floral foam.

Fresh Cut Flowers Care

Let’s start with cut flowers just purchased. Keep them out of extreme temperatures when bringing them home. Hopefully, the flowers you bought were properly processed along the way from the farm to you. If you’re going to display your flowers in a vase, use  a vase that has been cleaned with soap and water, then rinsed with bleach. Re-cut all the flowers to your preferred length, removing any foliage that would be below the water line. Cutting at an angle or under running water is a matter of your preference; there’s no proof that these methods make any difference.

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Bulbs don’t seem to get enough credit. They’re easy to plant, easy to care for, and you’ll be able to enjoy their colorful bloom year after year. So why don’t more of us take advantage of them? If you’re looking to spruce up an entryway, patio, or sunroom, look no further than with a bulb container garden. And if you’ve never planted bulbs (or anything else for that matter), don’t worry – we’ve covered everything from buying to planting.

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After all the time you spend caring for your plants, the last thing you need is a gang of reckless insects sabotaging your hard work. Here are our expert tips on how to remove bugs from plants (both indoors and out) so you can have a happy, healthy, pest-free garden!

How to Get Rid of Flies and Gnats

Buzzing flies and gnats that cloud around your garden pose more of a nuisance to you than they pose a threat to your plants. But since their larvae feed on roots, you’ll need to shoo those flying pests away before their hungry little ones come along.

An ordinary store-bought insect spray that contains Acephate should do the trick. Just lightly tap the leaves of your plant so the flies or gnats can swarm into the air. Spray the solution into the air around your plant, and then mist it onto your plant and the soil surrounding it. Make sure to follow the directions on the bottle: Too much Acephate could damage your plant. Continue Reading…