The Garden Professors have previously written about the ubiquitous garden center product, SUPERthrive, here and here. The manufacturer claims a plethora of beneficial uses for SUPERthrive —everything from Christmas tree care to turf to hydroponics. They claim SUPERthrive will “revive stressed plants and produce abundant yields” and that it “encourages the natural building blocks that plants make for themselves when under the best conditions” thus “fortifying growth from the inside out,” but I know of no body of rigorous, peer-reviewed literature to support any of those claims (1, 2, 3, 4).… Continue reading this article “SUPER Thriving Lettuce?”
Month: March 2021
Where to find spring frost dates and the mystery of Southeastern frost trends
Most gardeners this time of year are thinking about the last frost dates for their locations and how soon they can get out into their garden plots. Here in the Southeast, many areas have already passed their last frost or will soon, while in other parts of the country, it may be many weeks before the threat of frost is over. In this week’s column, I want to describe a way to get frost dates for your location and discuss the mystery of why the date of the last spring frost is getting later in the Southeast in spite of temperatures that are rising across the country.… Continue reading this article “Where to find spring frost dates and the mystery of Southeastern frost trends”
To mulch or not to mulch? It shouldn’t even be a question.
One of the popular arguments against mulching landscape and garden soils is that mulch delays soil warming and thus retards plant growth. Given that a well-chosen mulch will moderate temperature extremes – both hot and cold – is this an argument supported with evidence? In today’s post, I’m reporting the data I collected in visiting various parts of my home landscape and gardens and measuring soil temperatures.… Continue reading this article “To mulch or not to mulch? It shouldn’t even be a question.”
Holy Hydroponic Houseplants, Batman!: Can you grow houseplants without soil? Yes!
Just when you thought you got the hang of growing houseplants in potting soil (or if you’re a doting plant parent, a special homemade mix someone on the internet told you to use) comes a new trend – hydroponic houseplants! Or, “semi-hydroponic” to use the more technical term that is used when describing the trend. How do you grow houseplants semi-hydroponically? Do they grow this way? But first, maybe we should ask the question – why? … Continue reading this article “Holy Hydroponic Houseplants, Batman!: Can you grow houseplants without soil? Yes!”
The contrarian rosarian–debunking rose mythology
Roses are perhaps the most frequently cultivated landscape plant across America. Rose gardens are common to parks, landscapes, botanical gardens and for homeowners. Everyone seems to have an opinion about rose culture and there are numerous clubs and societies to support the hobby of rose growing. This week I am in the midst of pruning my rose fertilizer study here in Santa Paula California. I have 240 roses of eight varieties and my thoughts are on roses now, so I offer this blog to dispel some of the myths about rose horticulture.… Continue reading this article “The contrarian rosarian–debunking rose mythology”