There are about 160 species and many natural hybrids of Encyclia Orchids distributed in Florida, Mexico, Central America, South America, and to Argentina. Plants can be anywhere from two inches long to very large pseudobulbs with leaves two feet long. The bract of the pseudobulb is usually a bright green. Typically, two or three leaves come from the top of the bulb. Longer than wide with a pointed tip, the leaves are thick to hold moisture....

It’s called a barrel cactus because, as the name implies, they are almost perfectly round when juvenile. They are beautiful, with evenly-spaced rows of spines on their deeply ribbed lobes. As they grow, it’s not uncommon for them to stretch out, so they are more oval than circular. As with most cacti, the secret to successful indoor growth is nearly perfect drainage instead of letting them dry out. This cactus can be quite a large plant when fully mature (as much as 6 feet tall), costing hundreds of dollars to buy at that size....

Young Greek junipers take an upright growth habit with a single or multiple trunks, but as the tree matures, it gradually becomes a spreading tree with a very thick trunk, as much as six feet in diameter in very old trees. Greek juniper often takes on a very dense, rounded crown that gives the tree good shade value and makes it a home for birds seeking shelter. When young, the tree has needle-like leaves, which become scale-like as the tree matures into a massive specimen 60 feet or more in height....

Mountain laurel usually grows as a dense, rounded shrub, with branches that grow gnarlier as the shrub ages. It is a relatively slow-growing shrub, adding about one foot per year. While mountain laurel is particular about its soil needs, this plant is easy to grow in the right environment. It is a good flowering shrub for mass plantings in shady shrub borders, woodland gardens, or foundation plantings. It partners well with rhododendrons and azaleas....

N. strumosa is a true annual that produces one-inch blue or white flowers and grows up to one foot tall. N. caerulea is a tender perennial that produces one-half-inch blossoms in purple, pink, blue, and white on plants that grow up to two feet. Even more common as garden plants are the hybrid forms derived by crossing various Nemesia species. Nemesia plants feature lance-shaped leaves that appear in pairs along the stems, and the flowers bear a similarity to snapdragons, with a two-lipped, tubular shape....

Olive trees grown indoors live eight to nine years, a much shorter lifespan than olive trees in the landscape, which are known for their longevity. The best you can do for the tree is to move it outdoors during the summer months because even the best indoor conditions can’t match preferred conditions outdoors. Aside from those caveats, slow-growing olive trees are easy to care for indoors. Although olive trees can be pruned to keep them small, consider choosing a compact or dwarf variety such as ‘Little Ollie’ (Olea europaea ‘Montra’) to grow indoors....

Cedrus deodara is one of the true cedars. Other true cedars include the cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) and the Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), which comes in a weeping form. It is in the Pinaceae family, which includes both evergreen and deciduous conifers such as pine trees, spruce trees, and fir trees. The name deodar evolved from the word devadāru, which is a Sanskrit word that translates to “timber of the gods....

Mexican bush sages can be propagated with cuttings, and overwintering can be done indoors or outdoors, depending on the winter temperatures of your area. The plant can develop various infestations and fungal diseases, although you generally won’t have problems caring for this easygoing bush. Light The Mexican bush sage prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial sun. Still, in partial sun, your plant may not be as dense and lush....

This air plant comes in many different varieties, meaning there are a plethora of looks to choose from. Some varieties have soft leaves while others have stiff leaves. In addition to foliage structure, Tillandsia stricta plants also vary in color. Many are different tones of green, but there is also a variety with foliage so dark it is almost black. Their flowers may be red, pink, blue, or purple. Interestingly, the actual flower only lasts one day when the plant blooms....

White lace flower is often planted from potted nursery starts in spring. But seeds can be direct sown in the fall to germinate and sprout in the spring; they will mature into flowering plants in 65 to 70 days. Light White lace flower prefers full but will tolerate partial sun. They don’t appreciate too much shade and a warm, south-facing garden is an ideal spot. Soil To see the most abundant flowering, white lace flower should be planted in well-drained and fertile soil....

There are thousands of varieties of Vitis vinifera, although only a small portion of these are commercially important. On the other hand, a large portion of popular grape wine is produced from cultivars of this species. While primarily thought of as wine grapes, the fruits can also be dried to make raisins. This species yields inferior table grapes, however, and is not commonly used for this purpose commercially. Like many vines that climb, the wine grapes bear clasping tendrils that help keep the vines off the ground....

Resurrection plant, also called Rose of Jericho, can survive several years without water by drying up and going dormant. The plant appears dead, but provide water, and within a couple of hours it will begin to revive and turn green. Within a day or so, it will be fully unfurled, and “resurrected” into a green, fern-like plant. This remarkable feat, leading to its common name, is a survival mechanism Selaginella lepidophylla developed in the harsh conditions of its native habitat in the Chihuahuan Desert....

However, not every home is large enough to house a designated laundry room, either. So if you’re now designing a house of your own and wondering just where to install these necessary appliances, note that the kitchen can be a great space to house a washer and dryer. We spoke with designers about how to best work a laundry setup into your cooking space. All it takes is some thoughtful planning and creativity!...

We consulted with Barbecues and Grilling expert Derrick Riches to get the lowdown on hosting a genuine Texas barbecue dinner party. It’s All About the Meat According to Riches, Texas barbecue is sliced beef brisket, German-style sausage, and meaty ribs with tangy, tomato-based sauce carefully spooned over the meat or placed on the side. Its exact origins are uncertain, but there were influences from the German and Czech immigrants that came to the area, along with the Spanish and Mexican heritage in Texas....

What Is Root Rot? At the most basic level, root rot is a plant disease, but the key is in learning what factors cause this disease. The disease can be caused by waterlogged soil or various kinds of fungi. Soil can become waterlogged for a number of reasons, including poor drainage, continuous heavy rainfall, and overwatering. Overwatering may be the most disconcerting of all. You know that your plants need water, and you feel that you are being conscientious by supplying them with that water....

Saarinen didn’t start working with Hans and Florence Knoll, whom he also met at Cranbrook, until the late 1940s. Together they created forward-thinking furniture designs until he passed on at the young age of 51. One of those pieces was the popular Saarinen Table, often referenced as the Tulip Table, dating to the late 1950s. These popular tables have been made in both round and oval versions, and they have always been solidly built....

In a swimming pool or spa, algae are those green, brown, yellow, black, or pinkish slime that resemble fur growing on the steps and in corners — places where circulation may not be optimum. The majority of swimming pools are exposed to several hours of sunlight per day, and it’s sunlight that will speed up algae growth. If you notice an increase in algae growth, run the pump more often....