Flowers and houseplants : article
Learn how to force spring bulbs indoors for early blooms and brighten your home with tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will offer a webinar series to help specialty crop growers learn about growing in tunnels.
The “Tunnel to Table” webinar series is 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 20-April 14, 2026, via Zoom, says Justin Keay, MU Extension field horticulture specialist.
MU Extension state Master Gardener coordinator Debi Kelly says you can find a great holiday gift for the gardener on your list without spending a lot of green. “Gardeners find joy in small packages that don’t cost much, and they understand delayed gratification,” Kelly says.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nothing brightens a windowsill in winter like amaryllis, the National Garden Bureau’s Bulb Plant of the Year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
When most people think of Christmas trees, the South Pacific does not come to mind. Yet a small island between Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand is the native home of a popular holiday houseplant that can serve as a living Christmas tree.
MU Extension has partnered with the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail Coalition, which is working to make Missouri a fueling station for pollinators as they migrate between Canada and Mexico.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Just in time to brighten the dull, dreary days of winter, the National Garden Bureau has named African violet as its houseplant of the year for 2024.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Easter lily used for spring decorations can provide beauty and fragrance for another season.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If you have the sniffles or a bad infection, a visit to your doctor can usually put things right. Plants can get sick too and the University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic is where you can turn for help.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – While you’re familiar with onions, garlic, leeks and shallots, which are all members of the genus Allium, there’s a whole group in that genus that are known for their looks rather than their taste. They’re called ornamental onions or alliums.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Among indoor flowering plants, few match amaryllis in grandeur, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Gardening reduces food costs, boosts physical health, improves well-being and benefits the environment, while connecting people through learning and community.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ashes produced by wood-burning fireplaces or stoves are an excellent example of the idiom “don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Patience and a bucket of soapy water are your best friends when fending off Japanese beetles in the garden, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– The long, harsh winter coupled with last fall’
Learn how to start your first garden with tips on planning, soil preparation, plant choices, tools, and simple maintenance for success.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Bells of Ireland, their meaning, symbolism, and how this good-luck plant adds charm to Irish traditions.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Few flowers symbolize the arrival of spring more than peonies. Their huge, lavish blooms and distinctive floral scent make them one of America’s most treasured perennials, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Add vibrant color to your garden with easy-care Gaillardias that bloom all summer and thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Deadheading flowers can help gardeners get more bang for the buck, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Every year Americans buy millions of poinsettias. But what do you do with all those plants after the holidays? Many people just throw them away, but there’s always those who wonder if they can be re-bloomed for next year.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Some perennials can suffer from too much of a good thing.As it grows year after year, the perennial’s growth clump, or crown, gets so big the plant begins to compete with itself for light, water and nutrients. Eventually this self-competition will mean fewer and less-showy flowers.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Getting plants to grow and thrive indoors can be a challenge. Indoor light is often too low and of poor quality. A light garden can correct that.
Drip irrigation helped a growing cut-flower farm boost production while cutting water use, improving plant health, and easing labor demands.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Bulbs forced to bloom indoors during winter months need special care for replanting in your garden, said a Missouri horticulturist.
Calibrachoa, a colorful cousin of petunias, offers abundant blooms for containers and baskets, thriving in sun and rewarding care.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Not all topsoil is created equal.
Enjoy mid-year blooms with painted leaf poinsettia, a vibrant, low-maintenance plant that attracts pollinators and resists deer and rabbits.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It is estimated that more than 700 plant species growing in North America can have harmful effects on humans, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The summer they were married, Dan and Earlene Britton received a cutting from a Christmas cactus belonging to Earlene’s grandmother Naomi Ingrum. Thirty-six years later, the Brittons and the cactus continue to do well in spite of coast-to-coast moves and climate changes.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
Clematis vines offer vibrant blooms and support pollinators. Native and hybrid varieties thrive in Missouri gardens. Proper care ensures seasonal beauty.
Discover how companion planting boosts growth, deters pests, attracts pollinators, and enhances garden beauty and soil health.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Salt does more than melt the ice on your sidewalks and driveways.It can harm your lawn and shrubs, says University of Missouri Extension turf management specialist Brad Fresenburg.Too much salt can leave dead strips along sidewalks and driveways. It can kill shrubs and flowers.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– If you’re yearning to grow flowers or vegetabl
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
In southern states, crape myrtle can add brilliant color to the landscape when few other trees or shrubs are in bloom. New cultivars of this flowering shrub that are better-suited to Midwestern winters are now available.
Brown marmorated stink bugs threaten crops, reducing yields in soybeans, corn, fruits, and vegetables across Missouri.
Cyclamen, with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers, makes a charming winter houseplant and Valentine’s gift.
Cyclamen, with heart-shaped leaves and starry blooms, carries a rich history of love, myth, and care as a Valentine’s favorite.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As autumn approaches, many garden flowers show the ravages of a long, often brutal summer. However, it’s at this time that dahlias are most spectacular, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Daisies brighten gardens and roadsides from summer to fall. These easy-to-grow perennials offer cheerful blooms year after year.
Stealing a kiss under the mistletoe or hanging a holly wreath to welcome guests are both great holiday traditions. “What’s not so great is that both of these plants are toxic,” said David Trinklein, horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension.
Indoor plant sales have surged: variegated monsteras, colorful foliage & rare orchids top trends as demand rises among households & offices.
Learn how to spot plants that may be invasive, understand labels like “fills in quickly,” and choose species wisely for your garden.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – One of the joys of spring is the emergence and flowering of bulbs such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – April’s cold start in Missouri reminds gardeners that planting date is a matter of risk versus reward, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Free wood ashes boost calcium, phosphorus and potassium, helping raise garden soil pH safely—avoid ashes from cardboard, trash, coal or treated wood.
Test your garden soil before adding fertilizer to avoid waste, nutrient imbalance, and poor plant growth.
Get answers to curious questions about mosquitoes, larvae, and bug behavior for kids and families.
The leaves have dropped, branches are bare, and the garden blooms are gone, but trees and flowering plants still bring us cheer during the winter holidays.
COLUMBIA, Mo. –Gardeners eager to plant their first annuals and vegetables should be wary of a last spring frost.“I tell people, if you plant early, plant only what you don’t mind losing,” said Mary Kroening, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
Easter lilies and similar flowers are highly toxic to cats. Even small amounts can cause kidney failure. Keep these plants away from felines to ensure their safety.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - The popular Christmastime plant, the poinsettia, is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the diplomat and botanist who in 1825 brought the plant to the U.S. from southern Mexico.
HARRISONVILLE, Mo. – Two years ago, Marcy Weber had lost custody of her children and was homeless, unemployed and in trouble with the law because of a drinking and drug problem that began at age 10.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fall is time for the changing of the guard in flower beds and containers. As some summer flowers shout their last hurrah, others gradually fade into the background.
The success of next year’s garden is influenced greatly by fall cleanup. Garden cleanup does more than just improve the appearance of the garden during the mundane, lifeless months of winter. It reduces the amount of disease inoculum and insect infestation that might remain.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Fall is a good time to clean up your garden and plant trees and shrubs, said a University of Missouri horticulturist."The key factor in plant establishment is root growth, and the faster the roots grow into the back-fill area of a new plant, the more successfully the plant will…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Flowering stems of firecracker penstemon pop with color and add a burst of red flowers to landscapes in summer.
Learn to support pollinators through hands-on classes covering bees, butterflies, habitat, and conservation starting in May.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
Learn how dividing spring-flowering bulbs like tulips and daffodils can boost blooms and share flowers with neighbors.
Spring bulbs add early color with minimal care. Plant, water, and enjoy daffodils, tulips, crocus, and more in your garden.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Home gardeners may want to plant flowers for their fragrance as well as their appearance, said a University of Missouri horticulturist.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
From youth gardening lessons to a thriving floral and coffee shop, Garden 'n Grow inspired a small-town business that now enriches its community.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “The delicate, ephemeral nature of flowers undoubtedly adds to our appreciation of them,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. “Many literally are ‘here today, gone tomorrow.’”
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If a little is good, a lot must be better.
Show your team spirit with baseball-themed gardens. Plant red, white, and blue flowers to celebrate Cardinals or Royals this summer.
Help monarch butterflies thrive by planting milkweed, creating pollinator gardens, reducing pesticides, and protecting habitats.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mulches benefit gardens throughout the year, but they are particularly helpful during the heat of summer, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Cut open a seed and you’ll see a miracle.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
HILLSBORO, Mo. – One of summer’s most showstopping bloomers is easy to transplant and propagate, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Debi Kelly.
Hydrangeas burst with blooms summer and fall in colors ranging from blues and white to lavender and pinks.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo.
Learn how to extend the life of Valentine's Day flowers with a simple homemade preservative and expert tips to keep them fresh longer.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Valentine’s Day flowers will last longer if kept watered and fed, said University of Missouri horticulturist David Trinklein.
Trinklein’s tips and homemade preservative recipe provide an extended warranty of sorts to make certain flowers last up to twice their normal lifespan.
Extend the life of Valentine's Day flowers with expert tips and a homemade preservative recipe using soda, mouthwash, and dish soap.
Add vibrant color to your late-summer garden with gladiolas, from planting tips to flower care and corm storage for next year.
Discover the art of wildcrafting and enrich your diet with Missouri's edible spring greens like dandelions, lambsquarters, and watercress.
Discover the benefits of wildcrafting in Missouri, including plant identification tips and preparation methods for edible spring greens
Keep dorm plants simple with easy-care cacti, succulents, and foliage for a bright, low-maintenance study space.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missourians may learn more about lavender thanks to a grant to University of Missouri Extension from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
The $39,274 grant will determine standardized growing practices for lavender in Missouri.
HANNIBAL, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold a Specialty Crop Block Grant workshop 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, in Hannibal
Ensure healthy lawns and gardens by choosing topsoil with the right texture, pH, and organic matter for optimal plant growth.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The annual Great Plains Growers Conference will bring together fruit and vegetable farmers, researchers and industry leaders to St. Joseph, Mo., Jan. 9-10, 2026.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Many landscapes have problem spots where nothing grows well or looks attractive, such as the area below a large tree with a dense leaf canopy.
Explore eerie plants like brain cactus and corpse flower with creepy names, smells, and looks perfect for Halloween. Discover the twisted side of nature.
Create a twilight garden with white, fragrant, night-blooming plants for evening beauty and pollinators.
Celebrate 70 years of Missouri’s flowering dogwood, known for its stunning spring blooms and cultural history.
Bright, long-lasting kalanchoe flowers add vibrant color and easy-care charm to your home year-round.
Learn how growers can successfully cultivate lavender in Missouri’s humid summers with research-based guidance and tips.
Enhance your garden's health by improving soil structure with organic matter like compost, manure, and peat moss for better plant growth and water retention.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Homegrown herbs may earn their keep better than any other crop in the garden, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist.