The passionfruit vine (Passiflora edulis) is a vigorous perennial woody evergreen fruiting subtropical vine from the Passifloraceae family. It has three-lobed, glossy green leaves, and climbs by tendrils, reaching a height of up to 5m (15′), depending on the structure it’s climbing upon. The purple […]
All living things require energy to function, and their cells require a constant and ongoing input of energy to power the various cellular processes and functions they perform. What’s truly miraculous is how nature’s energies external to living organisms are transmuted into internal cellular energies […]
Photosynthesis is a fundamental process used by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) to absorb the energy of sunlight and convert it into stored chemical energy. They do this by using carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, and water (H2O) from the soil, to produce […]
December is the first month of summer, and with the warmer weather gardens explode into life, becoming lush, abundant and awesome to behold. With the days getting longer as we progress towards the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, there’s more time to […]
December is the first month of summer, and with the warmer weather gardens explode into life, becoming lush, abundant and awesome to behold. With the days getting longer as we progress towards the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, there’s more time to […]
December is the first month of summer, and with the warmer weather gardens explode into life, becoming lush, abundant and awesome to behold. With the days getting longer as we progress towards the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, there’s more time to […]
December is the first month of summer, and with the warmer weather gardens explode into life, becoming lush, abundant and awesome to behold. With the days getting longer as we progress towards the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, there’s more time to […]
December is the first month of summer, and with the warmer weather gardens explode into life, becoming lush, abundant and awesome to behold. With the days getting longer as we progress towards the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, there’s more time to […]
Moon planting is a gardening technique that involves planting crops and sowing seeds according to the phase of the moon. It’s based on the idea that the gravitational pull of the moon affects the water table and therefore the moisture levels in the soil, which […]
This post is part-contributed and may contain affiliate links To maintain a good oral health, experts recommended brushing teeth twice a day, which is easiest done in the morning and evening, making it an easy routine to implement. Visiting a dentist for regular checkups is […]
It’s November, the last month of spring, and with the weather warming up we see plenty of sunny days and lots of new green growth emerging in our gardens. With the onset of warmer weather, snow is less likely on Mount Wellington in Tasmania, but […]
It’s November, the last month of spring, and with the weather warming up we see plenty of sunny days and lots of new green growth emerging in our gardens. Right throughout Australia this month there’s the possibility of very sudden hot weather striking without warning, […]
It’s November, the last month of spring, and with the weather warming up we see plenty of sunny days and lots of new green growth emerging in our gardens. The tropical cyclone season begins now and continues into autumn. Rainfall is increasing, with an average […]
It’s November, the last month of spring, and with the weather warming up we see plenty of sunny days and lots of new green growth emerging in our gardens. This month along the eastern coast severe thunderstorms and heavy hail are possible, along with gale […]
It’s November, the last month of spring, and with the weather warming up we see plenty of sunny days and lots of new green growth emerging in our gardens. In Melbourne, the changeable and windy weather from October continues, while in Perth and Adelaide the […]
The five main reasons leaf tips and edges of houseplants turn brown are: When indoor plants display such symptoms, it’s their way of showing us that something may not be right, and they need attention. 1. Improper Watering When houseplants are overwatered, underwatered, or watered […]
Salt accumulation or build-up in plant pots appears as a white-to-yellow-coloured, hard, crusty mineral deposit along the edges of the growing medium. What Is Salt and Fertiliser Accumulation in Houseplants and Is It Harmful? Water naturally contains dissolved minerals, also known as soluble salts. Water […]
October is the mid-spring period, where flowers bloom in abundance, and the warmer weather with rain bringing ideal conditions for lush plant growth. In the northern regions there are more hot sunny days, with rain and humidity increasing and more thunderstorms, though with many areas […]
October is the mid-spring period, where flowers bloom in abundance, and the warmer weather with rain bringing ideal conditions for lush plant growth. In the northern regions there are more hot sunny days, with rain and humidity increasing and more thunderstorms. Darwin is still in […]
October is the mid-spring period, where flowers bloom in abundance, and the warmer weather with rain bringing ideal conditions for lush plant growth. In the northern regions there are more hot sunny days, with rain increasing and thunderstorms.Sydney is quite rainy this month, averaging 11-12 […]
October is the mid-spring period, where flowers bloom in abundance, and the warmer weather with rain bringing ideal conditions for lush plant growth. Despite the warming weather, cold nights and frosts can still be expected this month, so it’s important to protect tender plants and […]
Olives have a long, rich culinary history that dates back thousands of years. They’re a staple ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine, adding a burst of unique flavour and saltiness to these dishes. With their culinary origins in ancient Greek, Roman and Middle Eastern cuisine, olives have […]
October is the mid-spring period, where flowers bloom in abundance, and the warmer weather with rain bringing ideal conditions for lush plant growth. In the southern states, despite the warm, balmy weather, cold nights and even frosts can still be expected this month, so it’s […]
The olive tree, Olea europaea, is a subtropical evergreen tree from the Oleaceae family that is native to the Mediterranean, Africa and China. They grow best in areas with a Mediterranean climate, which is characterised by a long, hot, dry summer growing season and a […]
During the summer season, bean plants may become unhealthy looking, with a mottled or stippled pattern of tiny whitish speckled spots, short streaks or short lines on the upper surface their leaves. These affected leaved may eventually turn yellow, then brown, and become dry and […]
It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up, but there are still cold days, rainy weather and winds to contend with. Early spring is the best time to mulch garden beds, as the […]
It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up this month. In Darwin the weather is sunny, and it’s still the dry season but the weather is becoming hotter and more humid. This month […]
It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up, but there are still cold days, rainy weather and winds to contend with. The weather in Brisbane is mild and warm with some hotter days. […]
It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up, but there are still cold days, rainy weather and winds to contend with. Weather is still cold in Canberra and Hobart, with frosts in high […]
It’s September, the beginning of spring, the time of new life and renewal! The weather is starting to warm up, but there are still cold days, rainy weather and winds to contend with. Melbourne is cool and cloudy, and averages half a month of sunny […]
When plants are grown under artificial lighting, such as LED grow lights, the leaves might turn red in colour, due to a phenomenon known as anthocyanin accumulation. Anthocyanins are water-soluble flavonoid plant pigments that produce the major red, blue and purple colours in flowers, fruits […]
Can we convert USDA zones to Australian climatic zones of tropical, subtropical, temperate, arid and cool/alpine regions? That’s a common question many gardeners ask when referencing plant information from the other side on the world. Even though the two are quite different measurements based on […]
Mulching the garden is great way to protect the soil and keep it healthy. A good layer of mulch around 5-10cm (2-4″) thick on top of the soil surface prevents evaporation of soil moisture, saving water, and also keeps plant roots cool in summer. It […]
It’s August, the weather is dry and sunny in Darwin, but the end of winter draws near. Days begin to grow noticeably longer and the change of season isn’t too far away. This month is the time to sow the first summer vegetable seeds. Towards […]
It’s August, the weather is still cold and windy, but the end of winter draws near. Days begin to grow noticeably longer, and the change of season isn’t too far away. The weather in Brisbane is mild, with the possibility of frosts and occasional storms, […]
It’s August, the weather is still cold in many areas and moderately windy, but the end of winter draws near. Days begin to grow noticeably longer and the change of season isn’t too far away. This month is the last chance to complete the pruning […]
It’s August, the weather is still cold and windy, but the end of winter draws near. Days begin to grow noticeably longer and the change of season isn’t too far away. The weather in Hobart is slightly warmer than in the previous month but moderately […]
Live catch rat and mouse cage traps are humane, non-lethal devices that are used to capture pest rodent. They are designed to trap the animals without harming them, so that any non-pest native rodents that are captured can be relocated or released back into the […]
It’s August, the weather is still cold and windy, but the end of winter draws near. Days begin to grow noticeably longer and the change of season isn’t too far away. The weather in Melbourne and Perth is slightly warmer than in the previous month. […]
Woolly aphids are sap-sucking pests that are bluish-black in colour that produce a covering of fluffy white wax that resembles wool. They can be found clustered around the bases of new shoots on branches, wounds on trunks and branches, and on exposed roots of apple […]
Fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.) are annoying tiny, delicate looking little flies are around 1.5 – 3.0mm (1⁄16 to 1⁄8”) often seen flying slowly around indoor plants. They look like and are often mistaken to be tiny ‘fruit flies’ when they land on the sides of pots […]
It’s the month of July, and Midwinter has arrived! As all of Nature’s energies turn inwards, and life comes to a standstill, we finally have a chance to rest and reflect too. During this month temperatures will hit their lowest for the year in many […]
It’s the month of July, and Midwinter has arrived! As all of Nature’s energies turn inwards, and life comes to a standstill, we finally have a chance to rest and reflect too. During this month temperatures will hit their lowest for the year. Brief spells […]
It’s the month of July, and Midwinter has arrived! As all of Nature’s energies turn inwards, and life comes to a standstill, we finally have a chance to rest and reflect too. During this month temperatures will hit their lowest for the year in many […]
It’s the month of July, and Midwinter has arrived! As all of Nature’s energies turn inwards, and life comes to a standstill, we finally have a chance to rest and reflect too. During this month temperatures will hit their lowest for the year in Sydney […]
The practice of painting tree trunks white to protect them, which is known as whitewashing, has a long history that can be traced back to ancient times. The use of lime-based whitewash dates back to ancient Greece and Rome and gained popularity during the medieval […]
Unlike dogs, which are omnivores which are able to consume both meat and plant materials (including your garden vegetables!), cats are obligate carnivores or ‘true carnivores’, meaning that they rely almost entirely on a diet of animal proteins to obtain their nutrition. Cats may lack […]
It’s the month of July, and Midwinter has arrived! As all of Nature’s energies turn inwards, and life comes to a standstill, we finally have a chance to rest and reflect too. During this month temperatures will hit their lowest for the year in Melbourne, […]
The leaf of the olive tree (Olea europaea) has been used medicinally for centuries throughout the world, where it has been used to treat various ailments, including infectious disorders of bacterial, fungal, and viral origin. Olive leaf contains several bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds such […]
Companion planting is the practice of planting specific plants close to others to provide them with some benefit, such as the control of pests, increased health and vigour, resistance to disease, or higher yields. Plants can also be used to add fertility to the soil. […]
June brings us the start of winter, and weather in Darwin is warm and dry with plenty of sunshine. There are winter vegies to harvest, and some tidying up to do around the garden this month. In regions where deciduous trees and shrubs can grow, […]
June brings us the start of winter, with cooler weather. There are still some sunny days to be had, winter vegies to harvest, and some tidying up to do around the garden. As deciduous trees and shrubs shed their leaves and become dormant, it’s a […]
June brings us the start of winter, with colder, wetter weather, and a few frosty nights. There are still some sunny days to be had, winter vegies to harvest, and some tidying up to do around the garden. The winds ease off this month, and […]
June brings us the start of winter, with colder, wetter weather, and a few frosty nights. There are still some sunny days to be had, winter vegies to harvest, and some tidying up to do around the garden. The winds ease off this month, Brisbane […]
June brings us the start of winter, with colder, wetter weather, and a few frosty nights. There are still some sunny days to be had, winter vegies to harvest, and some tidying up to do around the garden. It’s the wettest month in Perth and […]
Edible figs (Ficus carica) belong to the Moraceae (mulberry) family, and the genus Ficus is one of the largest of the angiosperms (flowering plants) with over 800 species, characterised by their milky latex and their uniquely structure of its fruit, known as figs, which are actually inverted flowers, with hundreds of […]
In Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday 28th May at 11:41pm residents were awakened by an earth tremor of magnitude 3.8, that seemed to last close to a minute. It was quite unmistakable, initially sounding like a truck crash on the road and continuing in intensity with […]
A popular method of producing new plants from existing ones is by taking cuttings. Depending on the time of year and the plant, tree or vine being propagated, we can take hardwood cuttings from older wood, or softwood cuttings from newer, more pliable growth. Rather […]
Bees are incredible creatures, and one of the products they create, honey is a truly magical substance – it’s the only food that never spoils if it’s stored in a sealed container. As long as moisture from the air doesn’t get in, honey keeps indefinitely! […]
After many decades, there still seems to be some controversy in the horticulture world as to whether permaculture design works, despite many thriving and successful examples of working permaculture demonstration sites worldwide. For my amusement, I decided to ask the AI (artificial intelligence) program ChatGTP […]
May is the last month of autumn, when the weather starts cooling down, but there are still sunny days. There may be frosts in inland areas. This is a time for pruning, taking cuttings for propagation, dividing perennials, and planting new trees, shrubs and vines. […]
May is the last month of autumn, when the weather starts cooling down, but there are still sunny days. In Sydney the weather is cool and sunny, but it’s also quite a rainy month, while in Brisbane it’s still mild and sunny with temperatures reaching […]
May is the last month of autumn, when the weather starts cooling down, but there are still sunny days. There are frosts inland and in the high regions. Cold windy days are expected in the southern states, and weather in Hobart is cool and rainy. […]
May is the last month of autumn, and the weather is sunny and dry in the tropics. In Darwin, the weather is hot and humid, with temperatures over 30°C, and it’s also the first month of the dry season, with an average rainfall of only […]
Mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial fungi that live in close symbiotic association with the roots of most plants and trees. In this association, the plant provides the mycorrhizal fungi with sugars produced by photosynthesis. In return, the mycorrhizal fungi extend their network of long, threadlike filaments […]
What are Mycorrhizal Fungi? Mycorrhizal fungi are a type of fungi that have evolved to live in close association with the roots of most plants and trees, in a symbiotic relationship where both benefit from each other. This connection is described as mutualistic association. The […]
May is the last month of autumn, when the weather starts cooling down, but there are still sunny days. More rainy weather is expected in Perth and Adelaide, where it may rain for half the month. Cold windy days are expected in the southern states, […]
April brings us well into autumn, and the days are now getting shorter. During this month, temperatures drop, winds ease off and weather may be mild, sunny and warm or damp and rainy, making it ideal for planting. While the soil is still warm, it’s […]
April brings us well into autumn, and the days are now getting shorter.During this month, temperatures drop, winds ease off and weather may be mild, sunny and warm or damp and rainy, making it ideal for planting. While the soil is still warm, it’s a […]
April brings us well into autumn, and the days are now getting shorter.During this month, temperatures drop, winds ease off and weather may be mild, sunny and warm or damp and rainy, making it ideal for planting. While the soil is still warm, it’s a […]
April brings us well into autumn, and the days are now getting shorter. During this month, temperatures drop, winds ease off and weather may be mild, sunny and warm or damp and rainy, making it ideal for planting. While the soil is still warm, it’s […]
April brings us well into autumn, and the days are now getting shorter. During this month, temperatures drop, winds ease off and weather may be mild, sunny and warm or damp and rainy, making it ideal for planting. While the soil is still warm, it’s […]
Two-spotted spider mites or red spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) are tiny sap-sucking pests belonging to the Tetranychidae family that are barely visible to the naked eye, being only 0.3-0.5mm long, that live on the underside of leaves. Their body color varies, it can be pale […]
Whiteflies are small white flying insects around 1mm long that prefer to hide on the undersides of young plant leaves, and when disturbed fly up in the air around the plant in a cloud of white flying insects, often in large numbers. They belong to […]
March heralds the beginning of autumn, so there’s lots of tidying up in the garden. The weather remains warm and humid in areas as far south of the country as Sydney and Perth. With the cooler conditions and moist soils, it’s also an ideal time […]
March heralds the beginning of autumn, so there’s lots of tidying up in the garden. The first frosts may appear in Canberra and high inland areas. With the cooler conditions and moist soils, it’s also an ideal time to plant new trees, as the weather […]
March heralds the beginning of autumn, so there’s lots of tidying up in the garden. The weather remains warm and humid in areas as far south of the country as Sydney and Perth. With the cooler conditions and moist soils, it’s also an ideal time […]
March heralds the beginning of autumn, so there’s lots of tidying up in the garden. The weather remains warm and humid in areas as far south of the country as Sydney and Perth. With the cooler conditions and moist soils, it’s also an ideal time […]
March heralds the beginning of autumn, so there’s lots of tidying up in the garden. The weather remains warm and humid in areas as far south of the country as Sydney and Perth. With the cooler conditions and moist soils, it’s also an ideal time […]
Lead is a toxic heavy metal that poses a significant risk to humans, wildlife and natural habitats, as heavy metals are not degraded in the environment and consequently accumulate in soils. The lead-contamination of soil and its circulation in the soil–plant–animal–human biological food chain can […]
The choko or chayote (Sechium edule) is a vigorous, herbaceous perennial vine from the Cucurbitaceae (gourd or cucumber) family, that is native to Central America, but is now cultivated in many parts of the world. Choko fruit are light green in colour and are variable […]
February is the last month of summer, with hot days and strong winds, along with the occasional cyclone up north. During this month there are also cool changes with rain and thunderstorms. It’s still a fairly dry time of the year in Victoria, quite hot […]
February is the last month of summer, and it’s still a fairly dry time of the year in Victoria. Weather is hot and humid in NSW, and rain falls for around half the month. There can be strong winds along with the heat, so water […]
February is the last month of summer, with hot days and strong winds, along with the occasional cyclone up north. During this month there are also cool changes with rain and thunderstorms. In Darwin it’s the wet season. During dry periods, water deeply and less […]
February is the last month of summer, with hot days and strong winds, along with the occasional cyclone up north. During this month there are also cool changes with rain and thunderstorms. During dry periods, water deeply and less often to encourage roots to grow […]
February is the last month of summer, and it’s still a fairly dry time of the year in Melbourne, quite hot and dry in South Australia, and the hottest month in Perth. It’s hot and humid in Sydney and Brisbane, and rain falls for around […]
Herbicide use is very common in mainstream agriculture. Despite the documented environmental harm caused by herbicides, and the findings by the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Agency on Research on Cancer (IARC) that glyphosate (Roundup) causes cancer, herbicide use remains rampant and unabated! In 2020 […]
Mint plants are perennial aromatic herbs from the Mentha genus, that are widely grown in temperate areas around the world, and have spread worldwide, due to their culinary, medicinal and aromatic value. These are amongst the easiest plants for beginner herb gardeners to grow, as […]
Herbs are plants that are used for culinary and medicinal purposes, for making teas and also for their aromatic qualities. The leaves, flowers, seeds and roots of many herbs can be harvested for these purposes. For best flavour, aroma or potency, herbs are usually harvested […]
Willows are fast growing, deciduous trees of the genus Salix, that are mostly native to the temperate areas of the Northern hemisphere, growing in regions with moist soils, but are adaptable to almost any soil conditions. The Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica) pictured above is one […]
It’s January, and we find ourselves right in the middle of the summer season. It’s in this month and the next that we experience the hottest daytime and night temperatures of the year. With the weather so hot and dry at this time, and with […]
It’s January, and we find ourselves right in the middle of the summer season. It’s in this month and the next that we experience the hottest daytime and night temperatures of the year. With the weather so hot and dry at this time, and with […]
It’s January, and we find ourselves right in the middle of the summer season. It’s in this month and the next that we experience the hottest daytime and night temperatures of the year. With the weather so hot at this time, it’s important to keep […]
It’s January, and we find ourselves right in the middle of the summer season. It’s in this month and the next that we experience the hottest daytime and night temperatures of the year. With the weather so hot at this time, it’s important to keep […]
It’s January, and we find ourselves right in the middle of the summer season. It’s in this month and the next that we experience the hottest daytime and night temperatures of the year. With the weather so hot and dry at this time, and with […]
