Waiting For Spring

We can't wait for spring to arrive in Charlotte! We're planting seeds, potting containers and ordering plants to get ready for the big season. Meanwhile, for those with a hankering to have more green indoors, our greenhouses are loaded with Houseplants, Tropicals, Succulents and Bonsai. It's a great place to escape grey skies and enjoy some nice humidified and oxygenated fresh air. Come see us!
Visit Oakdale Greenhouses Website

Photo Credit: Raymond Cathode 

BOOKS WE LIKE: Urban Jungle: Living and Styling with Plants

More and more, people are getting into the indoor plant craze. This book is a great read and full of photogenic examples of how folks are using plants to create unique environments for themselves. Click the book image to "read all about it."

From Amazon.com

HOW TO: Croton Plant Care

So, you've just brought home one of these colorful beauties and you want to keep it lush and beautiful. Allow us to help!

Crotons are offered in different types, wide and narrow leaf varieties, even ones with curling leaves. But they all crave the same basic care needs: Bright light (not direct sunlight), proper watering and the right size container. Inside the home, temperatures should be between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures above 80F may cause your croton to wilt, dry out and drop leaves.

Between waterings, allow the soil to dry out. Do not over-water your plant, for it will cause the leaves to yellow (and possibly rot). Slowly add water and allow it to soak into the soil.
Fertilize your plant once a month with a fertilizer low in nitrogen. Back off the fertilizer during Winter. If you place your croton outdoors during Summer months, a dappled sunlight is best (you could "cook" the plant in full sun).  Use a pot with a draining hole and saucer and good potting soil that retains moisture.

Come see the varieties of Crotons we have at Oakdale Greenhouses – ours are specially selected for robust growth inside your home. Visit our website for maps, hours, directions and more information: www.OakdaleGreenhouses.com.

STUFF WE LIKE: Test Tube Bud Vase

Really loving this wood stand with three test tubes. Pretty decent piece, takes well to spray painting a color that you like. Ours is in the kitchen window with plant cuttings that are rooting and getting ready to place into small pots. It's also useful for cut flowers.

Propagate plants you like in a simple, easy, sweet looking device. Click the image for details.

From Amazon.com

ARTICLE FIND: Guide to Choosing Houseplants

We constantly scour the website in search for informative articles. This one, from Better Homes and Gardens, features ways to select the best houseplants for your home. You'll find these plants and more at Oakdale Greenhouses in Charlotte!

Guide to Choosing Houseplants

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens