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While oranges are hailed for high vitamin C content, Chili peppers contain approximately twice as much vitamin C. The best part is that peppers are easy to cultivate, giving you the freedom to grow your supply at home.

Nonetheless, growing peppers in Colorado is a little challenging. Colorado has a shorter growing season, and yet peppers need a relatively longer period to mature. But, still, you can grow peppers with the following tips from Nick’s Garden Center.

1. Understand Colorado’s Pepper Landscape

Colorado’s pepper climate is a mix of weather conditions, some favorable and others unfavorable. In summer, the state gets warm temperatures and adequate sunlight. Likewise, in winter, the temperatures fall to freezing levels.

The most suitable pepper growing season spans from mid-May to mid-October. During the mentioned months, Colorado experiences warm temperatures and adequate sunlight. The warmth and sunlight support optimal growth as long as the soil is well-fertilized and watered.

2. Picking the Perfect Pepper

Many chili pepper varieties do well in Colorado. Thus, depending on personal preferences, you should choose your most suitable type from mild, medium, or hot. Since Colorado’s pepper growing season is relatively short, ensure that the varieties you select have a quick growing span.

With pepper varieties that mature quickly, you will get to harvest before winter sets in. The most popular pepper varieties that thrive well in Colorado’s climate include:

• Anaheim Peppers. This variety has mild heat, ideal for cooking and roasting.
• Hatch Peppers. The hotness of Hatch Peppers ranges from mild to hot. They are great for stews and soups.
• Jalapeño Peppers. The Jalapeño pepper has a moderate kick and is suitable for grilled meat and salsas.
• Sweet Bell Peppers. The bell pepper has a mild heat, ideal for people who don’t prefer hot varieties. The peppers’ varied colors help improve the visual appeal of various dishes.

3. Indoor Seed Starting for a Head Start

For the best results, Nick’s Garden experts recommend starting pepper seeds indoors before planting outdoors. Starting seed indoors ensures that your seedlings will have developed a robust network of roots before the planting season.

Ideally, you should start your pepper seeds indoors approximately 6 – 8 weeks before the planting season. This 6-8 weeks time frame allows seeds to develop into robust seedlings ready for transplanting.

To transplant, use the following blueprint as a guideline:

• Get the right supplies, including seeds and a quality seed-starting mix.
• Fill seed trays with your seed-starting mix.
• Plant your pepper seeds about 0.25 inches deep.
• Mist the soil surface with enough water.
• Keep the seed trays in a warm location with bright, indirect light.
• When the seedlings germinate, remove the weaker ones.
• Acclimate the seedlings by placing them outside for a week before transplanting.

4. Transplanting & Thriving

Hardening off pepper seedlings prevents shock, which can slow down growth. On the day of transplanting, dig holes in well-drained soil. Afterward, place the seedlings at a depth matching their original containers.

After transplanting your seedlings, water them one to two times a week. In addition to watering, apply a balanced fertilizer to boost the seedling’s growth. Occasionally, inspect the Chili pepper for signs of disease and pest attack. Use organic pesticides to control pests.

Achieve Pepper Growing Success With the Support of Nick’s Garden Center

Nick’s Garden Center is your trusted partner in matters of pepper cultivation. Our garden center supplies healthy seedlings for all pepper varieties. Beyond selling seedlings, we furnish our clients with the correct gardening information to increase their chances of success.

Contact us to order your pepper seedlings or learn more cultivation tips from a skilled gardener.

Ficus Audrey is one of the best indoor plants. It boasts a stunning appearance, characterized by large, glossy, dark green leaves on a robust trunk. Beyond beauty, the Ficus Audrey requires little maintenance, and it helps remove impurities from indoor air.

Suppose Ficus Audrey does not receive proper care, lest you deal with issues like leaf drop, yellowing of leaves, and susceptibility to pests. Learn the information you need to care for the Ficus Audrey plant.

Getting to Know Ficus Audrey

Ficus Audrey is a native of India and Pakistan, where it is regarded as a sacred ornamental tree. The plant has oval-shaped leaves featuring bright green foliage on a pale trunk. This house plant can grow to 6 feet high. Nonetheless, you can prune it to keep it in size.

Setting the Stage: Ideal Environment

Ficus Audrey thrives best under the right conditions. A proper balance of the right conditions helps the plant retain its aesthetic allure while reducing the likelihood of issues like leaf yellowing. The most basic conditions to provide include the following:

• Light Requirements

This ornamental plant, Ficus Audrey, grows well in places that get plenty of indirect sunlight. For this reason, it is best to place the plant in windows that face east or west. You’d want to avoid direct sunlight as it scorches leaves.

If there is not enough light indoors, you can supplement the natural light with LED grow lights. These lights mimic natural light, providing the wavelength your Ficus Audrey needs to photosynthesize.

• Temperature and Humidity

Ficus Audrey prefers room temperatures ranging from 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooler temperatures, more especially those below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, can lead to issues like leaf dropping.

In addition to the temperature, this indoor plant thrives well under a humidity range of 30 to 60 percent. You can keep a humidifier or pebble tray near the tree to boost humidity levels in case your indoor area has insufficient humidity.

Planting and Repotting

Ficus Audrey performs well in any high-quality potting soil. The ideal potting soil should have excellent drainage and aeration so the plant’s roots don’t rot. In addition to aeration and drainage, the right soil for Ficus Audrey should be relatively alkaline.

After every two years, you should report Ficus Audrey in a larger pot. Nonetheless, if you notice the plant’s roots through the pot’s drainage holes, re-pot it even before the two-year period elapses. To report your ornamental plant, use the following steps.

• Choose a slightly larger pot, but make sure it isn’t too large
• Get your potting mix ready
• Water the Ficus Audrey thoroughly a day before repotting
• Remove the plant gently from its current pot
• Place some potting mix at the bottom of the new pot
• Place the Ficus Audrey in the center of the new pot
• Fill the sides with more potting mix
• Water the Ficus Audrey and place it away from direct sunlight

Watering Wisdom

Water the Ficus Audrey every time the top 1 or 2 inches of soil dries up. Besides, you can water the plant whenever its leaves start curling inwards. The curling means that the plant is thirsty and, hence, needs watering.

Make sure you water Ficus Audrey consistently to avoid the chances of overwatering or underwatering. Overwatering makes the plant’s leaves appear yellow, losing its aesthetic appeal. Likewise, the plant’s leaves will have dry, crusty spots when underwatered.

Pruning and Shaping

Since Ficus Audrey’s foliage can grow out of shape, you should prune it to shape and give it a bushy appearance. The plant is best pruned in winter to reduce the risk of injury. In addition to timing, use the following best practices to get the process right.

• Use clean and sharp pruning shears to prune your houseplant
• Remove damaged leaves
• Prune excessively long branches to keep them in size
• Cut the tips of branches to stimulate bushier growth
• Cut branches just above leaf nodes to promote growth

Dealing with Pests and Diseases

Ficus Audrey is prone to spider mites and soil gnats. However, pest attack is never a big issue since you can prevent them with neem oil. You can notice the pests by the sticky residue or fine webbing visible on the leaves. Apart from pests, Ficus Audrey can be vulnerable to fusarium wilt, which can be treated with a fungicide.

Learn More Care Tips for Ficus Audrey from Nick’s Garden Center

For the past 30 years, St. Nick’s Garden has helped thousands of homeowners beautify their home with all sorts of indoor plants. We sell an array of ornamental plants for your indoors or outdoors, including the Ficus Audrey. Besides the plants, we give gardening advice to help you keep your plants in top shape.

Contact us to discuss your gardening concerns with an expert.

Popularly known as the Devil’s Ivy, Golden Pothos is a houseplant with lush, heart-shaped leaves adorned in vibrant green and golden yellow shades. The plant’s glossy leaves add an extra touch of elegance to spaces.

Besides the visual appeal, people love the Golden Pothos since it is low maintenance. It can survive in direct sunlight, infrequent watering, and pests. Even better, this plant helps remove toxins from your indoor air.

Assuming you intend to keep the Golden Pothos, Nick’s Garden has provided tips for growing and caring for this houseplant.

1. Light

The Golden Pothos thrives well under bright but indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the plant’s delicate leaves. The Golden Pothos leaves develop unsightly brown patches with regular exposure to direct sunlight.

So, it matters to place this plant near a north or east-facing window where it can bask in gentle, filtered sunlight. If your home is dimly lit, don’t worry. The Golden Pothos can still survive, albeit at a slower growth rate.

2. Watering

Since the Golden Pothos is fairly drought-resistant, it can survive even with infrequent watering. Typically, you should water the Golden Pothos once the top inch of soil dries up. Note that overwatering can lead to root rot.

For this reason, you should let excess water drain from the pot, just in case you overwater. Moreover, you should use a general-purpose potting mix since it retains just enough water for the Golden Pothos.

You can buy the potting mix at most leading garden centers in Denver. As an alternative, you can make a potting mix by combining equal parts of vermiculite, perlite, and potting mix.

3. House Location

Different from many houseplants, you can position the Golden Pothos in any room. The room of choice just needs to have adequate light. So, you can use this indoor plant to revamp your kitchen, bedroom, or living room.

You shouldn’t position this houseplant plant near heat vents or drafty areas. The heat from vents can cause withering or, at worst, drying. Likewise, the temperature fluctuations at drafty locations can compromise the plant’s vitality.

4. Disease Prevention

The Golden Pothos has superb resistance to diseases and pests. However, this houseplant can get root rot in case you overwater it. Use a pot with adequate drainage holes to eliminate chances of root rot.

Besides root rot, mealy bugs can invade this plant when there is high humidity indoors. When you realize the infestation, dip cotton swabs in alcohol and wipe the bugs off your plant’s leaves or stems.

Things to Look Out For

Even with the most diligent care, your Golden Pothos may not maintain peak health throughout its lifespan. The plant will develop issues due to fluctuations in environmental conditions, lapses in care, or overwatering.

The most common problems to watch out for when keeping a Golden Pothos include:

• Brown leaves. The browning of leaves can be a sign of overwatering, underwatering, or too much direct sunlight.
• Yellow leaves. Yellow leaves can be a sign of nutrient deficiency or root rot.
• Drooping leaves. Drooping leaves can be a sign of underwatering or shock from moving to a new location.

Get Your Golden Pothos From Nick’s Garden Center

When purchasing Golden Pothos, get it from a reputable garden center. The garden centers have healthy and well-maintained plants that will thrive without issue. Moreover, the garden centers have experts to advise you on caring for your plant.

Nick’s Garden is where to get the Golden Pothos and other houseplant. We have knowledgeable gardening staff to assist you in every step of the gardening journey, from selecting the right plants to maintaining them.

Contact us to order a Golden Pothos or any other houseplant.

Native grasses are well adapted to Denver’s local weather conditions. As a result, they thrive well even when exposed to the region’s cold winters, hot to mild summers, occasional snowfall, and low humidity.

Besides their superb adaptability, native grasses need minimal maintenance. Nick’s Garden Center sheds more light on Denver’s native grasses. Learn what varieties are available, their benefits, and how to maintain them.

Understanding Native Grasses

Native grasses are those grasses that were not introduced to Denver by landscapers. They have been growing wild in this region for thousands of years. As a result, the plants have developed the resilience necessary to survive the local climate.

In particular, the grasses can tolerate temperature fluctuations and low humidity. Moreover, these grasses thrive in drought, which helps you conserve water. With the grass, you’ll not have to water your lawn frequently.

Popular Native Grass Varieties for Denver

Denver has a variety of native grasses. So you can always find a type to give your lawn the desired aesthetic appeal.

Below is an overview of the grasses that thrive in the region’s climatic conditions:

• Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis). Blue grama is a small, clump-forming grass with blue-gray leaves. The foliage adds a striking golden-brown color to your lawn in the fall.

• Buffalo Grass (Bouteloua dactyloides). Buffalo grass has fine, blue-green leaves and dense, low-growing turf. With its robust root system, the grass survives dry areas without problems.

• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). This ornamental grass has silvery-blue stems and leaves and purple-bronze seed heads. These natural hues make the grass an excellent addition to your lawn.

• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Switchgrass boasts slender green leaves and pinnate flower panicles. Denver gardeners often use it to prevent erosion.

• Side-Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula). This side-oats grass has slender, blue-green leaves with distinctive oat-like seed heads. It is an excellent, low-maintenance option for a prairie-style lawn.

• Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans). Indian grass has tall, slender stems with graceful flower panicles that turn golden-orange in the fall. It is among the most decorative native grasses in Denver.

• Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis). This perennial grass has delicate, arching foliage and delightful, fragrant seed heads. It is often used to add elegance and charm to prairie-style landscapes.

‌Benefits of Native Grasses in Landscaping

Native grasses are characterized by one benefit – their excellent adaptability. The grasses maintain top shape even in Denver’s not-so-friendly garden conditions.

Other reasons why landscapers prefer native grasses include the following:

• Drought tolerance and water conservation. Many native grasses go dormant to survive extended periods without rainfall.
• Low maintenance requirements. Denver native grasses rarely need watering and fertilizing. Furthermore, the grasses are resistant to pests and last for years.
• Erosion control and soil stabilization. The dense root systems of native grasses hold the soil in place. No wonder Denver gardeners use them to prevent erosion from wind and water.
• Wildlife habitat and biodiversity support. Grasses are not only useful for landscaping. They also provide habitat for native wildlife such as songbirds and rabbits.
• Aesthetically pleasing landscapes. Many native varieties feature colorful leaves, stems, and seed heads. They’ll give your landscape an incomparable beauty.

Native Grass Care and Maintenance

Although native grasses are low maintenance, they still need some maintenance. The care helps them remain hardy enough to reach their full potential. So how do you care for your native grasses?

• Watering and irrigation practices. During the dry season, water your native grass so that it receives enough moisture. As a rule, irrigate the lawn late in the evening or early in the morning.
• Fertilization and weed control. Apply grass fertilizer to your lawn in late spring or early summer. The fertilizer will boost healthy growth. Weed as soon as weeds emerge to avoid competition for nutrients.
• Pruning, mowing, and seasonal maintenance. Cut back grass in late winter or early spring to remove dead parts. Furthermore, mow in late spring or early summer when the grass looks overgrown.

Get Your Native Grasses at Nick’s Garden Center

Since 1987, Nick’s Garden Center has been a trusted source of grasses, shrubs, and herbs. We also offer insider tips to maximize your gardening and landscaping success. Contact us to learn more about Denver’s native grasses.

Caring for houseplants takes work. You have to water, prune, fertilize, and repot the plant often. However, you can avoid some of these care challenges with air plants; they do not need soil to thrive. Moreover, they do not need regular watering and fertilizing.

Tillandsia Tectorum is one of the most famous air plants for homes. This plant boasts silvery white leaves covered with dense trichomes that give the plant a unique velvety appearance. It is native to Peru and Ecuador and naturally thrives on rocks and outcroppings.

How to Care for Tillandsia Tectorum

Although Tillandsia tectorum is low maintenance, you must care for it. Otherwise, it will wither and eventually die. All in all, caring for Tillandsia Tectorum is easy-peasy with the following tips.

1. Watering

Tillandsia tectorum is watered once a week. Soak the air plant in water for 30 minutes. Afterward, remove your Tillandsia from the water and shake off the excess water. Place your air plant upside down on a towel so it dries completely.

2. Light

Tillandsia tectorum thrives well under direct sunlight. For this reason, you should place this plant near a window that receives the most sun. Preferably, Tillandsia tectorum should receive sunlight for at least half a day. If your home lacks sufficient natural light, keep the plant under a bright grow light.

3. Fertilizer

Tillandsia tectorum naturally grows on nutrient-poor surfaces. As such, it can thrive with little fertilizing. However, to support its health, fertilize the air plant once every one to two months. Use a complete fertilizer diluted to ¼ its strength.

4. Temperature

Tillandsia tectorum grows well within a temperature range that matches its native environment. Specifically, the air plant grows well in temperatures ranging between 10 °C to 27 °C. Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures can damage the air plant.

5. Humidity

Tillandsia tectorum thrives well in areas with moderate to high humidity levels. For this reason, you should grow this plant in spaces with a relative humidity level of around 50% or higher. You can keep the plant near a humidifier or mist it often to meet its humidity demands.

6. Air Circulation

Tillandsia tectorum thrives well in places with excellent air circulation. The air plant needs air circulation to disperse excess moisture from its trichomes. Without adequate air circulation, your Tillandsia tectorum would end up rotting.

Extra Tips for Owning the Tillandsia Tectorum

From choosing a healthy air plant to showcasing it, it is common to feel overwhelmed when planning to buy Tillandsia tectorum. Therefore, we have answered common concerns to let you buy and keep the air plant with confidence.

1. How to choose a healthy Tillandsia Tectorum

A healthy Tillandsia tectorum plant has bright, silver-grey leaves that are firm to the touch. Avoid plants with yellow or brown leaves, as those are signs of underwatering, nutrient deficiency, or dehydration.

2. How to display Tillandsia Tectorum

There are endless ways to display Tillandsia Tectorum. One of the most common is mounting the air plants on decorative surfaces like driftwood. Moreover, you can showcase this air plant in a glass terrarium. Place the terrarium on shelves, coffee tables, or window sill.

3. How to propagate Tillandsia Tectorum

Propagating Tillandsia Tectorum is straightforward. Get small offsets that grow at the base of the parent plant. Afterward, place the offsets in a place with adequate light and water and let them grow.

4. How to troubleshoot common problems

Like any houseplant, the Tillandsia Tectorum plant is prone to several issues. These problems can result from overwatering, inadequate light, and low humidity. The most common issues you’d encounter include:

• Soggy leaves. The problem is a result of overwatering.
• Browning leaf tips. Browning leaf tips result from under-watering or low humidity.
• Failure to produce pups. This problem occurs when the plant gets inadequate light and nutrients.

Order Your Tillandsia Tectorum From Nick’s Garden

Tillandsia Tectorum is less common in traditional plant stores due to its high demand and specialized care requirements. However, plant collectors seeking this exquisite air plant in Denver can always buy from Nick’s Garden Center.

We offer healthy and well-cared-for Tillandsia Tectorum plants and many hard-to-find species. As an extra, we provide professional support to help you grow and care for your air plant.

Contact us to order a Tillandsia Tectorum for your indoor space.