KU Center for Community OutreachRoot Rot: How to Identify and Treat
Root rot is a dreadful realization that comes often too late. Root rot is often seen in plants when leaves start to yellow or wilt, and the plant starts to show signs of distress. Root rot is difficult to diagnose early on because the symptoms start manifesting in the roots, hence the name. I’m sure many of us are not checking our…
Growing Plants in Small Apartments
As a grad student, living in confined areas such as dorms or studio apartments is something I’ve grown very familiar to. Yes, there are its downsides, but there are certain things I have found extremely helpful in making them feel more like a home. That is, bring more life to your room! Not only can having plants transform the look of your…
Composting 101
What exactly is composting? Composting is a natural process that recycles organic matter into valuable fertilizer that enriches soil and plants through heat, nutrient mix, oxygen, and moisture. You can compost food scraps, leaves, or anything that grows and eventually decomposes. Why should I be composting? Though it may seem tedious to incorporate composting into your day-to-day life, composting is surprisingly easy….
Caring for Succulents
Looking for a rewarding plant that requires low maintenance, but is a perfect way to spruce up your indoors? If so, the succulent is IT for you! First things first, what exactly is a succulent? It’s any plant with thick, freshly water storage organs. Succulents store water in their leaves, stems, or roots. Nearly indestructible, succulents have adapted to survive in arid conditions throughout the…
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a staple for many home gardeners, but growing tomatoes can be very difficult. As someone who has grown a full garden of tomato plants for the past three summers, I understand this struggle and want to help others get started right. I wanted to make this guide so other gardeners have the tools and knowledge they need to grow the…
The Perfect Guide to Growing Herbs!
You may be wondering… what are herbs? Herbs are plants with fragrant or aromatic properties, which are chemical properties. They are used to flavor foods, used in fragrances (to smell good), and part of natural medicines. Herbs are the green or leafy part of the plant and are used either fresh or dried! What are examples of herbs? (This an extremely limited…
A Guide to Attracting Bees In Your Garden
Whether you love them or hate them, bees are a vital source to human life because of their ability to allow plants to undergo important cycles of reproduction. If you’ve ever had a garden, you may wonder why some years flowering looks lush and blooming and why others look dry and sad. If you find yourself within the unfortunate category of low…
Planter/Flowerpot DIY
Hello! Here are some dos and don’ts for creating flowerpots or planters at home along with some ideas for making your own planters. DO Chose a container that is deep enough for the roots of your plant Use materials that will not rust or rot Make sure to add drainage holes. I find that making two small cuts in the shape of…
A Guide to Flower Pots
There are so many types of pots out there, it can be incredibly hard to tell what type you need! What things should you consider? Cost – pots can range in price. You should think about how much you want to spend on your plant pot. You might not want to spend anything! If that is the case, we will lay out…
Earth Gardening
Spending more time at home? Want to start a garden but not sure where to begin? Welcome to CCO Earth’s page to help provide all you need to know to start your own garden, no matter how big or small. We will be walking through different steps each week on how to create a successful indoor or outdoor garden. Stay tuned for…