The Ashcombe Blog
Orchids FAQ
The American orchid Society receives hundreds of orchid-related questions each month in a variety of media: phone, fax, e-mail, and yes – even through the mail! Director of Education and…
Phalaenopsis/The Moth Orchid
An American Orchid Society demographic survey showed that phalaenopsis have become America’s favorite orchid. And no wonder! Perhaps no other orchid is better suited to home orchid growing. Plants with…
Tillandsia/Air Plants
In the jungles of Central America, Tillandsias anchor themselves on the bark of trees, but they are not parasites. They are “epiphytic”, gathering nutrients from rain and dust in the…
Gardenias
Gardenias were discovered in China in the 1700’s. Their fragrance is unmatched in the floral world, and the extracted oil from the flowers is used in making perfume and tea.…
Succulents & Cacti
Cacti & Succulents are widely diversified groups of plants with many unusual and even bizarre shapes and forms. All Cacti are considered succulent, however not all succulents are cacti. Succulents…
Anthurium
A. andreanum (tail flower)A. scherzerianum (flamingo flower, pigtail plant) The exotic anthuriums from South America grow all year round in a warm greenhouse and produce a steady succession of blooms.…
The African Violet
The African Violet (saintpaulia) has become the most popular member of the Gesneriad family because of its ease of culture, continuous flowering habit, variety of blossom forms, range of colors,…
Ornamental Cabbage & Kale
Great plants for fall! Cabbage and Kale keep their brilliant color long after the rest of the flowers have gone to bed for the winter. The perfect accent with mums,…