🔥 What is Pepper Made From? Black, white, green, and red...

• ♨️ Pepper comes from the dried berries (peppercorns) of the vine Piper nigrum, a plant native to South India and now widely cultivated in tropical regions.
• ♨️ Pepper has been a prized spice for millennia, with black and white varieties known in ancient times. The modern discovery of green and red pepper has only added to the allure of this versatile spice!
• ♨️ The different types of pepper - black, white, green, and red - are all derived from the same plant! Their distinct flavors and colors result from variations in harvest timing and processing methods.
• ♨️ Secrets of the Pepper Colors:

⚫️ Black Pepper: The most common variety, black pepper is made from unripe, green berries that are cooked briefly and then dried. The drying process darkens the skin, giving it a bold flavor with both pungency and aroma.
🔘 White Pepper: Created by removing the outer skin of fully ripe berries, leaving just the seed inside. White pepper has a stronger heat and less aroma, making it ideal for dishes needing subtle flavor.
🟢 Green Pepper: These are unripe berries that are either dried or pickled to preserve their fresh, herbal flavor. Green pepper is milder and more aromatic.

• 🔴 Red Pepper: A rare variety, red peppercorns come from fully ripened berries, often dried or brined. They have a unique, fruity sweetness balanced with pungency.

♨️ Growing Pepper Plant:

• · Piper nigrum is a moderate-growing vine that thrives on a trellis and can even grow in containers.
• · Care: Prefers partial shade and moderate watering, making it suitable for indoor cultivation.
• · Fertilize with Sunhine Boosters on regular basis. Miscrolement supplement (Sunshine SuperFood) is essential as Black pepper may be susceptible to leaf chlorosis (iron deficiency).

📚 Learn more from previous post:
How to grow your own Pepper plants. Five most valuable 'Pipers'

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🪩 Does Queen of the Night bloom only one night out of the year?

• 💎 Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night, is a captivating cactus famous for its nocturnal, powerfully fragrant blooms!
• 💎 Native to tropical rainforests, it thrives as an exotic houseplant with its wide, fleshy leaves.
• 💎 This plant earns its royal title by producing stunning, large white fragrant flowers that open only at night, creating a spectacular and fleeting display of beauty.
• 💎 Each flower lasts only one night, but if you missed it - no worries! New blooms will follow from multiple buds. So you actually will have several nights to enjoy it!
• 💎 A must-have for those who love unique and fragrant indoor plants.

🛒 Order Queen of the Night

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🐈 Enjoy Black Friday deals!

👍 This Holiday week, enjoy the best deals ever and fill your garden with all the plants you always wanted. Check out our instant discounts and deals here, and don't forget about our limited time promotion:

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😶 Did you know this about Hoyas?

*Wax Plants: Hoyas are often called wax plants because of their thick, glossy leaves and waxy flowers.

*Sweet Scented Blooms: Their star-shaped flowers not only look like candy but also emit sweet, often vanilla-like or chocolatey scents, especially in the evening.

*Epiphytic Nature: Many Hoyas grow as epiphytes in their natural habitats, meaning they live on other plants or trees, getting nutrients from the air and rain.

*Longevity: Hoyas can live for decades and may even be passed down as heirlooms. Some specimens are over 100 years old!

*Nectar Drops: Their blooms produce tiny drops of nectar, a treat for pollinators (and sometimes houseplant owners).

*Hundreds of Species: There are over 500 species of Hoyas, ranging from tiny-leafed varieties to ones with massive leaves or even fuzzy foliage.

*Sun-Loving Flowers: While the plants tolerate lower light, Hoyas flower best with bright, indirect light or even some direct sun.

*Low-Maintenance: They’re perfect for forgetful gardeners since they prefer to dry out between waterings.

*Climbing or Trailing: Hoyas can either climb with the help of trellises or cascade beautifully as trailing plants.

*Flowering Age: Hoyas are patient! Some won’t bloom until they’re a few years old, but the wait is worth it.

*Resilient Peduncles: Never cut off the “flower stems” (peduncles) - Hoyas rebloom from the same spot year after year.

*Exotic Origins: Native to Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, they thrive in tropical and subtropical climates.

*Lucky Charm: In some cultures, Hoyas are considered symbols of love and are gifted as housewarming or wedding presents.

🎥 Hoya calycina - Papua Sweet Scent was discovered in Papua New Guinea in 1913. The flower is very fragrant and can infuse your entire house in a beautiful lilac scent.

😍 Do you have a favorite Hoya species in mind? Share in comments!

📚 More from previous post:
Our favorite houseplants - hoyas

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😊 Happy Thanksgiving! Last day of discount

"Giving Thanks is Giving Peace"

☀️ To our wonderful customers, thank you for your support throughout the year - we are truly grateful! We wish you peace, health, and beautiful gardens filled with abundant fruit and ever-blooming flowers.

👋 Don't miss the last day of 10% discount on plants, seeds, and garden supplies with the code below. Let's make your gardens even more fruitful and vibrant this Thanksgiving!

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Min order $150. Excluding S/H. Exp. 11/29/24

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🔤 When Bamboo blooms with orchid flowers 👀

• ⭐️ The Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia), or Bird Ground Orchid, is a showstopper with its elegant, pinkish-purple flowers perched on tall, cane-like stems that look strikingly like bamboo.
• ⭐️ These towering plants can grow to hip height or even taller, bringing a bold, exotic vibe to your garden. Their resemblance to bamboo isn't just in the stems – the long, alternating leaves add to the illusion.
• ⭐️ At the top of the canes, delicate flowers bloom one at a time, keeping the show going for weeks. Each flower, about 2-3 inches wide, features soft white petals and a vibrant purple-pink lip, reminiscent of the beautiful Cattleya orchids.
• ⭐️ These blooms can appear almost year-round, with a peak in summer, adding a touch of tropical elegance to your landscape.
• ⭐️ This stunning plant is perfect for those who want a unique and low-maintenance addition to their shade garden that always reaches for the sky!

📱 Ground orchids: all-summer colors for shady gardens

📚Learn more from previous posts:

• 🟡 The prettiest flower for shade
• 🟡 Ground orchids: all-summer colors
• 🟡 Why do we love Ground Orchids
• 🟡 Epidendrum radicans - Orange Reed Ground Orchid, Sunrise
• 🟡 Terrestrial orchids
• 🟡 What orchids can be grown in the ground

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⭐️ What plant can bloom profusely in full shade in Winter

• 🍬 Philippine violet (Barleria cristata) - is a blooming star for a shade garden! It is a cheerful, fuss-free shrub that can brighten up shady spots with its trumpet-shaped flowers.
• 🍬 Standing about 3-4 feet tall, it fits perfectly as a hedge or can be trimmed into neat shapes for a tidy look.
• 🍬 Its flowers, in lovely shades of lilac purple, mauve, white, or even striped, burst into clusters from November to mid-December, adding a pop of color when many plants take a rest.
• 🍬 Each flower lasts a couple of days, only to be replaced by fresh blooms from its many buds. The fallen petals create a gorgeous purple blanket around the plant, making it a visual treat even on the ground.
• 🍬 This plant thrives in both sun and full shade! It doesn't ask for much - just a little pruning now and then to keep it bushy and happy.
• 🍬 Add this eye candy to your shade garden, and let these Winter flowers steal the show!
• 🍬 Philippine violet is also a perfect exotic plant for container culture or even an indoor collection.

🛒Shop Barleria varieties

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😊 Thanksgiving Sale starts today! Giving Thanks is Giving Peace

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melody Beattie

🦃 Happy holiday season! To our wonderful customers, thank you for your support throughout the year - we are truly grateful! We wish you peace, health, and beautiful gardens filled with abundant fruit and ever-blooming flowers.

As a token of our appreciation, enjoy 10% off plants, seeds, and garden supplies with the code below. Let's make your gardens even more fruitful and vibrant this Thanksgiving!

• 
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Min order $150. Excluding S/H. Exp. 11/29/24

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