The Mad Potter

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

Cucumbers can be picky — but the right neighbors make a big difference. Radishes, for example, act as decoys, drawing beetles away from tender vines before they cause damage. And sunflowers aren't just pretty — they double as a living trellis, letting cucumbers climb without any extra hardware. These plant pairings work together in ways most gardeners never consider. The full list has even more simple combinations worth knowing about. [DKFT0]

08/27/2026

These 26 🌺 plants will love ❤️ being fertilized with coffee grounds!

08/27/2026

I stopped buying certain seeds twenty years ago. Once you realize your garden spends the whole of August quietly packaging up hundreds of free plants for next year, you stop deadheading quite so ruthlessly. There are a handful of flowers out there right now—the crispy, brown, slightly tragic-looking ones—that are practically begging you to snap their pods off before the wind gets them. One is practically spring-loaded if you let it get too dry. Another might be hiding something a bit wriggly if you don't look closely. Grab an old jam jar and take a slow walk out there this evening. I've written down the specific ones you want to look out for before the month is out. Don't worry about doing it perfectly, just see what you can find.

07/29/2026

Here's a list of 15 Perennials that will Bloom Multiple Times a year or have a long-blooming period!

07/28/2026

For decades, I watched people drag heavy bags of potting mix through their homes, fight off those miserable little fungus gnats, and ruin their good floors trying to repot things. I used to do it, too. We overcomplicate indoor growing. There is a persistent myth that every indoor plant needs a perfectly balanced, specialized soil recipe to survive. The truth is, there are a handful of surprisingly common houseplants sitting in your living room right now that would actually be perfectly happy living bare-root in a plain glass of water. No soil. No repotting messes. No root rot from poorly draining dirt. Just a pair of scissors, an everyday drinking glass, and stepping back to let the plant do what it wants to do anyway: grow. I wrote down the seven most reliable ones you can take out of the dirt right now, including a notoriously fussy grower that becomes almost indestructible once you just put it in a jar of water. Have a look at the list down in the comments. I'd bet good money you already have three or four of them.

07/28/2026

Mix up the menu to spot more species! Get inspired at the link in the comments.

07/28/2026

Growing perennials in pots is a fantastic way to add lasting summer color to your garden, balcony, or patio.