Posts By

Melissa Strauss

Melissa is a writer, hobby gardener, beekeeper and homemaker. She can be found working in her extensive pollinator garden, trolling the local nurseries for unique plant specimens, and tending to the many fruit-bearing plants on her property. Melissa hopes to inspire other gardeners to delve into the rich and fulfilling world of pollinator gardening.

A Dracaena sanderiana with bright green, narrow leaves and stems placed in a glass container filled with water, set on a wooden surface.

Houseplants

15 Houseplants That Symbolize Good Luck

Plants and their flowers have come to symbolize many things over the centuries. From wealth and health to sympathy and bereavement, there is a plant for nearly every occasion. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to talk about some plants that have come to represent good fortune and luck.

A woman fertilizes an indoor palm tree in a white pot using a blue shovel full of gray granular fertilizer.

Trees

How and When to Fertilize Indoor Palm Trees

Palm trees add tropical energy to your space, and potting them makes them great for anyone, including those living in cold climates. Florida gardener Melissa Strauss talks about how and when to fertilize them to keep those vacation vibes strong.

Dense cluster of fan-shaped leaves with pointed tips, displaying vibrant green tones.

Trees

11 Hardy Palm Trees For Your Garden

Palm trees are easy to care for and add beautiful, tropical vibes to the garden landscape. Most of them aren't built for freezing weather, but there are a few that will reasonably withstand the cold. Florida gardener Melissa Strauss discusses some of the most cold-tolerant palms you can plant in your yard.

A woman in a yellow sweater waters a cactus in a white pot from a white watering can, a houseplant that is watered rarely.

Houseplants

13 Houseplants You Should Water Very Rarely

Different types of plants need different amounts of moisture. Overwatering some of them can lead to a disaster! Houseplant enthusiast Melissa Strauss has an important list of houseplants to water sparingly so you can avoid a bad case of root rot.

Close-up of geranium leaf cuttings with rounded, slightly jagged green leaves and sturdy stems placed in a seed starter tray filled with soil.

Houseplants

13 Plants You Can Grow From Leaf Cuttings in Winter

Winter weather doesn't mean you have to toss your annuals and replace them all in the spring. You can propagate many of these plants over the winter with cuttings. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares some annuals you can keep coming back with propagation.

Cabbage, lettuce, and broccoli in an elevated, wooden planter.

Raised Bed Gardening

13 Plants You Can Winter Sow in Raised Beds

Winter sowing is a great way to get a head start on your spring garden. Raised beds can make it even easier to head into the growing season with a thriving garden. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares some plants you can start now for blooming beds in a few short months.

Multiple Phalaenopsis plants with long stems and large flowers in white, pink, red, and yellow. The flowers have rounded petals with delicate patterns. Green leaves surround the base of the plants.

Flowers

7 Orchid Winter Care Tips for Thriving Plants All Season

Many orchids are tropical plants that need special care during the cooler months. Depending on the species, you may need to switch things up if you want to see them flower. Orchid enthusiast Melissa Strauss offers some tips on caring for your tropical beauties during the cooler months.

Pale apricot-hued blossom with layered petals and a sunny yellow center set against a background of green foliage, perfect for flower seeds 2025.

Flowers

21 Flower Seeds We’re Most Excited to Plant in 2025

It's time to start planning and planting your flowers for the coming year! If you need some inspiration, we would love to share some of our favorites for 2025. Read on to see what cut flower gardener Melissa Strauss is growing in her flower patch this year.