Generational Plants As we celebrate moms this month, we can’t help but reflect on our moms’ and grandmas’ favorite plants. And how they helped shape our own plant passions. Jared’s mom loves moss rose portulaca, hens and chicks, climbing honeysuckle, clematis and bleeding heart. No wonder, he’s such a fan of clematis, hardy succulents and portulaca, today. In our greenhouses, he grows hundreds of these proven garden stalwarts – both the classics and new hybrids -- to share customers. For Liz, she adores her mom’s towering delphiniums, her bloom-loaded hydrangeas and her colorful collection of ..read more

Intimidated by botanical plant names? They're easier to understand than you might think. Our team walks through all you need to know, so you can confidently talk plant names. The Value of Botanical Names Botanical names -- unlike common names -- are the standardized names of plants accepted by scientists no matter what languages they speak or where they are in the world. They are chosen by the first person to formally describe a species in a scientific article, and they can be updated over time if scientists learn new information. Common names on the other hand vary by language, culture and r ..read more

Don’t put away your garden shovels yet. Fall is the time for planting spring bulbs. And if you’re looking for a great garden value, you can beat spring bulbs. They’re easy to grow, deliver a welcomed dose of spring color, multiply over the years, deter deer with their nasty taste and are highly collectible with thousands of choices. The trick is remembering to plant them. Read on for our planting tips and favorite bulb varieties. When is the best time to plant spring bulbs? Plant spring bulbs when the ground is cool but not frozen (September to early December), ideally when soil temperatures r ..read more

If butterflies could talk, they’d tell us not all plants are equal. Luckily, researchers are closely observing them and how they interact with plants. First off, they found butterflies look for beacons of color – especially red, yellow, orange, pink and purple. Next, they search for safe places to land and easy food access. Think flowers with flat-topped landing pads and short flower tubes making it easy to obtain nectar. To sustain them on their journey, they’re seeking quality food (nectar) and water. And when they’re ready to lay eggs, they’re searching for host plants to provide food for t ..read more

Mums signal fall in a big way at Groovy Plants Ranch and along with their arrival we get tons of questions. Questions like “When is the best time to plant them?” We also hear: “Can they grow in the shade? Will they come back next year? Or how can I make blooms last longer?” Let’s walk through this Mum FAQ and sprinkle in some fun facts along the way. When is a good time to plant mums? September is a perfect time to plant garden mums. And we are fully stocked with miles of these fall beauties. In fact, our industry grows millions each fall to dress up front porches, refresh landscape beds and u ..read more

Water – it’s the lifeblood of our plants. In fact, it makes up 95 percent of their tissue. Water helps seeds sprout (“germinate”) and helps plants make food (“photosynthesize”), transport nutrients and keep cool (“transpire”). Yet, water is a limited resource especially in the heat of summer. Today, we’re sharing a few ways we conserve water at Groovy Plants Ranch and in our own backyards. We hope you’ll join us in rethinking ways to more efficiently use water to sustain our plants. Choose Water-Wise Plants To start, we highly recommend native plants and plants from arid regions for water-wise ..read more

Dahlia nirvana – it’s a real thing! It starts with a single “spark” dahlia, maybe a dinner-plate-sized ‘Café Au Lait’ or a ball-shaped ‘Crichton Honey’.  Pretty soon the flower bed is filled with dozens of dahlias and still you keep finding ways to squeeze in more. It’s no wonder. Dahlias are so spectacular in the late summer garden and make the prettiest bouquets. At Groovy Plants Ranch, we sell flowering potted dahlias that make it easy for beginners to get started on this road to nirvana. Read on for more tips and background on this heavenly flower. We know you’ll be eternally gratefu ..read more

Succulents are legendary at Groovy Plants Ranch. For 15 years, Jared has been growing and propagating both hardy and tender ones since he founded the business.  For this post, we’re focusing on hardy succulents – tough ones that can be grown outdoors year-round here in Ohio and other northern states. You’ll find they can be highly collectible -- even addicting -- and perfect planted in rock gardens to create fascinating little worlds to enjoy close up. Plus, they’re long-lived or as Jared says “they come without expiration dates.” At our entry rock garden, many customers pause to admire ..read more

No yawning, please. Today’s petunias are now one of the hottest annuals in the plant world! Thanks to recent breeding, there are hundreds of new petunias that are tougher and flexing more colorful than ever.  Yes, there’s the classic bubblegum pink varieties but also new colorful updates in black velvet, chartreuse lime, cheery yellow, sunset orange plus amazing multi-colors. They’re speckled, striped, starred and even edged in contrasting colors. Petals can be doubled, ruffled, fringed, giant or petite. Some are mounded perfectly for flower beds while others are trailing for containers ..read more

Ready to take the plunge into water gardening? At Groovy Plants Ranch, we love the added dimension water gardens bring to the landscape, especially with their reflecting pools, gurgling water, colorful fish, and of course a whole new palette of plants! We’re talking water lilies, carnivorous bog plants and showy tropicals. Not to mention, the dragonflies, songbirds and frogs they attract. If you’re tempted, it’s easy to dip your toe in water gardening. Start simply with a patio container or dive deeper with an in-ground pond and a sea of options. If we haven’t lost you with our wet humor, read ..read more