Caring for your Phalaenopsis Orchid

Orchids have a magical beauty and allure, with incredible colors, shapes and scents. With over 30,000 species of orchids available, it is important to know what kind of orchid you have. This holiday season, Wenke will be offering the Phalaenopsis Orchid. These plants are commonly referred to as “Moth Orchids” and are considered among the easiest of the orchid family to care for. Here are a few basic tips help your Phalaenopsis orchid grow, thrive, and bloom.  Temperature Phalaenopsis enjoy a fairly warm …

Know your Zone

Do you know your garden zone? The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is used by the garden industry to communicate the cold hardiness of landscape plants. Knowing your planting zone can be very useful when you are planning your garden and flower bed areas. The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter …

Inviting Fairies into your Garden

Do you have a fairy garden in your home or yard? Fairy gardening has become a very popular trend in the world of gardening. Making a fairy garden can make you feel like a kid again and make the worries of the world go away.  It’s just you and your own perfect place. What’s not to like, right? Fairy gardening/miniature gardening is creating scenes and garden areas using small plants and accents.  Your ideas and what you choose to create …

Mezoo is a hit!

I love to try different plants in my garden and every now and then I come across a variety that is a real winner. That is how I feel about Dorotheanthus bellidiformis ‘Mezoo Trailing Red’. Wow, that is a mouthful, huh? Let’s make it easy and just call it Mezoo. I noticed this plant for the first time this past spring. I was looking for a variegated vine that would grow in part sun. Mezoo fit the bill and had pretty little …

Cool Weather Vegetables

As it gets warmer and we have more sunny days, I can almost taste all those fresh vegetables from my garden. While it is still too early to plant some vegetables, there are some varieties of veggies that tolerate, even love the cold. They thrive in early spring’s cold soil temperatures, frost or even snow. Most of these grow great in containers as well as in the garden. And they have two growing seasons! While cold-crops will not withstand the heat of the mid-summer months, they can …

potting soil

Get the dirt on our soil!

  We have our own special blend of potting soil called Wenke Blend. Wenke Blend is very lightweight to provide aeration while also having good water retention abilities. It has the best ratio of peat, perlite and other ingredients that the plants need. No fertilizer is added to the mix so you can add your own based on the plants you are using.  Wenke Blend is the best soil to use in container gardens and many customers even use a half and half mix of Wenke Blend …

Plants that attract Hummingbirds

While Hummingbirds are attracted to red, they will feed from any color flower that has nectar. Annuals and perennials, vines, shrubs, trees, bedding plants and hanging plants: you can choose from all these categories in selecting flowers for attracting hummingbirds. Since there is such a dizzying array of plants that will help you achieve your goal, I have listed the flowers, shrubs and vines that are commonly used to attract hummers. Flowers Bee Balm Digitalis Cardinal Flower Delphinium Lantana Columbineh Coral …

Basil Collection

As we all strive to maintain healthy diets with flavorful food, cooking with fresh herbs and veggies becomes normal kitchen practice. Basil plays a large part in any herb garden and our new collection covers all the basil bases. We have two types of sweet basil: the traditional variety as well as the wonderful basil Genovese with larger, darker leaves. Because they grow at different speeds, it is best to plant both to provide a constant supply for the kitchen. Two interesting …

For the Love of Iris

Bearded irises are the royalty of my spring garden with their tall, frilly blooms and sword-like foliage. They add a perfect upright element to the garden, and they come in such a huge variety of colors that you are unlikely to ever get bored growing them. Bearded Iris bloom after spring bulbs and prior to summer flowering plants, providing color and beauty to every part of your garden. If you’ve planted your bearded irises in good soil in a sunny spot, …

Grow your own herb garden with Papa Joe Herbs

Wenke Greenhouses carries their own line of herbs called Papa Joe Herbs. Herbs are used for health, flavor, or fragrance. Herbs can be used to make teas; perk up cooked foods such as meats, vegetables, sauces, and soups; or to add flavor to vinegar, butters, dips, or mustard. Many herbs are grown for their fragrance and are used in potpourris, sachets, and nosegays; or to scent bath water, candles, oils, or perfumes. Herbs are relatively easy to grow. Begin with the herbs …