Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program
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Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program
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Research-based info on caring for plants and landscapes in a Florida-Friendly way. From the University of Florida's IFAS Extension.
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Did you know you can grow your own mushrooms at home? Shiitake and oyster mushrooms are some of the best options for first-time growers. Learn more about growing your own mushrooms at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/kGVWUEO
(Photo: Oyster mushrooms, Carolyn Saft UF/IFAS)
Gray, shelf-like oyster mushrooms growing on the outside of a grow kit bag sitting on a kitchen counter.
January 26, 2026 at 2:03 PM
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Growing herbs indoors makes these fresh kitchen ingredients easily accessible and safe from winter temperatures. There are even starter kits and hydroponic systems available. Learn more about growing herbs at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/mZm1Aud
Small terra cotta pots lined up on a windowsill each with a different young, green herb growing, like mint, basil, rosemary and thyme.
January 23, 2026 at 2:03 PM
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Live your best (indoor plant) life! Houseplants bring the benefits of nature into the comfort of your home. To keep your plants happy, learn their light, water, soil and nutrient requirements. More on caring for your houseplants at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/fT5jKs5
Peace lily plants are very easy to care for indoors and can handle a range of light conditions. Crotons will be more colorful in direct sun, so if you're looking for that showy tropical flare, grow your croton next to a sunny window. Rubber plants are so easy to grow indoors that they're widely used in commercial spaces, but they do best in high to medium light levels. Peperomia can be grown indoors and outside in Florida; this plant has smooth, thick oval leaves.
January 22, 2026 at 2:01 PM
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Winter is a great time to start transplants indoors for spring planting. Aim to start seeds 4-8 weeks before suggested outdoor planting dates (specific to your region). More on caring for indoor transplants at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/y44AJtH
Close look at tiny baby plants just starting in a grid container.
January 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM
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In observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day, the UF/IFAS Master Gardener Volunteer program's state office is closed.
Photo of the U.S. flag with overlaying text: Recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
January 19, 2026 at 2:02 PM
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Simply spending time around trees can calm the mind, according to a new study by UF researchers. They surveyed 1,361 Floridians aged 45 and older and discovered that stress levels declined when participants visited wooded areas. Learn more at UF/IFAS News: buff.ly/HqtfYNn
Woman sitting under a tree with a book.
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
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Happy Florida Arbor Day! Why not celebrate by planting a native tree? Many communities are hosting tree giveaways today and this weekend. Native trees contribute to Florida's ecosystems and here are a few of our favorites. More native trees on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/K35defV
Native fringetree is named for its white, thin-petaled flowers that appear in spring. Longleaf pine trees have bright green, long, flexible needles, giving it an almost weeping appearance. South Florida native gumbo-limbo tree has smooth, peeling bark and an open, rounded form. Native live oak trees can get massive and live for hundreds of year. Often seen draped in Spanish moss, they are a symbol of the South.
January 16, 2026 at 2:01 PM
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Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “the earth laughs in flowers.” Cut flowers are an excellent way to harvest this joy and bring color to any room. We recommend a few plants that work well in Florida during cooler months at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/VJelNnZ
Three calendula flowers that are daisy like with many thin pale yellow petals and a reddish center; two are fading in color. Photo by Wanda Laughlin, UF/IFAS. This delphinium plant has spikes of small, bright blue, papery flowers. A row of snapdragon plants in a demonstration garden. The plants in the foreground have spikes of deep red flowers, while further down the row there are snapdragons with yellow flowers. Photo by Erin Harlow, UF/IFAS. Bright golden yellow daisy-like flowers of the Black-eyed Susan plant. Photo by Erin Harlow, UF/IFAS.
January 15, 2026 at 2:01 PM
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Silver buttonwood is a native shrubby tree that grows best in South Florida and thrives along the coast. This versatile evergreen works as a hedge, accent or windbreak. Learn more about January's featured plant at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/yGkvlsW
January 14, 2026 at 2:01 PM
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Carambola is crisp and sweet, and a good source of vitamins C and A, phosphorus and potassium. Slices of the fruit look like stars—hence the celestial nickname. Learn more about star fruit at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/fVK0HxF
Yellow waxy carambola fruits: one whole and the other cut into slices to show its star shape.
January 12, 2026 at 2:01 PM
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Start 2026 with gardening knowledge straight from a reliable source! The January issue of the Neighborhood Gardener includes tips on growing mushrooms, cut flowers for cool weather (like snapdragons) and more. Read it at the UF/IFAS Master Gardener Volunteer website: buff.ly/ZprCoLc
Spikes of bubblegum pink flowers on a snapdragon plant.
January 9, 2026 at 2:03 PM
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Yes, flowers can be planted in Florida winter! Each plant varies in its success as a transplant or seed; check with your county Extension office for information on planting in your area. Text and printable versions of this infographic at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/HyNZmnv
List of Florida-Friendly flowers to plant in January.
January 8, 2026 at 2:01 PM
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Spice things up this winter. Herbs that can be planted now include coriander, thyme, parsley, chives and fennel. Just be sure to protect plants during frosts and freezes. Text and printable versions of this infographic at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/cxtZYe7
Hand-drawn style illustration of winter herbs: coriander (annual grown for its seeds); parsley (biennial, harvest leaves as needed); thyme (perennial grown for its leaves); chives (perennial) and fennel (perennial grown for its leaves and ripe seeds).
January 7, 2026 at 2:00 PM
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New year = new growth! Here are some Florida-Friendly fruits and vegetables to get in the ground this month. For the printable PDF and text versions of this infographic, visit UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/bOXa8K0
A long list of Florida-Friendly fruits and vegetables to plant in January.
January 5, 2026 at 2:02 PM
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Happy New Year! Wishing you and your garden a healthy and productive 2026. The holiday offers the opportunity to think about new gardening goals. One source of inspiration: our Neighborhood Gardener newsletter, designed for Florida home gardeners. Visit our website to subscribe! buff.ly/xCMOpbs
Photo of a pale pink camellia flower, with many tightly clustered petals. The text reads "Happy New Year"
January 1, 2026 at 2:01 PM
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Happy holidays from the Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program and UF/IFAS Extension! The state office will be closed through January 2, 2026. We look forward to growing with you in the new year!
A bright red poinsettia with our logo and "Happy Holidays."
December 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
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Leave the leaves! During the winter months, branches, leaves and plant material provide habitat and food for many wildlife species (like this five-lined skink). Learn more about creating a wildlife-friendly winter garden at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/oBYKmTg
A colorful skink suns itself on a fallen log. Photo by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS.
December 22, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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With attractive silvery foliage, unusual flowers and edible fruits, pineapple guava is a versatile shrub. This evergreen can be grown throughout Florida and is relatively easy to find in your local retail nursery. Learn more about pineapple guava at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/hMGJQ1S
December 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
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Some of the great pleasures of gardening are connecting with other gardeners and sharing with friends and family. Sharing plants that are easily propagated is an easy and festive way. We share some of our favorite passalong plants on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions:
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Swamp sunflower is a native perennial with golden yellow daisy-like flowers that appear in fall. The ZZ plant is a cycad with glossy green leaflets and a tropical look. Ornamental gingers like this magenta-colored tulip ginger are easily propagated. The hot-pink, flower-like bracts that resemble tulips overshadow the plant's small purple flowers peeking out under. Irises come in a range of colors and are easy to split up and share. This blue flag iris is a Florida native with blue-purple flowers marked with yellow.
December 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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Fragrance can conjure a memory, excite the senses, or soothe the soul. Choosing plants specifically for their scent can connect you to the natural world in a unique way. We have several Florida-Friendly suggestions for a fragrance garden at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/SbV6BD6
In addition to its sweet scent, the shrub called Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow has color-changing flowers that start purple and fade to white. Star jasmine is a flowering vine with an intoxicating fragrance. Its tiny white flowers are shaped like pinwheels. It's a sprawling vine and needs support to climb. Gardenia is a classic Southern shrub with creamy white flowers with waxy petals. Its fragrance is prized worldwide. An old-fashioned favorite that deserves new attention, the banana shrub is a member of the magnolia family and its fragrant flowers resemble miniature Southern magnolia blossoms that smell a bit fruitier than their large cousin's.
December 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
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Insects sometimes get a bad reputation, but less than 1% are considered pests. In fact, most (like this hover fly) are beneficial to the landscape and people, and even perform functions that foster healthy plants. Learn more about beneficial insects at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions:
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There are many species of hover flies, but this one resembles a tiny bee with bigger eyes. Photography: James E. Lloyd, University of Florida.
December 15, 2025 at 2:02 PM
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Take a break from the holiday bustle and enjoy the December issue of the Neighborhood Gardener! We've got suggestions for a fragrance garden, sentimental passalong plants, a wreath-making tutorial and more. Grab a mug of something festive and read the full issue at our website: buff.ly/DqbLKs1
Close look at poinsettia plants in a green house, you can see dark veining in the red petal-like bracts.
December 12, 2025 at 2:02 PM
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Even Florida experiences freezing temperatures (well, parts of it). There are many things you can do -- and avoid -- to make sure your plants last through the winter. More tips on preparing the landscape for cold weather at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/1qFe104
Cover plant beds with cloth all the way down the soil - the heat protection comes from trapping heat from the ground, not wrapping the plant. Don't fertilize cold-sensitive plants in late fall or winter. Move tender potted plants to warm, sheltered areas. Postpone pruning until spring, even if branches look dead.
December 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
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Starting a new garden? Or maybe your plants aren't thriving? Soil testing is the most effective way to determine the nutrient status and pH of the soil in a home landscape or vegetable garden. If you're interested in a soil test, start by reading this helpful UF/IFAS publication: buff.ly/bE10Odj
A man taking a soil sample with an auger. A soil testing bag can be seen on the ground next to him.
December 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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The celebration of year-round Florida gardening continues! Add some color to your winter landscape with cool-season annual flowers. Most winter annuals will perform well until warm weather arrives in April or May. More winter annuals at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/lkynYQJ
Vividly purple pansy flowers, with a "face" of yellow and deep almost-black purple. A spike of bright blue delphinium flowers with white centers; true blue is unusual in nature. Petunias like this white flower are not only easy to grow, they thrive in our moderate winters. A stalk of bell-shaped white snapdragon flowers with pink centers. A summer flower elsewhere, Florida gardeners can grow snapdragon in winter.
December 9, 2025 at 6:01 PM