Hannah Scheppler

Hannah Scheppler’s joy for gardening was set in motion during childhood on their mother’s small farm. With a BS in Biology from Bowling Green State University and an MS in Botany from Miami University, they are now a PhD candidate and USDA predoctoral fellow in Agriculture at the Ohio State University. They love nurturing the ecosystem in their urban backyard by planting native species and promoting insect diversity. When Hannah is not performing research in plant evolutionary ecology, they are busy songwriting, playing guitar, spending time with their cats, or hiking.

How to Fertilize Houseplants

A close up horizontal image of a gardener applying granular fertilizer to the surface of the soil of a potted houseplant.

Ensure your houseplants are nourished and healthy by fortifying their potting soil and watering with different kinds of fertilizers. In this guide, you’ll learn about the nutrients plants need and the difference between slow and fast release fertilizers, and when and how to apply them. Read more now.

Can You Compost Diseased Plants?

A close up horizontal image of a gardener's hands digging a compost pile.

Is it okay to use diseased leaves in compost? Composting can provide beneficial microbial life that greatly reduces certain plant pathogens while others may persist. Pathogenic species are numerous and diverse, and this guide discusses how different species are affected by different kinds of compost. Read more now.