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Getty/Kathryn Scott Osler You know how blasting "Eye of the Tiger" can dramatically improve your workout? (Just us?) Well, according to a study out of the University of Missouri, playing the right sounds for plants can also have a dramatic effect on their performance — particularly how well they stand up to nibbling pests. But it's not the latest Beyonce beat or even Mozart that can help plants thrive, reports  Gastropod.  Researcher Heidi Appel has found success with sounds that are more, um, chewier? You see, plants can't actually hear sounds (no ears, duh), but they do respond to the vibrations created by sounds. Abel suspected that plants might exhibit a protective response to one of the earliest noises they "hear" — caterpillars chewing on them. To test her theory, she and her team recorded the tremors caterpillars make when they munch on Arabidopsis (a rel...

Don't turn your nose up at these blooms. Getty They Make for Hardy Bouquets Carnations get a bad wrap for looking cheap in fresh-cut arrangements. But the truth is that they can last a very long time in a vase (sometimes more than 14 days — talk about getting your money's worth). And, frankly a tidy bunch of carnations is more stylish than you remember. Getty Their Name Is Heavenly The scientific name for carnations is Dianthus, which is taken from the Greek words "dios," referring to the Greek God Zeus, and "anthos," which means "flower." The literal translation is "flowers of the God" or "heavenly flower." Getty Each Color Has a Different Meaning Carnations are known for their rainbow spectrum of hues, and each color conveys a different message. Pale red carnations express "admiration," dark red means "deep love," pink signifies "gratitude," yellow conveys "disappointment" and white...

Flower enthusiasts are on the edges of their seats waiting for Denver Botanic Gardens' "corpse flower" to begin blooming. The flower — scientifically known as Amorphophallus titanum — gets its name from the odor it emits once it blooms, which apparently smells like a decomposing animal. Perhaps the most unique feature about the unusual flower, however, is that it only lives up to 48 hours once it begins to blossom. According to the Denver Botanic Gardens' website, this is the first time the smelly corpse flower, which clocks in at more than 5-feet tall, will bloom in the region. The plant, affectionally known as Stinky, has been visited by more than 25,000 people in the past 10 days. For those of us who can't make it to the Denver to check out the flower in action, the Botanic Gardens have set up a live "Stinky Cam" so you can watch its progress from your computer. Recent news reports predict that it could begin at any moment — and might not bloom ag...

Flower junkies rejoice! You don't have to wait until spring to enjoy your garden again. Getty Hellebore There's a reason this flower is nicknamed the Christmas rose: It can bloom in the darkest months of the year when everything else is frozen thanks to its deep growing root system — just make sure to protect it from harsh winter winds. Look for them in early winter in warmer climates, and in late winter in chillier locales. Getty Witch Hazel The shaggy, spidery orange blooms on this tree sprout winter and cluster together on branches. They are very hardy and would be a welcomed colorful addition to your otherwise white (thanks, snow) and brown backyard. Getty Holly Bushes You might recognize these red berries from your holiday decorations in large part because they can survive harsh winters, but consider yourself warned: They're not edible. Another perk? This bush also produces little white flowers during the spring. Getty Pieris Japonica The buds on these plants thri...

We're not saying that potted plants are the new horoscope, but as the saying goes, "the way you do anything is the way you do everything." Does your choice in houseplant reflect a bigger part of your personality? Read on to find out (or at least laugh at yourself a bit). 1. Ficus You stick to what you know. You buy the same shade of lipstick each time you finish a tube, will always watch just one more episode of Seinfeld , and know that if it ain't broke, you don't fix it. 2. Begonia Getty You're a romantic, and fully prescribe to the idea that nothing is complete (not a room, not an outfit) without a pop of color. 3. Monstera Getty You enjoy a dramatic entrance, and own more leopard print than any of your friends. 4. Succulent Getty You're not a regular mom, you're a cool mom. You always have your finger on the Pinterest app, and like to know what the kids are into these days (plus, you heard you can't kill these, and that sealed the deal). 5...

Help potted plants thrive, whether you're home or not. Courtesy of A Baker's House Add a Filter Before you fill your pot with soil, line the bottom with a coffee filter. This will allow excess water to flow through the drainage hole, but keep dirt where it belongs. Getty And Don't Forget the Grinds When mixed with your potting soil, ground coffee, which is rich with nutrients, can help your plants grow. It's a smart addition to your compost pile, too. Courtesy of A View from the Pines Pile Pinecones If you've got an abundance of pinecones in your yard, layer some at the base of a planter. They'll help with water drainage, and help you use less soil — which makes for a lighter, easy-to-move pot. Getty Sneak in a Sponge Absentminded plant owners take note: Placing a sponge at the bottom of the pot will collect excess water that your plant can continue to drink if you forget to water it. Read more at HomeTalk » Courtesy of Megan Andersen Read Water Wisely ...

Life Is a Party + Enchanted Acorn shop via Etsy Fairy gardens and mermaid gardens have taken over flower beds and front steps everywhere this past year. Now that Halloween is fast approaching (Target already has its decorations on full display!), everyone's giving their mini displays a festive makeover — and we're totally into it. Think about it: You decorate the outside and inside of your house for the holidays, so why not give your teeny, tiny gardens a festive facelift too? The designs we've seen are filled with the usual miniature houses and chairs, along with the smallest and cutest pumpkins, tombstones and witches brooms we've ever seen. The blogger behind Life Is a Party, Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist, knows these gardens are all about the details. That's why she made little pumpkins out of polymer clay and scattered real leaves that she used a 1.5 cm leaf punch on across the surface. But our favorite detail is the tiny red wagon filled with pumpkins. life is...

When gifting a bouquet, the hue you choose makes all the difference. Getty A Rose Isn't Just a Rose You've probably heard that "a rose is a rose is a rose," but while perfectly poetic, the Victorians wholeheartedly disagree. Flower meaning dictionaries were quite popular during the Victorian era — for instance, pink carnations meant "I will never forget you," and chrysanthemums meant "truth." Though people didn't necessarily send secret messages through buds and bouquets, the meanings were still important to people during that period. We think this bit of historical trivia is pretty charming, so we explored this recently published flower dictionary to discover the meanings behind different kinds of roses — so you know exactly what you're getting into if you gift flowers. Getty Red Roses If you planned on delivering this classic choice to your significant other, you're in luck. It means "love." Getty White Roses But maybe ...