
Author
Caleb Schlegel
Third-Generation Grower
Third-generation greenhouse grower with nearly twenty years across sales, production, and growing.
Caleb is a third-generation greenhouse grower at Schlegel. The family business has been part of his life since childhood, and he has worked nearly every role in it for almost twenty years.
From sales and production to hands-on growing, Caleb has a complete understanding of what it takes to bring a quality plant from seed to garden center bench. That depth informs every decision Schlegel makes — from the varieties they choose to the way each crop is timed and trialed.
He's also the one quietly building this site, the Planter Designer, and the rest of the digital tools you see at hoosierboy.com.
Growing Tips by Caleb
40 guides
Seasonal Tips
How to Fertilize SunPatiens (Without Overdoing It)

Seasonal Tips
Why SunPatiens Thrive in Beds (And Can Be Dramatic in Containers)

Seasonal Tips
SunPatiens in Shade? Why They Might Be Even Better There

Seasonal Tips
Caleb's Top Bedding Annual Picks (Full Sun Beds)

Seasonal Tips
Caleb's Top Bedding Annual Picks (Shade Beds)

Plant Care
Why Are Some Plants Fuzzy? (And When That's a Good — or Bad — Thing)

Plant Care
Why We Sleeve Plants (and Why You Should Remove It Quickly)

Plant Spotlights
Caladiums: The Stained Glass of the Shade Garden

Seasonal Tips
What Is Frost (And What It Actually Means for Your Plants)

Seasonal Tips
Why Frost Damages Plants (The Science Explained Simply)

Plant Spotlights
Shamrock™ Lantana: The Master Grower’s Guide to the Perfect Filler

Seasonal Tips
Mosquito Dunks: The Simple Trick That Actually Works

Seasonal Tips
Do "Mosquito Repellent Plants" Actually Work? (Not Really — Here's What Does)

Seasonal Tips
A Warm Week Doesn't Mean Spring Has Arrived

Plant Spotlights
Calliope® Geranium Growing Guide — Bold Color Built to Perform

Seasonal Tips
The Farmer's Almanac: Should You Trust It in Indiana?

Plant Spotlights
Night Sky Petunias: How a Mutation Became One of the Most Unique Plants in the Industry

Troubleshooting
How to Control Aphids on Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)

Plant Care
Deadheading Annuals: What to Do (and What Actually Needs It)

Seasonal Tips
How to Time Mums for Perfect Fall Color

Plant Care
Annuals You Don’t Have to Deadhead

Seasonal Tips
When to Plant Annuals (Frost Timing Guide)

Plant Care
Calibrachoa Growing Tips

Plant Care
How to Deadhead Geraniums

Plant Care
How to Avoid Plant Diseases Before They Start

Container Care
Why Some Pots Thrive (and Others Struggle)

Seasonal Tips
What to Do With Annuals at End of Season

Plant Care
How to Water Annuals the Right Way

Soil & Planting
How to Test Your Garden Soil

Plant Care
Why Your Plants Might Be Damaged (And It’s Not the Sun)

Plant Care
Why Some Plants Fail (And It’s Not You)

Seasonal Tips
Plan Your Garden the Right Way

Plant Care
Best Time of Day to Water Plants

Container Care
How to Build a Hanging Basket That Lasts All Summer

Plant Care
Foliage Spiller Accents

Soil & Planting
How to Choose the Best Potting Soil

Plant Care
Low-Care Annuals That Actually Perform

Plant Care
Geranium Growing Tips

Plant Care
Petunia Growing Tips

Soil & Planting