Gardening Thomas Fryd on 28 Aug 2008
Braided Money Trees Give More Than Money
Pachira Aquatica, also known as the Braided Money Tree is a unique and stylish plant that can add an exotic taste to anyone’s home. This plant features multiple trunks which wind around each other and can reach up to seven feet in height. There is also a bonsai version which can grow as large as a foot in height.
On top of these winding trunks sits a plentiful patch of green foliage, creating a great contrast of brown trunks against green peak. It’s one of the more natural looking plants you can add to your garden, and will do well to offset the often bright, contrasting colors of a variety of flowers. The bonsai version is a great choice for an indoors garden.
Caring for bonsais takes some time and planning. If you’re planning on growing one from scratch you’ll really need to study up on the matter and make sure you know what you’re getting into, as it can be an exacting process. Acquiring an already developed plant would be your best bet, and the one most people will choice.
Even more than most plants, watering is very important. Not just the watering but also the soil and pot as well, as these will facilitate how well the bonsai can drain the water. The pot should contain at least a couple holes for drainage, and these should be covered slightly so as to let water drain through without the soil seeping out. Small rocks should do fine for this purpose. The soil itself should be a loamy mixture of small pebbles and soil.
These bonsais don’t need much water, once a week should do the trick, but this depends on the soil and pot. The soil should dry out between watering, and recognizing the proper amount of moisture in the soil will go a long way to maintaining a healthy bonsai. Too much moisture and the leaves will wilt and yellow, too much and they’ll become wrinkled and curled. In addition, you should also mist the leaves lightly with a spray bottle to give them some moisture and remove any dust particles.
Placing the bonsai in an area with a good deal of sunshine is perfect, but this should be indirect sunlight. More than a couple of hours of direct sun, or being in an area that is too hot in general is poor for the plant’s health like in ficus care. An area with a small bit of sun followed by shade is ideal, and this is most commonly found in the corners of rooms. You can freely move the plant around as needed though if a good permanent spot is proving difficult. The plant should also be kept away from areas that are too cool. If the bonsai is kept on a porch or deck, be sure to bring it in on nights where the temperature is expected to dip below 50 degrees.
Compared to some plants, Braided Money Trees have a fairly simple and easy maintenance routine. By following these few simple guidelines you’ll be sure to have a unique and striking plant for many years to come.
Gardening Mary Swanson on 27 Aug 2008
Take Care When Transplanting Plants
Transplanting Plants
You may have a plant that has outgrown its current residence or you may need to thin out another, whatever the reason for transplanting plants, care needs to be taken. For the best results care of the root system is adamant.
In the very early spring, when plants have just barely begun to show some signs of new life, is the best time to transplant. The new plantings can get a good start while the weather is still cool and they can be watered by spring rains.
Plants for Different Locations
Remember, front and backyard plants will become dormant during the fall when the weather goes through a hard freeze. Perennials will stay dormant in the ground until spring. You want to make sure the leaves are not open and out, a sign that transplanting plants is too late. However, if there are green and swollen buds that have not changed into actual leaves, then transplanting is fine.
First, find the perfect location for your transplanted plant, then prepare the area. Have the hole ready and fresh soil on hand to gently pack your front or backyard plants into place. Be sure to keep the root ball intact with a small amount of soil while moving it to its new home.
A healthy root system is vital to successful transplanting. While a certain amount of pruning of the roots is good, too much may kill the plant. A small stem with a bit of fresh growth with a large root area is best. Too much growth on top and a small, weak root will not do well.
To aid in the root growth of your new transplant, prune a small amount of the roots before planting. The cut ends will be able to take in nutrients from the new soil and new roots will sprout from the cut ends produce new growth in the stem system above ground.
Transplanting Rock Plants
Most rock plants have delicate root systems. Care needs to be taken when transplanting. They are accustomed to a large amount of drainage. For the best results they need to be moved to a location with a similar drainage situation.
Gardening Kent Higgins on 26 Aug 2008
House Plants Create Lively Homes
You will find that houseplants are enjoyable no matter what room of the home you are placing them in. house plants are a positive way of adding to the ambiance of your house.
What are the characteristics that make house plants such a great addition to the house? Plants and pots both are available in many sizes. You can have tall, small and large or wide plants or pots that are colorful, clear, or decorative. You can mix and match just about anything you want to create the atmosphere in the house you want. If you want to have an oriental theme you should think colors that are red, gold, silver or black. You can use colors to brighten rooms or to complete an overall theme in a room, such as browns, with elephants for an African safari look. Festive colors bring the house to life with modern feels and looks pulling it all together. Your indoor world should be something that you truly enjoy as you walk from room to room in your home.
What do some of the types and sizes of pots bring to your home design? The round pot is going to bring a feeling of solidness to the home. Round pots are a solid pot that will give your plant the area it needs to thrive. As you move to pots that are rectangular, you will give a smaller room a longer feel as this type of pot gives a feeling of motion in any room of the home. Design your home to include plants for a great feel, look and overall theme you love.
Just how many plants can you put in a house?
That is really a simple question, you can have as many as space allows. If you like fresh air, clean air, plants are going to filter out a lot and give you fresh air. Think green, colors, flowers, and the flow of dcor through out your home for a great overall look. You can have a design that will please the whole family, and it will help you pass the time in the winter months with caring for your plants.
You can grow orchid flowers indoors. Yellow, pink, purple and green, or orange and long stems or short these and many more are available for you to choose from. Some people will grow flowers and house plants in the home by using their windows and natural lights, others will put lights in their home that will give off the UV rays that plants need to grow.
If you want to grow flowers in the home, you are not limited to house plants. You can also grow bulbs and rhizome type flowers easily in the house as long as you follow the watering and light needs for each type of plant or flower that you want to try and grow indoors. Design your home with many types of plants and you will have a fulfilling life of color and texture in the home.
Gardening Keith Markensen on 26 Aug 2008
Potted Plants for House Gifts
If you are considering adding plants to your home, you are in the right place. Here you will find all types of information about caring for indoor plants, and how to care for a variety of plants at the same time in your home. Plants can live in just about any room of your home, as long as you have a window for a little light, and the temperatures are not extremely cold.
Potted plants are going to live for a long time when you care for them with watering weekly and when you keep the pets or your children from them. The attraction for animals is often times the cat, who wants to use the largest of pots as a litter box. Children are just attracted to what they are not allowed to touch, so you might want to include your child in the care of the plants and they will learn to leave your plants alone so they can thrive and grow.
As you consider purchasing flowers and plants for your indoor garden, you should first take a look at some of the most reputable companies that you find out there. As you begin your search online or offline, the most reputable companies are going to provide you with free catalogs, and they will have a phone number listed in case you have questions about anything that you want to purchase.
Potted indoor plants and palms can be shipped by mail or they can be shipped by quick methods such as federal express or ups. What you want to avoid when you have plants in the home is using chemicals on or around the plants themselves. This will include polishes for the tables they are sitting on or using bleach or sprays near the plants in the kitchen areas.
While you don’t realize it, plants are going to give your home a more healthy environment overall. The types of plants that you have in the home are going to add to the oxygen levels of your indoor air. While you may not realize it plants are also going to filter out some of the small particles that flow in the air, and even protect you from some small amounts of gasses. When plants are kept warm, over fifty degrees you are going to find they are easy to grow, easy to care for and will add to the overall dcor of your home.
You can find potted plant ideas in catalogs of all types
When you receive plant catalogs in the mail, you will find all types of ideas in the pages that are included. You will also see other catalogs come in the mail, such as your local Sears or home retail store, where they display rooms in the home, and you will find plants in many of these pages as well.
Gardening Keith Markensen on 26 Aug 2008
Home Grown: Two Easy Grow and Care Houseplants
If you plan to grow more than one or two plants at a time, chances are most of them will be foliage plants. Though they aren’t as showy as the flower bearing varieties described in the last chapter, foliage plants can also be quite beautiful. In addition, they are simple to grow, easy to propagate and acclimate well to nearly any indoor environment.
Foliage plants are the backbone of every home garden. With few exceptions they know no seasons, growing and prospering throughout the year. Thousands of species of foliage plants are common and easy to find, and a large number of hybrids extends this variety even further. While planning your indoor garden you have almost an unlimited choice of plant size and shape, leaf form and colour. The two species described here will grow in any part of the country with equal ease and are available everywhere.
Peperomia sandersi is one commonly cultivated Peperomia. It has been called the Watermelon Begonia because the distinctive colour and striped pattern of its leaves resemble the watermelons found in the American south. As the leaves of this plant are smooth, shiny and oval-shaped and the stems are red or pink, how it acquired the nickname Begonia is a mystery.
Peperomia is a low growing, bushy plant with fleshy leaves and stems along with being an indoor houseplant. Originally found in the jungles of Brazil, these plants like lots of warmth and humidity and dislike exposure to wind or even slight drafts. Place them in partial shade, being careful not to give them too much sun, and provide them with plenty of water and good quality plant food. To keep your Peperomia happy, give it only room-temperature water. Propagate it by stem or leaf cuttings, preferably in the spring when the growth rate is at a maximum.
Pick-a-back Plant, also known as Piggy Back Plant (or by its botanical name, Tolmiea menziesi), gets its name from the curious way that it propagates: new plantlets sprout from the joint where the leaf meets the stem on the parent plant. The pretty, heart-shaped leaves of this species are light green, delicate and grow at the end of long stems. Pick a-back Plant should be well watered and kept in only partial sun.
In its natural state the plantlets root as soon as they touch the ground, so propagation is simple: just place a new leaf-bearing plantlet in a starting mixture and allow it to root. If you prefer you can place the plantlets in water, but be sure to used purified water. A good way to do this is to treat it with dissolved charcoal. The Pick-a-back originates on our own West Coast, growing from California on up to Alaska.
Gardening Dave Truman on 26 Aug 2008
How To Fertilize Your Vegetable Garden
Fertilizer is an important part of a successful garden, but using the wrong one or using the right one the wrong way can cause problems. Overuse is one of the most common problems, especially in the case of slow-release fertilizers.
Slow release fertilizers are designed to release their nutrients over a period of time and if you apply them too often, you may wind up overlapping the new with the old that has not fully released yet.
Always make sure you read the directions for the fertilizers you’re using in your garden. In most cases, they will say how often they should be applied.
There are 3 components to fertilizer: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They’re rated by the amount of each of these ingredients. They will have a number, such as 20-20-20, which indicates how much of each is included. The first number is the nitrogen content, the second is the phosphorus and the third is the potassium.
Each of the three components of fertilizer promotes different types of growth. Nitrogen promotes leaf and stem growth, phosphorus helps with fruits and strong root systems and potassium helps to strengthen the plants.
Initially, a complete fertilizer will help to get your plants started properly. After growth has begun, be careful not to over-fertilize with nitrogen, which can make the plant put too much energy into growing leaves and stems, making the fruit growth suffer in turn.
There are many types of fertilizer available, some chemical based and others organic. Consider where you will be using them when choosing which type to use.
If you’re growing vegetables that you will be eating, you might want to think twice before using chemical fertilizers - after all, would you want to put that stuff in your body?
Gardening Kent Higgins on 26 Aug 2008
Patio Decks and More Outfitted With Vines
The climbing flower vine makes a great addition to any yard or garden area, and is especially well suited for use as a privacy screen for blocking off areas that may otherwise be open to view from neighbors or strangers. They can also do their small part to reduce noise. In the case of neighbors, you can plant them along and around fences, especially effective with chain link fences that offer a clear view when nothing is obstructing them. Planting them near the street can help shield your property some from random eyes.
Flower vines are not just useful as privacy shields though, they’re also well suited for use as decorative tools. They have a myriad of potential uses, from training them to grow up trellises or arbors, to having them grow along the length of those otherwise dull rain gutters. They can also be used around porch support beams, a mailbox, or a lighting post. If you?re really bold, you can even have them grow around your doorway.
Climbing vines come in different types, and these types all have different flower blooms, colors and other characteristics. Some will grow as long as forty feet in length, though they may not look depending on how wound around an object they are. Others may grow as little as six feet in length. They come in both perennial and annual varieties, with the annuals often dropping seeds and re-sprouting each spring of their own accord, making them appear to be perennials.
Where you plan to place the vine should largely determine your choice in vine type, at least as far as length is concerned. The flower type may also be predetermined based on the color scheme of the surrounding area, but these choices are ultimately up to you.
Perhaps the best news of all is that flowering vines require very little maintenance and upkeep once planted. They will need to be watched closely for the first week or so to see how well they taken to the planting, after which point they do a fairly decent job of taking care of themselves. Areas with very little rainfall will require an occasional watering, and you?d also be advised to prune the vines and remove old flower blooms as necessary, even when used as an outdoor potted plant. Other than that, a little bit of training may be necessary to get the vine started on the right track and growing in the direction you want. After that it should be smooth climbing ahead.
If you’re interested in looking further into flowering vines, some of the more popular varieties are Jasmine, Clematis, Hydrangea and Morning Glory. Take a look into these varieties to get you started and go from there.
Gardening Paul Mahon on 26 Aug 2008
How To Find The Right Tampa Landscaping Designer
When you are trying to find a suitable Tampa landscaping designer to hire then you should be aware of a number of different things. Ideally what you are looking for is a designer who will be able to turn the dream you have for your garden in to a reality.
As you will soon discover each designer have certain methods that they use, techniques and styles. Plus just how much experience each one has will also differ a lot. What you need to do is select the one who you feel is most capable and who will be able to meet and fulfil your requirements. Certainly you need to take your time over selecting who it is you choose to design a new landscape for your garden, otherwise what they come up with may ruin or enhance the look of your Tampa home.
When it comes to looking for a landscape designer you have a number of options. You can either use someone who has been recommended by a friend or family member. The other way is to look for one yourself by looking through your local newspaper or telephone directory. But probably the quickest and easiest way to find the ideal designer is by going online and looking through the lists provided of local ones to you on certain landscaping association websites.
Once you have a short list of landscape designers you should arrange to meet with them. Organize each one at a separate time and have them come to your home as this will then give them a chance to evaluate the area properly. Often designers will do a consultation for free, but it is wise to check before you actually arrange the appointment.
Another thing you need to do is actually find out what kinds of landscape designs they specialize in. This is even more important if you know exactly what you want the design to be for your garden. If for example you want an English country garden look then make sure that the designers you interview have done designs like this previously.
As you interview a landscape designer for possibly taking on the project to re-landscape your Tampa garden find out what training they have undergone. You need to get them to confirm where this training took place and what qualifications were attained along with the experience they have gained since completing it. Get them to provide you with details of clients who are willing to be contacted with references prior to the meeting. Plus if you can arrange with them to visit a place where a project that they undertook has recently been completed.
Even if the first Tampa landscaping designer you interview seems to meet all your particular requirements, you shouldn’t cancel the rest. Rather continue to see them so you can compare the services they offer and what abilities they have.
Also it is vital that before you employ any Tampa landscaping designer you check them out thoroughly. Make sure that you carry out some background checks into them by contacting the relevant associations and possibly the Better Business Bureau also.
Gardening Lee Dobbins on 26 Aug 2008
Growing Culinary Herbs
For thousands of years, people have been growing culinary herbs to aid in cooking. If you’d like to have fresh herbs for cooking, growing them is a great way to do it. There are herbs to suit every recipe, from spicy to tangy to salty to simply delicious.
Parsley is a versatile herb that’s good for much more than just a sprig of decoration for sake of appearance. It’s great in dishes from chicken and lamb to cheese, and who hasn’t used a bit when preparing a fish dinner? It’s also a good addition to soups and salads.
One of the most commonly called-for ingredients in recipes is thyme. Made from the leaves of a small woody-stemmed plant, thyme can add the perfect hint of flavor to just about anything. Great in a tuna casserole, a sophisticated stew, or a sauce to be spread over beef, even grilled chicken and cheese dishes can benefit from the addition of a bit of thyme.
One beautifully pungent herb used as a common addition to Italian dishes — Basil — is used for good reason. It adds what many chefs like to call the ‘right’ touch. This is an herb of many uses, whether used for varieties of recipes from colorful pastas to cheesy pizzas, and is recommended greatly when preparing one’s tomato sauce for sophisticated, delicious pasta dishes.
Looking for something with just a little more zest? Aniseed may be the perfect solution. The oil of anise is actually used in the making of artificial licorice because of it’s licorice-like flavor, and will add a whole new dimension to the most basic dish. The slender leaves of the tarragon plant are great herbs to add to fish or mayonnaise-based dishes because of their spicy flavor.
Growing culinary herbs is so easy that anybody can do it. They are actually one of the easiest plants to grow and need only sunshine, water and soil. They are very resistant to disease and can endure adverse conditions well.
Coriander seeds are the seeds of the herb cilantro. Coriander seeds have a strong citrus flavor that compliments pork and makes wonderful curries and chutneys. Dill is a tangy herb traditionally used in pickling. It can also be used in zesty salads, chutneys and to flavor olive oil.
Many herbs are used in cooking that are members of the mint family. The two most common are sage and rosemary. Peppermint, a herb that gives a wonderful odor and taste is also a great addition to many items. If you’re looking for something to complement veal or potatoes, a good choice is mint. Mint is also used in soups and for making jelly.
It’s less common for people to grow saffron, but anybody with a sense of adventure should try it. Its tangy, honey-like flavor is a delightful departure from the more “traditional” herbs. Turkish people add saffron to rice pudding, but it can also be used in chicken or fish dishes.
No matter what your tastes are, chances are you will love adding herbs to your recipes. Which is why growing culinary herbs is a wonderful way to get the best of gardening and cooking. Try them once and you will use them again and again to transform every day dishes into culinary art.
Gardening Dave Truman on 26 Aug 2008
Vegetable Gardening - Dealing With Tomato Problems
Tomatoes are a wonderful addition to any vegetable garden. They add zing and a variety of healthy ingredients to any meal. But growing them can be a little tricky in some areas. Here are some tips about how to maximize your crop and minimize your problems producing them.
There are two broad categories of tomato plant, those that form a flower cluster at a terminal point and those that continue to grow taller indefinitely. The latter are called indeterminate and they tend to mature very late in the season. That makes them subject to possible frost damage.
Tomatoes thrive in dry air and soil, very hot temperatures, and direct sunlight. When tomatoes are subject to these conditions they grow large and plump with healthy leaves. Cold temperatures kill tomatoes quickly.
Dealing with that potential problem involves employing a number of techniques. Some growers will utilize a small, mobile greenhouse to cover the tomato when frost is likely. Others simply plant and harvest early enough that the problem never occurs. Which you employ and when depends on your specific growing season - when it begins and ends.
The opposite problem can occur, however with other varieties - sunburning. These so-called first early varieties are well suited to northern climates since they are often ready to harvest in 60 days or less. The cooler climates are perfect for these medium sized species.
Beyond weather problems, tomatoes are at risk for a number of common diseases, pests and soil problems.
Large brown spots that appear at the bottom of the tomato, known as blossom end rot, are caused by calcium deficiency. Uneven watering practices can be the cause of this deficiency, as water transports calcium into the plant through the roots. There is also a soft spot that appears as the tomato ripens.
If a tomato develops blossom end rot, the only solution is to remove the troubled tomatoes off the plant to allow others the best chance to thrive. Preventing the problem is preferable. Be sure to encourage deep root growth by watering deeply. Help topsoil retain moisture during dry times by adding mulch around the plants. Maintain 6.5 pH in the soil.
A common irritant to all tomato growers are tomato hornworms. These four-inch larvae have a black spot on the tail and a large false eyespot. They typically blend into the green stems of the tomato plant, but are seen because they have long white stripes down their sides.
When mature, the tomato hornworms are large brown moths that may have wingspans up to five inches. To keep these moths off the tomato plants, where they will lay their eggs that develop into larvae, plant marigolds, basil, and other trap crops.
As with many other plants, aphids are another troublesome insects for tomatoes. They are tiny white, yellowish, or green soft-bodied bugs that can be washed off with a hose. Washing them off with a hose works temporarily, but they will return.
Petunias, coriander, or anise are companion plants and will help control the presence of aphids. Also consider an insecticide soap that will eliminate the problem and is safe for you and your plant.
Though they require a bit of care, tomatoes are regarded as well worth the effort by most vegetable gardeners. After all, the whole purpose is to have tasty, healthy vegetables to eat.
