Posts Tagged ‘Plant’
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
Add instant beauty to any setting with hanging baskets. Dress up the front of the home for all to enjoy or place them around the back deck or garden. Suspend a hanging basket full of summer blooms in front of the kitchen window and enjoy watching butterflies and humming birds while attending to kitchen chores. Some edibles even grow well in hanging baskets, such as tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, lettuce or herbs. Create a kitchen garden where ground space is limited.
[credit: Lachlan Hardy]
To create a hanging basket, line a wire basket with moss. Fill with potting soil and add Soil Moist granules, if possible, to keep the moisture in the basket. Alternatively, line the moss with plastic. Add the flowers or edibles to the soil and water thoroughly.
Consider placing plants around the outside of the basket as well. Cut holes through the moss prior to filling the basket with soil and then add soil to the level of the holes. Carefully insert the plant roots through the holes and cover with soil. Work up the basket until it is filled. (more…)
Tags: Flower, Plant, WATER
Posted in DIY, Garden, Home, Interesting, WATER | No Comments »
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
Summer is a wonderful time in the garden. Green, lush foliage provides a relaxing and cooling respite even during the heat of the day. Have an amazing garden this summer by following these four tips.
Ensure Adequate Water
Provide adequate water based on plant type, soil condition and weather. When dealing with plants with varying moisture needs, supplement general watering with a drip system or individual irrigation rather than over-watering some plants to ensure adequate water for others. Water early in the day to guard against excess moisture loss through evaporation.
[credit: Memotions]
Encourage Optimal Plant Growth
Hoe weeds on a regular basis, thin seedlings, apply liquid manure to crops and pick peas and flowers to encourage new blossoms. Thoroughly check for signs of pests and parasites at least weekly and treat promptly, as needed. Drape netting over all kinds of berries to prevent damage from birds. (more…)
Tags: Flower, Garden, Plant, Soil, WATER
Posted in Cleaning Tips, DIY, Garden, Holidays, Home, Plumbing, WATER | No Comments »
Sunday, April 25th, 2010
April is a month of unpredictability and change. Although the days may be sunny and warm, the threat of hail or frost is ever present. During the month of April, the gardener must be vigilant in protecting any delicate seedlings from damage.
Use this time to finish tidying the garden and prepare for the busy growing season ahead. Ensure that all pruning has been completed and prepare the strawberry beds. Finish planting fruit trees, canes and bushes and renew the grease band around fruit trees, if necessary.
[photo by: Tie Guy II]
Due to the warmer weather and increasing amount of light, rapid growth can be expected in the garden during April. Take advantage of dry days to finish digging and preparing the garden for sowing and to hoe between crops that have wintered over. Early crops may be safely planted if protected by cloches. (more…)
Tags: Garden, Plant, Seedling, spring
Posted in Garden, Home, Interesting | No Comments »
Friday, February 26th, 2010
In light of dwindling oil supplies worldwide and an ever-increasing need for plastic food packaging products, very exciting news was recently published in the British press. According to a story in the Telegraph, British scientists have developed a compostable plastic made from sugars derived from non-edible plants. Using various grasses and fast growing trees, Imperial College London researchers have successfully changed glucose from these plants into a polymer suitable for plastic production.
(more…)
Tags: Compost, Eco, Environment, Plant, recycling
Posted in Eco, Home, Interesting | 1 Comment »
Sunday, February 7th, 2010
The main tasks on a gardener’s calendar in February revolve around planning and preparation. The days are getting longer and hold the promise of spring, but winter weather is still very much a concern. Although the warm sun shines brightly at times, another hard frost may be just hours away.
Time to Dream
This is the time to dream and plan. Spend time browsing through seed catalogues. Consider which fresh vegetables are desired for the upcoming season and order the seeds. Plan to rotate edible crops and decide whether to let certain areas rest this year. Remember that even small scale food production may eventually deplete the soil of key nutrients. (more…)
Tags: Flower, Garden, gardening, Plant, Soil
Posted in DIY, Garden | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Keeping houseplants healthy is not difficult. In fact, houseplants are more likely to suffer from too much kindness than from neglect. To ensure that your houseplants live a long and healthy life, follow these simple care guidelines.
Optimal Growing Conditions
For each plant, try to mimic the natural environment as closely as possible. For instance, place plants that come from a tropical environment in a humid area such as the bathroom. Conversely, a cactus will thrive in low humidity.
Proper Watering
Over-watering of houseplants is a common problem. Each plant variety has specific watering needs. Avoid watering all plants on the same schedule. As a general rule, water plants thoroughly once the top of the soil is dry and never let pots sit in standing water. (more…)
Tags: Garden, Houseplant, Plant, Soil, WATER
Posted in DIY, Eco, Garden, Home, Interesting, WATER | No Comments »
Sunday, January 24th, 2010
Spring is approaching and it’s time to begin thinking about the garden. When planning the garden this year, consider giving plants an advantage by starting the seeds indoors. This will ensure that plants are ready to be placed outside and will also reduce the amount of time required before flowers bloom or produce is ready to harvest.
Choosing Seeds
When selecting seeds to start indoors, consider which plants require the longest growing season. There is no sense wasting valuable indoor growing space on plants with an early maturity. Choose those that require extra time. Once seeds are selected, make sure to provide ample light, proper soil, and adequate water and nutrients. (more…)
Tags: Flower, Garden, Plant, Seed, Soil, WATER
Posted in DIY, Garden, Home | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Being away from home for a week or so is common during the holidays. Unfortunately, houseplants left without care may dry out, causing damage or even death. Ensure that your plants stay adequately hydrated by following these tips.
- Re-pot plants into larger, non-porous containers before leaving on holiday. The greater quantity of soil holds more moisture, allowing for less frequent watering.
- Add Soil Moist to potting soil or dirt. This synthetic polymer increases the water holding capacity of the soil by 50% or more.
- Give plants a good, deep soaking before going away. Place pots in standing water and let the water soak in until the top of the soil is moist.
- Purchase watering stakes, which automatically release water from a reservoir as the soil dries. Some require the addition of a plastic or glass bottle while others come with a decorative reservoir attached. (more…)
Tags: Agriculture, Home, house, Plant, tips, WATER
Posted in Appliances, DIY, Home, WATER | 1 Comment »
Monday, December 21st, 2009
All plants need water and a Christmas tree is no exception. Whether pot grown or fresh cut, a Christmas tree needs adequate water to stay fresh through the holiday season. To ensure the freshness of your tree and avoid the mess of dropped needles, supply your tree with sufficient water.
Fresh Cut Christmas Trees
Always display a cut Christmas tree in a stand with a reservoir that holds sufficient water for the size of the tree. Just before placing the tree in the stand, cut another 1cm straight across the base of the trunk to allow for the maximum uptake of water. If the tree cannot be placed immediately into a stand, store it in a cool place with the trunk submerged in a bucket of water. Display the tree away from any heat source. Check the water level at least daily and ensure that the base of the tree stays continuously submerged. (more…)
Tags: Christmas, Christmas tree, Plant, WATER
Posted in Eco, Holidays, Home, WATER | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
Eco friendly gardening - sounds redundant, doesn’t it? But if you’re reading this, you probably already know the potential ecological risks involved in home gardening. The most well-meaning gardener can easily go wrong with plants that don’t belong. However, with a little research and ingenuity, you can create an eco friendly garden in your own back yard.
First, think about what type of garden you want: flowers? shrubs? vegetables? This will determine the focus for your research on native plants. Use the internet to find out what vegetation is native to your area; these are the things you’ll grow in your garden. (more…)
Tags: Flower, Garden, Home, Invasive species, Plant
Posted in Eco, Garden | No Comments »
