Archive for July, 2009

How to care for an orchid?

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

Choosing your Orchid

Orchids are the kind of flower that interest many people, and the choice is difficult as there are between 20 000 and 30 000 species, all with shape and color very different compared to each other. 
We can name three different species that are easy to cultivate and the most impressive, as they have very large flowers that are in full bloom for a long time, up to three months : the phalaenopsis, the cattleyas and Cymbidium.
The phalaenopsis has a further benefit. It can be grownindoor. The other two species in fact need to have significant temperature differences between day and night, so you can not grow them indoor.

How to take care of them everyday

Leaves of a healthy orchid are glossy. Put it in a bright location but avoid direct sunlight.(do not put behind a window, for example) : you may burn the leaves and make flowers wilt. Above all, do not water them too much : It would be sufficient to do it once every ten days Use a non-calcareous water like clear rain water or spring water. Finally, do not water the leaves at the heart, otherwise they risk rotting.

How to take care of an orchid

Once your flower has wilted, continue as before with the water. It is better not to cut the stems, unless they are dry because they blossom periodically.
Generally, a re-potting every two years is enough. You don’t necessarily need to have a deep pot, use an “orchid special” compost, made of polystyrene and pine bark, that you can find in garden centers. Be careful with fertilizers. Too much of it and your orchid might asphyxiate. If you absolutely want to use some, you can use any universal fertilizer once every two weeks before and during flowering, but not after! 

Finally, beware of pests that can colonize the plant: aphids, mites, mealybugs …. to get rid of them use insecticides for orchids that you can find in any garden center. Just remember a well cared phalaenopsis can live up to 20 years.

 

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The Bonsai Tree - A True Work Of Art

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Bonsai trees are without question a joy to behold. They are in a class of their own looking like no other plant or tree in the world, which adds to the allure. Bonsai are grown like other plants but kept small using techniques that have been around for hundreds of years. This training includes basics like regular pruning and wiring, but also more advanced techniques such as creating Jin and Shari on trees. Bonsai trees are grown small but they are not a small tree by nature. By placing any tree in a small container and root pruning you can have a Bonsai tree.

The art of Bonsai gardening evolves and develops as long as you want it to. Bonsai growing is a timeless art that has no end as you continue to nurture on a daily basis which makes it a rewarding experience. The art of bonsai is said to have been started by the Chinese some 1,700 years ago, but the word is of Japanese origin. Translated from Japanese Bon means “tray” and sai means “to plant”.”.Therefore literally translated it means to plant in a tray. To master the art of bonsai you need to create visual perfection between tree and container.

Bonsai trees are not dwarf versions of regular trees. They are simply pruned and shaped to get them into their desired size and form, often using wire to help control their look. Bonsai trees are also said to bring peace and serenity to any open space, they can also make the air a little clearer around your gardening space. A typical bonsai tree is kept in the 2 to 3 foot range. Pruning the roots and branches are the secret to keeping the trees small, shaping them to your taste and grown in an appropriate container.

Very few tools are required for Bonsai gardening therefore it is not expensive to create a masterpiece anyone would love to have in their home. Growing a bonsai is a combination of art and gardening. Bonsai are often described as living sculptures because you are not just letting it grow you are shaping it as it grows. growing a bonsai tree properely leads to a true work of art while being very relaxing and a feeling of achievement.

Growing and creating an Indoor Bonsai tree is container gardening at its best and makes a nice addition to your home or workplace. They can be very rewarding and bring a great deal of pleasure as you watch your art form develop day by day into something truly spectacular that goes by the name of “Bonsai” - easy to care for and a pleasure to have.

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How to Garden With a Raised Bed

Friday, July 24th, 2009

A raised garden bed could be a excellent idea if you have poor soil or heavy clay soil or find gardening challenging as a result of a physical problem. While it will take longer to make a raised bed, or initially cost more if you go for a raised garden kit, it will be worth it in the long term. Cedar raised garden kits are very well-liked as they are resistant to water and very durable. A raised bed has various distinct advantages over regular gardening and may make gardening a good deal easier, more enjoyable and even more prolific.

Advantages of Raised Gardening

  • In a raised garden you will have extensive control over the the make up of the soil so you can grow vegetables or flowers that may need specific pH’s and nutrients easily
  • The soil can be purchased weed free so you will not have to waste time weeding.
  • In a raised bed plants are a lot simpler to keep in good condition and generally develop better. The earth does not become compressed from people walking on it, so air and nutrients can reach the roots much easier.
  • Raised gardens heat up quicker in the Spring so you can transplant a lot sooner giving you a longer growing period.
  • It is much easier to cultivate a raised garden than a normal garden as you can make the garden at a suitable height. For those with physical problems, or are in a wheelchair this may be the only means that they can get pleasure from gardening.
  • Raised beds are a good deal kinder to the knees and back! You will not hurt your knees or back from gardening.
  • In a correctly prepared raised garden, drainage is much better than in a normal garden. You will not get waterlogged soil and the plants will grow better.

Placing Your Raised Garden

Before you make a decision where to position a raised garden observe your garden for at least a complete day to check which areas get more sunlight or which are in shadow. Are you going to grow sun loving plants or those which prefer shade? Find  a section where you can have room round the garden to make gardening more convenient. It may also be helpful to have concrete paths on all sides of the garden to make moving around it with equipment easy. Should you be making one for a person who is in a wheelchair you ought to make certain that access is comfortable from every side and it is a comfortable height.

How to Fill Your Raised Bed Garden

Once the garden is finished fill it with high-quality earth and compost. A blend of half compost and half soil is generally suggested. Top soil is frequently obtainable to buy in bulk but be careful of the quality as there are no standards set down. Top soil can vary a lot in composition. Garden shops also provide soil in bulk and you can be positive that it is good. You might use top soil from your own backyard but you will need rather a lot and it might not have all the nutrients needed. It will also inevitably have wild plant seeds and perhaps stones.

For saving money you may perhaps want to mix garden soil with purchased soil but take care you mix it thoroughly and preferably have the soil tested to ensure the pH and nutrient levels are satisfactory. Whatever option you choose blend in a small quantity of sand to help with drainage. You may also need to replenish the earth occasionally as it compacts down and add some organic matter on a regular basis. An excellent hint is to cultivate some ground cover plants for the duration of the winter to protect the soil which can then be dug in in the Spring to add nutrients.

Conclusion

Raised gardening has numerous marked advantages over regular gardening for all of us but particularly for the elderly or individuals with physical problems. Whether you choose to build your own raised garden bed or pick from one of the many raised garden kits available you can be certain to get many years of satisfying gardening.

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Winter Vegetable Gardening Yields a Spring Harvest - Garden Sheds

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

When you think of gardening, chances are that you probably don’t consider winter the best time to do it. After all, very few plants can survive in the harsh, cold environment. Why else do the trees lose their leaves and such? However, there are a number of sturdy, rough plants that you can choose to grow for harvest in the springtime. Winter vegetable gardening does not really include actually growing these plants during the winter. Rather, most of the growing takes place in the fall before winter time, and the plants are merely sturdy enough to survive the cold better than other plants.

Sturdy Plants

Which kinds of plants can cling to life when the temperature dips to zero? There are still enough that you can undertake winter vegetable gardening. You have such varieties as carrots, cauliflower, and beets to grow over the winter. While surely not as numerable as plants designed for growth during the normal gardening season, these vegetable gardening seeds will grow during some of the harshest winters that we experience as far north as states like Oregon and Pennsylvania, which tend to be temperate in the summer and can experience some very cold winters.

However, winter vegetable gardening also incorporates some other tools to help you grow during the off-season and you will need garden sheds to keep your tools in. Consider building walls or windbreaks to help keep the temperature around ten degrees warmer on the coldest days, and exterior greenhouses can help keep the plants in temperate weather even when there is ice on the ground. On same days, you may even need to ventilate greenhouses to prevent an excessive amount of heat from harming your plants. Considering that the ground can freeze up to half a foot deep depending on the temperature, you should take every precaution available to give your plants a fighting chance. By following these tips, winter vegetable gardening should never be a problem.

As previously stated, winter vegetable gardening doesn’t really involve growing plants in the winter, when they will grow very slowly, if at all. Instead, it simply helps these plants to survive so that you can pick them in the spring for delicious vegetables like beets, carrots, and cauliflower. It does take a little more work and is slightly more expensive than traditional gardening, but there is no reason why a season should stop you from practicing one of your favorite hobbies. It can be a challenge at times, surely, but winter vegetable gardening is an incredibly rewarding experience.

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Garden Sheds, Determining the Best Vegetable Gardening Book for Achieving Effective Results

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

Achieving the desired effective result in vegetable gardening is often hard especially for novice individuals because of the lack of experience, training, and knowledge. For this interest, it is important to have the right and accurate information relevant to the necessities, characteristics, and approaches for effective personal vegetable gardening. To achieve this desire, it is important to have an effective assistance measure through the use of the best vegetable gardening book and in knowing how to find the best there is, there are simple factors that can be used in evaluation.

Finding the Best Book in the Shelf

In finding the best vegetable gardening book there is at your favorite bookstore, it is important to first understand what are your necessities and conditional characteristic relevant to your gardening interest. You may also want to try a good gardening shop or garden sheds supplier who also stock lots of gardening books.In this aspect, aspiring gardeners must become aware first and evaluate their nature, abilities, and condition and adapt these factors in your gardening interest. If you have understand these factors, used them in finding the best vegetable gardening book suitable for you.

Finding the best vegetable gardening book is not an easy task. To determine the best among the other, you must be patience and critical in comparing the different gardening book in the shelf. In the comparative analysis, consider evaluating the information contained in each book, its presentation, information scope, and its reader approach. For these characteristics, the best vegetable gardening book has a wide collection of information relevant to gardening starting from the initial stage, planting, maintenance, protection, and harvesting. The best vegetable gardening book likewise has clear and comprehensible presentation in terms of its presentation and illustration. For example, for the raised vegetable gardening approach, this concept must be effectively presented where novice reader can clearly understand the process and idea behind the said concept.

The best vegetable gardening book is also flexible in terms of its functionality and assistance purpose wherein it can cater to novice individuals, moderately experienced, and even expert farmers making it the effective overall book for different population demographics. Similarly in terms of functionality, the best vegetable gardening book also provides sufficient information relevant for guiding the decision of the reader in the personal gardening activity. This include guide for choosing the plant type, understanding soil characteristics and composition, making organic fertilizer and pesticide and others making the best vegetable gardening book a significant multi-purpose reference guide for the involved task.
In general, finding the best vegetable gardening book is simply finding the right book at which you are comfortable with regards to your necessities, condition, and interest. To enhance the efficacy of the assistance of the best vegetable gardening book, it is important that you gain the confidence and trust relevant in implementing your knowledge and producing the bountiful harvest that you desire.

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