Archive for December, 2009

A Blast From The Past: Know About Indoor Plant Watering Cans

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

Although an indoor plant watering can is a useful device and still has its place in the gardening centers of today, the indoor plant watering cans are becoming obsolete as there are other, more effective methods of watering the indoor plants.  It used to be that the indoor plants could only be watered in one of two ways.  The plants could be picked up and placed under a faucet so that they could be watered or they could be watered from an indoor plant watering can which had to be lugged around from place to place in the home.  The down side to an indoor plant watering can is that it has to be refilled time and again if it is too small, and if it is too large, the can is often too heavy to move around comfortably without spilling the contents all over the home.

Solutions To Indoor Plant Watering Cans

There are many indoor plant watering devices on the market today that help solve the problems posed by the indoor plant watering can.  There are indoor plant watering hoses now that are attached to the faucet of the house and have a spraying device attached to the other end of it.  These hoses are often about forty feet long so that they can reach every part of the home through the means of being attached to the various faucets of the home.  The hoses make it very easy to water all the plants in the home in addition to being able to fill up a freshly cleaned fish tank without having to make many trips back and forth to the faucet.  It can also be helpful with any pets in the home so that they can be washed in the tub without using a cup or other device to rinse the soap off of them.

Another solution to the awkward plant watering can is the automatic plant watering systems on the market today.A small number of them are prepared for people who like starting all types of plants indoors to later be shifted outdoors.These devices will be helpful for the growth of delicate plants as they make the individuals able to create a miniature greenhouse inside.  There are other devices that allow individuals to water their plants when they are gone on vacation.They can easily put the reservoir of water on a counter and then the plants to be watered on the floor below it.  The water is regulated so that only a certain amount is released each hour, thus preventing over watering.  Usually, several plants can be hooked up to the same device and the watering will last for two weeks or more.

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Are You Thinking Of Growing Herbs In Pots?

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

If you are thinking of growing your herbs indoors, you will need a suitable pot or container. They can also be grown in window boxes or hanging baskets. Growing herbs in pots is not any more difficult than growing herbs in an outdoor garden. Indoor herb gardens need the same growing conditions that garden herbs need. Click here for more: growing herbs in a container

The three things all plants need are; sunlight water and soil.  Herbs are no different. Whether grown inside or in the garden sunlight is key to growing herbs. When growing indoors, place your herbs in a south or west facing position to make maximum use of the available sunlight. Although there are a few herbs with specific light needs, all of them need a sunny bright spot in the house. Growing herbs for some means enhancing the light with lamps and artificial light.

Herbs also need a well drained, not too rich soil to grow in. It is good practise to add one part of coarse sand two parts of sterilized potting soil to your herbs’ containers. You will also need about an inch of gravel at the bottom of each pot to ensure that the plant has good drainage. Herbs grown in pots indoors can also be supplemented with one teaspoon of lime per 5-inch pot to ensure that the soil is sweet enough for the herbs.
For more visit our blog: Herb Garden Blog

Water is the next important factor to consider. By spraying them with mist, it will wet the pebbles and leaves and help them in humid conditions. Since they are being grown in containers they do need to have more water than herbs that are grown in a garden but, you should avoid getting the roots of the herbs drenched or soggy. An advantage to growing herbs in a container is that you have the freedom to move them about as you please.

It is always a good idea to place perennial herbs outside during the warmer months, whereas annuals can quite happily be left inside. Make sure you bring in all your herbs early so as not to exposed them to the first frost. However, it is something you can miss when it comes to chives, mint and tarragon. That is because these herbs will become dormant in a light frost leading to a healthier growth afterward. It is possible to grow all herbs in a container but some will thrive more than others. Mint is an herb that needs to be contained or it will take over the garden.  

Over all it is fairly easy to maintain an indoor herb garden. The herbs are within easy reach for cooking for example. And the tips given above with help you look after your herbs. You should also include periodic light feeding and yearly repotting for optimum health of the herbs. Remember also to move perennials outside in warmer weather and to replant annuals. Plus, use your herbs as much as you want as well as harvest them occasionally. It is no secret that pruning plants it encourages new growth. This rule also applies to herbs. So dry them, store them and add them to your cooking recipes! Click here for more: Herb Garden Guide

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Why Not Build Your Own Greenhouse

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

If you would like a greenhouse in your garden but cannot afford the prices companies charge for them, then why not build your own greenhouse or consider the cheaper portable greenhouse. As well as the obvious advantage of lower cost, ther are also a number of other good points.

By building your own greenhouse, you can adapt the plans to fit the space and the shape you want. Rectangular and octagonal are the most common greenhouse shapes.There are even pre-conceived ideas of sizes. You can adjust the size to fit the odd shaped space you have available, if you build your own. You may need to think carefully about making full use of the interior space, if you choose an unusual shape or size, but it will be unique to you and become a feature of your garden.

You do not have to be a builder to build your own greenhouse. Plans to build a greenhouse are readily available which will give you all the information you need. If you are a reasonably god handiman, then you can even adapt these plans to make use of materials you have lying around the garden.

Before embarking on your project, there are a number of things to which you should give some consideration. Where are you going to place your greenhouse?. It should not be shaded by trees or your house, so that you get all the heat available from the sun, especially in autumn and spring when you need all the heat you can get. If you site it near to the house then it will make for easier access, especially in inclement weather, and it will also be easier to provide water and electricity. During inclement weather, your greenhouse comes into its own. You can always work indoors instead of outside!

Check through your plans carefully to ensure that you have all the materials and necessary tools before you start. Tools can, if necessary’ be hired from tool stores or borrowed from friends and neighboors. I have seen inumerable projects that have never been completed simply because of lack of the right tool when it was needed, so do check at the start. Don’t end up with a half finished greenhouse, simply because of lack of planning.

Plans to build a greenhouse are available from many places. Do a search online to start with. So, look at plans for building your greenhouse, be sure they give you all the information you will need to complete the project. Then think about it carefully, before you start. Once you have built your own greenhouse, you will find it so satisfying and useful, you will wonder how you managed to do without one before.

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The Perfect Xmas Gift is a Tree!

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Are you the person who loves giving unusual Christmas gift ideas? Do you love the idea of surprising your friends and family members with gifts ideas for Christmas that are uncommon, perfect for them or just off the wall? If so, why not present them with a tree! Why bother giving someone one more pair of woolly socks or one more dull book when you can give the something that they can look on with happiness for the rest of their lives? A tree is a wonderful Christmas gift idea and you will be surprised at the varieties that you have available to you.

One great advantage to giving a tree for Christmas is that you are giving a wonderfully eco-friendly alternative. Instead of spending money on something that is just going to get tossed into a landfill when it’s outgrown its usefulness, why not give them something that improves the world around us? Whether you decide on a slender sapling that is going to grow into a mighty oak, or you love the idea of cherry blossoms that bloom in the spring, you will find that this can be the perfect gift for anyone on your Christmas list who is looking for something beautiful and meaningful.

Also think about the fact that it is a perfect gift for someone who has had a big change in their lives. Has a friend or family member got married recently or have they had a baby? One thing that trees are great for is marking growth and it can be inspiring to see a tree growing even as a relationship or a child does. Watching a tree grow healthily is its own joy and the tree itself can act as a beautiful celebration of the time that has passed.

One thing that may make someone pause before they buy a tree is they might be unsure where their friends will place it. At the end of the day, not everyone is going to have a large garden where they can grow trees! On the other hand, just about everyone has a deck or a corner where they can grow a tree in a pot and when the tree grows taller, you can be sure that someone is going to be happy with a tree donation. Your friend’s tree could be sent to a park or forest preserve and they can visit it whenever they want.

When you are fed up of the same old selection of gifts, take some time to consider what trees are going to suit them. This can make a big difference. You will definitely find that people love getting a beautiful tree that will bring them the festive seasonal cheer.

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Two palms for your house

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

One thing that people have to decide on when they plan to landscape their houses is their theme for their landscape.And one theme that is popular amongst people is the tropial theme.It blends in with many types of houses.And what’s good is that a lot of people love how they look.But once you decide to go tropical you also have to decide which palm tree to buy.There are many palm trees that you can choose from.  In this article we are going to look at two palm trees in particular you will love.

The first palm tree to consider are foxtail palms.They are a beautiful kind of palms which you would love to have but are not that known among people.And you would have a unique palm once you decide to use it because it is not a popular choice among homeowners.They originated from Australia and they mostly grow in tropical areas.  But now growers of late have been getting them acclimated to less humid temperatures and they are surviving. They are called foxtail palms because of the way their leaves look like a foxtail.

The next kind of palm tree for you to consider are the coconut palm.  Generally these didn’t get popular because they could easily die in cold weather.But one kind of it like the California version can survive a little bit of cold weather.That would be the reason why this kind of variety is perfect.  It allows you to have that coconut palm tree look without having to worry if it will die.

Those are a couple of great options when you are looking for palm trees for sale.  Of course there are many choices but these will really help you stand out.The nice thing about these palms is that since they are not that popular only a few people will own them and that would make it unique.  But as more and more growers get them used to milder weathers they can survive.

So that is all.  If you want to have a tropical landscape you can’t go wrong with these two types of palm trees.

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