Greenhouses and Gardening

When you are purchasing houseplants, pick the right plant for your environment, instead of trying to change your home to accommodate the plant you have chosen. Keep in mind the temperature at which you keep your home; different plants will thrive at different temperatures. Some like cool temperatures, in the 50s and 60s, while others enjoy 70 or even 80 degrees.

If you turn your thermostat down at night, your plants will be able to cope. In the wild, after all, they are used to a 10 to 15 degree drop in temperature at night. Because your plants are probably going to be near a window, make sure that there are no drafts that will make your plants too cold. Be aware that the temperature near a window is often several degrees colder than the temperature on the other side of the room. Especially if you live in an old home or have casement windows, be aware of where you are placing your plants.

Not only can your plants get too cold, but they can overheat, as well. While most plants can adapt to the heat levels inside the typical home, excess heat or too high temperature can lead to reduced humidity, which can damage your plants. Many houseplants are used to more humid environments than in the typical home. Plants need moisture not only through their roots, but also in the air, which they absorb through their leaves. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to increase the moisture available to your plants. Do not try to do this by soaking them with too much water every time you water them; the moisture must come through the air, not through the soil. There are a few things you can do to make the air around your indoor and outdoor houseplants more humid.

If the air in your home is not humid enough for your plants, you can purchase a humidifier to place near them. These keep the humidity around them at a constant level, which will help your plants thrive. A less expensive alternative is to fill pans of water near your radiators. This water will evaporate, adding moisture to the air. Most plants also enjoy being sprayed lightly with water from a spray bottle. When done once or twice a week, this spraying will keep the foliage hydrated. Misting your plants can help keep them from drying out in a low-humidity environment. It also cleans the leaves of the dust found in a typical home, and helps keeps insects from settling on them. However, be aware of the needs of your plant. Some, like African Violet or others with hairy leaves, an actually be damaged by misting. If you mist an African Violet, the leaves will grow white spots and begin to decay.

Be aware of your plants’ requirements when bringing them into your home. While many can adapt to the conditions of the typical home, you should monitor the temperature and humidity so that your plants can thrive.

Tags: growing, green house

Watering your garden can be tricky enough when it is raining plenty. You may take it for granted while it’s there, but once it’s gone, you will truly realize its importance in keeping your garden healthy. Especially in times of drought, it’s necessary to consider how you water your garden, conserving water but still keeping your plants healthy. Here are a few things you can do to make the best use of the water you use on your plants:

Use plenty of mulch around your plants. Mulch will keep water from evaporating out of the soil. Organic much like grass clippings or wood chips can also help add organic matter to the soil. However, plastic mulches also work for limiting evaporation. You can lay plastic mulching between rows in your vegetable garden. However, keep in mind that this will also limit the water that reaches the soil underneath.

Use the water where it will do the most good. Plants need water in their roots. Sprinklers do not do the best job of this, because too much water lands on the leaves, evaporating before it ever reaches the grant. Instead, you should slowly and gently water at the base of the plants. This will be most efficient because it allows the water to soak into the soil.

If your water is limited, water the plants that need it most. In drought conditions, you should use the water on newly planted trees, shrubs, and flowers. Their limited root systems will suffer from the lack of water. Well-established plants, especially if you have chosen those that are native to the area and therefore used to less water, will be more likely to survive droughts with little damage.

Also consider when you are watering. You should water your plants in the early morning, before it has become hot. This will limit the amount of water that evaporates, because it will have soaked into the soil before the heat of the day. It will also supply plants with enough moisture to make it through the sunniest part of the day.

One way to water many plants efficiently is to install a drip or trickle irrigation systems. Many of these are inexpensive and easy to install. They provide small amounts of water at the base of individual plants. Unlike sprinklers, drip irrigation systems deliver the water right where it is needed.

To conserve water, consider collecting water from your downspouts during rains. You can actually collect a significant amount of waters this way. Plants, such as dracaena fragrans, that have low water can also help. During dry spells, use this to water your plants, limiting your use of tap water in the garden.

Even in times of drought, there are steps you can take to use your water wisely and still keep your plants healthy!

Tags: green house, garden

To understand the basics of bonsai care does not have to be hard or difficult. It should be a fun and rewarding process that gives you appreciation of nature and the amazing art of bonsai.

As a beginning bonsai gardener, you may have many questions about appropriate bonsai care. By understanding the fundamentals, you can build a firm foundation upon which you can confidently grow your skills and expertise, right along with your new bonsai garden!

Bonsai Care: The Basics

As with any plant, your Bonsai tree’s health is depending on the quality of the soil, the right amount of water and correct amount of light.

However, bonsai care involves fulfilling certain needs that ordinary plants don’t have. For instance, did you know that most bonsai trees are bred to be outdoor plants like their full-sized counterparts? If you bring a sun-loving bonsai inside, be prepared to give it 12-16 hours a day of fluorescent light. There are, however, some bonsai plants that do not need that much light, and these may be the ideal species if you want to practice bonsai care indoors.

It is important to use the right soil for your bonsai tree. In the “wild” your tree’s roots will grow deeply into the earth resulting in your tree growing tall. Since your bonsai will grow in a shallow container, you are forcing it’s root system to grow shallow and wide. This is largely why the tree will stay small. Since the roots are very shallow, standard potting soil is to dense, trapping to much water which will slowly make the root system rot and your tree to die. This is why using a special bonsai soil mix is important.

In practicing proper bonsai care, you should purchase special bonsai soil, which is a mix of loam, sand, and organics, like peat moss and leaf mold. What soil you should specifically buy is determined by your local climate. Your local greenhouse or nursery, bonsai enthusiast, or Agriculture Extension office can help you determine which soil is perfect for your bonsai’s care.

Water and Food in Bonsai Care

The most common beginner bonsai question is “how much should I water my bonsai?” The answer depends on a lot of factors, what kind of bonsai you have, how humid is it where you live, what season it is etc.

The balance in proper bonsai care is between too much and too little. It can be a bit tricky. Also make sure if you use tap water, that it is room temperature and also let it sit overnight to get rid of chemicals such as chlorine

First, wet the soil. That will make it easier for your bonsai to take in more water. After that, water generously until water comes out through the drainage holes. It is important that all the soil gets wet. It is preferred to water your plant in the morning before the daily photosynthesis cycle starts. If you live in a dry climate you can also mist your bonsai daily to retain its humidity levels.

As for fertilizer in bonsai care, use a completely balanced fertilizer (i.e., 20-20-20, which is equal parts nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) every other week at quarter strength. A balanced fertilizer is ideal in bonsai care because your tree is considerably smaller than the plants the fertilizer is typically used for. Never fertilize a dry tree (the shock could kill it - make sure to water first!) and don’t fertilize a sick tree; remember, fertilizer isn’t medication.

So with the right bonsai knowledge, the right soil, the appropriate amount of light and water and fertilizing every other week you should be on your way to growing your first beautiful and healthy bonsai tree. The art of bonsai doesn’t have to be a difficult or tricky journey, just remember to stick with the basic fundamentals of bonsai care.

Tags: growing, greenhouse