Creating A Raised Bed Garden To Improve Drainage
The amount of water a plant receives is often hard to control in a regular garden. Some plants require lots of water to grow healthy and strong, while others require very little water. Many plants are susceptible to root rot if they’re left standing in water for too long. Too much water is one of the main causes of dead plants. There is an easy way to test your soil to see how well it drains. Dig a hole in any area of the garden that measures ten inches deep. Fill the hole up with water and wait for all of the water to soak into the ground. Then, fill the hole back up with water again. If that water isn’t gone within approximately ten hours, the soil has very poor drainage and is not suitable for most plants. Raised Bed Garden Kit The most common way to provide the proper drainage for plants is to create a raised bed garden. A raised bed is simply a structure that holds soil and keeps the plant off the ground underneath. You can create a raised bed with various types of materials such as blocks, brick, or wood. The key is to make sure that the plant will sit at least five inches above the ground. You can place a raised bed garden almost anywhere and it can be either on a grassy area or on dirt. However, it’s much easier to use an area that isn’t covered with grass. If the structure is going to be placed on dirt you simply need to build the walls and fill it with soil. Add some compost or manure and start planting. Grassy areas create more of a problem. You will actually need to cut the grass loose and flip it upside down. It might sound easy, but you will need to use a really sharp tool to cut through the grass and loosen a layer from the dirt. After you have it turned upside down, it’s a really good idea to cover the area with a layer of straw. The straw will help prevent the grass from growing back up through the dirt and into your garden bed. Planting plants in a raised bed garden is done in the exact same way that it’s done in a regular garden. Decide how far apart you need to space the plants, make a hole that will accommodate the entire plant root and cover the roots with soil. Just make sure that you don’t plant them to deeply and defeat the purpose of a raised bed. Within days you’ll notice a big improvement in the health of your plants. The soft soil will allow the roots to grow freely and the drainage will prevent the them from rotting. After you’ve watered your plants a few times you might need to add more soil to compensate for settling. A raised bed garden does take a little work, but the results make it all worthwhile. Written by Connie Corder for HouseplantsForYou.com, Copyright 2010 All Rights...
How to Grow a Parlor Palm
The Parlor Palm (Chamaedora elegans), sometimes referred to as the Bella Palm, is a relatively easy houseplant to grow. It’s a fairly inexpensive palm that is very well suited to indoor life. The Parlor Palm is an upright plant that rarely reaches over 4 foot in height, or 3 foot in width. The compact growth and easy care makes it an ideal houseplant. Light Requirements: The Parlor Palm will flourish and grow much better in filtered light. With this plant you actually don’t need to guess about adequate lighting. If the palm is sitting in an area where there is enough light for it to cast a shadow, it’s getting enough light! And, it will do well in both natural sunlight or artificial lighting. Water Requirements: The amount of water the Parlor Palm needs will depend on how much light it receives. A brighter light means more water, while lower lighting means less water. On small palms, the surface of the soil should be dry before giving it more water. On larger palms, the soil should be dry at least one inch down in the soil before adding water. This houseplant should be watered all the way around the base of the plant to avoid “dry spots”. Dry spots left in the soil could result in a drastic loss of fronds. If the pot has drainage holes, water the plant until some of the water seeps through the holes. Any excess water in the saucer should be emptied within an hour to prevent the roots from rotting. Fertilizing Indoor Palms: Indoor palms don’t like a lot of fertilizer. You can fertilize the Parlor Palm on a monthly basis through the spring and summer. In the fall and winter, the palm only needs fertilized every two or three months. You can use any good quality water soluble food that is designed specifically for houseplants. Parlor Palms and Propagation: While Parlor Palms are grown from seed at nursery’s you can propagate the plant, but it’s not recommended. Propagation is done by separating the plant at the roots. This can be very traumatic to the palm and will result in a heavy loss of fronds. It will also take the sections of the plant a long time to recover. Because they are usually not very expensive, it’s better to just purchase another plant. Written by Connie Corder, Copyright 2010...
Madagascar Dragon Tree
The Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata) is characterized by long, narrow leaves that are extremely spiked. The foliage is generally dark green with edges that are adorned with a reddish purple and can grow up to 16 inches in length. As the tree grows it will naturally lose it’s lowest leaves leaving tufts of leaves atop a bare woody cane. Although species vary, this variety can grow as tall as 20 feet in height. But, when kept as a houseplant, it generally only reaches around 6 to 8 feet. The size can be controlled by cutting the tops off. The cane can be cut at any height and within weeks you will begin to see a new tuft of leaves growing at the cut area. It’s better on the plants health to cut the cane during spring or early summer. One of the fun things about this plant is that you can control how it looks. You can either just let it grow naturally, or you can twist several stalks together. They can even be trained to grow in spirals and can easily be bent to grow in various ways. It’s sort of the alternative to a small bonsai tree! This houseplant does best in areas where there is low or moderate lighting. Like many other varieties of Dracaena, the Dragon Tree will give you a hint when it’s not getting enough light! If you notice that the accenting colors on the leaves are fading, you need to move it to an area where it will get a little more light. The Dragon Tree will do much better with moderate levels of water. The soil should be allowed to dry out about one third the depth of the pot between watering. While the Dragon Tree will tolerate most average home conditions, you can provide it with a little extra humidity through regular misting. Misting the tree regularly will also help prevent insect infestations. The leaves will give you a good idea whether you are providing too little or too much water. If you have a lot of leaves that are turning yellow and falling off, you’re probably not giving the plant enough water. If the leaves are starting to turn yellow at the tips, it could be a sign of too much water. This houseplant can tolerate a variety of temperatures, humidity levels and conditions. But, water can be it’s worst enemy. Make sure that you provide good drainage and don’t water it too much to prevent root rot. It can be planted in any good quality potting soil and fertilize it every two weeks through the spring and summer. The cane can be cut and rooted to produce new plants. Dragon Tree Fun Facts While many people think that the Dragon Tree is a member of the palm family, it’s actually closely related to lilies! The name “Dracaena” comes from a Greek word meaning female dragon. The name was derived from a red gum that comes from the cut stem of the tree. When the gum is thickened, it is said that it closely resembles dragon blood. In ancient Roman and Medieval times the gum was used in alchemy and magic. Today, it is used in photo engraving and as a varnish. Written by Connie Corder, Copyright 2010...
How To Choose Healthy Garden Plants
Your garden will be more successful and your harvest will be much bigger if you start with healthy plants. Healthy plants will even produce sweeter tasting fruits and vegetables. There are several places where you can purchase plants. You can go to your local garden center or nursery, and often even find them at a neighborhood grocery stores. One of the main ways to determine the health of a plant is by the way it looks. Firm stems and leaves are a good sign that the plant has been well cared for. Always avoid plants that are drooping and wilted. This generally means that the plant hasn’t received enough water and the roots could be severely damaged. You should also avoid plants that have holey leaves. This usually points to an insect or pest infestation. Never purchase a plant that has already started producing small fruits or vegetables. It might seem like a good way to get a quicker harvest, but that’s not the case at all. In fact, there’s a much higher risk that the plant won’t survive. Transplanting and relocating results in a lot of trauma for a plant. If it’s already blooming, it might not survive the stress and you could end up with a dead plant. Before you purchase a plant check the roots carefully. Generally if the plant looks good and healthy, the roots will be healthy as well. But, this isn’t always the case. If the roots are brown, soft or show any signs of rotting, choose a different plant. Healthy roots should be firm and they should almost fill the small commercial pot. A few small roots in a pot full of soil is a bad sign. Some plants can be nursed back to health, but it’s usually not worth the risk. You could end up with a very poor harvest, or no harvest at all. You can reduce the amount of stress from relocating and transplanting the plant. Simply allow the plant to set in the area where you plan to plant it for a few days. This way the plant can adjust to the new light and weather conditions before you replant it. Written by Connie Corder for HouseplantsForYou.com, Copyright 2010 All Rights...
Successful Container Gardening
At one time, almost everyone had a large garden. Raising a garden full of fresh vegetables and fruits was the only way most people had to feed their family. With a constantly growing population and progress taking over much of the land, container gardening is becoming a viable option. Almost everyone loves the taste of fresh vegetables, but many people just don’t have the room or space for a garden. If you live in an apartment, or have a small yard, you can still have delicious fresh vegetables with container gardening. A container garden can be set up on a patio, deck, balcony, or a nice sunny window. Just like any type of gardening, container gardening does take a little planning. You need to choose the types of plants you want to grow based on the amount of light the area has. If you have an open deck, choose plants that can withstand full sun all day. If you have a deck with a roof, be sure you choose plants that can flourish in the shade. Vegetable plants are generally fairly inexpensive at your local garden center. But, you can start your plants from seed several weeks before the last frost. When the seedlings do get large enough to take outside you might still need to protect them for awhile. Strong winds and rains can quickly destroy tender seedlings. You can virtually grow any vegetable plant in a container. All you need to do is make sure that you create the right growing conditions. Your plants will need the right amount of water, fertilizer, sun and room to grow. With the growing demand to grow plants in limited space, there are a lot of dwarf varieties that are ideal for a container garden. You can use almost any type of container for growing vegetables. However, the container should have at least one hole in the bottom for proper drainage. You can even add some small gravels to the bottom of the pot to help keep the roots from sitting in water. Drainage holes are crucial if your container garden will be exposed to rain. Besides fresh fruits and vegetables, container gardens offer another great advantage, no weeding! Because you will be using a high quality potting soil to grow your plants, you won’t have to worry about weeds taking over your garden. And, because your garden is in a protected area, there’s a much lower risk of pest and insect infestations. At the end of the growing season you can re-use the pots to plant frost resistant plants. Mexican feather grass, Lavender, Jasmine, Cornflowers and many other plants can fill your container garden in the fall. Container growing can be really rewarding and fun. Not only can you have delicious fresh vegetables, you can save money on your grocery bill. Written by Connie Corder for HouseplantsForYou.com, Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved Container Garden photo courtesy of Shirley’s Wellness Cafe...
Grow Healthy Vegetables And Increase Harvest
Growing your own vegetables provides a lot of wonderful benefits. You can lower your grocery bill substantially. Home grown vegetables are healthier and have a much better taste than store bought vegetables. And, you get to glow with pride when everyone is commenting on how beautiful your garden is and how much they love the taste of your harvest. One of the best ways to have healthy garden plants is to know what each plant needs. Some plants require more light, more water and more fertilizer than others. Do your research and learn what type of conditions are best for each plant you want to grow. Most vegetable plants have to have at least 6 hours of sun each day. However, there are plants that need a full 8 hours of sun. If you have long periods without rain, make sure that you water your garden. Most vegetables need at least an inch of water each week to thrive. If the vegetables are bearing fruit, they can require even more water. In really hot temperatures, you might need to water your garden several times a week. Your plants will literally tell you if they need more water. Check them everyday and if you notice any wilting on the leaves, water them. Insects and pests can quickly destroy even the healthiest plants. Take the time to look at your plants on a regular basis. Check the leaves and stems carefully for any signs of insects. Most pests will eat the plant, so look for any holes in the leaves. The sooner you discover a problem, the better chance you have of saving the plant. If the fruits and vegetables are close to being ready to harvest, avoid using harmful pesticides. If you are going to take the time to grow fresh vegetables, it’s much better to take the time to use organic methods to get rid of pests. Using dangerous pesticides sort of defeats the advantages of growing healthy vegetables! Written by Connie Corder for HouseplantsForYou.com, Copyright 2010 All Rights...
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