How to Grow Your Own White Sage

White sage is a perennial, with plants living well past two years if properly cared for. This article will be a walk through as to growing this precious herb and how you can have your own on hand.

White sage seeds themselves are edible, and can be found in pods on a sage plant. They have a very low germination rate, so it is important to start a white sage plant indoors and keep the seeds close to the surface (no deeper than an eighth to a quarter of an inch) and place in an area where there is a lot of light. You will want your plant to get at least eight hours of direct sunlight. Florescent lights can be used, although sunlight is preferred.

The soil should be of a dry, sandy texture that drains water easily (cactus potting soil is a good choice) and put in a…

Preparing White Sage For Smudging

There are many uses for the leaves of the white sage plant, some of which are  medicinal. The leaf florets are the ones often dried and used for making smudge sticks for burning. Lay the leaves out and once dried, wrap them in a bundle using a natural fiber such as cotton and tie it in a knot… then take the twine and wrap it around the bundle from top to bottom. Make sure it isn’t so tight that the sage won’t burn or so loose that it will come apart.

In Native American cultures, preparing the sage for smudging is a ritual itself. First permission is asked to cut the stem… and a bit of another herb or a piece of hair is placed at the base of the plant as an offering in return. The prepared smudgesticks are placed in a bowl and lit. As the smoke swirls…

Indoor Trees For Home and Office

Trees. I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than fishing underneath a large tree… or climbing the sturdy branches. They add color and majesty to our land, as they have for thousands of years. They improve air quality and remove carbon dioxide and other gasses that trap heat.

An indoor tree can do these same things for your home or office space. Not only do they add beauty and charm, they offer the same benefits to an enclosed area as outdoor trees do for the planet. They are a lovely accent to any home, and can provide depth to an otherwise plain office area. There are several to choose from, and with just a little bit of maintenance, you can have a bit of the great outdoors in your own area!

One of the most popular indoor trees is the ficus, or fig tree, of which…

Caring For Ferns

A fern is a beautiful way to brighten up any room in your home. When cared for properly, they offer a splash of healthy color and provide a comforting feel.

Ferns can also be planted outdoors as part of yard landscaping. While a fern can add a lot to its surroundings, it is a good idea to learn how to properly care for them. You will want to maintain the beauty that drew you to them in the first place. You will want to know the right type of soil and water needed, as well as where exactly the fern should be placed for the best use of light.

In nature, ferns thrive on forest floors with plenty of shade. The light they receive comes through higher trees, not directly hitting the fern. In a home, the fern should be placed during the summer months with northerly exposure to indirect or…

How To Keep Your Orchids Healthy and Thriving

While many people are still hesitant to purchase orchids, they’ve became more popular than ever. These beautiful, exotic tropical flowers have a bad reputation for being hard to take care of. But, with a little extra care, almost anyone can keep orchids alive and flourishing.

The most important part of keeping an orchid healthy is to start out with a healthy plant. When shopping for an orchid make sure that the pseudo bulb is nice and firm. Check the plant to make sure that there are lot’s of new shoots and that the leaves don’t have brown spots. The more blooms a plant has the healthier it is.

Purchase orchids depending on where you plan to keep the flower, orchids are classified into several temperature ranges, there are warm, temperate and cool orchids. Older plants are more established and will also have a better chance at survival, although they are…