The pot you are using as a transfer pot, needs to be filled about one third of the way up with potting soil. If there are any roots sticking to crockery pieces, you need to remove them and loosen the soil clinging to the root ball.
You will then put the ball into the middle of the new pot and sift soil around the root system. The potting stick is useful in making sure that there are no pockets in the soil and that it is firmly packed.
Take care to allow ample space at the top of the pot for watering purposes. Once the plant is firmly in place, give it a good watering. It is also a good idea to give the plant some food as well. Follow the same rules for each plant you are transferring.
Transferring plants to larger pots, is imperative and necessary for the overall health of the plant. It is something that should not be overdone however. If the pot is to large for the plant, this can be just as bad as leaving it in a pot that is to small. An oversize pot will store water for to long and cause root rot, because a smaller plant cannot use all that water properly.
With extra large house plants and extremely sensitive ones which will not take repotting you can employ a substitute remedy known as top dressing. Here you scratch off the surface soil down as far as you can go with-out exposing the roots. Then refill with an enriched potting soil. The enriched soil will pass food down to the roots and if the plant has been suffering from lack of nutriment it will revive.
With larger plants and very sensitive ones, you may not be able to repot them as well. You may need to employ something known as top dressing. This entails scratching off the top of the surface dirt as far as possible, but avoiding root exposure. Then you add new nutrient rich soil, this will pass the food down to the plant roots and if the plant has been suffering from malnutrition, this will solve the problem.
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About the Author
Thomas Fryd shares his vast knowledge at http://www.plant-care.com. There is much more to explore on the subject of repotting houseplants.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday, October 31, 2008
Enhance Your Garden with Landscape Rocks
Landscaping rocks come in all shapes, sizes and colors and are a great "new" idea to allow your personality to show through in the design of your garden. Whilst rocks have been used for landscaping for many years, their use has been reinvented in particular with river rocks. You may choose to use natural rocks or artificial rocks in that "perfect" shape, but where can you find them?
Where to Find Landscape Rocks
If you live in an area that has rocks occurring naturally, you may well find just what you need and save yourself a great deal of expense. If you are not so lucky, there are plenty of garden stores or landscaping companies that will have just what you are looking for. You can even go online and search for artificial rocks that can be personalized to suit your needs. But wherever you purchase your rocks, you should consider the following things.
What You Need to Know When Buying Landscaping Rock
What job will the rock have to do? Some rocks are not suitable for certain jobs, so do your homework to make sure that you choose the right type of rock. This applies if you are doing the work yourself or if you are getting a professional landscaper.
Landscaping Rock Garden Ideas
Landscape rocks can be used in a number of ways for different areas in your garden design. They can be used to construct walls, paths, decorative columns, the foundations for other structures and as focal points. There is a rock to suit just about any role in your garden.
Rocks used as accents or focal points will give your garden design a great deal of character and will add dimension to the garden. Accent rocks can be used as a border around garden beds, a swimming pool or a pond.
Using rocks to construct a retaining wall will give the dual benefits of providing strength to a structure as well as a beautiful appearance. A "rock garden", with small plantings nestled between the rocks will provide an original and naturalistic look to your garden. By far the style now is the use of river rocks in landscaping.
Tips for River Rock Landscaping
River rocks can be used to create stepping stones, construct a retaining wall or just to add interest to certain areas of your garden or to your backyard landscaping design. They can even be used as weed suppression in your flower beds. Water is not necessary with river rocks to create the desired effect.
For people with small children, water can be a safety concern, so using river rock to create a dry river bed bordered by ornamental grasses and flowers is an effective alternative. Blue and greens in the grasses add interest in the form of color.
Whatever you decide regarding your landscape design, you will be able to find a landscaping rock to fit your needs.
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: In case you are unaware there is lots more on the topic of backyard landscaping with rocks. Visit us for lots of free information at http://www.plant-care.com/1532-landscaping-ideas.html.
Where to Find Landscape Rocks
If you live in an area that has rocks occurring naturally, you may well find just what you need and save yourself a great deal of expense. If you are not so lucky, there are plenty of garden stores or landscaping companies that will have just what you are looking for. You can even go online and search for artificial rocks that can be personalized to suit your needs. But wherever you purchase your rocks, you should consider the following things.
What You Need to Know When Buying Landscaping Rock
What job will the rock have to do? Some rocks are not suitable for certain jobs, so do your homework to make sure that you choose the right type of rock. This applies if you are doing the work yourself or if you are getting a professional landscaper.
Landscaping Rock Garden Ideas
Landscape rocks can be used in a number of ways for different areas in your garden design. They can be used to construct walls, paths, decorative columns, the foundations for other structures and as focal points. There is a rock to suit just about any role in your garden.
Rocks used as accents or focal points will give your garden design a great deal of character and will add dimension to the garden. Accent rocks can be used as a border around garden beds, a swimming pool or a pond.
Using rocks to construct a retaining wall will give the dual benefits of providing strength to a structure as well as a beautiful appearance. A "rock garden", with small plantings nestled between the rocks will provide an original and naturalistic look to your garden. By far the style now is the use of river rocks in landscaping.
Tips for River Rock Landscaping
River rocks can be used to create stepping stones, construct a retaining wall or just to add interest to certain areas of your garden or to your backyard landscaping design. They can even be used as weed suppression in your flower beds. Water is not necessary with river rocks to create the desired effect.
For people with small children, water can be a safety concern, so using river rock to create a dry river bed bordered by ornamental grasses and flowers is an effective alternative. Blue and greens in the grasses add interest in the form of color.
Whatever you decide regarding your landscape design, you will be able to find a landscaping rock to fit your needs.
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: In case you are unaware there is lots more on the topic of backyard landscaping with rocks. Visit us for lots of free information at http://www.plant-care.com/1532-landscaping-ideas.html.
Organic Composting is Eco Friendly and Easy
Compost is an excellent additive for your garden or flower bed and is a great way to start your "living green" lifestyle. It's also one of the best mulches and soil supplements. In addition, it's cheap and easy to make.
Everyone has most of the things they need to make compost right in their home. There are many places you can go to find some composting tips to help you get starting making your own compost. If you've ever started a garden or flower bed for the first time, you know how costly it can be to start off when you have to be buying potting soil, top soil, fertilizer and other miscellaneous additives.
Why go through all this when, with the right composting tips, you can make your own compost and save money?
If you've ever read up on composting tips, you've probably heard and read how great compost is for gardens because it increases the soil's water retention qualities, loosens hard soil and improves the texture, structure and aeration of soil.
You'll have a steady supply of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus always going into your soil with compost. You may not notice a huge difference in your garden the first year, but each year it will get better and better. Following are some composting tips you may find very helpful if you're just learning about composting.
Any kitchen scraps you have should not be thrown out but should be added to your compost pile. Most compost bins or piles are kept outdoors, although a smaller one is kept in the kitchen for convenience. When the small one gets full, it's emptied into the larger one outside. Heat, which your compost pile needs, will build better in a large pile but try not to make it larger than 3 feet by 3 feet.
Make sure you have a cover on your compost bin to keep odors from entering your kitchen. Avoid throwing in bones or meat, but other foods that are excellent are coffee grounds and filter, egg shells, vegetable and fruits scraps.
Once you discover you're really interested in starting a compost pile and still have questions, the internet is loaded with composting tips such as these as well as your local library or extension office.
Make sure you keep your compost pile aerated either with a compost aerator or by hand. In order for your pile to heat up and break down, it needs to be periodically turned so it can get the oxygen it needs. Every time you add something new, you need to switch it around. Make sure your compost pile stays moist as it will not break down if it's too dry. However, make sure it doesn't become too wet, either.
The more variety of bedding materials you have, the quicker it will break down so try to avoid having only one ingredient. Make a mix of leaves and grass clippings or some other similar ingredient.
Hopefully, these composting tips have been helpful for you in your new hobby and get you interested in more eco-friendly ventures at home.
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: Al Haneson offers advice and details about safe ice melter at his green living blog.
Everyone has most of the things they need to make compost right in their home. There are many places you can go to find some composting tips to help you get starting making your own compost. If you've ever started a garden or flower bed for the first time, you know how costly it can be to start off when you have to be buying potting soil, top soil, fertilizer and other miscellaneous additives.
Why go through all this when, with the right composting tips, you can make your own compost and save money?
If you've ever read up on composting tips, you've probably heard and read how great compost is for gardens because it increases the soil's water retention qualities, loosens hard soil and improves the texture, structure and aeration of soil.
You'll have a steady supply of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus always going into your soil with compost. You may not notice a huge difference in your garden the first year, but each year it will get better and better. Following are some composting tips you may find very helpful if you're just learning about composting.
Any kitchen scraps you have should not be thrown out but should be added to your compost pile. Most compost bins or piles are kept outdoors, although a smaller one is kept in the kitchen for convenience. When the small one gets full, it's emptied into the larger one outside. Heat, which your compost pile needs, will build better in a large pile but try not to make it larger than 3 feet by 3 feet.
Make sure you have a cover on your compost bin to keep odors from entering your kitchen. Avoid throwing in bones or meat, but other foods that are excellent are coffee grounds and filter, egg shells, vegetable and fruits scraps.
Once you discover you're really interested in starting a compost pile and still have questions, the internet is loaded with composting tips such as these as well as your local library or extension office.
Make sure you keep your compost pile aerated either with a compost aerator or by hand. In order for your pile to heat up and break down, it needs to be periodically turned so it can get the oxygen it needs. Every time you add something new, you need to switch it around. Make sure your compost pile stays moist as it will not break down if it's too dry. However, make sure it doesn't become too wet, either.
The more variety of bedding materials you have, the quicker it will break down so try to avoid having only one ingredient. Make a mix of leaves and grass clippings or some other similar ingredient.
Hopefully, these composting tips have been helpful for you in your new hobby and get you interested in more eco-friendly ventures at home.
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: Al Haneson offers advice and details about safe ice melter at his green living blog.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
How Did Bonsai Plants Start In China And Japan?
The art of bonsai making has a very long history. In fact, it has been around for centuries. It is believed that in the beginning this practice was called Punsai, which means growing a tree in a pot. The first countries that popularize the art of bonsai making are China and Japan. Only recently it has spread to Europe and America.
The art of bonsai making in China
In ancient China, bonsai making was used to be called Penjing. It is believed that bonsai was originated during the Han dynasty. At that time, the emperor of China ordered a great courtyard to be built. This courtyard had to be grand and it had to include various landscapes that could be found in his empire. In order to follow this order and please the emperor, the royal subjects cultivated small trees to make the garden looks beautiful and realistic.
The small trees were greatly pleased the emperor. He even considered bonsai as one of his valuable possessions. Over the years, he was obsessed with it and he imposed a regulation prohibiting people to cultivate the plant. The penalty was death for anyone who dared to break this regulation. For a long period after this regulation was imposed, only people with power and money were given the right to cultivate the plant. As a result, a bonsai tree was considered as a valuable commodity in China for many generations.
These days, bonsai is still a valuable commodity for Chinese people because it is one of legacies that China has developed for the world. Some modern people, however, dislike the art of bonsai making because the process is similar like the practice of bonding the feet of women. During the ancient China period, women who had small feet were considered beautiful and thus they controlled the growth of their feet by wearing iron sandals, which was obviously a painful process. This confinement of the feet of women is similar like the confinement of bonsai plants. The plants are placed in small containers to limit their growth. As a result, some Chinese people are uncomfortable with the art of bonsai making.
The art of bonsai making in Japan
Other than Chinese, Japanese people are also well known for their ability in making bonsai plants. Around 794 to 1191 during the Heian period, Chinese people introduced the way to make bonsai to Japanese monks. They learned the process and started cultivating bonsai plants in monasteries. These monks were the first people in Japan who knew how to cultivate the plants.
The monasteries were visited by many people and they recognized the unique appearance of the bonsai. They wanted to know how to grow one and after some time, many people including the royal family started cultivating these plants. The plants were famous at that time and they became the symbol of honor and prestige among Japanese people. Even today, bonsai plants still decorate the houses of rich and influential Japanese people.
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about various types of bonsai trees, please visit indoor bonsai care.
The art of bonsai making in China
In ancient China, bonsai making was used to be called Penjing. It is believed that bonsai was originated during the Han dynasty. At that time, the emperor of China ordered a great courtyard to be built. This courtyard had to be grand and it had to include various landscapes that could be found in his empire. In order to follow this order and please the emperor, the royal subjects cultivated small trees to make the garden looks beautiful and realistic.
The small trees were greatly pleased the emperor. He even considered bonsai as one of his valuable possessions. Over the years, he was obsessed with it and he imposed a regulation prohibiting people to cultivate the plant. The penalty was death for anyone who dared to break this regulation. For a long period after this regulation was imposed, only people with power and money were given the right to cultivate the plant. As a result, a bonsai tree was considered as a valuable commodity in China for many generations.
These days, bonsai is still a valuable commodity for Chinese people because it is one of legacies that China has developed for the world. Some modern people, however, dislike the art of bonsai making because the process is similar like the practice of bonding the feet of women. During the ancient China period, women who had small feet were considered beautiful and thus they controlled the growth of their feet by wearing iron sandals, which was obviously a painful process. This confinement of the feet of women is similar like the confinement of bonsai plants. The plants are placed in small containers to limit their growth. As a result, some Chinese people are uncomfortable with the art of bonsai making.
The art of bonsai making in Japan
Other than Chinese, Japanese people are also well known for their ability in making bonsai plants. Around 794 to 1191 during the Heian period, Chinese people introduced the way to make bonsai to Japanese monks. They learned the process and started cultivating bonsai plants in monasteries. These monks were the first people in Japan who knew how to cultivate the plants.
The monasteries were visited by many people and they recognized the unique appearance of the bonsai. They wanted to know how to grow one and after some time, many people including the royal family started cultivating these plants. The plants were famous at that time and they became the symbol of honor and prestige among Japanese people. Even today, bonsai plants still decorate the houses of rich and influential Japanese people.
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about various types of bonsai trees, please visit indoor bonsai care.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Growing Roses - The Top 5 Mistakes Most People Make
Growing roses is both an art and a science: as my gardening aunt used to say, "...it's six of one and half a dozen of the other!"
As a rose grower myself and author of a gardening website, I get many questions about why a certain rose bush has failed or what a person might be doing wrong. Over time, these many mistakes people make, began to fall into five major categories.
The five major rose growing mistakes that most people could avoid!
1. Planting in the wrong location:
Before you actually dig the hole for your new rose bush, consider the location. It will need six hours of good light including some time in the sun. It will need healthy soil where water drains well and other plants and trees haven't taken over with their own roots. Not in the shade of a large tree, or over a concrete pipe or in a pot small enough for a geranium! Take time to choose the right location.
2. Choosing the wrong bush in the first place:
My rose bush, Savoy Hotel, grew so large I had to move the neighbors fence! The estimated size was actually on the label when I purchased it, so check how big it will get and plan the space accordingly. Rose bushes are programed to grow to a certain size, not necessarily the height you want, so check the labeling carefully.
While doing this check, look up the hardiness of the particular rose. Not all roses grow at minus 20 degrees centigrade in Calgary! Some are very susceptible to certain diseases such as blackspot, and guess what, some rose bushes only bloom once a year!
Check these things out BEFORE you purchase.
Type of rose, color, scent, size at full growth, hardiness and blooming time: make your choices before you plant, not after.
3. Pruning at the wrong time of year:
I have an acquaintance who continues to question why her roses don't bloom: even though, every year she cuts out all the new growth as it tries to bud, because this new growth blocks her view out of her living-room window. Pruning at the correct time will promote growth and increase blossom production.
Climbers should be pruned in the fall and trained to travel where you want them to travel. Fall is the time to train your climbers, not the spring, because all you would be doing is removing the new shoots that produce the new stems and the new blossoms.
Hybrid Teas and minis that have a repeat blooming, get cut back in early spring and just given a short haircut in the fall to prevent wind damage during the winter. This cut back in spring promotes new growth and helps you to re-shape the bush.
Bushes that don't re-bloom such as most Old Growth Roses, get pruned right after the blossoms fade, sometimes after the hips have formed if you like to encourage the hips to grow: perhaps as late as the fall. Pruning at the correct time will produce a healthier bush and a lot more roses!
4. Not knowing exactly what you planted:
You will not have much success with one, two or three above if you haven't dealt with this one, and you would be surprised how many people tell me "...I don't remember the name....and I can't for the life of me find the metal tag....are you sure there was one?"
All roses come with a metal name tag and if they don't, go buy them somewhere that does!
Keep the tag on the bush and make a note of what it says, then in a year or two when you need an answer to a question about something that has gone wrong you can look it up and people like myself can help you.
Not knowing if the bush is a climber or a Polyantha, Rosa Mundi or Queen Elizabeth, makes a lot of difference. Knowing the name means you can check with your National or local society about the likely growing characteristics of your plant: knowing what it should be doing goes a long way to solving most problems.
5. Not tending to the W.F.D:
Of course, I know of several beautiful roses that have spread themselves along twenty feet or more of stone wall, and produced arm-loads of fabulous roses every year while getting no attention whatsoever: even abuse from passing car exhausts. But if you are going to be successful, don't fall into the trap of ignoring the W. F and D!
Water, Food and Dead-heading, all play their part in rose growing 101 and you ignore them at your peril. Mistake number five, ignoring the W. F and D chores.
Water deeply at least twice a week. Put down organic rose fertilizer in early spring and early summer. Liquid fertilize every week or two and keep the rose clean of dead blooms otherwise the bush thinks it's finished for the season and go dormant, produce hips, and get completely confused. Keep the roses coming by removing the old faded ones. Your rose bush wants to make more babies....encourage it to do so!
If you tend to your rose garden and avoid these five major mistakes, the chances are high that your bushes will flourish and your roses will be the envy of your family and friends. Growing roses will have it's reward if you take notice of the five mistakes.
Growing roses just got easier.
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: David LeAche is the author of Rose-Works.com where you can find out all about rose growing, photographing roses, crafts with roses and using petals, hips and rose-water. FREE monthly newsletter and FREE e-book for subscribers. Find out how this website came to be so popular by visiting About Us
As a rose grower myself and author of a gardening website, I get many questions about why a certain rose bush has failed or what a person might be doing wrong. Over time, these many mistakes people make, began to fall into five major categories.
The five major rose growing mistakes that most people could avoid!
1. Planting in the wrong location:
Before you actually dig the hole for your new rose bush, consider the location. It will need six hours of good light including some time in the sun. It will need healthy soil where water drains well and other plants and trees haven't taken over with their own roots. Not in the shade of a large tree, or over a concrete pipe or in a pot small enough for a geranium! Take time to choose the right location.
2. Choosing the wrong bush in the first place:
My rose bush, Savoy Hotel, grew so large I had to move the neighbors fence! The estimated size was actually on the label when I purchased it, so check how big it will get and plan the space accordingly. Rose bushes are programed to grow to a certain size, not necessarily the height you want, so check the labeling carefully.
While doing this check, look up the hardiness of the particular rose. Not all roses grow at minus 20 degrees centigrade in Calgary! Some are very susceptible to certain diseases such as blackspot, and guess what, some rose bushes only bloom once a year!
Check these things out BEFORE you purchase.
Type of rose, color, scent, size at full growth, hardiness and blooming time: make your choices before you plant, not after.
3. Pruning at the wrong time of year:
I have an acquaintance who continues to question why her roses don't bloom: even though, every year she cuts out all the new growth as it tries to bud, because this new growth blocks her view out of her living-room window. Pruning at the correct time will promote growth and increase blossom production.
Climbers should be pruned in the fall and trained to travel where you want them to travel. Fall is the time to train your climbers, not the spring, because all you would be doing is removing the new shoots that produce the new stems and the new blossoms.
Hybrid Teas and minis that have a repeat blooming, get cut back in early spring and just given a short haircut in the fall to prevent wind damage during the winter. This cut back in spring promotes new growth and helps you to re-shape the bush.
Bushes that don't re-bloom such as most Old Growth Roses, get pruned right after the blossoms fade, sometimes after the hips have formed if you like to encourage the hips to grow: perhaps as late as the fall. Pruning at the correct time will produce a healthier bush and a lot more roses!
4. Not knowing exactly what you planted:
You will not have much success with one, two or three above if you haven't dealt with this one, and you would be surprised how many people tell me "...I don't remember the name....and I can't for the life of me find the metal tag....are you sure there was one?"
All roses come with a metal name tag and if they don't, go buy them somewhere that does!
Keep the tag on the bush and make a note of what it says, then in a year or two when you need an answer to a question about something that has gone wrong you can look it up and people like myself can help you.
Not knowing if the bush is a climber or a Polyantha, Rosa Mundi or Queen Elizabeth, makes a lot of difference. Knowing the name means you can check with your National or local society about the likely growing characteristics of your plant: knowing what it should be doing goes a long way to solving most problems.
5. Not tending to the W.F.D:
Of course, I know of several beautiful roses that have spread themselves along twenty feet or more of stone wall, and produced arm-loads of fabulous roses every year while getting no attention whatsoever: even abuse from passing car exhausts. But if you are going to be successful, don't fall into the trap of ignoring the W. F and D!
Water, Food and Dead-heading, all play their part in rose growing 101 and you ignore them at your peril. Mistake number five, ignoring the W. F and D chores.
Water deeply at least twice a week. Put down organic rose fertilizer in early spring and early summer. Liquid fertilize every week or two and keep the rose clean of dead blooms otherwise the bush thinks it's finished for the season and go dormant, produce hips, and get completely confused. Keep the roses coming by removing the old faded ones. Your rose bush wants to make more babies....encourage it to do so!
If you tend to your rose garden and avoid these five major mistakes, the chances are high that your bushes will flourish and your roses will be the envy of your family and friends. Growing roses will have it's reward if you take notice of the five mistakes.
Growing roses just got easier.
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: David LeAche is the author of Rose-Works.com where you can find out all about rose growing, photographing roses, crafts with roses and using petals, hips and rose-water. FREE monthly newsletter and FREE e-book for subscribers. Find out how this website came to be so popular by visiting About Us
Thursday, September 4, 2008
How To Grow Bamboo Plants
People love Asian culture and design. Bamboo in particular is the latest craze. Specifically, everyone wants indoor bamboo plants to decorate their homes these days. They are extremely pleasing to the eye. They make the perfect accent for a room done up in Asian decor. All the same, they are a commitment. Bamboo requires a lot of special care to make sure it is healthy and thriving.
First of all, you need to be careful about the way you plant the bamboo. First you need to prepare the soil. In addition to good dirt, you need to include some other substances. You should mix in some rocks - in fragments of course. Small pebbles are good too. Even clay can help the soil. Adding them to the dirt will keep the soil from getting too saturated and thereby drowning the bamboo. That done, you should actually embed the plant in its pot.
As you can see, watering bamboo is almost a science. You cannot water it too much, even with the rocks, pebbles, and clay in the soil. If you do, naturally it will drown. However, inside, soil tends to be dry. If you are not careful to water the bamboo enough, it will dry up and die. Pay attention to the plant's leaves. They curl if it is too dry and sag if it is too wet.
Bamboo likes the sun. However, too much sun can be damaging. When placing the bamboo in your home, make sure that it is a location where it can get both sunlight and shade.
In addition to being watered, indoor bamboo needs to be fed properly too. Most experts and accomplished gardeners and growers advocate feeding your plants organic chicken manure. However, it should be done in small amounts.
The outside of the plant needs to be taken care of too. Misting water onto the plant is a great way to make sure it stays hydrated. You can use spray bottles to do this. However sometimes it is better to do it steadily. In that case a vaporizer works very well.
Pesticides may be necessary to protect the plant from pests like insects, fungus, and microbes. They will cause spots to appear on the bamboo.
Lastly, you need to take into account when to plant your bamboo plant as well. For instance, you need to provide very dense protection if you plant it during the winter time. That way, the soil will stay loose, even down at the bottom.
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: Add the beauty to your house and bring Lucky Bamboo for your home. Find the latest choices at http://www.bamboo-plant.net/
First of all, you need to be careful about the way you plant the bamboo. First you need to prepare the soil. In addition to good dirt, you need to include some other substances. You should mix in some rocks - in fragments of course. Small pebbles are good too. Even clay can help the soil. Adding them to the dirt will keep the soil from getting too saturated and thereby drowning the bamboo. That done, you should actually embed the plant in its pot.
As you can see, watering bamboo is almost a science. You cannot water it too much, even with the rocks, pebbles, and clay in the soil. If you do, naturally it will drown. However, inside, soil tends to be dry. If you are not careful to water the bamboo enough, it will dry up and die. Pay attention to the plant's leaves. They curl if it is too dry and sag if it is too wet.
Bamboo likes the sun. However, too much sun can be damaging. When placing the bamboo in your home, make sure that it is a location where it can get both sunlight and shade.
In addition to being watered, indoor bamboo needs to be fed properly too. Most experts and accomplished gardeners and growers advocate feeding your plants organic chicken manure. However, it should be done in small amounts.
The outside of the plant needs to be taken care of too. Misting water onto the plant is a great way to make sure it stays hydrated. You can use spray bottles to do this. However sometimes it is better to do it steadily. In that case a vaporizer works very well.
Pesticides may be necessary to protect the plant from pests like insects, fungus, and microbes. They will cause spots to appear on the bamboo.
Lastly, you need to take into account when to plant your bamboo plant as well. For instance, you need to provide very dense protection if you plant it during the winter time. That way, the soil will stay loose, even down at the bottom.
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: Add the beauty to your house and bring Lucky Bamboo for your home. Find the latest choices at http://www.bamboo-plant.net/
Growing Roses--5 Secrets to Growing Show-Quality Blooms
My interest in growing roses is always re-charged when I get to visit my local rose show, and
whenever I attend one of these annual events I like to take another rose enthusiast with me.
Our afternoon at the show always seems to produce the same sort of questions regarding the growing of show quality blooms and the inevitable inquiry--what's the secret?
Fortunately, growing roses with rose-show quality blooms is not as difficult as it might appear.
In fact, with just a few pointers and a little extra time spent in the rose bed, you could easily be the envy of your friends and neighbors, especially if you are cultivating hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras or miniatures.
So, what are the secrets?
1. Pick a winner in the first place.
When you look over the entries at a rose-show it seems like the same roses win on a consistent basis, so why not start by growing these winning names in the first place?
Of course the area you live will dictate the actual winners list but if you contact the nearest rose-society they will give you a list of last years and this years winners.
Make some comparisons and buy the roses that win, obviously they do best in your area and they have the pedigree you need. Find one you like and pick a winner to start with!
Your rose growing efforts should go into a bush with potential.
2. Prune low to produce quality stems.
If you are considering Tea roses these will need to be pruned very low in the spring to promote basal breaks and new canes that can be trained to be straight. The longer the straight cane of the rose the better. Straight, long stems are a must in rose shows and will make your blooms stand out as being something extra special. Prune away side shoots that will produce extra stems and watch for the 'straight and true'.
Pay close attention to pruning when building your list of rose growing activities.
3. Finger prune carefully.
A big secret to getting the bigger show blooms is to carefully finger prune out all but the largest, center bud on each stem. This has to be done very early when the buds first develop. This allows space and nutrients for one bloom, not several. If it is done carefully with a sharp fingernail, early in the spring there will be no sign of removal. No scar will remain on the stem and the center bloom will grow larger.
Growing roses should be a 'hands on affair'!
4.Use liquid organic fertilizer
The quickest way to get nutrients to your roses is with a liquid fertilizer, and the best solutions are mixed with organic ingredients, which are most readily absorbed by the plant.
Liquid fish meal or liquid kelp, for example, should be applied at least every two weeks during the growing season if you want to maintain strong stems and large, healthy blooms.
Roses thrive on a thorough watering on a regular basis and liquid organic fertilizer is a show bloom necessity.
5. Consider umbrellas and fridges!
In order to protect your blooms as they open, you will need to keep them safe from the elements.
Direct hot sun, wind or heavy rain will all have an effect on the color, intensity and shape of your prize rose. Petals are easily damaged and stems are easily broken.
Small umbrellas fixed to garden stakes, movable pots for placement out of the direct sun and paper cups used as --little hats-- are all methods rose show enthusiasts use. Anything to protect their prized possessions.
Which reminds me that if your blooms start to open up early, before you need them to, cut them, put them in water and put them in the fridge at about 65 degrees. Blooms can remain in the fridge,
undamaged, for about four days, and when taken out and their stems re-cut, will look as if they were freshly cut.
I have won many ribbons at various rose shows over the years and the five pointers outlined above have been the backbone of my efforts. You don't have to take your roses to the local rose show but if you follow the five tips above, you will be delighted with the blooms that you can grow.
Growing roses just got a little more exciting
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: David LeAche is the author of Rose-Works.com where you can find out all about rose growing, photographing roses, crafts with roses and using petals, hips and rose-water. FREE monthly newsletter and FREE e-book for subscribers. Find out how this website came to be so popular by visiting About Us
whenever I attend one of these annual events I like to take another rose enthusiast with me.
Our afternoon at the show always seems to produce the same sort of questions regarding the growing of show quality blooms and the inevitable inquiry--what's the secret?
Fortunately, growing roses with rose-show quality blooms is not as difficult as it might appear.
In fact, with just a few pointers and a little extra time spent in the rose bed, you could easily be the envy of your friends and neighbors, especially if you are cultivating hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras or miniatures.
So, what are the secrets?
1. Pick a winner in the first place.
When you look over the entries at a rose-show it seems like the same roses win on a consistent basis, so why not start by growing these winning names in the first place?
Of course the area you live will dictate the actual winners list but if you contact the nearest rose-society they will give you a list of last years and this years winners.
Make some comparisons and buy the roses that win, obviously they do best in your area and they have the pedigree you need. Find one you like and pick a winner to start with!
Your rose growing efforts should go into a bush with potential.
2. Prune low to produce quality stems.
If you are considering Tea roses these will need to be pruned very low in the spring to promote basal breaks and new canes that can be trained to be straight. The longer the straight cane of the rose the better. Straight, long stems are a must in rose shows and will make your blooms stand out as being something extra special. Prune away side shoots that will produce extra stems and watch for the 'straight and true'.
Pay close attention to pruning when building your list of rose growing activities.
3. Finger prune carefully.
A big secret to getting the bigger show blooms is to carefully finger prune out all but the largest, center bud on each stem. This has to be done very early when the buds first develop. This allows space and nutrients for one bloom, not several. If it is done carefully with a sharp fingernail, early in the spring there will be no sign of removal. No scar will remain on the stem and the center bloom will grow larger.
Growing roses should be a 'hands on affair'!
4.Use liquid organic fertilizer
The quickest way to get nutrients to your roses is with a liquid fertilizer, and the best solutions are mixed with organic ingredients, which are most readily absorbed by the plant.
Liquid fish meal or liquid kelp, for example, should be applied at least every two weeks during the growing season if you want to maintain strong stems and large, healthy blooms.
Roses thrive on a thorough watering on a regular basis and liquid organic fertilizer is a show bloom necessity.
5. Consider umbrellas and fridges!
In order to protect your blooms as they open, you will need to keep them safe from the elements.
Direct hot sun, wind or heavy rain will all have an effect on the color, intensity and shape of your prize rose. Petals are easily damaged and stems are easily broken.
Small umbrellas fixed to garden stakes, movable pots for placement out of the direct sun and paper cups used as --little hats-- are all methods rose show enthusiasts use. Anything to protect their prized possessions.
Which reminds me that if your blooms start to open up early, before you need them to, cut them, put them in water and put them in the fridge at about 65 degrees. Blooms can remain in the fridge,
undamaged, for about four days, and when taken out and their stems re-cut, will look as if they were freshly cut.
I have won many ribbons at various rose shows over the years and the five pointers outlined above have been the backbone of my efforts. You don't have to take your roses to the local rose show but if you follow the five tips above, you will be delighted with the blooms that you can grow.
Growing roses just got a little more exciting
Article Source: cut-and-paste-articles.com
About the Author: David LeAche is the author of Rose-Works.com where you can find out all about rose growing, photographing roses, crafts with roses and using petals, hips and rose-water. FREE monthly newsletter and FREE e-book for subscribers. Find out how this website came to be so popular by visiting About Us
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