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Bonsai can be a fantastic hobby for anyone who has patience and enjoys gardening and art. Many people do not even attempt the art of bonsai because they believe it is too difficult to learn or because it seems complicated, but learning how to grow bonsai, as well as the required trimming and pruning, is not as difficult as most people think.
It takes patience and experience to grow and shape bonsai, and this is not a skill that is learned overnight or in a short length of time. Beginners to bonsai are going to make mistakes, and as long as care is taken you tree will survive for the next shaping or trimming. It is a good idea, however, to have some knowledge of basic gardening or horticulture for optimum bonsai growth and health.
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Growing bonsai is a labor of love and an art form. These trees and plants need water, soil, and sunlight like other plants, but they also need high levels of humidity in addition to regular watering. The soil must have the right mix of nutrients to allow the bonsai to grow and stay healthy, and fertilizer should be used as needed to supplement the soil. Many individuals have learned how to grow bonsai without any professional help, using just common sense and information that is available on the Internet. It is best to do some research on the specific bonsai plant or tree desired, though, as each species has specific requirements for the best growth and condition, and there is no single rule that covers all bonsai because there are so many types of bonsai available today.
There are a lot of reference materials and tips available online on how to grow bonsai, and this information can be extremely helpful if you are new to the wonderful world of bonsai. Growing bonsai can be labor intensive, and it requires patience and experience to become good at it. The rewards are well worth the effort, and these plants and trees add beauty and calm wherever they are located. Bonsai have been fascinating people for hundreds of years, and they continue to do so now more than ever. This graceful art form is considered relaxing and calming, two of the things needed most in today's busy world.
Wednesday, 8 July 2015
Sprouting Plants From Seed
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Growing your own plants from organic seeds can be very rewarding. Organic and GMO free seeds are readily available nowadays. Check your catalogs, like Burpees, Seeds of Change, and The Cook’s Garden, as well as your local stores for availability.
Encouraging your seeds to germinate is not always as easy as you might assume. Here are our top tips for getting your plants going using seeds.
starting from seeds (1)Store Your Seeds Correctly
Many varieties of plant have delicate seeds, and the viability of these seeds will degrade over time if they are not properly stored. Seeds should be kept in fairly cool and dark conditions, where the humidity is low. If you are unsure if your seeds are usable, soak them in water for several hours. Seeds which are left floating should be discarded, but those which sink are still viable.
Use Wide Containers
One of the most common reasons why people encounter problems when starting plants from seeds is overcrowding. Seedlings will struggle to survive if there are too many plants competing for resources. Another consideration is that a wide and shallow container will help to ensure that the soil around the seedlings does not become too moist. This will help prevent rot from setting in around the roots.
Preventing Disease
In addition to ensuring that the container is sufficient in size, there are a number of other measures that can be implemented to prevent fungus and rot from taking hold due to excess moisture. One easy solution is to sprinkle the surface with a thin layer of chicken grit and milled sphagnum. This keeps the area around the emerging seedlings dry. Some people also choose to place a fan near the seedlings, to provide good air circulation.
Cover Trays With Plastic Wrap
Seeds are highly sensitive to changes in their surroundings, but securing plastic wrap over the top of the seed pot can help to provide a constant environment. This is a cheap and easy alternative to using a propagator. However, care must be taken to check for shoots on a daily basis. As soon as there are signs of germination, remove the plastic wrap or the seedlings will quickly die.
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Keep Seeds Warm
Germination can only take place at an ambient temperature of around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the seeds by a south facing window or near a heater to help keep them warm, or use a specially purchased heating pad underneath the pot. If you are using the latter, check the moisture levels in the pot regularly as it may dry out more quickly.
Turn Seedlings Daily
After germination, seeds will start to grow towards the nearest source of sunlight. If the pot is left in one position, the seedlings will grow long, spindly and weak. For stronger and healthier stems, turn the pot each day so that the seedlings do not grow in only one direction.
Acclimatize Your Seedlings
When you are starting plants from seeds, it is essential that you acclimatize seedlings to both sunlight and fluctuations in temperatures before they are permanently moved outdoors. This should be done over a period of three to five days. Increase the amount of time the seedlings spend outdoors gradually, and always bring them in once the evening becomes cooler.
These simple tips will bring you greater success when growing plants from organic seeds. Make sure to store the seeds correctly, fertilize your plants, cover them in the right manner, turn them, and acclimatize the plants. If you do these things, you will hopefully find your garden flourishing.
Growing your own plants from organic seeds can be very rewarding. Organic and GMO free seeds are readily available nowadays. Check your catalogs, like Burpees, Seeds of Change, and The Cook’s Garden, as well as your local stores for availability.
Encouraging your seeds to germinate is not always as easy as you might assume. Here are our top tips for getting your plants going using seeds.
starting from seeds (1)Store Your Seeds Correctly
Many varieties of plant have delicate seeds, and the viability of these seeds will degrade over time if they are not properly stored. Seeds should be kept in fairly cool and dark conditions, where the humidity is low. If you are unsure if your seeds are usable, soak them in water for several hours. Seeds which are left floating should be discarded, but those which sink are still viable.
Use Wide Containers
One of the most common reasons why people encounter problems when starting plants from seeds is overcrowding. Seedlings will struggle to survive if there are too many plants competing for resources. Another consideration is that a wide and shallow container will help to ensure that the soil around the seedlings does not become too moist. This will help prevent rot from setting in around the roots.
Preventing Disease
In addition to ensuring that the container is sufficient in size, there are a number of other measures that can be implemented to prevent fungus and rot from taking hold due to excess moisture. One easy solution is to sprinkle the surface with a thin layer of chicken grit and milled sphagnum. This keeps the area around the emerging seedlings dry. Some people also choose to place a fan near the seedlings, to provide good air circulation.
Cover Trays With Plastic Wrap
Seeds are highly sensitive to changes in their surroundings, but securing plastic wrap over the top of the seed pot can help to provide a constant environment. This is a cheap and easy alternative to using a propagator. However, care must be taken to check for shoots on a daily basis. As soon as there are signs of germination, remove the plastic wrap or the seedlings will quickly die.
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Keep Seeds Warm
Germination can only take place at an ambient temperature of around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the seeds by a south facing window or near a heater to help keep them warm, or use a specially purchased heating pad underneath the pot. If you are using the latter, check the moisture levels in the pot regularly as it may dry out more quickly.
Turn Seedlings Daily
After germination, seeds will start to grow towards the nearest source of sunlight. If the pot is left in one position, the seedlings will grow long, spindly and weak. For stronger and healthier stems, turn the pot each day so that the seedlings do not grow in only one direction.
Acclimatize Your Seedlings
When you are starting plants from seeds, it is essential that you acclimatize seedlings to both sunlight and fluctuations in temperatures before they are permanently moved outdoors. This should be done over a period of three to five days. Increase the amount of time the seedlings spend outdoors gradually, and always bring them in once the evening becomes cooler.
These simple tips will bring you greater success when growing plants from organic seeds. Make sure to store the seeds correctly, fertilize your plants, cover them in the right manner, turn them, and acclimatize the plants. If you do these things, you will hopefully find your garden flourishing.
Organic Garden Soil Mix
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When a person sets out to plant a garden, nurturing it and making sure that it yields crops are the main priorities. This is something that takes time and energy, but technology can help. The people who work in the lawn and garden industry have produced products to help gardeners improve their crops. One way to make sure that the garden is properly prepared is to invest in a high quality, organic garden soil mix. You should find a mix that comes packed with plenty of natural nutrients, which will allow the soil and garden as a whole reap quality benefits.
Most soil mixes are tried and true and the proof of many happy customers speaks for itself. However, many people are not able to afford this kind of mix. They can still do a lot of things in order to make sure that their gardens are healthy and useful. Composting is one of the oldest gardening strategies around. A person may be able to provide composting of their own and mix it with their soil at little or no cost. If you wish to try this technique, it is recommended that you check a gardening book to find out what works best in compost. People that want to use a custom organic soil mix that they make themselves can do so. They should talk to someone at a nursery to see what they might recommend be included in the mix.
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Spreading the enriched soil mix along the rows is a good way to feed the garden. Anyone who takes their gardening seriously should look into a high quality, organic soil mix, either purchased, or home made. It will improve crops of all kinds, and can enrich the soil thoroughly, for amazing results.
When a person sets out to plant a garden, nurturing it and making sure that it yields crops are the main priorities. This is something that takes time and energy, but technology can help. The people who work in the lawn and garden industry have produced products to help gardeners improve their crops. One way to make sure that the garden is properly prepared is to invest in a high quality, organic garden soil mix. You should find a mix that comes packed with plenty of natural nutrients, which will allow the soil and garden as a whole reap quality benefits.
Most soil mixes are tried and true and the proof of many happy customers speaks for itself. However, many people are not able to afford this kind of mix. They can still do a lot of things in order to make sure that their gardens are healthy and useful. Composting is one of the oldest gardening strategies around. A person may be able to provide composting of their own and mix it with their soil at little or no cost. If you wish to try this technique, it is recommended that you check a gardening book to find out what works best in compost. People that want to use a custom organic soil mix that they make themselves can do so. They should talk to someone at a nursery to see what they might recommend be included in the mix.
[ad_right]
Spreading the enriched soil mix along the rows is a good way to feed the garden. Anyone who takes their gardening seriously should look into a high quality, organic soil mix, either purchased, or home made. It will improve crops of all kinds, and can enrich the soil thoroughly, for amazing results.
Tuesday, 7 July 2015
Fertilize The Garden Naturally
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If you want your garden to produce a lush bounty of fruits and vegetables, or you just want to make sure that you get the most flowers possible, you need to fertilize your garden. However, many artificial fertilizers are made from dangerous chemicals that can pose a threat to you and your family. By using a natural fertilizer, you can give your plants the nutrients that they need without having to rely on these artificial chemicals.
There are many organic, healthy fertilizers that are easy to obtain. You may produce some of them in your own home, or you can obtain some without too much difficulty. Give some of these a try to see if they give you the results that you want from your garden.
Much of the kitchen waste that you produce in your home can be reused as fertilizer. For example, banana peels are a great source of potassium for your soil. Roses, for example, thrive in soils that are high in potassium, so using banana peels as fertilizer is a good way to get bigger, showier blossoms.
If you are growing plants that thrive in acidic soils, such as tomatoes, blueberries, or roses, try using coffee grounds as a fertilizer. Save your coffee grounds until you have five or six cups, and then soak them in five gallons of water for several days. Pour this mixture on the soil near these plants to help acidify it.
Calcium carbonate is an excellent substance to add to your soil, but you do not have to spend money on lime. Instead, use crushed eggshells from your kitchen. Wash off the shells and crush them, then mix them into the soil. You can also use eggshells in your pots to build up the potting soil.
When you weed your garden, do not just throw the weeds away. Instead, use them as a natural source of fertilizer for your garden. Weeds such as chickweed, nettles, and burdock are excellent fertilizers. Sun-dry them and chop them up, then use them as a mulch for your garden.
You can also place a large crop of weeds in a bucket and add water. Let this sit for several weeks to let the weeds break down. Stir it on a weekly basis, and then dilute it with water and use it is as fertilizer for your garden. This helps to add a lot of nitrogen back into your soil.
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Grass clippings are another excellent natural fertilizer that is easy to obtain. They are also rich in nitrogen. You can just let the grass clippings sit on your lawn after you mow it to enrich the soil, or you can collect them and use them in your garden. As with weeds, you can soak the grass clippings in water for several weeks and then dilute it to use as fertilizer.
To keep your garden healthy, you do not have to buy expensive, artificial fertilizers. Try these fertilizers to make sure that your plants get all the nutrition that they need. If you wish to purchase organic fertilizer, it is readily available in many stores.
If you want your garden to produce a lush bounty of fruits and vegetables, or you just want to make sure that you get the most flowers possible, you need to fertilize your garden. However, many artificial fertilizers are made from dangerous chemicals that can pose a threat to you and your family. By using a natural fertilizer, you can give your plants the nutrients that they need without having to rely on these artificial chemicals.
There are many organic, healthy fertilizers that are easy to obtain. You may produce some of them in your own home, or you can obtain some without too much difficulty. Give some of these a try to see if they give you the results that you want from your garden.
Much of the kitchen waste that you produce in your home can be reused as fertilizer. For example, banana peels are a great source of potassium for your soil. Roses, for example, thrive in soils that are high in potassium, so using banana peels as fertilizer is a good way to get bigger, showier blossoms.
If you are growing plants that thrive in acidic soils, such as tomatoes, blueberries, or roses, try using coffee grounds as a fertilizer. Save your coffee grounds until you have five or six cups, and then soak them in five gallons of water for several days. Pour this mixture on the soil near these plants to help acidify it.
Calcium carbonate is an excellent substance to add to your soil, but you do not have to spend money on lime. Instead, use crushed eggshells from your kitchen. Wash off the shells and crush them, then mix them into the soil. You can also use eggshells in your pots to build up the potting soil.
When you weed your garden, do not just throw the weeds away. Instead, use them as a natural source of fertilizer for your garden. Weeds such as chickweed, nettles, and burdock are excellent fertilizers. Sun-dry them and chop them up, then use them as a mulch for your garden.
You can also place a large crop of weeds in a bucket and add water. Let this sit for several weeks to let the weeds break down. Stir it on a weekly basis, and then dilute it with water and use it is as fertilizer for your garden. This helps to add a lot of nitrogen back into your soil.
[ad_right]
Grass clippings are another excellent natural fertilizer that is easy to obtain. They are also rich in nitrogen. You can just let the grass clippings sit on your lawn after you mow it to enrich the soil, or you can collect them and use them in your garden. As with weeds, you can soak the grass clippings in water for several weeks and then dilute it to use as fertilizer.
To keep your garden healthy, you do not have to buy expensive, artificial fertilizers. Try these fertilizers to make sure that your plants get all the nutrition that they need. If you wish to purchase organic fertilizer, it is readily available in many stores.
Composting Containers
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For Vermi composting at home, you have a wide choice of materials, each with its advantages and disadvantages. They may be made of old plastic containers, wood, polystyrene, or metal containers. The design of a small bin usually depends on size, where the bin will reside (indoors or outdoors), and how the earthworms are to be fed. In addition there are a number of commercially available worm bins, most made from a plastic product.
Some materials are less desirable than others in worm bin construction. Some wood products like cedar and redwood, while rot resistant, contain resinous oils that may harm earthworms. Other wood products are inexpensive, but will absorb moisture and odors, but will eventually decay and need to be replaced.
Metal containers often conduct heat too readily, are prone to rusting, and may release heavy metals into the Vermi compost. Worm compost bins made from recycled or semi-recycled plastic are ideal, but require more drainage than wooden ones because they are non-absorbent. This is why most commercial worm bins are plastic.
Composting Containers for Earthworms
For Vermi composting at home, you have a wide choice of materials, each with its advantages and disadvantages. They may be made of old plastic containers, wood, polystyrene, or metal containers. The design of a small bin usually depends on size, where the bin will reside (indoors or outdoors), and how the earthworms are to be fed. In addition there are a number of commercially available worm bins, most made from a plastic product.
Composting Containers
Some materials are less desirable than others in worm bin construction. Some wood products like cedar and redwood, while rot resistant, contain resinous oils that may harm earthworms. Other wood products are inexpensive, but will absorb moisture and odors, but will eventually decay and need to be replaced.
Metal containers often conduct heat too readily, are prone to rusting, and may release heavy metals into the Vermi compost. Worm compost bins made from recycled or semi-recycled plastic are ideal, but require more drainage than wooden ones because they are non-absorbent. This is why most commercial worm bins are plastic.
Feeding your Earthworms
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The beauty of worm composting is that it is an easy to dispose of a variety of food wastes, which in turn provide you with a valuable and healthy fertilizer and soil conditioner. Earthworms will consume almost everything you feed them as long as you feed it to them at a rate they can easily consume. The word, almost, is important because while they can eat much they can't consume absolute everything. Some food wastes are too harsh for them or cannot be digested at all.
What Earthworms Love: The list is long and really does include nearly everything. Here are the general rules:
• Almost all fruits and vegetables (with the exceptions)
• Vegetable and fruit peels and ends (cut into thumb-sized pieces for faster composting)
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Tea bags (even those with high tannin levels)
• Grains such as bread, cracker and cereal (including moldy and stale items)
• Eggshells (rinsed and crushed)Non-Greasy Leftovers
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• Leaves, dead plants, and trimmings from the garden (shredded or chopped)
• Grass clippings (dry)
• Newspapers and Brown Bags (shredded)
• Straw (chopped or shredded)Compost (dry)
What Earthworms Don't Love: There are just a few things to avoid feeding your worms: All citrus fruits:
These are often too acidic for the soft bodies of earthworms.
• Meat scraps: They will usually putrefy before they can be consumed by the worms.
They also attract vermin such as flies, maggots, rats, mice, skunks, and raccoons.
• Dairy products: Like meat dairy products will spoil well before the worms can eat them. These are sure to bring in lots of unwanted visitors.
• Sticks or woody materials. (Worms don't have teeth and these are too tough for soft-bodied creatures to digest.)
The beauty of worm composting is that it is an easy to dispose of a variety of food wastes, which in turn provide you with a valuable and healthy fertilizer and soil conditioner. Earthworms will consume almost everything you feed them as long as you feed it to them at a rate they can easily consume. The word, almost, is important because while they can eat much they can't consume absolute everything. Some food wastes are too harsh for them or cannot be digested at all.
What Earthworms Love: The list is long and really does include nearly everything. Here are the general rules:
Green Material
• Almost all fruits and vegetables (with the exceptions)
• Vegetable and fruit peels and ends (cut into thumb-sized pieces for faster composting)
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Tea bags (even those with high tannin levels)
• Grains such as bread, cracker and cereal (including moldy and stale items)
• Eggshells (rinsed and crushed)Non-Greasy Leftovers
Brown Material
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• Leaves, dead plants, and trimmings from the garden (shredded or chopped)
• Grass clippings (dry)
• Newspapers and Brown Bags (shredded)
• Straw (chopped or shredded)Compost (dry)
What Earthworms Don't Love: There are just a few things to avoid feeding your worms: All citrus fruits:
These are often too acidic for the soft bodies of earthworms.
• Meat scraps: They will usually putrefy before they can be consumed by the worms.
They also attract vermin such as flies, maggots, rats, mice, skunks, and raccoons.
• Dairy products: Like meat dairy products will spoil well before the worms can eat them. These are sure to bring in lots of unwanted visitors.
• Sticks or woody materials. (Worms don't have teeth and these are too tough for soft-bodied creatures to digest.)
Types of Earthworms
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The best earthworms to use are Red Wigglers, also called brandling worms (Eisenia Foetida or Eisenia Andrei), or European Nightcrawlers (Eisenia Hortensis). The three species are completely compatible with each other and can coexist nicely in the same worm bin.
These earthworms are commonly found in organic-rich soils throughout Europe and parts of North America and live in rotting vegetation and manures. As they are shallow-dwelling and feed on decomposing plant matter in the soil, they adapt easily to living on food or plant waste in the confines of a worm bin. They will eat up to three times their body weight in food scraps per day.
Do not attempt to use Canadian Nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris) or the common fieldworm (Allolobophora caliginosa), the types found throughout North America, because they are essentially vagabonds by nature and do better in open spaces with lower density populations.
Climate & Temperature for Earthworms
The most common types of earthworms used in Vermi composting feed most rapidly at temperatures of 59-77°F. They can survive down to around 50°F, but temperatures above 86°F may harm them. This means that indoor with redworms is suitable in all but tropical climates. If a worm bin is kept outside, it should be placed in a sheltered position away from direct sunlight and insulated against frost in winter.
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It is a good idea to monitor the temperatures of worm bins, especially in large-scale bin systems, which can have high heat retention qualities, causing the decaying worm food to compost instead, further heating up the bins and killing the earthworms.
The best earthworms to use are Red Wigglers, also called brandling worms (Eisenia Foetida or Eisenia Andrei), or European Nightcrawlers (Eisenia Hortensis). The three species are completely compatible with each other and can coexist nicely in the same worm bin.
These earthworms are commonly found in organic-rich soils throughout Europe and parts of North America and live in rotting vegetation and manures. As they are shallow-dwelling and feed on decomposing plant matter in the soil, they adapt easily to living on food or plant waste in the confines of a worm bin. They will eat up to three times their body weight in food scraps per day.
Do not attempt to use Canadian Nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris) or the common fieldworm (Allolobophora caliginosa), the types found throughout North America, because they are essentially vagabonds by nature and do better in open spaces with lower density populations.
Climate & Temperature for Earthworms
The most common types of earthworms used in Vermi composting feed most rapidly at temperatures of 59-77°F. They can survive down to around 50°F, but temperatures above 86°F may harm them. This means that indoor with redworms is suitable in all but tropical climates. If a worm bin is kept outside, it should be placed in a sheltered position away from direct sunlight and insulated against frost in winter.
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It is a good idea to monitor the temperatures of worm bins, especially in large-scale bin systems, which can have high heat retention qualities, causing the decaying worm food to compost instead, further heating up the bins and killing the earthworms.
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