Garden ideass

Prevent Fungal Soils in Container Gardens Wondering how to prevent moldy soil in your container gardens? Here are some tricks you might want to know. I'll admit, I've wondered for years how to prevent moldy soil in my container gardens. At times it felt like a losing battle, and I'm sad to say that more than a few of my indoor plants suffered the consequences of my ignorance. I still do a double take when I see something fuzzy and white in the soil of my indoor container garden, though these days, it's usually just some fur shed by my dog. But hey, just because some of my plants were killed by moldy soil doesn't mean you have to pass it up. Here's what I've learned about how to prevent moldy soil in a container garden. How to Prevent Fungal Soil: 5 Ways to Keep Your Container Garden Healthy First things first. At the beginning of this post I thought a little. It is not usually a mold that harms a plant. More precisely, conditions that allow mold...

 Grow dianthus for fragrant flowers  Dianthus has beautiful silvery green foliage topped with delicately scented flowers in spring. Add one or more to your garden! Dianthus Care and Growing Tips Looking for fragrant flowers and beautiful foliage? Dianthus may be just what you need in your flower garden. The tight mound of gray foliage is as attractive as the delicious spicy flowers. Dianthus Dianthus hybrids Zones 3 to 9 Full sun Well-draining soil The spicy clove scent of the flowers is what many people refer to as "pinks," but some pinks actually have no scent at all. Give it a sniff before you buy, you won't be disappointed. Note: The "pink" nickname refers to the edges of the flowers, which look like they've been cut with pink scissors, not the color. They are closely related to carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) and share their scent. The flowers grow on tender stalks about 6 inches high above the plant, and are perfect for cutting small va...

 Easy indoor plants Looking for easy indoor plants to add greenery to your home? Then this list is for you! All of these are perfect houseplants for beginners, brown thumbs, or anyone who likes low-maintenance indoor plants. If you want to be a successful indoor gardener, it's best to start with easy houseplants. I wanted to make a list to get you started. So below you'll find some of my favorites, all of which are very low maintenance. The best part is that you can build a nice collection of many wonderful, easy houseplants.  1. Peperomia There are many different types of Peperomia, and all of them are very easy to care for indoor plants. Bent branches spill over the pot, making them ideal for hanging baskets or stacking on shelves. 2. Norfolk Island Pine (Arucaria heterophylla) The best thing about Norfolk pines is that they can grow into large ground specimens and live for many years. Tuck it near a sunny window, keep the soil moist (but be careful not to overw...

Follow these simple steps:  1. Once your orchid has flowered, you will be left with a flower spike from which most of the flowers have dropped. Don't be tempted to cut it right down to the base... 2. Instead, once all the flowers have fallen, cut off the stem to just above a visible joint (node). This should stimulate the production of another flower stem over the next few months. 3. If no shoot appears and the original stem turns straw-coloured, remove it at the base. The plant should eventually produce a new, strong flower spike. 4. If your moth orchid has a transparent pot, look at the roots. Don't water if the roots are green - wait until they look silvery. Allow water to drain out the bottom of the pot - don't allow the plant to stand in water. 5. Orchids like bright but indirect light - too much direct sunlight will scorch the leaves. A spot near and east- or west-facing window is ideal.

Automatic Bottle Vegetable Waterer As gardeners, it's inherently gratifying to watch your vegetables grow and thrive. However, daily watering can be a hindrance, especially during the hot summer months or when life is hectic. That's where a homemade automatic vegetable watering can comes in to help you get consistent, soft water for your garden while you sip lemonade on the porch. Now we're going to show you how to make this dream come true using something as simple as a plastic bottle. 1. Gather your supplies 2. Prepare a plastic bottle 3. Cut the bottom of the bottle 4. Dig a hole in the ground 5. Place the bottle in the hole 6. Fill the bottle

 Tips for Growing Vegetable Plants  Although shade can be a challenge, it doesn't stop you from growing your own fruits and vegetables. In this video, you'll learn some tricks to maximize the light your garden gets for shade-growing fruit and vegetable plants. Tips for Growing Vegetable Plants in the Shade Unless your climate is very hot, you should use sunny parts of the garden to start the seeds, then transplant them if they are large enough to handle the shade. Use indoor grow lights to encourage pre-sown seedlings. Paint walls and fences white, or use mirrors and other reflective surfaces such as shiny metal or foil to reflect available light in shady areas of the garden. Shady areas are often cooler and wetter, so use cold frames or row covers to warm the soil earlier and then extend the growing season. Use beer traps and delay mulching until the weather warms to deter slugs. Space plants are widespread to help increase light penetration. Examples of vegetabl...

Grow Milkweed Growing Tips Every school child learns about milkweed because this plant is an essential food for monarch butterfly caterpillars. There are actually several species of milkweed (Asclepias spp.), all of which are native to North America. They make beautiful, low-maintenance additions to most gardens and landscapes, where they attract a variety of pollinators with their flowers. Milk juice for defense Milkweed plants have developed two attractive defense mechanisms to deter predators. The main source of defense gives the plant its common name - milky white latex. The sticky sap and all parts of the plant contain large amounts of a compound toxic to all vertebrates. Monarch butterfly larvae have the ability to store this deadly compound in their bodies and are also toxic to vertebrates. This is what gives monarchs their characteristic foul taste, which repels predators. A second defense of these plants is the sticky nature of the sap. Milkweed plants keep their ...