Flora - Thou Art Nature!

Phase 2 : Naturalizing Bulbs

2007-06-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

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What you need:

Bulbs
Bulb planter or trowel
Bone meal

Bulbs that naturalize multiply and spread each year. Not all bulbs will naturalize, and not all bulbs that will naturalize will do so in every climate. Your local garden center's bulb expert can help you choose bulbs that will naturalize in your locale. Typically, daffodils, crocus, and snowdrops will naturalize with ease. Tulips will not.

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A key to naturalizing bulbs is leaving the plant alone until it withers and yellows on its own. For this reason, choose a spot that can be left undisturbed until the foliage has died back. Informal perennial beds, meadows and under tree canopies are all good choices.

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Spring blooming bulbs should be planted in fall. Take a handful of bulbs and cast them over the area you wish to plant. By spreading the bulbs in a random pattern, the planting will look much more natural.

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Plant the bulbs with a bulb planter or trowel, three times as deep as they are tall, with the growing point facing up. Give the bulbs a little boost; bone meal can be added to each hole before planting. By the next spring you will have a beautiful, natural looking bed of flowering bulbs that will improve with each passing year.

Outdoor gardening : Phase 1

2007-06-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

Bulb Planting In Layers

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What you need:
Bulbs
Shovel
Bone meal

Different sized bulbs require different planting depths. By planting bulbs in layers, you can plant several different types of bulbs together. Dig a hole that is around three times deeper than the height of your largest bulb.

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Add a little bone meal to the bottom of the hole. Arrange your largest bulbs in the hole in random fashion, being sure to space the bulbs properly. A good rule of thumb is to allow for a space of two to three times the width of the bulb in between each bulb.

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Next, carefully cover the first layer of bulbs with soil. Add enough soil to provide the proper planting depth for the next layer of bulbs.

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Add a little more bone meal to the soil, and arrange the next layer of bulbs in the hole. Try not to place them directly on top of the previous bulbs.

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Add more soil to the hole, covering the last layer of bulbs.

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Place the final layer of bulbs in the hole, a little more bone meal, and fill in the rest of the soil.

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If you're planting in well-drained soil, a depth of 3 - 4 times the height of the bulb is recommended. If you're planting in heavy, poorly draining soil, a depth of 3 times the bulb is recommended.

Ah, Its a long time coming

2007-06-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I couldn't update the blog for more than 7 months now. Been a helluva time studying for the examinations. But hey, its holidays now and I'll try to update regularly. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for my bun-gee-pup-ee on the right and give a click on it.

Tips and Tricks - Indoor Gardening

2006-11-24T00:02:00.001-08:00

Tips & Tricks

There are many tips and tricks that you should follow when bringing plants into your home, some are common, like knowing how much to water the plant, to how much light it should get. Below you will find a list of some suggestions about caring for your indoor garden.

Lighting for the plant. Now this is the first thing that you should consider when starting your inside garden, how much light does the plant need? This is important because most houses wouldn't have enough light to handle a plant that needs a lot of light. So, the lighting in your house becomes essential even before you start your inside garden or bringing any plant into your house, because the amount of light in your house will determine what types of plants would grow there. So make sure to consider this before bringing any plant into your house. You should select plants that require medium to low light, unless you plan on supplying the plant with artificial lighting. Some plants that are medium to low light would be a Boston fern, Philodendrons, etc. Here are a few other tips regarding lighting in the house:
- During the summer months put the plants outside, this will usually boost up the plant and give it a new spurt of energy
- Because a plant will turn to the light, you should rotate the plant, this will promote an upright growth.
- There are a few ways you can tell if your plant is getting enough light or not. If it isn't getting enough light, it usually will have small leaves, thin stems, and the color of the plant will be lighter than usual.
- Artificial lighting, with a fluorescent lamp, etc, can be used to supplement a house with limited natural lighting.
- Condition your plants when you buy them. You have to do this because the place where you buy the plant will usually have more lighting than your home and the plant can go into a shock of sorts and lose it's foliage. Now to condition your plant, make sure you give it the maximum amount of light your house has, and then gradually reduce the amount of light to be equal to the spot where you want the plant to end up.
Watering Plants:

Not every plant has the same needs when it comes to watering, but there are some basic rules you should follow:
- Wet the soil thoroughly, and the water should be able to drain out of the bottom of the pot. How much you water, and how often purely depends on the type of plant that you are dealing with, so read the seeds or ask the person selling you the plant, how much water does this plant require.
- Now, don't over water, that's probably what kills most plants. If you have too wet of a soil constantly it will lead to problems with the roots. You'll notice that the leaves will become yellow, that's because there is not enough oxygen in the soil because it is too wet.
- When watering the plants, try to use water that is the same temperature as the room. This will insure that the plant doesn't have any shock from too cold or hot water.
Temperature:

As with watering, different plants will thrive under different conditions, one of which is the temperature. As a general rule temperatures between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit, during the day and 10-15 degrees cooler at night. Now this will not cover all plants, but this is the range for most of the house plants. Here are a few more tips to follow:
- The temperature can go up or down by 10 degrees from the ranges above, it will not kill the plant.
- Rapid changes in temperature, either colder or hotter, can cause damage to your plant.
- If a plant is grown at a hotter temperature than is needed, it will be small, weak. If it is grown in a too cool temperature the leaves will have a yellowish look and will fall off.
Pots and Containers:

Make sure that you have a pot that can adequately allow the water to drain out of it. Also, before putting a plant in a pot you have used for another plant, make sure you clean it out. Just incase some disease that may effect the next plant.
Humidity:

The level of moisture in the air can also effect how a plant grows. Low humidity, in most plants, not all, will cause dry leaves and curling. Increase the humidity of the room with a humidifier, especially during winter when the heat is on and the humidity drops. You could also spray the leaves with water, but do it in the morning, if done overnight the leaves can rot.
Fertilizing:

Once again, this is one of those tips that is based purely on the type of plant that you have, different plants need different levels. Other factors include, how fast do you want the plant to grow, how much sunlight there is, how many times you water it, etc. As a general rule, for plants that are growing very quickly, you should fertilize every 2 to 3 months, but for dormant plants, you shouldn't fertilize at all. Since these are indoor plants, that receive less sun than normal, you really don't have to fertilize them too often. If you see burned or dried leaves, you can have a pretty good guess that the plant has been over fertilized.

Follow these tips, I am sure you will get good results! Trust me, choose a good plant and get going!

Sedum - Overview, Description and Design Tips

2006-11-16T03:48:00.000-08:00

Overview:

Showy Sedum, the taller plants in the genus Sedum, are often taken for granted in the garden, partly because they don’t bloom until the fall, but also because they require so little care from the gardener. Their thick, succulent leaves are able to withstand drought and rainy weather. The flower buds form early and remain attractive well in winter. If the deer didn’t eat them, Sedum would be a perfect plant.

Latin Name: Sedum
Common Name(s): Showy Stonecrop, Border Stonecrop
Zone: Varies with variety from Zone 3 - 10
Size: 6 - 24" H, 12 - 24" W
Exposure: Full Sun / Partial Shade
Bloom Period: Late Summer / Fall

Description:

Border Stonecrop are a small section of the hundreds of species of Sedum. These taller growing Sedum have thick stems, fleshy leaves and tight flower heads that start out looking similar to heads of broccoli. Most are study enough to stand upright on their own, with a few varieties showing a trailing quality suitable for containers. Flowers tend to be in shades of pink and mauve, that start out pale and deepen as they mature. Flower heads are attractive from bud through their dried stage.

Design Tips:

Sedum look especially good in a small mass planting that takes center stage in autumn. Because they look good all season, Sedum are suitable for edging, specimen plants and containers. Smaller varieties are good choices for rock gardens and wall. Sedum make great cut flowers and are popular with butterflies.

Suggested Varieties:

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ - Still a favorites because it is such a wonderful, beautiful performer.
S. spectabile ‘Brilliant’ - A clearer pink than most Sedum flowers.
S. ‘Vera Jamison’ - Burgandy leaves and mauve flowers with a trailing habit.
S.’Black Jack’ - Deep burgandy, almost black foliage and strong upright habit.
S.'Cloud Nine' - Variegated Foliage

What 1 Perennial Would You Recommend to New Gardeners?

2006-11-16T03:43:00.000-08:00

What 1 Perennial Would You Recommend to New Gardeners?

We’ve all seen the look in a new gardener’s eye when they ask you for advise on what to grow. There’s such a mix of wild hopes and intimidation. There are a handful of plants I consider garden staples. But if I had to pick just one, I think it would be Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. It’s so easy going and, as you can see, it looks good all the time. Yes, I’m aware the deer like it too. But I’m willing to make the effort to spray. I think it’s worth it.

What about you? I’d like to compile a Top Picks of your recommendations for the novice gardener. Put in your 2 cents in the ‘Comment’ link, below and if you would, mention what area or zone you're gardening in. I know, I know. It’s hard to pick just one. But let’s see what we can come up with.

Next topic, Information about Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Palms

2006-11-05T00:55:00.001-08:00

Palms

Family

Arecaceae/ Palmae

Types of Palms

	Fiji fan		Ruffled Fan
	Majesty		Sago
	Red Sealing Wax

Palms are evergreens, mostly tropical, with wood like stems belonging to the Palmae family. There are about 2800 species and 300 genera of palms. They have an exotic appeal which makes them a perennial favourite. Most palms are like trees with single trunks. In palms, the leaves will develop from a single bud atop each stem, unfolding like an accordion or a fan. Leaf bases encircle the stem, at least early in their development. The stems of mature palms are tough and woody.

The palm leaf consists of a petiole (leaf stem) and blade (the main body of the leaf). Based on their leaf structures, palms are classified into two basic categories; i.e, fan shaped (palmate) or feather shaped (pinnate) compound leaves. Each type have its own kind of structure. In most pinnate palms, the blade is divided into leaflets and they attach to the rachis, an extension of the petiole through the blade.

Most palms grow as single-stem trees, but some develop multiple stems from a single root system. The thickness of the stem ranges from a pencil to more than a meter!

Vegetables

2006-11-05T00:54:00.001-08:00

Vegetables

Growing your own fresh vegetables can be the most rewarding type of gardening. The satisfaction you feel when you cook your home grown vegetables is immense adding to the health factor that one is sure that they are chemical free.

Types of Vegetables

	Angled Loofah		Bitter Gourd
	Beetroot		Egg Plant
	Yard Long Beans		Tomatoes

Pumpkin

Potato

Okra

When you think of a vegetable garden, you may feel that you need to have a big yard for growing them. Even though a big yard has its advantages, some of the vegetables can be grown entirely in pots or in raised compact beds on terraces or planter boxes to get maximum yield from the smallest amount of space.

Most garden vegetables do best on fertile, well-drained soil that are slightly acid to neutral (6.0 to 7.0) and provided with proper nutrients. The fertility of the soil should be maintained by proper cultivation, use of organic matter and control of pests. Organic matter helps release nitrogen, minerals and other nutrients for plant use when it decays. Any plant material can be composted for use in the garden and the composting material should be kept moist and supplied with fertilizers.

Most plants do well in direct sunlight. Leafy vegetables can be grown in partial shade but vegetables producing fruit must be grown in direct sunlight. Plants should be grouped and planted according to its size, time of maturity etc. so that one group don't hinder the growth of the other. Tall growing plants should be planted where they will not shade or interfere with the growth of smaller ones. Early-maturing crops may be grouped so that as soon as one rop is removed, another can be planted. But it is not always necessary to wait until the early crop is entirely removed; a later one may be planted between the rows of the early crop. Here are some vegetables you can easily grow in your garden.

Herbs & Spices

2006-11-05T00:52:00.001-08:00

Herbs & Spices

Herbs have a fine flavour and are beautiful to look at. They are small plants mostly perennials usually with a soft stem. This relatively easily grown plant adds beauty to your garden.

Types of Herbs & Spices

	Basil		Cardamom
	Clove		Coriander
	Garlic		Ginger
	Mustard		Pepper

Herbs or their leaves are used as medicines, for seasoning dishes, as fragrance in perfumes, candles, dried floral arrangements, sachets etc and their dried seeds are used as spices. Some of the common herbs are mint, fennel, coriander, basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary etc.

Herbs can be annuals growing only for a season such as basil, dill etc or perennial, those which come back year after year for eg. thyme. Most of them require little care and are nearly pest free. They can be grown in the garden along with flowers or as borders, along paths or in containers out doors or indoors. They require well draining moderately rich soil, ample air and sunlight, except a few which prefer shade. There is no need to fertilize herbs too often. Too much fertilizers or organic matter can lead the plant to become large and leggy and loose its actual flavour. If herbs are planted for their flavour or for seasoning with their leaves, pick the tender leaves before they bloom for best results.

While herbs are plants actually grown fresh or purchased in dried form, Spices come from the stems, bark, seeds, roots or fruit of various aromatic plants. They include the tropical aromatics, such as pepper, cinnamon and cloves and the spice seeds, sesame, poppy and mustard. Spices are mainly used for flavouring and they also have certain medicinal properties and are used in pharmaceutical, perfumery, cosmetics and several other industries.

Creepers, Climbers and Bulbs

2006-11-05T00:49:00.002-08:00

Creepers and Climbers

Creepers : These plants can be grown along the top of the compound wall or as a cover for walls, or at the entrance as an arch. There are varieties of creepers available like, Bignonia venusta, allamanda, passiflora (fashion flower), Jacquemontia. Even Bougainvilleas can be a good creeper.

Climbers : These are the plants with soft stems that grow only with a support. They rely on something else for support; another plant, a wall or trellis. Different types of climbers have devised many crafty ways to hold on to whatever they grasp. Examples are Clerodendrum thomsoniae (Bleeding Heart), Cissus rhombifolia (Grape Ivy), Jasminum multipartitum (Starry Wild Jasmine), Clematis montana (Clematis) etc.

Creepers and climbers can be planted in a mixture of garden earth and manure 2:1, filled to 1 inch depth.

Bulbs

A bulb is a specific stem structure which is planted beneath the soil and stays underground. Roots grow down from it, and stem and leaves grow up from it. Most bulb plants have a dormant (resting) period during which there is no growth visible. Bulb plants grow, flower, then the leaves remain for sometime and disappear completely until next year. They are easy to grow and guaranteed to bloom. Examples are Daffodils, Tulips, Bluebells etc. Bulb plants can be Real bulbs: Formulated in layers, with an outer scale (onion, tulip, lily). Corms: Appears like a bulb on the exterior, different structure inside (crocus, gladiolus). Tubers and Tuberous Roots: Bulb stems or roots with food stores which looks like a potato (Potato, Dahlia, Tuberous begonia).

There are Summer-Flowering Bulbs (Tuberous begonia, calla, Canna lily, Dahlia, gladiolus and lily) which are dormant in winter and Spring-Flowering Bulbs (Crocus, snowdrop, hyacinth, Daffodil, Tulip, Iris, allium etc) which when planted in fall remain dormant in the summer.

Shrubs, Flowering Shrubs and Ornamental Shrubs

2006-11-05T00:49:00.001-08:00

Shrubs

Shrubs are woody plants smaller than trees, having a short stem with branches near the ground. Shrubs can be Flowering and Ornamental.

Flowering shrubs are those that flower almost through out the year and will have bushy shape and size. For example, Ixora, Mosanda, Pentas, Hibiscus, Lantana etc. Flowering shrubs provide a long-lived, low-fuss, eye-fetching framework in any garden design. And their rich array of form, foliage, fruit, and flowers can yield year-round rewards.

Ornamental shrubs : Ornamentals are those which will not flower but are best for their evergreen foliage, shapes and ornamental look. These can be trimmed or trained into various shapes and sizes. For example, Juniperus, Tuja compacta, Eranthemum, Aralia, Acalypha Hispida, Crotons etc.

Perennials

2006-11-05T00:46:00.000-08:00

Perennials

The Latin 'perennis' means ‘many years'. Perennials are those flowering plants that last longer and keep on flowering. Most take two years until they are old enough to bloom. Examples are Bleeding Heart, Water Lily, Gerberas, Geraniums, Anthuriums etc. Once you plant them there is no need for replanting year after year. But they are not a good option, if you want to change the layout of the garden frequently. Most perennials grow best in slightly acidic soils (pH 6.5 to 7.0) and prefer six to eight hours of sun per day. Watering should be deep, infrequent and applied directly to the soil. This type of watering will promote deep rooting and will help reduce leaf diseases.

THE WATER LILY

Biennials

2006-11-05T00:45:00.000-08:00

Biennials

A plant that takes two years to grow from seed to fruition, bloom and die or a plant that lasts two years is a biennial, based on Latin 'biennis' meaning ‘two years’. These are also seasonal flowering plants that flower only in the second year of planting. After blooming, they don’t perform well the following year or become untidy and then dies. To have blooms year after year with biennial flowers, you have to plant seeds every year. Examples of biennials are Foxglove, Echium wildpretti etc. Some plants grown as biennials are, botanically speaking, short-lived perennials.

Annuals

2006-11-05T00:42:00.000-08:00

ANNUALS:

Annuals are plants that live for a year or less based on Latin 'annus', meaning ‘year’. Annuals are also known as seasonal flowering plants which flower only for three to four months. They are normally grown through seeds. They grow, flower, make more seeds and die, within a year. Annuals are great for creating instant effect and adding color to your garden. Planting annuals also gives you the option of changing the layout of your garden after a year. Most annuals are tender and some of them like phlox look beautiful and are excellent as borders and hedges.

Examples of Annuals are Asters, Dianthus, Bachelor button, Phlox, Balsam, Basil, Cosmos, Petunias, Marigold, Salvias etc.

Types of Plants

2006-11-05T00:41:00.000-08:00

Plants are charecterised into different types based on their shape, size, period of life, their growth pattern etc.

Get an idea of a few types of plants among the multitude of plant species found on earth

1. Annuals
2. Biennials
3. Perinnials
4. Shrubs
5. Flowering Shrubs
6. Creepers and Climbers

Gardening - A Divine Hobby

2006-11-05T00:32:00.000-08:00

In this busy world having a beautiful garden of our own whether in a large or a small area brings us peace of mind and happiness. Gardening is an art which needs skill and an aesthetic sense of creativity. Although anybody can make a garden it requires a deep interest and prolonged involvement.

Careful planning is essential for developing and maintaining a beautiful garden. First you have to decide on the types of plants you want to grow or the ones best suited for your garden taking into consideration the type of soil, sunlight, water, and climate of your area. We also need to have an idea of different types of plants, their growth and maintenance.

The Following posts will be filled with immense Gardening tips, information, skills etc.