Plant Gardens 101

Foggers (or misters, they are called both) create mysterious, “dry ice” effects without the need of ice. These little machines use a simple technique of high frequency, ultrasonic vibration to create ultra-fine droplets of mist without heat, cold or chemicals. Sometimes these are sold as a single unit, while other times they are sold on floats of up to 9 units working together. The single units are the right size for small fountains but usually are too small for a pond. Ultrasonic misters create a low level fog that fills in the area surrounding it. That is why the glass bowls in which one often sees them fill so well (they are made to be just the right size). For ponds you will usually need a 3-piece to 9-piece mister to create much of an effect. Also, since misters require a certain depth of water in order to operate effectively, it is a good idea, when locating one in a pond, to make sure you get a float with it. The mister is made to fit to just the right depth in the float so that fog is produced at optimum levels. When this is the case, they can produce up to about 2700 ml (nearly 5 1/2 pints) of mist per hour. Some include LED lights, some do not. Also, recently some have included automatic shutoff switches. There automatically shutoff the mister if the water gets too low. (more…)

Increased vigor or other superior qualities arising from the crossbreeding of genetically different plants or animals

One of the finlike structures on the underside of the cap of a mushroom.

A small flower, especially one in a cluster or an inflorescence, as in the grass and daisy families (respectively, Gramineae and Compositae).

The determining factor for a good grow light is one that provides the correct amount and type of light for the plant being grown as well as its during different stages of development. Plants of course use light as an energy source, which it converts into chemical energy by means of photosynthesis. In an indoor garden this requirement is met through grow lights. The amount that a plant grows and provides is directly dependent on the amount of light available to it.

Because light is so important to plant health (upon which everything else depends!), the purchase of grow lights requires a bit of thought and consideration. Fluorescent grow lights are very efficient and cool compared with incandescent bulbs, which are not a particularly good choice because of the heat generated. Fluorescent lights provide full spectrum light, which many indoor gardeners think to be a good thing. However, the fact is that plants do not use the full spectrum at all times. (more…)

Not too many people realize it, but composting is one of the best ways to return your resources back into the earth. In a way, composting is our way of saying thank you to Mother Earth for providing us with the resources needed to feed ourselves and our families. Simply put, composting is a lot like recycling, except you don’t take your reusable goods to a recycling center, but rather you put it in a compost bin or tumbler and back into your garden.

Let’s start with a common scenario for households of two or more. In the beginning, there was food, and it was good. Fruits and vegetables were abundant, but so were the leftovers and food scraps. Instead of tossing all the food scraps into the trash where it would take up unneeded space in landfills, why not recycle it all back into the earth? Food scraps are easy enough to compost because there’s always such an abundance of it lying around, so what have you got to lose other than the scraps themselves? (more…)

The botanical name for pinks and carnations.
Pink family
Caryophyllaceae

Dy-an’thus. About 300 species of mostly Eurasian herbs, some important as garden plants.

If you use your greenhouse mainly for growing plants and vegetables you may want to add a little color to your surroundings. Whether you spend hours every day in your greenhouse or just a few hours a week, hanging baskets are a wonderful greenhouse accessory to help brighten up your greenhouse environment.

Hanging baskets serve as a way to admire and appreciate the beauty of flowers and celebrate your gardening efforts. Once your seedlings have outgrown their 4? pots, you can bring them together to make a colorful arrangements from floor to ceiling.

How do you go about getting started with hanging baskets? First you will have to decide where your hanging basket will be displayed and what you will plant. One thing to keep in mind when you are making your hanging basket planting choices is that each basket should all have the same needs when it comes to sun, water, nutrient and shade. Taking the time and effort required to do this will give you the best hanging baskets that will be filled with gorgeous groupings of plants and flowers. (more…)

The botanical name for mariposa lily and star tulip.

Dug out of the ground with a ball of soil around the roots, which is wrapped in burlap and tied for transport.

Early autumn is the best season for successful composting piles. To start, here are some points on how to build a compost pile:

* lay sheets of plastic on the ground.

* place a 6-inch layer of leaves or grass clippings on the plastic.

* shovel a 1-inch layer of beneficial garden loam over the leaves.

* exchange on a regular basis some loam and leaves.

* the pile needs to be at least 3 feet by 3-feet and 4 feet tall. (more…)

An association of rose producers and introducers that since 1938 has evaluated new rose hybrids to find the best for American gardeners. Winners are selected on completion of a two-year testing process, known as the AARS Trials, in 22 official test gardens throughout the United States.

Ahh, Summer in the your own flower garden. Butterflies, the sweet smell of ornamental herbs and blooming plants. There is something about a flower that seems to spark something inside of everyone. It could be that the flower is the ultimate reminder of spring and summer. The scent of freshly bloomed roses, the feel of the downy petal of a lily or the sweet sight of a bright daisy brings with it a feeling of joy.

Growing a beautiful flower is not a difficult task, but it does require planning and perseverance. A flower represents the ground from which it is placed and the gardener must know this before attempting growth.

Flowers are like real estate It is all about location, location, location. They must have environments that are suited to their particular needs. Take for example an African violet. This delicate plant’s fuzzy leaves and petals are easily marred by droplets of rain. If winning the local fair’s flower award is in mind, then imperfection in leaves and petals is important. (more…)

With the branches turning upward and relatively close to the trunk. Fastigiate trees are rare or unknown in the wild but popular in gardens. The Lombardy poplar, Populus nigra ‘Italica’, is a good fastigiate example.

An efficient way of spacing plants, popular in vegetable or cutting gardens, by grouping them in wide rows or beds about 2 to 3 feet wide, rather than lining them out single file.

Organic gardening is becoming more popular as people are tending to move away from the harsher chemicals involved in artificial gardening and towards a more natural product. Organic gardening greatly reduces the use of pesticides and harsh chemicals, trying to keep the garden as natural as possible, and keeping the nutrients in the soil.

There are a lot of advantages to organic gardening. One advantage is the fact that you can enjoy a wide diversity of garden insects, birds, and mammals which are otherwise affected by artificial gardens; for the most part, it is considered that organically grown food tastes better all around; you can do your part to stop waste and environmental pollution from avoiding fertilizers and other chemicals that have been proven to harm the environment. Another advantage is that you can be assured completely that absolutely no pesticides whatsoever will go into the fruit, vegetables, or herbs that you eat. (more…)

The water-absorbing tissue on the outside of an epiphyte’s roots.

For thousands and thousands of years we have turned to plants we label herbs for spice, dye, fragrance and cosmetics. We have believed that specific herbs had properties to repel insects, evil and vampires, while others hooked the flawless sweetheart, good luck or bees to pollinate our crops. For some, the use of herbs can heal headaches and burns. And, of course, what would terrific dining be without the culinary herbs?

Collected here are some tips for herb gardening indoors that will reproduce the conditions of an exterior garden. For Herb gardening in your home the growing climate needs to be very much the same as the conditions in your outside garden.

Be sure you have a bright, sunny windowsill that your herbs will delight in. Use a vessel that is at least 6 – 12 inches deep.

Get your herb plants from a reputable garden center nursery who will have an extreme amount of garden wisdom to aid you with your inside garden. You will require some garden implements like a small digging garden tool, garden gloves, organic fertilizer and some pint-sized gardening containers. You probably already have most of these garden supplies in your garage or garden shed. (more…)

See undergrowth.

As a species name, means “traditionally planted on the roofs of houses,” often as a good-luck charm. The house leek or hen-and-chicks, Sempervivum tectorum, and Japanese roof iris, Iris tectorum, are popular examples that also grow well at ground level.