Plant Gardens 101

As a species name, literally means “from India,” but like other terms of geographic origin, can refer to plants that grow throughout southeastern Asia. For example, crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, is native to China.

Not a precise term, but generally a cultivar of a flowering plant or vegetable that has been in cultivation for at least 50 years.

Plants grow best in an environment that is well ventilated to effectively dissipate heat. All artificial light sources generate heat and grow rooms have to be therefore, provided with some means of cooling. Cooling of grow rooms is best done using blowers, with one mounted on the inside to blow hot air out, and the other mounted on the outside to blow cool air in. This arrangement works best with the hot air exhaust blower mounted up high inside and the cool air blower mounted low on the outside, as hot air being lighter than the surrounding air tends to rise while cool air tends to settle to the bottom.

Exhaust blowers are sized on the basis of the amount of air they can move. Normally blower capacities are quoted in CFM i.e. Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) of air, like say “315 CFM” which means that the blower will move 315 cubic feet of air in one minute, provided there are no restrictions on the intake or exhaust. But it is not possible to completely eliminate intake or exhaust restrictions. Some restriction will always be there, in the form of hose resistance. When air flows through a hose, it has to overcome the resistance of the hose which heats up the air, it is advisable therefore to select the hose that offers the least resistance to air movement. Aluminum tubing with its smooth inside wall surface offers low resistance to air flow and it therefore ideally suited for such applications. (more…)

Of or relating to a genus.

(1812–1880)

A Scottish horticulturist who traveled and lived in China for many years and introduced dozens of Chinese plants to Western gardens, including the lovely Rhododendron fortunei, which has large, fragrant, pink flowers. He also worked for the East India Company and, despite the opposition of the Chinese government, managed to get tea plants out of China and establish the first tea plantations in India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

If your garden or patio is in need of a makeover, you may want to consider adding an outdoor fountain to instantly improve the look and feel of the space. Garden fountains can be incorporated into practically any garden design, and the sight and sound of moving water they produce can be marvelously relaxing. Even in a small city garden, the gentle trickling sound of water has the power to soothe and inspire, creating a tranquil escape from the noisy world outside and helping to wash away our worries.

Outdoor water fountains come in all sorts of designs, from those with cascading waterfalls to those that include a bird bath pool, from those that spout jets of water into the air, to decorative wall fountains. There is a huge range of themes to choose from, depending on the style you’re after for your garden’s new image. Classical, Oriental, Southwestern-inspired and contemporary fountains are some of the many options available. A well-chosen water fountain can become a stunning feature of your backyard or patio, attracting the eye and soothing the senses. (more…)

A neat, low-growing plant that spreads slowly, if at all, and looks good throughout the growing season. Can be annual, perennial, or shrubby. Used to create a ribbon- or hedgelike effect along the edge of a bed, next to a lawn or walkway.

Removing old flowers during the growing season to encourage the development of new flowers and to prevent seed formation. Deadheading also improves the appearance of the garden. On the down side, removing seed heads may also mean depriving seed-eating birds of a favorite food—and depriving the gardener of the company of the birds.

The botanical name for bellflower.

A municipally owned facility established in 1962 that includes a variety of special gardens. The wildflower garden in a former rock quarry features Alabama wildflowers. The Japanese garden is accented by the teahouse originally built for the 1965 New York World’s Fair.

Everyone knows that water is one of the most abundant – and popular – chemicals on Earth. It’s so popular, in fact, that anyone over the age of ten (and some who are even younger) can probably tell you that the chemical formula for water is H2O. So we know that a water molecule is comprised of two hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom that are firmly held together by covalent bonds. We could delve further into the properties of water, as well as its uses, its importance to the planet, and its uniqueness.

Water is irreplaceable and irresistible, but the quality that makes it so is indescribable. It’s mysterious, magical, magnificent, majestic, magnetic, and much, much more. Of course, it’s necessary for survival; but, beyond that, some ethereal aspect of it has enchanted every culture throughout the ages. From time immemorial, people have brought it into their backyards for use in various decorative incarnations, such as water gardens, fountains, spouts, pools, streams, and waterfalls. (more…)

A light, thin, petroleum-based oil applied to fruit trees and other plants in winter to kill insects and insect eggs that are hidden on the bark and stems.

As a species name, means “sticky.” For example, the summer-blooming swamp azalea, Rhododendron viscosum, has white flowers that smell very sweet but feel surprisingly sticky.

It is essential to care properly for your Indoor Bonsai, but by simply following a few growing procedures, you can grow some really beautiful bonsai trees (for example like Japanese Maple Bonsai). If you just keep these few basic tips in mind you should have no problem growing the indoor bonsai tree (also spelled bonzai). The first thing you should keep in mind when growing the indoor bonsai tree is choosing the right growing environment. Your bonsai tree should be kept in a room that is just the right temperature, which is not too hot and not too cold. Furthermore, the room should have a source of natural light. You should to keep your indoor bonsai in a room with plenty of large windows to allow your tree to receive as much indirect sunlight as possible. (more…)

Rainwater that is acidic because it contains sulfur dioxide and other pollutants emitted from some industrial facilities. In parts of the United States and Canada, acid rain has damaged and even caused the death of forest trees many hundreds of miles from the source of the emissions.

The botanical name for redbud tree.

Ponds no matter what the size is can make any garden look really elegant. You will find that these various ponds can be shown to great effect with the use of well planned out landscaping ponds which take advantage of this garden revamping will benefit greatly. Since there different styles which can be used to make a garden look great you may want to see some of the many styles of ponds which are available.

Now just having a pond in your garden will not make your garden look fantastic. The trick to this great look is to have the appropriate landscaping ponds will need to have plants which can grow well in soil that is somewhat damp. Additionally you should choose water plants which will blend in well with the rest of the plants in your garden. (more…)

A hairy dark caterpillar that forms weblike tents or bags in the crotches of tree branches and eats the leaves.

The mineral soil of decomposed rocks, without any humus, that lies beneath the topsoil.

Any wall constructed to hold back soil. Such walls are often used to terrace a sloping piece of land.