Fountain Bird Baths - More Fun For You And Your Garden Birds

A fountain bird bath is a great way for both you and your backyard birds have more fun out in your yard. Not only will also add a wonderful ambience to your garden along with the soothing sounds of trickling water, but it will also attract a huge variety of different species of wild birds.

In fact, birds cannot resist the trickling water that can be found in these types of bird baths. And there is nothing more fascinating on a hot summer day and watching birds frolic under the water of your phone while they enjoy a refreshing bath.

There are a few things you want to look out for when buying a fountain bird bath. First of all, you might want to opt for a solar powered one so that you don't have to worry about where to plug in. However if you do get one that needs electricity you want to be sure that you have a source close by.

Another thing to consider is the depth of the birdbath bowl. He'll get one that's too deep because birds prefer shallow bowl and will actually avoid one that is deeper than 3 inches. That being said, if you do find one that you fall in love with and it is deeper than that , you can always fill it up with little stones or pebbles to make it shallower.

The other thing, is that you want the surface of the birdbath to be little bit gritty so the birds can grip it and get a good purchase on the edges.

Of course, the location that you install the birdbath is critical because you wanted to be a place where birds feel safe and comfortable so that they can let their guard down and really have fun in the bath! Make sure it is in a somewhat sheltered spot where other animals can't sneak up on them.

Once you have your fountain bird bath installed and working properly, you want to be sure that you keep it clean. Cleaning out at least once a week is imperative that you might want to clean it every day during summer. You wouldn't want to be that dirty water and neither do your birds. Keeping it free of mold and algae will help ensure that it is a safe environment for your feathered backyard friends.

Kill the Bugs not the Kids

In my case the kids refers to 2 dogs and 2 cats with a taste for house plants. The cats in particular are fond of anything green trying to survive indoors. But not to be outdone Roxy our precocious 3 year old Blue Heeler mix has a thing for my small grove of citrus trees. I find her munching on the leaves regularly. So when I noticed several of the citrus trees infested with spider mites... well lets just say I thought I was faced with a choice of the trees or the kids. And some times that is a tough choice to make.



I have grown the little trees from seeds. The seeds all came from the old fashioned method of saving seeds from fruit rather than tossing them out. Everyone told me "They will never grow" or "They will never produce fruit". The common assumption being fruit is irradiated to kill bugs and such, so the seeds would not be viable.



I have withstood much ribbing and teasing by my spouse and friends, regarding their viability. Much to their chagrin, the seeds did sprout. In fact nearly all of the seeds sprouted and several of the little trees have flourished. These I have protected and pruned. they have become more than the little experiment that I started on.  They are still little more than tiny saplings, and consequently none have flowered, yet. Regardless they have become a symbol, of something bigger. That I was right, and they were wrong.



Even more than the validation of my idea, they make me feel anything is possible. Very few citrus plants can grown in my region. So these little guys surviving is a symbol of hope, and survival.

Attributing so much to these 7 little trees, is a bit much, and setting yourself up for heartbreak, I know. But here I am with all this hope, anticipation and everything.



Now imagine my horror when I noticed something attacking one of the little trees. It seemed to be sucking the life out of it. Once I noticed, the infestation was quite advanced. Several of the trees were affected, and one was in dire shape indeed.



I started the way I always do, pruning away the most affected areas. This had a minimal effect.



So now there I was, my hope infected with mites. Could I disregard my deep sense of dislike for chemicals, to save the "orchard"? Or was there another, better way?



I always want to use organic methods. Up until that point, I had no real nasty bugs to eliminate. So it had been easy, and I was clueless.



I didn't want to make the kids sick. I want to use organic methods, if possible. I want to save the little trees. So, what to do?



The internet is an amazing tool. After a few minutes of research I found a whole host of solutions, and in that search I located a site that has become a lifeline, Arbico Organics.



For the past 30 years Arbico Organics has been producing and marketing natural products for organic homes, businesses, lawns, gardens, farms and pets. They had several products that work for the problem I was faced with.



Since purchasing the  spray for my little trees, I have not noticed any recurrence of spider mites. The trees again look healthy. And none of the kids seems to have had the slightest ill effects. I am hopeful that after 2 or 3 more growing seasons they will finally flower, but if they just survive that long I will be proud. For now they are a nice little edition to our deck in summer, and our guestroom in winter.

About the Author: Christian Hammer is a self proclaimed Serial Entrepreneur, inventor and green advocate. His website, www.mindzle.com is a resource for people who are wanting to live a more sustainable life, but don't necessarily know how to get started, or are worried about how they can afford it. He tries to lead by example, with a wide variety of projects, ideas and how-to's.

Tips For Planting Roses

Planting a garden is one of lifes joys and roses are an old standby for any garden and one of the worlds favorite flowers. There are over 5,000 varieties of roses in the United States and they can be used to enhance your garden in many ways — as creepers, shrubs, vines, climbers, hedges or just as beds of pure colour.

When picking out roses for your garden, it is important to get healthy plants. You want to be sure that the stems are a nice green colored and are not shriveled and that the roots are partly fibrous and are moist. The most expensive rose is not always the best rose; it may be only a newcomer, much discussed and, therefore, a favorite.

In general, there are two types of roses: bush roses and climbers. Bush roses are shrub like and climbers produce canes that require some sort of support. The most commonly planted type of bush rose is the hybrid tea rose. Other types of bush roses include polyanthas (roses in large clusters), the fioribundas (large-flowered polyanthas), and the hybrid perpetuals (vigorous growers with a great crop in June and continuous blooming throughout the summer).

The climbers include ramblers, whose long pliant canes have large clusters of small roses that can be used for covering walls, fences and banks. Roses known as climbers are also pillar roses which have adapted to growing on posts, building and the climbing tree hybrid.

If you are contemplating planting roses in your garden, make sure you pick out the proper spot and prepare the soil appropriately. You should use garden loam with organic matter that contains peat moss, leaf mould, compost, rotted or commercial manure. Prepare the soil in the rose beds well before in order to allow for settling of the soil.

You can plant roses in fall or spring, but fall is actually best. When planting roses, inspect the roots to make sure they have not dried and if they have make sure you soak them before planting. Trim off any broken, weak or long roots.

Set the plant in a hole that is large enough so that the roots can spread. The part of the plant where the top attaches to the roots (called the bud) should be just under the surface of the ground. Plants should be spaced 18” apart. Prune the branches back to about 8” from the soil.

Keeping your roses fresh and healthy all year is important.  To grow good roses it is necessary to cultivate, to prune and to spray. If you have a well-cultivated bed you need not worry about watering. But if you start to water in hot weather, you must keep it up, soaking the roots thoroughly about once a week.
Spraying every 10 days guards against the diseases and insects that attack roses. Nicotine sulphate wipes out the green lice; arsenate of lead is used against chewing insects; or sulphur and arsenate of lead may be used in a dust, as may DDT dust.

When winter approaches, protect your roses by piling sod or straw mulch around them. If you have climbing roses, remove the supports and place the canes on the ground, peg them, and cover with soil mounds.

Growing Basil - How to Grow Basil

Herbs can help life in many ways. Growing basil (or Ocimum basilicum) is an excellent addition to your flourishing herb garden. Unknown to most, basil is actually a member of the mint family! Although there is a few different varieties of basil, sweet basil is the most popular and well known. When it comes to old age medical remedies, and flavoring meals, basil is the best.


Old tales-

Throughout history, growing basil has held significance to societies all over the world. The people of India swore their oaths in court on basil leaves. Italian lovers would wear a piece of basil in their hair when courting ladies. A popular Mexican belief is that carrying basil would return a cheating lover.


Medicinal use-

There are big health benefits of growing basil. The herb is a natural source of beta-carotene, which is packed with Vitamin A. Basil, is a cure-all herb that can treat many disorders and ailments from headaches to indigestion. In fact, the list of benefits from this herb proves it so powerful; Basil is considered the “King” of herbs.


Growing Basil-

Growing basil can be childs-play. You can grow basil plants started from seed inside the house before transplanting into the garden. If you lack the space for growing basil outdoors, it can be grown inside. The plant needs plenty of sun to thrive. You can use fluorescent ’grow’ bulbs if there is inadequate lighting in your home.

Sow the seed in a warm time of year, about 1" apart. When the seedlings have developed a few leaves, they can be replanted. Make certain you wait until a late frost is no longer a threat.

Organic mulch should be added to the surface about 3” deep. Watering should be done one day per week, before noon. Do not over fertilize because this action diminishes the unique fragrance of the plant.

When re-planting, dig the herbs in at least 1 – 1 feet apart from each other, to ensure appropriate growing space. Growing basil has two main requirements: well draining soil, and a sunny, but damp area.

Basil should be pruned fortnightly to increase its hardiness. Clip leaves back to around a quarter inch above a node and leave enough foliage for continued growth. Remove dead heads from flower stems for it to continue in good health.

It's a good idea when growing basil, to plant it near your tomato vines. These plants equally need sunlight and above average watering, so having them close together will be more convenient for the time-pressed gardener. Just like in your famous spaghetti sauce, these 2 plants go well together. Basil is a big help around the kitchen and helps to repel insects in the garden.

After 6” of growth, the top leaves are ready to be removed. This herb has been known to reach heights of up to 24 inches. Growing basil is a big benefit to both your garden and your household.

Garden furniture and accessories for Christmas

While it most certainly isn’t the season to use them, garden furniture and garden accessories make ideal Christmas gifts for this year. There’s something out there for every garden’s space and requirements, and will bring friends and family a great deal of pleasure long into the new year. A selection of garden themed gifts is a great way to ensure that the presents you buy are useful and will have some longevity in the households of those you give them to.

Think of the possibilities; garden furniture could include anything from a set of plastic chairs and a table, to a wrought iron and wood bench, or a barbecue set, or a parasol to keep the sun (and rain) off. Garden lighting is also a great idea for gifts, and it is now available as solar powered, battery powered or mains powered items, so there really is something for every home and every pocket.

There are many possibilities for any taste and any space, and in these difficult time it is most important for gifts to be functional and useful in order to be great value for you and great to receive for the people you give them to.  They are reusable, which is always a good thing, and thus they will continue to be admired and appreciated for a long time to come.

So, consider garden furniture, accessories and appliances for Christmas this year, and ensure that the gifts you buy will be loved for many years to come. Plus, you could even enjoy these things with your friends and family after Christmas. Why not stage your own celebrations once Spring arrives, just to celebrate life and the warming of the seasons?  We wish you all the very best in your search for the ideal garden items this Christmas, and we also wish you the very best for the festive period and the new tear. We’ll see you outside!

Silk Flowers-Adding Spice to your World

Silk flowers are a great way to add color to any places that you can think of. Beyond the beauty of a silk flower lies its ability to spice up any occasions, such the most important day of your life- your wedding day.Like innate flowers, silk flowers can provide you the same beauty and good looks, as if they were the true thing.

More and more people are using silk flowers for their wedding day’s floral arrangements.  Most commonly used are the white silk flowers, but depending on your motif, you can consider some of these silk flowers:

Tropical Silk Flowers: If you want your wedding to have a Hawaiian atmosphere, then tropical silk flowers are best for you.They can offer your wedding a brilliant, summery, gorgeous and foreign look.  Brighten up your mood with the variety of colors to choose from, like red, pink, orange, white and purple. 

Daisy Flowers: Bring your wedding to life with daisy’s magical blend of fresh and innocent charm.Daisy flowers are stylishly sweet and are just the correct flowers for your large day.  They are perfect if you like to give your wedding a touch of summer or spring ambiance.  You can also use daisy flowers as accessories for you hair or as a necklace or bracelet.

Hydrangea Flowers: Add some romantic look on your wedding with the adorable beauty of hydrangea flowers.From their dramatic and magnificent look, they are also immense for summer or spring themed weddings.Hydrangea flowers are like little flourish that come in the white colors, red colors, pink colors and purple colors.

Flowers in acrylic water: You can also choose the beautiful fresh blooms of flowers in acrylic water.It’s a well-known way to build your wedding day look lovely and great.  You can add some fragrance to make them look and smell sweeter.

Silk flowers are a fun way to add some color to your wedding day without worrying much about wilting. With today’s more advanced designs made on silk flowers, you are sure that they are specially designed to look even more realistic and adorable.

Deciding On Taking Up Bee Keeping

Beekeeping

Some people collect rocks or shells as a hobby while others may find bungee jumping or fishing more suited to their tastes. There are millions of people around the world however that is abuzz about their particularly sweet hobby – bee keeping! Of course, bee keeping is not just a hobby; it can also be well-suited for a side job or even a full-time enterprise. The good news is that to start this buzzing practice, you do not need much money to get your start.

Things To Note Before You Commit

While the hobby of bee keeping can be a very sweet and rewarding one, there are a few things that one has to consider before starting off. One thing anyone needs to consider is that apiarists or bee keepers are stung by the bees they look after on many occasions, so you will need to check that you and everyone else who will be working with you do not have allergic reactions to bee stings. It is quite easy to know if you are prone to allergic reactions by seeing swelling at the sting site, possible rashes or welts on the body, and swelling of the passageways.

Since bee keeping is quite simple, you may quite easily handle all the basics of handling bees on your own, however it is definitely helpful if you have a partner or two to help you out with the chores. Such chores can include heavy lifting when moving the hive boxes and having someone to assist you would surely be something you would want.

Do the Research

Bee keeping is more than just tending to the hives … it is understanding that there are specific duties and activities that take place at distinct times throughout the year.  Bee keeping duties wait for no man regardless of whether or not it is the deep cold winter or a sweltering summer. Apprentice with an apiarist or head to the library to check out as many books and resources as possible.

You will need to know the differences between the bees such as between drones, queen bees and worker bees in order to be able to grasp the concepts and succeed in bee keeping since it is a required factor for you to know the roles of each in maintaining the survival of the hive. You should learn the purpose and use of the frames, the reasons for smoking the hive and how the process of harvesting the honey and comb is done.

Luckily, bee keeping equipment is not costly nor is it very cumbersome in terms of maintenance but you must be diligent in your research to know what you must absolutely purchase. A bee smoker, a bee suit and veil and a hive tool are the minimum bee keeping requirements necessary to get the job done. However, rest assured there is more equipment in the bee keeping arsenal for winter protection as well as honey extraction. Your level of commitment as well as your knowledge and pocketbook will guide you in your new venture into bee keeping.

Maintaining An Organic Garden Makes you Happy

Planting an organic garden can be a very productive and demanding experience.  The know-how for planting vegetables, flowers and some other plants are known for eons but growing an organic garden has become a very popular endeavor recently. There are many people who do not get accustomed with the idea of eating vegetable that has been poisoned with chemical fertilizers and other unholy things. They just do not want the idea of using chemicals near their houses and neighborhoods to grow their gardens. Maintaining an organic garden involves knowledge that can be acquired in various different places. A lot of people interested in growing an organic garden can discover several publications on this issue. The books will provide many details that should help a devoted gardener produce a fantastic garden world not using harsh fertilizers and pesticides.

There are many organic garden centers that are also available to help gardeners planning to grow plants with pure materials. People working at these garden centers are well-versed in growing an organic garden, in addition they are almost always willing to provide helpful tips. Organic garden centers have employed people who can give tips on soils, fertilizers and organic pesticides.  These experts sometimes offer courses that are open to their customers.  The garden centers usually stock all of the necessities for maintaining an organic garden.  In addition to this, the centers usually sell plants that will love using all organic products.

Planting An Organic Garden Requires Knowledge Of Techniques

Maintaining an organic garden is difficult without some learning in order to have good results.  Best soil is the first ingedient for growing an organic garden.  Soil differs greatly from one area to another so a closer look into the soil is a crucial step in planting an organic garden.  Natural fertilizers can be mixed with the soil to make it successful for an organic garden.  One can also use certain techniques to make the soil ready for planting. A devoted gardener is able develop the soil for successful plants with only natural products.

Creating and maintaining an organic garden demands to know about the insects and some other bugs that are negative to a successful garden. Many people just go and buy chemicals to get rid of useless pests.  Nonetheless there are some ingredients that can be added to a garden to kill useless pests.  Ladybugs can be added to a garden to get rid of aphids.  The presence of these nice little insects is good for a garden.  A certain sort of wasp is also good at getting rid of aphids and caterpillars.  The wasps and the ladybugs will not harm the plants, of course they will eliminate the bugs that will hurt the garden.

How to Care for an Indoor Bonsai

A bonsai tree is a beautiful example of an ancient tradition. Bonsai trees are very striking in appearance, so there are many who feature them in the home. Indoor bonsai trees will need extra care since they do not reap the full benefits of natural sunlight and natural weather conditions. Despite the fact that they look pretty tough, bonsai trees can be quite picky with their water and light requirements.

Watering Your Indoor Bonsai

When you bring a bonsai tree indoors it will require sufficient lighting to replace the natural sunlight that it would have been receiving outdoors. Your plant will also benefit if it is placed in a well ventilated area. The frequency of watering your bonsai is dependent on the type of plant you have and the condition of its soil. There are some bonsai trees that require well watered soil, but others are able to survive with almost no moisture.

Your bonsai tree will thrive in high humidity, which can be achieved by regular misting. You can use a humidity tray, but be certain that your pot is placed on some small rocks or a stand, and not sitting directly in the water.

Pruning and Cutting

The indoor bonsai tree will still need to be regularly pruned and cut to maintain its appearance. Just because bonsai plants look frozen in time does not mean that they do not grow. You need to repot your bonsai, whether it's indoors or out, every year to three years, depending on the variety. As well, you'll need to give proper maintenance to the branches in order to preserve its distinctive style.

In the wintertime, you'll likely have to reduce fertilization, depending on the type of bonsai you have. This is because some tree species hibernate during the season and do not need as much nutrients as in warmer months. An indoor bonsai will have difficulty experiencing each season in turn since it's in an unnatural setting.

It's important to check your indoor bonsai for pests and any other abnormalities that might show up. The fact that they are indoors may make them a favorite of spiders and other mites who are used to the great outdoors. You need to use a soft brush or damp cloth to carefully clean the branches and leaves of an indoor bonsai.

Carnivorous Plants

Fascinating gardens are a true art form and if you are wanting one that will catch the attention of others, you may consider adding a few of the best carnivorous plants available. There are several interesting exotic species to consider, such as the ever popular Venus Flytrap or the Cobra plant. In areas that have high populations of bugs, they can lowers the amount of flies or other insects that bother you. The size of the plant you select will determine the amount of insects consumed, however, the entertainment they provide for both adults and children alike, is well worth the investment.

Basically there are five different types of carnivorous plants for you to consider. The most common type, is the Venus Flytrap found in cultivated varieties of the Dionaea muscipula family. Snap traps rely on a mouth that close in around its pray, where the plant will eat whatever it catches.

When a fly or insect walks on the surface, this activates a hair trigger and causes closure, as the traps closes it fills with an enzyme solution, and then it will dissolve the proteins from the insect. Digestion takes five to 12 days, after which the trap reopens, then the insect’s exoskeleton blows away in the wind or is washed away by rain.

Plants within the Venus Flytrap family have a large variety of different colored species found in various sizes.

Sundew plants of the Venus Flytrap family are amongst the most interesting to watch. They are covered with dense, gland-tipped hairs and several tiny midge flies are stuck to the sticky hairs, which causes the insect to be enzymatically digested and absorbed by the plant. The type of secretion created by this particular plant can cause skin irritation to humans and therefore should be treated with caution.

Bladder traps plants are a fascinating subset of carnivorous plants. These plants function through the osmosis of water to create a suction within the body of the plant. Once an insect or aquatic species has been trapped within, escape is difficult. Unlike many carnivorous plant species, these are more commonly found underwater than above ground.

Finally, the lobster pot traps are among some of the most unusual looking carnivorous plants that you can acquire, they function by giving insects an easy way to enter, but little chance of escape.

Corkscrew plants are interesting, in that, the inside of the plant mouth is filled with downward pointing obstructions, used to prevent it’s prey from escaping it’s grasp.

For those interested in borderline species, there are several varieties of plants that do not meet all of the requirements of carnivorous plants, but have sharing characteristics. These plants include the Brocchinia Roridula and members of the Martyniaceae species. These plants lack one of the three required aspects, which is to attract, kill and digest prey, to be classified as a true carnivorous plant.

Carnivorous plants should be placed where young children and babies cannot reach them. Even though they are considered relatively harmless to humans, the type of digestive enzymes they produce to break down their captured prey, should be avoided.

Worm Farming

Lots of people farm worms and all differnt levels.  Not all that many people fully understand what worm farming is all about, those who participate are big believers inthe benefits that these worms have on the environment.  If you care for the environment and also gardening then worm farming is perhaps for you.

Many worm farmers commercially farm worms for profit.  Specific breeds of worms are bred and are typically kept in breed specific quarters.  These worms are raised commercially and sold for use in composts.  Some worm farmers distribute to landfills providing a natural method for composting waste.  

The reason worms are so good for the garden is because the dig their way through the soil thus helping to aerate the soil.  When worms compost the waste it's basically broken down and turned into a product that the soil in your garden can use therefore improving fertilization .

In more recent years, the supply of worm farming equipment and accessories has made it easier for individuals to make a hobby of this technique.  There are bins that can be bought that are fairly small and easy to be stored.  

Worm farming provides worms with a nutrient rich diet of what many times is thrown out with the garbage including discarded fruits and vegetables.  In addition to fruit and vegetables you can also include such products as paper products and cotton rags, leaves, egg shells and hair.  Excreted by the worm is a nutrient rich substance called vermicompost or worm compost.

If you have kids then teaching them about worms can be great fun.  As using worms provide a more space effective way for composting, small kits can be purchased and even hand made to be used in a classroom setting.  Using natural methods for composting and reducing waste in landfills is easily demonstrated by classroom worm farms.

It might surprise you just how many different places you are able to farm worms.  With the various systems available on the market today, home owners can raise their own supply of worms outside or in an apartment.  As long as you give the worms the correct levels of light, moisture, temperature, food and bedding you will ensure a long living worm population.

What Kind of Water Is Best to Use on Orchids?

We should appreciate orchid and other flower cultivators, in part, for the burgeoningpush to make full use of the water that reaches our homes, in particular that which falls as rain. If you are growing orchids, this might be something you should look into.

Orchids, like other plants, have specific likes and dislikes as to the water provided them to nourish their roots. Most of them dislike hard water. Unfortunately, the water that comes out of the faucets in many places is too hard for orchids to respond as well as we might like. Rarely will hard water kill them. But it may stunt their growth or prevent them from blossoming as gorgeously as they might.

A good thing about orchid plants is the fact that they possess thick, fleshy roots that can stand up to hard water better than many other types of plants. Woody plants, as an example, with their fine root system, are too often ruined by water that is too hard. Nontheless, you should try to avoid using hard water on orchid plants if you can avoid it.

You can buy filters that attach to your water line to soften your water while taking out various types of unwanted impurities. But nothing is better than good old rainwater when it comes to doing right by orchids! After all, this is the way nature waters plants in the wild around the world.

A number of companies manufacture rain barrels that are ideal for collecting and holding rainwater until you want to use it. Many people set the barrels up beneath the rainspouts coming from their roofs. With some planning and work, you could set up several rain barrels to direct water right to your orchids. Then the watering chore, assuming you live in a fairly rainy area, becomes virtually hands-off.

Whatever type of water you decide to use, don't use it on plants if it is chilly. For example, I would never use water that I got from an outside tap on a cold winter's day, without first bringing it to room temperature in my home or in the greenhouse. Chilly water can lead to spotting, rot young growths and badly damage roots.

Some orchids will get benefit from water with some lime mixed with it. In years gone by, people noticed that imported Cypripedium orchids often came to them covered with chalky lime deposits owing to the plants having grown in limestone rock crevices where the water trickled down on them. So if you have a Cypripedium, you could experiment with adding lime to the water, a little at first and then more if you determine that the plant is responding well to it.

The art and science of orchid cultivation is a fascinating topic. Orchid growing is not as difficult as some people like to make it out to be, but you must arm yourself with accurate information before plunging in to this rewarding pastime. 

The most complete guidebook to 21st-century orchid cultivation, in my opinion, is Orchid Care Expert by master orchid grower Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded over the Internet. Howard's well-written guide is a thorough education all to itself. And, you will find it perfect for novices as well as the more seasoned orchid cultivators. Additionally, spend some time at this Orchid Secrets site, which contains an ever-growing database of articles on a broad range of topics of orchid care.

What is Composting?

Many people who are gardeners or care about the environment at putting in kitchen and garden waste into composts and turning them into a valuable resource for your garden or houseplants.  What happens is that the process of composting is basically speeding up the natural process of decomposition.  If you are a keen gardener then composting is somthing that you should understand.

Don't confuse compost with soil.  It is a common misconception that the end-result of composting is the dirt that you find in the ground.  If you want lush and healthy plants then giving them compost will really help because you are also giving them the nutrients they need.

Before you begin composting there are choices to be made – not all containers will be suitable for your needs, what type of waste you will be composting, and the location of your bin.  But regardless of these decisions, the process of composting happens in the same manner.  It is a breakdown of waste materials as they are digested by microbes (bacteria and fungi).

The microbes are the workers of the composting equation.  In order for the microbes to do the job needed, they require certain things such as food, air and water all in the correct quantities.  For great compost you should consider using a wormery.

It might be that if you are not familiar with owning a compost that you think that composts are all smelly horrible things it is most likely the result of not enough air circulating throughout the waste material.  Without air, the material will still breakdown but it will be done by anaerobic microbes (organisms that do not need oxygen) as opposed to aerobic (ones that need oxygen).  If you discover that your compost is emmitting a foul smell then you should add in some cardboads and also turn the compost with a fork to allow more air into it.  Wood chips or hay are good for the composting bin.

Composting is good for the environment and your garden – it prevents waste from enetrying landfill and also adds much needed nutrients to your soil.

Orchid Biology and Intro to Hybrids

Orchids (scientifically speaking, Orchidacea) are a grouping of plants consisting of over than 20,000 identified species, quite a few of which are highly valuable from a commercial standpoint. Many people believe them to be far and away the most intriguing order of plants in the entire vegetable kingdom due to their astonishing mode of growth and existence, their bizarre habits and the multitudinous shapes and forms of their blooms, which are different from those of all other plants -- delicate seeming in texture and with wonderful, glowing colors.

Orchids are also remarkable because of their ready adaptability and the extent to which they will easily cross-breed or cross-fertilize. This is so in their natural environs as well as when they are under cultivation. This fact also accounts for the seemingly endless varieties of flowers and colors that can result from the hybridizing process.

A little botany: The flower of the orchid as a rule consists of these parts: sepals, the petals, the labellum (or pouch), and the column or crest.

On most orchids the labellum is generally the most conspicuous part as well as the most important organ of the flower. Insects enter it in search of the sweet juices held within the spur or walls of the flower, pollinating the plant in the process and bringing about cross-fertilization in the bargain. This is how so many new varieties come about in the wild, and these are termed natural hybrids.  But under cultivation this work must be performed by human caretakers using delicate camel's hair brushes and with a careful eye and judgment as to the right moment for fertilization. It is in this manner that the most wonderful hybrids are produced, and these are termed garden hybrids.

One of the the things that makes orchid growing so much fun is the dream of creating our own orchid hybrids. This takes knowledge and a modicum of patience, but even novices have created astounding orchids by experimenting with hybridizing.

If you are wishing to experiement with the hybridization of orchids, you should first have some good experience in basic cultivation of these plants.Only after you have gained confidence in working with orchids should you try the demanding task of hybridization. Orchids are slow growing plants, and slow to come to bloom, so you must be comfortable with waiting often years to find out if your hybridizing efforts are a success. Nontheless, when it succeeds, it's fantastic experience.  You can produce not only a beautiful flower by this process, but also orchid varieties never before seen in the world.

Clearly, you must find out all the information that you can before trying your hand at hybridizing orchids. Fortunately, there are good books available on all aspects of orchid growing, including step-by-step instructions on hybridization.

The most up-to-date guide to expert orchid cultivation, in my opinion, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard's ebook is a complete education all to itself, appropriate for neophytes as well as the more experienced. In addition, be sure to visit the Orchid Secretssite, which contains an ever-growing library of postings on a wide range of topics of orchid care.

Basic Rules of Orchid Potting: The Epiphytals

Orchids are traditionally separated into two major overall families, epiphytal and terrestrial. The epiphytals are the ones that grow on tree trunks and branches. There are several different ways to grow this type of orchid in the house or in a greenhouse. It all starts with potting.

In a state of nature, the epiphytal orchids typically have roots that are much more open to air as contrasted with other plants.  As a consquence, by "potting" we do not mean packing them all around with dense potting soil.  Rather, we want to place them in a pot with loose, organic matter, from which they can pull necessary nutrients, along with rocks or broken pottery pieces to create open spaces and to help the plants remain upright.

The most usual recipe for potting compost suitable to epiphytals is one part sphagnum moss to one part peat moss. Place a layer of this matter in the bottom of your pot, followed by a layer of rocks or pottery bits, then a second layer of the mix, and so forth. When the pot is approximately a quarter or at most a third full, carefully place your orchid's root system down into it. Then continue adding rocks and mix, packing all of this material only firmly enough to support the plant.

Gradually build up the compost up to and over the top of the pot. The height you need to go above the pot depends on the size of the pot and the depth to which you have placed your plant. The general rule is to allow the plant's crown to rest on top of the compost. By crown, we mean the part of the plant from where the roots start.

If you are repotting an orchid, you should take special care when taking it out of its previous pot. If there are any new roots clinging to the exterior of the pot, you should attempt to ease them off with a blade of some kind. It you have a mass of vital roots -- that is, roots that have sap in them -- attached to the inside of the pot, then you might have to break the pot and pick away all of those roots that you are able to. You might need to then repot it with pieces of the old pot still hanging on the roots, and this is acceptable.

It is usually not a good idea to water the plant for a day or so before or after potting.

This has been a very general introduction to potting epiphytal orchids. The subject can be more complex than this, especially when talking about some of the more delicate or senstive species. People have written entire books on the subject of potting the various different kinds of orchids!  Luckily, most of us don't require books devoted entirely to the art of potting to enjoy success with orchids. A recognized, step-by-step guide to all aspects of orchid growing is sufficient.

In our day we have an abudance of excellent, accurate information available for anyone who wishes to cultivate orchids. The most complete guidebook to modern orchid care, many people are finding, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the web. Mr. Howard's ebook is a comprehensive course, useful for beginners and the more seasoned growers alike. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets site, which contains an ever-growing database of articles on a wide range of facets of orchid cultivation.

Some Useful Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips

We all want to stay healthy by eating chemically free, fresh, vitamin filled and natural foods. When we grow our own food, it makes us less dependent on commercially grown foods, which are coated with chemicals and are also quite tasteless.

The US Department of Agriculture compiled data that reveals that the mineral levels in vegetables, fruits, dairy and meat has decreased substantially in the foods that are commercially produced. Chemical fertilizers that are used for commercial produce swell it with more water. Organic food on the other hand has more dry matter and is loaded with essential nutrients. It is also much higher in antioxidants, which is another big reason to go organic.

How is Organic Gardening Different

The main difference between conventional gardening and organic gardening is in the areas of pest control and fertilization. In organic gardening, organic and natural methods and materials are used rather than synthetic chemicals which are detrimental to the environment and our health.

If you are fond of home gardening for organic vegetables, some of the useful home vegetable gardening tips are to choose your crops carefully, select a garden site that is appropriate for plants, plan your garden, prepare the soil and choose appropriate fertilizers.


Successful Organic Vegetable Gardening

The most important organic vegetable gardening tip is that you need to provide good growing conditions for the healthiest produce. A good crop does not happen by accident, it needs lots of hard work and suitable conditions. The most important factor responsible for adequate growth of any plant is at least six hours of direct sun each day. You also need to make sure that the soil is full of organic matter.

Another organic vegetable gardening tip is to choose the plants sensibly. There are some plants that are more susceptible to diseases and pest problems as compared to other plants. To save unnecessary problems for yourself, look for varieties that are disease-resistant.

One valuable organic vegetable gardening tip is to feed your organic plants naturally. Fertilizing your plants may not be necessary in most soils, but it definitely helps them grow better. Feeding your plants with well-rotted animal manure is a good source. Organic matter improves tilth, structure and the condition of the soil. It also improves the ability of soil to hold water and nutrients.

Another handy organic vegetable gardening tip is to be absolutely intolerant of weeds as they rob plants of water and essential nutrients. They also attract pests that can spread diseases from one plant to another. It is therefore important to walk through your garden and pick up weeds and shed foliage.

Another important organic vegetable gardening tip is to water wisely. Use water saving soaker hoses to water the plants directly at the roots. Also, jamming the plants in the plot can cause problems. Do not plant the organic vegetables too close to each other. There has to be good airflow between the plant for them to grow well and prevent any fungal disease.

For more about gardening please visit www.organicgardeningzone.com

Attacking Insects with Natural Insecticides

If you feel that all insects should be eliminated from this planet you should reconsider.  It's because of this belief that there are so many products on the market designed to help people get rid of the unwanted insects.  While it's true that there are many insects that can cause harm, normally the insect only is defending themselves.  So think again about killing ants in your home and garden.

If you are going to attack insects, please only target the insects that are genuinely doing harm to your home or your health.  People who are allergic to certain insects have little choice but to rid their homes and property of them.  A wasp or bee sting could put some people in the hospital.

Some insects that are beneficial and do not cause harm to us will cause harm in some form to our plants.  Everyone loves butterflies as they are so pretty, but gardeners and fruit crop growers may not appreciate their caterpillars!  Some insects that you will want to encourage into your garden include ladybugs, bees and also some wasps.  Honeybeens will sting you if they feel under threat but if we didn't have them we wouldn't be able to enjoy honey and also our plants will have great difficulty in pollenating.

For umpteen years a substance called boric acid has been used in the area of controlling roaches.  Ants have always been quite a problem because they love to come into our homes and can also bite.  Wasps that do sting cause allergic reactions, fear in small children and many adults because of their aggressive nature.  People usually use some form of spray to attack them so they don't have to get too close and risk their painful stings.  A good thing to know too is what foods ants eat.

Neem is another natural option which comes from the Indian lilac tree.  The reason it works is that it prevents the insect from being able to feed and also regulates growth.  Pyrethrum is one of the most popular natural insecticides for attacking insects.  It is used to paralyze and must be applied directly.  It's contained in many pet shampoos for flea and tick control.  We all know about Nicotine in cigarettes, seen mostly in a negative light because of the harm it causes lungs when smoked.  Some insects can actually be controlled by it.  Rotenone and sabadilla dust can be considered exotic natural insecticides because they are made from plants that exist in other countries.  If for whatever reason you want to get rid of honeybees then you should use Sabadilla, however it should be noted that it's only a short-term solution.  So consider the possibility of natural ant control.

Adding Interest To the Garden With Ornamental Grass

Ornamental grass varieties are a versatile group of plants that create an impression of abundance in the garden by their mere presence. They can be used as a single clump to provide valuable filler foliage or as a showy centrepiece arrangement standing proudly in the middle of the garden. They're a versatile group of plants and can be grouped together to from hedgerows or as a formal border.

For the most part, ornamental grass varieties aren’t fussy about the soil types they are given. With water conservation an ever-present consideration these days, ornamental grasses become an ideal garden choice with many of them drought tolerant with the exception of sedges. They require a variety of positions but will generally do best in a sunny to partially shady position.

Taking a look at a few specific types of ornamental grasses we can get a grasp of the diversity of uses they exhibit.

Some, such as Muhly Grass will sit largely unnoticed in the garden blending in with its neighbours as an unremarkable looking plant that grows to a height of around 3 foot. Seemingly from nowhere comes an eye-catching display of pink-red inflorescence as the cotton candy flowers put on a late summer display.

In larger gardens you may find an ornamental grass such as Pampas Grass commanding attention as a magnificent clump ruling over the rest of the garden looking visually stunning. Growing up to 12 feet tall and crested with a showy plume of feathery white or pink it can put on a real show. However, Pampas Grass must be carefully tended and is regarded as a noxious weed in some areas.

On the smaller end of the scale is the Mondo Grasses with varieties such as the black, dwarf, giant and a variegated form these are a versatile and useful addition to the garden. Used as a groundcover or low border they can really define the tone of a garden.

A quick run through of some of the popular ornamental grasses to consider includes: Blue Fescue, Maiden Grass, Pennisetum, Northern Sea Oats, Zebra Grass, Fountain Grass, Blood Grass and Bunny Tails.

The various types of ornamental grasses have a lot to offer a garden and is well worth considering when planning a new garden design. Whether using them as a border, a ground cover or a striking floral statement they will give the garden an added memorable elemental design.

Why Get Into Orchids?

At one time, many folks assumed, perhaps with some justification, that tending orchids was an occupation only for the quite affluent. These days, most people know that orchid cultivation is a pastime available to almost anyone.  Yet one other big unfortunate myth still persists: that it is extremely difficult to care for orchids. But this is definitely not so.

The truth is, some of the most lovely orchid species are surprisingly relatively simple to grow. All it requires is a little foreknowledge, which may be learned easily from books, whether the printed kind or the digital kind that you can download from a web site. If you live in a mild or warm climate, you will be able to grow many varieties outdoors, in your yard or garden.  Even if you live in a cold climate, you can still grow lovely orchids in a greenhouse or any regular room that you can dedicate to the purpose.

Why grow orchids rather than other types of plants?  If you have spent any time in orchid cultivation, you wouldn't have to ask the question. Orchids can grip us, infecting us with a sort of fever that never goes away once we catch it!

Nevertheless, here are some possible answers to the question. One huge advantage of growing orchids as opposed to other flowering plants is their extreme showiness paired with the great length of time they will stay in bloom. Some orchids will remain in bloom for three or four months. A select few are even known to keep their blooms for as long as six months. Even with a small collection of different species of orchids, you can have blooms all year round since these plants vary in their season of blooming.

The subject of orchids and orchid cultivation is an extensive one. You should plunge deeply into the subject and learn as much as you can before purchasing your first plant. Nontheless, there are some basics you need to know at the very start. One of those basics is that orchids are divided into two great groups based on their growing habits.

One of the major orchid groupings is known as the epiphytals. These are orchids that grow on the trunks or branches of trees. They are the air dwelling orchids, because they seemingly live on nothing but air and sunlight, though this of course is not actually true. It was these mysterious species that first grabbed the imaginations of collectors and resulted in the first great orchid mania of a more than a century ago. They remain the ones that hold the most fascination for people.

Epiphytal orchids are not parasites, though. They draw only a little of their sustenance from the bark of the trees to which they cling, and this does not harm their hosts in the least. They also draw nutrients from water, moss and fungi, as well as leaves that often get caught on and around them, decomposing in the process. Orchid growers love the epiphytals because of the fun--and sometimes challenge--of recreating their growing environment in a greenhouse or garden.

The other major orchid group consists of the terrestrials. As you probably can guess, this type grows in soil like most plants with which we are familiar. Growing them means pottting them, as we do with most other of our familiar houseplants. Many of the most gorgeous varieites of orchids are to be found here.

Many orchid cultivators begin by focusing exclusively on one or the other of these two main groups. As you might guess, though, they end up growing at least a handful of species from both groups. It''s recommended to learn about both types of orchids if you are serious about joining the world of orchid growers.

Today, of course, we have a tremendous amount of solid information on the successful way to grow orchids. The most complete guidebook to 21st-century orchid growing, without a doubt, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the web. Mr. Howard's ebook is a complete education in itself, appropriate for neophytes as well as the more experienced. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which contains an ever-growing library of postings on many topics of orchid cultivation.

Knowledge-Wise, Now Is the Golden Age of Orchid Growing

Since the famouse mania for tulips (or "tulipomania") crested in the Netherlands until the present, no single group of plants has acquired such a tenacious grip on popular passion as the orchids. Believe it or not, though, today's orchid craze hardly compares to the extreme devotion that the plants roused in our Victorian forebears, especially in England and the United States.

Of course, other plants had a degree of celebrity in the Anglo-Saxon sphere of the mid- to late 19th century.Among these were ferns, cacti, chrysanthemums, palms and roses. But orchids to a great extent represented the height of horticultural respectability in the 19th century garden. So highly were these mostly tropical epiphytes esteemed that in May of 1885 the first general conference on orchids was held in London. This event brought together both commercial and amateur cultivators to exhibit their prized specimens and to discuss such vital questions as the culture and nomenclature of these fascinating flowers.

At the time of that great conference in London, the exotic tropical orchids had been known to most of the world for only around a hundred years. A 16th-century Spanish botanist, Francisco Hernandez, casually referred to a few orchids as curiosities when recounting a voyage to Spanish America. Almost two centuries later, naturalist Engelbert Kaempfer and botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius, both working for the Dutch East Indies Company, described some of the Asian orchids. But it wasn't until just before the beginning of the 19th century that Europeans in general became aware of these mysterious and exciting plants.

By the early 1800s, botanists were working on cultivating a few specimens at such places as Kew Gardens in London. Until 1820 orchids were looked upon as curiosities in botanical gardens, but about that time some showy Cattleyas and other species produced some stunning flowers, piqueing greater interest among the public. By the 1850s new specimens of orchids were pouring into Europe from all over the world and more and more people were trying to cultivate them at home.

The first great orchid craze was going full throttle by the late 1800s and continued undiminished for many years to come. Somewhat suprisingly, a solid scientific understanding of orchid botany and what was needed to be consistently successful in growing orchids did not arrive until the 1920s.

Nowadays, of course, we have an abundance of good information on the proper way to grow orchids. The most thorough guide to expert orchid cultivation, hands down, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded online. Mr. Howard's guide is a complete course of study, immensely practical for beginners and more experienced growers alike. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets website, which is publishing a growing library of information on all topics of orchid cultivation.

Green Gardening

There is a new world developing in the gardening world that is called green gardening, otherwise known as organic gardening.  Since it is becoming more popular, there is more gardening help available to help a person who has been gardening for years change over to green gardening from traditional methods.  There is also plenty of information that allows those who have not ever gardened before to become green gardeners in a short amount of time.

Going Green

Going green is a slogan that has been tossed around more and more in recent years, as more and more people become informed about the effects of our actions on the environment and more environmental problems surface due to man's negligence.  Since this is the case, people have been finding more ways to be environmentally friendly yet still able to participate in the activities they enjoy, such as gardening.

Green gardening means using products that are organic, such as compost instead of chemical fertilizers.  The compost can be made through grass clippings, leaves or scraps from the kitchen that are organic.All of these items are thrown onto a pile called the compost pile, which begins to decay and let the nutrients from the decaying bodies into the soil, which plants love.Earthworms also help to decompose the compost pile if the person doesn't mind their squirming.

In addition to growing flowers organically, green gardening includes growing food, so that most of what is eaten is home grown.Organic food that is bought in a grocery store or specialty shop is always more expensive then alternatives.Growing food in a vegetable garden saves time and money, including the gas required to get to the grocery store!In addition, picking the vegetables and fruit from the garden, fresh, right before use always tastes better than those that have been shipped to the store.

For those who do not have the option of starting a green garden in the back of their house, there are a couple of different options available.  One option is to join a community garden in which people sign up to take care of the garden on different days of the week and the produce from the garden is shared amongst them all.  The other option for urban dwellers is to do container gardening, doing green gardening in potted plants.All sorts of plants can be grown this way, including vegetables, so it is a viable option for those who do not have yards.

For more about gardening please visit www.organicgardeningzone.com

Flower Garden

Flower gardening is one way to make a huge difference in the yard and raise the value of any home.  There are so many different choices in flowers that a flower garden can change every year or even every month!In addition, there are ways to green garden, which means that all of the products used in the garden are organic, so that pesticides and fertilizers are not used which can be harmful to humans, pets and the environment.  

The first choice in flower gardening is what types of flowers to plant, since that will determine where the garden should be located.  If there is only one option for where the flower garden can be placed, then the plants chosen for the garden should be based on how much sunlight is available in the garden and what the overall climate is where the person lives.That way the flower garden will be more likely to be successful, and the gardener will not get frustrated with plants that will not grow or that die after a short amount of time.

Roses?

There are many people who would like to have a rose flower garden but are afraid to do so because they have heard that roses are temperamental flowers and are difficult to grow and maintain.However, there are some tips that can be used to successfully grow a rose flower garden in any climate.   

The first tip was mentioned above – choose the flowers according to the climate.Roses are tougher than they look and were found naturally in every climate.  The trick to planting a rose garden is to choose the types of roses that enjoy the type of weather the person lives in.Also, roses enjoy sunlight, so a flower garden composed of roses should be placed where they can get direct sunlight.

When planting rose bushes in a flower garden, they should be planted apart from one another so that they can get air between the different plants.They also should be pruned regularly so that the bushes do not get too thick where they cannot get air within the branches of the plant.Roses also like to be watered regularly, but not in the way other flowers are usually watered.  Roses need to be watered at the roots so that they can more readily absorb the water.

If all of these instructions are followed, then a beautiful rose flower garden should be blooming in no time.Keeping the roses well fertilized with healthy mulch from compost will also help them to stay healthy and strong.

For more about gardening please visit www.organicgardeningzone.com

How to Make Organic Gardening Compost

So you want to get involved in organic gardening and farming, and know that one of the first things that you are going to need to do is make some organic gardening compost. This organic gardening compost is what you are going to be using to provide nutrients to the soil which in turn will make stronger, healthier plants.

There are a few different ways to make organic gardening compost, but here is some basic information that you will need to be aware of.

Full Instructions

When it comes to organic gardening compost, the most important thing to learn about is what you can use to make compost. Basically, anything that was once living will make for great compost. You should avoid using meat, dairy and cooked food in your compost however because these foods can attract vermin and so you really want to avoid home-composting them.

All fruit and vegetable peels work well in organic gardening, and for the best results you want to always use a mixture of types of ingredient. The right balance for you here is going to really only be learnt by experience, and so just because you may not get it perfect right away, you should not become frustrated and after you practice and stay at it, you will continue to make better and better compost each time.

Keep in mind that some things, such as grass mowing and soft young weeds, will rot quickly, and so they do work as activators which means that they get the compost started, but they do end up decaying and causing quite a mess.

Any tea bags and leaves, coffee grounds, soft green prunings, animal manure, and poultry manure and bedding for instance, will all work very well in your compost. Make sure that you try a few different things, and see what works best.

Depending on the type of plants that you have in your garden, certain mixtures are going to work better than others. Only over time will you be able to recognize which mixtures work best on your garden.

Remember, your organic gardening compost can be as simple or complex as you want to make it. If you are just getting started, it will be best for you to stick to a simpler compost recipe, and then as you begin to get more used to making it and get more familiar with the routine, you can start adding in new things.

For more about gardening please visit www.organicgardeningzone.com

Therapeutic and Healthy Endeavor: Home Gardening

Home gardening can be a wonderful way to relax after a rough day in the office, allowing the individual to have time outside, physical activity, and produce a gorgeous garden that everyone can enjoy.  Whether they choose to grow a flower garden or stick to vegetables, a garden comes in all shapes and sizes, from containers gardens, ornamental gardens or ones that provide food for the entire family.

Types of Gardening

There are different types of home gardening styles for individuals to choose from so that they can experiment to see what ones work best for them.  Getting started in home gardening almost always starts with the soil, since that is the essence of all that will grow in the garden.  Placement of the garden is of importance as well, since there are some flowers and plants that will not grow in direct sunlight or full shade, so the area where the garden is to be placed should be chosen with care.

There are different types of plants that can be planted in home gardens.Besides the many varieties of fruits and vegetables, there are different types of flowers, grasses and bushes that can be grown in home gardens.  Annual plants are ones that only live for one growing season.The downside to these plants is that they have to be replaced every year.  However, they are great filler plants and add splashes of color and texture wherever they are planted.  In addition, there are biennial plants that last for two seasons, so the individual gets more 'value' for their money.

Perennial plants are usually the foundation to any decorative garden since they continue to grow year after year and, if tended well, will fill in and make the garden look more and more luxurious with each year.Rose gardening is another option of perennial that can make for a beautiful garden.  Some people are wary of choosing roses for the garden, thinking that they are hard to tend and finicky, but with a few simple tips, growing a rose garden is a great choice in a home garden.

The other popular choice in flowers is growing from bulbs and tubers.  These flowers also grow back year after year, but have to be tended to ward off deer and other creatures who love the tender bulbs.Ornamental grasses and vines are also wonderful choices to edge home gardens or to use as ground cover, since they are decorative and easy to tend once they have grown in.

For more about gardening please visit www.organicgardeningzone.com

Cut Your Orchid -- and Achieve More Blooms

Quite often you will happen to have an orchid that continued to grow year after year but that only ever brings forth one flowering pseudobulb. If you would like to multiply the number of blooming growths, you might be able to do so by using a method of cutting in order to produce back shoots. With luck and an appropriate species (such as one from the Cattleyas), you will one day have a truly astonishing orchid.

Proceed as follows: Take a plant that has several back pseudobulbs, say four or five. Cut the rhizome in two between the bulbs, being careful not to otherwise disturb it. That's basically it, but here are some things to keep in mind:

• The best time to cut most orchids is during their resting phase, usually fall or winter. When they again enter their growing phase you may then observe them producing two growths from one pseudobulb where you have cut it.
• You should not cut an orchid that is in less than optimum health. Cutting, as outlined above, will not hurt a healthy orchid, but could prove too stressful to one that is sickly.
• If you cut the same plant for back shoots every year, you will eventually have an orchid that is both bigger and more stunning that it would have been without the knife. This is the way some of the astonishing specimens are produced that you see in orchid shows.

There is more that can be said about the art of cutting to produce more blooms, as well as the process of taking cuttings to start more plants. To learn more about these and other secrets of orchid cultivation, a good guide such as that written by Nigel Howard is highly recommended.

The most complete guide to today's orchid cultivation, in the opinion of many, is Mr. Howard's Orchid Care Expert, which can be downloaded from the Internet. Howard's wonderful guide constitutes a complete education all to itself. And, you will find it suitable for those just starting out as well as more seasoned orchid growers. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets web site, which features a growing library of articles on many facets of orchid cultivation.

A 'Cool Room' for Your Blooming Orchid Will Keep the Flowers Fresh

So, you've tenderly cared for an orchid for months and now it is finally rewarding you with a gorgeous bloom.  Should you treat the plant any differently now? The answer is a definite maybe.

Although the species of your orchid will be the final determinant, as a rule it would be advisable for you to remove the plant to a cooler and drier place that that in which it was grown. This will help the flowers to last much longer than in a warm and moist greenhouse or other typical growing room.

Most orchids will not suffer by being place in a drier and cooler location when they are in bloom. Most will positively benefit from it. Nevertheless, you should ensure that the temperature of your orchid's temporary new home should never get below 50 degrees F. at night.

Here's an experiment you can make if you happen to have two orchids of the same variety that blossom at around the same time. Leave one in the warm room or greenhouse, and set the other in a dry, cool location as suggested above. You will almost certainly notice that the plant in your "cool room" will have fresh flowers for a significantly longer time than the one that was left behind.

The flowers of even the best-kept orchids will finally begin to fade at some point, of course. When this occurs you can re-locate the plant back into the warmer growing room. Just be sure to shade it from the sun until it re-adjusts to warmer surroundings. Otherwise it can become scorched.

One of the keys to success in growing orchids is to understand their life cycles and the different stages they go through. Every stage requires a different kind of care, and the blossoming stage has its own unique "rules.".

The most complete guide to modern orchid care, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded online. Howard's wonderful guide is a complete education all to itself. And, you will find it appropriate for beginning gardeners as well as more seasoned orchid growers. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets web site, which has an ever-growing library of articles on all aspects of orchid cultivation.

Growing Orchids? Look Out for the Cattleya Fly!

The Cattleya fly is among the the most damaging of insects that can assault your orchids.. As a matter of fact, this pest is closely associated with orchids rather than any other kind of plant, as you could readily guess from its scientific name, Eurytoma orchidearum.

Cattleya flies inject their eggs into the orchid plant's young growths. The eggs hatch, with the nymphs (or maggots) going to work right away, feeding voraciously. The nymphs quickly grow to a grotesque size inside the bulbs. One signal that these maggots are doing their damage is that the bulbs will swell becoming club-shaped at the location where the pests are munching away.

Finally, the nymphs turn into flies, which eat their way to the outside by chewing through the flesh of the bulbs. Adult Cattleya flies are very easy to recognize. They have clear wings and deep-black bodies, and are around a quarter inch long. Sadly, by the time you see them, it could be too late to save many of your plants. Nevertheless, you should always make an effort to kill the flies before they can get their eggs into your remaining healthy plants.

If some of your orchids are already infested, the best course of action is to cut away any bulbs you see that are abnormally swollen. Then, drown the nymph by dropping it into a bowl of water. It's disheartening to have to cut away your plant's young growth, but this is better than leaving your other plants open to being attacked by this pest. With some luck, that plant that you did surgery to will produce a new bulb in place of the old one.

Now here's some good news about Cattleya flies. They are fortunately not especially common, and most orchid growers will never see them. Still, it makes good sense to inspect every new orchid for the tell-tale signs of these flies and their maggots. Besides looking out for unusually swollen bulbs where the fly's nymphs might be feasting, inspect for minute holes where a female fly's ovipositor might have inserted her eggs into the plant. If you don't see any such signs, you are probably safe from Cattleya flies.

To be truly successful growing orchids it is vital to understand how to deal with all the various threats to your plants, including insects. It isn't as hard to grow orchids as many people want to believe, especially if you read up on how to properly care for these rewarding plants.

The most up-to-date guide to modern orchid growing, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded over the Internet. Mr. Howard's guide is a thorough course, enlightening for novices and the more seasoned fanciers alike. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets website, which is publishing an ever-expanding database of articles on all aspects of orchid cultivation.

Imagined Orchids

One of the enjoyable side hobbies to orchid apprecation is that of seeking out references to these mystery-shrouded flowers in works of literature and popular entertainment.

One of the earliest short stories in which an orchid plays a leading role is an odd little work by the pathbreaking science fiction author, H.G. Wells.  In actuality, the story is not so much a piece of science fiction as it is of horror, and as such something of a departure for Wells. It has been republished many times and now you can easily find it on the Web. Occasionally it goes by the title, "The Flowering of the Strange Orchid," and other times simply as "The Strange Orchid."."

Wells lived and wrote during the years of the first great orchid mania, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This was also a time when there were still some remote and relatively unexplored places in the world, which fired contemporary imaginations with imaginings of undiscovered monsters that could yet be lurking in some jungle or mountain fastness.

For "The Strange Orchid," Wells built on the fact that flowers discharge their scent into the air to attract insects, which in turn spread pollen from one plant to another, assisting the plants to reproduce. What if--Wells wondered--there were a flower that took this a step further by evolving the ability to use its scent to overpower and feed on large animals?

The story centers on an Englishman with a passion for orchids who has acquired a rare specimen. After months of caring for it, he is overjoyed to see that it is finally about to blossom. He goes by himself one day to savor the first sight and scent of the unknown flower. Three hours later his housekeeper finds him lying unconscious before the orchid, which is  giving out an intoxicating odor and is looking very vigorous and wicked. An ominous red tint suffuses its
leaves and it has already pushed some of its finger-like shoots round the orchid lover's neck and beneath his shirt front.

With an inarticulate cry she ran towards him, and tried to pull him away from the leech-like suckers. She snapped two of these tentacles, and their sap dripped red.

Then the overpowering scent of the blossom began to make her head reel. How they clung to him! She tore at the tough ropes, and he and the white inflorescence swam about her. She felt she was fainting, knew she must not. She left him and hastily opened the nearest door, and, after she had panted for a moment in the fresh air, she had a brilliant inspiration. She caught up a flower-pot and smashed in the windows at the end of the greenhouse. Then she re-entered.

She tugged now with renewed strength at Wedderburn's motionless body, and brought the strange orchid crashing to the floor. It still clung with the grimmest tenacity to its victim. In a frenzy, she lugged it and him into the open air.

Then she thought of tearing through the sucker rootlets one by one, and in another minute she had released him and was dragging him away from the horror.

He was white and bleeding from a dozen circular patches.

Thanks to the quick thinking of the housekeeper in this story, the orchid's victim survives--this time.

Fortunately, man-eating orchids do not actually exist.  It's possible, though, to see this story as metaphor for the grip that orchids can have on people who fall under their spell. People who contract orchid fever, including all who venture on growing them, tend to suffer from it their whole lives long. Now you've been warned!

If these fascinating plants have put the bite on you, you'll want to learn as much as possible about how to grow orchids successfully.  The most complete guide to contemporary orchid cultivation, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded online. Mr. Howard's guide is a complete education in itself, great for beginners as well as the more experienced. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which features an ever-growing library of information on all topics of orchid cultivation.

Hobbyist Enjoy Healthy Foods With Their Home Garden

Planting a home garden in order to provide wonderful quality, fresh foods for cooking, and also for preserving through canning and freezing, is an increasingly popular activity for many people. A primary motivation for growing their own fruits and vegetables is that there is more and more evidence that the produce available at the supermarkets is severely lacking in nutrition because of current mass-growing methods.

Not only that, but for many people starting and cultivating a home garden for the purpose of providing wonderful foods for the table is an enjoyable endeavor. Gardening has long been a popular hobby for many people all around the world, but when you add the extra incentive of being able to provide your family with nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables that have not been contaminated with chemicals and pesticides, it is easy to see why the popularity of the garden has grown.

In addition to these kinds of concerns about the safety and the nutritional value of grocery store produce, people are also finding that it is wonderful to be able to go to their home garden and pick their foods fresh from the vine at just the perfect moment of development. If you compare that to store-bought tomatoes which are harvested way before they have a chance to ripen naturally and then are packed, shipped and stored before finally reaching the store shelf, then it is easy to understand the advantages of garden-fresh food.

In that scenario, which is common of the vast majority of produce sold in the grocery stores today, the tomato has been detached from its life-giving parent plant for many days and sometimes weeks. But with a vegetable garden just outside your kitchen door, you can pick your tomatoes when they are at their peak of ripeness and be able to have the freshest tomatoes to add to your salad or for your famous tomato sauce.

Most of the common and popular vegetables that are available in the produce sections of grocery stores can be grown in home gardens. Some of the most popular varieties are carrots, green beans, potatoes, peas, beets, broccoli, cabbage, and many varieties of squash, just to name a few. And don't forget about all of the wonderful berries that can be home grown as well. Technically a fruit, tomatoes are one of the most popular foods that people enjoy including in their home gardens. They are easy to grow and simply delicious plucked off the vine.

Produce from a vegetable garden can be used immediately or it can be frozen or canned for later use, and many people include herbs in their gardens too. In fact, herbs can be even more convenient as they can even be grown indoors, making your gardening efforts even more simple and easy. And, just as those fresh vegetables taste better and are better for you, you will also find that fresh herbs from the garden are superior in taste and flavor as compared to the dried and packaged varieties.

Being able to enjoy the bounty of fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs is the main motivation for many people to grow a home garden. For others it all comes down to the hobby of gardening. For gardening aficionados, they receive great satisfaction and joy from seeing their efforts flourish as they tend and nurture the garden. If they also have the benefit of being able to share a meal with friends, made from delicious, fresh foods while enjoying the landscaping of their patio lawn garden, then their enjoyment is complete.

No building is complete without some grass, a few plants and some shrubbery to help enhance the quality of the building. The enhanced curb appeal as well as the added value can make the final difference when selling a home or adding to the over all value of the house. Any little bit helps and you do not always need a professional to do the landscaping for you. There is no downside to get some advice from professionals or some knowledge prior to you beginning tearing up your front yard. A few trees, some nice green grass and you will have it down pat before you know it. Who knows? Possibly you will consider it as a career that you might be curious in following. The following are some of the frequently asked question people have for landscaping so that you can have an idea of how landscaping is done and how it can be easier than you might think.

When should I hire a landscaper?

You should employ a landscaper if you do not have a "green thumb" and you are not going to have the time to devote to getting rid of the prior planting as well as landscaping the new. There are certain steps that must be put into place to stop soil erosion so it will require at least a weekend of difficult work. Landscaper's are not cheap but you can find one at a fair price contingent upon on how large the area is and how much labor you intend to do yourself. If you are going to maintain the area, you will spend less money as well.

What is the difference between annuals and perennials?

Both are, certainly, plants although the variation is in how long they last and how frequently you are required to replant them. Annuals must be replanted every year. Some examples of annuals are any kind of vegetable, sunflowers and flowers for instance violets. Perennials are plants that will regenerate themselves. Some examples would be trees, bulb plants such as lilies, tulips and include roses and other sturdy plants that go dormant in the winter months. Most ornamental grasses are thought to be perennials.

Whats the best way to decide on the kind of plant to use?

The kind of plant you select will be dependent on your environmental condition and how much you want to water. It will also depend on the amount of sun your yard receives during the day. Some plants thrive in the shade while others will wilt. For those individuals who live in areas that are prone to drought, they should consider planting plants that are hardy that need little water and actually help preserve the soil from process of erosion. Many people elect to have rock gardens and cactus if they live in desert climates.

At what time is the ideal season for planting?

The ideal planting season is dependent upon what kind of plant you want to grow. Bulbs are best planted in the fall so that they have the necessary time to root within the soil. Other types of plants are best suited to planting in the months of the spring. Some plants will not produce flowers or fruits for one or two seasons later so you need to get ready for this. Trees will have to go through several years prior to them becoming large enough to give the right amount of shade or produce fruit.

Will do this type of landscaping add to the value of my home as well as it's curb appeal?

A well designed and a great looking lawn can provide excellent curb appeal as well as higher value to your home. It will make the features of your home stand out and if you are looking to sell your home, it is one of the first details that potential buyers will notice. For adding a high degree of instant value to your home there isn't anything comparable to a well maintained lawn that is carefully maintained.

For a great deal more informational value go to this online destination: Landscape Ideas with more helpful material at Landscape Plans and go to Low Voltage Landscape Lighting

Spark your Imagination in Your Local Garden Center

Whether you are a greenhorn with gardening or a certified green-thumb, there is nothing better than knowing just where to head for all of your gardening needs. Whatever the size and kind of your garden is, it is inevitable that you will still need to frequent your local gardening center for tools and products that you cannot do proper gardening without. This is why it is so important to stop by your local garden center so you can see what is available out there for you to use to make your gardening job a lot easier.

If you take time to look around, you will soon see that there are probably a couple of garden centers near you. These types of stores seem to pop up like mushrooms all over the place and are becoming a very popular place to shop at. The garden center is the most likely place where you will find just about everything on your garden shopping list. Although the prices can sometimes be steep, the convenience of one-stop shopping can certainly make it all worthwhile in the end.

Budget-conscious Shopping

If you need or just want to be a bit budget-conscious, it is fairly alright to avoid several high-end garden center stores. Not just because their retail prices is something that you can beat elsewhere, but for those who love the outdoors, their wide selection of items can make overspending surely tempting. These are just some of the many reasons why people would go to the extremes just to avoid these high-end garden centers. Although some people believe those are the only places to shop, there are still other options out there.

Flea markets and yard sales proliferate throughout the summer and these are the perfect places to find some of the tools that you are searching for. Just about everything that you would need from the garden center can also be found at a yard sale or two throughout the summer. Even if the item is slightly used, as long as it is still in decent shape, there is nothing wrong with picking it up and saving yourself a good amount of money. In the end, it will all depend on your skills and intuitions to find the best garden center that could expand your collection of gardening tools while keeping your pockets happy.

 

 

A Green Thumb

Everybody has something he or she enjoys doing, maybe it is for relaxation or maybe a hobby. Sometimes that hobby can be hard work and sometimes it can help one unwind. I have found something that can be hard work at times but most often, it helps me unwind and relax. Want to know what my secret is? Well, it is gardening.

I first got started gardening while working with my mom in her garden. She helped me understand the basics of gardening like, the difference between annuals and perennials and the pros and cons of different plant types. At first, I would complain about helping, but after the project was completed, I felt a sense of pride in our accomplishment. She still tells me how much she wants me to come home and help her because, my brother and sister, who still live at home, do not help. My last trip home I spent two days putting in a pond and landscaping it.

Gardening can be hard work both physically and mentally. Someone may laugh at the thought of that, but digging up the ground and leveling it out to make a flowerbed can wear someone out. Maybe even harder than that is making sure you pick the right plants. The most important thing is, for it to be pleasing to the eye, but then I have to take into consideration the amount of sunlight the area receives, the make-up of the soil because all plants like different soil types. For instance, some plants like acidic soil while others will die if planted in it and other plants have to have the proper drainage or the root system will rot. Another important consideration, and most often overlooked is, how big the plant will be when it matures. Considering all this can be overwhelming, but if done right, the perfect garden is at your fingertips.

After the hard work is done, then it is time relax and enjoy all the time and energy spent creating my masterpiece. I like to come home and unwind by getting a cold glass of ice tea or maybe a beer, go outside and water my garden. I find it relaxing because I sit in an office all day in front of a computer, so I like going outside and getting some fresh air. After I have given all my plants a drink of water, I sit in my lawn chair and watch the kids play, spot some weeds that need to be pulled, and plan out my next landscaping project.

When I first moved to my house, there was not much landscaping in either the front yard or the back. Now all that has changed because of the hobby I enjoy so much. Yes, it was a lot of hard work at first having to dig up the ground, picking out the right plants and putting them in the ground but now I get to relax while either watering them or just sitting in a lawn chair enjoying my creation.

Zen Gardening

For a region that is predominantly Buddhist, Chan, or Zen, is an important philosophy. Zen is a term used for a school that teaches the teachings of Buddha and how they are active in the natural world. Buddhism was in China before the Zen teachings, and when the Indian prince Bodhidharma introduced the idea to the Buddhist in 526 A.D., they were amazed at his way of seeing the world for what it is. Zen took off after Bodhidharma's ideas were spread.

Schools of Zen teachings were a mix of the Daoism philosophy and Mahayana. These were very strict schools that insisted on the idea that separate things exist only in relation to one another, which means nature cannot be defined or classified in any way. The goal of these Buddhist practicing Zen was to accomplish the way of seeing the world as Buddha did, just as it is, with a mind that has no grasping thoughts or feelings. Schools that teach Zen recognize the importance of the arts, such as: painting, calligraphy, architecture, ceremonial tea drinking, and gardening. Other areas of Buddhism, such as Japan, practice arts such as Jujitsu as an art as well. Of the Zen arts, gardening is one of the most important and interesting forms of art.

Zen Gardening has been practiced for almost a millennium. In the eleventh century, monks began creating these gardens as a tool to teach the principals of Zen and Buddhism to students. These gardens take careful consideration and care to make a peaceful environment for meditation. It takes a lot of labor to keep them looking nice, but Buddhist think of it more of an opportunity to create than just a basic chore. The gardens have to be a perfect place to meditate.

We know these gardens simply as the desktop sand box with a rake, but there is a lot more to a Zen garden. Everything in a garden is there for a reason. Every single rock, plant, sand spread, water form, and bridge serves a purpose for the garden. The number 3 has importance in Buddhism because of the Buddhist trinity and the sky, earth, and humanity. Odd numbers are used because of the Buddhist belief that the earth is not an even structure and nature is naturally uneven. All gardens are meant to be massive landforms on a much smaller scale.

The materials used in the gardens represent different things. Of the objects used, rocks are the most meaningful. Tall rocks are used to symbolize the sky and wide flat rocks are used to symbolize the earth. Some rocks are even used to represent animals or specific landforms. The sand spreads are the most interesting part of Zen gardens; they are important because they are meant to give a sense of emotion while meditating. While many plants are used in the gardens, floral fixtures are rarely found because they are not naturally occurring. Not everything used is natural; pathways, bridges, a lanterns are frequently used to guide the visitor in the path that Buddha would take. They also are used to show Buddhist beliefs, such as, the Eight-Fold Path. Everything in a garden has a purpose.

These beautiful gardens are now all over the Buddhist countries in Asia. What began in China is now celebrated more in Japan and Korea. Japan is home to the world's finest gardens, such as, Kyoto, Nijo, Katsura, Sento and numerous others. Over time, the gardens have stayed true to the basic style, the only exception is Japan, many of their gardens have a lot of ponds and other water fixtures. The gardens, though a big tourist attraction, are still used today.

Overall, the ultimate goal of Zen and Zen gardening is to show the world from the point of view that Buddha saw it. Because of this, they are some of the most unique gardens in the world. They give monks a great place to meditate and are fun to look at. Their popularity in Asia has brought them to the United States. Americans use miniature dry rock gardens with sand and a rake as a relaxation devise. There are even a couple of Zen gardens in the Chicago land area. They look simple and easy to make, but they are really complex and need a lot of care. If a leaf falls in any design, it must be picked up, that's just how meaningful and important Zen gardens are.