What is organic gardening?

Organic gardening involves using the principles of organic horticulting in your garden. Issues such as how the soil is built, how the soil is nurtured, and how pests are managed are of paramount importance to organic gardening.  Basically, organic gardening involves working in cooperation with nature in your garden.

Quite simply, in practical terms, organic gardening means that you would not use synthetic products or chemicals, including pesticides or fertilizers. You would use sensible methods to replenish the soil like feeding the soil with composted plants, or rotating the plants that are planted in a given area to allow the soil to get enriched.

Creating and maintaining an organic garden can be a very satisfying experience for a gardener .

Why is the soil so important?

A core idea in organic gardening is that soil needs to be fed and nourished, so that, it, in turn, can nourish our plants. This is simple, common sense.

Soil can be of different types.   Clay soil is rich in nutrients and holds water better, but the soil can sometimes hold the water too well and not let enough air in. Sandy soil, on the other hand drains water well, but is usually low in nutrients. In either case, the solution is to add some organic matter to improve the soil’s texture and improve the nutrient content in the soil.

How can you eliminate pests without chemicals?

One of the common fears that a gardener has about “going organic” is the image of having to share their garden with insects and pests and worse, leaving the plants to die of disease.  After all, how can one eliminate pests or treat diseases without chemicals?

The gardener’s job of watching over the garden and plants diligently remains the most important first step. Secondly, the key is to adopt a mindset of acting in a way that is in cooperation with nature. Thirdly, the gardener has to become more knowledgeable about the specific issues they face and simple, and natural options that may be there to solve them.

For example, with pest control, a wide range of organic pesticides are available to help with the problem. But, sometimes, if you know what the problems is, you may not need to do anything at all because the insect that hit your garden will be gone at the end of the season never to return. i.e. You don’t have to be in a trigger-ready state always to “kill” the invader.

Sometimes, it is valuable to look to nature to see if there are other insect that are natural predators for the pests inflicting your plants. If so, it would suffice to introduce a small number of the “beneficial insects” into your garden to solve your pest problem. For example, ladybugs love to eat aphids. 

Another safe, effective and natural method is to use physical barriers like sticky traps to catch flying insects. Many safe methods like this are there in the toolset of the organic gardener.

Here are some commonly used techniques to keep your garden thriving, organically:

• Let there be some pest damage – there is no need to strive for a 100% pest free garden always
• Select plants carefully. Choose varieties that are disease resistant.
• Use smart planting of companion crops that can discourage pests naturally
• Rotate crops from year to year to disrupt pest reproduction cycles
• Use row covers to protect plants during pest migrations

Becoming aware of methods like these will empower the gardener make wise choices in dealing with pests in the garden.

How can you enrich the soil without fertilizers?

There are many ways to have nutrient-rich soil , without resorting to chemical fertilizers.

You can use “green manure”. Green manure is a type of crop that is grown for a specific period, with the main idea of adding nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Leguminous green manures like clover and vetch fix the soil’s nitrogen content in a manner that plants can use. Other green manure crops can help increase the organic matter in the soil. Some cover crops behave as natural suppressants of weeds while preventing soil erosion and compaction at the same time. Oat, Rye, Fava Beans, Clover, Mustard, Fenugreek etc. are all popular green manures.

You can use “compost”. Compost is a decomposed combination of plants, animal and other organic materials that is rich, black soil. When added to the soil, compost provides nutrients and a rich growing medium for plants. You can make compost yourself by using vegetable, food and other organic waste materials from your home. Compose is natural fertilizer for plants, and there are many methods and materials available for preparing compost.

You can use “mulching”. Much is a special kind of ground cover placed over the soil to help it retain its moisture, and suppress weeds from growing . Organic mulches also provide nutrients to the soil as the cover decays.

Summary

As an organic gardener, you work in synch with nature, and adopting nature-friendly ways to prepare your soil, nourish your soil and keep it safe and healthy. All this without ever having to resort to polluting, dangerous and toxic chemicals!

There are some good resources availabe online and you can start here by using this guide to the best Web resources on organic gardening.

For other gardening resources , please consult this gardening guide.

Caring for your Bonsai tree involves a variety of repeated activities associated with caring for a common pot plant or indoor plant. Well matured and healthy fibrous roots are very important for the continued good health of your Bonsai tree and repotting is a key way to manage this process. Generally a young or fast growing Bonsai will need to be repotted approximately once every year; for less fertile growers or older trees this repotting can be done as infrequently as once every five years. You must always try to repot during late wintertime or the start of spring when the buds begin to swell.

Bonsai tree repotting procedure
The procedure for repotting a Bonsai tree is one which you should carry out seriously and follow these trouble free instructions:

To start with, you need to tidy the tree by cautiously pruning off any useless, elongated branches. Furthermore, ensure the tree is placed under cover for a couple of weeks if it is an outdoor Bonsai tree, this way the soil will be relatively dry. Once you remove the tree from its Bonsai pot you will be able to see if it actually necessitates repotting. In case it is root bound then it is recommended that you repot it, conversely, if you notice that there are another few inches of space so the roots can grow a little longer then it is suggested that you carefully place the tree in its original pot and carry on as usual.

It is recommended that get rid of surface soil from the roots either by hand or else using a nylon scrubbing brush. Brush away from the trunk taking care not to hurt any of the roots. Taking away the loose soil will give the Bonsai tree a healthier look as well as feel. Once you’ve removed most of the soil in this way, you can use a small, fine bristled paintbrush to eliminate the soil caught in the roots or that has collected in the roots.

Utilizing a Bonsai fork, comb out the roots. Do this by disentangling out the roots from beneath and then utilize scissors to prune up to approximately a third of the roots and after cut out tiny wedges around the root base to permit fresh soil to assemble and keep your Bonsai strong. Add on a layer of grit to the base of the pot and after add on the Bonsai compost of your preference.

Take the time to arrange your Bonsai tree in the pot and afterwards press on a little additional soil into awkward places. Complete this as repeatedly as needed to as mentioned in this report.

For those who do not trust pharmaceutical companies, herbal medicine plants can provide a safe, healthy alternative to treat various aliments and diseases. However, there are some things that you should consider before you invest in these herbs and use them. Herbal medicine plants, just like treatments from pharmaceuticals, are drugs that should be treated with caution and respect. While they are more natural than the processed drugs you can buy in the pharmacies, they still share a lot of the components found in over the counter medications.

Many plants, such as oregano, are easy herbal medicine plants to care for, and can be used for home remedies as well as for cooking.Caring for your own herbal medicine plants is as easy as caring for any other plant. Many common plants, such as basil, can be used for home remedies as well as for cooking. With so many different uses, this can allow you to make the most out of the plants you keep by transforming your garden into a multipurpose venture.

When you are deciding which herbal medicine plants to keep, there are some things that you should make a note of. First, you should label each plant, so there is no mistaking what the plant is in your garden. There are many useful herbs that do have toxic components, so this is very important. If the plant may have poisonous components, these should be labeled and kept out of the reach of children.

In addition to this, you should keep careful data on how the herbal medicine plants should be processed for use. Most plants of this nature cannot simply have their leaves taken from the plant and digested to get benefit from them. At the very least, you will need to dry the leaves or steep them as teas in order to release the medicinal properties of the plant.

In the case of some herbal medicine plants, the blossoms and fruit are what you will take and use for medicinal purposes. It is especially vital that you handle these types of plants with care, as these types of plants tend to be coupled with poisonous components.

There are some ailments and diseases that herbal medicine plants can help cure. Ranging from the common cold, negating pregnancy symptoms and treating more lethal ailments such as cancers, these herbs can help improve the quality of life. These herbs can also be used to promote lower weights as well as fortify your body’s ability to digest food and rid itself of waste.

If you have any concerns over the use of herbal medicine plants, please consult your health care provider or local herbalist.

Who doesn’t like a lush and green lawn! If you could opt for a weed-free and healthy lawn, as a homeowner, you’d surely jump on that offer.    But is your green lawn really “green”? i.e. Is it eco-friendly ? Is it friendly to the nature around you?

The quest for a green lawn need not be at odds with wanting to be “green” or “earth friendly”. Here are some ideas for lawncare and the green lawn ideal .

Choose the right kind of grass

What kind of grass is there in your lawn?  Does this grass thrive well in your climate?   People living in the North and Pacific Northwest, who deal with cool and humid climates, should plant fescue and Kentucky bluegrass.   If you live in the South or Southwest, you should plant zoysia, Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses, which survive well in warm and humic climates.   In the semi-arid plains or other cool areas, your best best is Buffalo grass.

Get your soil nourished

After finding the best grass for your area, it’s time to make sure your soil is nutrient rich and healthy.   Choose organic products to feed your lawn instead of synthetic fertilizers.   This will be a larger investment to begin with, but will pay off in the end. Synthetic fertilizers do not last as long as organic ones, which means you have to reapply a synthetic fertilizer more often.   Important note: Just because you are using an organic fertilizer, it doesn’t mean you can be careless with its usage. Organic fertlizers can cause water pollution just as synthetics can. So be sure to sweep the fertilizer off sidewalks or driveways back onto your lawn to prevent water pollution. 

Keep the weeds under control

Pests are pesky. But before you reach for the toxic synthetic pest control product, give an organic, non-toxic pest control product a try. There are plenty of such safe alternatives in the market these days. There is no excuse any more to add more toxic chemicals to our lawns to control weeds, and increase the pollution to our streams and rivers and ground water in the process. This helps maintain an organic lawn.

Use water wisely 

Are you over-watering your lawn?  Most people do. How can you find out? If you have moss growing on your driveway, or sidewalk edges, then it is a sure sign that you are over-watering your lawn. Use an inexpensive lawn moisture meter or if you can afford it, a more comprehensive intelligent lawn irrigation system to get your watering usage under control.

Are you tapping into a free source of water in your home? Think rain water!  You can collect and reuse rain water. Just put a barrel under your gutter’s downspout and you will see just how easily it fills up with “free” rain water, nature’s own gift to water your lawn when you need to!

Next, do you hose your driveway every so often?  If you, its time to kick that habit now. . Every time you hose your driveway, you are also washing away oils, toxic chemicals etc. which end up in rivers and other water sources, polluting them.

Watch your lawn mowing

Who knew that the exhaust from lawn mowers is a major contributor to air pollution? Now that you do, it’s time to choose a push mower. If you can’t push a mower for health or physical reasons, you can at least choose a plugin mower, which has a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional gas mowers.

Also, when you are mowing your lawn, you generate a very useful resource that you normally throw away – grass clippings! If you used a mulching lawn mower, the grass clippings are crushed and left right on the grass, and this does two things for your grass – it provides it food, and it conserves the amount of water the grass needs to grow. Amazing isn’t it?

Eliminate your gas-powered blowers

Are you using a gas-powered leaf blower?  Did you know that they are a major source of pollution with a major carbon footprint? You’d do well to revert to rakes and brooms for eliminating your leaves. If that seems daunting and too much work, you might want to consider that the raking activity will give you plenty of exercise easily. That’s a win-win. You help yourself while choosing a method that is earth-friendly.

Reuse your yard waste

If your city doesn’t collect yard waste (and even if they do), you can collect your yard waste and use it for composting. Composting is a simple way to transform yard waste, and other organic household waste like vegetable and animal product waste into a nutrient-rich compost for your soil.

Go “green” by choosing synthetic?!

Surprised by this suggestion? Consider this. Let’s say you are living in a high drought area, but have a serious addiction to lush, green grass in your lawn. Going about it the conventional way, you will be consuming huge amount of water, a scarce resource in your region – that is certainly not friendly to the place you live in. What choices do you have if you still wanted to be “green” with your lawncare ? One idea : Choose synthetic grass. Synthetic grass can look lush, and bring the green you wish to your yard. It can last for over ten years , and uses no water whatsoever . And it looks very real ! Imagine that!  Finally!  A synthetic solution that is actually “green”!

All in all, these are practical ways in which to ensure that your lush, green lawn is also “green”, and earth-friendly .

Having the right knowledge is important if you want to accomplish proper orchid care .  If you want to know how to properly care for your orchid flowers then you need to read this article for the right information.   There are some basics that you will need to understand in order to have amazing orchids.   In this article you will discover all about light, temperature, humidity, proper watering, and the right soil medium for perfect orchids.

Some Tips on Correct Soil Medium

When caring for orchids it is essential to have the proper orchid medium for your plants.   If you plant your orchids in regular potting soil your orchid plant will surely die because they grow in very different soil.   There are many readily available mixes that you can find including tree fiber, fir bark, and coconut husks.   Inorganic types of orchid medium include lava rock, charcoal, turface, and even pearlite can be used to grow orchids.   I recommend just visiting your local greenhouse or orchid nursery and finding orchid mixes.   These are best for beginners because they have a mix of organic fibers that will feed your orchid for quite a long time.

How Much Light Does an Orchid Need?

Like most plants that grow in the wild orchids need a certain amount of light to thrive as well.   Most orchids are very sensitive to very bright light and can burn very easily if placed in direct sunlight.   That’s why if you are planting your orchids indoors it is important not to place them directly in sunlight.  One of the most popular places to put your orchids is on a windowsill, but make sure not to leave it in direct sunlight for too long.   When the sun is brightest in the summertime it is essential to place your orchid plant in a shaded area to avoid sun burn on your plants.   If you live in an area that doesn’t get much sun then I suggest using artificial lights to grow your orchids.   Fluorescent lights are the best because they give your orchid plants the correct amount of light and the light bulbs will not burn your plants leaves.

Keeping Your Orchids In The Correct Temperature

Proper temperature is critical to maintaining magnificent orchids.   There are three classes that orchids are placed into according to their temperature requirements cool temperature, medium temperature, and warm temperature class.   If you have cool temperature plants such as cymbidiums then you want to keep them in a temperature of 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.   Orchids that are in the medium class require 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit for proper growth.  Some orchids in this class include cattleyas, epidendrums, and oncidiums.   Warm class plants such as phalaenopsis and vanda orchids need to have a temperature of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.   If the orchid temperature becomes too low your orchid leaves will begin to turn very dark and sometimes mushy.   When the temperature becomes too high you might see your orchid leaves turning black and yellow because of sunburn.

Humidity Is Also Essential For Orchid Growth

Humidity plays an important role in the growth of orchids and must be at the correct levels.   Without the correct humidity levels your orchids could become very sick and may not bloom to its full potential.   During the summertime the humidity that is around should be adequate for your orchids to thrive.  Unless you happen to live in a dry climate.   In dry climates you need to supply your orchids with humidity.   Keeping the humidity around 60-80% will give you amazing results.   During the winter or dry months you may want to add humidity to the air with a humidifier if you have one.   Placing your plants in a tray of gravel filling the tray with water making sure your plants don’t touch the water is another way of adding humidity.  

How To Water Your Orchids

Here are some steps you should take when watering your orchid plants.   Over-watering your orchids could make your orchids become very sick or even rot your orchid, and not giving your orchids enough water can also make your plant droopy and very sick looking.   There is a very simple way to make sure that you have watered your orchid correctly.  

1.  First, water your orchids thoroughly making sure that they are moist.  You don’t want to have damp orchids, you want to have moist orchids. 

2.  Next, testing the weight of the orchid after it has been watered will give you an idea of how heavy your plant is when it has been watered correctly.  

3.  Third, you need to test the weight of your orchid every day to make sure it hasn’t lost too much water.  

4. Sticking your finger an inch into the orchid medium can give you a good idea of how moist the soil is, and if you need to water your orchid.

Now that you know how to care for orchids, it’s your time to have beautiful and amazing looking orchids.  Good luck with your new hobby!

Birth flowers are an very old tradition.  In the identical vein as birthstones, birth month flowers are flowers selected to coincide with a certain month.  Each blossom then has its own connotation in the speech of flowers, paying homage to the Victorian days.

Different months comprise different meanings.  For example, January’s flower would be the carnation.  The carnation in general means enthrallment, honor, and love.  Furthermore, the particular color of the flower has a connotation as well.  For example, if you offer a person a scarlet carnation, it means “my spirit longs for you.”  A pink carnation connotes “I’ll always remember you.”  A yellow one is given when you are disappointed with a person.  And a striped carnation connotes that you want to be with them.

To get even more comprehensive, each flower has its own story.  The carnation has been grown for 2000 years.  It had been initially utilised in Greece as a crown for victors.  Over time, it’s been used as a present to honor parents, plus as a funereal flower.

A flower may also denote different things to different cultures.  In America and Canada, white and scarlet carnations are used to honor moms on Mother’s Day.  In France, carnations are the representation of misfortune and bad luck, yet these are the national bloom of Spain.   In Korea, carnations are used to honor both mother and father plus teachers.

So if you wish to offer a person a spray of birth month flowers for his or her birthday, be sure to offer them the same number of flowers that they are years of age.  This is considered lucky.  Also, contemplate what the individual shade means before you give them that flower.  You don’t want to give a flower which has a adverse denotation on a birthday!

Sending flowers same day is something that is done best when researched and arranged early in the day. This is due to several reasons. First of all, most florists have a 2pm cut off time for same day flowers and really prefer that you contact them before noon that day to effectively work through all the logistics involved in the choice of flower arrangement, details for the delivery and time that might be crucial for any adjustments necessary or if the florist is booked with orders .

Most florists take pride in their craft. A flower arrangement done correctly is not something that the local flower shop likes to rush. The fact of the matter is that the reputable floral shop takes their floral design craft seriously. A quality florist adds that special attention to an arrangement of flowers being prepared for delivery. Hence, giving a flower design specialist sufficient time to arrange your order of flowers properly for same day delivery to the recipient is a task that has to be initiated properly by the customer first, then being taken over by the florist.

In the age of online flower delivery, a reputable online delivery service will offer an online arrangement gallery that offers many convenient, quick features that will make your order easy by providing a user friendly experience that will allow you to accomplish your task in a matter of minutes. When you make the decision to order flowers for same day delivery, you are looking for a trustworthy online storefront that is broken down by category, and also provides clear pictures and details of all arrangements available.

Cheap flowers delivered same day are not very realistic for the customer.This is because a remote ordering, national online floral service offers a different value proposition. You are paying for convenience, high quality floral and100% guarantees regarding product satisfaction, timely delivery and protection of your credit card throughout the flower orderingprocess.All of this adds up to an order that is usually an investment of $50 or more after delivery fees have been factored into to the order.

However, when you order flowers for same day delivery online, the investment is usually worth it provided you are choosing the right order service. A delivery services toll free number will offer an extra sense of security. You can talk to a friendly customer service person regarding any questions or concerns before placing your order. If you are satisfied with what you are hearing from the service you have selected, then you have the choice of scheduling your order on the website or right over thetelephone, toll free,

Lastly, a full service online flower shop will offer both a large selection of flowers and gift baskets for same day delivery. Fruit and chocolate are more often than not the most popular types of gift baskets, and some people just prefer them to flowers. However, timeliness can be a concern due to the fact that not all florists process gift baskets as part of their service. Therefore, gift baskets are not always available for same day delivery due to their need to be shipped in from out of town to the recipient.

Regardless of what kinds of flowers or gift baskets you decide to send a friend or loved one for same day delivery, go that extra mile to get started early to mid-morning with your preparation so it gets done right. Be diligent about your bouquet choice, floral shop service, and remember, the earlier you get everything done, the higher up the list your order will be with the florist for a delivery that has been carefully arranged and is delivered on-time without a hitch. 

head stones for dead or soon to be dead pets? rabbit traps, snairs and the like?

Reality TV at its best! This episode of Emily’s Garden features the lifestyle of artisan,woodsmith; Christopher Hauver, of Coventry, Rhode Island.Emily demonstrates how to make a rustic chalkboard with a stick frame.

Hydroponics lights, or grow lights as they are commonly called, come in several varieties and can be used in combination with one another to accomplish the best results in an indoor growing area or grow box.  If you are using natural sunlight in any way, the grow lights will be used to supplement natural light; if you are using strictly artificial lighting, your setup will naturally be a bit more elaborate.

When setting up hydroponic lighting, it’s important to understand the principle of color temperature and its effects on plant life.  Not to be confused with heat/cold, color temperature refers to the color spectrum of light, and is measured in degrees Kelvin.  Higher color temperatures are considered “cooler”—blue light being the coolest at around 6000K—and red-orange light being “warmer” (2000K range).  Generally speaking, full-vegetation plants do well with the darker blue spectrum (closest to normal sunlight at 6000K), while fruit/flowering plants do well with slightly warmer color temperatures (4800K). In the reproductive/flowering phase, plants draw from the red-orange part of the spectrum.  In an optimal lighting setup, your hydroponic lights will cover a blend of these color temperatures best suited for the plants you are growing.

The most common type of bulb used in hydroponic lighting is the Metal Halide (MH) bulb.  This High-Intensity Discharge (HID) light leans most toward the blue side of the spectrum, is most like direct sunlight, and is preferred for most growing situations.  Obviously, leafy, full-vegetation plants do well with MH bulbs.

Another HID bulb used is the High Pressure Sodium (HPS) bulb.  This bulb tends to emit orange-red light around the 2200K mark, and is awesome for flowering plants, but not very good in itself as an artificial lighting stand-in.  It should generally be used in combination with natural sunlight or other artificial bulbs.

Your third choice is compact fluorescent grow lights or lighting.  The advantage with fluorescents is that although they are less intense, they are cheaper, can be placed close to the plants because of their low emission of heat, and in combination with one another can cover the color temperature spectrum fairly well.

Other types of grow lights include incandescent lighting, which can be tricky because they are not as intense and get too warm to be placed close to the plants; and more recently, LED lights, which claim to cover the spectrum well and emit almost no heat, but are fairly expensive and not as cost-efficient as the other options.

As you can tell, there are a wide range of combinations that can be made from these hydroponic lights. The combination that works best for your garden can be determined with your retailer.