Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts

Monday, June 30, 2008

Creating Bald Cypress Bonsai Tree Shapes for Indoor Gardening

Indoor gardening is a pleasure that you can do virtually year round. The nice feature of indoor gardening is that you can do it in an apartment, condo or virtually any place that you live because there are no additional land requirements or landscaping obstacles. Those new to Bonsai Trees will find that the Bald Cypress Bonsai is a great choice for novice indoor gardeners. There are several things to keep in mind with the Bald Cypress Bonsai indoor gardening.

Getting Started with Bald Cypress Bonsai Gardening

If you want to completely from scratch it is best to opt for the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree that you sense or believe will contour into an exquisite piece of indoor gardening art. The Bald Cypress Bonsai tree can be located in the southern divisions of the US. In the southern regions of the US, it is fairly easy to come across the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree in nature. If, for some reason, you are not able to hit upon the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree or are not in the Southern region, it is best to try one of your local garden stores or perhaps a local nursery. One feature you should check for when selecting the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree is a tree with a tapered trunk. A juvenile, high Bald Cypress Bonsai tree is all right but it is important for you to have some general knowledge about the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree cutting process. Ideally, you should obtain your Bald Cypress Bonsai tree in late winter season or even early fall season. This will make certain that the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree is in the latent phase for when you conduct the initial trunk cut.

Cutting the Bald Cypress Bonsai Tree

Selecting which spot to cut the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree may be a tricky or challenging procedure for novices to this type of indoor gardening. Characteristically, indoor gardeners employ the rule that the height of the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree should be approximately six times the width base of the tree. Do not be alarmed when cutting the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree to fit the formula used by indoor gardeners familiar with Bonsai Tree sculpting. Initially, when you begin this type of indoor gardening, beginners may feel that they are destroying all of their Bald Cypress Bonsai tree's growth. The good news is that the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree will indeed bud out from this initial cutting.

Soil for Growing the Bald Cypress Bonsai Tree

The soil for the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree should be primarily grit and humus combined. You can place pine bark in the container to help it as well. You can purchase specific Bald Cypress Bonsai tree plant fertilizer and should follow the instructions on the container.

Growing and Watering the Bald Cypress Bonsai Tree

After the indoor gardener makes the appropriate height cut, it is important to keep the tree slightly moist. You want light for the tree but do not set it in direct sunlight. The Bald Cypress Bonsai tree will often grow slowly the first season of indoor gardening with it. However, the patience that you give to this wonderful tree will be well worth the wait. It can be very exciting as you watch the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree expand and grow. Keep your Bald Cypress Bonsai tree moist by lightly misting it each day to keep it from drying out and going into a state of permanent dormancy.

Pot for the Bald Cypress Bonsai Tree

The pot for the Bald Cypress Bonsai is the main way that the indoor gardener will display their beautiful sculpting. However, the pot is the life line of the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree and is important. The indoor gardening formula is that the pot’s width should be approximately two-thirds to three-fourths the height of the tree. The planting depth of the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree should be approximately one-third the depth of the pot. The pot’s height should be approximately the same diameter as the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree. Following this general indoor gardening formula will let you know when it is time to transplant your Bald Cypress Bonsai tree. Only transplant during the latency phase to decrease root shock and plant shock.

Pruning the Bald Cypress Bonsai Tree

Once you have done the initial cutting and shaping of the Bald Cypress Bonsai tree, you can trim and prune the bud growths to sculpt and create the ideal shape of the tree for displaying. Make certain to keep it moist and with good humidity. The Bald Cypress Bonsai tree will grow slowly, so do your indoor gardening sculpting slowly and with patience to create the perfect shape and natural sculpture that you want for the wonderful Bald Cypress Bonsai tree. If you prune too much, it will slowly grow back which makes the Bald Cypress Bonsai ideal for new indoor gardeners.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Have You Considered the Viability of Growing Gardenias Indoors?

Gardenias are beautiful shrubs with green glossy leaves and in summer they bear flowers that have the most amazing perfume – it is pungent but light, aromatic and somewhat heady and is unforgettable once you have smelt its distinct emission of perfume. You walk along the streets and the fragrance is amazing.

Have you ever thought of growing your own gardenia bush? Your garden may not be suitable depending on the structure and drainage of the soil, but you can still grow gardenias – in pots. Apparently, gardenias actually thrive if grown in pots.

Select a vigorous variety of gardenia – Belmont or Miami Supreme. Ensure that they have not become root bound in their pots before you purchase them. Use a clay or terracotta pot 2 inches bigger than the rootball. They prefer an acidic soil (clayey). A good peat based potting soil is recommended and add time release fertilizer pellets and dry ironite. Apply Epsom salts and liquid iron chelate once a month. If they are placed outside in summer they can get the right amount of humidity and will thrive. Shift your potted gardenia after 2pm to a shadier environment.

Be careful of overwatering, over potting and over fertilizing, but, please don’t allow them to get too dry, either. Gardenias are prone to root disease which can be eliminated with the right supplementations as mentioned above. In winter bring your Gardenia indoors and place it in front of your sunniest window. Don’t fertilize in winter for that is when the plant is dormant and doesn’t need fertilizing. Gardenias are prone to aphids, but there is no need to use chemicals and poisons to treat them – just wash them off with the hose whenever you notice them.

If you love gardening and potted plants you are going to be absolutely thrilled if you can grow a gardenia bush successfully. Happy potting!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

How to Make Garden Buckets with Teens and Kids for a Fun Summer Project

There are many wonderful gardening projects that you can do with teens and kids when warm weather hits. The key to gardening with teens is to make the project fun enough that they will not think that it's stupid. At the same time, you want it easy but not too easy. There is a fine balance. I came across a gardening project called garden buckets that work well with teens and with kids that are school age. The great thing is that this project can be done as a family and does not cost a great deal. With warm weather you can get all of the supplies needed for the garden buckets without spending a fortune. It is fun to do flowers and plants in these little family gardens.

Have Fun with the Buckets

Allow the teen or child to select the bucket that they want to use for the garden buckets project that they will plant their flowers and plants in. Once you have the bucket in tow, you can go to the local craft supply store and select items to decorate the bucket with. Keep it simple and easy depending on the child's crafting skill level.

Garden buckets should be fun and a great way to show off flowers. A teen can decorate with bling, markers, stickers, paint, nail polish or whatever they think of. Younger children can decorate with markers and stickers. You can even surprise spray painting the garden buckets. The key is to have fun with the project and enjoy some family time together.

Putting the Garden Buckets Together

Once your teen or child has decorated their garden bucket, it is time to get the plants, flowers, soil and fertilizer pellets. In the bottom of the bucket drill a few drain holes. Line the bottom of the bucket with leftover Styrofoam peanuts or rocks to keep the flowers and plants drained. Mix a small amount of the time released fertilizer pellets in with the soil. Dig a small hole and plant several plants or flowers in the garden buckets. Water thoroughly.

Did you know that with younger children you can do edible plants such as flowering pansies, cute and pretty nasturiums and adorable little gem marigolds. You can also do cherry tomatoes and other blooming vegetables. This way if the younger child decides to eat the plants, they will not get sick.

Show off the Garden Buckets

Part of the family fun of a garden bucket is getting to show it off to friends and relatives. Kids and teens love to show off their projects and will be proud of their new flowers and plants in the garden buckets. The buckets are so easy to put together, that you might end up with several of them. Your teen or child can take them to friend's houses, get together and to the grandparents to show up what they made and their personal garden.

Great Gift Idea

Garden buckets are so easy to make that they make a great gift idea. Your child and teen get the fun of making the new gardens and can decorate the bucket with the gift recipient in mind. For example, for Father's Day you could decorate the bucket with a theme that fits something your Dad likes to do. Gift recipients will love that your child or teen took the time to make the garden buckets and enjoy taking care of the flowers and plants after they receive it. You can centerpiece the garden bucket with a tomato plant and then put the smaller plants around the bucket. This is a great way to give someone special a tomato garden and flower garden combined.