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Feng Shui Container Gardens

November 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When you think of Feng Shui you may or may not of gardening. Here is some information on Feng Shui container gardening and all the possibilities.

If you have been thinking about getting into Feng Shui gardening but are thinking that you need a large open area to create your garden, and then think again. You can create a Feng Shui container garden that still posses all the principles of the Feng Shui form. Since, most of us do not possess a large open area, with rocks we can stack and large field to work with, a Feng Shui container garden can work as well and still bring about the calmness and serenity that large Feng Shui gardens have.

Regardless of the amount of space you have, you can create a beautiful and interesting Feng Shui container garden. You will be able to incorporate all the Feng Shui ideas even though you are using a much smaller space. What is always important when creating a Feng Shui space is the energy that the space possess. So transforming your patio from an area you prefer to spend no time in, to an area of relaxation and even meditation is not as hard as it seems. Using many different plants, vegetables, flowers, fruits, and herbs to create the space that you want while still incorporating the Feng Shui energy can be done.

Once you have read up enough on Feng Shui ideals and beliefs you will be ready to begin picking which plants and vegetation you want to use. Starting with the plants you want in your area is best. Any plant nursery will have many varieties to choose from and all plants will have growing instructions and where they will thrive best. Along with all the necessary instructions on how to take care of them, from the amount of water they need to how much sunlight and shade they should get. Picking plants to create balance and harmony in your environment will be an important concern, however always looking for color and diversity is important too.

Choosing containers that are easily moved and adjusted will make creating and changing your Feng Shui garden much easier. Especially when there is a shift in energy in or around your home or business and you need to make a change quickly. Allowing for creativity in your containers is still important too and just about anything can e used that goes along with your Feng Shui theme. Pots, buckets, terracotta, ceramic, wood, tile, or even plastic. Anything that can hold items can be turned into a container for your garden, always just make sure to have holes in the bottom for water drainage and a saucer underneath to catch the water drainage.

Also, unlike other types of gardening, Feng Shui gardening allows for attachment to your plants and a connection with them that many other types of gardening does not look for. Whether you move or the weather changes, keeping the plants with you and creating your garden any where you are at will create additional harmony and strength with your Feng Shui garden.

Creating your Feng Shui garden will give you a sense of peace and serenity when there is so much going on around you. This will be your place for relaxation and even meditation with all the Feng Shui characteristics and ideals.

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What Container Gardening Entails

November 13, 2010 By 2 Comments
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Container gardening is usually suited to people who live in places with a lack of space such as built-up urban areas. The different issues involved in container gardening and a number of brilliant ideas, are covered in this piece.

Container gardening is usually designed for people who think that they’re days of gardening have ended when they move into an apartment of a condo. Plants that are pretty and useful can still be grown if you opt to have a container garden instead. A few simple rules will have to be followed before you start your container garden. Five essential elements are important to your container garden and they include the pot, the soil, the light, the watering requirements and the fertilizer. Think of herbs for instance, they do not require big pots but they need at least six good hours of sunlight. The fertilizer that they need is small and they require good drainage in their soil.

Selecting the right container is quite important for you as well as your plants. You will preferably need to choose a pot which complements your home or your outside patio; you may also want to meet the needs of your plants. Cedar and redwood containers tend to be rot resistant while other woods tend to root easily. If wood pots are used you should ensure that they have not been treated with harmful chemicals which are harmful to your plants. Plastic pots should not be used in the sun as they will disintegrate quite quickly. Terracotta Containers are vulnerable in the sunlight as well as they tend to dry out easily and are prone to crack and break. The best pots that can be used for your container garden on the patio are usually ceramic glazed pots. These pots tend to be pretty and colorful but you should ensure that they have a lot of drainage holes.

For soil, everything is entirely about the nature of plants that you intend to grow. You should remember that your garden is going to be grown in limited space so you have to ensure that the soil will drain sufficiently. The whole key is usually to have a soil mixture which will retain moisture and has adequate drainage so as not to drown the roots. Making some research into the type of plant that you are growing will give you an idea of what each plant requires. Certain plants may require that some sand is added to the mix. In container gardening you cannot afford to go wrong where any of the essential components is concerned.

One more aspect of research is to understand how much light that your plants require. All plants which are available have different levels of light. Impatiens tends to do excellently in the shade while vegetables and flowers tend to do wonderfully in sunlight.

Fertilizing is one more crucial aspect of container gardening. When a plant is placed in a container, it only requires a minimal amount of solid which to draw nutrients from, because of this you will have to give it a little help. In order to be consistent, you should fertilize on every other watering. One fertilizer alone shouldn’t be used, a whole mix of nutrients will aid in keeping your plants happy and healthy as well.

Watering your container gardening should be quite crucial to you. It will take a certain amount of time to develop the right schedule for the different plants since they all tend to have different requirements. If you are having extremely hot weather then you may need to water your plants on a daily basis.

Container gardening is a very rewarding venture. It permits people in the city to enjoy something of the great outdoors in their own limited space. As soon as you have done your research and you have decided on the nature of plants to grow, the next step for you is to gather all the necessary materials and plant your container garden. You will no doubt enjoy the container gardening experience.

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Removing Your Container Garden for Winter

November 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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At some point you will have to remove your container garden. They only can go for so long and there will be the clean up and removal that will need to happen. Here are a few ways to make it a simpler project.

Now that summer is over, many of the flowers you have will no longer make it into the winter. However, there are a few ways to save some of your plants and get them through the winter. The other ones though will not be as lucky and have to be emptied and removed. Doing this is not difficult and can be done relatively easily.

If you planted any tropical annuals, they can be brought indoors for the winter. They will need:

A very sunny window or ledge.

Good amount of available moisture.

Of course enough space to set them up.

Along with any tropical plants you have, you can also bring in palms and ferns. Removing some cuttings and essentially cloning your plants may be a better idea if you do not have a lot of room or an area that they can still strive in. The plants need to be very healthy with no bugs or blights. What you will need to do to succeed is:

1.

Make sure you use a sharp knife and remove some of the non-flowering stems. It should be about three to four inches long.

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You will then need to make sure all the leaves are removed from the lower part of them stem; around two thirds of the way down.

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Now that you have prepared the cuttings that you have chosen, dip the edges in rooting hormone. Rooting hormone is available at all plant stores.

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Once they have been dipped, put the cuttings that are still damp, into moist sand or peat moss. Even tap water will work if you do not have sand or peat moss to use.

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Next, take the container that they are in and place it in a sunny place for three to four weeks.

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Do not forget to keep the sand or peat moss moist during this time.

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Keep checking your cuttings until you see that the roots are about 1 inch long.

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Now you are able to plant them in a regular pot and grow them on a sunny window ledge or room.

This method works well when you are dealing with such plants as geraniums, pelargonium, coleus, and certain ivies. Sometimes impatiens work too.

So, you have rescued and saved all the plants that you can and you are ready to move onto cleaning the containers of the other plants and disposing of them. All the plants that you are getting rid of you can cut up and put into a compost heap, this includes the soil. You definitely want to get rid of all the soil especially if you have soil in terracotta or ceramic pots and containers. Any moisture in the soil will expand when it freezes and it will crack the pots and containers, ruining them and making a mess.

Now, simply wash out all the containers and pots to make sure all debris and fungus are gone. If there is a white ring on your terracotta pots then just soak them for twenty four hours in white vinegar, water, and baking soda. After they have soaked use a stiff brush and scrub them in soapy water and rinse.

Next, dry the containers and pots in the sun and then stack them with paper towels or newspapers between them to absorb any moisture that is left. Try to store them somewhere at room temperature so that they do not freeze together during the winter months. However, as long as there are layers between them, they should be fine until the spring.

As long as you follow these tips you should have no problem saving some of your plants and being prepared for the following summer.

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Growing Vegetables In Your Home

November 13, 2010 By 1 Comment
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Even if you do not have a yard or a lot of space, you can grow some vegetables in your home. Here are a few tips and tricks to get your indoor vegetable garden going.

With so many people living in apartments now with the rising costs of homes and well the rising costs of everything. More people have turned to apartments and condos to lower their costs and of course there is a way to lower the costs further by growing your own vegetables inside your home.

Growing plants in containers open up many possibilities, since you can grow them throughout the year. The only limitation that you have is how much work you want to put into your indoor garden and the amount of space you have available.

There is also the benefit of saving money since you will be growing some of your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs indoors. Once you have your garden set up the cost is very little, if hardly any at all. Your plants need watering, sunlight, shade, and fertilizing occasionally. Your plants will also be much more natural with less pesticides and chemicals in them since you will be growing on a much smaller scale and indoors. Indoor gardening means less bugs, diseases, and small creatures like snails and worms getting into your garden. Eliminating the need for pesticides and chemical sprays on your foods and flowers.

Indoor growing can offer optimum growing conditions for your plants, since they are indoors and can always receive premium sunlight and food. Especially since when need be you can move your plants for more or less sunlight or to a different locations for warmth or cold. Indoor gardening gives you many options that traditional outdoor gardening does not provide.

Furthermore, container gardening is suitable for many people. Regardless of age or gender you can participate in container gardening.

If you are elderly or have limited mobility you can still have a container garden since it does not take a lot of time or effort to have one. You can keep your garden small and easily manageable depending on what your needs are.

Or if you have never had a garden before, it is a good way to get started and begin experimenting and trying new things. Again, you can start small until you get the hang of it.

It is a great way to get children of all ages involved. They can learn about nature and how to take care of plants, while learning about responsibility and sticking to a schedule. Growing a garden is a great way for children to get involved and have a lot of fun doing it, since they will get to eat what they have grown.

Also, you can grow your vegetables throughout the year since there is no limit because of season changes. Making container gardening great for people who live in extremely warm or cold places that do not usually have great growing conditions.

Lastly, you can reuse many household containers and pots to grow your plants. Saving you time and money.

Regardless of why you have decided to start an indoor vegetable, fruit, herb, of flower garden the benefits are numerous. With so many ways to start your garden and all the creative ways to design it, indoor gardening may be just your home and your heart needs.

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Fresh Ideas on A Old Concept

November 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Container gardening has been around for awhile and with very little space one can be created. Here are some ideas and ways to take part in this fun activity.

With so little space these days and costing more than ever, condos, apartments, sublets, and very small garden homes have become popular to save money and space. Many times living in these confined spaces we feel like we have no room and definitely cannot grow a garden or anything of beauty. However, that is not the case. Growing a garden indoors can bring beauty and relaxation, even to the smallest space.

Maintaining a small vegetable, fruit, flower, or plant garden is not difficult. It is simple and easy, the most work happens when containers need to be emptied and changed once plants have outgrown them. Here are some of the great benefits of having a container garden:

You can grow your plants year round. No matter the season, as long as your plants are receiving sunlight and ample water, you can have an indoor garden even during the coldest of winters and hottest of summers.

The containers and pots that you use become part of your decor and can create focal points and interesting areas in any home.

You can use anything for a container to hold your plants, as long as they can drain water, they can be used.

There are fewer weeds since your plants are in a much more controlled environment.

Also, you will have fewer and less chance of snails, bugs, and disease attacking your plants.

With even the smallest space a container garden can be made.

There are a few things you will need to start your container garden. Here are the basics that everyone should know when beginning their garden.

1. Pick the space you want to use. Deciding on the space will ensure that you pick containers and plants that will fit and look their best in their new home. Know how much sun and shade your spot gets, this will help when you go to purchase your plants. If you are using window ledge plants or hanging box planters for windows, then know where they will be draining to if they are up high and make sure you will have enough space for them to drain onto. If in an apartment, be careful about drainage.

2. Once you know where you want to put the plants, now you are able to choose the plants themselves. Picking plants that work best in the areas you have chosen based on sunlight and shade. Also, picking plants that will not become too big for the space they will be in. Each plant will come with watering instructions and feeding needs, making picking the plants a lot easier.

3. Finding containers to put your plants in can be anything that can drain water. Choosing containers based on your current decor and the size and type of plants you will be putting in them. Anything can be used for a container, from wood to tiles to ceramic, plastic, and terracotta. Always place trays under them to catch the water and make sure they have enough holes in the bottom to drain out the water, this will stop root rot from happening.

4. Since you are growing indoors, you will want to get premium potting soil for your plants. Make sure you get the recommend fertilizers too, this will ensure that your plants thrive in their indoor living space.

5. Lastly, make sure you follow the watering instructions carefully. Over watering will cause root rot and under watering will cause your plants to dry out. Follow the instructions and make sure the plants you have together all need the same type of watering, sunlight, shade, and fertilizer needs. This will make taking care of them much easier and simpler.

Whether you are a pro at gardening and have had many outdoor gardens or a beginner, indoor gardening is a fun and relaxing past.

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Beginners Guide To Successful Container Gardening

November 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you are new to container gardening, you are probably excited and wondering what you need to do or how to start. Here is everything you will need to know to get your container garden started.

Having limited space does not mean that you cannot have a garden. Instead of thinking that only gardens grow in yards and around trees, think about how they can be grown in containers instead. Container gardens can be created anywhere and will add beauty and interest to any busy street or on a balcony or even roof tops. What is nice also is that you can change the look often and whenever you feel like since all of your plants are in containers and easily moved about to give different and interesting looks.

You will find changing your color scheme and the look often interesting and fun as you come up with new ways to arrange your plants and pots. Contrasting colors and adding flowers and plants of varying size and shape will give depth and novelty to any look you come up with. If there is something you do not like it can easily be changed on a whim into another interesting creation. Or as flowers bloom, change them out to a different variety to keep your ever changing container garden interesting and different.

Keep these ideas in mind when you begin to create your container garden.

Try all different types of containers. Use house hold items even, such as coffee cans that have been cleaned, buckets, even broken pots. Just make sure to make holes in the bottom for water drainage. Anything you can think of that can hold items, conceivably be used.

Remember that terracotta absorbs water, but comes in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. While wood will wear out over time and be heavier. Plastic is great too because of the variety offered in the material, however over time it will become brittle and dried out from the sun.

Paint the interior of any pot you choose to ensure that the plants do not dry out and that they can absorb the most water.

Always use a saucer under all your pots to catch the water and save your cement or tile or wood from water rings and calcium deposits.

Choose high quality and grade potting soils. Since you are container gardening, your plants will definitely need the best soil possible to thrive and grow.

Do not let any area be off limits. If there is space you can place a container there with plants and flowers, whether indoors or out. Try many different locations to achieve the look you want.

Plan ahead and know where you want to put your plants so you can make sure you buy the right type of plants for the location you choose. All plants will have tags with instructions of where they work best and how to take care of them. Follow these instructions when picking your plants and the locations they will be placed in.

Regardless of where you live or if you have a green thumb or not, container gardening is an easy and fun way to add color and coziness to any living space. However, container gardening is not for where we live, but can create a welcoming feeling to any business or office. If you have been looking for a way to spruce up an area or make some minor changes, try container gardening, it may e exactly what you have been looking for.

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Simply Plant Yourself a Container Garden

November 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

You have decided that you want to plant a container garden, but you are unsure of where to start or how hard it will be. Well, here a few tips and tricks to make it to make things easier.

Container gardening may sound harder than it is, but really it is very simple and relaxing. Any space you have can be used to create a garden for yourself. That is why container gardening works so well, it does not take a lot of space and people with very little can still create beautiful flowers and arrangements, while using very little room. The name explains what you are doing; you will be using pots or buckets to grow fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

A major benefit to containers gardening is that it uses very little space and less soil and water. It works very well when you are living in an apartment or condo and do not have a yard to grow plants in. There is also less growing time with container gardening and you do not have to know as much about gardening to do it, since it takes less time too.

There are a few basic ideas you need to know to begin your container garden. Once you learn these then creating beautiful arrangements with color and texture will become much easier and you can turn a plain balcony into an eye catching space.

1.

Decide which types of plants you want to grow. Picking plants that are best suited for container gardening will make maintaining your garden a little easier. Also, experiment will color and size. But, always choose what you like best and what will grow best in the area you have chosen for them.

2.

Now you know what size containers you will need. There are many containers and pots available to choose from. Picking the right size will depend on the type and size of plants you plan on growing. Also, picking containers that will bring out the color in the plants and add to the entire design of the space you have chosen. However, since you have already picked the plants you want to use, choosing which pots and containers will be very easy. Except for maybe all the choices you will have.

3.

Lastly, get the soil that your plants grow best in. Picking a high grade composite soil will work best since you are container gardening and there will be very little natural soil you will be using. Make sure you read the plant instructions too, there will be recommendations for which type of soil to use, how much, and any other nutrients your plant will need. So, read through these instructions as well and pick the soils that are suggested.

You’re done! You can begin planting following the simple steps that will come with each plant you have chosen and the directions on the soil bags. Now it is just a matter or watering and maintaining the plants you are growing.

Having a container garden can be a full filling and fun experience, especially when living in an apartment or condo where you have limited space. The plants you have chosen can add color and dimension to any space. Or even living in a home with a smaller front or backyard can add beauty and texture to your home. Once you get good at it, it will be a simple and fun project to do regularly.

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What You Need To Begin Your Container Garden

November 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

There are only a few items you will need to begin your container garden. Here is some more information on container gardening and the supplies recommended.

Simply put container gardening is growing plants in containers instead of in the ground. It became very popular in the 1950′s in California when people living in apartments and other shared spaces begin growing plants in pots and containers to put on their balconies and entryways. Container gardening only needs a few things, which are:

The containers themselves. You may have already decided which type of plants you want to begin growing. Picking a container that can hold the size of plant you want is important. However, choosing a container that works well with the colors of the plants and also with the place you are planning on putting the container too. You may need to move your plants from one container to a larger one as they grow. So, keep that in mind and maybe buy different sizes so whenever necessary you can transfer the plants to the larger pots. One other thing, there are pros and cons to any type of container you use, so depending on where you live and again the plants you have chosen will make a difference in the type of containers needed. They all need plenty of holes in the bottom for drainage. Here are a few examples of the different types of pots.

Plastic will break down and dry out when out in the sun a lot. However, it is easier to move since it is lighter.

Wood does rot and grow fungus. But, Redwood and Cedar are bit more sturdy and it does not happen with them as quickly.

Terracotta dries out very quickly and will develop rings on them from calcium deposits.

Ceramic pots are a good choice, however they are slightly heavier.

Soil and nutrients. The best to use for indoor gardening is soil less potting mix. It will drain better and there will be no diseases or weeds. When you fill the container, leave about two inches between the top and mix, that way you have room for the mulch on top.

Water and food. You will need to the water the plant based on the size and type. Those instructions will actually come with each plant and they will need to be followed. This holds true for the amount of sunlight they will need and shade and the time of year they grow best in. When you do water make sure all the soil is moist and when there is water coming from the bottom you know you have given the plant enough usually. Also, because the soil is very light your plants will more fertilizer. A slow-release or water soluble type works best.

The right temperature and space. When you plant vegetables, flowers, or herbs you will put them one third closer than you would if they were in a garden. With trees and shrubs they should be centered in the pot or container. Any plant will need to be re-potted whenever necessary. Since you are container gardening, you will be able to protect them from extreme heat and cold. Move the plant whenever necessary to keep the temperature right.

Pruning and preening. Making sure you trim your potted plants regularly and remove any dead or brown parts is important also. There will be less mess and your plant will do much better since there will be no bugs or fungus growing.

Creating a container garden will add color and life to any area. This is a hobby anyone can get into and as you can see it is not difficult to start.

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