Archive for March, 2010
Now you do not have to be a purist and just use one herb in one pot like some people. I love to mix things up a bit and put a few herb plants in the same pot. This will add more interest to the pots, including pops of color and texture.
If you do want to get started in container gardening, make sure that you’re selecting herbs that have similar water, earth and sunshine needs as well as similar uses.
Here are some herbs that I’ve found that will do well in pots:
- Sage: With nearly 750 types, hopefully you find at least 1 sage herb for your garden that you will like, because it comes in a number of colors and sizes. This is one plant that you can start from seeds indoors in your container in the early spring and then move outside with the onset of warmer weather. Cultivate your sage in nice, large pot that has good drainage and put it where it can get lots of sunlight. This is one of those that I plant for the foliage, so I snip off the flowers as soon as they bud to help the plant concentrate on the leaves, which I then cut off at the stem whenever I’m cooking.
- Scented geraniums: Just like sage, there are a lot of varieties of scented geraniums to choose from. I have an unnatural attachment to red geraniums, so I’m not the proper one to talk to, but I’m positive that the other kinds are great too. Even though they look very similar to floral (non-herbal) variety, these also grow well in containers that you can get at any nursery, home improvement or discount store. Put your plants in a container that has great drainage and put it in a spot that will give your scented geranium a lot of sun. Scented geranium stems and leaves will be great in your cakes and teas. You can even harvest the blooms for use in floral pressings.
- Cardamom: Not to sound like a radio ad, but if you have bad breath, cardamom is the herb for you. This large houseplant-like plant will get big in the summer and will need to be brought indoors during winter months to persist, so use a large pot. Not only will the seeds add a taste of India to your rice and chicken meals, you can also add it to soups and stews. In addition to taking care of your bad breath, cardamom can help with your flatulence (not that you have flatulence) or least make your clothes smell better.
- Lemon verbena: This is one of those indispensable herb plants to have in your garden because you can use it in so many ways. Don’t worry about seeds. Go out and pick up a young plant and get it started in a wide pot that will support the plant’s height. This herb likes full sun and well-drained earth. Watch your foliage for signs of drought because the leaves are the best part of the plant.
Some other herb plants that I’d recommend for you to start with in your container combinations are: thyme, mints, lavender, goldenrod, fennel and carrot.
Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your plant garden grows.
Here is more information on Growing Herbs in Pots. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.
Are you looking for a thrilling new way to grow plants? Have you been dejected because the soil in your area is very rocky or hard to cultivate anything? If this seems like you, perhaps it’s time you create a home hydroponics lab.
How does hydroponics work? Essentially, it’s where you grow plants without the addition of soil. This could appear to be the strange idea, but plants are perfectly capable of growing without soil. As an alternative, their roots are immersed in the nutrition full, greatly oxygenated solution which nourishes and waters them all at once. There are several ways to get this done. Some gardeners would rather use pots, like tanks, buckets, or jars. Others maintain roots in a constantly running stream, even though some gardeners even choose to mist their plants instead.
The outcomes are amazing. Research has shown that plants grown in home hydroponics centers grow faster and yield more produce than most plants cultivated in soil. It’s also normally much better for the environment, since it works well for preventing topsoil problems and pesticide contamination, because the majority of the pests that plague plants are found in the soil.
What makes a good home hydroponics center? Selecting a perfect solution is very important, because there are a variety to select from, each one tailored to a particular plant. Grow lighting is essential for helping the plants to grow. Many modern gardeners don’t realize this, but fans and dehumidifiers are also very important to stabilizing the air. The mix of so many liquids as well as the heat of the lamp can get your hydroponics area very humid in fact, which is harmful for your plants. Not just can it result in the development of algae and germs, but additionally , it may cause your plants to rot and wilt.
Along with these home hydroponics supplies, you will require to invest in a good pH testing package as well. While the majority of nutritious solution products are balanced enough that it’s unlikely they’ll increase your plant’s acidity level by any considerable degree, accidents can however happen. There are additional solutions for restoring the acidity balance to your plants, however.
That apart, there are a wide assortment of other home hydroponics products to choose from. Some gardeners, rather than plant with strictly water, prefer to work with a distinctive method most of the time, like brick shavings, sand, clay pellets, foam root pads, and more. This allows the plant to stay a little more grounded while still maintaining all the advantages of hydroponics gardening.
There are also a number of products developed particularly to grow your plants in. These devices are wonderful if you do not want to come up with the storage containers to grow your plants in yourself. They are usually fixed with pumps which will keep the plants hydrated and fed during the day.
Although it may seem such as plenty of work, home hydroponics gardening is a fun, effective method to grow plants all year round. Learn more today about how exactly this unique system can benefit you!
Ingrid M. Preube
To get newest and useful details about hydroponic home garden please visit Hydroponics web site.