Recipe For Tracking Growing Season Progress

This is the season to start plants for your garden, flowerbeds or even new houseplants. Since you have notes from last year; or do you? Those notes from last year are a valuable resource about what worked and what didn't.

If you didn't or if the notes were inadequate, resolve now to begin again with a new recipe box. Those 3x5 or 5x7 inch cards are ideal for making notes for each plant type, variety or bed location. Record the date and comments on the card. For seeds, note the seed source and other information from the seed packet. For plants, note the date purchased and any information from the little identification tag that came with the plant.

To display plants at a local fair or competition, the show rules may require entry of the purchase or planting dates. For planting or transplanting, the date gives clues to when to begin from seed or to transplant in your growing location.

When are your plants going to begin blooming? What are the care recommendations for the flower, vegetable or bloom uses? When did they bloom, how long did the blooms last, what unusual weather, temperature, moisture or soil conditions did your plants experience? All of these notes make the plant record more valuable as you progress from one season to the next,

Keep these records in a small recipe box or file. This will keep all of the information in one place and, when you progress to the next season or the next plant, you have the information on hand to improve potential plant needs.

At the end of the season, finalize the notes and record your thoughts about what seeds, plants or varieties you would like to order or obtain for the new season. Your success and knowledge base of plants will grow along with your improved ability to provide the best conditions for your plants, be they flowers, vegetables, ornamental or functional, indoors or out.

By Dennis Bries

Dennis Bries
http://briespix.com An ounce of prevention...or a recorded note can be your guide to success.

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How to Make Orchids Bloom

Most people will agree that orchids are beautiful flowers. Have you ever purchased an orchid and placed it in your home expecting repeat blooms that never come? Then you end up looking for advice on How to Make Orchids Bloom.

The main reason healthy-looking orchids do not bloom is insufficient light. If you have no blooms, you should check out the foliage. If the leaves are a beautiful dark green and the plant is healthy, but there are no flowers, this means your plant is not getting enough light. Under the correct lighting, the foliage should be a light, grassy green. The foliage should be showy and firm on phals, cattleyas and dendrobriums. Paphs should have mottled leaves with good color contrast.

In order to understand How to Make Orchids Bloom, you need to understand the different lighting exposures as they relate to orchids. If you have them in a spot where the light is from the north, that could be the problem. The northern exposure is just not enough light for orchids. Eastern light generally works well. You can also try the southern exposure; it gives you the most flexibility. If you use a western window, the orchid need to be slightly shaded during the hottest months.

Another consideration is if the window is shaded by trees or buildings, reducing light to your orchid. If you are trying to figure out How to Make Orchids Bloom, you may have to adjust the lighting. Phals and paphs will do well in bright, indirect light. Oncidiums do better in a slightly brighter light. Dendrobriums and Cattleyas require bright light. You would be well-advised to put them in a southern exposure. If you only have low light, the Maudiae-type slipper orchids will bloom in low light. Sometimes they will even bloom in an unobstructed, northern window even though brighter light is usually recommended.

Skylights usually do not provide enough light unless you live in Arizona, or your skylight is about five feet above your orchid. Of course, there is always the exception! The shade-loving orchids will probably do well here. Again, keep tabs on the foliage, and the plant will let you know what it needs.If you need to move your plants closer to the light source, do it very gradually. The leaves on your orchid can be burned from the sun. Even a foot can make a big difference.

Orchids usually need about a ten degree drop in temperature in the evening to encourage them to bloom. In order to accomplish this goal, you can move the plant near a window, open a window near your orchid or turn your thermostat down in the evening. The art of How to Make Orchids Bloom is one of patience and dedication.

By James R Connor

James Connor is an Orchid specialist who has a number of websites on the care and cultivation of Orchids. If you would like to know more check out OrchidGrowingTips.org for more information about Orchid Care and receive a free course on Tips for Orchid Care.

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Back Saving Tips While Landscaping Or Gardening

After suffering from chronic back pain for over 20 years, I still catch myself lifting, moving, or even bending, in ways that I shouldn't be while working in the yard or nursery, but because I am conscious of how I am treating my back, I immediately adjust how I am working to keep from damaging it even more. Here are a few tips to help reduce the likelihood of damaging your back.

1. Purchase a wheelbarrow that has two tires. This eliminates the wobble associated with most wheelbarrows. The wobble makes you twist and torque your body to balance the load. These movements can strain and sprain back muscles, as well as shoulders and arms.

2. Use pre-emergents for weed control. Pre-emergents keep seeds from sprouting and in essence that means NO WEEDS. Preen is readily available from Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, and even local hardware stores. This will help eliminate the need to bend over and hand pick the weeds.

3. The Garden Claw. It breaks up the soil beautifully with a minimum of effort because of the way it's shaped, and is small enough that you can work between individual plants. No bending to pull weeds! There are two models, one short handled, and one long handled, so be sure to purchase the one that feels right for you.

4. Mantis type tiller. These small tillers usually weigh in at around 20 pounds, but are just as effective as the larger tillers. Another benefit is how they are small enough to get between rows in a garden or between plants in a flower garden. A large heavy tiller will break up sod much quicker, but in my experience, it is still a tug of war. The smaller tillers take a little more time to break up the sod, but if you are doing a fairly small area, scoring it with a spade will greatly speed up the process.

5. The proper garden spade. I am not talking about those curved bladed shovels. I am talking about a straight bladed garden spade. As most gardeners do, I had about four of those curved spades around the house. Once I purchased my garden spade, I gave three away, and haven't used the remaining one since. Never again will I purchase a curved spade for gardening.

6. Exercise Your Back. Keeping your back and abdominal muscles strong and flexible is one of the best ways to protect your back from injury. A regular routine of stretching and strengthening exercises will improve your back strength and flexibility.

7. Lift items correctly. I know you have heard this one a thousand times, but we all forget. Keep your feet apart and flat on the floor for good balance. Lift by bending at the knees, not at the waist. As you lift, hold the load close to your body. Tighten your stomach muscles and tuck your chin into your chest. By tightening and tucking your pelvis, you'll help keep your back in alignment while you lift. Never twist while lifting. Instead, move one foot at a time in the direction you want to go, then turn with your leg muscles.

8. When raking leaves or other debris, don't bend to pick it up unless you absolutely have to. A better alternative to using a rake to pick it up is a snow shovel. I personally have used one of those ergonomic shovels to pick up my leaves for years. If you are just moving the leaves from one part of your property to another (to the compost heap I hope!), use a tarp. Pile the leaves on it and drag it to where you will be leaving them.

One thing I have found that helps is warming up before doing any work in the yard. I know, I know, warming up is for athletes right? Well, what are you going to be doing in the yard? Moving, bending, walking, lifting, you get the idea. Before actually doing any work, stretch. get those muscles limbered up a bit before you just dig in and expect them to work hard. Start slow. Don't immediately start with the biggest and heaviest job; work your way up to it instead.

Taking care of your back should be the first thing on your list of things to do when working on your landscape or garden. Take it from me, the "joy in gardening" fades quickly if it causes your back to hurt. Keep the joy in your gardening!

By Dwayne Haskell

Dwayne Haskell owns and operates Mistkits.com where complete misting kits, individual components, and advice can be found. After building his own misting system for his nursery, he realized he could design and build systems for small nurseries or home gardeners who are interested in starting their own plants from cuttings.

He has written an E-book titled Build an Arbor in Just One Weekend, and another on gardening, landscaping and plant propagation tips. He also enjoys teaching others how to grow their own landscape plants and owns and moderates the Mistkits blog, where you can find more articles, polls, and quizzes on landscape and gardening related topics.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dwayne_Haskell

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Orchid For Sale

Orchids are indeed very beautiful plants. Not only are they exotic and attractive in their own right. However, they also know exactly how to make a statement and catch the attention of the human eye. So if you do want to wow someone with the presence of these very special plants. There are many of them that you can buy as a rule, as there is the big wide world of orchid for sale and so many to choose from overall for yourself or for someone you deem very special in your life. These little flowers have not only a beauty that is all their own specifically. Nevertheless, they also possess a regal and grand elegance that you will not find in any other type of flower.

The orchid like no other just has something about it that is able to win the favor of people over to become their favorite kind of plant overnight. What makes the orchid a wonderful addition to any bouquet or garden setting is versatility. Not only does it have the ability to adjust to practically any setting because it is tropical in nature. Nevertheless, they also come in different varieties to suit you and what you are looking for in a specific orchid plant to have per se.

So the kind of orchids that you choose to buy for yourself depend on two factors and these are what your specific hobby may be with regards to them or and are an overall need for them at a specific moment in time.

One of the very first places to look for orchids for sale is your local florist or any other florist that may handle the specific kind of orchid that you are seeking to buy for yourself or what not. Because florists generally do carry different kinds of orchids as a rule, the specific orchids that they do have in stock and are for sale would be a welcome addition to any floral bouquet or floral bouquets that you may have in mind.

Why buy the orchid? The answer is not to figure out. Orchids do come in numerous varieties and they offer a true beauty that is all their own beyond description. A singe orchid sitting in a glass vase alone seems to command one's attention more so than if it were filled up with a bunch of more common flowers making up a bouquet in the same said vase. There is just something very alluring about the orchid in general. Something that is able to speak volumes without even saying a word to those who are blessed enough to behold them.

Orchids for sale do indeed take on many forms. There are two varieties of orchids specifically. That are popular and are used in numerous floral arrangements. These two specific types of orchids are no other than Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum and they are each special orchids in their own right. However, there are numerous other varieties. That are used in floral arrangements and they can range from very large to miniature in size. No matter which classification of orchid you choose to add to your floral arrangement. You will be assured that your arrangement that they will give it a special beauty and elegance like no other.

The kind of orchid you buy can only be determined by what you specifically want them for in your life. If you plan to grow them as a hobby, need those for a specific floral arrangement or just want to have them on display temporarily in your home in a glass vase. Only you can decide which orchid you will purchase for yourself in the end.

What makes the orchid a versatile flower from entertaining to gardening to landscaping to what not is its overall versatility to adapt well to whatever you have planned for them? The orchid belongs to a family of plants that are tropical in description and parasitic in nature. Their very seeds need fungus to germinate and they grow on trees and can thrive off dead trees. They can adapt to different environments no matter if it is shady, warm and humid, or what not.

Some orchids for sale include:

• Plants

• Compots

By Cliff Hunter

Cliff Hunter is an enthusiast for Orchid Growing. He has devoted a lot of his resources to provide quality, professional information for Orchid growers and hobbyists. Learn more at his website: http://www.orchidflowerpot.com

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Advantages of Buying a Polycarbonate Greenhouse

When we think about greenhouses we tend to think of those made from glass and aluminum. However in the last few years the polycarbonate greenhouses are steadily becoming a type that most people are choosing to have in their gardens. As you go through this article you will soon discover what the advantages are of having this type of greenhouse rather than the traditional glass one.

1 - With this kind of greenhouse the temperature inside can be maintained better because of the insulating effect, so of course you are providing a better environment in which plants can grow. Also the polycarbonate better diffuses sunlight as it enters into the greenhouse so you will find that you don't need to provide as much shade for the plants inside.

2 - Of course glass is more susceptible to breaking than polycarbonate is and tests have been carried out that show the material is virtually unbreakable. It can withstand being hit by rocks, hailstones or baseballs.

3 - Polycarbonate weighs less than glass and has a special UV coating that ensures that the plants growing inside are protected against the sunlight and heat that it emits.

4 - Because these types of greenhouses are far better insulated you will find that the period in which you can grow things in your greenhouse is increased. Also being able to maintain the right kind of temperature within the greenhouse throughout the year proves a lot easier.

5 - As with glass greenhouses you will find that the polycarbonate types come in a number of different shapes and sizes. But these ones are actually much easier to assemble. Generally if you erect one yourself it should take only a few hours as long as the foundations on which it is being placed are even.

6 - Because polycarbonate greenhouses have better insulating properties then heating one in winter will prove more cost effective. Also as the temperature is better maintained inside the chances of condensation forming is greatly reduced.

In this article we have taken look at a few of the big advantages to be had from getting polycarbonate greenhouses rather than traditional glass and aluminum ones. As well as them being much safer because the chances of them breaking are reduced, they also cost a lot less to buy, maintain and heat.

By Spencer A Wilkins

So after reading the advantages of polycarbonate greenhouses, why not visit Walton Garden Buildings website for choice in polycarbonate greenhouses as well as traditional greenhouses available to buy online.

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Orchid Fertilizers

One of the keys to growing and producing a strong and thriving variety of potted orchid plant is by the correct use of the right kind of orchid fertilizer that will only enhance said flowers in question. Not only will the right kind of fertilizer do the job to keeping your potted orchid alive and kicking. However, it will also prove to be the very thing that keeps the potted orchid plant growing in the proper way that it should be from day one. Therefore, this only goes to show you that it is not about the overall size of your "green thumb" per se. Nevertheless, more importantly how well you pay attention and follow the guidelines that govern the overall care of a potted orchid plant.

Just like anything else such as water and sunlight and whatever else it may need. The potted orchid plant also requires the right kind of orchid fertilizer that will help it to grow and be strong in all the ways that it must be in order to survive and be a very beautiful exotic plant in its own right.

Growing and caring for orchids can prove to be a true challenge in itself. That is why it is paramount to follow all of the instructions that go along with the care and growth of these plants in every way. What you put into something is what you will get from it in the end. So put your very best into raising your potted orchid plant and you will indeed reap all the benefits that do go along with it.

So how do you go about choosing the right kind of orchid fertilizer for your potted orchid plant? The very first step is to look for orchid food that is formulated only for orchids and nothing else. It is a fact that the recommended usages for most orchid fertilizers are to be for only a period of once a month only. If you do not use it often enough it can cause your potted orchid plant from growing properly and may even inhibit it from flowering as it should. If you use the fertilizer, more times than the recommended amount. It can also stop flowering from occurring normally and burn the leaves and the roots of the plant itself. Therefore, it is very important to follow the instructions on the label, if you want your orchid potted orchid to be as healthy as possible in every respect.

Orchids that survive in the wilds of the rain forests gather their nutrients from whatever is around them. This literally means that they get nutrition from minerals that rainwater may have, also from decaying leaves and any droppings from birds or other animals.

Your orchids will grow in the right manner as expected of them by feeding them only the right kind of fertilizer. They will not only grow faster. Nevertheless, the blooms that they produce will also be first rate. Therefore, this makes the usage of the right kind of fertilizer all the more vital to them overall. Remember that a potted orchid is a delicate flower and it is not advisable to feed it too much. So make sure to use the fertilizer. That you give it sparingly and only when it is required to do so.

What kind of fertilizers is the right kind for your potted orchid plant? You should look for fertilizers that contain the following ingredients only. As they will prove to be, the best in making your orchid grow and bloom at its best. They are:

• Nitrogen

• Phosphorous

• Potassium

• Iron

These elements each do their job for a potted orchid plant in their own way. Nitrogen promotes vegetative growth and it is advisable to employ a fertilizer that has three times more nitrogen that is higher than the other chemical ingredients together.

Here are some other very important things to do before feeding your potted orchid plant. They are:

• Make sure to water your orchid before you commence feeding.

• If your orchid food is dry or granulated. Do not apply this fertilizer to the plant directly. Make sure that it is dissolved in water first. It can kill the orchid in pure form.

• Before you use any orchid fertilizer on your orchid, make sure it is the right one designed for your species of orchid.

By Cliff Hunter

Cliff Hunter is an enthusiast for Orchid Growing. He has devoted a lot of his resources to provide quality, professional information for Orchid growers and hobbyists. Learn more at his website: http://www.orchidflowerpot.com

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Best Type of Composter

To restate a popular phrase: "compost happens" and indeed it does. Make a pile of shredded leaves and grass clippings, stir it up every now and then and as long as it gets rained on occasionally you will eventually get compost. Worms and microscopic creatures will do their thing. While this process is simple enough it does have drawbacks. Not everyone has a good location for this pile of compost wannabe. Another problem is that it is hard to control the moisture level of an open pile of composting material which you do not want to wet or too dry. With the open pile design you can not readily remove some compost when you are ready for it, you need to wait until the pile has finished composting. Therefore you may end up with multiple piles of compost that are at various stages of completion.

To help address some of these issues we have come up with ways to improve the process. Many people use upright bins to compost. These can be as simple as a frame of shipping pallets on their sides to form a box. This type of composter will certainly help to make your composting more than just a spreading pile. This type of composting will also allow more critical oxygen to reach all areas of the composting material. You will also find it still fairly easy to mix up the composting material. Two problems still remain. First this is still primarily a batch process and second, moisture control is difficult unless you tarp the container.

There are newer manufactured bins that come closer to getting it right, with the idea being that you add the material in the top and remove compost from some type of drawer in the bottom as you need it. The concept sounds good but with many of these composters it is difficult to properly mix up and add air (aerate) the compost. Even if you are able to do a good job stirring it up you are back to basically a batch process without the planned downward and out flow. Yet if you do not stir it up well and just keep adding material to the top, the lack of oxygen will greatly slow or halt the composting process with this type of composter.

The next big step in composter evolution was to move to a simple drum style compost tumbler. Basically, a barrel was attached to some type of stand that allowed it to be rotated. This was a real leap in composting technology because you now could monitor and control moisture content, thoroughly mix and aerate the composting material and the composting could take place on a tidy enclosed space. For all of the advantages, one big drawback still remained. This was the ongoing problem of the batch nature of almost all composters. How could a composter be designed so that the composting would continue as an ongoing process with finished compost removed as it is needed? The answer was the development of a composter with a drum inside of a drum. This double drum system allows material to be added through a door in the side of the outer drum and as it breaks down into compost it will exit out a discharge port in the end of the rotating drum. This development has solved the last of the major hurdles to effective backyard composting. No more batch composting! With this type of composter, a good mix of greens and browns, and a little water, you will get your first compost in a few weeks and keep producing throughout the warm part of the year or all year long in warm climates.

If you are looking for the fastest most practical backyard composter, you really need to consider a composter that incorporates the double drum technology. Another benefit we have found is that children love to see how the compost seems to magically appear from the output port even though it was grass and leaves etc. that was added to the feed port moments before rotating the drum. This has allowed these high tech composters to be an interesting educational tool to help us impress upon children how they can be involved in the stewardship of our fragile earth.

By Derrick Walters

Derrick Walters MBA has degrees in biology and chemistry. Derrick is a partner in a business that markets "green" products. To contact Derrick you can email him at derrick@midstateproducts.com or if you would like more information about the newest in high tech compost tumblers you can visit http://midstatecomposters.com where you will find top rated composters and lots of composting information and tips.

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