How to Grow and Care for Lobelia

Beautiful 2-lipped tubular flowers with intense color, each with 5 lobes – that’s what makes lobelias one of the most popular and most beautiful garden plants.

Lobelia is a genus of flowering plants comprising 415 species primarily found in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world, but in cooler climates as well. We know lobelia as an attractive annual herb with many varieties, all coming in different attractive colors. It is a beautiful addition to any garden. The best part about lobelias is that they are so easy to grow and care for! If you are mesmerized by their beauty and want to have them in your garden then you are at the right place as we are going to share everything you need to know on how to grow and care for lobelia.

Lobelia is an easy growing, versatile herb you can plant freely in your garden, use as a border, in hanging baskets, containers. ground covers etc. The one thing you should have in mind before choosing your lobelia variety is it’s mature height which is important for choosing the perfect planting location. L. inflata(Indian tobacco), L. cardinalis (Cardinal flower), and L. siphilitica are the most common varieties for home gardening.

One of the most popular varieties of lobelia is called Indian tobacco and this is because Native Americans once smoked lobelia plant to treat asthma. Another name for lobelia is pukeweed because it was once prescribed the plant to induce vomiting. We have to warn you though that the plant is poisonous so don’t try this at home.

Planting & Fertilizing

When choosing the perfect planting location for your lobelia, have in mind that almost every variety prefers partial shade, although they can grow quite nicely in full sun as well. As for the soil, make sure it is nutrient rich and well hydrated. Offer a water soluble fertilizer each month for best results.

Watering

Watering is important for lobelia’s blooming. Soil should be kept moist constantly. Water annuals with 1 1/2 inches of water per week while perennials less frequently but deeply. However, you should allow the top soil to dry between waterings.

Pruning

Another great thing about lobelias is that they are self-cleaning plants that don’t require removing of faded flowers like many other annuals. But when the first blooming season is over it is best to prune the stems which will encourage the production of new blooms.

Annual Lobelia

If you want to grow annual lobelia out of seeds then all you need to do is spread the seeds on top of the soil and water thoroughly then place them in a warm, light place. In a week or two, when the seeds start popping out, you can start thinning them out. When there is no fear of frost anymore and your plants are around 2-3 inches tall it is time to transplant them in the garden, ideally 4-6 inches apart.

Perenial Lobelia

During winter you should provide pine needles mulch to protect the root system. This is for perennial varieties of course. You can also cut back perennial lobelias to just above ground level after blooming has ceased. As for the annual varieties, pull them out and discard them once heavy frost kills them in autumn.

 

How to Grow and Care for Lobelia

Tips For Growing Rosemary Herb Plants

Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean, with a wonderful smell that is often associated with good food and great time. It is also good for your health; it contains substances that are useful for stimulating the immune system, increasing circulation, and improving digestion.

Rosemary also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may make it useful for reducing the severity of asthma attacks. The name rosemary derives from the Latin ros meaning “dew” and marinus meaning “sea” – “sea dew.” Rosemary’s leaves look like flat pine-tree needles, deep green in color on top while silver-white on their underside. There are many varieties of rosemary, each with slightly different properties. Some grow very bushy and tall, while others tend to trail; some have purple or blue flowers, some white. Grown from either plants or seeds, rosemary is an outstanding perennial performer in any herb garden. Plants can be brought indoors to overwinter in colder zones. Rosemary is also ideal for a rock garden or the top of a dry wall. You can even train rosemary into topiary shapes and the plants are tolerant of salt spray, making them a good choice for pots on the beach.

Propagation

Rosemary is easiest to grow from a cutting, rather than planting seeds. You can get cuttings preferably in late spring, from your local nursery, or even better find a rosemary plant you admire and clip off a few 4 inch pieces to propagate. You have to place each cutting into a small pot of soil filled with two-thirds coarse sand and one-third peat moss. Set the pot in a sunny place, but not in direct sunlight. Water the cuttings regularly and keep in a warm spot until the roots form, which should take about three weeks.

Planting

You can plant the rosemary either in pots or outdoors in your garden, as Rosemary will adapt to most growing conditions and is quite hardy. It will grow its best, in a warm to hot, fairly dry climate. If planting in the garden, choose soil that drains well. Rosemary can suffer from root rot in waterlogged soil.

Care

Rosemary prefers a drier soil, so don’t overdo the watering. It will be happy with the average garden watering. This is not a herb that needs fertilizer. However, make sure that there is some lime in the soil.

Rosemary prefers a drier soil, so don’t overdo the watering. It will be happy with the average garden watering. This is not a herb that needs fertilizer. However, make sure that there is some lime in the soil.

Since rosemary is evergreen, you can harvest it all year round, by picking rosemary leaves as needed. You can also freeze rosemary by placing it in food storage bags and storing in the freezer. Otherwise, strip the leaves from the stems and store in airtight jars. Stored this way, rosemary will slowly dry and will keep for several months.

How to use Rosemary

You can put Rosemary to both sweet and savory dishes. Use it to add depth to meat and chicken, bread or butter. Rosemary can be dried and made into scented drawer sachets, used as in ingredient in homemade soap or turned into fragranced water that makes your hair shiny and soft.

Tips For Growing Rosemary Herb Plants

Hydrangea - Plant Care Guide

Hydrangeas are very popular shrubs among gardeners worldwide. Their delicate head of flowers in blue, pink and white, beautiful foliage with specific leaf shape make them a most have in every garden. They flower from late summer till early spring and thrive in full sun or partial shade.

Hydrangea shrubs are easy to cultivate, tolerate almost any soil, and produce flowers in mid-summer through fall. They are excellent for a range of garden sites from group plantings to shrub borders to containers. With immense blossoms, hydrangeas flaunt an old-fashioned charm that is hard to resist.  With colors like clear blues, vibrant pinks, frosty whites, lavender, and rose—sometimes all blooming on the same plant, this flower is perfect for any garden. Although it is not always possible, purchase a hydrangea while it is in bloom. This allows one to see how the plant will bloom. Hydrangeas are often mislabeled, and even good nurseries have difficulties keeping varieties separated when they are not in bloom.  To help you grow hydrangea shrubs in your garden please follow this easy tips.

Flower color

One of the most interesting quirks of some hydrangeas is the ability of the flowers to change color. This is not true of all hydrangeas, but most often seen in the mophead and lacecap cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla. Color changes can also be seen in flowers of others such as H. involucrata and H. serrata. This color change is due to the soil pH which affects aluminium availability. Those with blue or pink flowers tend to be blue in acid soil conditions (high available aluminium levels), mauve in acid to neutral soil conditions, and pink in alkaline conditions. To get the best flower colour, choose cultivars that give the best colors for the pH in question. White flowers, and also green-flowered cultivars, remain white or green regardless of soil pH.

Planting

Plant hydrangeas in spring or fall. Most hydrangeas thrive in rich, porous, somewhat moist soils. Add compost to enrich poor soil. They prefer full sun in the morning, with some afternoon shade; however, many will grow and bloom in partial shade. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide. Set the plant in the hole and fill it half full with soil and then add water. After water is drained, fill the rest of the hole with soil.

Watering

After planting a hydrangea, do not leave it alone. Too often we rush to get our shrubs planted before we leave on vacation. Be on hand to give it some TLC and to keep it well watered. Leaves will wilt if the soil is too dry.

Pruning

When growing, hydrangea don’t prune unless absolutely necessary, and then do so immediately after blooming. Otherwise, remove only dead stems in the spring.The common big leaf hydrangea should be pruned after flowers fade (late spring/early summer). If you prune before bloom, you may not have blossoms the following spring. Panicle and smooth hydrangeas blossom on the current seasons’ wood so they should be pruned before bloom when plant is dormant, i.e. late winter or early spring.

Care

In the fall, cover plants to a depth of at least 18 inches with bark mulch, leaves, pine needles or straw. If at all possible, cover the entire plant, tip included, by making cages out of snow fencing or chicken wire, and loosely filling the cages with leaves.

Harvest

Try drying hydrangea flowers to create a wreath or other decorations around the house.Harvest the heads when the flowers have matured and developed a papery consistency.Harvest the heads when the flowers have matured and developed a papery consistency.Remove leaves from stems, and hang upside down in a warm, dry, dark, airy room.When completely dry (usually a couple of weeks), store in a dry location out of direct sunlight.

Hydrangea - Plant Care Guide

Growing a Japanese Maple Tree in Your Garden

 

This stunning small deciduous tree from the family Aceraceae that origins from Japan is a beautiful ornamental tree that grows a height of 1.5 up to 3 m in height. The Japanese maples brings color and texture to every garden with it’s  its beautiful leaves that have deep notches, and are noted for their bright orange-red, red, red wine and red autumn colors, which are located on a beautiful wide canopy. If you are enchanted by this beautiful tree and desperately want to have it on your garden there are some basic things you should know first. Our short guide on planting and caring for your Japanese maple will surely help you have a beautiful and healthy plant in your garden, Just browse through our useful tips to learn everything you need to know. And don’t worry – growing Japanese maples is quite easy!

Planting, Watering and Fertilizing

Plant your young Japanese maple plant in a semi shaded location. Older plans can tolerate sun without a problem. However, have in mind that you should avoid planting your maple in full sun. Japanese maples don’t like wet, soggy soil. Don’t over water your plant. Sometimes even rainfall is enough. During summer water your maple on weekly basis. Water the roots – do not sprinkle the leaves as sunshine will cause scorched marks on them. Fertilize only in spring using a low nitrogen fertilizer.

Growing a Japanese Maple in Container

If you want to plant and grow your Japanese maple in a container – just choose a smaller variety and you are good to go. Try varieties like Butterfly, Hoshi kuzu, Red Dragon, Pixie or Waterfall. Choosing a good container is also important. The rootball to fit comfortably inside and the pot should also provide good drainage. Allow soil to dry between watering. Water only when soil feels dry or just slightly moist and cool. You should also pay attention to the soil type – it should be a well draining soil. A container Japanese maple should be fertilized weekly through spring and mid summer with a half strength liquid fertilizer. Stop fertilizing after July.

Winter Care

Japanese maples are deciduous trees and they go dormant during winter. This allows the plant to rest. In colder climates you should protect your plant, especially if it is grown in a pot. Bury larger pots in the ground over winter if possible, or keep them in an area that is protected from cold. If your plant is grown in the ground cover with mulch over the roots, just keep the mulch no closer than four inches from the trunk.

Pruning

If you want to prune your Japanese maple then do it selectively. This way you can prune anytime of the year. However, winter and summer are the seasons when pruning a Japanese maple is the easiest. Why winter? When the leaves are gone you can easily see the branch structure and make the right cuts. Summer pruning on the other hand stimulates less growth so you can get away with a little more and the tree will stay thinned out longer. Never remove more than one-fifth of a Japanese maple’s crown to avoid stress and unsightly growth.

Japanese Garden

Maples are a must have plant if you want to design a Japanese garden. If you seek inspiration for a Japanese garden design or just want to admire some beautiful old Japanese maple specimens explore the Portland Japanese Garden  located within Washington Park in the west hills of Portland, Oregon, USA. Experience  peace, harmony, and tranquility and witness the beauty of extraordinary Japanese maples…

Portland Japanese Garden

 

 

 

Growing a Japanese Maple Tree in Your Garden

How To Propagate Boxwood

It is obvious that boxwood is not a cheap plant so knowing how to propagate it can be very useful and budget friendly. All you need is a little patience – it might take a year till your new plant starts to grow. 

During July/August choose some healthy boxwood twigs that are 10 to 15 cm long and don’t have any blooms on them. Remove almost all of the leaves, leaving just a few on the tip. Prepare the soil and make holes. Plant the twigs so that half of their length is in the soil. Cover the planter with foil. The soil should be moderately moist and when a root system develops on the twigs new leaves will start to show.

 

Important Tip: it is best to keep the new plant at the height of your hands. This way the pruning process will be much easier. Using proper tools will help you make clean cuts that will heal fast. If you don’t make a clean cut, fungi and other pests may inhabit your plant.

 

Extra Tip: Boxwood is an outdoor plant so it doesn’t require a warm spot for a successful propagation. Keep the planters with the new plants on your balcony, preferably in shade. You can also plant the young twigs directly into your garden. Just choose a nice shady, protected spot and plant the twigs in moist soil rich with limestone and clay.

How To Propagate Boxwood

Urban Vertical Gardens - Perfect For Small Spaces

With their simple and contemporary design, these planters with different shapes and sizes allow each user to create a mosaic of their own to decorate a wall and transform a room into a green oasis.

Vertical gardens were mainly located outside until Urbio created an innovative  concept – an urban vertical garden – the first ever magnetic wall-mounted vertical garden system. Urbio is an award-winning design

and manufacturing brand that focuses on creating well-designed organizational solutions for small-space

living. Their products are recognized for design, style and engineered for function, performance, and durability.

The vertical garden system consists of a white panel with holes that is attached to the wall. The pots are then attached to the panel. This is a very simple process which means you can easily remove the pots from the panel in order to water, re-pot, fertilize or prune the plants.

Small pieces of pumice are placed on the bottom of the pot in order to help the plants grow. This encourages water drainage , aeration of the soil and prevents rotting roots.

For proper planting, you should use small pieces of pumice (around 5 cm) and then fill the rest of the pot (2.5 cm bellow the top of the pot) with soil.

Urbio planters are lightweight, made from durable polypropylene which can be recycled and are available in different shapes and sizes, so users can make their personal mosaic in accordance with the plants they want to grow.  Designers have pointed out that one of the biggest advantages of Urbio’s vertical gardens is the fact that they will keep your space clean as the soil and the plants won’t make a mess even if you have light color furniture. There is no danger of scattering particles from the planters. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?

Urbio planters would have been just a concept if it wasn’t for the team of designers who worked hard to bring us the final product. Beau Oyler and Jared Aller together with the Enlisted Design team are the designers that created these simple yet extremely useful hanging planters. Their experience was very valuable. Beau and Jared have worked on projects for Williams-Sonoma, Nestlé, Netgear and Clorox, and have won multiple awards for their designs. They constantly work on finding useful solutions, just like the Urbio indoor vertical gardens. Innovative, reliable solution for urban gardening and organization in small spaces!

 

 

 

Disclaimer: This text is our own opinion on the Urbio indoor vertical planters. We are in no way associated with Urbio and haven’t received any compensation for writing this post.

 

 

 

Urban Vertical Gardens - Perfect For Small Spaces

How To Prepare Your Geraniums For The Winter

Your Geraniums will bloom all over again next year if you just move them indoors before the first frosts. With a proper preparation, they can wait for the next spring placed in a bright spot in your basement or corridor.

 

Geraniums should be placed in a bright spot and temperature from 41F to 54F during the winter. As they do not need too much light placing them near a window will be sufficient. Once you find a perfect spot for your plants, water them moderately, as they have the ability to store water in the ticker stems. The soil should be just slightly moist. You don’t need to fertilize your Geraniums till March.

 

Geraniums often bloom in autumn, especially when the nights are pleasant. In late September you should remove all the flowers, both old and new, so the plant can save energy for the winter. Remove wilted leaves as well. Most of their leaves will fall through the winter. Just use your hands to remove all of the dead parts. Cutting them is a worse option as only short twigs will remain.

 

Pruning is very important for growing beautiful Geraniums. If you want dense plants full of flowers you should prune your Geraniums in March or October. You should do this by cutting all of the new shoots so only the main (old) ones remain.

 

 

How To Prepare Your Geraniums For The Winter

How To Prepare Your Geraniums For The Winter

Your Geraniums will bloom all over again next year if you just move them indoors before the first frosts. With a proper preparation, they can wait for the next spring placed in a bright spot in your basement or corridor.

 

Geraniums should be placed in a bright spot and temperature from 41F to 54F during the winter. As they do not need too much light placing them near a window will be sufficient. Once you find a perfect spot for your plants, water them moderately, as they have the ability to store water in the ticker stems. The soil should be just slightly moist. You don’t need to fertilize your Geraniums till March.

 

Geraniums often bloom in autumn, especially when the nights are pleasant. In late September you should remove all the flowers, both old and new, so the plant can save energy for the winter. Remove wilted leaves as well. Most of their leaves will fall through the winter. Just use your hands to remove all of the dead parts. Cutting them is a worse option as only short twigs will remain.

 

Pruning is very important for growing beautiful Geraniums. If you want dense plants full of flowers you should prune your Geraniums in March or October. You should do this by cutting all of the new shoots so only the main (old) ones remain.

 

 

How To Prepare Your Geraniums For The Winter

The Surprising Places Germs Are Hiding In Your Home

As much as you clean your home, there are some places where our biggest enemies, the germs are hiding and avoiding all those detergents we use to destroy them so we can have a save and clean place for us and our families. Germs like cold viruses and bacteria can live in some unexpected spots. These small organisms, too small to see without magnification, invade humans, animals, and other living hosts.

Their growth and reproduction within their hosts can cause a disease. “Germ” may refer to a virus, bacterium, protist, fungus, or prion. Microorganisms that cause disease are called pathogens, and the diseases they cause are called infectious diseases. Even when a pathogen is the principal cause of a disease, environmental and hereditary factors often influence the severity of the disease, and whether a particular host individual becomes infected when exposed to the pathogen. Germs are everywhere, they are in your home right now. In optimal conditions, certain bacteria can divide every 20 minutes, spreading rapidly where they dwell. But, don’t get scared, it is so easy to get rid of these enemies of our health. Soap and water or bleach and water, maybe disinfecting wipes…With these simple weapons, the battle against germs can be won, all you need to do is find out where there are hiding and destroy them in just few minutes. In the kitchen, in the toilet, in your makeup bags, lap tops, TV remotes, brushes…germs are all around us, so you better get rid of them!

Knobs, Handles, and Switches

We use them all the time, but how often you walk around in your home and wipe off doorknobs, cabinet handles, and light switches? They are full with germs and we touch them all the time without washing out hands after. So, to keep you and your family save, once a week, give them an once-over using disinfecting wipes—and don’t use the same wipe for more than a few places before grabbing a fresh one.

Makeup Bag

Ladies be aware your bags with makeup and cosmetic are full of germs. Makeup applicators have nooks, crannies, and bristles which are perfect place for microorganisms to hide. If you don’t clean them, those germs can lead to skin and eye infections. Regular soap and water is fine for cleaning most applicators, but you can use alcohol on the brushes. And do that more often.

Your Toothbrush

You use it at least twice a day, but do you ever think of all the germs lurking on it? Toothbrushes are heaven for the germs because of the moist area and they can easily grow on it. A plethora of bacteria, germs, fungi and viruses can live quite happily in your toothbrush for months.  In fact, scientists have found more than 10 million bacteria living in a single toothbrush.  As these lingering microorganisms multiply, they can compromise your oral health and can actually lead to other health problems in your body. To keep save, you need to clean it regularly and replace it more often.

Sponges

Even though they’re meant to help us clean the home, in fact, sponges are among the dirtiest, most bacteria-ridden objects in the home. A sponge that’s wet with food and kitchen-counter germs is an ideal breeding-ground for bacteria that can cause food-borne illnesses. When you wipe down the kitchen countertop, those germs – E. coli and salmonella – spread all over the kitchen. For really clean home use paper towels or dishcloths that you use only once or you can wash it in a washing machine.

Pillows

Did you know that you are not the only one resting on your soft and cozy pillow? The truth is that you share your pillow with a lot of germs and dust mites, which are the most common cause of non-seasonal allergies and asthma. Dust mites feed on flakes of human skin, which can be found deep within your pillows. To lessen their effect, use zippered, dust proof pillow covers and wash them frequently.

The Electronics in your Home

Did you know that, on average, an office desk has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat? The reason for that is that the toilet is cleaned regularly, but how often you clean the remote controls, computer keyboards, phones, and iPods, which get touched way more than the toilet? They are also shared by multiple family members and guests, yet they are cleaned less often. You can find component-specific cleaning supplies at electronics stores. However, most disinfecting wipes are safe for electronics—just make sure to read the label before using them.

The Surprising Places Germs Are Hiding In Your Home