Plant Growing & Care Blog – Articles, Tip, Tutorials

Gardening can mean different things to everyone. Some garden to relieve stress, some to feel alive, while others feel closer to nature in a garden. Whatever your reasons are for creating a garden, the goal is often to create a beautiful work of art — a masterpiece full of lovely plants and flowers.

Maintaining it is not as easy as it looks. You have to be very observant and careful. You have to regularly check plants for possible infections or diseases that could spread to the rest of the plants in the garden. Here are ways to keep your garden plants healthy all year through:

Educate yourself. This is the best defense you can give your garden plants. If you are knowledgeable about proper plant care, you will never go wrong. Read plant magazines or materials on the internet. If you can, make a compilation or notes about what you have learned.

Use healthy garden soil. This type of soil is available at your local garden supply store. Most of the store-bought ones are organic or contain the essential nutrients needed by plants. If you know how to make compost, then make your own. This way, you know what is in your soil, and you can be sure it’s beneficial to your plants.

Be careful of plants you purchase from gardens. Make sure they are free from any insects because they could easily spread to your existing plants once you mix it with them. Check for plant health by carefully examining each leaf, stems and roots. Any discoloration could be a sign of a disease or fungus.

Be careful of bugs. Bugs can wreak havoc to your garden. It can kill your plants in a matter of months, leaving your garden into a disarray. Do not let this happen. Be sure you regularly check your plants for possible infestation.

It is better to prune affected plants or uproot them totally, to prevent the spread of the disease.

You can easily replace a plant or two, but it would be very difficult to replace a whole garden or start from scratch again.

Conduct garden maintenance during fall. Doing so will help you get rid of a starting infestation like plant spots evident on leaves that have brown spots. Eliminating this problem right away will save you from a huge headache.

Buy plants that are disease-resistant. Inquire from local plant sellers and growers about the most disease-resistant plants for your garden. The internet can also provide you information on this so be sure to do your research before buying plants for your garden.

Carefully plan the placement of plants. You wouldn’t want to place plants that hate too much sunlight on a well-lit part of the garden. They will eventually wilt and die from too much heat. Azaleas, for example, thrive under the shade so place them on a spot away from the sun.

Plants hate overcrowding. Space your plants well, taking into consideration the space they will take up as they grow. Some plants grow really high and branch out well, while others grow slowly.

Use the right kind of fertilizer. Each plant requires a specific type of fertilizer so know which ones to use.

Water your plants properly. Make sure you do not use too much water on plants that do not require it. Get to know your plants well so you can give them the appropriate care they need.

Are you unsuccessful in cultivating indoor plants? Don’t despair because succulents are here. Succulents are plants with thick leaves and stems. These plant parts are very good at retaining water so they are able to survive dry weather conditions like in deserts.

Succulents derived their name from the Latin word “sucus” which means ‘juice’, like from a fruit.

Succulents are your next best thing to house plants because they easily live indoors. They survive indoor conditions effortlessly. But before you get too excited and start buying them for your home, here are helpful tips that will make you an expert in growing succulents.

Choose the perfect soil. Succulents thrive in a sandy soil. You can buy this from garden supplies or create your own sandy soil. Buy sand and soil in equal portions and mix them thoroughly.

Test the soil if it’s the right mix by putting some water in it. Squeeze the mixture and if it falls apart, you have mixed it correctly.

Succulents do not need a particular type of pot. In fact, you can use any type of pot, even decorative ones. Just remember to put them in shallow containers because their roots are short, and they don’t grow much. Make sure your containers have holes at the bottom to drain excess water because succulents hate soil that is overly wet.

Be careful when watering succulents. As mentioned, they do not like very wet soil. They thrive in almost dry conditions so do not water them frequently. Besides, they do not need frequent watering because their leaves and roots are thick and can retain a lot of water sufficient for their needs.

You will know when succulents need water by examining the soil. When you don’t feel any moisture in it, it’s time for water. Succulents also lose their shine on their leaves if it lacks water. It could also appear ‘dehydrated’ or wilted.

Feed succulents with fertilizer during the hottest months of the year. They grow the fastest during this time, including springtime. Their growth slows down during fall, and totally stops come winter months.

You can give them fertilizer three of four times during the hottest season. Houseplant fertilizers will do the job. Just make sure you give it in small doses, about half the amount you give to regular houseplants.

Succulents need light. Yes, they do thrive indoors but they also need sunlight in order to survive. The best light usually come from the west or south, so if you have windows facing these directions, that’s where you should place your succulents. They do not need to get exposed to direct sunlight.

They just need to feel its warm glow. You may also take them outside the house during summer or spring so they receive a good dose of sun rays. Make sure you place them in a protected area, away from the direct heat of the sun.

You can combine succulents in one pot. Just make sure the succulents you plant together have the same growth rate and maintenance requirements.

Plants need a lot more water during summer as compared to spring when the weather is mild and lovely. Plants may need to be watered daily during sunny weather, or once a week during springtime.

When you water plants, make sure you give them sufficient water. Pour water on potted plants until the extra water escape from the pot holes.

Aside from water, some potted plants may also need fertilizer to stay healthy. You will also need to prune their branches from time to time to get rid of dead leaves and branches, and promote plant growth.

There are a lot more to caring for potted plants that you need to know so read on and learn.

Choose plants wisely: Some plants require a lot of space in order to grow to its fullest. Plants like these may not be fitting to be placed in pots. Do your homework, and read about which plants are best grown in pots. You will find a lot of resources about this on the internet. You may also ask your local gardener for more information because they have more experience in planting various plants.

Choose the right pots: Some plants may require clay pots, while others may thrive in any kind of pot (plastics or recycled materials). When choosing pots, make sure they have holes at the bottom to allow excess water to escape. If you’re using recycled materials, be sure to create holes at the bottom of the container.

Lightweight pots are best for plants during winter because they do not absorb moisture as much as clay pots, giving plants more moisture.

Go for potting mix: Buying potting mix from your local gardener will make your potted plants healthy. This mixture would often have organic materials beneficial to plants, as compared to yard soil that may weeds or fungi.

Prepare your pots: Identifying the places where you will be putting your plants will save you the hassle of carrying heavy pots from your garden to its supposed location.

Place heavy pots on their respective places right away, before putting the soil mix and plants. Make sure you place coffee paper at the bottom of the pot to prevent the soil mix from escaping the pot after you water it.

Time to place your plant on the pot: Before transferring the plant to the pot from the nursery or a previous location, water it one hour before the re-planting. This will loosen the soil and allow you to easily dislodge the plant from the container.

Do not attempt to pull out the plant as it will damage the roots. Gently tip the container until the plant and soil comes out, then place it on the pot. Add soil as needed, leaving about an inch of space before the pot’s rim.

Indoor plants definitely need a different type of caring as compared to outdoor plants. Indoor plants have specific needs that need to be observed in order for them to grow healthy.

It is important to follow the instructions for their care so they do not die due to lack of water, sunlight, or the right temperature.

Implement the following tips to ensure your indoor plants stay healthy and live longer.

Provide plants with room to grow.

Plants, like human beings, grow. Therefore, you cannot confine or restrict them to a small space that they will eventually outgrow. Roots, in particular, grow in length and expand to different areas. If they become too crowded, it could lead to a stunted plant growth.

Branches also expand so leaves could grow. Leaves are essential in creating food.

Provide plants with the right temperature.

Know your plants. Learn about the environment where they thrive so you can cultivate their environment to match their required temperature.

Remember that plants are like people – some of them thrive on warmer weather, some on cold weather. Providing them with the right room temperature will make them feel at home and allow them to grow properly.

Give plants sufficient sunlight.

Indoor plants love sunlight. It makes them alive and healthy. Note that the south or the west part of the house gets the best sunlight, so place your plants on windows near these directions. Plants would usually require 14 to 16 hours of sunlight in a day so placing them at a spot that is most exposed to light is beneficial for them.

Water your plants properly.

Plants need sufficient water – not too little, not too much. Different plants require different amounts of water so you must know your plants well. Remember that too much water or its absence can kill a plant.

Giving plants sufficient water will make sure they are able to supply themselves with the nutrients they need.

Feel the soil on a regular basis to gauge its water content. If dryness has occurred in an inch on top of the soil, it’s time to water it.

When watering, water generously until the excess drains from the pot holes. This ensures all roots receive sufficient water.

Give plants fertilizer.

You have to exercise caution when using fertilizers on plants. Be also mindful of plants that do not need them.

If you’re not sure of the amount and the type of fertilizer you need to use on each plant, consult a horticulturist, he is your best source of information for plant care.

Fertilizers provide plants with three important nutrients, namely:

• Nitrogen
• Phosphorous
• Potassium

These nutrients work together to give plant leaves their dark green color, make flowers bloom, and the plant to grow abundantly.

Allow plants to grow in their own time.

Plants have different time lengths for growth – some grow fast in a very short time span, while others take months or years to reach their full maturity. Know their growth times so you do not end up expecting plants to grow and bear fruit at a time when they’re not yet ready.

It pays to have a green thumb if you love growing plants. But sometimes, this is not sufficient. You need to know the basics of growing plants in order to maintain them and keep them alive on any type of weather.

It is not an easy task, but it should not be difficult either. If you love plants, you will find the following plant care tips easy to understand and implement. Read on to know more on this.

Check the soil’s water or moisture content.

Plants need different amounts of water. Some may need to be watered twice a day, especially during hot weather, while others only need to be watered once a week.

To know if your plant needs watering, get a feel of the soil. If its top layer has gone dry, you may need to water the plant. Also watch out for discoloration of the leaves as this could indicate need for water.

It is also important to note that over-watering plants is not good for them. Sometimes, they’re better off lacking water because that is easier to remedy than being watery.

Choose the best spot for house plants.

Plants, like people, want stability. They hate to be moved around. So, before you re-plant your indoor plants into new pots, make sure you already have a spot ready for them that could be reached by sunlight, and has the right temperature.

Choose low light plants for bathrooms.

As their name suggests, low light plants need very little sunlight. As long as your bathroom has a small window where sunlight can penetrate, they will be able to receive the required amount of sunlight. The moisture in the bathroom after you shower will also be sufficient to provide them with the water they need.

Trim your plants.

Trimming or pruning your plants will ensure dead leaves and branches get removed. Doing this will give branches the ability to grow again after some of them have dried during the winter.

Do your best to keep plants in their natural habitat.

Replicating the plants natural habitat will make it live longer. Use the right soil, and do your best to maintain its required humidity, temperature, and environment. Also give it sufficient water and sunlight.

Take note as well that most plants thrive in high humidity. You may need to buy a humidifier if the need arises.

Watch out for droopy leaves.

If you’ve bought plants from a place you’ve visited during one of your trips, you may need to consult a horticulturist if the plants’ leaves start turning yellow. The plants may need extra care to nurture it back to health. A fertilizer will often do the trick.

Skip fertilizers.

Most house plants grow healthy without need for fertilizer. If you’re not sure if the plant needs fertilizer, consult a horticulturist. If no one is available, search the internet for information on each plant type. A lot of materials are often available online.

Don’t pull out plants for replanting.

Has your plant overgrown its current pot? You will need to put it in a bigger pot. But don’t pull it out from its current pot because there’s a risk you’ll damage some of its roots. Broken roots will mean it will take some time for your plant to heal and absorb nutrients. Worse, it could die.

Make sure you remove the whole plant from its old pot along with its soil, then place it on the new pot. Water it after replanting it.