Garden Tips

By Alison Wood

Lilies are now one of the most popular flowers - both in the house and in the garden - and with their beautiful fragrance who can resist these gorgeous blooms.

Although you might not think so lilies are actually easy to grow. You do not have to worry about
soil type for lilies and they grow equally well in sunny or more shady areas. They should be planted as soon as you get them as they do not have the covering that other more hardy bulbs have and thus can be very fragile and dry out if you try to store them for long periods.

The only major consideration is that lilies need soil that is well-drained. They should be planted at a depth of 12 inches and add a little peat moss to aid drainage, you won't need to fertilize them though until the first green leaves appear. It is ideal to add an organic mulch around lilies in order to keep the soil moist and cool and to cover the beds in Winter to keep then from frost.
There are several different varieties of lily and if you plant several different ones you can enjoy their color throughout the Summer.

Asiatic lilies start the season off in Spring to midsummer.
Midsummer then progresses with the Trumpet Lilies.
Tiger lilies and Rubrum lilies are very hardy and are happy in most environments
The season ends when the Oriental Lilies start to bloom. The ones are highly fragranced and are perfect for cutting for indoors.
So don't be wary of these beautiful flowers, get planting now and you can enjoy them all through the coming Summer.
Alison Wood
Find Out More and Buy Luscious Lilieshttp://dutch.midnighteden.info
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By Larry Gildea
Most types of store-bought potting soils will work well in planters, but you can also use them to mix and blend soils in order to provide just the right mixture for any type of plant, herb, vegetable or flower and their moisture and drainage needs.

Container potting mixes offer a variety of benefits depending on the type of soils or plants you intend to grow. For example, following is a list of the most common types of planting soils and their uses.

• All-Purpose - This is a sterilized mixture of sand or perlite and peat moss soil that is generally used for trees and shrubs as well as vegetables and annuals.

This type of soil mix is also known as loam-based potting mix. As the name implies, its main ingredient is loam. It comes in many different mixtures and strengths and can be used long term for trees and shrubs.

The advantage of this type of potting soil is that many different blends and recipes can be created that are great for many different kinds of plants and shrubs. It is supplied with a good number of nutrients and holds water better than some other types of potting mix. Still, quality also depends on brand names. Overall, loam-based mixes contain small quantities of peat.

• Soil less or Peat-based- This type of potting soil is a mixture of sphagnum peat moss, sand or perlite. Perlite can be substituted for coarse sand. Perlite is a sterile, lightweight, white aggregate made from volcanic minerals. Perlite encourages ventilation of potting soil mixtures. This type of potting soil also contains compost or dried manure or vermiculite, a soil additive. This type of potting mix is typically used for temporary plants like vegetables and annuals.
It is important to keep this type of potting mix slightly damp, as when allowed to dry out completely, it can be difficult to resaturate.

The advantage to using a peat-based potting mix is that it is a quality mix, one that is lightweight, clean and easy to use. However, it is also prone to water logging, dries out more quickly than other mixes and contains low nutrient levels.

• Well-Drained - This type of potting soil is also a sterilized combination of peat moss, sand, leaf molds, grit and soil that is preferred by woodland and alpine type plants.

• Water- Retentive - A water retentive potting soil is a mixture of an all-purpose type combination of ingredients and water-retentive crystals that is suitable for use with any type of plant except succulents and cacti.

• Coir-Based - Coir is available as loose potting mix or in blocks. Made from shredded coconut husks, coir is mixed with other types of potting soil in a one-to-two ratio because it contains no nutrients by itself.
Coir is inexpensive, lightweight, and ideal for use in pots that hang or are anchored on walls or balconies. It has a few disadvantages, such as it is not to be used for permanent plants, it dries quickly and needs to be frequently watered.

• Peat-Free - This type of potting soil has become more popular as consumers become more conscious of green waste composts. Because it is made from recycled household waste, it retains a dark, rich color.
Using this type of potting mix has many advantages. It is fine for most potted plants, contains adequate nutrient levels and retains moisture well. In addition, it has been heat treated, which kills pests, weeds and diseases. Still, keep in mind that some plants do well with this type of mix and others do not.

• Cacti - This type of potting soil is specifically made for use planting cacti and succulents and is
created from of a combination of sterilized soil, gravel, ground limestone, sand and vermiculite.

• Acidic - This type of potting soil is also created by blending an all-purpose type potting mix with additional peat moss as well as ground pine or fir bark. It is best used on ericaceous plants like heather, rhododendron, and azaleas.

Potting Soil Recipes

Basic Potting Soil Recipe

2 parts packaged potting soil,
1 part coarse sand,
1 part peat moss or leaf mold

If desired, you can also add a slow release fertilizer or bone meal

Acid-Loving Plants Recipe (Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Camellias)

2 parts packaged potting soil,
2 parts coarse sand,
2 parts peat moss,
1 part leaf mold,
1/3 part

well composted manure

Bulbs Recipe

2 parts packaged potting soil,
1 part coarse sand,
1 part leaf mold or peat moss,

Bone meal as per package directions

Cacti and Succulents Recipe

2 parts packaged potting soil,
2 parts sand,
1/2 part leaf mold or peat moss,
Add bone meal or limestone according to package directions

A good potting mix doesn't contain any native soils and is designed for better absorption and drainage. You can create your own blends using different types of packaged potting soils mentioned above or make your own using the recipes provided below. For the following recipes, it is best to find a potting soil that contains vermiculite or perlite as its base for best results.
Copyright © Larry Gildea, All Rights Reserved.

Dr.Larry Gildea has authored several articles on gardening. Dr. Gildea has created these gardening websites, http://www.gardeningbonanza.com, Gardening Bonanza.com covers many types of gardening, including, bonsai design and cultivation, container gardening, flower gardening, rose gardening, hydroponics gardening and several others. http://www.organicgardensystems.com Organic Garden Systems .com is dedicated exclusively to organic gardening. And in his blog, http://larryseasygardening.com
Dr. Gildea discusses all types of gardening.
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By Holly Smythe

Once you are caring for orchids, how much illumination do you require? That is the first query all pleased new owners of orchids plant ask.

The reply is always unvarying: "That depends." How baffling!
Even so, it is the sole truthful answer. Orchids are the most extensive plant family on Earth. They display the highest degree of variation, also. They occur by nature on every continent except Antarctica, with some species even flourishing within the Arctic Circle. While you have such a wide variety of habitat, the accurate reply must be "It depends"!

The magic trick to growing any orchid is understanding the features of its natural surroundings and replicating those features successfully. You must understand the illumination needs of your specific orchid. Growing orchids that call for bright light will likely call for extra measures. You could have to put in grow lights, or even construct a greenhouse, to grow those orchids. If you are a brand-new grower, you probably will not wish to go to those extremes.

It is less demanding to grow an orchid that will grow well in the illumination already available. With literally thousands of orchids for sale, you are able to select one that will grow in your home surroundings.

Do not worry if your orchid was a present. The conditions that are effective for houseplants are appropriate for many orchids. New propagating methods have made it simple to multiply orchids. In addition to all the acknowledged orchid species, agriculturists have created more than 100,000 hybrids to choose from. A lot of them were produced with the home grower in mind. You likely have an easy-to-grow orchid if you are entered in an orchid-or-the-month club or purchased your orchid in a local store.

The highest light requirements are for genera such as Vanda and Laelia. Approximately 4,000 to 8,000 foot-candles are generally needed for orchids like this. These orchids are commonly raised in greenhouses, not at home. Medium light, from 2,000 to 3,000 foot-candles, is called for by Oncidium, Cattleya, and related genera. Most houses have this much illumination, so these genera can be grown at home. Some owners use grow-lights in addition. Orchids with low light necessities, like Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis, are simple to grow at home. They just want 900 to 1,200 foot-candles. These orchids are a fine option for novices.

Some orchids are challenging to grow, but not all of them are so exacting. If you are able to take care of houseplants, you will be able to take care of orchids!
What else do you need to know about light for the care of orchids? Visit Holly Smyth at http://orchidsonthewindowsill.info to find out!
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By Luka Ce

Trees that are used for bonsai are very different in their needs, and each tree reacts to indoor conditions differently. When we say that Bonsai is grown up indoor that means that it is grown outside of its usual location. For example: a tree from cold area would have a lot of troubles to adapt to conditions in warm area that is why we would need to create artificial conditions that would suit that tree. A lot of trees can grow better in good artificial conditions but all of them have special needs that have to be maintained for a tree to stay in good health.

Many great gardeners grow their bonsai inside. For example a lot of different types of pines can easily be grown up inside and will survive without a problem because they can tolerate slight change of condition as difference in lighting, temperature, pressure and others. A lot of people try to make special indoor circumstances and use different technique to make their bonsai adapt to new environment as good as possible. That is why some people have special rooms with refrigerators or heating devices and machines that can regulate the moisture in the air. Growing bonsai indoor will force you to create as natural environment as possible that is why you will need to create seasons which are essential for a tree to survive. The best position for a room with bonsai is the one that has a window facing east, because an open window will give bonsai full spectrum of light which will mimic the natural circumstances.

Some people think that growing bonsai indoor is not really the best thing, some trees like Buddhist pines and Chinese elms show the exact opposite while these trees can adapt to indoor climate easily if they are given enough time to acclimatize.

To learn more about growing up a bonsai visit My Bonsai
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By Tracy Ballisager

Gardening is becoming very popular as one of America's favorite hobbies. Like many other states in the US, there has been a significant rise in the number of people taking up this hobby in California as well. Several gardening clubs can be found in California that offer courses related to gardening. They also offer programs where a member can learn the theories and principles of landscape designing for different types of gardens. Whether someone is willing to have a backyard or a whole yard habitat, a perennial border, a rose garden, container landscape or herb garden, they can learn everything in these clubs. The knowledge and tips shared by experienced gardeners in these clubs can help anyone wanting to start gardening.

As far as California gardening is concerned, you can find a great deal of information on the Internet. There are several websites that offer useful tips and information on how you can set up a garden and what plans you should choose. If you want to practice conservation techniques in your garden then you can follow these tips:

• Use plants that can attract birds, butterflies and bees.
• Use compost yard clippings.
• Use plants that are drought tolerant or any California native so that water conservation could be done.
• Use mulch in order to control weed and soil moisture.

In order to create a beautiful garden you need to know how to propagate plants for your garden, choose the right kind of tree for a certain spot in the garden and how to ensure the maintenance and safety of the plants. Whether you have been gardening for years or you have acquired this hobby recently, you just need to have the right kind of knowledge and love for plants in order to create an outstanding garden.

When you plant shrubs make sure that they have no major pests and the growth rate is moderate or slow. Some of the best shrubs that can be planted in any California landscape are:

• Rhaphiolepis indica India Hawthorne
• Nandina domestica Heavenly Bamboo
• Callistemon viminalis 'Little John' Little John Bottlebrush
• Buxus microphylla 'Japonica' Japanese Boxwood
• Osmanthus heterophyllus Hollyleaf Osmanthus
• Xylosma congestum Shiny Xylosma
• Myrsine africana African Boxwood
• Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum' Waxleaf Privet
• Cistus ladanifer Crimson-Spot Rockrose
• Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary
• Loropetalum Chinese Fringe Flower
• Carissa macrocarpa Natal Plum
• Crassula argentea Jade Plant

The month of January is for pruning roses, bare root plantings of roses, fruit trees, grapes and other shrubs. Apply dormant spray once the pruning is done. In January make sure that the tender plants like citrus are protected from frost. Provide winter fertilizers to the plants. In February you can prevent weeds and plant seeds and bulbs. March is the time for wildflowers, spring planting, fertilizing and protecting the plants from weed, insects and fungus.

California gardening could be fun if you do it the right way. If you feel that you don't have enough information then read books on gardening or join any gardening club for a better learning experience. People who don't have space for creating a garden can plant shrubs and flowers in containers and pots that can be placed on windows or the patio.

Tracy Ballisager is stays at home mum, who loves gardening . To read more about gardening tips and idea go to http://www.gardening-tips-idea.com
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