Garden Tips

By Keith Markensen

Because bamboo naturally grows in the tropics, they are used to warm weather and regular rainfall. When you bring them indoors to enjoy their beauty and simplicity, you should know how to care for them correctly to help them thrive. Growing bamboo indoors is not as difficult as you might think, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

Always remember that your bamboo plant is used to warmth and humidity. Once you bring your bamboo plant home, try placing it outside first, in a sheltered area with plenty of light and some shade. That way, it will begin to get used to the levels of light in your region. You should not fertilize your plant immediately, since most nurseries and plant stores will already have put some fertilizer in already.

How much to water your new bamboo plant will depend on the climate in your area. If your bamboo plant is located indoors and the soil typically dries out fast, water it deeply, saturating the soil to keep it from drying out. You may not need to water your bamboo plant every day; keep an eye on the soil to determine when the plant needs water. If the leaves begin to curl up, your bamboo plant needs to be watered more frequently. If the leaves are drooping, you have added too much water to the soil and should not water your bamboo plant as much.

Another way to add humidity and water is by misting your indoor bamboo plants with a spray bottle. Misting will mimic the humid conditions that your new bamboo plant is used to in the wild. You can also use a pebble tray to add water. Fill a tray with pebbles, and then saturate it with just enough water that the pebbles peek out above it. Then place your pot with bamboo on top of the pebbles, so that it does not touch the water. The water in the pebbles will evaporate into the soil of your bamboo plant.

Once your bamboo plant has been in your home for awhile, it will begin to acclimate to indoor conditions. You should still take it out to the garden regularly or add lights near the plant to mimic sunlight, because it is used to very sunny tropical conditions. Bamboo plants make beautiful additions to your home, but they should be cared for properly if you expect them to thrive.

Today is the perfect time to find out more about lucky bamboo plants. Visit us at plant-care.com.
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By Thomas Baugh

There's nothing worse than not having the space available to achieve your vision for your new garden, but a small garden design can also be seen as an advantage. After all, the less space you have, the less you have to maintain and you can create a really stunning design because you're able to concentrate on every little detail.

Planning is crucial with any design project, but even more so when you're working with limited space. A good starting point is to make a list of all the essential things you want in your garden. You should also get outside with your tape measure and ensure that you know the exactly how much room you have. When you bring these two crucial pieces of information together, you can really get an idea of what is realistic.

Sketch out the dimensions of your garden on a piece of paper and then start adding and positioning all of the various features you want to include. For the first time, you'll get an impression of whether your small garden design is a realistic one. Be warned, you might have to make sacrifices on some of the more frivolous options to make way for the necessities. What you don't want to do is overcrowd your garden, as that will make it seem even smaller.

Using garden design software is always advisable but even more so with a smaller space. You need to get an accurate idea of how everything will look from different angles and viewpoints. A simple sketch won't give you the valuable insight that advanced software can, so take advantage of it. You can download it for free from the internet and go 3D with your design in no time.

A small garden design needn't be a problem, as long as you don't see it as one. Instead, visualise it as an opportunity to create something that is perfectly crafted, with attention paid to every possible detail.

There's more information on small garden design at the Garden Design Site.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Baugh