Culinary Herb Garden
January 12, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, Herb, Indoor
Cooking from scratch may not always be a possibility, but many cuisine-conscious cooks who know their way around the kitchen love to relax at home by producing something truly unique, with their signature stamped all over it, when time allows. To do this, a high-quality, taste-delivering culinary herb garden is a tremendous asset. Let’s begin by looking at the essential herbs you might want to consider for your garden.
Here’s a list that will add zest to any recipe:
1. Bay: Start with one plant, indoors or outdoors as weather permits. Grow it in a large pot, 8 inches or more, so the progress of its roots will not be impeded. With a bit of experimenting, you’ll find many uses for Bay that will enhance your culinary efforts.
2. Sweet Fennel: Start with two plants and divide it when ready. Prune/harvest the leaves often, and it will keep producing faithfully. This tasty herb has been used to rave reviews for centuries, and will add just the right touch of sweet and savory spice to soups, sauces, and baked meats.
3. Dill: Start one or two plants each month, so you’ll have a regular supply of this useful herb throughout the year. If you love to can your fresh vegetables, grow plenty of dill, to add tang to cucumbers, tomatoes, and beans. Added to creamy sauces and soups in the quantity you choose, it creates something special out of ordinary main ingredients.
4. Sweet Basil: . Add some fresh pasta, an Italian sausage or two, and enjoy! Any savory dish will taste better with the addition of this popular herb. Five to seven plants are a good start.
5. Oregano: Start with 2 to 4 plants, because you’ll always find something new to add this herb to. Soups, casseroles featuring tomato bases, baked meats, and crock-pot stews will all sparkle with a tasty touch of this versatile herb.
Round out your culinary herb garden with thyme, winter savory, rosemary, and mint, and you’ll never lack a way to spice up a mundane meal and make it something memorable. As you gain experience you’ll want to add the herbs that grab your fancy. Each time you enjoy a flavorsome meal in one of your favorite restaurants, let your server know you’d love to compliment the chef. When he or she appears, offer robust praise, and then, under your breath, ask what herbs created such a culinary delight. The secrets you coax from them will translate into wonderful taste experiences at home. Herbs deliver a sensuous ambience to any meal that nothing else can add. Developing a first-rate culinary herb garden will take time, patience, and experimentation, but most great cooks find this investment in great recipes to be very rewarding, relaxing, and creatively fun.
When you grow more than you can use, trade herbs with your other gardening friends, or simply give away your over-abundance to those who will appreciate it. Drying, freezing, and storing your herbs is another great idea, so you’ll have them available even in winter, even when not growing an indoor herb garden. Most herbs dry very well on the stem, but tarragon, parsley, and basil also freeze very nicely. With a little planning, you’ll enjoy the best herb flavors throughout the year!
Indoor herb gardening products :
Indoor Herb Garden
January 11, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, Herb, Indoor
Fresh herbs year round, what a fantastic concept! Even in winter, when your local grocer has very little that looks invitingly fresh, you can be harvesting your own fresh herbs at home, for a perfectly seasoned sauce or an herb blend that turns a mediocre recipe into a masterpiece. Developing your own indoor herb garden is actually quite easy. Choose the herb seeds you want, and plant them in potting soil and 4” to 6” pots. Or, select plants already started at your local nursery, and create a home environment that will allow them to thrive. From there, make sure your indoor herb garden excels in these areas:
1. Light: You’ll need at least 6 hours of natural daylight per day, with the more the merrier. If this is impossible, purchase an artificial grow light and use it 12 to 16 hours per day.
2. Temperature: Herbs grow well where temps are consistently between 60 and 80 degrees F. They’re not too choosy, but consistency is important.
3. Water: Especially in winter, when heat sources like the furnace are drying out the air, you’ll need to keep the soil moist, per the seed provider’s specifications. A bit of research, followed by careful observation, will let you how much watering each herb likes best. Avoid over watering and letting the herbs go too long without a drink. Many green thumb herb gardeners recommend flushing your herb plants monthly, by watering them thoroughly, letting the excess water drain, then repeating the process. After that, do not water for at least one week, then resume your normal schedule. This is especially important when you are using ready-mix fertilizers that can cause a build-up in the soil of harmful substances like sodium.
4. Soil: Straight potting soil will work well for most herbs. If you are bringing them in from an outdoor garden, the pot them in the soil they’re accustomed to in your yard. If your preferred herb likes a drier setting, mix up one part potting soil, one part sand, and one part peat moss.
5. Fertilizer: Fresh compost is always welcomed by potted plants. Be cautious with ready-mix fertilizers. Start slow to avoid burning out the roots of a plant. Follow directions and you should be okay.
6. Keep pests at bay: It is most likely that pests will not bother your indoor herb garden. But give each plant a regular inspection when watering. At the first sign of pests, remove any affected leaves and spray the rest with a soapy water solution.
7. Pruning: When speaking of herbs, pruning is another name for harvesting the great-tasting leaves and stems, which you can add to your next adventure in cuisine artistry. Herbs thrive on being pruned, so prune with confidence – and reap the benefits via your tastebuds!
With time, your own experience will grow into expertise, as your herbs grow into succulent, tasty, means of making every dish come alive with wonderful aroma and flavor. You’ll watch with mouth-watering anticipation as your herbs grow healthy, robust leaves, thinking of all the culinary delights that their presence will produce. Here is a partial list of the herbs which will prosper in an indoor herb garden: Chives, thyme, French tarragon, oregano, basil, sage, sweet marjoram, lavender, chamomile, rosemary, and angelica. Life’s homegrown pleasures are the best!
Indoor herb gardening products :
Low maintenance indoor plants
January 6, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, Indoor
People appreciate indoor plants for many reasons. To be sure, some houseplant aficionados love to give daily attention to their green, blossoming, leafy friends. Others have houseplants for the beauty of their blooms, verdant vegetation, or air purifying qualities, but lack the time or skill needed to keep their plants healthy and happy. This guide offers low maintenance indoor plants that will keep growing and blossoming even when you can’t give them the attention you’d like to.
1. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior): The name screams for inclusion in this list! This plant boasts lots of attractive greenery, needs to be watered infrequently and pruned even less. It will go dormant for a time when completely neglected or placed outdoors, and can be brought back with watering and warmth. The Cast Iron plant is also disease and insect resistant.
2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): This easy-to-please houseplant does well in a standard pot or in a hanging planter where it can let its spider-like stems grow long and loose. It will continually re-root itself, so that in a year or two the root ball will need to be divided. Hardy and durable, the Spider Plant is a low-maintenance pleaser.
3. Dragon tree (Dracaena marginata): Resembling a small palm tree, this low maintenance potted plant will grow to 10 feet or more with a bit of support, now and again watering, low to average amounts of light, and little else. Native to the rainforest floor where it must make the most of the light it receives, it will do just fine in your home or workplace when you show it just a bit of attention.
4. Christmas Cactus (Zygocactus or Schlumbergera): Want something that is as near to indestructible as a houseplant gets? Choose the Christmas cactus for a simple, beautiful touch of greenery on your desk, countertop, or bathroom vanity. Given minimal care, and subjected to cool temps and darkness, this desert-derived plant will reward you with stunning blooms or red and pink.
5. Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria): Despite an unfortunate name, this low maintenance indoor plant won’t complain when you give it the cold shoulder. It really does better with less light and very little watering, while delivering attractively long, slender leaves. This popular plant is known for its durability and easy propagation.
6. Prayer plant (Marantaceae): This flowering family of indoor plants boasts large leaves with intricately detailed markings in shades of white and pink, in addition to green. The Prayer plant thrives in low to average light conditions and requires watering once a week to every 10 days. Expect this indoor pollution fighter to provide years of low-maintenance beauty for your home or office.
7. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum): This shrub may reach 8 to 10 feet indoors, and boasts thick, leather-like evergreen leaves that turn lovely shades or yellow, and orange-red with seasonal changes. Male and female plants offer delicate flowers of white and yellow that give way to small, rubbery fruits. The Croton does well in average light and requires sparse watering and no pruning or general maintenance.
How to maintain indoor plants
January 5, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, Indoor
Like all living things, indoor plants require an environment suited to their needs in order to thrive. With attention to these basics, you’ll soon have healthy, happy plants, adding beauty and cleaner air to your home or work place.
Step One: Begin with healthy plants! When you shop, or receive plants you’ve ordered online, inspect them for disease. Check both the tops and bottoms of the leaves for insects or damage left by insects. Allow only plants that are in good condition to become part of your collection.
Step Two: Select a pot large enough for the roots of the plant – with room to grow! A plant will only be as healthy above ground as it is below ground. If its roots are constricted, its growth will be hindered, or it may begin to fail. Periodically check to see that the roots have not outgrown the container, and if they have, either divide the plant or transplant it to a larger home. If roots begin protruding up from the soil, that’s a clue that repotting should take place immediately.
Step Three: Use only high quality soil, and change the soil every one to two years. When you purchase a new plant it will likely come with good soil. But over time, the nutrients in the soil are depleted, and getting the fertilizer mix just right can be tricky. Use recommended amounts of fertilizer, but it is still a good idea to replace the soil periodically. If your plant is losing its vibrancy, and there is no obvious cause like visible disease, then that may indicate the necessity of some fresh dirt. Choose a soil mixture high in sphagnum peat with perlite and vermiculate as part of the mix. Adding modest amounts of fully decomposed compost to the soil will give your indoor plants a nice boost, as well. Note: Cacti and other succulents need soil that is well-drained, so mixing in potting sand may be needed. Many experts recommend the use of an electronic soil tester to evaluate the quality of the soil. Learn what soil types your plants do best in, and give them what they want. They’ll give you years of service in return.
Step Four: Know the proper moisture content of the soil for each variety of indoor plant you have, and water carefully. Most beginners don’t realize that too much water can be just as harmful as not enough water. Use a container with holes in the bottom for excess water to escape. Otherwise, root rot may take place before you know it. Remember that clay pots will absorb some water, so add a splash extra for plants growing in them.
Step Five: Prune your plants in their off-season for growth, according to established guidelines. A pruned plant will take off more quickly when it does begin to grow again, and will produce more and healthier blossoms if it is a flowering plant.
Step Six: Practice your techniques, and you will soon be sporting as green a thumb as the local nursery owner! Enjoy your indoor plants, talk to them like old friends, and they will become treasured companions.
10 Indoor Flowers
January 4, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, Indoor
Gardeners who love their flowers hate to see autumn come, thinking the blooms are gone until spring. But with a plentiful variety of indoor flowers that can be easily cultivated, the blossoms will continue regardless of the weather outdoors. Here is our choice of ten indoor flowers that will give you something colorful to enjoy throughout the year.
1. African Violet (Gesneriaceae Streptocarpus): This lovely, compact houseplant is a favorite among gardeners for its majestic purple blooms that the experienced “thumb” will be able to bring forth several times per year.
2. Angel’s Trumpet (Solanaceae Brugmansia): This flowering plant is known for its many subspecies, each of which delivers an attractive bouquet of flowers to the indoor plant cultivator. Large cone-shaped blossoms boast five petals and pleasing, rich fragrance that varies with species. These versatile plants serve many purposes the world over, and do very well in all light conditions, including low light indoor settings.
3. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima): Typically given to one another only during the holiday season, those experienced with houseplant care will be able to enjoying these breath-taking beauties throughout the year. Many are surprised to learn Poinsettias are actually a shrub, and they hold the distinction of being the world’s single most popular flowering houseplant!
4. Begonia (Begoniaceae): Gardeners who love begonias out in the garden are pleased to find they do very well indoors, as well. These durable plants do well in low light conditions and require only periodic watering. The large number of varieties afford you the choice of colors for your indoor decorating, ranging from white to purple, with lots of pinks and yellows in between.
5. Jasmine (Jasminum): Lovely scents emanate from the Jasmine, making it a great choice for those who love to brighten their homes or offices and want some natural aromatherapy, too. These shrubs do well in pots alone, but will climb if a trellis is included. The delicate, subtle flowers open each evening for a brief but dazzling display.
6. Desert Cactus (Cactaceae): These houseplants show little sign of life for months, and then burst into bloom with some of the most gorgeous flowers even seen indoors. It is always worth the wait! Desert cactus is easy to maintain, and a good variety of colors is available from which to choose.
7. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): This indoor favorite blooms throughout the year, so regardless of what’s happening outside, your home can be filled with the intoxicating smell of lavender! This fragrant favorite is often used in the kitchen, as well, to enhance any dish with a buoyant, slightly sweet flavor.
8. Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe delagoensis): Experienced gardeners often suggest this plant to their friends just beginning to try their hand at indoor cultivation because it is easy to start, grow and maintain. Best of all, it is generous with its blooms, pouring forth a steady supply of them each season.
9. Hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus): This flowering shrub is a low-maintenance pleaser, with large, radiant blooms that boast delicate petals exuding a delightful aroma. This indoor flower goes by many names, and several different colors have been cultivated, for a varied and pleasing display where you live or work.
10. Anthurium (Anthurium scherzerianum): This very popular member of the anthurium family is the one that does best indoors. The broad, red flower features a vertical yellow or white floral spike. Look for one that is in bloom, and then give it lots of TLC to bring it back into bloom next season.
7 Low Light Indoor Plants
January 3, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, Indoor
Many houseplant enthusiasts discover that certain varieties do not do well indoors where low light conditions exist. Rather than adding expensive, energy consuming lights, they prefer to choose plants that naturally do well in low light settings. These varieties typically are native to low light conditions, like the rainforest floor where a thick canopy ranges overhead, or swamps where thick foliage often blocks direct light. The plants listed below will thrive in low light conditions while beautifying your home or work place.
1. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior): This hardy plant grows indoors to about 3 feet in height, with a thick bunch of dark green or variegated leaves growing directly up from the root, without use of a stalk. Exquisite purple-toned flowers appear annually and its base. This attractive plant lives up to its name – requiring low light conditions and able to withstand a lack of maintenance. It is not susceptible to damage from insects, either.
2. Ceriman (Monstera deliciosa): This plant is big, beautiful, and bushy, being a favorite choice of interior decorators in homes and businesses. Its durable stalks support luxurious, verdant foliage featuring large, palm-shaped leaves with bunches of narrow leaflets. Great for large spaces where light is at a premium.
3. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata): Its name derives from the shape of the firm, dark green leaves which grow vertically from the base and feature lighter gray-green horizontal bands. These leaves may reach 3-4 feet. This evergreen sports soft white flowers bursts with very delicate petals. The Snake plant will grow thick bunches in potted, indoor conditions.
4. Peperomia (Various): This broad family of flowering plants is ideal for indoor, low-light settings because they typically originate in shaded areas of undergrowth. The flowers tend to be small to medium sized, in colors ranging from yellow, through orange, to purple. All are quite fragrant, and may bloom throughout the year.
5. Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana): This quick-growing indoor plant sends up slender shoots that support narrow, rectangular leaves. This decorative plant is usually pruned to heights between 3 and 5 feet, while the leaves are allowed to grow upward vertically from there, giving it a striking posture. Lucky Bamboo can live for months with roots fully submerged, making it a popular aquatic plant.
6. Silver Vase (Aechmea fasciata): When mature and well maintained, a large, boldly colored blossom will open in the center of this plant, like a flower in a vase. The Silver Vase is a wide houseplant, with broad leaves extending outward 1 ½ to 3 feet each. Keep out of direct sunlight for best results!
7. Silver Vine (Epipremnum aureum): This stout, hardy houseplant will climb if given the opportunity, hooking its branches over those of other plants or over a decorative trellis indoors. It will drop trailing stems that will take root when reaching the pot, creating a full, bountiful look to the plant. Attractive heart-shaped leaves feature marbling of yellow or white.
How To Choose an Indoor Plant
January 2, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, Indoor
When you are in the looking for the right indoor plant, whether it is your first or you want to add another one to a collection, there are 5 main factors to consider.
First, what is your level of ability to care for the plant? A couple of things are important here. If this will be your first houseplant, then choose from among those that are easy to care for. Many fine indoor plants are very hardy and will thrive even as you develop the green-thumb touch. See our guide for plants that require little maintenance, and begin there. If you are away from home a lot, or if this indoor plant is for your work place, that list of easy-care plants will also provide options that will give you a great return for a small investment of time. On the other hand, if you are an expert gardener, or have the time to learn quickly, your options will be extended to include an indoor plant that might be more delicate, requiring more attention to detail like your home’s humidity, frequent watering, or consistent direct sunlight.
Secondly, consider your home environment. Factors include the amount of natural light available. If you live in a home with picture windows and good southern or eastern exposure, your choices are greater than for someone who lives in an apartment with windows facing only north, for example. If your living space or office does not feature abundant natural light, be sure to see our guide “Low Light Indoor Plants” for a listing of those that thrive in low light conditions. If your home gets very dry in the winter, or if your general climate is dry, you’ll want to choose plants that require less watering and humidity than if these are not concerns.
Thirdly, look for plants that meet the purpose you’re looking to fulfill. If you simply want some greenery, your options abound. If flowering plants are your desire, then choose from among those that will deliver the beauty and fragrance of blossoms. See our guide “10 Indoor Flowers” for wonderful options to fit the other conditions detailed here. Many homeowners are also looking for plants that will purify the air, removing pollutants commonly found in any house. Our guide “10 Houseplants For Making Indoor Air Very Clean and Healthy” will give you a great start in this direction.
Next, if small children or pets will be around the plants, it is important to buy those that are not toxic. Many plants can be quite poisonous, and should be avoided. A bit of research will help you discover whether or not the plant you are considering would be safe, should a child or pet take a nibble of it.
Finally, consider the space available in your home for plants. Trees will need space on the floor, and in time might grow to monopolize the light from one window. Most smaller potted plants simply require a bit of room on a table, desk or shelf, and are the most adaptable to any size home or office. Other plants prosper in hanging baskets where their branches and leaves can trail downward. Placing screws in the ceiling, near windows, may be required, so consider whether or not you are prepared to do that.
Indoor gardening is a growing hobby with many benefits, including beautifying the space, purifying the air, and enjoying relaxing time caring for living plants. Choose plants that will fit your style, and you’ll have years to enjoy them!
10 Houseplants For Making Indoor Air Very Clean and Healthy
January 2, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, Indoor
Homeowners concerned about indoor air quality have been turning to nature’s air purifiers, houseplants, for many years. Highly respected tests from NASA and other agencies have proven that they remove a wide variety of pollutants from the air including those commonly found in household furnishings and products, such as formaldehyde and benzene. These plants deliver the additional benefits of enriching your home’s oxygen supply and beautifying your surroundings. Experts suggest about 1 house plant per 100 square feet of living space, with a variety producing better results than choosing all the same plant.
Here are ten houseplants that will make your indoor air very clean and healthy. They are readily available wherever houseplants are sold, and most also grow well in low-light conditions and are easy to maintain.
1. English Ivy (Hedera helix): This evergreen climbing plant grows very well either on an indoor trellis where it may climb, or as a hanging plant with drooping runners. English Ivy produces fragrant greenish yellow flowers and small berries that vary in color.
2. Cornstalk Dracaena (Dracaena fragans ‘Massangeana’): Rosettes of silky green leaves with a distinctive yellow stripe make this an attractive and popular houseplant. Leaves reach about 3 feet when grown in pots, and the plant yields white flowers that are richly fragrant.
3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): The plant features long narrow leaves sporting one or two lighter bands down the center and delicate white flowers. Easy to maintain in a variety of conditions, it is a good choice for beginners, and is easily propagated by dividing the central rosette.
4. Elephant Ear Philodendron (Philodendron domesticum): Most Philodendrons are outstanding pollution reducers, and the Elephant Ear is among the very best. Broad, fleshy leaves and gorgeous flowers highlight the attractive appeal of this hardy houseplant.
5. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum): This foliage plant is native to tropical swamps where efficient gas processing characteristics are essential in low-light conditions, making it a fantastic pollution fighter. The Chinese Evergreen features small bunches of attractive leaves, small greenish-white flowers, and red berries. This ornamental is easy to grow and maintain indoors.
6. Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii): This ornamental plant is part of the sunflower family, and boasts brightly colored flowers with stunning beauty. Various species are cultivated for indoor use, so homeowners will have a variety of floral colors from which to choose, including white, pink, red, yellow and orange.
7. Golden Pothos (Scindapsus aures): This popular indoor evergreen grows to 8 feet with proper support. Bright green heart-shaped leaves feature white or yellow variegation that varies from plant to plant. The Pothos is very hardy and needs little maintenance .
8. Bamboo Palm or Reed Palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii): Native to low-light rainforest floors, these palms developed the ability to efficiently process gases required for photosynthesis, leading to their fine ability to remove pollutants from the air. Cane-like stems support narrow, verdant leaves, clusters of flowers, and red-orange fruit.
9. Warneck Dracaena (Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckii’): This houseplant grows on a thick stalk and produces dense rosettes of green or whitish green leaves. Usually won’t flower indoors, but a dynamic anti-pollution plant.
10. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’): Peace lilies have long been popular for their dramatically beautiful flower featuring a broad, upright petal of pure white. That it grows in low-light indoor conditions and reduces common household pollutants in the air only adds to its appeal.
