Date: 9 Apr 2023
How Gardening improves your health
Q: Can gardening improve my health?
A: Gardening is not only a fun way to spend time but also an opportunity to bond with family and friends. Get everyone involved in planting flowers, starting a vegetable patch, or even organizing a whimsical Easter egg hunt amidst the blooming garden.
The joy of gardening offers mood-boosting benefits, leaving you feeling invigorated and cheerful during the festive holiday. Plus, the sense of accomplishment when your garden begins to flourish perfectly aligns with Easter's spirit of personal growth and transformation.
Head out to your garden with a spring in your step and a smile on your face. Revel in the beauty of nature, spend time with loved ones, and watch as your garden transforms into a lively, colorful haven.
Date: 26 Feb 2023
Organic or inorganic fertilizers, which is best?
A very smart article by Fedor, Mike, and Ed
Q: Which one is better - organic or inorganic fertilizer?
A: When it comes to fertilizer, gardeners always wonder if one better than the other. Does a total organic fertilizer make sense for you? Is it easier to just use a cheap granular fertilizer a few times per year? You may be surprised to learn that there is one fertilizer that has advantages over both!
While organic fertilizers may be all the rage, there is the difference
between Sunshine Boosters
fertilizers, organic and inorganic fertilizers. Sunshine Boosters fertilizers have been especially developed to provide optimal conditions for cultivating crops in pots and greenhouses. These specialized nutrient blends are essential in order to
maintain an appropriate environment for successful crop production, as they
compensate for the lack of natural beneficial bacteria and nitrifying
organisms which are specific to open soil cultivation.
Learn about why Sunshine Boosters is the best choice...
In the photos: Hungarian hot wax pepper (above) and a Baby Cucumber (below), both grown in Ed's organic garden with Sunshine Boosters
Date: 10 Nov 2022
Fragrant Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow
Brunfelsia from Brazil
Grow Purrrple! Purrrfect houseplant...
by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
...The magic of this flower is, Yesterday it opened deep purple, Today it changes color to pale lavender, and Tomorrow - will turn white!...
...One of the greatest features of all brunfelsias is shade tolerance. Most species prefer filtered light, stay happy
and bloom indoors even in low light conditions; they are also great candidates for shade locations where other flowering plants may not bloom. They add a great color and
fragrance to every shade garden...
CONTINUE READING >>
Photo above: Brunfelsia pauciflora compacta - Dwarf Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow - very compact grower, great for indoor garden.
Date: 22 Sep 2022
Ceiba pentandra, Kapok Tree:
Maya's Sacred Tree at the Center of the Earth
by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
...Everybody who sees this tree for the first time, always says "What's THAT???" And everybody wants to have one! Kapok Tree is a large, magestic, gorgeous shade tree that just requires a little bit of space in your garden! It is definitely a conversation piece and is a must for every botanical garden or a large private tropical tree collection. Kapok is a fast growing tree, however, it may take many years to reach its mature size. It is worth the wait though!..
Date: 5 Aug 2022
Planting in August
Top Tropicals Garden Calendar
August is the hottest month in most places, and tropical/subtropical areas are not the exception. In Florida we have some hot August days in upper 90's. Is it still OK to plant during hot weather? Yes, and here are some guidelines for you:
1. Hot metabolism.
Many tropical plants grow faster at high temperatures. Select heat-resistant species for August planting (below are just
a few suggestions).
2. Water adequately.
Water thoroughly your newly planted tree. Water daily (lightly) with a hose for at least a week, don't
rely on sprinklers. Then reduce watering to every other day and gradually switch to sprinkler system if you have it. Do not overwater: non-established plants don't like combination of heat+wet.
3. Mulch well.
Keep mulch 1"away from the trunk to avoid rot.
4. Shading.
Protect the young tree from hot sun with a shade cloth or a sheet if leaves get wilted, for 1-3 days, then remove it, let the plant adjust to bright light.
Photo above: Trachelospermum jasminoides