http://wisdomwriters.articlefacility.com/ Articles at Wisdom Writers en-us http://wisdomwriters.articlefacility.com/home-and-family/gardening/elegant-holiday-season-poinsettia.html http://wisdomwriters.articlefacility.com/home-and-family/gardening/elegant-holiday-season-poinsettia.html Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:55:28 -0800
The Poinsettia is very sensitive to over watering and drafts - either one causes the leaves to drop. Don't water until the soil starts to dry out. Do not let water stand in the saucer underneath the container. Remove any damaged or diseased leaves or bracts when you see them.

Here are a few pointers. What we would like to consider as gorgeous blooms are actually clusters of leaves called a bract. They can be red, pink, white, yellow or of course many different shades of color. The flower is in the center of these bracts. Always choose a plant that has dark green foliage, however, the lighter the bracts, the lighter green the foliage.

Choose your Holiday Poinsettia carefully and then make sure that it is well wrapped before taking it outdoors. If it gets chilly, even for a very short time, damage will occur to both leaves and flowers.

The best conditions inside for your Poinsettia are for them to obtain at least six hours of natural sunlight per day. Avoid direct sun, as this will cause the leaves to fade. Do not fertilize while it is in bloom. However, here is the way that you can keep your Poinsettia for the year and have it ready to bloom again next Holiday Season.

When your plant has stopped blooming, move it to a cool, dark place such as your garage or storeroom. Reduce watering but not completely. Cut the plants back part way so that each stem is left with only two buds. In the late Spring, place them outdoors again. They will probably need to be repotted to a container with about 3" larger in diameter. Keep them well watered and move to a sunny location. Be sure to turn the pot every week for even growth..

You may wish to keep pinching them back as they continue to grow - this will encourage branching. Make sure that the plant is watered when the soil is dry to the touch and now start fertilizing again.

In areas where the temperature will go below freezing, they will need to be brought inside again in the Fall. In early October, leave them in total, yes total, darkness for 14 hours a day. Continue this regime until Thanksgiving, continuing to water and feed during this time.

Now keep your plant out on display and you should have beautiful foliage and flowers by mid December - just in time for the next Holiday Season.

Remember, you can place your Poinsettia in a beautiful planter or container and surround it with lovely ivy trailing down the sides. Decorate with a few ornaments for a spectacular festive look. The Poinsettia can be replaced with Amaryllis, Tulips or Daffodils in the Spring



]]> http://wisdomwriters.articlefacility.com/home-and-family/gardening/xeriscaping-your-yard.html http://wisdomwriters.articlefacility.com/home-and-family/gardening/xeriscaping-your-yard.html Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:33:35 -0800
Getting started with Xeriscaping your lawn means planning things out first. You may want to draw a simple diagram of your yard and start thinking about what the overall look you want to achieve will be. It is important to consider not only how each plant you select will look, but also to consider the water needs of each and the elevation of the ground in your yard. Taking the time to plan where each type of plant will go can help make sure that the plants that need the most water are situated in the places where water is likely to remain the longest and that all the plants are grouped and layered according to their needs.

You might want to check with the Denver Better Business Bureau to find a qualified landscaping company that specializes in Xeriscaping for your yard. This would save you a lot of time and ensure that the job is done right. There are many qualified landscapers that have years of experience with Xeriscaping that help you design a unique and beautiful backyard that uses as little water as possible. Checking their standing with the BBB helps you avoid choosing an unqualified landscaper or one with shady business practices.

There are many benefits to Xeriscaping for you and for your yard. From the water savings to saving time on cutting grass, if you live in an arid climate Xeriscaping is the way to go. Taking the time to learn more about it or even hiring a professional is a good way to ensure that your efforts are not misplaced. You wouldn't want to spend all that time and money only to find that you still need to water your yard just as much or that it is not the look you wanted to achieve.
]]> http://wisdomwriters.articlefacility.com/home-and-family/gardening/the-magic-of-indoor-grow-lights.html http://wisdomwriters.articlefacility.com/home-and-family/gardening/the-magic-of-indoor-grow-lights.html Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:20:16 -0800
As the name might suggest, grow lights are specialized lights which allow plants to grow indoors. While it may seem like a strange concept, grow lights are utilized in many different areas where outdoor light is not always available. For example, Chase Field in Phoenix, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team, utilizes grow lights to make sure that all parts of the grass field gets equal amounts of healthy light throughout the day. This is important because due to the roof casting shadows on the field at almost all times, not all of the grass gets an ample amount of light through the day. Many other stadiums around the world use grow lights to make sure the grass looks healthy every time the team hits the field.

On a smaller level, grow lights can work for your growing needs if you need healthy, natural light for an indoor gardening project. If you're a fan of the hit animated TV series "King of The Hill" you've undoubtedly seem the episode where Bobby Hill hides the fact that he's growing competitive roses in his bedroom closet. He finds that even without natural sunlight (his dad wouldn't let him grow flowers in the garden) he is able to grow beautiful roses with grow lights.

While it might be a cartoon, there is nothing stopping you from trying the same thing at home. Essentially all roses need the same thing: nutrient rich soil, water and light. If a rose can get light from a grow light, as long as it gets the same vital nutrients for the soil and plenty of water it will grow just as well indoors.

The key to growing any flower to its full potential is knowing what you are doing. Besides reading the directions, make sure you check websites or books to find out what a rose needs to grow. Better yet, talk to a professional at a specialty flower shop; he'll give you keen insights that others might not give you. You also have to make sure your using the correct wattage bulb on your grow lights. Different flowers need different types of light, so make sure you know what you're giving your plant before you start growing it.

If you take care and take your time you'll be sure to grow great roses. The key is knowing what your doing and it's okay to try a little trial and error. By the end of the process you'll have some great roses to show off at your next get together.

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