The Best Way to Care For a Crown of Thorns Plant
The crown of thorns plant is often referred to as a Christ plant or the Christ-thorn. As different as they appear to one another, this plant is a cousin of the poinsettia. The plants stem and branches are covered with sharp spines that are between 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length. They can grow to a height of six feet and climb up a trellis easily.
The leaves of this plant grow to 2 inches in length and are somewhat round. The flowers bloom in twos and are do not emit any fragrance. The plant will bloom in red, yellow, pink and white. The most popular color is red.
The crown of thorns is a popular plant in the warmer climates of the South. It is originally from Madagascar. It tolerates hot weather, needs little water, and minimal care. It can be grow in the grown in the ground or in a container. Placing it in an area where there is plenty of sun is best
If the plant is cut or damage it will bleed a sticky white sap. This sap has been reported to cause irritations, redness, and even inflammation in people whom are prone to skin problems. A glove worn whenever handling this plant is the best to stay safe.
The plant is hardy and resistant to many different kinds of pests. Two pests that are known enjoy this plant is the mealy bug and aphid. Both can be easily controlled with natural methods such as soaps and beneficial insects.
An important growing tip to remember is the plant needs well-drained soil. Soil especially for cactus will work well for the crown of thorns. If the soil has poor drainage the leaves will fall off, the roots can rot, and the plant will suffer and die.
The Crown of Thorns plant is a beautiful plant that will brighten up your home or landscape. It is easy to grow and will provide blooms that last a long time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Steve Habib is an online researcher on the subject of growing and caring for a variety of plants. You can find more insights and groundbreaking research into how people all over the world are becoming better gardeners at: CROWN OF THORN PLANT To receive automatic updates whenever new research is posted visit the GARDENING BLOG Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/the-best-way-to-care-for-a-crown-of-thorns-plant-1084336.html
Useful Tips On Creating A Great Garden
Many of us have a yard that is empty and boring. No matter what size it is we never know the potential that it has. Instead of keeping it barren attempt to transform it into something stunning.
This year make a garden that you may be proud of. This doesn’t mean that you have to start growing veggies and fruits in your backyard. Instead you could create a unique oasis full of pleasant smelling flowers, pleasant trees, and possibly even a pond. Learn some imaginative tips that are able to help you to create the best garden.
Flowers And Shrubs
The best thing that you can use in your garden are flowers that are colorful and smell good. When making your garden seek to create a pattern of shrubs and flowers that you wish to utilize. You want individuals to be able to walk through the yard - but seek to make a special path with flowers tracing the way.
Ponds And Fish
To make things more restful you should put in a small pond and perhaps a fountain inside of it with some fish. These ponds are actually easy to create and need to be off to the side of the garden. If you are going to build one make sure you know how to keep it clean and attempt to get some unusual plants that are able to grow inside of it.
Benches
It is going to be tough to savor the whole thing unless you put in some benches. Try to set one or two in distinct areas of the garden. You may even have one bench as well as one trellis. Along the trellis you will be able to twist jasmine or roses and twine them with unusual solar garden lights to give it a romantic and beautiful appearance.
Learn how to spice up your garden with Outdoor Solar Lights. You can also use LED Solar Garden Lights during Christmas.
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Garden Vacation for Houseplants
A deck or patio can be a great place to give your houseplants a summer holiday. Just like us, they get an extra bit of energy with a change of scenery and are the great shape to return to their natural indoor habitat when the weather turns. The plants enjoy their new surrounds and make super additions to groups of garden pots and containers. Everyone responds to the warmth, fresh air, rainfall and of course sunshine by giving off new growth and vitality come Fall.
There is a system to moving indoor plants outside. It is imperative that they are moved gradually so that they don’t go into shock and become accustomed to the very different conditions over time. Just like seedlings, they need to be hardened off. Start to place the planters and pots outdoors once the weather has warmed up and any danger of frost is over. Firstly, set the pots in a protected, shady area – even the cacti and succulents which love the sun. If you start with the planters in the full sun, they will scorch – even though they have been in a south facing window all winter. Gradually expose them to more and more sun over the course of a week or two. Check every day to see that the soil is moist and there are no scorch marks on any of the leaves.
By early summer, they should be fully incorporated in the garden. Each houseplant has its own place among the many containers of annuals and perennials. They add a new dimension to the deck and patio and can even be placed in the garden landscape to add a definite focal point to the area. It is so easy to move flower pots and containers around, try to find spots where they will receive the morning sun and afternoon shade, away from the direct hot sunrays of the late afternoon. If you have shade loving houseplants and ferns, be sure to keep them protected all summer – they just cannot tolerate full sun even if acclimatized gradually.
Again it is necessary to remember that you will need to water much more frequently when the plants are outside than when they were inside the house. They grow more actively and require more water. The wind and sun also increases their need for water because of higher transpiration.
Nothing can be more pleasing to the eye than a cluster of different sized pots and planters outdoors for their summer vacation. Make a centerpiece for the patio table using your cacti and succulents. Move your display around often to see where which place it enjoys the most – you can tell when your plants are happy – they grow and thrive when they like the conditions.
What can you grow in a container? Just about any plant that you can grow in the ground you can grow in a container. You can use one season annuals or long-lived trees. One way to experiment with what you can grow in containers is to choose plants that are not hardy in your area and then move them inside for the winter. Just get your “houseplants” started outdoors – see what plants you like and then you have new plants inside for the rest of the year.
Here is a tip for your Amaryllis. The secret of growing Amaryllis is to keep the plants actively growing after they finish blooming. Keep the plants in full sun, with a night temperature above 60o F. As soon as danger of frost has passed, set the plants outside in a semi-shaded spot. In the Fall, before danger of frost bring them in and store them in a cold dark place to rest. They will be ready to force again about January 1st. Bring them into a warm light room and water moderately to begin new growth.
Marion Stewart is an avid gardener. She loves sitting on her deck surrounded by so many varied flower-packed and herb planted containers. Her continued research has found these spectacular fine quality resin planters and garden containers and offers them in numerous colors, sizes and styles. Find your best planter at the GardenPlanterStore.com Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/garden-vacation-for-houseplants-1079731.html
Grow Bigger Plants and Healthier Vegetables Once You Know How Plants Grow
Understanding how plants grow is helpful whether you enjoy outside gardening or indoor plants. The more you know about how plants grow the more success you’ll have with all your gardening. This small report shows how the root, stem, and leaves of a plant work together to maintain healthy plant growth.
Plants, like other life forms, need food for their growth, survival and reproduction. Plant food is collected from different places. From the air carbon dioxide is taken in, then later released as oxygen. From the soil water, oxygen and other nutrients are absorbed and used to stimulate plant growth. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the most vital nutrients for all plants. Other micronutrients play an important part in a plants growth and development as well.
A plants root acts as an anchor and is responsible for absorbing nutrients and water from the soil. The root hair is where most of this work begins. The main root stores water and other nutrients and then release them as needed.
Most plants are programmed to grow upwards towards the sunlight and circulating air. A strong stem will give the plant support needed to reach this goal. In addition, the plant stem acts like a human circulatory system, transporting nutrients from roots to other parts of the plant.
A plant also absorbs nutrients through its leaves. On the underside of a leaf are tiny pores, where carbon dioxide enters. The dioxide is then combined with nutrients and water to produce carbohydrates that then feed the plant. The more leaves a plant has, the more nourishment it can produce for its own use.
These are just a few basics of how plants grow. You will experience greater success, fewer problems and far more enjoyment from all your gardening experiences. Isn’t that what you want?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Steve Habib is an active gardener and researcher on the subject of growing and caring for a variety of plants. You can find more insights and receive our FREE BOOK “How Do Plants Grow” at HOME PAGE
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Construction Materials Used To Make Greenhouses
Many individuals utilize a greenhouse so that they are able to grow different plants all through the year. The good thing about using greenhouses is that they permit you to use the natural power of the sun and heighten it. It likewise protects your plants from ice, high winds, and large amounts of rain.
Regrettably it might be expensive to build a greenhouse. The things that are utilized to create them may determine the amount of money that you need to use. There are quite a few distinct things that you can use to construct your own greenhouse. The most popular are wood, fiberglass, and PVC pipe. Even though they are not perpetually required they are frequently the most competent.
Many frames are developed using wood because this thing is both strong and durable. It is best to utilize lumber that is pressure treated and will give the whole thing support and serve it to last for much longer. It is also easier to utilize the wood for the flooring.
For the walls it would be better to use fiberglass. This serves to supply the necessary stability that the greenhouse needs and is much better to utilize when compared to glass. It gives you all of the rewards that glass has the ability to provide - but without worrying whether it may get broken by different things. However, fiberglass is more affordable to utilize.
Last but not least is the PVC pipe. This greenhouse construction material is also inexpensive and will supply it with added support. These are utilized to make an irrigation system for the plants. They are lightweight - which lets them to be set at the very top of the building
Learn about the different Construction Materials that are used and Greenhouse Construction Costs.
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