How To Plant Pineapples Well

Pineapple is an exotic tropical plant and is quite delicious. Growing pineapple is very simple and it does not require much maintenance. Here is a simple step by which you can grow pineapple in your home and enjoy the fruits when its grown and ripe.

Get a plant: First thing that you need to do is to get a pineapple from the local fruit market. Make sure that the plant is not too ripe and not too tender as well. The leaves must be green in color while the skin of the fruit must be golden brown in color. You must also make sure that the plant does not have any insect. Such insects appear as gray spots over the base of the leaves.

Cut the crown: You need to cut the crown in such a way that the stem is not damaged and at the same time, no fruit flesh are attached to it. In case some fruit flesh is attached cut it carefully as it may damage your pant later. Trim some leaves so that the stem is exposed at the bottom.

Let the plant dry: You need to dry the plant, for doing this turn the plant upside down and let the eaves and the bottom of the plant harden.

Dip the plant in water: After this put the crown in water, better if you put it in a glass of water so that only the roots are wet. Do not keep it in extreme temperature; you can keep changing the water after every few days and then wait till rots start coming up.

Prepare the soil: The soil where you will plant the pineapple must be a mixture of 30%organic material and light garden soil must be used. Plant the crown properly and press the surrounding soil, make sure there are no soil over the leaves. The crown must be planted at least 6 inches deep into the soil.

Keep the plant under favorable condition: The plant must be kept in a hot and humid condition. Make sure it gets moderate sunlight and at night the temperature must not fall below 18 degree C. if the atmospheric condition is too dry then moist the plant everyday.

Take care of the plant: The plant must be watered once in a week and add fertilizer twice a month during the summer time. It can take some years for the fruit to bear but a red core will appear from the center of the pant. You will witness blue flowers and fruits coming out of it. It takes 6 months for fruits to ripe.

Indoor palm plants: Pineapple can be grown indoors, you just have to make sure that it gets moderate amount of sunlight. The best thing about pineapple is it grows best in a pot.

Pineapple plants Cost: Pineapple is not very costly and it is better to enjoy the fruit fresh rather than having a canned pineapple. Pineapple will cost you less than 5 dollars and it is cheaper in Austrilia.

Pineapple flower plant: Pineapple bears small blue flowers and once eth flower matures, the color of it can change. When a pineapple has to produce fruit, the plant bears about 200 flowers, each flower bears a fruit and all of them together collectively form the pineapple.

Tips For Growing Banana Trees

Banana trees are fast growing perennials that need a lot of sunlight to grow well. Whether you plant the trees in the ground or in a container, make sure it will get light most of the day. Avoid shady areas at all costs.

Keep in mind that the fruit of the banana tree can easily burn from the sun. Experts recommend covering the west side of fruit-producing banana trees with a shade cloth to prevent burning.

Banana plants can be a bit finicky, so it is very important to use the proper soil mixture. The plants like well-drained soil that is rocky. Soils containing lava sand or lava rock are ideal for banana growing. An ideal soil for banana growing is similar to what you would find in Hawaii.

If you have trouble finding the right type of potting soil, you can use potting soils suitable for growing cactus plants. Do not use regular potting soil or soil taken from your garden. Organo Patio Mix made by GroWell Industries is recommended as a good banana-growing medium by many sources. Good drainage is vital. The addition of 20 percent perlite to the potting soil mixture will help promote drainage.

Ideally, bananas grow best between temperatures between 54 and 80 degrees Farrenheit. All but the hardiest banana varieties stop growing when temperatures fall below 53 degrees Fahrenheit. Growth stops when temperatures reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

It takes a long time for a banana plant to produce fruit. Count on bananas needing 10 to 15 months with warm temperatures and no frost to produce a flower stalk. The plants also do better when protected from the wind.

Banana trees are a nice addition to gardens and yards, especially in warm climates. While your patience may run a bit thin waiting for a banana to eat, the plants themselves are quite attractive and make very popular house and/or garden foliage plants.

When planting a banana plant, dig a hole that is twice the size of the root system. Make it a depth of one-and-a-half feet. You can put organic composted manure in the bottom of the hole before adding a base of a couple of inches of the appropriate soil. Place the banana plant in the hole and add soil while gently compacting it around the roots.

It is important to make sure the banana plant has sufficient water. It is best to water the plant every other day during the warmest months. A good rule of thumb for establishing the need for water is to feel the soil. When the top one-half to one inch of soil is dry, water is needed.

If you're lucky enough to have your banana plant produce fruit, harvesting can be interesting. The bad news is that you have to cut the plant down to get the fruit. Don't fret because the plant would die off once it finishes fruiting. The good news is that new plants will grow from the root system.

How To Plant Cabbages Well In Your Garden

Cabbage is a plant that's been grown for thousands of years. It was grown by the Greeks, Romans, American pioneers, and many other throughout the world. There are many ways to enjoy cabbage. You can have this versatile vegetable in strips, stews, as coleslaw, or turned in to sauerkraut as well as many other ways. Since cabbage has so much versatility and it stores well. This is a favorite of many gardeners tо grow. The cabbage you grow at home will be much better than the store bought varieties. There are many types of cabbage that you can grow at home.

To grow this vegetable you need to have even temperatures and moisture. You want to have condition where the plant has a chance for steady growth. A soil rich is organic materials is ideal and the plants will need a good steady amount of water as they grow. This will help the cabbage plants thrive and grow to their fullest potential. Cabbage likes a rich soil so be sure you soil has a good amount of fertilizer content. A 2-3" layer of compost or some manure is ideal for the beds. These plants do better if you just start them in the garden but you might want to buy small seedlings.

Cabbage will pull a lot of nutrients out of the soil as it grows so this is why you need a good amount of fertilizer. The spacing of the plants will all depend upon the types you are growing. In general the seeds should be in 8-10" so they won't come out when you water them. Smaller cabbages can be planted 14-16" apart while the larger ones will need about 24" of space so they have room to grow properly. The nursery or garden store you get your seedlings or seeds at can explain the proper spacing and soil depth for the cabbage plants you intent to plant.

Be sure to keep the soil moist. If it gets too hot you can put some mulch on the top to help to keep the soil cooler and retain more of the moisture. Be sure to water the plants on a regular basis each week as they need plenty of water to grow. They should have about 1-2" of water per week to keep growing for full healthy cabbages. Small amounts of fertilizer in the soil as they grow can help as they will consume most of the nutrient sin the original fertilizer you use. Some pest control may be required as pests can be attracted to cabbage. Your garden center can help you control the various pests that tend to feed on cabbage plants.

Harvest them when the leaves are closed. Don't harvest yellow cabbage as this indicated they have been in the field too long. Cut the heads at the base and leave a few leaves on the cabbage to protect it. Cabbage will last a couple of weeks in the refrigerator and some varieties can last a couple of months.

How To Plant Grapes Well Easily

In deep summer the grape vines are lush and dark green, beautiful, and with clusters of still unripe grapes hidden under the broad leaves. A couple of months from now the grapes will be ripe and the family can decide to eat them fresh, or make raisins, or make wine or grape juice. Besides food, grape vines provide me with shade and privacy, since the vines can be — must be — trained to provide architectural structure in the edible landscape and to keep them healthy.

Plant whatever kind of grapes you find. Plant everything. The more diversity the better, whatever is available locally will be cheapest, and if nothing else, grape vines are easy to produce and usually on sale somewhere. I got a lot of my grape vines from 4-H youth fundraisers in my town, usually for $5 apiece.

Grape plants take a few years to get established and create a strong enough root system to support fruit production. So don't worry at all if you don't see any sign of grapes for a long while. All of a sudden it happens, and the long lead time lets you get some practice with pruning before the plants get really big.

Once your grape vines start producing fruit, there are all sorts of things you can do with the grapes besides eating them fresh. If there are children in the house, you might enjoy making grape juice, then pasteurizing and canning it to keep a supply through the winter. Adult grape growers often start making wine, and at the moment I have two gallons bubbling away in a cool closet.

Wine grapes grow, famously, in California, Chile, and the Mediterranean countries…all dry places with thin, rocky soil and little rainfall. But while traveling in relatively lush Hungary many years ago I saw grapes growing practically in water, where farmhouses sat next to creeks and grapevines were trained high around porch supports. Here in America, wild grapes grow high up in trees and scent the air, near forest edges. In any case, grapes need something to cling to and grow around.

At my house, early and mid-summer means training time, and it seems to go on forever. Until the vines have matured and hardened in late summer and through the fall, the vines want to reach out and grab something — anything — including the porch furniture and any tools left around.

So almost every day I spend some time basket-weaving the supple young vines, the new growth from the previous night, through the porch supports and stair railings. And I have to trim leaves to keep them from overwhelming the living space, being careful to avoid those that are sheltering grapes from the view of birds and squirrels.

A bit earlier in the season, in spring, one of my favorite events in nature's calendar is to watch the tiny pink grape buds emerge from the tender leaves. The actual flowers are tiny, but as the flowers appear they will attract lots of small pollinating bugs.

How To Plant The Beautiful Roses Well

Roses have gotten a bad wrap over the years for being difficult to grow and maintain. If you are thinking of rose gardening don't let this rumor stop you. While rose gardening can prove to be challenging, once you get the hang of it, it really isn't that bad.

When you first start rose gardening, you will have to choose what type of rose you wish to plant, and no, I'm not talking about the color. You will have to choose between bare-root, pre-packaged, and container-grown roses. Bare-root roses are sold in the winter and early spring. They should be planted as soon as frosts are over and the ground is warm and workable. Pre-packaged roses are bare-root plants that are sold in a bad or box with something around the roots to retain moisture, such as sawdust. Container-grown roses are grown, you guessed it, in containers. They will be either budding or already in bloom when they become available in the early spring.

Planting in rose gardening is not that much different than any other type of plant. The most important thing, as always, is good, healthy soil and a prime planting area. It doesn't matter whether your roses are bare-root or container-grown, the planting methods are the same as any other shrub. Make sure the spot you choose has good drainage, gets plenty of sunlight, and will not overcrowd your roses.

Before planting, any dead leaves and thin or decayed shoots need to be cut off. Any damaged or very long roots also need to be trimmed. Soak bare-root roses in water about 10-12 hours to restore moisture in the roots before planting and water the soil before planting as well. Make sure the hole you have dug is large enough for the root growth of the rose. Also it is a good idea to use compost or mulch. After all, roses like extra nutrients just like any other plant.

Roses need the same things as other plants, they are just a bit needier. One of the most important things to remember in rose gardening is that roses are heavy feeders and will need several fertilizer applications. Fertilizing should be started in early spring and discontinued in early fall. Make sure not to over-fertilize and water after each feeding. Roses require large amounts of water; a thorough watering twice a week should be enough.

Pruning is an essential part to flower gardening. It increases blooms and encourages healthy plant growth. Different varieties of roses have different instructions for pruning, so you might want to read up on your rose types and see what is suggested.
The main thing to remember in rose gardening is to water, water, and water some more. One other thing about rose gardening is the amount of fertilizer and nutrients you will need to use, and the pruning that needs to be done to keep your roses under control and healthy. Even though rose gardening takes a little more time and roses are more work, they are one of the most unique and beautiful plants, and definitely worth the extra work.

Tips For Planting Apple Trees

There's no more rewarding investment than planting trees. Apple trees that you plant early next spring may start yielding fruit in three to four years. But they'll be giving joy almost immediately. Planting trees with your children can be especially rewarding. They'll grow right along with your kids. A picture journal that begins at the first day of planting and continues through the years, with your kids standing right alongside their tree in each picture, will give you family memories that will last a lifetime, as will the tree itself.

Now you might be thinking that I'm jumping the gun here in late October. Nearly everyone recommends planting fruit trees in the spring, although you can get away with it in the fall if you have mild winters and protect the newly transplanted roots with plenty of mulch. But good organic tree-planting practice starts in the fall even if your trees won't go in the ground until spring. We went to the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association to find out more. Here is what they recommend.

Find a good location for your trees. Remember, unless you or your neighbor have nearby apple trees for pollination purposes, you'll need to plant more than one. Apple trees need as much sun as they can get. Don't plant them in the shade of a building or beneath other trees. The more air circulation a tree has, the less likely it is to develop blights and fungus. A slight slope where the air will "drain" downhill if it's cool is best.

Consider the soil. You should have a good two feet of loam to plant in even if the soil underneath is clay or otherwise hardpack. The next step is a familiar one: start a compost pile where you'll plant the tree. Break the soil up in an area a bit bigger than the size of a root ball. You might first want to first throw down some rock phosphate to give your newly planted trees the minerals it will need next spring.

Some gardeners recommend throwing down lime or a source of calcium but don't over do it. Apple trees like a slightly acidic soil — pH of 6.8 – 6.5 — though they'll tolerate anything close. Then start working in as much organic material as you can until you have a modest compost heap. When spring comes, the ground will have plenty of good stuff for your tree and it will be more easily dug. If you'd rather not start a whole heap, throw down some compost where the tree will be planted. Do it again in the spring. The more beneficial microbes inhabit the soil where a tree is planted, the less likely it is that the tree will have problems.

The other thing to consider is which type of apple to plant. Turns out the type of tree you stick in the ground goes a long way to determining the problems (or lack of) they may have. The best source of information for this is you local nursery or university extension service.

These Nutrition Benefits Of Durian

The durian is a tropical fruit that originates in Southeast Asia. It is also referred to as the "King of Fruits." Although it is a delicious fruit, it has a foul smell. The fruit has an oblong shape with a thick, greenish-brown thorny skin. It is one of the heaviest fruits available. Length of the fruit can extend to 18 inches with a weight of up to 15 pounds. It contains vitamins A, B1, B3, B6, C and folic acid. The fruit is rich in calcium, phosphorous, potassium and magnesium. Several trace minerals also occur in the fruit. It is a rich source of protein, phytonutrients and simple fats. The rich nutritional content of the fruit assures several health benefits.

Vitality

Few fruits have such a diverse nutritional profile as the King of Fruits. It contains several vitamins, minerals, phytonoutrients and protein. It also contains a relatively high quantity of fats. However, these are simple fats as the fruit has a zero cholesterol value. It is a soft and easy to digest fruit. When eaten, it quickly revitalizes the body. The fruit is an excellent supplement for underweight individuals. The fruit is also known to increase endurance and mental clarity. It is a rich source of vitamins B1 and B2, which assist the body to produce energy.

Muscles

Durian is rich in easily digestible soft protein. This makes it an excellent muscle builder. The high protein content also makes the fruit an excellent dietary aid for organ function. The fruit is rich in vitamins B1 and B2, which help to sustain the functions of muscles.

Digestion

The King of Fruits is an excellent source of dietary fiber. This enables proper digestion of foods. It cleanses the digestive tract of toxins which helps to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Fiber also helps to prevent constipation and piles. The durian is one of the few fruits that contains the B group of vitamins. Vitamin B3 helps to maintain a healthy digestive system. Vitamin B1 improves appetite and facilitates production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This supports proper food digestion.

Antioxidant Properties

The fruit is a good source of ascorbic acid, which has antioxidant properties. A serving of 100 grams provides 20 mg of vitamin C. This vitamin improves the body's resistance against infections and diseases. It also reduces inflammation and helps wounds to heal faster.

Bones

Durian is a rich source of potassium. This is a vital nutrient for healthy bones. It prevents excessive loss of calcium through urine excretion. This helps to preserve calcium reserves in the body. Inadequate calcium results in osteoporosis, which is associated with bone density loss. The risk of fractures increases with osteoporosis.

Blood

The fruit contains various minerals, including copper, iron and potassium. Copper and iron are required for the production of red blood cells. The cells play a vital role in the distribution of oxygen throughout the body. A 100 gram serving of durian provides about 440 mg of potassium. Potassium helps to regulate blood pressure, which improves cardiovascular health. The fruit is also rich in manganese which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Durian is an excellent blood cleanser.

Tips For Planting Suitable Fruit Trees

Fruit trees come in varied sizes – dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard. Do you have a small area? You might find a dwarf tree fits in perfectly. Do you long for a large stately apple tree like grandma's? Then a standard is a good choice. Most fruit trees sold today are semi-dwarf. They produce a large crop, but the tree is more manageable when pruning and harvesting. Pick trees with different harvest times to ensure you have fresh fruit nearly year round.

Before you select the type of fruit, it's important to consider the tree's growing conditions. Soil type plays a role in the type of fruit produced. Plums do well in damp soil conditions. Pears and apples can tolerate drier soil, but need drainage. Peaches can get blight from too much rain and need a protected area. Also consider the pollinating requirements of the tree. Not all fruit tree varieties are self-pollinating so you will need to plant two of the same tree.

Carefully look at the features of the tree. A fruit tree needs a strong, straight trunk. Even a slight lean can cause problems later when it is mature and full of fruit. Make sure there is an obvious central branch. This 'leader' helps keep the tree in balance. Without it the tree will require frequent pruning. The other branches should create a 'candelabra' shape to keep the tree straight and balanced. Avoid trees with low branches, which encourage ground pests and can be difficult to mow under. The tree roots should be plentiful and undamaged.

Try this test. Dig a medium-sized hole one foot deep and fill it with water. The water should drain within three hours. If not, find another spot for your tree.

Dig a hole 18-inches deep and loosen the soil at the bottom and around the sides. Add compost in the bottom of the hole. Return some of the dirt to the hole, making a mound in the center. Place the root ball on top of the mound, making sure the tree's graft line is 3-inches above the ground. Spread the tree roots out evenly over the mound. Confirm that the tree is straight. Fill the hole with the remaining soil and gently push the soil down. It’s good to overfill the hole since the soil will settle when watered. If the tree needs staking, make sure to leave plenty of room in the line for the trunk to thicken. Mulch the tree, but don't cover the graft line. Deer love the bark of young trees, so include some type of protection around your new planting. Keep the tree watered, but not over-watered, for the first year.

Fruit trees more than most trees need water so their fruit can swell. When determining the planting location, make sure water is accessible. Your soil conditions can determine how much you need to water. You can bury a drainpipe or drainage hose close to the fruit tree, making it easier to get water to the roots. Soaker hoses are another way to water fruit trees. You can also use a bubbler head on your irrigation system. A moat around the tree base keeps the water in place and prevents any from washing away. Whichever system you use, fruit trees need the water to penetrate deep into the soil to the bottom of the root system. A well-watered fruit tree will be strong and healthy, better able to repel disease and insects than a weak tree.

Fruit trees need sufficient nutrients to create fruit each year. Most fruit trees should receive a dose of slow release granular fertilizer each fall to help the trees produce a bountiful harvest year after year. Do not over-fertilize fruit trees, which can produce a lot of new growth and very little fruit.

Fruit trees need to be pruned regularly to help maintain their health. Start by removing all diseased or dead branches. Wait until the tree is dormant, and before spring growth has appeared, if you are pruning to shape the tree. Immediately remove suckers when they appear. These are usually from the root stock and not the grafted tree. You could end up with crabapples instead!

5 Great Indoor Plants for Clean Fresh Air

You don’t worry about air pollution when you are in the house, do you? Indeed, if you are not safe from toxins in the air indoors, then how can you be safe anywhere?
Sadly, most household, even air conditioned ones, are not toxin-free. This is particularly true if you have a smoker in the house, if you cook with a lot of oil, if your window opens on to a busy road, or if your house is not well ventilated or doesn’t get a lot of sun. So no matter how well your house is done up, chances are you and your family are breathing in impure air.
Fortunately, there are a number of indoor plants that, apart from adding some color to your room, also serve to clean the indoor air quickly and efficiently. These plants are low maintenance and easy to grow. Of course, they aren’t just for homes. If you spend a lot of hours in an office cubicle or cabin, you should consider keeping one or more of these plants around to filter your air for you.
So choose a few plants from this list of five best indoor plants for keeping the air clean, healthy, and toxin-free:

1. Areca Palm
If trimmed regularly, the areca palm plant can grow shoulder height. Keep it in a corner near the window or door that opens on to the road. Be sure to wipe your plan’s leaves regularly.
2. Rubber Plant
If excessive humidity has turned your home’s atmosphere dank and foetid, you need a rubber plant to clear the air. Rubber plants can grow straight and tall, or in a bush, so keep in mind your space constraints when you specify what type your want at the nursery. Rubber plants soak up moisture from the air, thus making it difficult for microbes to grow. In dry weather, keep your rubber plant fresh by spraying the leaves with water every few hours.
3. Snake Plant
The Snake Plant, so named because of the shape of the leaves, is also colorfully called the Mother-in-law’s Tongue Plant. This is an ideal plant to place in your kids’ bedrooms, because it tends to absorb carbon dioxide rather than release it. For this reason, you should keep a few Snake Plants around, if you have a lot of indoor plants. This plant grows well away from the sun, but you must not over-water it.
4. Money Plant
Leafy and luscious, this creeper plant makes any room look peaceful and serene, but it also kicks ass when it comes to air cleaning! Money plants rid the air of formaldehydes and nitrogen oxides. They are very easy to keep, and will grow out of a glass bottle or a broken bulb filled with water. Money plants should be kept hanging or on high ledges indoors, as their leaves can be dangerous if accidentally eaten by household pets.
5. Chinese Evergreens
Chinese Evergreens are my favorite types of indoor plants because I just love their color and the way their leaves fan the air. The Chinese Evergreen is also a remarkable air cleansing agent in its own right. This plant can convert a smelly, polluted room into a fresh one in a day, simply by filtering out toxins.

The Effective Ways To Help You Plant Flower Garden

Everyone loves gardening, loves a beautiful flower garden – especially if it’s yours! Whether a beginner or simply want to resume gardening after an absence of outdoor activity, be aware of the main steps to take to plant a flower garden irresistible.

Before planting a flower garden you need to analyze your location: For beginners, we suggest a flat area with lots of sunlight. In terms of soil, it is important to check the pH of the soil, what kind of nutrients has and what their level humidity – know the characteristics of the land to which will work will facilitate the choice of flowers that are appropriate for the land in question. If this is your first experience in gardening, start by planting a small area which is initially easy to maintain and can be increased if desired. Also make sure that his garden is near an accessible point of water for irrigation to make more practical.

Choose flowers and plants for a garden meets several criteria, starting with the two existing types of flowers – annuals and perianuais. In addition, plant flowers also depends on the style of garden you want to achieve, what are the dominating colors you want to have, what is the available budget, if you want to bet exclusively on flowers that require little maintenance or do not care to risk with flowers that require more care. An analysis of all these questions will help you decide what the best flowers for your garden and make a success of it in the months and years ahead.

Working the land clean and maintain the flowers in a garden, requires having the right tools for the activity in question. When it comes to gardening, the utensils necessary for any good gardener go through the blades and scissors, not forgetting the hoe, fork and watering can. To ensure the success of your flower garden, make sure you have all the gardening tools required.

The success of a flower garden also depends on your advance preparation, ie, to prevent weeds and other intruders in your future garden, the soil should be thoroughly cleaned of all kinds of herbs, roots and litter. The soil should be well churned up to, then incorporate a good compost into the soil. After the fertilizer be well incorporated into the soil, it must be completely smoothed out and watered. To facilitate the planting of flowers, you can make the ground smooth to “draw”, using a stick, the layout of your garden, or how you want to have the different flowers. Known, for example, higher plants must be placed on the back of the garden, the medium in half and the trailing or smaller in the front of the garden.

Enclose the garden with rocks or other objects not only makes the garden more appealing and beautiful, as it prevents the soil of your garden where rain drips. In addition, create a border for the garden also prevents this to be “attacked” by weeds that may come from other parts of the ground.

Selected flowers and prepared the ground, it was decided to plant the flowers using the seeds, follow the planting instructions on the packaging of the same. If you opted for potted plants / cuttings should start by making a hole in the ground that is two times larger than the vessel in which the flower is and about 6 or 7 cm deeper than the pot. At the bottom of the hole put a layer of about 6 or 7 inches of compost or manure, which will help feed the flowers in the first weeks. Fill the hole with water and wait for the soil to absorb, then put the flower inside. Refill the hole with water and begin to cover it with soil until you reach the top of the hole. Repeat for all the flowers that grow and eventually, water the whole garden and admire your work!

It Is Believed That Astragalus Makes Your Metabolism Stronger

With the growing popularity of Chinese medicine, more and more people are being acquainted with the numerous health benefits of astragalus – the Chinese magical herb. Be it a heart disease or a respiratory problem – astragalus helps you in curing almost all of them. Here are the top five health benefits of astragalus for which it is most commonly used:
Distribution: New Mexico, northeastern Otero County, Sacramento Mountains.

Habitat: Limestone soils on steep slopes and road cuts in lower montane coniferous forest; 1,900-2,500 m (6,500-8,200 ft).

Remarks: A narrow endemic inhabiting the forests around Cloudcroft. It was originally known from only three collections made in 1889 and 1891, then was not found again until 1968. There are now approximately 30 known locations for this species on public lands; additional locations are on tribal lands. It often inhabits road cuts and other sites for some years after disturbance, and may be generally increasing with the increase of road building within its geographic area.

Conservation Considerations: Highway maintenance and herbicide application for weed control could impact plants inhabiting road rights-of-way. Residential and recreational development in the area is extensive. The effects of forest fire on this species have not been studied. These plants are occasionally browsed by deer or elk, but its palatability to livestock has not been determined.

Aids Digestion Process:

It is believed that astragalus makes your metabolism stronger, thereby improving your digestive system. As such, it also helps in curing gastrointestinal disorders, including stomach ulcers, gas, bloating and diarrhea.

• Improves Immunity:

The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties of astragalus strengthen your immunity as well. It helps in healing your wounds and injuries faster. In case a person is suffering from weakened immunity, a regular dose of astragalus helps him/her in fighting the diseases better. It also helps you fight both viral and bacterial infections. For the very same reason, it helps you fight cold, asthma, bronchitis and so on. It is also used in cancer treatments as the antioxidants present in them help the adrenal glands to work better.

• Keeps Your Heart in a Better State:

Using astragalus benefits your heart as well in a lot many ways. Astragalus can relieve a person suffering from chest pain or even breathlessness caused due to heart problems. It prevents blood clots from forming. At the same time, it helps a person in retaining less salt and water in his/her body, which in turn, helps in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The protective properties of astragalus also stop plaque from developing in arteries, thereby keeping your heart in a better state.

• Anti-Stress Agent:

The roots of this medicinal herb are believed to be an “adaptogen” and therefore, small doses of astragalus roots work wonders on your physical, mental and emotional state. It helps your body to resist fatigue, anxiety, stress, tension and trauma, thereby keeping you happy and stress-free.

• Fights AIDS:

Recent studies have claimed that astragalus roots also fight against HIV virus to a great extent. Using astragalus roots for AIDS not only helps the patient to fight the disease, but it does so without the adverse effects of harmful prescription drugs as well.

Variegated Liriope Is One Of The Ideal Plants For Container Gardening

There are many different types of liriope plants and the variegated types are highly valued for the stripy leaves. These plants are often mistaken for grass or lilies, but, do not come under those genera. Liriope is a genus that consists of flowering plants that may look like grass or lilies. These plants are known by different names, like, the lilyturf, monkey grass, or spider grass. They are mainly grown as edging plants or as ground covers. Some species being invasive in nature, care must be taken to control its spread. Even though, species like Liriope spicata with white flowers are grown in gardens, Liriope muscari with purple flowers are found to be one of the most popular plants in the genus. Nowadays, variegated liriope varieties are fast gaining momentum, among plant lovers.

Variegated Liriope Plant

This liriope is a cultivar of the popular Liriope muscari. But, unlike the latter, the cultivar has variegated or stripy leaves and hence the name. While Liriope muscari has dark green leaves that resemble grass blades, in case of variegated type, the green leaves have creamy yellow to white or silvery borders. Some of the leaves may appear golden yellow to creamy yellow in color. As in liriope muscari, the variegated versions too are found to be low growing and clump forming. During late summer and fall, they produce spikes of purple flowers that transform to black berries. One of the advantages of this plant is that they are shade tolerant as well as drought resistant. However, they may turn invasive and so, mowing this plant is advisable to control its unwanted growth. This will also revive the looks of the plant that will produce fresh leaves within a short span.

How to Take Care of a Variegated Liriope

Growing Liriope muscari variegata is not a difficult task, as they have certain minimal requirements only. One of the basic needs of a variegated liriope plant is the soil, which has to be preferably acidic in nature and rich in organic material. It must be well draining too. Ideally, such soil must have average moisture, for this plant to grow well. However, these plants can tolerate poor soil and even dry conditions. Another advantage about this plant is that it can grow in partial to full shade and even in full sun. But, usually, they are found to be fond of partial sun or full shade rather than full sun.

While planting this liriope, make sure to keep a distance of at least four inches between them. Prepare the soil with organic material and once planting is done, mulch the area around these plants. Mulching is good to prevent the growth of weeds. Thorough watering, once a week is found to be sufficient for liriope plants. Even though, feeding is not required, you may use any regular garden fertilizer that has to be applied during early spring and mid summer. It will be beneficial to mow these plants, during February, in order to revive its appearance. Make sure that the crowns of the plant are not damaged during mowing.

In short, variegated liriope is one of the ideal plants for container gardening, as edging plants or as ground covers. The biggest advantage of these plants is that they are non messy and easy to care. If you want to grow this liriope in your garden, contact your local nursery. The above said is only a brief overview about this plant and its growing conditions. So, it will be better to gain some extra knowledge about liriope plant care.

Coleus Plants Are Often Given High Regards As Decorative Garden Plants

Belonging to the plant genus Solenostemon, the coleus plant species includes five different types of tropical perennial plants. Owing to their colorful foliage and ornate leaves, many hybrid varieties of coleus are also cultivated which impart these plants their multi-colored look and mixed foliage patterns. The geographical regions that serve as the native growing grounds, the cradles of inception so to say, of these plants are the tropical regions of Africa, Australia, Asia, South and Southeast Asia, the Indonesian Archipelago and the Philippines. Due to its brightly colored leaves, coleus plants are often given high regards as decorative garden plants by plant lovers and gardening enthusiasts. Also, potted coleus plants are often kept in apartments and flats by people to impart some color and natural beauty to these otherwise enclosed habitats, that do not have a garden. Come, let's get to know this beautiful garden plant a little closely.

Scientific Name of Coleus

Although more than one plant species are known commonly as coleus, Coleus Blumei and Coleus X hybridus are the common scientific names that are used to identify species belonging to the coleus group. Other common names by which coleus plants are known are Poor Man's Croton, Flame Nettle, Painted Nettle, Painted Leaf and simply Coleus.

Caring for a Coleus Plant

If you're all upbeat about getting a coleus plant for your apartment, then you must be wondering how to care for a coleus plant, aren't you? Well, rid yourself of all worries as I bring you relevant information regarding all you need to know about coleus care. Coleus plants grow best when placed in bright, open areas that are partially covered and receive indirect sunlight. Although they undergo no damage, if exposed to direct sunlight, the brightly colored leaves of coleus plants often exhibit signs of fading when fully exposed to the sun. One of the best tips to keep your coleus fresh and perennial for several years is to remove the flower spikes, as and when they appear and to keep the plant pinched back. If flowers are allowed to bloom, the leaves lose much of their color.

The ideal soil for growing coleus should be quick draining to avoid excess moisture accumulation at the roots. Excess water at the roots can cause them to decay, making the plant die out sooner than it should. You can get commercial potting soil set into the flower-pot in which you intend to grow the coleus plant. You must always take care to ensure that the soil is evenly moist without inching towards sogginess. The ideal pH of the soil should be either neutral or marginally alkaline. Although these seemingly delicate but otherwise hardy plants are extremely adaptable to a wide range of atmospheric temperatures above 55 °F, they undergo the best rate of growth and exhibit the most strikingly bright hues of color when kept within a temperature range of 70°F to 85°F.

If it's an open garden that you intend to grow your coleus plants in, make sure that you plant them at least a foot apart from each other in the flower bed. Suppose the plants appear to wilt due to the soil getting dried out, this should not be a cause of concern as they recover very quickly once the adequate amount of moisture is restored. Nourishing your coleus plants with a liquid, multipurpose fertilizer once every month along with overseeing the soil moisture levels and keeping the flowers off are sufficient to keep your plants healthy and colorful for many seasons.

Are Coleus Plants Poisonous?

Well, depending upon the sensitivity level of each individual's skin, the coleus leaves may give you a mild version of allergic dermatitis. You may get reddish rashes on the skin if you've been in contact with the leaves for a long time or pretty frequently. The irritation usually lasts for just a few minutes and medical attention may not be needed at all.

That is all you need to know about coleus plants and croton plant care, whether you keep them as houseplants or plant them in elaborate flower beds. Slugs, snails, aphids, mealy bugs and white flies are the most common parasitic bugs that pose threat to the colorful foliage of coleus plants. Look out for random perforations and tears in the leaves to identify bug attacks on your beloved coleus plants and sprinkle appropriate anti-parasite products to keep them at bay. After all, you wouldn't want those little devils to spoil the colorful view, would you?

Take A Look At The Interesting And Amazing Pitcher Plant Information

We all know that animals hunt for prey and feed on them. Even humans consume some animals and plants. But, have you ever heard of plants, that feed on insects. Yes, there are some carnivorous plants too, like, the pitcher plants. These carnivorous plants usually grow on soil, which has very less amounts of nutrients, especially nitrogen. They derive nutrients by trapping and digesting insects and some other arthropods. There are various types of carnivorous plants with different trapping mechanisms and pitcher plant is one among them. In general, carnivorous plants exhibit any of the following five trapping mechanisms. Some of them have pitfall traps, like, in case of pitcher plants, others have sticky mucilage to get the prey stuck on the plant. In case of snap trap plants, leaves act like traps, whereas bladder plants suck in the prey. Another type of carnivorous plant called lobster-pot trap have hair that guide the prey to the plant's digestive organ. This article is about pitcher plants, that have pitcher-like adaptations to catch prey. Let us take a look at some amazing pitcher plant information.

Pitcher Plant Facts

Now, we know that there are carnivorous plants, that trap insects and digest them. Unlike animals and humans, plants do not have limbs to catch prey. Then, what is the mechanism behind plants trapping insects? The interesting piece of information on the pitcher plant is that these plants have specialized structures that enable them to trap their prey. We have already discussed the different trapping mechanisms in different carnivorous plants. In case of pitcher plant, the trapping mechanism involves pitcher shaped structures formed at the end of the leaves or made of whole leaves.

How do Pitcher Plants Trap Insects?

Most of the pitcher plants have something to lure insects. The lures can be in the form of attractively colored elongated pitchers or nectar. The insects that enter the pitcher find it difficult to get out of the structure, as it has slippery or grooved surfaces. These pitchers contain a liquid called phytotelmata, which drowns the prey and dissolves it gradually. So, the insect that enters the pitcher may directly drown in the liquid or fail to get out of the structure and gradually drowns. This liquid, which is found inside the pitcher may either contain bacteria, that acts on the prey or insect larvae, that feed on the trapped insects. In the latter case, the pitcher plant absorbs the excreta of the larvae, which live harmoniously with the pitcher plant. In some other cases, the liquid contains digesting enzymes, secreted by the plant itself. Once the prey is dissolved the pitcher plant extracts amino acids, peptides, phosphates, ammonium and urea from the solution. Now, you have a basic idea about the course of action of pitcher plant.

Pitcher Plant Classification

Most of the pitcher plants to the families Nepenthaceae and Sarraceniacea. There are two other families, termed Cephalotaceae (with a single species of pitcher plant) and Bromeliaceae (2 to 3 species), with a few pitcher plant species. Pitcher plants belonging to the family Nepenthaceae are mainly tropical and are considered as old world pitcher plants. Those belonging to the family Sarraceniacea can be found across the globe in different climatic conditions. The members of Sarraceniacea are the new world pitcher plants. While the family Nepenthaceae consists of a single genus called Nepenthes with 120 species of pitcher plants, the family Sarraceniacea comprises three genera - Sarracenia, Darlingtonia and Heliamphora. The main difference between the old world and new world pitcher plants lies in the formation and placement of pitcher.

The old world pitcher plants are often found as climbers, with pitchers formed at the tip of tendrils that develop from the midribs of the plant's leaves. While most of them are climbers, there are some, that grow on ground or as epiphytes on trees. Unlike the former category, the new world pitcher plants are mostly ground dwelling with horizontal rhizomes. In case of new world pitcher plants, the pitchers are made of whole leaves. In most cases, the entire leaf rolls to form the pitcher. Even though, all the pitcher plants have pitchers, each type has different interesting features. For example, the pitcher of the cobra pitcher plant resembles the hood of a cobra with an inflated tip and a structure like forked tongue.

Popular Types of Pitcher Plants

Now, you have some basic information on the pitcher plant. Let us take a look at some of the areas where pitcher plants are found along with the pitcher plant scientific names. Among the two largest families of pitcher plants, the most popular species belong to Sarraceniacea, especially the genus Sarracenia. Most of the pitcher plants in this genus are found in the United States and are grown as outdoor plants. The most popular among them are red pitcher plant (Nepenthes ventricosa), pale pitcher plant (Sarracenia alata), yellow trumpet pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava), purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea), Sarracenia Dana's Delight, etc. In case of Nepenthaceae family, Nepenthes raja and Nepenthes alata are more commonly grown as houseplants. Red pitcher plants are also considered to be the easiest to grow indoors as long as you maintain proper surroundings and environment conditions and follow pitcher plant care guidelines. These guidelines and other red pitcher plant info can be gained at your local nursery or botanist. Pitcher plant propagation is mainly done through leaf and roost cuttings. Even though, pitcher plant seeds are available, it may take a few years for the plants to grow from seeds.

Now, you have some of the interesting and amazing pitcher plant information. These plants are truly fascinating and if you are interested, you may conduct a deeper study about the various types of pitcher plants and other carnivorous plants.

Pruning Rubber Tree Plant Is One Of The Necessary Care Needed For This Plant

Pruning rubber tree plant is one of the necessary care needed for this plant and the article will guide you with the same...

Pruning is a procedure of removal of unwanted elements of a tree to improve its growth and beauty. Landscaping usually involves pruning of trees, which includes removing dead leaves and the unproductive and unwanted parts of a tree. The reasons for pruning a tree are - maintenance, improvement of tree (fruits, flowers, leaves) and limiting the height / growth of the tree. Pruning of a tree can be done at any time but good results of pruning can be seen if pruning is done in specific season. Every plant has a different pruning period. Pruning does not lead to any harm to the tree but improper pruning may damage the plant health. Winter or spring are usually considered as suitable pruning time. Pruning is done with help of special tools which are used, depending on the size of the tree. These are called pruners.

Rubber Tree Plant
Scientific name of rubber tree plant is Ficus elastica and it is also known as India Rubber Plant. The tree belongs to the fig family. The plant has its origin in tropical countries, like, India, Malaysia and Indonesia. The plant can grow very high, about 50 feet with widespread. These plants require very less care and grow very quickly and hence are popular houseplants. They are a very good choice to get some shady corners in your rooms. These trees grow very high and hence need to be pruned when placed inside house. Let us take a look at pruning rubber tree plant.

Rubber Tree Plant Pruning
As discussed earlier, rubber tree plants grow very tall and hence need to be pruned to fit into indoors. Pruning will help to control the height of the rubber tree plant and make the plant look more beautiful. Rubber tree plants are strong and thus pruning can be done in any season. However late spring or initial summer are considered to be best seasons for pruning rubber tree plant.

Before you start pruning rubber tree plant, take a glance at the tree as you have to prune 1/3 of the tree. Ensure that you use clean, sharp and proper pruners. Wear gloves before you start pruning because the tree has white milky sap that may leak while pruning. Do not cut out too many leaves from the rubber tree plant. While pruning a rubber tree plant, see that you make cuts above the plant nodes. The plant nodes are the ones where leaves are attached to stem or where new branches grow. Rubber tree should be pruned at a height of one foot from the soil surface. New growth will be seen right below the cut you made.

Rubber Tree Plant Care Tips

• Place them in an area with both adequate sunlight and shade.
• Rubber tree plant should be fertilized every 15 days.
• These trees require accurate water and need soil that drains water well.
• The humidity level required for this plant is minimum 50%.
• Clean the leaves regularly with the help of a damp cloth.

Pruning rubber tree plant does not damage the plant, rather it enhances its growth and improves the quality of the tree. You can give the plant a desired shape by removing unwanted leaves, branches, etc. and promote the internal growth of the rubber tree plant. Ensure that you consult an expert to guide you with proper pruning techniques.

Types Of Plants In The Rainforest

Carnivorous Plants in the Rainforest: Plants which obtain nutrients from animal matter are known as carnivorous plants. Venus fly trap and the pitcher plant Nepenthes rafflesiana from south east Asia are the best examples of carnivorous plants. Nepenthes rafflesiana grows as high as 30 feet and has pitchers of about 12 inches in length, They have a cavity filled with either sweet or terrible smelling nectar that attracts insects and they are always overcrowded with digested insects! The biggest flower in the world is seen on the trees of Rafflesia, which grow in the Indonesian rainforests. The most amazing fact about the pitcher plants is that they also eat small mammals and reptiles who try to steal the insects from the pitcher.

Strangler Plants in the Rainforest: Stranglers mostly come from the fig family. They are also called 'killer trees'. The seed starts growing as an epiphyte, high in the trees. Epiphytes are the trees which derive moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and usually grow on another plant. But they are not parasitic on it. The list of epiphytes includes orchids, philodendrons, ferns and bromeliads. The aerial plants have so-called 'air roots' and air is the source of nourishment for them. Poison ivy vines have many small aerial roots. The seeds of these plants are borne and transported by birds and monkeys which eat the fig fruits. The seedlings develop long roots down to the ground and start surrounding the host tree. They grow quickly and the growth eventually suffocates the host, resulting in its death. The host tree leaves a huge upright strangler which has a hollow core. This is the best example of how plants adopt themselves to survive in the given specific environment. The strangler fig uses an adult tree as its host so that it doesn't have to struggle for light and nutrients at ground level.

Lianas in the Rainforest: Ninety per cent of the world's vine species are found in tropical rainforests. Lianas are climbing vines which are present throughout tropical rainforests. The thick, woody stems of lianas are of various lengths (up to 3,000 ft) and shapes. They need sunlight for survival and so they climb towards light after beginning the life on the forest floor. For this they depend on trees for support. They bind themselves to trees with sucker roots or tendrils. They climb while growing, by winding themselves round the supporting tree's trunk. They jump to other trees or start wrapping themselves around other lianas, after arriving at the top of the canopy layer of the rainforest. In this way they create a network of vines which provides the shallow-rooted, top-heavy trees, a very strong support. This helps them to survive against strong winds. Rattan palms, philodendron and Strychnos toxifera are some examples of lianas. The deadly poison strychnine is obtained from Strychnos toxifera. Rattans from Asia have thorny stems and they grow as tall as 650 feet (200 m). Baskets, ropes and wicker furniture is made from them.

Be Interested In Learning Facts About Tundra Plants

Before I elaborate on Tundra plants, let me discuss more about this Tundra. A biome that thrives in a cold weather, which facilitates the growth of low growing plants and shrubs, is known as Tundra. So you might have very well guessed where this environment is found across the world. The Arctic! Yes, that is one of the kind. And then there are Antarctic Tundras (Antarctic region) and Alpine Tundras (found in high mountain areas) too. One common characteristic amongst all these Tundra types is a layer of permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost), which cannot support plant growth much. On the contrary, the flora and fauna of Tundra consists mainly of lichen, mosses and low lying grasses. Occasionally stunted trees and shrubs also grow here. So let's understand more about these Tundra types and plants, in detail.

Arctic Tundra Plants
The Arctic Tundra is located around the North Pole and stretches further towards the coniferous forests of the Taiga biome. The average temperature is about -34 degrees C, with summers being slightly less negative, about 3-12 degree C. The permafrost, which is a permanently frozen subsoil comprises gravel and fine material. Growing season is only 50-60 days a year. However, plants cannot sustain with a deep root system in such an extremely climatic conditions. So the source of water for the vegetation to sustain is made available, when the water saturates in the upper surfaces forming bogs and ponds. Also, these plants exhibit good resistance to cold weather. Surprisingly, the snow coating protects these plants from the persistent cold winds of Tundra. These plants photosynthesize at low temperatures, depending on the low intensity of light. The reproduction of plants in the Arctic region is mostly by budding and division and not by flowering.

A good example of a dwarf Tundra plant is the Arctic Willow, which thrives close to the ground by developing shallow roots. It is also known as the tongue plant. These plants are also known as cushion plants, attributing to their growth in low tight clumps, that resemble a cushion. Their formation explains the trapping of warm air within them, to protect them from cold air. One example of this cushion plant is Purple saxifrage. It is conspicuous with its purplish star shaped flowers that bloom during the melting of snow. The stem of this plant is covered with tiny leaves which are equipped with tiny hair that capture heat for the plant.

Then there are mosses and lichens which thrive in abundance in the Arctic Tundra. Lichen is a plant which is a combination of algae and fungi. These plants are diversified and are found as a flaky crust growing on tree trunks and rocks. Some even look like bushy plants erupting from tree trunks, while some hang from the trees. One good example of the Arctic lichen is the Reindeer Lichen. These lichens can grow without soil too. They grow on rocks and are also a source of food for various Tundra animals like the caribou. A few mammals also use this plant to line their burrows and nests. On the other hand, mosses are flowerless plants that are equipped with small rhizoids (thread like roots), to absorb moisture. They grow in any region which has enough moisture and less soil. They too can grow on rocks.

Alpine Tundra Plants
Alpine Tundra is found across any latitude of earth, with a very high elevation. But it is not a uniform zone that can sustain too many plants. This is because, the level of elevations in this Tundra decide the vegetation in this biome. The major micro habitat that thrives in Alpine Tundra are Meadows, snowbeads, talus fields, and fellfields. Alpine biomes are found at a height of about 10000 feet or more. These Tundra regions are not so cold like the Arctic Tundra. In summers (June - September), the average temperature is about 10-15 degree C. In winters (October - May), however the temperature drops below freezing.

There are about 200 species of Alpine plants that thrive in this Tundra region. Most plants that grow here are small perennial ground cover plants which grow with sparsely available carbon dioxide. The reproduction cycles are very slow, because of the cold and the wind. Also, when plants die, due to the extreme cold, the decomposition is slow, which thereby results in poor soil formation. The Tundra vegetation comprises dwarf shrubs and myriad flowers (only during the blooming season: July - August). Due to the short growing period, alpine plants prepare themselves by maturing the buds in late fall or late winters or early spring. Mosses and lichens dominate this region too. This variety of plants can be found profoundly in Colorado and in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The main difference between the Arctic Tundra and the Alpine Tundra is that the latter has a well drained soil. Also one interesting feature of Alpine Tundra is light with a high UV wavelength, which is a great risk to animal life here. This region is more inhabited by warm blooded animals, which hibernate in cold and warm their bodies by drawing the insulation from fats stored. Animal life includes mammals (pikas, marmots, mountain goats, sheep, elk), birds (grouse like) and insects (springtails, beetles, grasshoppers, butterflies). Vegetation that grows here mostly comprises tussock grasses, dwarf trees, small-leafed shrubs, and heaths.

Description And Characteristics Of The Daffodils

Those immortal words are from William Wordsworth’s 1804 poem, Daffodils. Wordsworth understood the unique quality of this hardy mostly spring blooming flower that has the uncanny ability to dance through the fields like a flock of angels, or as they tiptoe through our imagination while sitting in a bouquet of beauty.
Scientific Name
The botanic name Narcissus has two derivations. The first one comes from the story of Narcissus in Greek mythology. Narcissus became obsessed with his own reflection in a pool.

He died from starvation and thirst at the edge of the pool, or in another version he drowned in the pool. A flower sprang up in the spot he died, and it was called the Narcissus plant.

The other derivation is from the Greek express "vapkaw narkao," which means “to grow numb” since the plant has a chemical composition that has some narcotic properties.

The name daffodil comes from the early English Affodell name, which is a variation of Asphodel. The Dutch put a “De” in front of affodell.

The name daffodil was brought to life around the 16th century from those names. An assortment of other names like “Daffadown Dilly” and “daffydowndilly” were used around the same time.

Geographic Origin
Daffodils are part of the Amaryllis family which is native to Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Botanically the plant is called Narcissus, which has between forty and two hundred species, subspecies, or varieties of species depending on what botanist’s description you read.

Daffodils For North American Gardens claims there are over one hundred species variants and wild hybrids. Thanks to genetic research that number continues to change.

Description and Characteristics
All Narcissus species have that prominent central trumpet-bowl or the disc shaped corona enclosed in a ring of six floral leaves, which unites in a tube at the forward edge of the ovary.

The seeds are round, black, and swollen with a very hard coat. Traditional folklore describes daffodils as yellow or golden yellow, but due to special breeding the corona and the perianth (six floral leaves) can be a variety of colors.

The American Daffodil Society publishes a Daffodil Journal that contains great information about the latest developments in the world of daffodils. The history, the varieties, and the hybridizing of daffodils are some of issues that keep daffodil lover's aware of the ever-changing world of horticulture.

Meaning
The range of daffodils in cultivation is constantly modified and extended so there are new variations available from flower specialists every year. In some parts of the US the yellow daffodil is called jonquil, but the jonquil species only refers to several yellow flowers with strong scents and rounded foliage.

Professionally the name jonquil should only be used for daffodils in division 7 or for hybrids in division 13. There are over 13 divisions in the official daffodil classification system since there are over 25,000 registered cultivars (hybrids).

Cultivation and Care
Daffodils have a number of interesting features that attract weekend gardeners as well as professional growers. Daffodils are reasonably priced for the most part because they can multiply through blub division (asexual cloning) as well as from seed (sexually).

They can also be pollinated by the wind or insects when they are blooming. The seed pod can contain one seed or as many as twenty-five seeds when pollen is brushed from one flower to the stigma of another.
When good growing conditions are present daffodils can enjoy a long life. That life can be much longer than the growers who planted them. When weekend gardeners know how and where to plant them they can bloom for six weeks to six months depending on the climate and the growing region of the country.
The experts say that the best care after daffodils bloom is to let the daffodil blub rebuild for the next year. The leaves stay green during that process. When the leaves turn yellow it’s time to cut the leaves off.
Most daffodils are tolerant when it comes to cold weather and even snow doesn’t harm so they can be planted in states that border the Canadian border.

Where to plant daffodils is always a topic of conversation for new gardeners who have vintage trees in their yards or have large shrubs that serve as a backdrop for walkway gardens.

Knowing how to plant daffodils is almost an innate sense since almost all varieties of these hearty plants bloom under the shade of deciduous trees, but it’s good to remember that they are not fond of being planted under evergreens and shrubs. When walkway gardens need flowers it’s best to keep the daffodils away from the shrubs.

Another interesting bit of daffodillia is not forcing daffodils to grow when ivy and pachysandra have already staked a claim in the garden. They don’t last long in that environment, but they do well when shallow-rooted, trailing plants, like, foamflower, myrtle, or creeping phlox are growing.

Diseases and Pests
Daffodil bulbs contain lycorine, which is a poison so it protects itself from predators for the most part although there are some insects that still make a feast out of it.

Florists have a tendency to develop dermatitis problems while planting daffodil bulbs or when they handle them without gloves because the chemical is so toxic.

Uses
Some of the most interesting daffodil facts involved the medicinal uses for the roots as well as the bulbs. The Romans used the roots to dispense any dis-ease that occurred in any part of the body.

They considered it an emollient or erodent. The Japanese treated their wounds with a mixture of wheat flour paste and narcissus root, but modern herbal studies don’t list daffodils as important remedies since there are conflicting reports about its effectiveness in lab animals.

Beautify Your Home With Flowers

Nothing is more beautiful than home grown plants. Flowers, plants and herbs make an excellent addition to any size home. From homes with yards large enough for gardens to simple flower boxes on decks or patios, gardening is rewarding. The basics of growing plants are actually quite simple, so starting a garden isn't as daunting a task as you might believe, especially if there are resources like software available to help you plan.

The first, and perhaps most important step, is deciding what you to grow. Unfortunately, it is this step that often overwhelms new gardeners. Plants and flowers only thrive under very specific conditions. Climate zones, sunlight, irrigation and soil conditions are just the start. Gardeners must also decide to plant annuals or perennials or even a combination of the two. Almost all flowers are annuals and will need to be replanted on a yearly basis.

As you can guess, new gardeners can literally spend hours researching plant and flower varieties only to discover that what they bought simply won't thrive. Maybe the plant isn't hardy enough for the climate or perhaps it was simply planted in the wrong place. Planning how to plant these flowers together generally requires tons of charts and almanacs, but simple software can make the process much easier.

Instead of trying the trial and error method, it's always a good idea to utilize software designed to help gardeners not only layout their gardens, but to choose plants, flowers and herbs that have the best chance of growing harmoniously in their gardens. Some gardening software provides an encyclopedic knowledge of designing a garden, along with the ease of being able to upload pictures and dimensions to get a good idea of available space.

Garden Design software may have a database of thousands of plants, which provides detailed information regarding the requirements for each plant as well as basic care and watering information. The design function allows gardeners to design a new garden or to import pictures of their existing space. Even better, users can drop and drag pictures of their plants, flowers and herbs, ensuring thorough coverage and allowing the user to visualize the end result of their planting.

Knowledge may very well be the gardener's best weapon. Finding all of the information regarding plant and flower species in one concise location has never been easier. From landscape design, to plant selection and even irrigation plants, garden design software is a powerful design tool and source of information.
Whether you are new to the world of gardening or have years of experience, you are likely to find that knowing what plants will thrive where is the hardest part of planning a successful garden. Be sure you are planting 'smart' by reviewing the latest information on your favorite flower and herb varieties. Who knows, you may find several new favorites in the large database.

Putting in a garden is rewarding, relaxing and fun. Start your project out right by learning all you can about the plants, flowers and herbs you plan to plant.

How To Plant Rose

In making plans about planting roses, one of the most important details that you must consider first is proper timing - when is the perfect time to plant roses? This is an important matter for many gardeners since time, energy and money are invested and they may be wasted if there is no proper timing. In particular, if you are located in a country that enjoys four seasons, like the US, roses must be planted at a very definite time.

One of the best traits of rose plants is that it can grow almost everywhere. In a sense, rose planting is not reliant on the place, but on the climate zone. Basically, it's just proper timing. If you live in a country that has cold season, the best time to plant roses is in early springs. It is important that the soil where you are planning to grow your rose is no longer ice-covered.

Thre are several factors in how to plant roses because it involves the weather,the climate,and the land fertility.And it also involves moisture.Moisture feeds these flowers for food and nutrition purposes.So being,you need to be in a climate with plenty of moisture.There are cases that some particular roses grow in sandy soils also.
But first things first on how to plant roses,you need some direction on what kind of roses you want to plant,and if their the best choice for your local area.Their are forums and directories that you can research online for some tips on how to plant roses.

These forums and directories will give you special tips and advice in how to plant roses.Providing pruning details; and even some details in knowing how to spot diseases that attacks your Roses.

When finding information in how to plant roses and to discover the best varieties of roses to suit your exact climate conditions. If you don't know this, growing roses will be more torture than an enjoyable hobby!Learning the exact varieties to plant in hot conditions or shady conditions, is a must on how to plant roses.

When learning how to plant roses their are certain key list of roses most tolerant against rose disease -- vital for protecting your hard work from the evils of nature!And why purchasing a bare-root rose is critical to your success as a champion rose grower.

Another important step is buying rose plants that are healthy,and knowing what to look for in purchasing your roses.You do not want to choose the weak plants; for this will be a complete disaster in your efforts on planting your roses.Also will increase a chance of more diseases in the future.

There are many forms of information in how to plant roses.You can purchase your information in the local stores or online.By far the easiest is online in the form of an ebook,which is an easy way to get info.

Fancy Toy Is Useful To The Chlid In Childhood

I am sure that every child own a lot of the toys in his childhood,playing with the toys can help the child to learn to think,it is good for the development of the child.

The toy sector is an incredibly prosperous ones as young children will generally want toys to play with and their parents will, far more typically than not; need to abide by the childs desire. It can be only a norm that kids will want toys. Toys are usually created and enhanced to suit the ever changing desires of their principal buyer which are naturally young children. Technological innovation has also helped enhanced toys and currently, toys are safer as they may be smarter. In selecting for toys, it can be essential that parents dont just purchase any toy that their youngsters would prefer to have.
 A parent must select toys that would promote the well-being from the youngster (and this really is deemed as responsible parenthood), and there are many toys of this type which might be out in the market place. Parents ought to be keen in obtaining childrens educational toys so that their sons and daughters wouldnt grow up to be attached to material factors as supply of happiness. The decision of toys ought to be these that would help inside the various aspects involving a childs development and improvement. It is possible to stick to these easy suggestions of obtaining toys which will assist your little ones in his or her understanding practical experience: Go for toys that cultivates learning and interactions It is best to be encouraging your youngsters to play with toys that develop their motor abilities. Toys that happen to be able to produce them relate to other siblings doll house, tea set and ones that gets the youngster to construct or craft will probably be the toys that fall into this category. Even toys which will be worn such as entertaining costumes and party theme hats will stimulate their fantasy or imagination and role play are also very good for your youngsters. Let your youngsters select from the assortment of possibilities When you supply your kids with a lot more possibilities of toys, they may be satisfied to pick. However, make sure that the sorts of alternatives you supply are all educational toys. Dont worry that your kid could be bored effortlessly of educational toys since they may be very engaged to them and entertained as well. There are several sorts of educational toys for instance identify photos, also those that teach science concepts and arithmetic. Soon after you could have identified that are the ones that your kid are into, focus on purchasing these. Toys that reflect the values presented above are the two below. They're excellent for nurturing the learning possible of a youngster : Toy musical instruments Miniature guitars, toy xylophones and pianos, flutes and drums are all toy musical instruments that could supply wonderful outcome for the growth and advancement of a kid. There have already been studies carried out that links exposure in early ages to music and music creating to academic excellence in later years particularly in math and science. Chalkboards Young children loves to draw and scribble. That is why a chalkboard is an excellent toy for them to perform just that. Not merely will it increase their writing abilities and imagination, chalkboard is usually a great approach to introduce to them the alphabet as most would have alphabets and images on the leading element with the board. You are able to have each of the superior educational toys in the world for the youngster but it is seriously your presence and your willingness to devote time with them will make it an enjoyable understanding encounter for you child.

The Rare Cedar In The World

The cedar is the rarest plant in the world now,and I believe that everyone may know the importance to take care of them.Cedar wood comes from several different trees that grow in different parts of the world, and may have different uses

Cedar wood is known for its beauty and durability. The wood itself is very attractive and people paint or stain it to match it with their decor. It is resilient against rot and insect damage. The above mentioned qualities make cedar a suitable wood for many indoor as well as outdoor uses. These uses for Cedar include sliding, decking, beams, timbers, and many others. It is commonly known that cedar wood requires a little or no maintenance. Despite the hassle-free nature of cedar wood, there are some necessary care, staining and painting tips that can help in maintaining its beauty for a longer period of time.
Dirt is a common problem with Cedar or any decking. Dirt can be easily cleaned with mild non-phospate detergent and water. A quick test is a few drops of common household bleach. If the discoloration bleaches out in about 30 seconds you have a mildew problem not a dirt problem. If it stays dirty, then clean it with soap and water.
Mildew is the most common cause of Cedar discoloration. Clean off mildew with a mild bleach solution (mix of 20 percent normal bleach, water and an ounce of normal detergent) or a commercial mildew remover. You can then refinish the cedar once the wood is completely dry. Read that again, wait for your cedar to dry before refinishing. For added protection, add to, or use a refinisher with a mildewcide. This will reduce future mildew problems.
Iron stains can be either blue black or rust color. They are caused by iron in contact with the deck. This can either be nails in the decking or iron products left on the deck. Garapa has a similar problem with iron reaction. To clean your cedar use a commercial cedar cleaner. If that does not clean the stain, or if the stain has penetrated the surface, you may need to sand and refinish.
Chalking is caused by the weathering of the paints service. It is a problem with the paint not the cedar. Sand and repaint is the primary solution.
Regular Maintenance extends the life of your deck and cedar. A dry deck lasts longer than a wet one. After you deck is wet be sure to allow it to dry. Insure proper drainage. Remove dirt, leaves, tree branches and other trash. Making sure your deck is clear of debris will insure good drying. Be sure to rotate planters and benches to improve overall drying. Also, be sure ventilation is maintained beneath your deck.
The above simple tips will greatly prolong the life and beauty of your cedar. Cedar decking, timbers, furniture or any cedar products should provide a long service life.

New Zealand Gardener Plants

There's always a long list of reasons to grow indigenous plants, shrubs and trees. In New Zealand, gardeners are spoilt for evergreens and spiky plants. So what actually happens here?
Cordylines and FlaxesThe Politically Correct New Zealand Gardener sources only natives, and they must be natives which specifically grow in exactly that part of the country. But then a country's greatest plant joys (and biggest plant mistakes) come in from the outside. New Zealand gardeners often try to combine the best of all gardening worlds.
Moosey's Potted History of New Zealand Gardening
New Zealand has the British Empire to thank (aargh!) for gorse and broom (and sparrows and rabbits). And later, English speaking immigrant gardeners brought in cottage garden plants (and weeds), rows of standard hybrid tea roses, the compulsory small garden's spring shrub collection - one Forsythia, one Camellia, one Philadelphus, one Lilac...
Cloud Farm SignGreen and Textural
While the New Zealand native bush is out there - splendidly green, splendidly textural, and splendidly non-coniferous. There are evergreens of every size and stature, every size and shape of leaf, and occasionally some pretty flowers. And so many amazing spiky plants - Astelias, flaxes, Cordylines, Libertias, tussock grasses, Pampas grasses...
Cloud Farm
A gardener I visited recently has deliberately decided to plant only native New Zealand plants. She's an environmentalist, looking after the regeneration of native bush-forest, and running a property off the main electricity grid. It's high on Banks Peninsula above Akaroa, and is called (appropriately) Cloud Farm.
Her patches of bush contain many healthy Totara trees - the Peninsula used to be heavily forested, but the ancient trees were taken for timber. Lots of broadleaf evergreens fill the understory. Her 'ornamental' gardens by the cottage are full of spikes - Cordylines, Astelias, Phormiums and different native grasses. Hebes live in pots, as does a Kowhai tree, and there's a lovely swathe of Celmisias, which the gardener calls 'Akaroa daisies'.
Grasses in the House GardenGrasses
Lots of paths zig-zag up and down the hillsides. They're well constructed for the wobbly visitor, weed-matted and laid with coarse chippy gravel, with lots of grasses to swoosh past. Just a few potted white pelargoniums and blue Petunias give tiny patches of colour, and the garden is full of rustic sculptural relics - as well as more modern pieces.
Garden Seats
And seats! Lovely garden seats, with dreamy views of the distant ocean (and often, I suspect, the immediate fog!) The old cottage has been marvellously restored, and the property has a rustic composting toilet (I want one), a 'shed with a bed' (nice - I want one of these, too), and character fences made of manuka branches. Hmm...

Perennial Plants - The Japanese Anemone Flower

My love of perennials goes back further than this garden - my first experience with them was as the owner of a frothy row of catmint and a patch of summer flowering phlox. I had no idea what perennials were, and was amazed when (after cutting) the Nepeta just grew back and flowered again.
Gradually I read more and more about the famous perennial gardens in England. The pictures of famous borders in Waterperry and other open gardens were quite inspiring - though I did wonder if this style would transplant well into my garden, with its resident New Zealand wind. All the photos looked - well - windless!
My early experiments with perennials were confined to frothy summer flowers, as I discovered gauras and penstemons. Then my friend Astrid gave me some daylilies to try out in the country spaces. My introduction to these brilliant plants has been a turning point in my concept of perennials. Now I'd never be without them.
You'll find perennials all over the place at Mooseys now - and yes, I do have a row of catmint, and several patches of that original lilac phlox (which I have a love-hate relationship with). And I do have my favourites - though they mightn't get to be stars in a traditional herbaceous perennial border.
When first given some Japanese Anemones I immediately planted them in a hot border by the house. It was quite the wrong place, but luckily for me the soil was desperately dry and I was able to dig out all the bits of roots.
Down the Driveway
An area down the driveway was designated as a more appropriate patch, and all my plants were moved there. So far they've not gone forth and multiplied too much. Again the soil is infertile and inclined to be dry, and their beautiful white flowers brighten up this shady spot, though they aren't happy in autumn droughts.
Footnote - 2010
Did I in all innocence think I'd managed to remove all those roots? Because now, in 2010, I have a thriving patch of white Japanese Anemones in that original planting place. They are quite delightful from late summer on, particularly when their flowering stems are infiltrated by a pale blue aster. And provided I keep up my watering regime I have masses of beautiful white flowers.

Some Information About Cactus

The name Cacti or Cactus has been adopted by the masses as the universal term to describe succulent plants. I have heard the term used to describe a varied range of plants from Euphorbias to Fouquierias (Ocotillo) to Agaves, Yuccas, & Aloes.
By including what are not cacti, CactiGuide.com can be a more useful guide through the process of elimination. The table below lists examples of other succulents that resemble cacti but are not. This should give beginners a good start. There are exceptions to every rule and this is so true with the features used to identify cacti. Those who happen across such an exception should prepare to do some extensive research and be patient. Some of the features that separate cacti from other genera are:
Areoles- Flowers, branches, spines sprout from these- no other plant has this feature.
Spines- Perhaps the most familiar feature of cacti, spines can vary greatly in appearance, shape, size, and color. Spines are not thorns.
Flowers- Flowers are not unique to cacti, but cacti flowers are unique. Cacti flowers are typically quite spectacular and very complex. Unfortunately this field mark is only helpful, of course, if the plant happens to be blooming.
Leaves- Most cacti do not have leaves, however, some do. Pay special attention to the presence or absence of leaves.
Origin- All cacti are native to the Americas and surrounding islands. With one exception -Rhipsalis baccifera. Although, world wide cultivation has made this less helpful for identification.
Areoles- Flowers, branches, spines sprout from these- no other plant has this feature.
Spines- Perhaps the most familiar feature of cacti, spines can vary greatly in appearance, shape, size, and color. Spines are not thorns.
Flowers- Flowers are not unique to cacti, but cacti flowers are unique. Cacti flowers are typically quite spectacular and very complex. Unfortunately this field mark is only helpful, of course, if the plant happens to be blooming.
Leaves- Most cacti do not have leaves, however, some do. Pay special attention to the presence or absence of leaves.
Origin- All cacti are native to the Americas and surrounding islands. With one exception -Rhipsalis baccifera. Although, world wide cultivation has made this less helpful for identification.