Cyclamen Miracle Series

In recent years breeding programs have been undertaken with cyclamen, which is best known for its use as a winter indoor plant, to produce a miniature cyclamen that will flower throughout autumn and early winter and will be hardy enough to withstand just light frosts. The result is the aptly names miracle series, which can be planted out in borders as well as used to great effect in containers.

The flower color varies from white, to white with a carmine pink mouth, wine red, rose, purple, salmon and scarlet. They are sweetly scented plants, but the best fragrance seems to emanate from the white forms. The leaves have different amounts of silvery mottling, but most, if not all, exhibit some degree of veining. The combination of flowers and foliage makes this little plant a winner.

It lends itself so many lovely planting arrangements, being suitable for wall pots, window boxes, and troughs and hanging baskets. A more recent introduction, cyclamen is slightly taller, at 8 inches, and makes a greater mound of foliage. The weeks of late autumn to early winter are not the easiest for showy bulb containers, especially after the wealth of color that has been seen in the garden in early autumn.

However, there is a vast choice of bulbs that can be planted for late winter and spring flowering, with a wide choice of accompanying foliage to provide interest throughout the whole autumn and early winter. Many bulbs are available for planting in autumn, including small crocuses, irises, grape hyacinths, and scales. The rewards will come a few months later, with both bulbs and bedding plants in full flower.

Continue reading about Cyclamen Miracle Series

6 SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE COMPOST FASTER THAN THE TRADITIONAL WAY

You can easily make your own compost in about 1-3 months period as against the traditional method by following the simple steps outlined below. Compared to the old ways of composting, where it takes 6-8 months to make a quality compost, this new technique could make you more quality compost in just a short period.

This will boast your production output thus increases your income while giving you more available stock of quality compost in your stock room.

But before we go on the composting process, plan out the following…

• Have an available empty bin ready for filling up.
• Have a stockpile of brown and green materials used to fill the empty bin.
• Make an effort to take about 1-2 hours of your time everyday until your compost is ready for use.

Once you’ve readied your materials for composting, the final activities followed.

6 Simple Ways to Make Compost

1)   Place coarse materials at the bottom. Place about a 3-inch layer of any coarse materials available such as; rice straw, corn stalk, hay, grass clippings, grass cuttings, tall weeds, etc. Arrange them near the bottom of the bin. You can chop them to make way for an increase surface for easy and fast decomposition.

2)   Build up the pile until desired height is attained. Add 2-3 inch layer of fresh moistened green grass, followed by the same layer thick of brown moistened materials. Repeat the layering and moistening process until the bin is full. The pile should have a wrung-out sponge consistency.

3)   Intermix with the use of an Activator. Intermix layers with a nitrogen-rich activator as the stock pile is building up. Place this activator on top of food scraps or any smelly items placed on top of the pile.

4)   Cover the compost bin for protection and fast decomposition. To retain moisture and heat while in the process of decomposition and to ward off animals especially rodents. This would also insure a good air flow around and into the bin which contributes for faster decomposing process.

5)   Turn the mixture. To make the decomposition faster, you’ve to turn the pile every 7-10 days. This brings also the outer layers into the center where the temperature is at its hottest portion. Turning also creates passages for air flow and moisture, thus causing reheating and faster decomposit0on.

6)   Check up for the moisture level content. You’ve got to check the moisture level on a weekly basis. And always add water to maintain its consistency of a wrung-out sponge to get a superior compost material.

With this new methods of composting, you’d always have an available supply of quality compost in a short period. With your ready stock, you’ll not encounter problems when you’re ready to plant continuously the  whole year round.

Happy gardening!

____________________

Cris Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes home gardening and Internet marketing tips. Get a copy of his latest FREE ebook “Discover How to get started in Flower Gardening”  and “Vegetable Gardening Made Easy”, and get lots of tips, Free articles, and bonuses at: www.crisramasasa.com

Continue reading about 6 Simple Ways to Make Compost Faster than the Traditional Way

Another positive development has been the increased attention paid to producing highly fragrant flowers. A plant in full flower will quickly fill an entire room with its sweet perfume. Cyclamen will thrive in light, airy conditions, but they should be kept sway from draughts and too much direct sunlight. They abhor both drought and high humidity. Too much or too little water will cause serious damage.

Never water over the foliage and flowers, because this will encourage rot. It is far better to water around the plants at soil level, especially where several cyclamen are planted in a single container, or to water into a saucer below the plant if the container has drainage holes. Use soft water or clean rainwater. Do not place pots of cyclamen close to a radiator or behind a closed curtain in the evening.

A temperature of sixty four degree Fahrenheit is ideal, with a night time temperature kept above fifty degree Fahrenheit. The plants will stay in flower for longer if they are fed once a fortnight with a weak liquid fertilizer. Keep the plants clean and tidy by removing any fading flowers and yellowing leaves. You need to remove the entire stem, along with the dying flower or leaf, because a cut or a broken stem will encourage rot. Take firm hold of the stem near the base of the plant and give a quick, sharp tug.

After flowering has finished the plants should be allowed to go into a state of natural dormancy. Gradually reduce the amount of water you give until all the growth has died down. Then keep the plant completely dry for two or three months. Modest watering can start again.

A temperature of sixty four degree Fahrenheit is ideal, with a night time temperature kept above fifty degree Fahrenheit. The plants will stay in flower for longer if they are fed once a fortnight with a weak liquid fertilizer. Keep the plants clean and tidy by removing any fading flowers and yellowing leaves.

Continue reading about What You Should Know About Cyclamen

For many, organic vegetable gardening has become very important these days. People are realizing that organic vegetables are free of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, which harm the environment and are detrimental to one’s health. By closely managing manure and fertility, organic farmers are sure that, ultimately, they can grow more crops than traditional farmers. So, if you are also interested in this exciting and healthy hobby, then here are some simple methods that many people have successfully used when learning how to grow organic vegetables in their own backyard.

As a first step, there should be sections of land demarcated for your garden, as large as possible of your own property. An ideal space would be around 10 x 10 feet. Then strip about a few inches of the top layer of soil to remove the existing grass and weed roots. Before planting organic vegetable seeds, you need to soak the topsoil. Then, flatten the soil surface with a shovel; this way there won’t be any puddles that prevent proper distribution of water.

Secondly, choose various kinds of vegetables to grow in your garden. This will enable you to isolate problems that are specific to a given type of plant. To avoid depletion of nutrients from your soil, rotate each plant in a clockwise manner with the planting of each crop. After every harvest you should let the soil rest. In the next growing season, plant the seeds in the new location. Watch your plants grow every day to avoid problems with weeds and plant health issues. At times, you might even need to remove all of the plants, in the event of excessive damage. This is to avoid harming the rest of the plants in your organic garden.

And thirdly, to help you grow organic vegetables which will really flourish, begin a compost heap close to your garden. Use domestic and garden waste to prepare the compost. It can be a combination of grass clippings, fruit and vegetable rinds and even animal waste. The important thing to remember is that chemicals should not be used in organic gardening. This is why good compost is important.

Continue reading about Three Great Ways to Grow Organic Vegetables