by Marshall Clewis
If you are wanting to grow more than just a few plants at the same time, chances are good most of them will fall under the heading of foliage plants. While not as showy as the flowering plants mentioned in the last chapter, they more than make up for what they lack by being easy to grow, easy propagation and easily adapting beautifully to any type of environment. Foliage plants are considered to be the backbone of every indoor garden, but there are a few exceptions that know no season and continue to thrive and grow all year long.
There are many different types of foliage plants in cultivation, thousands of varieties, including hybrids. Choices offered for the indoor gardener as to the size, shape and leaf color and basically endless. The plants that are described here are easily grown in any part of the country with ease and are readily available almost anywhere.
The asparagus fern, like many other types of plants, has a name that does not exactly fit it. Though it appears like a fern, it has foliage that many florists used to add with most cut flowers, it is a member of the lily family and a close relative of the vegetable known as asparagus. The botanical name is A. plumosis, the plant needs a rich soil in which to grow and has to be well fed and will grow best in little or dim light. It can often be attacked by red mites, so it needs to be regularly sprayed down with water and during active growth periods it will need to be kept watered well.
The fern does well under favorable home conditions – room temperature, does not favor extreme heat or cold, so do not set it directly over a radiator or in a place where it will experience drafts of cold air. Though it is a foliage plant that is highly suitable for use in interior landscaping, the fern does get minute while flowers and purple berries. The best way to propagate is to seed, but it can also be done by cuttings as well.
The Aspidistra is a plant that almost begs to be abused. It has a sturdiness and is indifferent to whatever soil, heat, humidity and climate it is exposed to, hence its nickname the cast iron plant. The leaves are very large and can measure up to 20 inches, the shape is oblong and there is a point at the end. Though in theory it is a flowering plant, it hardly ever blooms inside so it is considered by many to be only a foliage plant. There are a few varieties and some have striped green and white leaves, but it is uncommon. The plant needs to be watered well and sprayed often to keep it clean and free of red mites. It is best propagated by division.
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January 31 2009 | Landscaping | No Comments »
by Zak Stanislawski
Outdoor carpets are intended to be installed outside your house on areas such as a patio or around a swimming pool, and differ in many ways from normal carpets, most notably in sturdiness durability.
Weather-resistance is another major plus of outdoor carpeting. These types of floor coverings are usually very resistant to dampness and rain, for instance.
Mostly, these kinds of floor coverings are made of man-made, plastic-derived fibers that are both relatively cheap and easy to clean and maintain. But natural, plant-based alternatives also exist, and they are quite sturdy.
The main purpose of outdoor carpets is to cover up concrete flooring, which is both unsightly and uncomfortable to walk on. With an outdoor carpet you will both get the practical effect of a more comfortable and safer surface, and the aesthetic pleasure of nicer surroundings. Outdoor carpeting are often the first step to personalizing the outside area of your house to your tastes.
Besides giving that individual touch, outdoor carpets also have two very concrete reasons to be: First, they waterproof the surface to a large extent, making it more comfortable when the weather is damp.
Secondly, you will find that the added comfort of carpeting will make it more pleasant to sit or lie down, or to walk around barefoot, which will be a refreshing experience if you don’t do it already.
Talking about the effect that the carpeting will bring to the house’s decoration, consider that when looking at the material you should consider taking synthetics if you like bright colors, as plastic material fade less. If on the other hand you like natural colors, natural fibers such as sisal provide a great alternative.
When correctly laid out, outdoor carpets will be wholly waterproof and will allow you to walk on an almost dry, but very comfortable surface. Sometimes, adequate draining needs to be built into the installation.
As for installing, usually outdoor carpets can be glued directly to the underlying surface, but sometimes a special kind of interim padding is needed. Please note that some carpets are available in tiled form, which makes installation much easier than for rolled carpets.
Outdoor carpets are available in a wide range of patterns and colors, and you will surely find something that suits your eye. These are great materials to furnish the outside of your house, and they are also cheap and durable.
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OutdoorCarpetGuide.com is the premier resource for
outdoor carpets on the Net, with guides on matters such as how to
installing outdoor carpets, as well as on how to select them, where to buy them, and how to keep them clean – and much more!
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January 30 2009 | Landscaping | No Comments »