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The Secrets Of Growing Beautiful Ferns

Air-layering and Hormone Treatments

To increase a plants woody stem, air-layering is necessary. The main house plants that are propagated in this manner are azalea, cissus, codiaeum, fatsia, philodendron and rhoicissus.

The action is performed by slitting through the stem on one side to form a sort of groove or tongue, where you want to incite roots to be produced. The tongue is dusted with a hormone powder and dampened moss is packed into the slit and the layer is then covered with moss. In order to prevent tissue damage or drying, the moss is covered with a polythene sheet and this is best done during the summertime when active growth is occurring.

Once roots have been sufficiently formed, the shoot is then cut off and set in a suitably sized pot.

How to do ring propagation

The method is called this because it involves removing a ring from the stems of plants, where new root growth is desired.

When the lower leaves of plants get to be too tall and leggy, ringing is performed.

The ideal time for ringing is early in the spring when active growth begins. About an inch wide section or ring of bark is removed, just below the lower leaves. The ring stem is bound with moss and covered with plastic film, which keeps it most until the newer roots form. Then the rooted upper portion can be cut and set up in a separate pot.

How to Grow Ferns from Spores

Many fern plants that are used as house plants can be increased by using spores. Boston fern plant spores form in clusters and usually on the backsides of matured fern fronds. The clusters are brown colored and if they are ready for sowing, the fronds should be gathered together and put into a paper bag and hung in a warm room for a couple days. By this time, the spores will have dropped to the bottom of the bag and formed a brownish colored powder.

Place a flower pot filled with a soil and covered with a layer of sifted peat moss. The spores might then be sprinkled in a thin layer on the surface and cover the pot with a pane of glass and put in a saucer of water. The pot need to be placed in a warm room and in about four to six weeks, the top of the compost will be covered with a fine layer of moss like growth. The growth contains small structures bearing male and female organs, after they have been fertilized, new ferns begin to appear. The young ferns can be taken out, much in the same way other seedlings are, into a light and fertile soil. After they have been picked out and put in a pan or pot, they have to be put into a pan or saucer of water and covered with a pane of glass once again. Eventually the plants will be large enough to put into separate pots. The final step is to put these plant into a glass-covered box, here they remain until they have achieved their maximum growth potential. Then the glass can be removed and the plants can be acclimated to the environment of the room.

February 23 2009 | Gardening | No Comments »

How to Start Growing Your Own Vegetables

With the worrisome increase in food prices and even reports of food shortages, you may be wondering whether or not it would be a good idea for you to grow your own vegetables. It is something that anyone can do almost anywhere as long as they are ready to work hard.

Starting a vegetable garden isn’t difficult, but it will take some attention and time. By following some guidelines, however, you will soon be well on your way. If you have never had a vegetable garden before, you may find it easier to start on a small scale or even try container gardening. In this way, you can get used to how plants grow. You can also familiarize yourself with the amount of work you will need to do.

To grow your own vegetables, your garden should get six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day. So, even though it might be handy to have your vegetable garden near the house, be sure not to put it too close. You don’t want your garden to be shaded by your house or any nearby trees.

Your soil may play a big part in determining how difficult it is to make things grow in your vegetable garden. If you have poor soil, there are a number of ways to improve it. One way is to mix in some organic compost. You should do this at least two or three weeks before you begin planting.

The soil you are using needs to have the proper drainage in order to help the plants to grow. When it rains you don’t want the garden to retain too much moisture. This could drown the plants and keep them from growing properly. To prevent this from happening you can either dig ditches around the garden or you can install an agriculture tile pipe drain that will provide better drainage.

Vegetable seeds can be purchased almost anywhere where you can buy the gardening tools you need. There are a number of catalogs and online stores where you can purchase a large variety of seeds, including heirloom seeds. If you want your garden to be successful and your plants plentiful than you want to buy proven stock.

Keep in mind where you would like to place each of your plants. If you place markers first, you will be able to make nice, straight rows. Be sure to place your plants at even intervals. Be careful not to put them too close together. You want them to have plenty of room to grow and thrive.

February 22 2009 | Gardening | No Comments »