Color Of Your Garden Is Essential

The four major characteristic of any gardening design are: shape, form, perfume and color. The last is usually ignored by most gardeners, which can lead to a very dull garden. Even So the vast majorities of gardeners either omit it from their plans, or (worse) group together plants that clash and offend the eye. We would be unlikely to paper our walls with a pattern incorporating flowers of red, blue, green, violet, yellow and orange, all fighting to outshine each other, but that is just the effect that many people create in their gardens.

The reason why so many gardeners fall into this trap is that they easily forget that the rules of color coordination are just as crucial outside the house as inside, and they apply to natural as well as to man-made decorations. Evidently, accomplishing harmony is easier with the latter as any color you wish may be easily obtained. In the garden, this problem is further heightened with the background of the sky – bright blue during the summer months, and so unique in the winter.

Winter skies are less difficult, and there are also far less brightly-colored flowers in bloom at this time of the year – indeed, color represents such a welcome diversion that we tend to receive with gratitude any that appears. This you can overcome with thorough planning. There are a surprisingly large number of plants that do flower and provide color throughout the winter months, as well as numerous twigs and branches (such as dogwood) that all contribute relief during the short dull days.

There is simply no reason to neglect a thoughtfulness of color just because plants are natural. Nowhere in nature will you find so many different flowers growing in such close proximity as in a flower bed. The flowers may well bloom in our gardens in their natural seasons, but gardeners do bring together in one small plot plants from all over the world which would not commonly co-exist.

In the natural world there is no clash of colors. All natural plants must vie for resources, such as the services of insects, birds and other animals for fertilization. The first plants to bloom naturally in the spring are the yellows – during late March and early April this color takes over in both the garden and the countryside. It is believed that this is due to the pollinating insects that are flying at that time of year being attracted only to yellow.

Whilst this is essential to the survival of the wild plant in its natural habitat, it is of no consequence to the imported garden species which do not depend upon the forces of natural selection. Other plants are bred and have no really close equivalents in the natural world -these are plants which have been produced by crossing two species, and sometimes these two species may even come from unique continents. Nature itself doest not create colors that clash and you should not disobey this unique rule.

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February 15 2010 | Gardening | No Comments »

Tropical Houseplant Care – How to Fertilize Your Houseplants

In order to survive, your houseplants need two kinds of nourishment. We discussed one of these, water, in Part II of this series. They also need minerals. When a plant is outdoors, it can usually get enough minerals from its surroundings all by itself. But houseplants need more attention – the nutrients available to them indoors must be provided by the gardener.

What are those numbers on the bag of fertilizer?

Fertilizers contain the key elements needed: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) in varying proportions. The numbers given on a bag of fertilizer show the relative amounts of these three elements. For example, an 18-6-12 fertilizer contains 18% N, 6% P2O5, and 12% K2O. Other elements are also necessary, but in much lower amounts.

How much of each element should I use for my plants?

The amount of each element needed will of course depend on the species of plant. Too much is just as bad for the plant as too little, so it requires a bit of research to learn exactly what is right for your particular tropical plant. Usually this help is available by either reading the label, or by asking your plant-supply person.

What does each of the minerals do?

This is a subject of continuing research by scientists. To oversimplify a bit, we can say that leafy plants need lots of nitrogen, whereas flowering varieties require more phosphorus. Potassium is useful in combating plant diseases, and is also needed by fruit-bearing plants as an aid in transporting other minerals through plant tissue.

How can I tell if my plant is getting too little or too much fertilizer?

A nutrient deficiency will often cause the leaves to lose color, or to be smaller than normal. To help the plant recover, use a soluble fertilizer, so the nutrients can be absorbed faster. Too much fertilizer can result in brown leaf tips, or in wilting. This condition is easily relieved by soaking the whole pot in water to allow the excess nutrients to be washed away.

How do I apply the fertilizer, and how often do I do it?

My method is to use a solution of dry fertilizer in water. Carefully following the directions on the package should make it easy not to over-fertilize your plants. I thoroughly water each plant, until the solution begins to flow out of the drain holes in the bottom of the pot. I find that feeding my plants about every other month is fine – more frequently for blooming plants in season.

If you’re careful in fertilizing your house plants, they should not just survive, they’ll thrive. Don’t be shy about asking for advice at your local plant store. They should be glad to help.

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December 27 2009 | Gardening | No Comments »

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