Show Date: 9 Feb 10
that’s a good question. With all the choices between soils and soilless mixes, what’s the right choice?
A good potting soil mix or potting media will be a mix of pasteurized soil, organic matter like compost and drainage material like perlite.
Soilless mixes work well for orchids. Most plants will say if they should have a certain type of mix. READ the tag!
Show Date: 8 Feb 10
If you’re houseplant can be pulled from it’s container and stand on it’s own, it’s time for new digs!
ficus elastica
Don’t go from a starter home to a mansion – just increase the size of your pot 1 to 2 inches larger than where it’s coming from. If you give your plant a big house, it’ll get lost in all those rooms!
Water thoroughly and keep it out of direct sunlight for a couple of days while it gets used to it’s new home. Oh and be SURE your new pot has drainage holes.
Show Date: 5 Feb 10
Nothing says Spring like the bright yellow flowers of the Forsythia:
Forsythia
except, perhaps, the Cornelian Cherry:
Cornelian Cherry
Show Date: 4 Feb 10
Of all the veggies, Kale is king due to it’s powerful punch to cancer and cataracts.
Kale is king
Kale is loaded with Vitamins K and A. I lightly steam it to keep all the nutrients and then add it to eggs, turkey burgers, other mixed veggies.
Show Date: 3 Feb 10
What’s the ROI on a veggie garden?
Carrots 'Purple Dragon'
The above photo also has a great lettuce mix, kale and nasturtiums mixed in there!
To determine whether creating a veggie garden is worth it can really only be answered by you. There are so many variables to consider including building the garden, cost of equipment, your time and the cost of plants and/or seeds.
The biggest consideration is whether you will ENJOY it!! For me, the answer is a resounding WAHOO.
The garden is no place to stress for success but to soak up some sun and renew your spirit!
Not sure why that matters here in Minnesota. We’re pretty well guaranteed 6 more weeks of winter.
Perhaps it’s the festive atmosphere that we see others enjoy? Ah well, we live in the great north, might as well embrace it.
EEK
Brrrrrr……….. cuddle up under a blanket and listen to the podcast above discussing the start of the tradition then enjoy those seed catalogs.
Show Date: 1 Feb 10
Ooo, portable compost bin, aren’t those words that grab ya! Well, if you’re a gardener, yes!
Here are a couple of pictures to help you get the idea of my podcast on creating your own portable bin. Be sure to use either a new bin or one that’s been thoroughly cleaned. I would recommend a 10% bleach solution.
Portable compost drawing
Show Date: 29 Jan 10
Orchids have to be one of the most romantic plants! They’re delicate flowers just ooze words of love! 
One of the easiest orchids to grow is the Phalaenopsis. Keep it OUT of direct sunlight and let it sit on top of a tray of gravel and water.
Orchid
Show Date: 28 Jan 10
Although the temperatures have felt a bit like a heat wave for us, our windows are still closed up which means stale air!
Houseplants are the “greenest” method of freshening our indoor breathing spaces. I LOVE my ficus.
Ficus
Keeping the leaves clean will help absorb more polluted air sending it down to the roots where microbes will munch down the pollutants.
You don’t need fancy cleaners. Just a drop of dish soap in a quart of water and you can keep those leaves clean.
Those phantom power suckers like printers, computers, dvd's and television sets are still using electricity even when they're turned off.
The solution is to use a power strip and unplug the strip each evening rather than going around pulling the plug on every piece of equipment.
