Home Gardening Planting an Orchid
I've always love orchids and my orchid just bloomed again, with five flowers! You can feel the bloom and see the orchid grow right on your backyard. And the tips below might help get started on how to plant an orchid, and remember keep your orchids in the sunniest places in the house.Depending on your material needed, here are those I use.
- Orchid
- Sphagnum moss
- Small amount of dirt or coco fiber
- Fiskars Floral Shears
- 18-gauge floral wire
- Board
Step 1: Wait until the orchid you want to plant has finished blooming, and then cut the stem at the base. Remove the plant from its pot and shake loose any bark or dirt from its roots.
Step 2: Loop a length of wire around 2 opposite corners of the board. Twist the two ends of the wire together in the back.
Step 3: Next, lay a pile of sphagnum moss on the center of the board. Then add a handful of dirt on top. Add the orchid to the pile on the board. Cover it with a second handful of dirt, and a final layer of moss.
Step 4: Secure it to the board with wire. Wrap wire back and forth, starting at one of the pre-wired corner. Lace the new length of wire across the moss and orchid several times. Tug the wires tight to cinch them down and hold the plant against the board firmly. The board can be hung indoors or out.
Gardening Tips
Since moving into this house late September 2006, we've been gradually building a garden of fruit, berries and vegetables. And being a gardener myself, I’m going to share to you some tips I’ve learned after many years of gardening.Plan in advance. Decide what you'd like to grow. How much space can you devote to the project? How much time are you willing to spend? Answering these questions will help you determine your priorities.
Start small. When planning your garden, it's better to start too small than to start too large. Please read that sentence again. In order to enjoy your garden, you must be able to control it. Don't get too ambitious.
Choose productive plants. Some plants are more productive than others are. If you want a rewarding, productive garden, do some research to find out what grows well in your area. In the U.S., one excellent resource is your state's Extension office.
Share with others. When you buy a packet of seeds, you generally receive more than you need. We've found that it's fun (and frugal) to split the costs with others. My wife and her gardening buddies get together every January to negotiate who will share seeds with whom.
Buy quality tools. When you buy tools, it pays to purchase quality. Remember: Thrift and frugality are about obtaining value for your dollar -- not just paying the cheapest price.
Read up on the subject. Though my wife and I have been gardening for a while, we're always trying to learn more. Your public library will have many books on the subject, some tailored to your location. There are also many excellent Web sites that can help you get started.
Have fun. Most importantly, have fun. Don't make gardening into more work than necessary. Your garden doesn't need to be perfect. It's great if you can achieve a substantial return on your investment, but it's also OK if you lose a little money.
Plan for a Home Garden
Regardless of the reason for growing your own vegetables, a successful garden only comes with proper gardening plan and constant attention. Important elements include careful site selection, planting at the right time, using the right amount of fertilizer, using varieties adapted to your region, controlling pests, and harvesting at the right time.Site Selection
It is important to choose a site with at least six to eight hours of full sun. Vegetables will not grow well in competition with trees or in shade. A garden site should have well-drained soil and be free of chemicals and debris.
Lime and Fertilizer
The best way to determine the nutritional needs of your soil is by soil testing at least every three years. Information for soil tests can be obtained from your county Extension office. A soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5 works best for most vegetables. For lime to be most effective, it should be mixed into the soil a month or two before planting.
Long season crops such as tomatoes, cabbage, pepper, okra and potatoes need more fertilizer than short season crops. It is important to observe crops to determine if additional side-dressing of fertilizers are needed.
Disease Control
The best practices for reducing diseases are crop rotation, using disease-free seed, resistant varieties, early planting, plowing under old crop debris, and seed treatment. Chemical fungicides may be used to control some common leaf diseases of tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and cantaloupes. Contact your local Extension office for fungicides labeled for vegetable crops.
Harvesting
The main reason for having a garden is to produce fresh, high-quality vegetables. Vegetables should be harvested often in order to get vegetables at the proper stages of maturity. If beans, cucumbers, or okra are left to full maturity, the plant will stop producing. For best results, harvest vegetables early in the morning. Freeze or can the surplus so you can enjoy your garden all year.