Money CAN grow on trees!! 

Anna apple

As well as on bushes, vines and in pots! While it may not be the kind of money you wish grew on trees, growing your own fruit and vegetables is a way to save money and get a healthier lifestyle going. They not only provide food but they add beauty when they flower! You can incorporate them into your landscape to add texture, variety and drama. Even using fruiting shrubs as a hedge can have a dramatic impact. But be careful! Some fruiting plants may drop their leaves in winter so make sure you aren't using the plant for privacy!

Peach 

Even now, in late winter / early spring, you can plant for the future.  I’m talking fruit trees, fruit bushes and vines. Right now you can plant apple, peach, apricot, plum, citrus and a variety of other fruit trees. The first crop may be a bit less than what you’d like, but you are on the way to not purchasing your favorite fruits again, unless you want it out of season. If you live in an area where you have early frost and snow, you will have to wait to place them in the ground. Check with your local nursery (not a "box" store) and see what is available for planting now. Depending on the area you are in, you can start in late summer, early fall. Much of it depends on what you want to grow and what your frost times are.

Blueberry shrub

There are shrub berries that you can grow, blueberries, raspberry & blackberry (bramble variety), cranberries, currants (black, white & red) and gooseberries. All of these are easy care, but you may need more than one to help feed your family. You might also get some bird netting (or even tulle) to help prevent the birds from harvesting your crop before you do!  While bird netting is good, I feel that they aren’t large enough and the birds get underneath, or the openings are still large enough for some of the smaller birds in the neighborhood. Tulle is the material they use for tutus and bridal veils. It comes in a variety of colors and thicknesses and is fairly inexpensive.

Kiwis on the vine

Some of the vining types of fruit you can grow are grapes, kiwi, melons, some strawberries as well as raspberries, blackberries, Loganberries and passion fruit. These types of fruits will need more area to grow, most will need staking, and the canes on some of these will need to be pruned every year for optimum growth and production. I grow a variety of thornless berry called a Youngberry. It is kind of a cross between boysenberry and a light fruity perfume. It is a good producer and can be made into a sauce for ice cream or incorporated into vinaigrette. I usually just eat if right off the vine!

Orange in a pot

Of course, you know all the veggies & herbs you can grow to supplement or even eliminate the supermarket produce. There are a variety of vegetables that you can plant, especially here in So Cal. We have great growing conditions year round for many seasonal favorites. You can grow indoors as well, just about anywhere. The only caution I have is that it may take a couple of tries before you get the hang of where your plants like it best. Over watering is the major killer of indoor plants (whether herbs, fruiting or decorative) and can cause an irritating cloud of soil gnats that will get into ALL your plants. The best way to avoid that problem is to monitor how much water your plant needs. Indoors plants don’t take up as much water since they usually aren’t fighting the elements as much. You may only need to water every few days or just once a week. This is definitely something that takes practice and a watchful eye! Make sure they aren’t in line with a draft from the a/c or heater, since this can speed up moisture loss and cause leaf burn. Don’t water with water straight out of the tap; it has chlorine which can cause root burn. Instead fill a container, allow the water to sit, uncovered, several hours to allow chemicals to “burn” off

So… still think money doesn’t grow on trees..... bushes or vines?  Our forefathers knew the value of planting a garden, even if it is just a small one. You don’t need a home orchard to enjoy the fruits you love. Check out your local nursery (NOT home improvement or "box" stores) and ask questions. That’s part of their job and if they are like me, their passion. Helping someone find the joy of gardening, whether it is edible or not is as much fun as teaching someone to read. You open a whole new world to them that they can use the rest of their life!

Enjoy and eat well!                              

Mary

&!#@ Basil!        

Ocimum basilicum

Apparently the early Roman & Greek physicians believed to grow a good crop of basil, you had to shout and curse as you sowed the seeds!¹ While I think it might be fun to try out their philosophy, my neighbors might not appreciate it as much! No one wants a ticket for public vulgarity, do they?  The ancient people had a lot of interesting ideas and beliefs about day to day living and growing plants is apparently no exception.

In Italy basil has been and is still considered a sign of love!

 A pot of basil on a young lady’s balcony outside her room is a sign she’s ready to receive her suitor. However nowadays, that is not a sure sign since many people grow basil in pots on balconies and windowsills!  Another practice was for the young man to give a young lady a sprig of basil in the hope that the young lady would return his affection and never leave!  I think now ladies would prefer a man who cooks with basil. A man like that would be quite a catch!

One theory about the origin herb’s name is a derivative from basileus, Greek for king. In India basil is worshipped more highly than kings. It is a sacred herb dedicated to Vishnu & Krishna and laid upon the chest of the dead to protect from evil in the next world and to give them entrance to paradise (Oh! If it were only that easy!)

Basil seeds

As a medicinal, it is used for digestive complaints. Used instead of an after dinner mint as a tea, it helps aid in digestion and expel gas. It can be used for vomiting, cramps and constipation. A teaspoon of dried basil in a cup of boiled water is supposed to be effective. I am not a physician or a naturopath so I am relating only what I have researched. As always, check with your physician or naturopath prior to using any medicinal herb. Using the seeds in a poultice externally has shown antibacterial properties.

basil mint hair oil

It is used in shampoos, hair color and rinses, perfumes and herbal bath preparations. You can even make your own herbal bath perfume by mixing herbs that you like together to make a scent you like and add it to the water. Then climb in, and depending on the mixture, relax or get invigorated!

Basil works well in Italian, African, Mediterranean, Thai, Greek and of course Indian cuisine to name just a few. It has a bit of a peppery taste which intensifies as it cooks. Fresh, it can be added to salads, made into a pesto or tossed into a veggie packet and grilled until the veggies are done (about 20 minutes or so in a foil packet on a grill).  If it is to be frozen it should be made into a paste or stored in oil or vinegar. If you are freezing a pesto sauce, leave out the garlic until you are actually going to cook it as it can turn bitter/rancid tasting after a few months in the freezer. Try drying it to savor it during the winter months when you may not have your plant to pluck from.

Basil flowers (can be pink as well)

Basil can be easy to grow. Good light, a soil that drains well but not fast and has the addition of compost to the mix, whether potted or in ground. By pruning (or pinching off) leaves, your plant should become bushy. It is recommended to cut back the main stem prior to the plant flowering for the first. If you aren’t using it very often, trim it back a bit every 2 weeks or so. This helps keep it from getting too woody and helps maintain a nice bushy shape. Try to harvest before the flowers open, this will give you a better flavor. The unopened flowers can be used as a garnish or addition to a salad as well.

Purple Ruffles basil

There are a variety of types of basil, some with flavors other than straight basil. There is lemon, anise, cinnamon even a camphor flavored basil.  The one called “Holy Basil” is actually more ornamental rather than culinary so I would avoid that one except as a decorative element.  I have heard that the “Purple Ruffles” one is good for flavoring vinegar, but haven’t tried it myself (yet!). If you are adventurous try growing a few and taste testing your own. I can guarantee that even if you don’t like them, they are a beautiful addition to any garden as an ornamental. I love having fragrant plants in my garden, whether they are “useful” or not. I am constantly touching leaves, smelling them and even sometimes tasting them just because I can. And yes, I do know what poison oak and ivy look like so I am safe!

Enjoy your basil be it in a pasta, perfume, tea or hair rinse!!

Happy gardening!

Mary

¹Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs

Do you have THYME?

  

Thymus vulgaris "common thyme"

Thymus vulgaris or common thyme is usually the one you use for cooking. It has found a home in the medicinal world as well as a great garden companion. It has been considered an almost “perfect” herb because of its flexibility. It can mimic other herbs, fill in chinks in rock gardens (the creeping varieties) create a scented path in your yard or (one of my favorites) is to create a unique fairy garden setting for children.  

Its name ‘Thymus’ has been traced to the Greek word for ‘courage’ which is appropriate since the smell has been known to be invigorating to the senses, hence making you feel indomitable!  There is information that the word ‘Thymus’ is also Greek for ‘to fumigate.’ This was due to the herb’s use in helping chase stinging insects from homes by burning the herb and waving it around in the air. Gardeners also planted a patch of herb for the garden faeries, much like we would put out bird houses! ¹

Thyme has also been a symbol of courage when women would give knights their scarf that had a sprig of thyme placed over an embroidered bee. It has been used to flavor liqueurs and cheeses and it was one of the ingredients used to help preserve mummies in ancient Egypt!   It has been used as a tea to combat shyness or other nervous disorders including nightmares. When used as a companion plant for vegetables such as eggplant, potatoes and tomatoes it is thought to help repel cabbage worms and white fly. (I’m trying this one this spring, my neighbor has an awful white fly problem but I can't convince her to do anything about it. She calls them her 'night moths'. Not sure why...)

Thyme seeds

Thyme has also been used as an antiseptic and stimulating property in lotions and bath concoctions and is now widely used as an antifungal and antibacterial. As an aromatic you can use the dried flowers and leaves as an insect repellent in storing linens by incorporating them into sachets. The compound thymol which gives thyme its main odor is used in colognes and soaps.

Thyme is a perennial, loves the sun and heat and drier soil, but don’t allow it to bake dry. If your area is very hot, I’d recommend planting thyme in an area with afternoon shade. Thymus vulgaris is bushy, growing to about 2’ tall. The leaves are very small and as it ages it can become woody stemmed. Thyme needs a well drained soil or pot as they can be susceptible to fungal diseases if they get too wet.  They are also susceptible to spider mites, although I haven’t seen this problem as much. As with all plants avoid watering the leaves as this can create a fungal problem or if it is a hot day, can burn the leaves a bit. Also, watering the leaves can actually reduce their fragrance. I would plant a few starter plants together to create a larger plant much sooner or if you are sowing seeds, several seeds close to each other. This way if you wish to divide the plant to use elsewhere (or give as a gift) you just dig it up carefully, and divide the plant at the roots. Take care that you don’t manhandle the roots too much as you can shock them or break them and your plant will have trouble recovering. Fertilize sparingly and do so with an organic such as blood meal or seaweed extract.

Woolly thyme

The smaller creeping varieties such as woolly thyme, elfin thyme or the creeping thyme² grow to about 4 inches tall. The woolly thyme actually looks a bit fuzzy with silvery leaves and pink flowers. The creeping thyme is denser with dark green leaves and darker pink blooms. The elfin thyme is much more compact and a bright green. There are many variations on these as well as some that are scented a bit differently than your typical thyme, such as the caraway thyme or lemon thyme. They are both useful in cooking, have a wonderful smell and great for garden concepts. A word of warning though bees LOVE thyme and when they are blooming, you will have many bees. But, fear not, typically bees are interested in what they can harvest, not in going after your tender fingers! I have worked among flowering plants for many years and can truly say I’ve only been stung once in the garden and that was due to my leaning against a pot that had a bee on it which caused it to sting me. All you need do is wave your hand gently to move them away and you can pick what you need OR wait until either the cool of the morning or evening and see if they are gone then pick what you need. It won’t be as much of a problem when the plant isn’t in bloom, but here in So Cal, they bloom pretty much all year.

Rock wall with Thyme

When using thyme in the garden remember that it doesn’t like wet feet, so be aware of where you place it. If you are using common thyme, it has good effect in Mediterranean gardens. It will also do well as a bit of interest when bordering a dry creek bed, or as a loose hedge. The lower growing thyme are good as ground covers between roses, along pathways, between flagstones even growing over rocks and in crevices.  I have used it on the backside of a rock waterfall to fill in the gaps between rocks and soil. It covered it beautifully in about a year and a half. You can use the woolly thyme as a lawn substitute if you really want to conserve water. Once thyme has established itself, it is a low water plant. If you use it as a lawn substitute be aware that when it blooms, it will be attracting bees which don’t always mix well with kids and animals! You may mow it occasionally just to keep the woodiness of the stems at a minimum. You can purchase flats (18" x 18" square) of the low growing thyme at many nurseries or in single containers.  The common thyme may come in 4” pots, 1 gallon or 5 gallon containers. I personally won’t purchase any herbs in anything larger than a 1 gallon container because some of them don’t transplant well at that size and you want it to acclimate easily.

When using thyme as a spice remove the leaves from the stems by holding the very top of the stem in one hand and using your fingernails, run them down the stem lightly against the growth pattern squeezing lightly to dislodge the leaves from the stems. You can use the whole stem and leaves in cooking such as soups, but you definitely want to remove them prior to serving the soup! Make sure the stems aren’t woody if you choose to use thyme this way.

Thyme is just a fun herb to grow. It is easy, looks pretty, smells wonderful and isn’t invasive so you can throw it in the garden and not worry. Use creeping thyme in a pot or on the edge of a planting wall so that as it grows it drapes over the edge is pretty and adds a soft touch to the area.

Soon it will be ‘thyme’ to plant your herb garden…. Enjoy your garden and all the creative ways you can use this herb in it.

Happy gardening!

Mary

¹ Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs

² Thymus praecox – Creeping thyme

  Thymus pseudolanuginosus – Woolly thyme

  Thymus herba-barona – Caraway-scented thyme

  Thymus x citriodorus – Lemon-scented thyme

Mint

Mint,

Not just for Mojitos!!  

Ahhh, mint!! It is a refreshing smell, a cooling taste on your tongue, a great addition to Mediterranean dishes, lemonade, tea and even ice cream!! The smell brings on memories of summer days, picnics and fun!

The legend goes that the name “mint” comes from a nymph in Greek mythology named Minthe.  *Persephone, Pluto’s wife, found out that Pluto was in love with beautiful Minthe. She became jealous and turned her into a lowly plant in retaliation. Pluto couldn’t undo the curse so he made it so that she had a sweet smell when walked upon which got sweeter the more it was walked on. (Even back then there was drama!) The name was then changed to Mentha and became the genus name of the herb, mint.

Mint has long been used as both a culinary & medicinal treatment for many ages. At one time it was even used to pay taxes by the Pharisees. It is can be used to freshen your breath, treat stomach upset and an aid to digestion. It has been touted as an insect repellent and to whiten teeth! It can be used fresh or dried. I personally love the smell and taste of fresh mint. I use the back of a spoon to ‘muddle’ it when I put it in tea, lemonade or soups. Muddling it bruises it to release the oils that give mint its scent and flavor.

Mint plants have an interesting structure. Their stems are square instead of round and the leaf margins are jagged and a bit furry underneath in some instances. The leaves are alternate, meaning that two will grow opposite each other, the next two will grow opposite of those two and so on down the stem. Not all mint plants are mint scented, such as horehound although it is a member of the mint family.

Mint flower

They are considered a perennial; meaning they grow all year, flower usually in spring/summer time. They can tolerate part shade to full sun but in high heat areas they will do best in part shade.  They tolerate a variety of soils, but will try to find a richer soil if placed in a poor soil. They can be invasive!!!! That being said, they do very well on hillsides and can cover quite a large area. I prefer to plant them in pots, which they do quite well in. They do need a good soil in pots and prefer a loamy soil. (Loam is a type of soil. Usually a 40-40-20 concentration of sand, silt and clay respectively.) Make sure the pot has good drainage as they don’t do well sitting in a bog at the bottom of a non-draining pot! If you prefer to plant them in the ground, one way to slow their invasiveness is to plant them in a pot, in the ground. This means that you drop the pot into a hole in the ground with the plant already planted in it. This provides a root barrier but be aware, since the pot needs drainage holes, those same holes will eventually allow the mint roots to invade the soil around it. Also, the trailing stems can re-root where they touch the ground. The upside is that if you catch it early enough, you can just pull them right out of the ground and cut them off.

There are several of types of mint to plant; peppermint, lemon mint, apple mint, chocolate mint and orange mint to name a few of the more often used types. If you choose to grow a few types of mint, be aware that they can and most likely will cross pollinate so you may get another variety altogether!! If you can, separate them by quite a distance. This may lessen the chance of you ending up with an undesirable flavored mint. Also, don't confuse 'water mint' with mint grown in soil. While it is in the mint family, it doesn't have the same flavor or scent. There is also a compact ground hugging mint called Corsican mint. The leaves are very tiny and it forms a dense mat, which is great in between flagstone.

To harvest, cut the stems on a dry day and when the morning dew has evaporated from the plant. This will help reduce the possibility of the remaining leaves turning black. This is a fungus and if is shows up, I do recommend removal all black leaves and throwing them away. Wash your hands after removing them and make sure you don’t touch other healthy leaves as you may spread the fungus. You can then strip the leaves from the stem and use either fresh or dry them to use later. 

To increase your plant population you can cut stems, about 6-8 inches long, remove the lower leaves and set the stem in water, setting the container in an area that gets bright light and warmth. You don’t want to leave it outside in direct sun or in a windowsill in direct sun. Remember to change water every other day or so to avoid bacterial growth on the roots or stem. Once you have roots of a decent length (about 1 ½ - 2 inches long) and a good amount of them, you can transplant into a pot. I would still keep it inside or in a protected place outside until it has set more roots. To determine this, tug gently on the stem. If there is a slight resistance, it has started to set roots and can be placed in part shade. Make sure that you keep the soil slightly moist so that the plant doesn’t dry out unexpectedly. You can also put several starters in a single large pot to create a more full pot later.

Variegated Pineapple mint

Mint is a very easy plant to grow, one that is really good for kids to grow since it is fun to incorporate into a variety of foods, as well as chewing a whole leaf itself!!

One last caution: the herbs you get in the grocery store do not do well if they are planted. They are either hydroponically grown, so their root system won’t take the sudden soil or force grown in a greenhouse which means they aren’t that hardy to begin with but are acceptable for cooking.

Go forth and grow some mint!!! You won’t be sorry and you’ll have a plant that is scented and useful, who could ask for more?

Happy gardening!

Mary

* Myth info from Rodale’s Encyclopedia of Herbs - A very good herb info resource

Magazines devoted to or based on herbs & their use:

Herb Quarterly - has info on herbs & their uses, how to make lotions, lip balm, soaps and gift items as well as recipes.

Mother Earth Living (formerly Herb Companion) Now a bit more of a slick magazine, along the lines of Real Simple meets Herb Companion. I'm still checking it out. I really liked the old format, but wasn't consulted.... =)

I'm sure there are more out there, I just haven't really searched for them yet. 

Plants: Nature’s Air filters!

                     Part 2 of ‘Green House’ In your Home

In part one I went over the process of finding the right plant and pot for your indoor plantscape. Now, on to the benefits of plants in the home!

First, there’s the aesthetic value; homes look ‘homier’ when they have a few plants here and there. (It’s not just for hippies anymore!) It’s a proven fact that when you incorporate greenery into your home and office it decreases anxiety, lowers blood pressure and gives you a moment of serenity in the midst of your day.

Sanseveria

Secondly by using plants you can create an atmosphere for your home or office. If you want to create a luxurious look you use pots that highlight your décor and give a richer feel to the room. For example, if you were going for a contemporary look for your surroundings, you might use monochromatic pots in colors that have been incorporated into your scheme or use these pots for the color in the scheme. Black & chrome, while beautiful is cold, adding monochromatic pots in a splash of color like burnt orange or a rich blue can add warmth. You would then use a structural type plant to continue the contemporary theme, such as a Sanseveria or a Phormium. They are also useful in creating a ‘theme’ such as Victorian or Southwestern. Victorian would utilize more ornate or sculpted pots with more upright plants, such as a Parlor Palm or Aralia. For a Southwestern theme the go-to pot type would be terra cotta pots; available in a variety of shapes & sizes or utilize painted pots with either Southwestern motifs or in Southwestern colors such as turquoise, peach, white, black, red, green and yellow. The plants for a Southwestern theme can be obvious such as succulents and cacti or you can use geraniums, dracaena, cordylines and strappy leafed plants like the Spider plant.

Aralia

And third, they help clean the air around you. You know that plants take in carbon dioxide and water then give off oxygen. Well, within that carbon dioxide, there are toxins or VOC’S (volatile organic compounds) that are emitted by everyday items such as carpet, wood furniture, toilet paper, personal products, cleaning products, insulation and more. Formaldehyde is just one that is found on a regular basis in the home. You will find it in carpet, plywood, and foam insulation just to name a few. There are also benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene; sound scary, don’t they? These are common toxins found in common household items as well as just about any building you go into. They are given off, in minute amounts, but constant, every day, every hour and we are inhaling them daily. While some of these chemicals occur naturally, because they are concentrated into products or paired with other chemicals that can increase their volatility.

Pothos

While we can’t eliminate our exposure to these items (unless you own a mountain top or island and don’t mind living au natural!) but you can help lessen their impact on your environment by not only using products that have been certified as low or no VOC  but by placing plants in your environment to help cleanse the air.  A short list follows with plant names of the most common that work on the toxins I noted above. The general idea is 1 plant (in about a 6 inch pot) for every 100 square feet of area. Even in the bathroom! Yup, you have products in there that emit toxins and the right plant will thrive in the humid environment! Just remember, they don’t necessarily like drafts from the heater or air conditioner so be mindful of where you place them.

I hope I didn’t alarm you or make you fearful of your environment. That was not my intention but I did want to alert you to the things that are around you that while you can’t see them, they can be harmful especially if you are sensitive. Please don’t go crazy trying to figure out what plant you need in your home in relation to what toxins you may have. I gave you the information about toxins and their product origin so you have an idea of what the plants can do for you! Plants are wonderful little workhorses that can work wonders for your life!

Happy “indoor” gardening!

Mary

‘Indoor’ plants for your health. This is not a complete list, just a starting point!

Plant                                         Helps with VOC’s from

Aloe                                     Paints and cleaners

Ficus                                    Furniture & carpets

Spider Plant                         Solvents used on leather, rubber and in the print industries

Mother in law’s tongue         Cleaners, toilet paper, tissues, personal 

                                            care products  Perfect for the bathroom!

Chrysanthemum                    Paint, plastics, glue, detergents (needs bright light)

Ficus                                    Furniture & carpeting

English Ivy                            Airborne fecal matter (never knew!)

                                                  Again, great for the bathroom

Warneck dracaena               Varnishes

Heartleaf Philodendron         Particle board (desks, tables, cupboards) Caution though, toxic if eaten so keep away from kids/animals

Plant A “Green” House!

Planting indoors for comfort and beauty

 (Part 1)  

     

                                               

Parlor Palm

Even if you live in a warm climate like southern California, you may want to embellish your interior with plants. There are many relatively easy to grow “indoor” plants and in the “Pages” section I have a list of easy indoor plants.  If you live in a colder climate, you may want indoor plants to remind you of coming spring, give you an emotional lift, supplement your spices or even use them to help purify the air.  (More on that in another blog.)

"Zebra Plant"

Now, I put the indoor word in quotation marks because if you really think about it, there is no such thing as “indoor” plants! ALL plants originated outside; whether in soil, hanging in trees (epiphytic), in rock crevices or in water. The plants that we typically use as indoor plants are plants that can survive and possibly thrive in lower light; shade plants are a good example of this. If you look at where the shade plants originate, you’ll see that they are usually understory plants which are plants growing in the shadow of another plant or in a jungle or forest setting. There are even cacti & succulents that grow in the shadow of bigger cacti & succulents to protect them.

   

Dracaena deremensis

The first step in figuring out the best plant for your interior is to determine not only where you want to place it, but to determine how much light you have in the area and for how long. You don’t need any fancy light meter, although if you have access to one, use it!  Watch the area throughout the day and determine what times the area has the brightest light. Then I place a piece of white paper on a surface in the area (floor or table, it doesn’t matter) and hold my hand over it. If I see a shadow of my hand, then this is roughly equivalent to 100 foot candles,( a “foot candle” is the unit of measurement used to determine the intensity of light) enough for your basic indoor plant.  This is a really basic test and I advise it if you are going to be happy with simple plants. If you are going to want something showier I advise you use a light meter of some sort if you are unsure of how much light you have there. (If it is bright enough to sit there during the day and read then you probably won’t need a light meter!) You can take chances on plants if you feel you have sufficient light for showier foliage. There are times that I try out a plant, just simply because I fell in love with it and figured if it didn’t work there, I’d have another place for it! Be aware that if you decide to grow an edible plant (like herbs or fruit) indoors, the criteria is a bit different. They need more light and a bit more warmth, but definitely you want to protect them from drafts, hot or cold.

Once you have determined what your basic light is, now you can figure out your plant needs/wants. The list on “Pages” is a good place to start or go to a reputable indoor plant nursery and ask questions. Be prepared to answer questions about light, basic temperature of home, office or building you will be placing it, drafts, window proximity and possible plant locations. They ask questions so they can better direct you to the proper plant.  I prefer going to a nursery that utilizes a staff that is not only knowledgeable but passionate about their craft. This type is more likely to be interested in making sure you get the proper plant for the area and the info you need to take care of it. If you don’t have a nursery in your area like that you can research the plants yourself, use one of the houseplant books I suggested or contact me, I’d be happy to answer questions for you!

"Soilless" potting mix

In selecting your soil, you may want to use a soilless mix or you can go with a basic indoor potting soil. You want a soil that will drain well but not too fast. Potting soils typically have some peat, some organic compounds and some perlite for drainage as well as a soil (or dirt). A soilless mix is one that utilizes raw materials such as peat, coir or compost in addition to other organic materials and possibly fertilizer. The advantage of a soilless mix is that you don’t bring in any bacteria as you would with bagged or garden soil and can be lighter than a typical potting soil. As long as the potting medium is good quality, you should be okay with either. Try to stay away from any that have fertilizer mixed in already. Until you know what your plants needs are, the added fertilizer may not be the best for it, or it may not be dispersed at the best time. Many of the “enhanced” soils use a basic 12-12-12 fertilizer that is released every time you water. This is okay for plants that actively grow and flower throughout a season, but indoor plants may not flower at all, have different needs when it is time for them to flower (like orchids) or utilize an acidic  fertilizer. The constant use of fertilizer can compromise the integrity of the cell walls within the plant and create other issues. In my experience, this holds true for outdoor plants as well. Plants have a cycle for a reason and disruption of it can cause it to weaken or become susceptible to disease. An example is holiday plants or novelty plants; they are force grown to look the way they do and unless you really want to be vigilant with them, chances are they won’t last too long since you are not duplicating the conditions  they are used to.

Blue enameled pot

The next step, once you have selected your plant and the soil, look for a pot that gives that last touch to your plantscape! Whether tall, short, bushy, vining or hanging, you must have the appropriate pot. For tall plants I recommend to get a pot that has a wide base so that it isn’t easily tipped over. Normally I recommend wider bases on all potted plants, indoors or out because the plants’ root system will benefit from more room at the base of the container as it grows. Your typical “V” shaped container is okay for slower growing plants, such as succulents & cacti or outdoor annual type plants (pansies, for example). Make sure it has a drainage hole and get a saucer of some type for it. Whether it is matching, clear or contrasting, you want something that will hold some of the runoff water. Too deep and you create a situation for a smelly pot, too shallow and it may run over and stain what it is sitting on. The exception to the deeper saucer is if you have a plant that needs a bit of humidity and it is recommended you place the pot on a bed of pebbles and add water occasionally to create some humidity. (Humidity to a plant is much lower that what we consider humid. Often they only need a bit of extra water in the air around their leaves a few times a week to be happy. YOU won’t feel a thing!)

Bronzed ceramic pot

Now, if both your pot and plant is large, pot it in place. You’ll want to put down some kind of tarp or paper so that you don’t get soil everywhere. (Even with my best intentions, I spill a little…) Make sure you have a scoop or something to help add the soil around the root ball. Start by measuring the root ball height (base of pot to top of soil line while in the container you bought it in) and measuring the inside of the pot from 1-2 inches below the lip. I use a piece of chalk to mark the inside of the pot to show how much soil I will need to put in before I set in the plant. Then I pour soil into the container to just at the chalk line, tamping lightly as you add soil (so the level doesn’t drop when you water.) In doing this, you aren’t taking the plant in and out of the pot several times trying to get the height correct. I place the plant on top of the soil and make sure that the top or crown of the root ball is about 1-2 inches below the lip of the pot. If it is, then loosen the root ball a bit so that the roots can move outward as they grow. Now use your scoop or hands and start placing soil around the root ball. Lightly tamp it down as you go. You want it compacted but not hard. The reason you leave an inch or two at the top is when you water you don’t want it running off the soil over the edge of the pot. Now water your new plant well until you have water coming out the drain hole. Always water at the base of the plant to avoid splashing water on the leaves (this is how fungus & burn marks can happen) and enjoy!

Check the soil every few days initially. Stick your finger in the soil; if it is dry to about 2 inches below the surface, you may want to water lightly. This is the time you’ll be getting to know your plants and determining how often they need to be watered.

If you start getting brown margins on the leaves it could be either not enough water or you haven’t been allowing the water to set before using it to water with and it has created a salt burn on the leaf edge. Another issue may be that it is in the path of a draft and it is drawing the moisture out of the leaf.

African violet

It would be advantageous to look into purchasing a houseplant guide. There are symptoms that the plants will show you that may only need minor corrections in its care. I can’t list them all here, and some are dependent on the type of plant.  One of my favorite houseplant books is “The House Plant Expert” by Dr. D.G. Hessayon. Another good one is Simon & Schuster’s Guide to House Plants.

Happy INDOOR gardening!

Mary

Hummingbird Salvia

Checking out the natives!

Just got back from the Grow Native Nursery Fall Planting Festival at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, CA. This event helps raise money for the garden and gives us plant nerds an opportunity to wander and enjoy plants without all the extra work! I wouldn't mind having many of the plants they feature! ("Native" is a term used to describe plants endemic (indigenous) or naturalized to a given area in geologic time.)

Wild grape fall color

Admission was free to both the festival and the garden today. I was impressed by the quality of the plants, the amount of information on all the labels as well as the variety of plants. Everything from little four inch pots to 15 gallon trees!  They also have succulent wreaths that are very cool to look at (one of my next endeavors is to create one myself!) and everything is reasonably priced.  I purchased two California Wild grape vines for a fence I'm trying to hide, 2 white sage plants and a hummingbird salvia that is gorgeous when in bloom! By using native plants, once they are established they will thrive in our climate better than a plant that has been acclimatized to our weather patterns here. Once established, many will use less water than their non-native counterparts. The Grow Native Nursery is openWednesday to Saturday, from November to May. 

They had a few guest speakers one of which was a professor of mine; Dave Lannom. Awesome teacher and very funny. Explains things so that you have those "Aha!" moments that make things clearer when you are learning. Rancho Santa Ana hosts events like this throughout the year. Some you need to be a member to attend, many are open to the public, usually for a small fee.

White Sage

So, if you're in the area, check them out. They have a wonderful garden with paths wide enough to use wheel chairs, strollers or wagons if you're taking the kids with you. You can also check them out on the web at www.rsabg.org.