Re-potting Clearance Plants

Now is the time of year you will begin to see many plants in your local big box stores...some of those plants however, look a little run down.  Some of them are on the verge of death from lack of care.  I guess ringing up all that milk and bread (or standing in the aisle talking on their cell phones) keeps employees from tending to them like they should.  The best thing about these sorts of plants is that most of these type stores tend to dramatically reduce the costs - giving you an excellent opportunity to test your gardening skills!

There's a few things you will always do when you buy plants from a store - no matter if they are healthy or not.  First things first, re-plant.  

Most of these plants have been growing in this same soil since it was a seed or seedling and in most cases, the plants is starving for water (or, drowning!) so re-planting in a fortified soil is key for healthy plant growth.
I use Miracle Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix.  I've found that it seems to really protect the plant against over and under watering.  Whatever you choose, make sure to get a soil that is specially formulated for whatever plant you are re-planting (house plants, or in-ground plants).

On my last trip to Lowe's, I found these great plants on clearance for just $4.99.  That was a 70% discount! They were located on a rolling cart at the very bottom, hidden from view by other not-so-hardy looking plants.  I pulled them out and noticed they had new shoots all over them - what a shame to have them wasting away - so I popped them into my cart and rolled straight to the check-out.  

They don't look so bad, huh?

You can't see it well, but the yellow sticker says, $4.99.  <happy dance>

These particular plants were pretty healthy considering how root-bound they were.  As you can see from the picture above, the roots were wrapped pretty tightly around itself.  When a plant is like this, all you have to do is break apart the root ball and get the dirt off.  

You can also see the water spots that are on the leaves.  This is an easy fix.  If the spots are from hard water, just mix 2 or 3 drops of dish soap with 20 ounces of water.  Lightly mist the plant's leaves and wipe the leaves with a clean, dry cloth.  Or, for just a few leaves, use a cotton swab dipped in half water, half vinegar solution to spot clean leaves.  Wipe those leaves with a dry cloth when done.  

Store the water that you will use to water your plant for 24 hours in an open container on the counter.  This will help to dissipate any chemicals in the water to evaporate before being used to water plants and prevent hard water spots from re-forming on your leaves.

Freedom!  The roots are no longer bound and flow freely.

I did knock off a little more of the dirt when I re-potted it.  Actually, I shook it and the dirt went flying...all over my hair and in my mouth, I might add.  Never shake a plant on a windy day.  Lesson learned.  

Ta-da!

Easter Gardens

My nieces are coming over for a visit next weekend to plant pumpkins that I will be using for an October wedding I am directing.  Since our hands will already be covered in dirt, I've decided that we will make an Easter Garden too!  Here's a few I found as inspiration.  See the tutorial by clicking the picture.  :)

Photo: A Soft Place

Photo:  Top Of The Page

Photo: Lilliedale

Photo: Better Home & Gardens

Photo:  Contented Sparrow

Photo:  Kimberlee Conway Ireton

Photo: Joy Filled Family

Photo: Happy Home Fairy

I think my favorite is the one by Kimberlee Conway with the Joy Filled Family coming in at a close second.  Which one is your favorite?

All About Arugula - Growing & Eating

Ahh, Arugula.  I love it.  The dark green leaves are deliciously peppery and can be enjoyed raw for salads (my fave) or cooked.  If cooked, they are similar to collards (which I'm not very fond of).  

This year, I decided to start my garden with seeds, however I chose the 'easy way out' for my arugula - I purchased plants.  I know, I should be ashamed of myself but what can ya do?

Arugula is so easy to grow.  Once the leaves get long enough, you can just hack them off and enjoy on pizzas, sandwiches, or salads.  Within a week, you'll have a brand new bushy plant to enjoy!

A Few Things To Remember:

• All you need to do is get a small arugula plant (or start it from seed) and plunk it into a container of good organic potting soil. Keep it moist but not wet, and cut the leaves off as they start to mature.
• As the plant grows it may sprout a few flowers; let these grow and die - they will continually reseed the arugula. The leaves do turn much more bitter as the flowers come out, though, so if you don't like that just keep picking the leaves young.
• If you don't want to wait for the plant to bolt and go to seed, buy a packet of seeds and continually reseed. This is a fast crop - it grows from seed in under 45 days. So if you keep a couple pots going and reseed every couple weeks you'll have arugula continually.

Seriously, if you grow one thing this year, it should be arugula.  Right now I have several growing in pots, and I'm looking forward to trying my hand at germinating seeds.  

DIY Mini Greenhouses

I don't know about you but I absolutely growing things.  I love having my hands in dirt and planting seeds - knowing that if I nurture them, they will grow into abundance for me and my family.  No matter if it's veggies for canning or flowers to grace our kitchen table - everything God has made is for us, for our benefit and it makes my heart truly happy to take part in that in gracious gift.

I've learned a lot through trial and error.  First, I just grabbed some seeds and threw them into a pot and covered with soil.  I did nothing else.  Needless to say, I didn't have much luck - only about 25% of the seeds I'd planted germinated.  So, I fired up Google and went searching.

I found a ton of great information and indoor greenhouses but  they were quite expensive.  I knew what I needed so I went on a creative hunt in my house and shed to see what I could come up with and within an hour, I had everything I would need for not one, but several makeshift mini greenhouses that cost me nothing to make.  But, if you don't already have the supplies on hand, it won't cost you much at all to get started.

Here's what you need

1.  Pots

Keep in mind that you can use absolutely anything to start seeds in.  You can use the bottom half of milk jugs or soda bottles, you can use terracotta planters or galvanized washtubs, even plastic buckets will do.  The pots that are in the picture at the top are the kind that can be planted right into the soil.  I'd bought several of these last year on sale.  These are great to use because there's no worry of disturbing the roots for transplanting.  My favorite pot to use for seed starting uses the Do-It-Yourself Plant PotMaker here.  You use strips of newspaper for your pots and can be planted directly into the soil since newspaper is completely biodegradable.

2.  Seeds & Soil

Seeds are important.  If you want to re-plant seeds for another growing season from the flower or vegetable that you are planting, you will need to purchase Heirloom Seeds.  Seeds that are not classified as Heirloom Seeds will not produce seeds that can be replanted.  My favorite Heirloom Seed companies are Baker's Creek, Territorial Seed Co., and High Mowing Organic.
I always use a seed starting soil for seed starting.  The soil is a little lighter and the seeds have an easier time rooting.

3.  Sandwich Bags

These are what I use to tent the top of my little pots.  

4.  Light

Any kind will do.  I use a couple of lamps on my buffet table.  :)

How to begin

Simply put, all you need to do is fill your pots with seed starting soil.  Plant your seeds.  For teeny tiny seeds like carrots, just barely cover with soil.

Spritz with water and top with a sandwich bag.  I place my pots on a big sheet pan and pour a little water on the pan.  The water sucks up through the pot to prepare the soil for germination.  Place this pan with your planted pots under a couple of lamps or drop lights.  You can even use a couple of clamp desk lamps.  Within a couple of hours, you should start to see the humidity building up within the tents.  

I leave mine under lights for about 12 or 16 hours a day until transplanting.  Once the true leaves appear (true leaves are NOT the first leaves to appear on most plants.), start bringing them outside during the day to acclimate to the weather and temp change.

If you find that your seeds need additional warmth while germinating, a quick tip is to get a heating pad - any old heating pad will do - and wrap in a garbage bag.  Place underneath the sheet pan and turn on to medium heat.  This will warm the soil and cause easy germination for warm loving plants.