Organic Roses in the Flower GardenWritten by Sandra Dinkins-Wilson
Many people believe growing their flowers and vegetables organically is healthier for them and their environment. It is natural that you may wish to grow your roses this way also. Using pesticides and insecticides that are usually considered to go along with growing roses and keeping them healthy can cause many people have to health problems . Maybe you just don't want those kind of chemicals in your garden and around your children. This article will give some pointers in using more natural methods of growing your roses.1. First do your homework and find out what type of roses grow well in your area. Buy disease resistant varieties. If you live in an area that has problems with a certain disease, look for a variety that is resistant to it. If you can, purchase organic roses. As they have already been growing with organic methods, this supposes they are "healthier". and not already loaded with chemicals. Thus they have a stronger immune system. Of course, buy roses with no blemishes on them. 2. Roses like full sun. Make sure they are placed so as to get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day. 3. Do not crowd your roses together. Ensure that stress is reduced by providing lots of space for air to circulate around bush. Take growth of rose bush into account. 4. Plant your roses in good loamy soil. If your soil is not ideal, then amend it with organic material such as from your compost pile. You do have a compost pile, don't you? Roses like well draining soil but they don't want it draining as fast as you might get with sand, so amend your sandy soil. If you have clay soil, an alternative requiring a bit of work is to build a raised bed for your roses much like vegetable gardeners use. It should be at least a foot deep but more is better. Fill it with will amended soil. 5. Keep your watering consistent. Don't allow your plants to dry out and suffer stress before watering. Roses can need up to 2 inches of water a week. Water every two to three days. This, of course, depends on your area and type of weather (how much rainfall) you are getting. Also, be careful not to stress plant by overwatering and depriving roots of oxgen.
| | How to Water Your Houseplants WiselyWritten by Kori Puckett
Over watering ranks first in causes of houseplant demise because it causes roots to rot. Most plants are tough so they can recover from under watering with only loss of a few leaves -- unless you wait too long and pass point of no return.Watering schedules depend on kind of houseplant, its size, container, and environment. No two plants have same water requirements, so you'll need to know what your particular plant(s) require. Generally, it's best to water during morning hours. Most flowering plants require more water than their non-flowering counterparts. Since needs of individual plants vary greatly, you should research your houseplant's requirements. Test dryness of soil by probing top inch with your finger. Tapping side of post also indicates degree of wetness. If tap sounds hollow, plant needs water. If it sounds solid, wait a day or two to water. If a plant begins to wilt and its soil looks dry and cracked, it needs water immediately. For plants that require moderate watering, allow 1/2 to 1-inch of soil to dry out before re-watering. If a plant needs light watering, let two-thirds of soil dry out. For plants that need heavy watering, surface should always be moist.
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