Root Pruning in Bonsai tree: Essential Part of Bonsai Tree Care

- Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about , i was write this article for sharing Article Bonsai, Article pruning, Article roots, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Root Pruning in Bonsai tree: Essential Part of Bonsai Tree Care
link : Root Pruning in Bonsai tree: Essential Part of Bonsai Tree Care

This article is the second part of my article titled Pruning in bonsai where...

This article is the second part of my article titled Pruning in bonsai where i have discussed different types of pruning which are essential part of a bonsai tree care.

Roots are important to any plant and specially to a bonsai tree. It is the part of the plant which is not visible to eyes in normal circumstances but plays the most important role in plant's survival. So when you its your turn to prune roots you should be very careful. I would try to explain the process of Root pruning by answering these following questions:

Why should I prune the roots?

The basic purpose of root pruning is the same as that of the branch pruning. As in case of branch pruning (where small branches starts to develop in place of regular sized ones), Pruning of roots stimulates growths of more smaller roots which are crucial for the look and survival of the plant.

Tap root is vital to the plants which grow in nature. It acts as an anchor for the plant. But in case of bonsai trees this root has very little importance. Here the support is provided form outside (Read wiring in bonsai for details).

Also, the presence of thick root inhibits growth of any other smaller sized roots and thus lead to sparse branches with little foliage. So root pruning is absolutely necessary for the aesthetic look of the plant. It is an integral part of making the bonsai style.

How often to do?

The frequency of pruning is not fixed for every plant. It varies upon the variety and species. Some plants grow very slowly and don't need pruning that often whereas others need it quite a few time in a year as they grow vigorously.

The frequency is also related to pot size and the environment. Smaller the pot more frequent is the pruning.

When to do it?

Before starting root pruning you should consider this. Pruning does hurt water intake capabilities of the plant. So it must be done at a time when the stress on the plant is less; like during the period of quiescence (for tropical plants) or at the time of early spring.

Growth of roots doesn't depend on light. Rather It is only dependent on soil temperature and supply of nutrients in the soil.

How to do it?

Once you understand the concept of root pruning the rest of the bonsai tree care will seem very easy to you.
First you need to know about the equipment. For pruning roots, use a root hook. It is a single tined tool and is probably the best way to untangle the roots with minimal damage. If you don't want to buy it you can prepare it in home too.

You need to let off most of the thick roots and concentrate on the smaller and hairy roots. They are the essential for plant's survival. Bonsai plants require a very shallow root system when compared with other container plants.

Sometimes, especially for a beginner it seems impossible to shift the plant directly into a bonsai pot. This is okay. You can do it step by step. By lowering the depth of the pot over time. Start small and you will progress to severe pruning once you gain confidence.

Don't get tempted to put water into the root ball to remove soil. It might work for some species but for most of them it cause more damage to the finer roots than cleaning the soil.

Hope you like the article. Share your thought with us.

Using Manure to Fertilize the Garden

- Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about , i was write this article for sharing Article fertilizer, Article organic gardening, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Using Manure to Fertilize the Garden
link : Using Manure to Fertilize the Garden

Though we all use different types of organic fertilizers, Animal waste products or Manure...

Though we all use different types of organic fertilizers, Animal waste products or Manure is probably the cheapest way to fertilize the garden.

Animal manure is one of the few very low cost nutrient rich fertilizers that are available to us. It might not sound as glamourous as other fertilizing options but

it actually helps a garden by adding nutrients and other micro bacteria.It also reduces the frequency of watering the garden because of its water holding capacity.

Having said that, if not used properly it can create a huge problem in the garden. in terms of infections and diseases to the plants as well as the people who deals with it.

Most of the manure are Generally a good source of Nitrogen Phosphorous and Potassium (NPK) some variation happens due to their food habits. Here are some of the most common manure

Chicken manure: They are rich in nitrogen and ammonia. They can be too hot to handle for plants if applied directly.

Goat or sheep manure: Drier, less odorous and easy to apply

Cow or horse manure: Contains a wide range of materials but little difficult to apply

Dog, Cat or Pig Manure:Most of the time they are infested with pathogens so best is to avoid them

worm casting: it is very rich in nutrients but often expensive in comparison to others.

How to use the Manure?

The best way to use the manure is to get it composted. Manures generally have a high ratio of nitrogen compared to other composting ingredients. And so it needed to be composted with some dry leaves etc which have a higher ratio of carbon material. You should maintain the proper C:N ratio for the compost to work well.

Use two different beans one for the mixing the manure with dry leaves etc. and the second one is for the decomposed one.

First mix the manure with dry leaves etc and keep it for one month or so for decomposition. Keep adding water from time to time for provide moisture. It will heat up and can reach up to a temperature of 130 degrees. Once you realize the temperature has been settled down it is time for the compost to be shifted to the second bin.

Some manure will take more than that. Spread the composted manure over the garden 1/2 inch thick. Add more in case the soil is very poor in quality with little or no organic matter.

Caution:

Don't add excessive amount of water to the compost. If you are doing it during rainy season it is important that you cover the bin with plastic.

Use gloves through out the entire process while handling manure.

Wash your hands properly after finishing the work.

Using raw manure is not advisable but if you still want to use it, apply it 60 days prior to planting any vegetable. Plant any cover crop in between and let the manure mature.

What do you think about the article? Share your thoughts:

How to Make a garden Pollinator friendly

- Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about , i was write this article for sharing Article Bees, Article organic gardening, Article Pollination, Article pollinator, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : How to Make a garden Pollinator friendly
link : How to Make a garden Pollinator friendly

In this article I will talk about “how can you make your garden much...

In this article I will talk about “how can you make your garden much more pollinator friendly” and thus improve  efficiency in yielding crops.


So lets start with:

What is pollination and who are the pollinators?

Pollination is a process of moving pollens from one flower to another flower of the same species and thus producing fertile seeds. It is a compulsory process for
flowering plants.
The pollinators who help in pollination can be inanimate like wind, water or it can be living species like Bees, Butterflies, Wasp or smaller birds (like Hummingbird).

Why they need our help?

A pollinator like bee feeds on the pollen from flowering plants and in turn pollinate it to grow fruits. These fruits are not only consumed by humans but also by various species living in this planet. They are vital to the ecosystem and their are hardly any alternative available to humans to pollinate such a wide range of flowering plants.
Several species of bees and butterflies have lost their habitat due to excessive deforestation and use of pesticides. We can at least do a bit from our side to increase their population or it will hurt ourselves in the long run.

How can we help them? 

Here are some of steps you can take to make a Garden much more Pollinator friendly:

1. Plant native plants: Pollinators are most comfortable with native plants. Most of them have a particular choice of plant for their feeding. A foreign plant might not provide the pollinator their required pollen. Plant different varieties of plants so you would get a diverse mix of different pollinators.

Here are some Plant preference for different pollinators:
a. Bees: They prefer blue, yellow and purple coloured flowers with sweet fragrances. Ensure your garden have enough native plants of these features; you don't wanna miss “The most active pollinators”, do you?
b.Butterflies: Though they normally feed on any nectar rich flower; their preference is always platform shaped sunflowers. Keep them in your garden and you will never miss those beautiful creatures.
c. Moths: Plants that are white in colour and have strong sweet smell are most preferred by moths.
d. Others: There may be other types of pollinators in your locality. Study their habitat and behaviour and try to match these in your garden.

2. Plant quite a few plants together for creating a better attraction to the pollinators: it will increase their foraging efficiency.

3. Plant in such a way so that you get blooming flowers through out the year. It would give the pollinators enough motivation to come to your garden though out the year and not in a particular season.

4. Provide nesting opportunity: There can be different types of pollinators in your garden so their needs for building nests would be different. Keep small piles of branches, wooden logs etc for bees and wasps to build their nests. Plant some of the plants which are conducive for butterflies to lay eggs.

5. Stop using pesticides all together you definitely don't want to kill your visitors after inviting them to your garden.

6. Have patience: It takes time for plants to grow and bear flowers. Pollinators will eventually find your garden. It might take some time for them to locate your garden in case it is far from their nests. So have patience.

7. Help others to create pollinator friendly gardens: Share information about pollinator friendly gardens. Help others around your locality to build such garden. It will attract pollinators to their gardens as well as yours.


Use these information and other valuable resource available on internet to educate yourself and apply the knowledge in your garden.



Did you like the article? Share your thoughts below:

How to Choose Plants for Container Gardening

- Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about , i was write this article for sharing Article container gardening, Article containers, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : How to Choose Plants for Container Gardening
link : How to Choose Plants for Container Gardening

Though you can grow any type of plant in containers (provided you have given...

Though you can grow any type of plant in containers (provided you have given the proper growing condition), it is always a good idea to start with the container friendly varieties. While choosing transplants ask for those which are container friendly. If you are growing from seeds; look out for words like bush type, dwarf, container friendly etc. In the seed packet.

Before choosing any plant you need to consider the placements of those containers. If you have planned it for indoor gardening then not all plants would be ideal. Here is a list of top indoor gardening plants which you might wanna try. Whereas if you are putting those in a place where they will receive ample sunlight the range is much broader. Here are some of the options which generally goes pretty well with the containers:

Growing vegetables is probably the most popular form of container gardening. It gives you fruits and veggies at your convenience. Veggies such as Tomato, Okra, Spinach or Onion can grow really well.

Herbs is a very good choice for planting in containers. They are good aesthetically and also easy to grow and can be a great substitute for vegetables. You can definitely try your hands on Oregano, Thyme, Cilantro etc.

The next choice can be Perennials. There are many reason to grow perennials in the first place. They can be like herbs or fruit bearing or can be just simply woody.

Last but not the least you can try your hands on bulbs and rhizomes like ginger.

Type of containers:
Depending upon your plant's variety you need to choose the containers accordingly. For instance plants which are perennials or shrubs or some big plants like tomatoes you need to choose larger pots. There are various types of pots available in the market. A rule of thumb is that the container should not be less than 12 inch depth and 8 inch wide. Sometimes you have to switch to larger pots.

Make sure the containers have drainage hole at the bottom.

Potting mix:
You can buy them from any nursery store nearby or you can make your own. Here is a list of different growth media which you can try. It is always beneficial to add compost with the potting mix.

Type of compost: 
You can choose to prepare it by yourself or you can also opt for the commercial one. Once you have decided on the type one option is to mix a good amount of it with the soil mix at the time of planting or you can also plan to fertilize it once it starts growing rapidly.

Taking care of your plants:

you need to add slow-release fertilizer from time to time depending on the the type of plant you have planted. Fruit bearing plants require a lot more nutrients and water than the rest of the plants. So take that into consideration.

How do you find the article? Share your thoughts with us:

How to Grow Bitter Gourd

- Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about , i was write this article for sharing Article growing foods, Article vegetables, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : How to Grow Bitter Gourd
link : How to Grow Bitter Gourd

The name of this plant is such due to its bitter taste of the...

The name of this plant is such due to its bitter taste of the fruit. Though many people found this very disgusting, many people around the world like this plant for its unique flavour. Below are some of the important facts about growing Bitter Gourd:

Soil: Though it can grow in any type of soil from sandy loam to clay loam, a fertile, well drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal. Add a bit of compost at the time of soil preparation to feed the plant.

Once the plant starts bearing flowers you need to add fertilizers to tackle its voracious appetite. Bone meal, blood meal or some fish emulsion can be very good choices for this.

Environment: It is a plant of the humid weather condition, with day time temperature ranging between 70 to 80 degree F. 6 hours of direct sunlight is very much necessary for optimum growth of the fruit.

Planting: Sow 1 or 2 seeds at 2 cm depth. Though you can also use trays to germinate them, they generally don't transplant very well. They are very fast growing vines. So give them something to climb on to. It is best to plant them near the fence.

Bitter gourd requires lots of water. Regularly water the plant and you will get flowering very soon (within 5-6 weeks). As a matter of fact with some of the varieties you can get mature fruits within 3 months of planting.

Care: Little bit of pruning in the form of removing the growing tip of some lateral branches is required. Doing so will stimulate the higher branches and will produce higher yield.

Fruits are susceptible to various rots. One of the main ways to reduce the problem is to use trellis. Trellis the veins, and it will definitely reduce the rotting problem. You will get hanging fruits and harvesting would be much easier. In case you are not using them, cover the soil with mulch of dry leaves to protect the fruits from getting moist.

Harvesting: Bitter gourd is a member of the Cucurbita family and like all other members of the family it also bears male and female flowers. It is the male one which blooms first, followed by the female ones.

The degree of bitterness varies as per the maturity of the fruit. Smaller and immature fruits are more bitter than the matured ones. Harvest them when they are 4 to 6 inches long and are green.
You have to pick the fruit when they are still green and firm. Fruits which become spongy or yellow are over ripen.

Store them in a plastic bag inside a refrigerator. For more tips on storing of vegetables use this link.

What do you think about the article. Share your thoughts:

Best Fencing Materials For Building A beautiful Garden Fence

- Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about , i was write this article for sharing Article fence, Article pests, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Best Fencing Materials For Building A beautiful Garden Fence
link : Best Fencing Materials For Building A beautiful Garden Fence

Fencing is one the best way to save your garden crops. As they say...

Fencing is one the best way to save your garden crops. As they say Prevention is always better than Cure. Building a fence around your garden can be a great way to start living organic. A Garden fence is a great alternative for traps, scare devices or repellents.

Depending on the types of animals you want your garden to protect from, the fencing size varies. For example a 2 feet high chicken wire might work good for smaller sized animals but it will definitely not going to work against large animals like cow, deer etc.

Various Fencing Materials

 

Chicken Wire Fencing:

This is by far the most used form of fencing. It is cheap and provide good enough barrier to keep the pests at bay.

A 3 feet high chicken wire can save your garden from most of the small and medium-sized animals. Buy a chicken wire which is at least 4-5 feet wide. Bend it into a L shape. Position it around the sight in such a way that at least one feet of that wire should remain under ground.

Putting an underground barrier can save your crops from burrowing animals. Sometimes, animals become too persuasive and adding an electrical fence becomes necessary.

Here Are Some Suggestions Which You Can Do To Reduce The Cost Of Garden Fencing:

1. Use recycled material which you already have in your hand or look for some give away materials from some junk dealer. It will definitely keep the cost to a minimum.
2. Use PVC pipes in stead of metal tubes.
3. Wire fencing is cheaper but can result in a larger sum in case your area is very large. Some times it is sensible to fence individual plants which are susceptible to pest attack rather than going for the entire area. It can really save your cost.

There are several other ways to built a fence than just using Chicken wires. Here is a look at the various other options which you definitely can try:

 

Hedges or The Living Fence:

A living fence or hedge can be a good and cheap option. They grow naturally and would keep other unwanted pests from entering into the garden.

 

Wooden Fence:

Wood fences definitely add a charm to the surroundings but it might not be a good idea if you are concerned very much about burrowing animals. Best solution for this would be to use it with chicken wire.

 

Brick walls or Stone walls:

The best part of using a brick wall or stone wall is that once it has been set up, it requires minimal maintenance. If larger rocks can be easily and cheaply accessed in your area then a dry stone wall is possibly the best fencing option. It is a high security fence so if you are planning to move out in near future, this might not be a good idea to invest in it.

 

Bamboo Fencing:

If you have a cheap supply of bamboos, A bamboo fence can work very easily. Bamboos are strong and also look good aesthetically if used in fencing.

 

Picket Fencing:

It is the most Traditional form of fencing. A picket fence looks good aesthetically but the cost of maintenance can be very high. You need to paint it regularly to retain its charm and usefulness.

There are some cool tool available in the market to help you build a beautiful fence. You can buy them by from amazon

What do you think about the article? Share your thoughts.