A. Oxalis triangularis (shamrock plant), which is an annual houseplant in zones 6 or lower, is pretty much pest-free and can be planted outdoors in warm weather. your oxalis could have one of several things wrong with it. Most likely it has finished blooming and is getting ready to go into its dormant stage. allow the oxalis to go dormant for three months by keeping it in a cool, dry place. after dormancy, either repot the whole plant or divide the corms into smaller clumps and plant in separate pots. Move the oxalis to a bright sunny window, start to water it, and fertilize with a liquid houseplant fertilizer every two to four weeks.

Or, the plant has been affected by either too much heat, or hot or cold drafts. Indoor daytime temperatures should be between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. if the oxalis is tall and leggy, it needs more light.

Oxalis prefers to be kept barely moist; watered only once every 10 to14 days. You may have over-watered it or let it sit in water, causing the corms (roots) to rot. to check the roots, carefully lift out some of the soil in the pot to reveal the corms to see if this is the case.

Invasive weed; black swallowwort

Q. I’ve noticed this vine that has been climbing up my chain-link fence and wondered what it was. is this a weed? Please see the attached photo of the vine. Clara, Somerville.

A. The vine you are asking about is a highly invasive non-native plant imported from Europe about 200 years ago called black swallowwort. it has been found growing in fields, the edges of woods, and in suburban and urban locations. Black swallowwort is everywhere. Walk down the street and you will see it growing up chain-link fences or twining its way upward along plant and shrub stems and branches. this vine is a real threat to the environment and has been listed on the New England invasive plants list.

Black swallowwort is a member of the milkweed family, but unlike milkweed, it is not a reproductive food host like milkweed is for the monarch butterfly. When monarchs lay their eggs on black swallowwort leaves, the larvae do not survive. Sadly, this vine is encroaching on the milkweed plants habitat.

The vine’s stems are narrow and the leaves, which are opposite one another on the stem, are oval, shiny dark green with pointed ends. in June and July, you will notice tiny purple flowers on the plant. When the flowers finish blooming, green seedpods form that reminds one of string beans but look more like chili peppers. The pods turn light brown when ripe and then open up to reveal milkweed-like seeds (small flat brown seed heads attached to plumes of silky white hair) that are dispersed by the wind.

getting rid of this noxious vine is very difficult. Just pulling the vine out of the ground does not remove all of its roots. it has a complex root system most likely entwined with other plant roots, and the root crown must be dug completely out of the ground to prevent more plants from coming up. if you can’t successfully remove the vine, use a scissor or your fingers to take off the seedpods before they become ripe. Throw the pods away and don’t put them in your compost pile or in a lawn bag that will be recycled. Other controls include mowing the vine just as the pods are forming to prevent seed production, or applying a triclopyr-based herbicide such as Roundup Pro before pods form. Use herbicides responsibly and consult a professional, if needed.

Judy Eisenberg of SunandShadGardening.com has been gardening and consulting professionally with a personal touch for more than 10 years. she is a member of the Ecological Landscape Association and member of the Somerville Garden Club. As one of the garden club’s program coordinators, she recruits professional horticulturists to give presentations at the club’s monthly meetings. she can be contacted directly at www.SunandShadeGardening@comcast.net.  

Eisenberg: Is there hope for my oxalis plant?

Galloway tries to verify laborers

TULLYTOWN - The state lawmaker estimates that 35,000 illegal construction workers operate in Pennsylvania.  VIDEO

The number of students attending the district has fallen for the first time in more than 15 years, and is expected to continue to fall.  

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Indoor Plants: Which Are The Top 5 Plants For Indoor Gardening …

Outdoor garden fountain lends itself to the symmetry of a formal outdoor space, while other water features of this kind are casual in appearance and mimics the look of nature to provide spontaneity to outdoor spaces. in searching for outdoor fountains, it is essential for you to consider your personal style, level of comfort as well as the location where they would be placed. Successful outdoor fountain features require respect for scale and understanding of how the design of the fountain will complement the overall style of the garden. various fountains are designed to function with differing purposes and could produce various effects for the outdoor spaces where they would be installed, and these things should be properly understood by the homeowner and landscaper.

To become well versed with the aforementioned things, the first thing that you would have to attend to is to formally assess your existing garden and evaluate how the inclusion of water features, regardless if they are in the form of ponds or garden wall fountains, could affect the overall appearance of your landscape. Once you are able to fully understand the location of your garden, you must start determining the main purpose of your water garden, if it is to be used as a sanctuary for meditation, or just to add the elements of movement and sound to your setting. The main purpose that you would designate to your water garden will guide the following decisions that you would adhere to. Such decisions include the structural features, style and functions of the mechanical devices that you would be installing on your garden to make it functional as well as the variety and placement of plants that you would incorporate on your garden to go with your water feature. If you have decided that you are to use outdoor fountains on your landscape, what follows below are some helpful guidelines that you could use to determine the right fountain to pick for your garden.

In terms of exterior structure, remember that a good outdoor garden fountain should be made from the finest material that appears natural and sturdy so that it could withstand differing weather elements and would not look fake and cheap. The aesthetics should follow its surrounding in order not to deviate from landscape continuity. Aside from the external appearance however, you should also look at the internal make-up of your chosen outdoor water feature. as much as possible choose outdoor fountains that have mobile parts to ensure that water would be moving in certain directions, or at least select the ones that have pumps that run through the inside and consistently recycles water for the element to flow realistically; always bear in mind that a well-structured fountain from the inside could give you a run for your money in the long term as you are guaranteed to have a long lasting water feature that would reduce costly re-installations, replacements and damages.

As it has been stated earlier, outdoor fountains do come in differing styles and purposes. a freestanding garden fountain is the one that is actually attached to the ground and serves as the primary focal point in the center of the garden. it could take the form of a birdbath or a pedestal fountain that are usually large or medium in structure and are perfect alternatives for expensive grounded garden fountains. on the other hand, grounded garden fountains are expensive water features usually included in expansive courtyards as they are created and designed on site; the concrete or cement is poured, or natural stones are stacked together to build a permanent water feature; these fountains are more appealing and functional because they appear more as a part of the house and garden instead of just functioning as accents. If you wish to capture the appearance of waterfalls, garden wall fountains are the ideal choice since they are attached to the wall and create visually dramatic focal points away from the ground.

Other than your outdoor space, you could still incorporate the element of water inside your home through the use of indoor fountains. Indoor wall water fountain units have since been mostly preferred by many homeowners due to their structure that copy the appearance of waterfalls. Other than these water features though, you could also use tabletop fountains for smaller spaces inside your home. Generally, water fountains, regardless if they are used for outdoor or indoor purposes, are ideal inclusions to bring about the element of water to stimulate the senses of sound, sight, touch and smell.

The element of water has always been an important inclusion for many homes and gardens for cultures of all sorts. If you wish to bring this free flowing element of water at your own reach, you could use an indoor wall water fountain inside your living space. for your garden, you could simply opt for an outdoor garden fountain or perhaps garden wall fountains to create focal points at the wall corners of your outdoor living space.

Tags: garden fountain, home improvement, Water Fountains, water wall fountain

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 12th, 2010 at 4:30 pm and is filed under Water Fountains, garden fountains. you can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

The Inclusion Of Garden Fountains In Your Modern Outdoor Landscape « Fountain Crafters Blog

Organic gardening is done outdoors, whereas organic container gardening can be done both outdoors as well as indoors.  Growing organic plants in pots is the best solution for having home grown vegetables or herbs in a manner that is environment-friendly and flexible.

What is required for organic container gardening?

A container or pot is the first thing required.  Ideally a natural container made of clay, terracotta, ceramic, wood or even strong cardboard that will retain water but not soak and disintegrate would make the best holders for your organic plants.  Avoid using plastic and containers made of resources that are not bio-degradable.

Old cowboy boots, tires and even watering cans make great containers for an organic garden.  Only ensure that the container is large and deep enough to hold your plants and let the roots to develop and grow for its survival.

Make sure to drill holes in the bottom of the planters or containers to allow for water drainage.  Water logging of the soil around the plant can rot the roots if the excess water is not allowed to drain out.

The right kind of soil for container gardening would be straight peat moss or you could add some composted manure to it – about 20% of it should be just about right.  Peat moss retains water and helps keep the plant well hydrated.  Adding homemade compost using your own kitchen leftovers and refuse etc.  Would be the best nutrition your organic plants can get to thrive in.   just make sure you do not use garden variety soil as the mix turns very hard with frequent watering.

Need plants or seeds that grow in soil.

Fertilizers needed for organic gardens should also be organic.  These could include coffee grounds and tea dregs to allow microorganisms to grow in artificial soils before adding them to the soil in your containers.  Fish emulsion with its high nitrogen count is considered by far the best organic fertilizer.  the nitrogen content in the soil that gets flushed out during watering can be replaced best by using fish emulsion.

Pest control carried out in an environmentally friendly way would help to keep the nuisance off from your organic garden plants.  the best way is to use a jet of water-spray at the kitchen sink.

There are many flowers and vegetables that can be grown comfortably by organic container gardening.  a few examples are cherry tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, greens, carrots, onions and herbs.

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Tags: Organic Container Gardening

this entry was posted on Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 at 11:09 am and is filed under Organic Container Gardening. you can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. you can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Organic Container Gardening

The mid range is usually considered to be between 5.5-7.0 on the PH scale these are what some growers consider to be the optimal PH levels for Hydroponic and soil applications. if your soil is acidic, you will want to raise PH level in the soil. Lime is what growers commonly use finding it readily available in your local garden store. to lower the pH of alkaline soils, compost and manures are the best materials to use. if you are using a hydroponic system or reservoir to hold your plants nutrients you can use PH up and PH down in liquid form also finding them at your local gardening or hydroponic store.

Hydro Terra offers the most complete line of hydroponics indoor gardening products and systems, Hydroponic supplies including Grow lights, Nutrients, Organic nutrients, Organic indoor gardening, hydroponic systems can be used in cultivating various crops.Know more about Hydroponics Gardening please visit http://www.hydroterracorp.com

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Ph levels for Garden Soil

But women still can't win - they're spending 3 1/2 hours more each week on gardening and mowing lawns.

Men are pitching in, doing two hours more cooking, cleaning and washing up.Susie O'Brien: High time our males came clean

They're picking up the slack from women who are doing 2 1/2 hours less cooking a week, and an hour less ironing. Women are also doing less general cleaning and washing.

Women spend an average of 23 hours a week on indoor housework, compared with 28 hours two decades ago, according to Australian National University research.

It shows men's duties are also changing. they went from eight hours of indoor housework in 1986 to 10 hours in 2005. And they're spending at least an hour more doing jobs outside the house.

For South Morang couple Nicole Golland and Peter Cantwell, housework is a shared responsibility.

But Ms Golland agreed that she and Mr Cantwell - parents of Jack, 10, Riley, 7, and five-year-old Nyah - probably do less housework than they could.

"As soon as we get home, we go into automatic pilot. If he's running the bath, then I'm cooking dinner or cleaning up. We just do what needs to be done."

Ms Golland runs a reusable cotton envelope business, lopees.com.au, while Mr Cantwell is a truck driver. both are former chefs, so takeaway meals are limited to a Friday night treat.

"I couldn't be one of those women who finishes work and then rushes around doing all the housework while their partner sits on the couch. I don't think that would make either of us happy," Ms Golland said.

The research found even male breadwinners with stay-at-home wives are doing 1 1/2 hours extra on the home front.

In overall terms, the gender gap in housework hours for men and women has declined significantly, with women doing about 18 hours more than men in 1986, compared with 11 hours more in 2005.

Researcher Jenny Chesters said women had "cut back on ironing, because they didn't see it as necessary".

"they also spend less time cooking - you can go to a butcher these days who will prepare meat and do half the work. And, of course, people eat out more," she said.

"And they're also doing less cleaning. If you're working full-time you don't need to vacuum or dust every day."

Australian women bail out of housework

Many people stick a fake tree in a corner, dust the leaves off every week, and call it indoor container gardening, but indoor container gardening has grown into much more than that lately. there are people who only plant indoors, and guess what – they make it work. Yet there are many great reasons to start an indoor garden. one I can immediately think of is the weather. it might always be cold where you live. another is that plants don’t only remove carbon dioxide from the air; they also remove many poisonous toxins and pollutants as well. So you get the benefit of indoor beauty and cleaner air.

When picking out plants for indoor container gardening, make sure the plants are adaptable and will be able to thrive in the conditions and setting in your house. Consider how much time you will be able to spend caring for the plants, how much light your house offers, and how much money you want to spend on your indoor garden. If you are short on money, then start small and use seeds or cuttings from a neighbor. If you have, some extra cash in your budget buy a plant that is grown. Also, consider whether or not you want your plant to be on display all year or for specific seasons. Herb gardens are a good thing for indoor container gardening; they are both attractive and edible. they will grow pretty quick and you won’t have to wait a long time to see results. clearly, some very popular herbs, especially for cooking up recipes, are dill, chives, thyme, sage, and gold old oregano.

When indoor container gardening, consider the amount of experience you have before choosing a plant. Hmmm, how many have you killed versus how many have you saved? some plants take a lot more abuse that others and you just can’t kill the darn things off. this is good if you are a beginner or just have a “dead thumb”. You might want to choose something like Coleus, Bromeliads, or some type of Succulent.

Understand that the basic rules of maintaining and growing plants outside in general, are different in indoor container gardening. Since plants won’t get the sunlight they do outdoors, lighting is essential. You must know the exact amount of light you precious plants need. I recommend picking plants that don’t need a lot of light, unless you are going to provide artificial lighting. If you buy a plant already grown, wherever you get it probably has better lighting than your house so you will need to “condition” your plant and gradually reduce the light it receives. Once the plant is indoors, be sure to rotate often, so it won’t grow lopsided, but will grow up nice and straight.

Just because you are indoor container gardening, don’t think the plants don’t have to have water; they still do. How much and how often you water, clearly depends on the plant. take the time to learn what your plant needs or its roots will rot away. all plants can’t swim. the water need to drain out from the bottom of the pot. Oh and use water that is room temperature, you don’t want to shock the roots of your plants. If you want to maintain healthy plants, watch the temperature inside. A 10-15 degree range won’t hurt any plants, but rapid changes could cause damage.

Indoor container gardening is not all that difficult; in fact, it is pretty much the same as outdoor. there are even some advantages to indoor container gardening. for example, you won’t have to worry as much about bugs and insects bothering your plants. You also won’t have to worry about wind or frost reeking havoc on your garden. Plant your plants right, and every thing will be all right.

Related Blogs

• Organic Container Gardening – Simple and Easy Ways to Grow Vegetables and Flowers in Pots — the Tropical Gardener
• Medicinal Herb Garden Project | my Cosh
• A Home Herb Garden | Indoor Garden Online
• Edible Landscaping Offers Beauty And Taste | Indoor Garden Online
• Basic Bromeliad Plant Care Video

Indoor Container Gardening Food For Thought

"this is a great opportunity to lead by example," Clarke said while on a tour of the campus Wednesday morning. "It's a way to train a new generation about what's the new norm for energy efficiency." there are still only a handful of LEED-certified schools in Massachusetts, though the state School Building Authority is encouraging public school districts to consider green thinking for new buildings and reconstruction. In North County, Williamstown Elementary School is considered a green school and the North Adams Public Library is LEED certified.

While the toddlers at the school are oblivious to the efficiency of their surroundings, Head of School Todd Covert is sure that the building itself will also offer an education to its young inhabitants.

"this is not just a building, it's a learning tool," he said. "We’re trying to get the point across that this partnership is important to us. Looking at the environment is a major piece in Montessori education. Montessori is not divorced from the real world."

In fact, contact with the outside elements was one of the chief concerns of West Stockbridge architect Dana Bixby.

"Each classroom has access to the outdoors," she said. "In truth, it's a very simple building with a very tight envelop. WMECo enabled us to go a little further with our design."

The school, which is built on a concrete, U-shaped slab, contains several sun tubes that balance the amount of natural daylight in the classrooms, carbon-dioxide monitors, corrugated ventilation panels and radiant heat. Additionally, the exterior of the building is equipped with a 2,000-gallon rainwater collection tank that pumps water into the vegetable garden, bio-retention swales and a chicken coop to name a few features. according to landscape architect Robert Akroyd of Greylock Design Associates, the signs of sustainability are everywhere.

“we tried to maximize the building’s capabilities. there is integration between the outdoor and indoor environment,” he said. “It is a sustainable project that will last long into the future."

Already, WMECo has given the school an energy conservation incentive payment of $14,000 and Robert Dvorchik, the company's supervisor for commercial and industrial energy conservation, predicts that the returns will not stop there.

“this is a justifiable return on their investment,” he said. “It all works together. a huge component of this is that you have an architect and a building owner who are committed all the way to energy efficiency.”

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LED Grow Lights have many advantages when compared other types of grow lights. The other types of grow lights usually used are fluorescent lights, HDS and MH lights which are not very long lasting. Fluorescent Lights do not produce intense lights and they get burnt out easily. The brightness produced by fluorescent light is suitable for leafy and vegetable plants but is not apt when you have an intention of growing flowering plants.

The fluorescent lights contain mercury which should be disposed on time. The HDS and MH Lights are also very useful growing indoor plants. But the main disadvantage is that, these lights emit too much of heat. this heat has to be compensated by arranging a cooling system which turns to be multiplex and increases the entire cost of gardening. Incandescent lights, which were once used for growing plants also turned to be disadvantageous, as these lamps were made up of electrodes which get eroded soon and emit lot of carbon di oxide.

Led grow lights are getting popular now. The Led Lights are so beneficial that it is been used in NASA. The scientists in NASA have plotted to use LED Lights in spacecrafts to grow plants so as to supply food for the astronauts. The LED Lights are so long lasting that it do not require frequent replacing during their travel.

From the above arguments you can find out the advantages of LED Grow Lights. made up of Diodes, these LED Grow Lights does not emit any carbon-di-oxide and makes the plants to grow larger and healthier. LED Grow Lights do not burn out suddenly. The lights get dimmer day by day which is a indication for you to replace the light. The LED Grow Lights are easy to install and use. it does not require a separate adapter. These lights do not emit too much heat, so you can touch these lights even if it was lighting for long hours. LED Grow Lights are less energy consumers as they do not use the entire band of spectrum. These lights emit just the required frequency of light which is important of plants. The led grow lights may appear to be expensive initially but they turn out to be cheaper when compared to the operating cost of other lights. so it is worth it to buy these led grow lights which are beneficial for plants and serves your purpose in a pollution free environment.

Looking to find the best deal on led grow lights, then visit www.holdright.com to find the best advice on led grow lights for your house.

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