An Unexpected Gift

Christmas day had passed and we celebrated it just fine at home with our family, although we are missing some family members. Good thing about technology today is that, it brings family closer even when they are miles away. Just a simple message or a video call would mean so much to those who can't be with their family on that very special day. And speaking of the past holiday, since we all love to prepare for these special occasion, we also tend to forget our bodies and we just eat whatever we want. We should also remember that in order for us to live happily, we should always look after our health. I am thinking of loosing weight big time, since I have consumed a lot of fats and sugar as well as carbohydrates for the past week. So, I started to jog this morning and went back to gardening, as this helps me loose those fats I have gained.

 

A friend of mine gave me the osmanthus holly plant which she ordered online and had it shipped to my address directly. I was so surprised upon receiving it. I thought at first, I have to pay for something that I didn't order. I was about to get mad when the delivery man said that I don't have to pay for anything and all I have to do is sign on the paper acknowledging that I receive the plant. I called my friend and thank her after reading her message on the card that came with the plant. I was very delighted because there is a new plant that will be adding on my collection. I don't know much about the plant so I did some research online. I have found out that it is a specie of flowering plant in the olive family and is widely used as a hedge plant.

It is not advisable to put it under full sun because the colors of the leaves may bleach out, for maximum color you should place it on a partial shade. Following a regular watering schedule during the first growing season is also needed to establish a deep, extensive root system. Those are some of the tips and tricks in taking care of the plant. I am looking forward to replanting them in my mini garden soon.

Selecting the Right Tools

 

A lot of people nowadays are very practical and independent. As much as possible people do not want to seek or ask help from other. One of the main cause or reason is that, they are too shy thinking that they are disturbing others. So, even if they do not know anything, they would still try to fix it. In the end instead of fixing it, they would ruin it more. In every household, it really helps to have your own set of tools. For many younger men these days, owning a well equipped toolbox is something that only their dads do. What they do not know is that, good tools purchased early in life can also be a smart investment. The sooner you purchase the basics, the longer you will be able to use them and the more cost-effective they become. 

 

A man should always be self-reliant and he should also have the tools and the right knowledge how to tackle basic projects around the house. But there are cases where women needs to be knowledgeable too, especially for those who lives alone or if there husband is always out of the country because of work. They can not always wait for their husbands to get home just to fix things up, they have to at least do something. A handy woman beats any available handyman when it comes to home repair because women are more aware of their surroundings and take a little bit more care to not damage things.

It is also the same in gardening, one must have at least a basic gardening tool to be able to effectively take care or maintain their own garden. The key is to buy only good tools from name-band manufacturers. Just like the 3-piece garden tool set which is manufactured by Emily's plants, they also sell other gardening supplies, plants and containers for your gardening needs. Always remember that quality matters, good tools work and bad tools don't.

The Gift of Giving

Are you still thinking of what you could give your love one this Christmas day? There are actually many gifts that we could share this Holiday, but, something unique and extra special would truly appeal to our loved ones. Every year, we would think of something unique to give to these special people in our lives, although they would say that they appreciate whatever we give them, but of course, it would be extra special if a lot of effort has been exerted just to get them their gifts. Sending or giving them a bouquet of flowers, or chocolates, or even stuff toys, will touch their hearts but it won't melt it away.

In the modern world that we are living in, people tend to forget the traditional ways and focus on what is trending today. As for me, I still do believe in the older ways of giving gifts. As we all know, red roses are the traditional symbol for romance and passion. They are ornamental plants grown for their flowers in the garden and sometimes indoors. They have been also used for commercial perfumery and commercial cut flower crops and they have a minor medicinal use. If I were to choose on what gift I would like to receive, it is a mini red rose in festive glitter bow container. I have been eying that plant for quiet a while now, after seeing it online. 

That is one of the plant on my bucket list for this year, and I hope my husband would buy that for me. I have been telling him about it, but if he is not gonna buy it as a gift for me, I would buy it as a gift for myself this Christmas. Pampering ourselves sometimes is not a bad idea at all, everyone deserves to receive something this Christmas. Let us all remember the saying, "It is in Giving that we Receive".

Creating a Unique Space for Plants At Home

Having a plant indoor makes the air cleaner and fresher compared to houses without one. Nowadays, it has already a trend having live plants indoor because of the many benefit that it provides. But, it's not always the plant on pots that we display indoors. Now, even the wall can have a living plant attached and it comes with a frame as well. It was a friend of mine who introduced me to the beauty of having indoor living walls. I didn't want it at first, but I couldn't resist the beauty, charm and uniqueness that it will bring to our home.

My friend provided me a website where I could buy these indoor living wall kit with modern frame, as I browse though their entire website, I was astonished to see all living plants in decorative planters and pots, as well as seed kits and globe terrariums which I can add up to my collection of plants at home. I know, that I will have to go through a lot of maintenance to make sure that these plants will grow beautifully indoors but I am ready for the challenge. Good thing is that I do not have to worry about the water drippings because the kit comes with a water collector tank at the bottom, so the drippings will go to the tank directly. The kit also includes a moisture mat at the back of the planter so to keep the soil of the plants watered longer and the moisture that the plants needed is maintained.

I am very excited to receive the living wall kit that I ordered online, it says in the shipment details that I will be receiving it within the next 2 to 3 business days. It will be an additional decoration at home, especially this coming Christmas day. I know anybody who will see it, will surely envy it.

Keeping Up With Houseplants

 

Having your own plant at home is always a benefit for homeowners because of the many advantages that it provides. One of which and the most important benefit is the cleansing of the air inside our home. There are specific plants that are air purifier, but all of the plants are usually taking in the bad air and gives out fresh air or the oxygen which we needed in order to live. So, if we have a plant or should I say plants at home, we should do anything to take care of it. They should always be free from pests, and from time to time make sure that it receives proper light from the sun, and most of all never to forget to water them because dehydrated plants will soon wither and die.

There would always come a time that we will be out for a vacation and forgets about the maintenance of our plant. Comes back after three days or a week of vacation only to find out that your plant is dying and needs water immediately. One of my friend recommended, the Bali Planter which she bought online at Emilysplants.com. The Bali Planter has a system that has a bottom reservoir in which it accumulates water and allows the plant to wick up the water as needed. It is actually very convenient especially for those who are always busy at work and forgets to water the plant before leaving the house to go to work. This is also great for offices and many more business or commercial spaces.

For orders or more information about the Bali planters and all other gardening kits and supplies you could visit their page online. Prices and shipment details are also available online or you could call their toll free number to talk to a Specialist for further assistance.

Houseplants As Gifts For A Merry And Wonderful Christmas

This is the season to be merry, Christmas is fast approaching and everyone is already anticipating for gifts that they will be receiving on that special day. As for me, I'll be sending a velvety red gloxinia plant in a whimsical large santa bucket, as a starter, to my grandmother because she is the kind of person who appreciates the beauty of every flower. Gloxinia are primarily found in the Andes of South America but can also be found in Central America and West Indies, where it has probably escaped from cultivation. These plants feature large, velvety leaves somewhat reminiscent of African violets with giant, bell-shaped flowers in a range of bright colors. They are available as double or single flowers and creates a great centerpiece for table tops or sill plants for that somewhat shady sill.

My grandmother has always been a lover of different kinds of plants and flowers. I know that with this gloxinia plant she would definitely be delighted since, this is a rare kind of plant, far different from the flowers that she have at her garden. I also have bought a book on how to properly take care of the plant, so that she will have a better idea on how to grow these type of houseplant. I have bought my very first gift at Emily's plants. Emily's plants is a seller of different plants and gardening supplies as well as gardening containers. I got curious about the plant so I bought it and was amazed by the attractive container that is accented with a black Santa's belt and complete with a gold buckle and a white trim.

For more details about the gloxinia plant and all other products that Emily's plant is selling, you could check their website or call their hotline number for further assistance. Shipment details, product dimensions and prices are also available on their website.

Plant Lights For Indoor Gardening

There are many requirements for plants to grow healthily. On my previous blog I have discussed the importance of water. But today, let me share to you the importance of light to these plants. Every plant differs from one another, that is the reason why their growth requirements also differs. Some plants needs direct light from the sun while others can stay indoors. Their specific needs would determine which lightning is appropriate for optimum growth. Remember, if using artificial light it must mimic the natural light coming from the sun to which the plant is best adapted. If that plant does not get the light that it needed or does not get enough light, it will not grow, regardless of other conditions. For example, vegetables grow best in full sunlight, and to flourish indoors they need equally high light levels, whereas foliage plants grow in full shade and can grow normally with much lower lights. 

Sometimes, we would encounter bad weather conditions and that we need to transfer plants indoor, or if it is the winter season, we will have no choice but to grow these specific plants indoor. Good thing is that there are intelligent indoor plant lights available at the market that was manufactured and distributed by Emily's plants. The intelligent plant light will eventually become your best tool when the lovely plant you received as a gift , or the ones you bought fail to live up to its fullest in a home or office setting. Plants get affected as well when it comes to the intensity or amount, the color and duration of light. But before deciding on what plant lights or artificial light to buy, you have to research on how much sunlight your plant needs. Giving your plant too much exposure to the sun and it will look bleached, pale or even burned, too few hours and it will have thin leaves and elongated shoots. 

If you have a plant in low light, adding supplemental indoor plant lights can help it stay vigorous and blooming. For more details about Emily's plants intelligent plant light, feel free to visit their website. There you would find different house and green plants, as well as, seed kits and gardening supplies too.

Colors of Christmas

The most festive and biggest celebration of the year is Christmas. It is the time for gift-giving and an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Generally, it is celebrated by millions of people around the world on December 25 with the growing numbers of Christian family as well as non-Christians too. The traditional colors of Christmas are red, green, and gold, all of which has it's own meaning. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus which was shed in his crucifixion, green symbolizes eternal life, while gold on the other hand is the first color associated with Christmas as one of the three gifts symbolizing royalty. Christmas tree and special decorations are seen everywhere especially the Christmas lights which were lighted every night of the December month.

One of the Christmas plant which you could send or give as a gift is the poinsettia. It is particularly well-known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral display. You can find the perfect gift for this Christmas for you and your friends or loved ones at Emily's plants. They sell plants online and delivers right next to your doorstep. You can find flowers and greenery that will make any space bright and merry this Christmas season, from Christmas cactus plant to the beloved poinsettia. Shopping or buying online is very convenient, as it eliminates the time-consuming and long hours of standing looking for the best gift and searching from one store or market to the others.You are assured that arrangement from Emily's plants are all fresh, vibrant, and ready for your seasonal display. 

Since holiday is fast approaching, make sure to shop or buy in advance. For orders and other information about different flowers and plants you could visit online or call their toll free number for further assistance.

Why Are Compost Bins Beneficial?

Organic gardening or farming is very popular these days, since they are using only the natural organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. It is called compost, which is also a key ingredient in organic gardening or farming and it only requires making a heap of wetted organic matter such as leaves and "green" food waste. It will take a matter of weeks or months before the material breaks down into humus. For those who loves gardening and at the same time is against the chemical or inorganic gardening, you will definitely love the compost bins by Emily's plants. It comes with different designs to match your needs and most of all for your own convenience.

There are many benefits for using compost in your garden. First of all, it conditions the soil. You are creating a rich humus for lawn and garden with using the compost. Because of this, it adds nutrients to your plants, helping them retain moisture to the soil. Second, you are recycling materials. Recycling means, we are using things or materials we thought should be a waste already. With composting, it can divert as much as 30% of our household waste away from the garbage can. Third is offering an alternative to chemical fertilizers and is good for the environment and especially to us humans. Lastly is introducing beneficial organisms to the soil to help aerate and break down organic material for plant use and ward off plant disease.

For more details about compost bins and how to purchase, you could always visit their website or call their toll free number for any additional assistance. These compost bins comes with useful accessories and a biomix to speed up composting process.

A Do-It-Your Own Terrarium

Have you ever thought of adding a little green into your indoor space? Like gracing your desk, or your dining room table or other well lit spot with an eye-catching terrarium. You could actually make your own terrariums at home with the available resources around you, all you need is just a little creativity. Terrariums are not just great oxygen booster but they also make pretty much the best gifts or party favors ever. They are super easy to make and incredibly low maintenance. When people first started making these terrariums, they would typically put them in a square glass containers the size of small aquariums. But for the past years, there seemed to be a multitude of fantastic glass containers available, as well as countless number of plants and mosses to fill up those glass containers.One example of a non-traditional container is the apple shaped terrarium by Emily's plants.

First of all, you must gather all the materials needed for your little project at home. The glass container, activated charcoal pieces, potting soil, garden gloves (optional), Terrarium plants, sheet moss, and a watering can that you will use later to give your plants a drink. Next is building the base by installing approximately 1-2 inches of charcoal and the remaining charcoal should be mixed up with the soil for the second layer. Make sure to gently pack the charcoal and soil mixture every 2 inches to avoid large air pockets. Then, carefully remove your plants from their individual containers and position them on top of the soil to ensure proper spacing. Please allow enough room between the plants for additional soil and again pack soil in around plants deep enough to cover the roots. Afterwards, you can now position the moss on top of the soil and between the plants. Lastly, is by watering the plants and placing the container in a well lit area with indirect light.

Those are the few simple steps in creating a beautiful terrarium. There are thousands of ways to create your own, all you have to do is decide on what container to use and carefully choose the plants that you will use because that would determine the type of soil that you will need. Another thing, if you do not need plants for your terrariums you can use inanimate objects to fill your containers like, decorative pebbles, candles, feathers, bird's eggs or other objects that you like, it will all boil down to your creativity and imagination.

Care Instructions for Saintpaulias

 

African Violets are a genus of 6-20 species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. They are also called as Saintpaulias which are native to Tanzania and adjacent southeastern Kenya in eastern tropical Africa. The African Violet got it's name from their superficial resemblance to the true violets and they are very common household indoor plant but can also be an outdoor plant. Several species and subspecies are endangered, and many more are threatened, due to their native cloud forest habitats being cleared for agriculture. Since these plants are said to be already endangered, why not we try to cultivate them and let them thrive at home or at our own garden, but we must also know how to take care of these plants because these type of plants are very sensitive when it comes to temperature changes and especially rapid leaf cooling.

Let me share to you the basic growing techniques to a healthy and blooming African violet plant. One of the basic requirement is the Light, because the amount of light that the African Violet receives is important for it's health and overall performance, so make sure to place them in a location where there is moderate to bright, but indirect, indoor light. Insufficient sunlight can be harmful, too much sunlight can also cause problems. Second is watering, make sure to keep soil moist to dry, and allow soil around roots to dry before watering that is to encourage blooming. In general, African violets need just enough water to keep the soil moist but never soggy and they may die from over watering.Third is getting them a good growing method, a potting medium is suitable for African violets, and it should be sterilized to light and airy allowing for the roots to penetrate properly. Soil-less mixes are ideal because they contain sphagnum peat, vermiculite and perlite. Fifth is providing the plant with the right atmosphere, African violets thrive in an environment which most people would consider pleasant, therefore if you are feeling comfortable, chances are, your plants are feeling comfortable as well. 

Lastly, is to fertilize. Lack of regular feeding is one of the reason why these African violet will not bloom. The best way to feed is to use a dilute fertilizer solution every time you water. Always remember to find a fertilizer with a low nitrogen urea contents as urea burns the roots. Always remember these simple steps for your Saintpaulias to grow bloomingly and in these little way we can still preserve the beauty of the African Violets.

Growing Your Own Fresh Herbs Indoor

My husband and I are certified food lover, We love to eat and cook as well. While looking for a new food recipe online that we can cook at home, we saw these lovely Genovese Pesto Plus Herb Kit that is being sold by Emily's plants. It can also be given as gift, but we decided to rather grow it at home instead of giving it. It is perfect for making pesto sauce, it is a sauce originating in Genoa in the Liguria region of northern Italy, and traditionally consist of crushed garlic, basil, and European pine nuts blended with olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano or also well known as Parmesan cheese, and Fiore Sardo which is another cheese but is made from a sheep's milk. The name pesto is contracted past participle of the Genoese word pestâ which means to pound or to crush, in reference to the original method of preparation, with marble mortar and wooden pestle. 

Pesto is commonly used on pasta and is sometimes served on sliced beef tomatoes and sliced boiled potatoes. Because pesto is a generic term for anything that is made by pounding, there are various other pesto that were made, some were traditional and others were already modern. A slightly version of the sauce exist in Provence, where it is known as pistou which is generally made with olive oil, basil and garlic only, cheese can be added but nuts are not included unlike the traditional pesto, since there are no pine trees that grows in their place to provide nuts. Pesto rosso or red pesto is a sauce made in Sicily, it is similar to pesto genovese but with the addition of tomato, almonds instead of pine nuts and much less basil. There are other more varieties of pesto all over the world and are too many to mention but the original pesto recipe is still the best and is still used in most pasta recipe.

The herb kit will surely be a big help since we will be growing fresh herbs in the kitchen. I am so glad that all the information is posted on their website. We will be expecting the delivery within 2-3 business days and the prices are also posted so we are sure how much we are exactly paying for the kit.

Growing Herbs At Home

 

Herbs can be describe as any plants that can be used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume. In culinary use, herbs are the green leafy parts of the plant that are either fresh or dried, while the spices are the product from other parts of the plant like roots, fruits, seeds, berries, and bark. Herb is also used as an abbreviation of the word "herbaceous plant" that is rarely found in British English. Since herbs have many uses, culinary herbs and medicinal herbs differ in many ways. In medicinal or spiritual use of the herb, any parts of the plants are considered herbs including the leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, resins, root bark, inner bark, berries and sometimes the pericarp or other portions of the plants that can be converted into a medicine for those who are sick or have some illness.

Growing your own herbs at home is great advantage because, first of all you could save up money since don't have to buy them from the market every time you will use them. Second is you could save time and effort for skipping the herbs on your list when doing your weekly groceries. Lastly, is the fact that you will enjoy planting these in herbs in your garden or you could also mix herbs in festive holiday container to be displayed on your kitchen, so that it will be easier for you to use it when it is listed as part of the ingredients in your cooking recipe. Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables, just like in spices, herbs are generally used in small portion and provides flavor rather than substance to food. 

You could grow herbs that you normally use in food recipe, like for example, rosemary, thyme and sage are all perennial plants, so it's okay for them to grow on the same pot or container. Perennial simply means that they are plants that can live for more than two years. Some plants or herbs have good effects on our body because they contain phytochemicals which may have the potential to affect diseases such as cancer, stroke, or metabolic syndrome. But also remember that some herbs can be toxic for the body if consumed in large quantities all at the same time.

Gardening Has A Therapeutic Power To Revitalize Ourselves

"I am 70 years old. I have reached the point in life at which I choose -- or, to use New Year's terminology, resolve -- to do only those things that make sense to me. The list of such activities has become much shorter than it was even 10 years ago. It features time spent with family and friends, speaking selectively to groups that may profit from my encouragement, reading worthwhile books, and pursuing a few carefully-chosen projects that advance the cause of effective, affordable medical care for all Americans.

But perhaps most importantly, I garden."

- Dr. Andrew Weil

Founder and director, The Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine

Most of our old folks have enough time to do all the gardening stuffs than us who are currently busy with work and with our family. They find gardening as a therapy to heighten up your physical strength, body, mind and soul. As a garden blogger online I find terrariums and container gardening very friendly to our old folks, for these do not require heavy duty workloads. I recently wrote an article about miniature gardening from another blog and it seems a good project for our grand pas and mas. 

Actually gardening of these kinds appeal to every gardeners of all ages. But it is obvious that most elderly ones enjoy these as a hobby. Gardeners within the age range are recommended to use inferior garden tools. Pruning may be the advance task they may encounter while they are growing their plants. There are hand tools available in local stores and online to assist our elderly people with basic gardening. There are other basic tools they need to make their gardening experience easier and more fun. 

However, young moms are also love the idea of gardening. With their children, it enhance their communication and relationship as well as stimulates their children's imagination and encourages them to appreciate all living things around them. 

Even you are young or old, once you get really excited about gardening supplies, you are definitely a gardener. And to all ages, remember that gardening has a therapeutic power to revitalize your body and mind.

Enjoying the Indoors

Starting out a small garden is not that hard at all. One should know the appropriate or the right tools and the right plants. If you have little knowledge about gardening, you could either buy books or search online for details or additional information, to be able to handle a small garden. But, there are some who wants to grow plants but do not have enough space, like for those who are living in a condominium or apartments. Indoor gardening can be the best solution in that case. Indoor gardening is another way of bringing the feeling of spring into your own home even if the space is limited. Putting the plants or flowers into a container or any planters to display and grow them inside your home is much easier compared to the traditional ways or methods of growing plants.

Preparing the right tools for your indoor gardening and keeping them clean at all times is just easy. At www.emilysplants.com, they are selling a deluxe indoor tool and tote set, which is perfect for your container gardening needs. These indoor tools should all be kept in one place away from reach of any child or children, everything you need to care for your plants are kept in these convenient tote. And instead of using the big and heavy tools that a gardener usually uses in maintaining a garden, you could instead reach for the miniature ones. This beautiful set features tools specially-sized and weighted for indoor use. All have sturdy, all-wood handles, it all includes a miniature hand trowel, cultivator and trans-planter, a scaled-down pruner and floral snips round out the set. 

These deluxe indoor tool and tote set is also perfect or wonderful gift for an apartment dweller or urban container gardener. For more details on how to order or if the product is available as well as the prices and the shipment details you could check our website.

The Beauty of An Air Purifier

Plants are used mostly outdoor for gardening and landscapes because most plants needs enough heat of the sun and must also be in an open air to properly grow. But there are also plants that are made for indoors too, they can tolerate the low light and the dry conditions found in most homes. One plant that I know are great for indoor is the Peace Lily which is Mother Nature's air filter and is rated by NASA as one of the top ten air purifying plants for interior decoration. Spathipyllum is the scientific name of these commonly known spathe or peace lilies, they are evergreen herbaceous perennial plants with large leaves about 12-65 cm long and 3-25 cm broad. The flowers are produced in a spadix (is a type of spike inflorescence having small flowers borne in a fleshy stem), surrounded by a 10-30 cm long , white, yellowish, or greenish spathe. 

Spathiphyllum cleans indoor air of many environmental contaminants, including benzene, formaldehyde, and other pollutants found inside our house. It lives best in shade and needs little sunlight to thrive plus it only needs to be watered once a week or if the soil is already dry. This houseplant will not wither or die easily because it adapt well to the indoor environment and at the same time make your home healthier because of it's purifying effects. Since the Spathiphyllum or the peace lilies cleans the air, but it is mildly toxic to humans and animals when ingested. The Peace Lily contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause skin irritation, burning sensation in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, and nausea. So, we must also put these plants in a safe place away from our pets and most especially our children at home. 

Plants have many uses may it be outdoor or indoor, but we must also be careful to know the plant well before displaying or planting them, since plants have different characteristics. We do not need to be experts on plants but we must at least be knowledgeable enough to know the Do's and Dont's of these different plants that we would like to grow inside or outside our home.

Space-Saver Terrariums

Kids are very playful by nature. It is by playing that there cognitive development, language, social skills and psychosocial are build. That is the reason why they say that play is the most important occupation in our childhood days. During these times, the children are less cautious, they do no have limitations for their movement, and they want a place where they can move freely. They like to run around and play with other kids. They do not care if they have stepped on your plants and flowers on your garden while trying to conceal themselves in the environment because they are playing hide and seek. A lot of accidents can happen during these times even while playing at home. We have to make sure that as parents, we take extra effort not just by reminding our kids of the do's and dont's but as wells as choose the right furniture and decorations at home. 

To make sure that some of my precious miniature plants are safe from my son and as well as from the animals, I bought a 6" hanging bubble terrarium. At first I though that only miniature plants can be put in these bubble terrariums but I was informed that some larger plants will stay small to fit their space. Some studies have shown that many plants grew better in enclosed environment. Plants are great way to cleansed the air inside our home and by putting them into these beautiful terrariums they also become disease free. It is very convenient to have these bubble terrariums and they are great space saver too. These terrariums comes in different size and shape and is a perfect decoration at home. You could put variety of items in there too, like candles, shells, stones and other small keepsakes. 

It is actually a smart way to keep your plants and decorate your home at the same time. For more details about these terrariums you can visit their website for product description, prices, and shipping. Just go to www.emilysplants.com to check those details or if you want to share the information to a long distance family member or a friend there is an email option for you.