It’s no secret that we love our plants. As gardeners, it’s our job and passion to keep them healthy and thriving, whatever the ambient weather. However, that isn’t possible without maintaining the proper conditions. And if you want to know what the humidity level is, you’ll need the best hygrometer you can get! Table of Contents Humidity levels are different all over the world, and each plant is used to its native conditions....
Well, I’ve tested all but #1! I hope you enjoy these tricks. Let me know in the comments if you have any of your own! Listen to this post on the Epic Gardening Podcast Subscribe to the Epic Gardening Podcast on iTunes 1. Be Em-bare-assed! Ever heard of the “Bare Butt Test?” Legend has it that many years ago, farmers would go out into the field, pull down their pants, and see if the ground was comfortable enough to sit on for a good period of time....
Caraway is grown mainly for its delicious anise-flavored seeds, which are often added to beautiful bakes such as rye bread. As a biennial herb, you must wait two seasons to harvest, relegating the caraway plant to being only for the patient gardener. Don’t let this put you off! Caraway is not just about seeds. Table of Contents The seeds are well known for their use in bread, biscuits, slaws, cheese, potato, and egg dishes, but did you know that you can eat the young leaves in salads or add at the end of cooking to stews and casseroles?...
But every now and then, it’s fun to look at the wider world of plants, including those that have the ability to end your life if you eat them. Some of the plants you’ll read about below are incredibly rare and some are fairly common. Either way, we hope that the only time you ever see these plants are in the pictures below! White Snakeroot Also known as Tall Boneset or White Sanicle, White Snakeroot is extremely poisonous....
A compost thermometer is a necessary piece of equipment for hot composting. The higher the heat, the faster your materials will break down. But you don’t want it too hot, lest your pile dry out! Table of Contents So today, we’ll take the mystery out of the humble backyard thermometer. These devices are fairly simple to use, but they’re definitely necessary. And it’s important to get the right one! 6 Best Compost Thermometers 1....
Growing lettuce indoors is a great way to garden from the comfort of your own home. Whether you want to grow a head of lettuce or one of those loose-leaf varieties, these plants are a great way to try your hand at indoor gardening. And you’ll have a salad bowl full of fresh greens when you’re done. Table of Contents You can grow lettuce in potting soil in a pot indoors rather than in your garden....
Love aloe plants? Limited on space? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about Aloe brevifolia, the dwarf aloe. Table of Contents Small and sweet, Aloe brevifolia is less than a foot tall. It has the thick, triangular leaves of an aloe plant, but grows in a succulent-like rosette. In color, it’s glaucous green, blue, and gray. Short-leaved aloe is ideal for small but showy spaces in containers or gardens....
One of the best parts of growing potatoes is the delight of harvesting them after months of waiting for the delicious tubers. Root vegetables are beloved and grown across the world but are also susceptible to different pests and diseases. Often, because the crop is underground, the symptoms are not visible until we pull them out. There’s nothing worse than waiting the entire growth period to learn a disease has stricken the crop....
Although growing hydroponically is soil-free, this doesn’t mean that there is nothing to support our plants. Table of Contents In most hydroponic systems, growers use different types of hydroponic media to help support their roots and maintain a good water/oxygen ratio. In this guide, I’ll give you a breakdown of the most popular types of hydroponic growing media. Every hydroponic gardener has their own preferences, so I’ll give you the advantages and disadvantages of each medium so you can choose the one that works right for your situation....
Many gardeners are interested in achieving self-sufficiency and living off of their own abilities and the land. To cultivate a successful garden, we often need to include additional inputs like compost and fertilizers to keep up with the demand on the soil nutrients to grow crops. Store-bought fertilizers and manures often contain waste products from other animals like worms, chickens, and even bats. What if we can produce our own endless and free supply by using our urine as fertilizer?...
This also means that you will be able to reap all kinds of benefits from growing organically; however, if you are currently in the process of deciding exactly which vegetables to grow, here is a guide to which are the best crops to grow within a greenhouse. Tomatoes If you were used to the supermarket bought tomatoes before, you will have the lovely surprise of tomatoes that are bursting with flavour when you grow your own....
As far as plant diseases go, there are none more annoying, frustrating, and hair-pulling than fungus issues. Whether you’re growing microgreens, houseplants, or veggies, plant fungus like powdery mildew can absolutely ruin your plants. Here’s an example of a classic type of plant fungus, powdery mildew: Here’s a simple rule to detect plant fungus: If your plant has started showing signs of unusual spotting or has growth on it that is a different color than the plant, it probably has some kind of fungus....
Before we look into how to use hydrogen peroxide in hydroponics, let’s look at the compound itself. In essence, hydrogen peroxide is just water with an extra oxygen molecule attached. It’s found somewhat abundantly in nature, up in the atmosphere and in rain or snow. As an unstable compound, it sheds its extra oxygen molecule readily and becomes water and a single oxygen molecule. This makes it a very effective compound in hydroponics for a variety of reasons:...
If you’re a succulent lover, Sansevieria parva is a rare snake plant relative that’s you’ll want to add to your indoor houseplant collection or outdoor garden. It will thrive in both situations, so run out to the nursery and pick one up and let’s learn how to care for this gorgeous succulent species! Table of Contents Recommended Products: Espoma Organic Cactus MixEspoma Organic Cactus Fertilizer Sansevieria Parva Overview Commonly known as Kenya Hyacinth, it’s a popular species for containers or outdoor landscaping....
Commonly known as the tansy plant (Tanacetum vulgare), this species can provide many benefits to your garden once you know how to grow and care for this perennial flower. The yellow button-like flowers are simple, yet lovely as it attracts pollinators while also being an insect repellent with a history of medicinal uses. Table of Contents You can find Tanacetum vulgare growing in the wild in many places in North America....
So you’ve heard about this way of growing plants called ‘hydroponics’, but have no clue what it is… Table of Contents If you’ve heard about hydroponics but find yourself overwhelmed by information and have no clue where to begin…this is for you. Before we get into the meat of this article, if you find yourself asking, “Where did hydroponics come from?” then I would recommend you check out the history of hydroponics article that I wrote a while back....
Table of Contents After my recent ‘obsession’ with writing about the different types of water you can use for hydroponics, whether you can grow with tap water, or what to know about distilled water, I figured it’d probably be smart to talk about how to measure what’s IN your water. It’s one thing to understand all of the different compounds and substances that could be in your water, but it’s a totally different thing to be able to measure it....
Citronella oil, the savior in the battle against the mighty mosquito! If you live in a warm humid climate then you will have heard of citronella as the oil used in a burner, a candle or a cosmetic lotion smothered on the skin to repel mosquitoes from biting. But, do you know where it comes from? Well, let me introduce you to the citronella plant, Cymbopogon nardus! Table of Contents...
Turnips have been underrated in popularity in the veggie world. This forgotten veggie is never front and center in the produce section, but mashed turnips can make a tasty dish that rivals mashed potatoes. This lovely root veggie can be cooked in similar ways as a potato, but it has the bonus of fresh greens that can be enjoyed raw or sauteed. So let’s learn how to grow turnips for an abundant harvest!...
The pink plumes of color make Muhlenbergia capillaris a true garden gem. One of the most sought-after members of the ornamental grass world, it’s also called pink muhly grass. Table of Contents Native to the United States, the tall flower stalks evoke the thought of cotton candy. Need a bit of deer resistant color? This will provide a lush pink glow in the fall. So let’s explore the vibrant flora from this grass family in more detail....
