How to use neem oil as a pesticide.
Neem oil is a natural pesticide used in gardens. It is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree. Neem oil contains a substance called azadirachtin which helps to control pests such as mealy bugs, thrips, spider mites, whiteflies, fungus gnats, leafhoppers and Japanese beetles. It can also be used to prevent fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, leaf spot, scab anthracnose and black spot. Things needed to make neem oil pesticide for your garden. Spray bottle Cold-pressed neem oil Liquid soap How to use neem oil as a pesticide. How often to use neem oil on plants? You can use neem oil on your plants once in 3 weeks…
Why is my cosmos not flowering
Cosmos is a low-maintenance annual flowering plant that is grown in many gardens. It belongs to the Compositae family and there are about 20 varieties of cosmos. The commonly grown cosmos varieties include cosmos sulphureus and cosmos bipinnatus. Cosmos sulphurous comes in colours such as yellow, orange and red. Its leaves are opposite and pinnately divided. Cosmos bipinnatus flowers come in pink, purple and white colours. Its foliage has a fern-like appearance. Reasons why your cosmos is not flowering: 1.Overfertilizing Cosmos grows well and produces more blooms in average soil conditions. When there is too much nitrogen in the soil, the plant produces more foliage and less blooms. To prevent…
How to prevent blossom drop on tomato plants.
Blossom drop on tomatoes is a common problem many gardeners face. You will find flowers blooming one day and the next day they will dry and fall off. Here are a few reasons why this problem occurs and here’s how to prevent blossom drop on tomato plants. Reasons for blossom drop on tomato plants: 1. High or low temperatures Daytime temperatures that are greater than 85°F(29°C) and lower than 55°F(can stress your plants). When the temperatures are too high your tomato plants focus on survival dropping its flowers. When temperatures are low your plant eventually dies. Grow tomato varieties that are more suitable to your region’s temperatures. If you are…
How to use bone meal for plants.
Bonemeal is fertiliser that is made by drying and crushing animal bones into powder. It contains several nutrients and minerals that benefit plants by improving soil structure and quality. Bone meal is rich in phosphorus, calcium and nitrogen. It contains trace elements like magnesium, iron and zinc. The NPK ratio of bone meal is 3:15:0. Root crops like radishes, potatoes, beetroots and carrots benefit from bone meal. Vegetable flowering plants like tomatoes and peppers also love bone meal. Here is how to use bone meal for plants. How bonemeal benefits your garden: Although bone meal can improve plants’ overall health it should not used in soil that has a pH…
How to use Aloe vera as a rooting hormone.
Rooting hormones are used to stimulate root growth on plant cuttings. They prevent fungal and bacterial infection on the plant while promoting root growth on the plant cutting. They can be used for plants that can be propagated by cuttings such as woody shrubs, herbaceous plants and trees.There are commercial rooting hormones and natural rooting hormones. Aloe vera gel is a natural rooting hormone that can be used on your plants. How to use aloe vera as a rooting hormone for your plants.
How to fertilise container plants.
Plants grown in containers need to be fertilised regularly when compared to plants grown in the ground. This is because plants grown in containers get access to less soil and nutrients get depleted within 6 weeks. Knowing how to fertilise your plants can help you to get a healthy plant that gives good yields. How to fertilise container plants Basic nutrients that plants need The basic nutrients that plants need are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. These are macronutrients for our plants. The basic micronutrients that plants need include calcium, magnesium, manganese, boron, and zinc.Nitrogen is essential for foliage growth in plants. Phosphorous is needed for overall plant growth, it also…
Flowers that bloom from spring to fall
If you want your garden to produce flowers throughout the year, then you must grow perennials in your garden. By growing a variety of perennials in your garden, you get blooms from spring to fall and perennials are low maintenance compared to annuals. Growing conditions for perennials Soil: Perennials need well-draining fertile soil to grow well. Amend the soil with compost or aged manure before you grow perennial flowers. Sunlight: Perennials grow well when they receive 4 to 6 hours of sunlight every day. Grow your flowers in a location that gets sunlight in the morning and shade in the afternoon, especially during the extreme afternoon heat. Water: Water your…
Best companion plants for tomatoes.
Companion planting is a technique where two plants are grown near one another so that they benefit from each other. Practising companion planting in your garden is an excellent way to attract pollinators, beneficial insects, and repel pests. When herbs and flowers are grown near vegetables they help to improve the flavor of these vegetables. While certain plants benefit from each other certain plants don’t benefit when grown next to each other. Growing certain herbs and flowers near your tomatoes can improve the flavour of the fruit, increase pollination and repel pests. Best companion plants for tomatoes Flowers 1.Cosmos Growing cosmos near your tomato plants helps to attract bees and…
10 Perennial herbs to grow in your garden
One of the easiest plants to grow in your home are herbs. They are low-maintenance plants that can tolerate both extreme hot and cold weather. By growing fresh herbs in your garden, you get to add fresh leaves to your dishes. Growing herbs can attract pollinators and help to repel pests and insects. Herbs are cold hardy plants and they go dormant during the winters and start to grow foliage in the next spring. Although herbs are cold hardy they need to be protected when winters become too severe. So, it’s best to grow them in containers. Before growing herbs, soil must be amended with aged manure. Herbs grow best…
How to start seeds indoors.
Are you a beginner in gardening and want to know how to start your seeds indoors? Then this article can help you. Seeds are started 6 weeks before the last frost date. Seed starting can vary based on your location and the type of seeds you sow. Certain seeds find it difficult to recover from transplants so they must be sown in the soil directly. Others can be sowed and transplanted outside when the weather conditions are warm. Materials needed for starting seeds indoors How to start seeds indoors:
