House Fur | Forever outnumbered by houseplants

Christmas cactus plants (Schlumbergera bridgesii_)_ are epiphytes that grow naturally in trees in Brazil. They absorb moisture and nutrients from debris that gets caught in the tree branches. Commonly grown as houseplants, they can also be grown outdoors in pots in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 11, as long as they are brought indoors if the weather gets too cold. They can survive temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but their stems will be severely damaged. Rooting a New Christmas Cactus To root a brand new cutting of a Christmas Cactus, be sure to plant in a mixture of moist peat and sand soil. You'll want to place the cactus into the soil about a quarter of an inch. Also, be sure not to overwater your newly rooted cactus to avoid rot. Once fully rooted, you can move your plant to a pot with potting soil for a permanent home. Light and Temperature Place indoor Christmas cactus plants in bright, indirect light. Right next to south-, west- or east-...

If your friendly yucca plants become yellow or may discover black spots on leaves then there may be chances of spoiling the growth of yuccas from blooming flowers. You need not worry as this problem can be easily solved by applying natural fertilizers and by providing sufficient water and sunlight to the plants. Yucca plant is a perennial shrub in the family of Asparagaceae that is abundantly seen in the Caribbean and American countries. It is a super air-purifying plant and grows well in hot and dry climatic conditions. Plant leaves, stems and roots are poisonous if consumed directly. Though the plant is poisonous it contains powerful antioxidants that help to cure a stomach ache, headache and other skin related problems in humans. Here in this article, we shared the detailed information related to the yucca plants, growing conditions and how it is helpful in your daily life to lead a happy life. Companion Plants Yucca combination plants include euphorbia, sedum, lilies, sage, rudbeck...

 Growing Bell Peppers In Containers Peppers are a complete joy to grow if you live in a continuous hot weather climate that is! If you don’t have the space to grow them in a garden, it gets a little trickier, but don’t fret, a pot is all red peppers need to grow! It’s container gardening at it’s finest! After you’ve got your hands on some pepper seeds or a plant from the local nursery, the next step is, yep you guessed it, you need to find a pot! Time to start growing bell peppers! Pots Or Containers : When browsing for suitable pots, make sure its at least 10 inches deep and 10 inches in width. Drainage holes at the bottom are definitely recommended, a pot of this size can easily grow and maintain 2-3 plants. Avoid place pots if you’re already in a hot climate for your plants will attract a little too much sun. Seeds: If you choose a plant from a nursery you can skip to the next section, however, if you simply purchased some seeds you’ll want some seed food or potting mix as well....

Ginger roots are used extensively in the cuisine for its flavour and aroma. Furthermore, this plant is recognised for its medicinal properties, having antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant properties. This plant, so appreciated around the world can easily be grown in pots. Here’s how to do this. You need: fresh ginger root (you find it in supermarkets) pot topsoil Ginger roots, such as potatoes, can germinate. If you one already germinated, the better, if not, all you have to do is to sink the ginger root in a bowl with warm water for at least three hours. Meanwhile, fill a pot with topsoil. Make sure you choose a soil that doesn’t retain too much water. Put the ginger root in the ground and cover it with soil. If the ginger root is already germinated, take care to place it with its sprout up. But you should know that ginger grows pretty hard, so you must have patience. It can take up to several weeks for the plant to germinate, but with special care, in a few months, you can enjoy ...

The Monstera adansonii is a smaller relative of the insta-famous Monstera deliciosa and quite often mislabelled as Monstera obliqua, a much rarer family member. With the right care, the cheese vine plant makes a great evergreen indoor houseplant. Because it doesn’t grow as fast and as big as the Monstera deliciosa, it is perfect for smaller spaces. Smaller size, but still a big impact. It can climb or trail, therefore your Monstera adansonii is perfect to keep as an indoor hanging plant or on a shelf where it can cascade down. Monstera adansonii Care Tips Know the basics on how to best care for your Monstera adansonii and make it thrive. It’s not hard, but it does require a little attention. Light It is good to know where the Monstera adansonii originates from. What is the native habitat? Knowing this you can try and and mimic this for your plant in your home. The Monstera adansonii comes from the jungles of Central and South America. In the wild, they grow on tree trunks under coverag...

Peace lilies are not only remarkable through the fact that they stay green all year round, but also because they don’t require too much care, making them great plants for beginners. Additionally, these plants look fabulous in any house and can match almost any interior design. Plus, are excellent air-purifying plants. As always, to find out how to best care for a plant, you first need to know a few things about its origins. Therefore, let me provide you a little background about peace lilies. Peace Lilies Despite its name, the peace lily is not a member of the Liliaceae family but belongs to the family Araceae, in the genus of Spathiphyllum. The peace lily is a perennial plant indigenous to the tropical regions of the Americas and southeastern Asia. In its natural habitat, this plant grows on the floor of the tropical forests, amongst the trees. Many say that the name “peace lily” comes from its white blossoms that look like white flags of peace. While the name “peace lily” is frequent...

So you don’t have space for an in-ground garden. That’s no reason to give up on growing food at home. You can absolutely grow vegetables in containers! Growing veggies in containers are only a little different from growing in the ground or raised beds. And there are lots of advantages to container gardening. Container gardens do not have to battle weeds, can be placed in any location, and they don’t have to take up very much space. FIVE TIPS FOR GROWING VEGETABLES IN CONTAINERS Here are some tips for getting good results from your veggies grown in pots. CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATELY SIZED CONTAINER. Make sure your container is large enough to provide adequate space for your plant’s roots. The larger the adult plant, the larger the pot. Larger containers mean you’ll have plenty of space for the roots to spread out. Stunted space for root growth leads to stunted plants. Smaller containers will also require more frequent watering and fertilization. CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION The ability to ...

Did you know that plain old kitchen cinnamon is an amazing fungicide? Not only that, but cinnamon can be used in the garden so many different ways. I've discovered 8 different ways to use cinnamon for plants. From fungus killer to rooting hormone, cinnamon has got ya covered! Here are my most common uses for cinnamon in the home & garden. How to use cinnamon in your garden 1) Cinnamon saves seedlings. The term dampening off covers a range of diseases that attack a seed/seedling either before or after germination and cause the seedling to die. They can be caused by several different fungus and soil conditions.  A few years back I read that if you dust the soil of seedlings with cinnamon, it will prevent dampening off. I've been doing it since with great results! This makes a lot of sense too, since cinnamon has antifungal properties.  This also gets rid of those little fungus gnats that somehow appear around seedling trays. Cinnamon kills the fungus they feed off of.  ...

Building up your garden’s soil is the best way to make your garden thrive this year. As we grow plants in our gardens year after year the soil breaks down and needs help to provide your garden with what it needs. If you are growing a garden to feed your family or even to make a little extra money from your garden it is important to have great soil. Building up your soil is an easy taste that has a great reward. Fall is a great time to build up your soil for next year.  Compost, compost, compost for the best garden soil Adding great compost to your soil is an amazing way to build up your soil quickly. Check your local Craigslist for a deal on mushroom compost. This strong compost is often sold by the truckload or large feed bags for cheap. Mushroom compost is high in salt so it is best to add to established plants rather than germinating seeds. This is a great start for any canning garden. If you would rather DIY your compost you can reduce kitchen waste and get great compost for yo...

Before you throw those old seed packages away, test them to see if they are still viable using this simple germination test As I eagerly wait for spring, and the stores begin to roll out their seed starting supplies, I find myself drawn to the seed displays. Before I know it, I usually have a few packages in my hands to purchase. Sometimes I arrive home to discover that I have duplicate seed packages. Luckily, depending on how the seeds are stored, most seeds can last several seasons or more. They do lose potency over time and will have a decreased germination rate the older they are. Some seeds like onion, parsnip, parsley, and chives are not likely to sprout a second year. Even if they do germinate, they may not have the vigour to produce healthy plants like when they were new. When in doubt, it is best to purchase fresh seeds rather than jeopardize your crop’s success. Fedco’s Seed Viability Chart will give you a general idea of how long seeds will last. Use this chart as a guidelin...

Learn how to grow watermelon in pots. Growing watermelon in containers allows this big, sweet and juicy fruit to grow in smallest of spaces. Sweet and watery watermelons are without a doubt an iconic summer fruit due to their high water content and soft red flesh. Those supermarket melons can’t be like homegrown fresh and organic melons. You can even plant them in a small space like a balcony, it is possible by growing watermelon vertically in a pot. Propagation and Planting Watermelon in Pot Watermelon has a long taproot and it doesn’t transplant well that’s why it is better to sow the seeds directly in a pot. Sow 3-4 seeds directly in a pot once the temperature starts to reach 65 F (19 C) and above in the spring. In tropics (USDA Zone 10-11), the best time to sow seeds is winter and early spring. The germination takes place within 6 to 10 days. Thin out and leave only one of the strongest seedlings per pot. Choosing a Pot Growing watermelon in containers is not much difficult though ...

Most backyard gardeners want to grow their own tomatoes, only to be overcome with issues along the way, leading them to give up completely. You may think you have a black thumb because you’ve failed at growing tomatoes, and I’m here to tell you, you’re wrong. Growing tomatoes is easy when you have all the tips and tools to find success. With the proper knowledge, anyone can grow giant, beautiful tomato plants! While all the tips on this list will help you finally find success with growing tomatoes, there are two that are of the utmost importance. People who fail at growing tomatoes most often ignore one or both of these tips.  Two Common Reasons You’ll Fail At Growing Healthy Tomato Plants The two biggest reasons people don’t find success with tomatoes are simple. They don’t give the tomatoes enough sunlight, or they don’t give them enough nutrients. Tomatoes are hungry plants, and it’s absolutely essential to give them exactly what they need so they can produce a big beautiful cro...