Lorenz's OK Seeds, LLC » Container Gardening

Small Container Water Gardens

Jim — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:56:13 +0000

Some of the Amazing Wetlands Flowers You Could Plant in Your Wetlands Container Garden

Small container water gardens are ideal for small spaces. A container water garden is easy and fun to build and will add visual interest to your patio or porch.

If you do not have room to plant a large container water garden plant a few smaller pots with aquatic plants. These plants placed in container water gardens are more mysterious than traditional potted plants. A big plus to aquatic gardens is that they are very low maintenance. No more having to rely on your neighbors to water your gardens when you leave on vacation or a business trip. For the kids, add a sprouting ornament to really delight them.

Container water gardens are inexpensive to build, and easy too. For the small container water garden you will need a plastic container that is that is 18 to 20 inches wide and at least 7 to 8 inches deep. Other needed supplies are a small submersible pump, plants, clean kitty litter, small pebbles or pea gravel, some clear plastic tubing, a spouting ornament and a nylon stocking for covering the pump. Covering the pump is essential so that the kitty litter or other debris does not get sucked into it. All of these items are easy to find at your nursery center or even online.

To add depth to your small container water garden you will want to plant in two tiers. This allows you to plant aquatic lilies on the deep side of the container while those that like shallower water can be planted on the other side. You will need to place a partition between the two sides of the container which can be anything from a board to bricks.

A Novel Idea for a Small Waterfall to Use on Your Wetlands Container Garden

First, if you are using a sprouting ornament drill a hole in the rim of the container and place the ornament. Next place the soil from the lilies or other deep water aquatic plant on the bottom of the pot. Then pour in the kitty litter making a floor for the plants.

To keep the garden pretty and keeping the soil on the bottom of the container pour pea gravel over the kitty litter. Be sure to rinse off the pea gravel before adding it to your garden.

Next you will need to place the pump into the container. As mentioned before, it is crucial that you cover the pump with a nylon stocking so that kitty litter and pebbles cannot be sucked into it. Check the pressure of the pump beforehand and adjust as needed.

Allow the water you are going to use to sit out for a couple days. This allows the chlorine to burn off and the temperature to become comfortable for your aquatic plants.

Now you will need two things, a bright sunny spot and an electrical outlet for the pump. Place your small container water garden in your chosen spot. Congratulations, you have just finished your first small container water garden.

As mentioned above, maintenance of your container water garden is easy. Occasionally you will need to skim off some algae or a dead leaf or two. The root system of the plants will absorb most decaying matter but if the water starts to look murky, take the plants our and clean and rinse the container.

If your water garden is outside and not in a screened area you will want to buy what is called a “Mosquito Dunk”. It is very inexpensive and will kill mosquito larvae during the summer months. It poses no harm to pets, people or plants.

Small container water gardens are not large enough to accommodate fish but you could consider a few guppies or a couple of snails to help keep the container clean.

There you have it. Small container water gardening is an easy and fun project. Do your research, gather your materials, plant you container water garden and enjoy.

Happy Gardening!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at Gardening Landscaping Tips, Gardening Outside, and Herb Gardening.

Don’t forget that Lorenz’s OK Seeds, LLC carries a variety of wetlands seeds to help you get started with you container water garden. Just give Freddie a call on our TOLL FREE number 1 800 826 3655.

Container Gardening – What is it?

Jim — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:11:13 +0000

Flowers in Containers a Beautiful Decoration for Steps

Container gardening is the procedure of growing plants solely planters and containers (pots). Unlike the traditional method of growing plants in the ground, container gardens are displayed throughout a home, office, patio or terrace.

You can grow almost anything in a container. Container gardening is the answer for most people who live in busy cities or those who don’t have a big back yard. You can put a container anywhere. And because it’s easy, just about anyone can grow flowers and vegetables. You may not have the acreage for flower gardening or vegetable gardening, but you can grow fresh vegetables, flowers or herbs by growing plants in pots. So, whether you live on a large parcel of land, a townhouse or an apartment building, you can garden in a container.

The creativity and possibilities for container gardening are endless, because so many plants grow well in pots. By using your imagination, you can find interesting and unique ways to grow and display just about any plant. By rearranging them in various ways, you can also create an ambiance appealing to the eye and a fragrant scent to make your neighbors envious.

Simple, Elegant, Stunning. A container water garden.

Planting in containers is one of the most imaginative forms of gardening in which color combinations, texture and even the container itself can make an impressive statement. Container gardens can express your artistry or set a mood in the house, on your deck, patio, family room, and even in the garden.

Eric Samms has a passion for Container Gardening and wants to share it with everyone. Following years of starting, maintaining and developing his own Container Gardens – he is now willing to divulge his secrets. Now you can"> discover and learn all about Container Gardening and it’s many amazing benefits for your life!

Discover Nature’s 7 Most Nutritious Herbs For Greater Health & Vitality

Jim — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:14:32 +0000

Peppermint - You Just Can't Beat the Aroma (or the taste)

For maximum health and vitality both scientists and nutritionists highly recommend that we all pack in as many raw fruits and veggies as possible. Unfortunately, they often overlook the humble herb’s inner vigor. But not anymore!

Through the charms of organic container gardening, it’s time to not only add a melody of tastes, but a great source of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

The Finalists Are:

Mints : There are a variety of mint leaves, the most common being spearmint, peppermint, apple mint, and ginger mint. Use mints in salads, dressings, in teas, with lamb, in summer drinks and sorbets, and also as a garnish.It has been used for centuries in Asian cuisine and herbal treatments. It was considered so useful that it was an accepted as a tax payment. Jesus even scolds the Pharisees in Luke (11:39) “you pay tithes of mint and rue…but have no care for justice and the love of God.” Not only does it taste great, but it freshens the breath, helps settle the stomach and aids digestion, and has been found to slow the growth of some fungi and bacteria.
Basil : A clean and distinctive flavor, it especially works great with fresh tomato and cooked tomato based dishes, such as those from Italy. It can be added to soups, salads, breads, and pasta and forms the key ingredient in pesto.Research studies on basil have shown unique health-protecting effects in two basic areas: basil’s flavonoids and volatile oils. Flavonoids are chemicals components — and Basil’s have been found to protect cells from radiation and oxygen damage. It’s oil has been found to have antibacterial properties, and it is a rich source of Vitamin A which helps prevent free-radical cell damage.
Parsley : A light and refreshing herb, with 2 main varieties curly and flat leaf. It is very versatile, and is wonderful added to just about any dish — soups, salads, breads.It is also no modest herb — bursting in Vitamin C, an important component to disease prevention and great skin. Plus it is also a rich source of other nutrients such as Vitamin’s K and A, and Folic Acid, an important factor in good cardiovascular health.
Chives : They are delicate in flavor, and as such more suited to light dishes and salads, or as wonderful garnishes or decoration. If you have more than you need just store them in the freezer, and use as required.Chives are from the allium family , and All alliums contain iron, and vitamins. Low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Sodium , and High in Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper, Manganese, Thiamin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus and Zinc.
Thyme : This herb is one of my favorites. It has a warming and satisfying flavor, and works great with chicken, sprinkled on vegetables, and in light salads.Derived from a Greek word meaning courage, thyme is said to be an invigorating herb, and is also renowned for it’s antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, and anti-spasmodic qualities — useful to soothe digestion and menstrual cramps and is an excellent source of iron and manganese, calcium and a food source of dietary fiber.
Dill : A light a refreshing herb which works wonderfully with salmon, in salads, and dressings.Dill’s name comes from the old Norse word “dilla” which means “to lull” reflecting it’s traditional uses as both a stomach soother and an insomnia reliever. The total volatile oil portion of dill has been shown to have bacteria-regulating effects, much like garlic, and is good source of calcium.
Sage : A strong and meaty herb, it partners well with some chicken dishes, as well as onions and potatoes, and form many herbal teas.Similar to rosemary and thyme, sage helps reduce depletion of the brain’s concentration of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is crucial to proper brain function. A combination of ginkgo biloba, sage, and rosemary may help prevent or slow the development of Alzheimer’s. More research is needed to find out why sage is so effective but researchers think it could be a combination of chemicals in the oil which have an effect on acetylecholine and which give it antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, also considered to be of value in Alzheimer’s therapy.Sage also promotes digestion health, its antiseptic action is especially important in relation to intestinal infection and is said to reduce gripping pains by relaxing the intestines. It is an excellent remedy for helping to remove mucous congestion in and numerous studies have confirmed that Sage leaf helps to reduce menopausal sweats, and helps reduce pain associated with menstruation.

Who ever would have thought that herbs could be such nutritious powerhouses? So before you reach for the salt, think ‘Fresh Nutritious Herbs’, and add these to your breads, pasta dishes, salads, soups, meat dishes, hot teas, and anything else you’d like to try! Organic container gardening is the tool to growing your personal, pesticide free herbs, plus it’s fun, fulfilling, a great way to save money, and it keeps you and the family bursting with health and vitality.

Container Gardening Tips

Jim — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:14:36 +0000

Container and Plants

Container gardens are a great way of creating a natural sanctuary in a variety of situations whether it be indoors or outside. They add a colorful and accented welcome to a room, patio or deck using pots filled with annuals or you can fill window boxes with wildflowers and small perennials that can be appreciated from the street and inside your home. You can place pots along the edges of outside steps, hide walls and other ugly concrete structures. You’re really only limited by your imagination and local conditions.

You can arrange your containers in a group for a massed effect or perhaps highlight smaller spaces with single plants. Regardless of what plants you choose and how you arrange them you’ll be delighted with this quick and easy way to create a garden.

Container gardening enables you to easily vary your color scheme. As one plant finishes finishes flowering,you can replace it with another. You can harmonize or contrast your colors, experiment with plants of differing heights. Also think of the shape and texture of the leaves. Tall strap-like leaves give a good vertical background to lower growing, wider leaved plants.

Get creative with your containers. You might have an old porcelain bowl or copper urn you can use, or perhaps you’d rather make something really modern with timber or tiles. If you decide to buy your containers ready-made, terracotta pots look wonderful, but tend to absorb water. You don’t want your plants to dry out, so paint the interior of these pots with a special sealer available from hardware stores.

Cheaper plastic pots can also be painted on the outside with water-based paints for good effect. keep in mind however, that cheap plastic pots can be damaged by UV rays. If you don’t feel like having fancy containers you can disguise them by choosing plants that will overhang the sides. When purchasing pots, don’t forget to buy matching saucers to catch the drips. This will save cement floors getting stained, or timber floors rotting. If you use wood planters make sure that they are untreated and that they won’t rot too quickly. Redwood and cedar are both relatively rot resistant.

Always use a good quality potting mix in your containers. This will ensure the best performance possible from your plants.

before you invest any money in your container garden decide where you want the pots to be located and get plants and pots that best suit the situation. There is no point buying sun loving plants for a shady position, or large containers for small areas.

If you have plenty of space at your front door, a group of potted plants off to one side will be more visually appealing than two similar plants placed each side. Unless they are spectacular, they will look rather boring.

Group the pots in odd numbers rather than even, and vary the height and type. To tie the group together, add large rocks that are similar in appearance and just slightly different in size. Three or five pots of the same type and color, but in different sizes also looks affective.

With some imagination and determination you’ll soon have a container garden that’s the envy of friends and strangers alike.