DISCOVER CONTAINER TOMATO GARDENING

Yes,container tomato gardeningis great on the porch, back veranda or sunny window. There are so many varieties, but the truth is! Most will do a great job and also become an attractive member to your plant family!

Let’s discover container tomato gardening together.Lets go!

Tip, Reliable nurseries nearby can supply you with seedlings that will suit containers for your tomato plants.

Start with some healthy seedlings in small pots in as much sun as possible. Even try starting your own seedlings from scratch. It’s great fun for all.
 The colder the climate the longer the sun period the plant will need to produce successful fruits.

FERTILIZERS AND POTTING MIX

Use well recognized potting mixes that contain slow release fertilizers .Slow release fertilizers are great for the growth boost. As the plant starts producing some flowers introduce flower growth fertilizers to produce large succulent fruits.

WATERING

Water nearly everyday in the summer, the trick is to let it nearly dry out about once a week. ‘WARNING’ don’t let the container completely dry out as then it will become difficult for the potting mix to absorb all the water again.

Planting Tips.

1. Fill the pot with seed raising mix, or potting mix. I used seed raising mix here, but for tomatoes it’s not that important.
 
2. Keep the pot moist in a warm place. When the seedlings appear introduce them into the sun. In very hot arrears dappled light is best until the seedling has solid root growth.

3. When the plant has filled the whole pot and roots are appearing at the bottom introduce to its final pot.

4. Water and stake the plant and get ready for lots of tasty tomatoes.

5. Secret tip. For super big fruits prick out the flowers and just leave one flower on the stem.

It has now reached its maximum growth in the small pot. So it will be moved to into a larger pot to produce a big beautiful tomato plant.

COMPANIONS

If your pot is large enough you can integrate the three herbs to produce excellent health and flavor. It’s a well known secret that parsley planted with tomato plants help produce great flavor and Basil improves health and virility.

CHERRY TOMATO

Alright Cherry Toms,sweet little tomatoes aren’t they. The truth is they grow very simply, and can produce bundles, if given a little ‘TLC’ tender loving care.

The same principles apply but the beauty is you can get your seed from the tomatoes you buy at the grocery store or local supermarket. Allow about 7 days for germination.

Open up the Tomato and sprinkle the seed in your area for germination. The seed only needs a depth of 1-2 mm and kept moist and warm.

Some facts Tomatoes self pollinate, and Cherry toms are fantastic for small areas that recieve plenty of light.

Two to three plants is only needed for a large family,keep them staked from a young age as they get very heavy and also keep them away from strong winds

We hope you enjoyed our page container tomato gardening. Happy Gardening Marty 
 

www.apartment-gardening-homes.com

Feng Shui garden design and principles offers us the opportunity to connect with the Natural World.   By embracing Feng Shui garden design, we come into a closer relationship with Life as it is, not how we would like it to be.    We find ourselves willingly adhering to Universal Principles, thus bringing greater peace and harmony into our lives.     We can change our whole outlook, our whole philosophy, once we find that inner peace, but how many of us realize that a solid start can be made by just practicing Feng Shui garden design principles.    Such practice, can become a meditation in itself; an awareness.      

When we buy a house, or move into our new apartment, villa, or town-house, the Principles of Feng Shui still apply.   They’re Universal.   But what do we do?    So often we find ourselves doing a check on the location and layout of the house, that is, the inside of the home.   Then a quick look at the garden:   seems okay.   And that’s it, as far as the outside is concerned   Oh, of course, we’ll mow the lawn and trim back a few trees and things later…But garden design, and Feng Shui Garden Design Principles?   You kidding?

Feng Shui Garden design and principles (Yin Yang)

Yin and Yang: negative and positjve, black and white, space and non- space, female and male  - opposites.    Without opposites  there would be no “Relativity,” no big and small, hard and soft, easy and difficult, fast and slow.  So we must have opposites.    But if we have too much of one and not enough of the other, we have imbalance.    And we know what happens when things are not balanced: they fall over.

Our lives these days are full of so much Yang activity-   action!   So much “making it,” “getting there,” “ achieving,” “winning.”    We’ve become unbalanced.   This is so much the case that we often forget about our recreational time (note that word Recreate) until our annual holidays arrive, when we try to wind down  (often by packing in as much sight-seeing as we can)    We’re just starting to relax and enjoy and-   Whap!   We’re back on the commuter train again.  

These Yang activities – or rather the  stresses that accompany them – take a toll on our physical and mental health.    How to counteract them?   Balance them?   In this case, balance them with Yin activity.   And how to do it regularly, thus ameliorating those daily build-ups of stress?   (Which, incidentally, are held in the body in perpetuity, until they are released in some way)    Take a stroll around, or sit quietly in your own little peace of heaven: your Feng Shui garden.

Feng Shui garden design and principles for an apartment or small flat

So you live in a tiny apartment or small flat?   In all probability we can still gain many of the benefits derived from Feng Shui.    It is not the size of the garden which counts.   Rather it is the feelings that are created when we’re focused.   It is when we are tuned into the Now, the what is.   The atmosphere of the Feng Shui garden is designed to bring us to this awareness; to take us out of our immersion, identification and automatic reactive emotions,  thus bringing us the peace and rejuvenization we so earnestly desire.

The tradition of the Feng Shui garden dates back thousands of years.   It certainly goes back to the days of Lao Tse, and the teachings of  The Tao.    The tradition of such gardens has been passed down over the millennia, though it is only in fairly recent times that these ideas have begun to reach us here in the West.  We now know that Feng Shui garden design principles help us relate to our own psyche in most beneficial ways.   We can tap into the spirit of our own environment, drawing its relaxful energies to ourselves; re-invigorating, recreating ourselves anew.

As we update this website, we will walk you through centuries old techniques and translate them into modern day formulas.   Together, we will discover how Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements can be interpreted and utilized in both your indoor and your outdoor settings.    Feng Shui is the art of directing the energy of the environment in ways in which we can feel optiminally comfortable.    We know that the plants, furnishing and objects we surround ourselves with impact upon our lives.   How they do so, and how we can turn this to our advantage, is what will be dealt with here.

Yes, the everlasting, unseen energies of the Universe can be channeled by us to our own advantage.    Feng Shui Principles can be used to engender  relaxed, contented mood, peace and happiness.    So why ignore them?

Written by Marty and Thomas Ware

www.apartment-gardening-homes.com

What Happens When  Extraordinary Teachers from “the Secret” Come Together to Teach the Science of Getting Rich? by Martin Ware

The Briefcase above

The Science of Getting Rich is a timeless classic written in 1910 by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a bold title for a book and suggests that getting rich is a predictable outcome if one can master the principles outlined in the book. Here is how Wallace D. Wattles puts it in his own words, “The ownership of money and property comes as a result of doing things in a certain way. Those who do things in this certain way, whether on purpose or accidentally, get rich. Those who do not do things in this certain way, no matter how hard they work or how able they are, remain poor. It is a natural law that like causes always produce like effects. Therefore, any man or woman who learns to do things in this certain way will infallibly get rich.”

Certainly, this book is well referenced by many of the great teachers today and it is the same book that inspired Rhonda Byrne to produce that runaway success “the Secret”. Here is what Rhonda Byrne said on her introductory note to the book, “I can honestly say that, since that first night when a tattered printed manuscript found its way to me (thanks to one of my daughters), my life has never been the same. Once you read it for yourself, you will understand why”. Rhonda went on to produce the movie “the Secret” and the best-selling book of the same title which has sold millions of copies worldwide.

However, learning how to do things in that “certain way” as described by Wallace D. Wattles may be more challenging for some as the book was written nearly 100 years ago. Some of the language is a little dated and much of its wisdom lost from a modern day perspective.

Fortunately, a new training seminar for the Science of Getting Rich has brought the wisdom of this timeless classic back to life for modern readers. Called “the Science of Getting Rich”, this program is the most comprehensive training system for mastering Wallace D. Wattles wealth creation philosophies and principles since its creation. It comprises written, audio and live seminar formats for learning, applying and mastering the Science of Getting Rich

A unique “twist” to the program is the fact that it has an in-built vehicle for creating substantial financial wealth through its affiliate program. This is truly a unique wealth eduction and wealth building program designed to empower any individual with the resources to get rich. It is a program whose time has come. The program would not be possible without the original text from Wallace D. Wattles, the skills of leading teachers of our time, the phenomenal success of “the Secret” and the Internet as a learning and distribution tool.

Click here to learn more about the Secret Science of Getting Rich and the details of the program.

Sponsored By  www.apartment-gardening-homes.com 

The Science of Getting Rich Teachers:

Bob Proctor

Bob Proctor is an author, lecturer, counselor, business consultant, entrepreneur, and teacher preaching the gospel of positive thinking, self-motivation and maximizing human potential. In that endeavor, he follows in the footsteps of such motivational giants as Napoleon Hill, Earl Nightingale and Wallace D. Wattles.

His extraordinary teaching ability has won Proctor acclaim around the globe and has carried the Canadian-born motivator to the far reaches of the earth. He is as well known in Australia and Malaysia as he is in Alberta and Mississippi.

Born in a little town in northern Ontario, Canada with the low self-esteem that often befalls a family’s middle child, he performed poorly in school, dropped out and did a hitch in the navy. Afterward he drifted from one dead-end job to another until a friend introduced Bob to the concept of self-development through Napoleon Hill’s classic Think and Grow Rich.

With the spark generated by Hill’s words, Proctor found the initiative to start an office cleaning business which he grew to international scope in his first year of operation. From that experience – after seeing what he had been able to accomplish with just a rudimentary knowledge of personal motivation and goal-setting – he hungered for more information.

His quest took him to the Nightingale-Conant organization to study under his mentor, Earl Nightingale. Once on board, he rose swiftly through the ranks. Eventually, while the Nightingale-Conant organization assumed the forefront in wide-scale distribution of personal development programs, Bob felt the need to take his ideas and methods directly to the individual, to the one-on-one level which had proved so successful for himself.

In the mid 1970’s, Proctor established his own seminar company and secured a contract to work with a few hundred agents of Prudential Life Insurance Co. of America in Chicago. During his first seminar Bob made the suggestion that any agent present could write $5 million in business that year if the agent made a decision to do so.

The fact that the seminar took place in July with the year half over and that no agent in that region had ever written so much business in the 100-year history of the company made Bob’s suggestion appear to be outrageous. However, when the performance level of the entire division increased substantially with more than one agent actually accomplishing the deed, Bob’s reputation as a motivator was established.

Over the ensuing years, Proctor has shared his special message and expertise with hundreds of business entities worldwide and, through a program of live seminars, with thousands of people of all ages in all walks of life.

Meanwhile, in addition to his international best-seller You Were Born Rich, he found time to author other works as well, including Mission in Commission, The Winner’s Image, The Goal Achiever, The Success Series, The Success Puzzle, The Recruiting Puzzle, and Being Your Very Best.

Jack Canfield

Jack Canfield is an American motivational speaker, trainer and author. He is best known as the founder and co-creator of The New York Times No. 1 best-selling “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series, which currently has over 65 titles and 80 million copies in print in over 37 languages. According to USA Today, Canfield and his writing partner, Mark Victor Hansen, were the top-selling authors in the United States in 1997.

With a BA from Harvard University, a Masters from University of Massachusetts, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Santa Monica, Canfield has been a high school and university teacher, a workshop facilitator, a psychotherapist, and for the past 30 years, a leading authority in the area of self-esteem and personal development.

Canfield is the founder of “Self Esteem Seminars” in Santa Barbara, and “The Foundation for Self Esteem” in Culver City, California. Self Esteem Seminars trains entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders and employees on how to accelerate the achievement of their personal and professional goals, while The Foundation for Self Esteem provides self-esteem resources and trainings to social workers, welfare recipients and human resource professionals. Canfield is also the President of Souperspeakers.com, a speaking resource service that provides inspirational speakers for event planners worldwide.

Canfield has traveled to over 21 countries, delivering hundreds of keynote speeches, workshops and trainings each year. As part of his presentation style, he always uses inspirational, motivational and uplifting stories to help his audiences discover, experience and retain key concepts and approaches. After each session, audiences everywhere had encouraged him to put his stories into a single book.

In 1990, while on an airplane home, he felt that it was time. He shared his idea with author Mark Victor Hansen during breakfast one day. Hansen liked the idea, and so began the Chicken Soup for the Soul phenomenon. But with their busy schedules, translating what worked on the podium onto the written page proved more challenging than either of them had anticipated. After three long years, the two had compiled just sixty-eight stories — a far cry from the 101 they believed was the magic number for a successful book. Nonetheless, their successful partnership has spawned many other titles that have made them enormously famous.

Canfield has appeared on numerous television shows, including Good Morning America, 20/20, Eye to Eye, CNN’s Talk Back Live, PBS and the BBC. Today, he speaks shares his success strategies with companies and associations worldwide.

The most recent book Canfield has written was the 2005 publication of The Success Principles. In it Canfield shares 64 principles that he and other people have utilized to achieve great levels of success.

Click here to learn more about The Secret And The Science Of Getting Rich and the details of the program

“The Secret” and the Science of Getting Rich – by Martin Ware

Have you heard of the DVD called “the Secret“? Well it isn’t such a secret anymore. The DVD was released in March 2006 and according to Time Magazine, the DVD has sold 500,000 units within the first 6 months. Today it sells well over 5,000 copies a day! It ranked in Amazon’s Top-5 sellers during Christmas week; and a tie-in hardcover book just entered the Top 10 on the New York times bestseller list.

The amazing thing about “the Secret” is that you won’t find it in your local Blockbuster or Barnes and Noble, it is selling briskly through new-age bookstores, New Thought churches like Unity and AGape and the official website at www.thesecret.tv. “It’s become the biggest selling item in the 30-year history of our store,” says Harmony Rose Allor, a buyer at West Hollywood’s popular metaphysical bookshop, The Bodhi Tree. it is “word-of-mouth” marketing at it best.

So what is the secret to “the Secret’s” success? It’s is a “transformational movie”, where a person’s view on life and the laws of life will no longer be the same after watching this movie. In a sense, it has created the same kind of effect as “the Da Vinci Code” and the 2004 hit cult movie “What the Bleep Do We Know”. The movie has created such waves that it has already been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live and the Ellen DeGeneres show.

At the core of the movie is a central philosophy called “the Law of Attraction”. In fact, the movie itself was inspired by this very same law when the producer read a book called “the Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace D. Wattles. This books was written in 1910!

This philosophy states that we create our reality, both good and bad! The message is delivered through 24 “teachers” which include prosperity preachers, chiropractic healers, relationship gurus, life coaches and motivational speakers — into one clear, cohesive voice. The movie is a “must watch” for anyone interested in taking charge of their life and in creating the life of their dreams.

Following on the success of the Secret, 3 of the core teachers – namely Bob Proctor and Jack Canfield have collaborated to produce a wealth building program called “the Secret Science of Getting Rich Seminar”. This program is based on the book that inspired the movie and is set to make history as the fastest selling personal development program in history.

What is the Science of Getting Rich about? Well in the words of Wallace D. Wattles, “The ownership of money and property comes as a result of doing things in a certain way. Those who do things in this certain way, whether on purpose or accidentally, get rich. Those who do not do things in this certain way, no matter how hard they work or how able they are, remain poor. It is a natural law that like causes always produce like effects. Therefore, any man or woman who learns to do things in this certain way will infallibly get rich.” The Science of Getting Rich is all about teaching how to do things in this “certain” way to create wealth.

The success of this program is built on several rock solid foundations. These factors include: the phenomenal success of “the Secret”, the timeless concepts from the Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles, the credibility of successful personal improvement teachers and New Thought leaders of our time, and the Internet as the distribution medium.

Click here to learn more about the Secret of Getting Rich Seminar and it’s affiliate program.

Sponsored by www.apartment-gardening-homes.com

Have a nice day- Marty Ware

Apartment gardening and life-force  systems is what I believe, may of never been seen before in modern garden design, but it has been implemented throughout our lives in many forms. We do it everyday, most of us by default.

This system is used today all over the world and has been turning heads for years.

The truth is,  some people learnt it,  implemented it,  and took action. Many kept it a secret, and still do.

After the action was taken and truly believed, (faith) it revealed itself and expanded. Now you say,” He’s stark raving mad,” Or “Get on with it.” “Okay the suspense has been enough”. Well I am going to let you in on “The Secret,” Maybe you already know! Okay here we go!

The feeling is where it comes from. The feeling is our creation,  it creates  and shapes our future. What will be ahead of us? leading into our future? I am not going to get into revealing the Law of Attraction, there are many books and videos that can do that. Click on the links that say the Law of attraction and you will be able to download, purchase or find free material about this awesome powerful law.

My life-force designs used in Apartment gardening and homes follow and use these exact principles!

 Different designs of gardening, architecture, landscaping etc, are created using many methods handed down from fantastic designers that have been using this principle, some new, some didn’t, but they where using it. That’s for sure.

By creating the feelings of what you want and how you feel into the all over design this will enhance and improve your life in many ways. There is a law of nature and its called the Law of attraction. Just as the Law of gravity works, so does the law of attraction. In all forms.

My life’s work has been dedicated to this, by implementing  the design life-force systems creates a wonderful, prosperous life in all areas. Where do you like to relax? Where do you go to relax? Most will go on holidays somewhere to relax. But the truth is, shouldn’t you have somewhere to relax, and wind down at home? Why not? What if I told you by implementing this overall design into your apartment garden, home, villa, or flat your life would change. Well, I am going to tell you straight, yes it will help you prosper in all directions, including getting rich.

Of course it will be implemented as a whole design including your home. Feng Shui is a part of the design and is extremely useful as it understands the “Law of Attraction.”

Now you may ask where did you learn this? I have been learning it my whole life and have been lucky enough to attract great teachers into my life. The rest has been revealed as time has progressed, and yes, I am still learning!

I will reveal to you in this article many people who have been implementing parts of this grand system. Some have passed on and you may know of them, others will be bought forward to you to make your own judgement about them, and what they themselves have created, and are still creating.

Apartment Gardening and Vibration

I would like to show you the power of Vibration and who applies this technique in forms such as farming, and also medicine.

First lets discuss vibration. We all know about the Atom and its vibration. Everything vibrates and is connected.  All of us and every living thing are connected to this vibration and this  great life-force system.  All forms of high vibrational activity are full of life-force and this is where the power exists.

Dr Edward Bach created a form of medicine that shook the world, and is still practiced to this very day. Homeopathic is its main form. The plants life-force, vibration is released into the water and is used to heal the illness in which the vibration is intended for.  Below are some links that will be useful to get a thorough understanding.

Vibrations and plants.

http://www.wellbeing.com.au/natural_health_articles?cid=7163&pid=17571

Dr Edward Bach

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bach

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bach_flower_remedies

There was another famous man Rudolf Steiner the creator of systems such as Bio-dynamic Agriculture (Organic Farming ). Also Steiner schools and much more. You can view the links below for more information on this fantastic life-force designer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_Agriculture

http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/biodynamic.html#appendix2

 Feng Shui and Life-force Systems

The Art of Feng Shui expresses vibration and captures this stimulating life-force (Chi) in many ways, including color, plant placement, landscape and interior design. You will find throughout this blog great educational material about the Art of Feng Shui and it’s grand design.  Also plenty of stimulating pages that will guide you in the right direction.

Some of these links will also guide you in the right direction. Just remember to come back!

http://people.aapt.net.au/~juliehicks/FSpage.html

http://people.aapt.net.au/~juliehicks/index.html

 Geomancy and Divining for Geopathic Stress 

http://people.aapt.net.au/~juliehicks/Geomancypage.html

Stay tuned- More to come yet

Marty

Once man stopped wandering and started to settle and grow crops, time went on, money was invented, and with that  the boom of modern age, rented dwellings.

OK, its great to start off and capture your audience. You will find in some of these posts a mixture of apartment gardening educational pages and some discussions on subjects related to this subject, apartment gardening

Today I am discussing the difference between Traditional English versus Ancient Asian. They both really have a lot to offer!

What do you believe? Are you superstitious? Do you like to super tidy? Or are you a bit messy? Be honest !

In Feng Shui ( Chinese  ) The  amount of clutter in our house represents an unorganised life, and prevents the life-force (Chi) from circulating throughout our homes, in a manner that it should, to bring us happiness and prosperity. (funny my place looks like a bomb hit it at present).

True English style, basically people would say you are just down right lazy, you don’t have enough time, or maybe physically disabled, and i don’t mean a hangover.

Traditional English styles in gardening shows perfect symmetry, cut and trim, clean out the leaves, so it looks,” just perfect”.

In most Asian styles especially (Chinese Feng Shui) the plants are grown in their natural forms and allowed to follow natures perfect design.

To be honest I can see points of interest in both forms, but I do tend to tip towards the more natural way of gardening.

Still this doesn’t always work when it comes down to Apartment gardening. We really don’t want a mess, so we have to clean up regularly and keep the cleanliness of perfection in place. The truth is in Feng Shui gardening, old dieing plants should be removed to prevent the Chi from stagnating. This goes for removing dead flowers too.

S0 you say, “what’s the difference”? Well, It’s plant let “let it grow in it’s natural form against,”  trim, cut and shape.

Another argument is the Ancient Art of Japanese Bonsai. You trim and cut them.! Yes, it’s true. But did you know that plants actually do Bonsai in a natural state? Yes, they do. Seeds caught in shallow soils, or fall between rock crevices do naturally Bonsai, because the roots are constricted, and can’t grow.

The Bonsai is grown to represent a miniature of its large mature state, actually the Japanese miniaturize many things, including rock gardens.

These little Bonsai’s with rock formations are designed to assimulate nature. How do you feel when you view a perfect old Bonsai?  You could buy one of these and have it as a pet, also it makes a great talking piece amongst your apartment garden. It’s just another form of apartment gardening really.

Containers are also different as you move throughout Asia, as they are different in European countries. Shape really comes down to taste, but i don’t recommend you try to grow a Bonsai in a deep Terra- Cotta pot, it just won’t work. The same goes for trying to grow your favorite roses in a shallow flat Bonsai pot.

So, which way do you tend? Or do you like to blend the styles? Can you create new styles? And will you be original or just follow traditional ways and fashion.

In the near future I will be introducing the topic on “life-force gardening“. You interested? I think you will be.

Your’s in gardening Marty  www.apartment-gardening-homes.com

Please visit our sponsor Feng Shui Australia and visit our Shop AGH apartment gardening homes  for a wide range of gardening books.

Feng Shui My Bedroom

bought to you by www.apartment-gardening-homes.com

Sponsored by Feng Shui Australia

Welcome to Feng Shui my bedroom, another addition all about the harmonies and ambiences we can create in our lives, and homes.

The bedroom is considered to be one of the most important rooms of the house in Feng Shui. We spend a third of our lives in bed. We must therefore be certain that these rooms are suitable for relaxing and regenerating, as well as encouraging romance in our lives.

Beds – Feng Shui my bedroom

A bed should face diagonally opposite the door. The element of surprise is never recommended in the bedroom. If the occupants of the room do not have a good view of the door, a mirror should be placed to reflect anyone entering.

Having the foot of the bed facing the door is also not recommended, as this is how the Chinese place their coffins before collection.

Doors and windows situated opposite each other are not considered auspicious. If a line of Chi between two windows-or a door and window-crosses the bed, this is thought to create illness.

Ideally, beds should be raised off the floor with enough space for air to circulate. Storage drawers full of old clothes or magazines and other items create a stagnant Chi, which is not desirable.

Beds should be made of breathable natural materials, including our bedding. Wood is the usual choice and Bamboo is also used. Metal beds are known to conduct electricity, so care should be taken. Water beds are known to create conflict between the Fire and Water element ,creating instability while we sleep.

Headboards offer support, but should be tightly secured. They represent the Tortoise position, and as such, should be higher than the Pheonix,or the footboard.

Beds should be backed by a wall, not a window,which feels insecure and can let in unwanted draughts.

Where a double bed is confined space and one occupant has to climb over the other to get in or out, harmony will not prevail. The best position for a bed is with a wall behind and enough room on either side for a small table or cupboard. These should always be balanced at either side; one will not do.

Below A Tropical bedroom, the whites and tiled floor is to keep the mood cool in sweltering heat. Also this is used to reflect the light, ‘enhance the morning Chi.’

Furnishing - Feng Shui my bedroom

Apartment gardening is something that many of us enjoy as a past time.

It also to adds life and fullfilment into our homes.  These days our options are endless.

Potting and Container Mixes

Modern day containers and potting mixes make life a breeze. The pre-mixes are a fantastic medium. Pre-mixes have added water crystals and slow release fertilizers, saving you time, and money. The normal potting mixes will only feed your plants for up to six weeks, then you will have to add liquid fertilizers , slow release pellets, or an organic material, such as chicken pellets

The other bonus to pre-made mixes are they are already sterilized. Commercially packed potting mixes are available to suit a wide range of plant types. Check the labels and follow the instructions available. The range is getting broader every year.

Example; You wouldn’t want to use a pre-mix that is for succulents and cactus for your roses!

Containers and watering for  your apartment gardening

Always have a clean container. Check that drainage holes are large enough for adequate drainage. In your apartment it is always handy to have a small bin or bags to dispose of old containers and dieing plants.

Your containers may be exposed to wind and strong sun, well two waterings maybe the only hope during hot summer months. If you only have time to water once a day, do it in the evening. This gives the plant a nice drink through the night. Also you can fill the water trays to keep the roots moist.

Conditions

Temperature- The amount of warmth a plant needs will depend on its natural habitat and where it has been growing before you decide to bring it inside or onto the veranda.. If it has been growing outdoors, it will adjust easily; if it comes from a heated glasshouse,greenhouse or mini greenhouse , it will require a period of acclimatisation. Most plants can adjust to low temperatures as long as water and light are adjusted accordingly.

A difference between day and night temperatures is desirable; it is the extremes of temperature fluctuation that do the damage, such as in rooms that are heated through the day but not during the night.

Humidity

Some cacti and succulents thrive in a hot, dry atmosphere. Most other plants will drop leaves  and buds if the atmosphere is too dry, too long.

Most plants will manage with a relative humidity of 50%.

Some precautions will be necessary to maintain a balance between temperature and humidity.

Many plants grouped together will maintain a reasonable humidity ; a bowl of water set amongst the plants is useful – as temperature rises, moisture is given off and a humid atmosphere is maintained. Solitary pots can stand on pebbles in a tray that has water in it. ( Be sure that the water does not come up to the base of the pot.)

Light

All plants require light for the process of photosynthesis. How they manage indoors depends on the type of plant, natural growing conditions, and available light.

Flowering plants need strong light but not direct sunlight.  Plants  with variegated leaves need good light. Foliage plants like Philodendrons and leafy Begonias need less light. Plants that grow naturally in shade are the ones to choose for low light areas.

Water for Apartment gardening

It is said that plants are not harmed by given too much water at any one time, but by being watered to often. There is no easy formula for watering plants in pots; it is a matter of observation and experience. Pots can be lifted easily can be “felt” to be dry- they will be much than when the soil is moist all the way down.

When the top of the mix is moist to touch, water is not required; when in doubt, part the potting mix and check how far down it appears dry. If it is dry at 2cm below the surface, water it,  but see that it is a good soaking; then leave it alone until it begins to dry out again.

Do not let a pot dry out completely . If this happens by accident, plunge the pot into a container of water and leave it until air bubbles cease rising to the surface, then stand off the ground and allow it to drain well.

Always use water at room temperature- very cold water can be a great shock to a plant. Plants need less water in cold weather and when they are dormant.

Proudly supported by     www.apartment-gardening-homes.com

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!