Potted Plant To Give To A Friend

closeup of multicolored petaled rosesBuy or grow a pot plant for a friend

Potted plants are really great plants that can easily be grown either indoors or outdoors. If you are thinking about giving one as a gift I would encourage you to grow it yourself. You could buy potted plants online from a store or you can grow it with a lot of love, right at your home? However if you do choose to buy a gift and send it for any reason (time is a good one) then read this here on shopping online. Here are a few things you should keep in mind when growing your own potted plant.

Make Sure You Supply All Their Soil

Potted plants are different from rooted plants in the sense they aren’t able to grow their roots deep down into the ground for nutrients. It is your job to supply the plant with the soil so it can get the nutrients it needs to grow. You also need to make sure you provide plenty of water. A potted plant grows in a pot and it will only have access to the things you give it.

Make Sure The Soil Is Mixed Just Right

Since you are fully responsible for the soil you have to make sure it’s not too thick and not too light. You have to strike the right sunlight balance if you want the plant to grow the right way. If the soil is too thick it can end up choking the roots. If on the other hand it’s too light it will have a hard time holding water. You have to find a happy medium. You want the soil to be light yet have a little thickness to it as well.

Wind Can Be Good & Badperson holding beige and white flower bouquet

First, it is important you know plants need some wind. Wind does two very important things for potted plants. It helps clean off the leaves and it helps strengthen the plant. If there is too much dust sitting on the plant it can limit its ability to absorb carbon dioxide which is needed for the plant to grow healthy and strong. Wind helps get rid of dust. Too much wind, on the other hand, can cause the plant to break. If you are growing your plant indoors where these is no wind you will need to wipe the leaves off by hand.

Fertilize If You Need To

Most people think fertilizer is a necessity. It isn’t. Fertilizer should be looked at as extra food. If the soil doesn’t provide all the nutrients the plant needs you will need to give it some fertilizer. Fertilizer can be the difference between a potted plant that is barely making it and one that is very strong and vivacious.

Make Sure The Plant Gets The Right Amount Of Sunlightblooming pink flower

Sunlight is a vital part of a plant’s growth. Without sunlight, it will whither up and die. The amount of sunlight the plant gets will depend on the type of plant it is. You will need to do a little research to figure out how much sunlight your plant will need. You will also need to do a little experimenting. Put the plant in various spots around your home. Check on it on a daily basis to see how it’s doing. If the plant is getting too much sunlight it will start to die very quickly. Adjust the amount of sunlight slowly and see how the plant reacts.

Re-pot The Plant

As the plant grows you will need to re-pot it. Otherwise, it will outgrow the old pot. Some plants can be trimmed down and remain in the same pot. Others will need to be placed in a bigger pot to continue growing and maturing.

There are occasions where a plant is not appropriate like valentines day where you would want to send roses 🙂

Shopping On The Internet

red and gold beaded necklace

It is hard to dispute the wonderful benefits that online shopping can offer just about anyone. The best way to get the most value for your buck while shopping via the Internet is to do a bit of research in advance. By studying the information that follows, you will have the tools to be a champion shopper.

Before you being to shop on the Internet, make sure your antivirus software is up to date. Dubious websites surround online shopping experiences. There are even those that are simply looking to infect computers with viruses. Be cautious when using any website for shopping, whether you think they are safe or not.

If you have questions while shopping, look for a live chat function on the online store. Many big brands (and even some boutique stores) now have this functionality. You can chat immediately with a customer service representative to fix any issues or answer any questions before you purchase. That can give you a lot of peace of mind.

Keep an eye on your bank and credit card accounts. If you are shopping online, don’t wait for the end of the month to review your finances. Check your account online periodically to make sure that there are no extra charges. If you notice anything amiss, get in contact with your bank or credit card company as soon as possible.

Find sizing charts on any clothing site you use. Buying clothes online can be difficult because you can’t try the item on. But, many online clothes retailers offer size charts that can help a great deal. This will help you from purchasing a size that is much too big or small for you.

In order to save on shipping fees, it is best to get everything you need in one order. If you do not do it this way, you will have to pay a separate shipping fee for each order you make. This will end up costing you a fortune in the long run.

Sign up on online communities that focus on finding bargains online. Forum members post their best bargain finds and daily deals for other members to enjoy. This is a great way to stay posted on the bargains that pop up every day. You just never know if something that you want goes on sale.

If you have purchases that are not urgent to make online, wait until the holidays. Brick and mortar retailers love throwing holiday sales at times like Independence Day, or Presidents Day. The Internet mimics this often. Some online merchants offer big discounts and/or free shipping on holidays.

Do comparison shopping before making any purchases. This is true to for traditional shopping, butfan of 100 U.S. dollar banknotes online shopping makes it really simple. All you need to do is a quick web search for the product and see what prices come up. If there’s a better price out there, you’ll typically know pretty quickly.

Online shopping is a wonderful thing in that it really does put the world at your fingertips. It is important, though, to know a few tricks and tips before hitting the keyboard and spending some money. By keeping the above information close at hand, you can take full advantage of everything the online marketplace has to offer.

Valentines Day Flowers To Show Your Love

5 Of The Best Valentines Day Flowers To Show Your Love

When you think of Valentine’s Day you think of flowers. It is by far the most common gift given on this very special day of love. It is a tradition that dates back to the 1700s. And still today that tradition holds strong all over the world. Flowers are one of the most romantic gifts a man could ever give a woman. Add that with some chocolate and you too may be in for a special treat by the end of the night.

bed of red roses in bloom

The problem is most guys have no idea what flowers they should get. Well, don’t worry because I am here to help. Here are 5 of the best flowers for Valentine’s Day.

Roses – Roses will always be number one. They are very delicate flower that sends a message of love. You only buy red roses for someone you truly love and care about. Did you know there are over 150 different types of roses? It’s true and all of them have different meanings. You have white roses, pink roses, yellow roses, orange roses and even black roses. This means no matter what the occasion, be it Valentine’s Day or a birthday, roses can fit the bill as the perfect gift.

Lilies – Lilies are another type of flower that is extremely popular around Valentine’s Day. They are very romantic yet elegant all at the same time. Lilies are very classy. And just like roses, they too send a message of love. And while lilies come in a variety of different colors, the most popular one is white.

Carnations – Carnations are great because of their price. If you know anything about roses you know they are quite expensive. Carnations on the other hand are way more affordable. They are very feminine and make the perfect gift for the woman in your life.

Tulips – Simple, elegant, romantic. Those are the three words that best describe tulips. These are for the woman who enjoys simple things. A woman who isn’t overly complicated. During the season of love, thousands upon thousands of Tulips are always sold.assorted flowers

Alstroemeria – This is probably a flower you have never heard of. Yet, it is extremely popular around Valentine’s Day. It is often compared to the lily as they have a lot of similarities. As a matter of fact, the Alstroemeria is often called the Lily of the Incas. And while you probably can’t pronounce the name, just know they make a great gift for that special someone in your life.

As you can imagine there are literally hundreds, maybe even thousands, of different flowers you can give as a give for a special occasion. The ones I have listed in this article are the top 5 when it comes to sending a message of love. Though Valentines Day was the focus of this article, truth be told you can give these flowers at any time and for any reason.

To learn more about each of them do a little research online. There you will be able to better understand the different meanings. Once you find the one you want to get visit one of the many online flower shops and make your purchase. It’s quick, easy and secure.

They helped me so I sent them a box of yummies

bogged-down-on-my-quadbike

I got stuck in the mud while riding my quad bike out to drop off some fish guts. There were 4 teenagers sitting on the beach that noticed my trouble. Often today’s teenagers would just sit there and laugh – but not these guys; they happily came over to give their time and muscle to get me unstuck. Nice eh!

Ordinarily, when someone helps me out I would buy them a bottle of wine as a gift or a bunch of flowers if they were inclined to appreciate that type of gift. But these guys were too young for that so I thought about what I could buy online and have delivered to their parent’s house as a thank you. Teenagers all like chocolate, biscuits, cake and all kinds of goodies so I figured this was a perfect solution. So after a quick Google, I found an online gift basket site that had a good selection and chose a hamper with mostly sweet products in it.

gift basket
The basket I sent

This is what I sent, it was well received and reminded me that it is so easy to take others’ generosity for granted. How easy was it for me to do a quick search online and find a suitable present for these guys. Update: I recently needed to find a suitable flower site in Australia for a thank-you gift. This one lets you search for an online florist in the header of the site

Removing Those Stubborn Garden Weeds And Other Great Horticulture Tips

TIP! Your plants will respond better to gradual changes of environment. Leave them outside in sunlight for a couple of hours on the initial day.

Environmentally-conscious gardening requires dedication to following best practices at all times. Good organic horticulture techniques can be very useful in this context. Nurturing your organic garden ensures that your veggies are bigger and your flowers are more beautiful. Follow these tips to make your organic garden stand out above the rest.

TIP! Try planting seeds in pots, and then transferring the seedlings to your garden. This will help the plants make it to full growth.

Turn your tool handles into convenient rulers. Handles of things such as rakes, hoes or shovels make excellent measuring instruments. Lay the handles of said tools on the ground where it is flat and there is no interference, such as gravel, and stretch a measuring tape along one side. Then, with a permanent marker, you want to label distances. Now you will always possess a large ruler ready for your use in the garden.

TIP! When you’re out and about in the garden, particularly in the fall, keep an eye out for sink bugs. Stink bugs prefer peppers, beans, tomatoes, and various varieties of fruits.

Plant annuals and biennials to make your flower beds brighter. Fast growing biennials and annuals will brighten a garden and permit you to change looks from one season to another. They are very useful for filling in the gaps between perennials and shrubs in a sunny area. The most popular varieties to use include petunia, zinnia, cosmos, snapdragon, marigold, hollyhock, and sunflower.

Climbing Plants

TIP! If you find that you have soil that has high amounts of alkaline, mix used coffee grounds throughout the soil. The coffee grounds are a very inexpensive way to add acid back into the dirt.

Climbing plants and vines are great for covering fences and wall structures. Climbing plants are great for hiding hideous fences and walls, and they usually grow within a season. They may also grow through tress and shrubs that are already grown, or you can train them to cover your arbor. Some may need to be attached to a support, and others will attach themselves to any surface using their twining stems or tendrils. You can be sure that varieties such as climbing roses, wisteria, jasmine, clematis and honeysuckle will grow very well.

TIP! If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. This is a safe way to eliminate weeds, as this will not damage the soil.

Start a new garden from seeds. Planting seeds is the most eco-friendly way to start a new garden. The planters used to hold nursery plants are generally not made from eco-friendly materials, and thus get thrown into landfills. Starting from seeds, or buying from one of the few nurseries that use biodegradable planters, prevents this.

TIP! Do you enjoy your mint leaves, but can’t stand how they dominate your garden? Contain their growth with a garden container or large pot instead. You have the option of planting the container with the plant to keep the roots from taking the garden over.

You can prevent pests using other plants or natural materials. Onions and marigolds can help to deter slugs. You can also prevent insect pests by using wood ash like mulch around your trees and shrubs. Natural remedies, like the ones listed, will help reduce the need and usage of harsh chemical pesticides.

TIP! Create your own garden from scratch with seeds, rather than plants. Starting from seed is far less harsh on the environment than using plants you buy at the nursery.

Pest control is one of the hardest things about growing a vegetable garden. You want to avoid spraying harsh chemicals since the vegetables are meant for consumption. You can prevent pests from appearing in the garden by adopting a vigilant attitude. If you find any unwanted pests, try removing them by hand.

TIP! If you are going to grow peas, start them inside rather then planting them outdoors. When you plant them indoors first, the seeds will germinate better.

The water that is leftover from the steamed vegetables is great to pour over them. Tea and coffee grounds can also serve as acidifiers in the soil of your gardenias or rhododendrons. Chamomile tea can be used as an effective fungicide for potted plants.

Organic Horticulture

TIP! Give them a nutritious drink by using the water that you boiled your veggies in. In order to help acidify the soil for plants like gardenias and rhododendrons, you can use coffee and tea grounds.

Organic horticulture can help you develop an appreciation for the taste and freshness of your food. Organic horticulture takes patience and manual labor, but it’s worth it when you start reaping the benefits of your labor.