The sensitive air roots of orchids can get fertilizer burn or even rot if the water or liquid fertilizer is too “hard”, in other words, containing too many minerals or soluble salts. The easiest way to understand how hard your water is is in terms of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). What is the best TDS […]
Fertilizing Orchids, TDS and PPM (All You Should Know) Read More »
It’s hard to believe. But, the grass trimmings in the compost bin can actually catch fire spontaneously, and become a fire hazard to your house and neighbors. What can cause a compost pile to self-ignite? Compost piles can self-ignite when the heat generated during decomposition is trapped inside a dry, insulated, and compacted pile with
7 Conditions When Your Compost Can (Really) Self-Ignite Read More »
Are you looking to expand your orchid collection, but not sure which to choose? We have created this comprehensive guide to nine most common genera in the family of orchids (Orchidaceae), namely Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Dendrobium, Cymbidium, Vanda, Miltoniopsis, Paphiopedilum, Oncidium, and Bulbophyllum. We will identify their different features, their preferred growing conditions, and 46 species
46 Common Orchid Types as Houseplants (With Pictures) Read More »
Air layering is probably the only way to clone a Bonsai or your favorite fruit tree that is not true to seed. But getting it done right can take some skills. Most air layering attempts fail because of improper ring barking or girdling, inappropriate temperature, wrong or insufficient growing medium, the use of a clear
6 Reasons Why Air Layering Can Fail (& How to Succeed) Read More »
Your body thermometer and food thermometer may be at your fingertips. But can you just stick any thermometer in your garden to check the soil temperature? What are their differences? Food thermometers can be used to check soil temperature but they are not ideal because of their short (4 inches or 10 cm) and thin
Soil, Compost & Meat Thermometers: Any Differences? Read More »
It is frustrating when the leaves start turning yellow and the plant just stops growing for weeks. Sometimes stunted plants and seedlings recover and are off to the races after stalling for some time, and sometimes they don’t. How can you tell when stunted plants will recover, and when they won’t? Stunted growth caused
Do Stunted Plants & Seedlings Recover? (with Solutions) Read More »
No wonder why many people want to grow aerial roots on their houseplants, orchids, bonsai, and even succulents. Not only do they add a special look to the plant, but they also help absorb moisture and nutrients in the air, and stabilize the plant. So how do you stimulate aerial roots? The natural approach is
4 Effective Ways to Promote Aerial Roots (Explained) Read More »
When white fuzz appears on seedlings or seeds, many people mistake it for mold and throw their plants away. Chances are it is healthy root hair that often develops on the young roots of seedlings and even on aerial roots. Being able to tell the difference between root hair and mold is important especially
Fuzzy Roots: Root Hair or Mold? (How to Identify) Read More »
You’ve heard all the buzz about vermicompost, or “worm poop”. The organic substance decomposed by worms is soft like humus and is often used as a type of compost in organic gardens. How good is vermicompost as a fertilizer when compared to the other fertilizer types? Vermicompost is the best fertilizer compared to synthetic NPK
Is Vermicompost The Best Fertilizer? (4 Types Compared) Read More »
When you see fine roots coming out of the stems of your Jelly bean plant (Sedum rubrotinctum), don’t panic! Like many other succulents with stems, roots that grow above ground or “aerial roots” are fairly common. Although they are not bad for the plant, they are trying to tell you something about the plant’s health.
Why My Succulent Has Aerial Roots (Is It Bad?) Read More »
