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Caring for house plants in winter is very important because the special climatic conditions of the inside, stimulate the continuation of the growing cycle. In addition, winter is the best time to implement some defence strategies, which will come in handy in spring.
Houseplants are often species of tropical origin and so are poorly adapted to hot, dry climates in homes. In other cases, for example, for reasons of space, they do not find optimal living conditions in the home environment. It happens, therefore, that with the premature loss of leaves, the possibility of seeing them bloom also disappears. It turns out in retrospect it is often difficult to determine what specific conditions lead to poor health of your houseplants but by observing some elementary rules it is possible to keep your plants healthy during the winter months.
Let's start with the choice of where to place the plants.
Many species do not tolerate temperatures above 15/18°C. The ideal environment is a place that is not too heated and bright but sheltered from drafts of freezing air.
For warmer places, poinsettias,...
Preserving the cut flowers that many people will receive on Valentine's Day is easy but beware of urban legends. Aspirins, sugar packets, copper pennies, a finger of Coca-Cola, can all be described as tricks to preserve cut flowers longer; however, it is good to know that there is little truth to them.
FloraHolland, the Dutch growers' cooperative founded in 1863 and specialising in sales of plants and cut flowers, wanted to see it through in 2009 and sponsored a study, to test all these imaginative remedies. Recreating the home environment, various solutions were tested on cut roses and Lisianthus, such as Aspirin, soft drinks, light drinks, addition of chlorine, coins with or without copper in different dosages, and even cut flower preservatives were added to water.
Tests have shown that all the various remedies provide no benefit over the use of plain tap water. On the contrary, negative effects have been shown in some cases: Aspirin has a disastrous effect on the leaves of Lisianthus, and a high dosage of chlorine turns the leaves of Roses yellow. The only positive results came from specific products (preservatives and nutrients for cut flowers) and from a soda (they used a 7Up in the test): the latter improves tap water in terms of sugar content and acidity level.
The FloraHolland study however recommends using commercially available preservatives for cut flowers, following the doses indicated on the packages. In fact, these products prolong growth in vases, stimulate flowers to open, and help keep the colour alive longer; sugary drinks can give similar results, but it is much more difficult to dose them correctly.
To make cut flowers last longer, we simply need to make sure that we always keep the bouquet fresh and avoid rot, which is inevitable in standing water.
Here are 6 basic rules:
Our Top Tips for your Spring and Summer Garden March 20th marks the first day of spring which means that warmer, brighter days are on the horizon. Our hours of daylight are also starting to increase with each passing day allowing us to spend more time enjoying our gardens. If you’ve neglected your outside spaces during the winter months, then now is the perfect time to get back outside and get them ready for spring. Read on for our top tips for getting your garden back on track this spring.
Install a Water Butt If you haven’t already installed a water butt or two in your garden, then now is the perfect time of year to do so. Attaching a water butt to your guttering or downpipes will prevent waste water from disappearing down the drain, allowing you to store it for future use. As our climate warms up and periods of summer drought become more common, being mindful of your water usage in the garden has never been more important. Installing your water butt now will mean that you can take advantage of all that spring rainfall we usually experience over the next couple of months. You will then have a ready supply of water to ensure your pots, fruit trees, vegetables and flowers can cope with drought conditions more easily.
Our Top Money Saving Gardening Tips Gardening can be an expensive hobby, especially if you regularly purchase non-hardy plants at the height of their flowering season for a spot of instant colour. However, there are a few simple things you can do to ensure your garden looks great throughout the year without spending a fortune.
Create a Compost Bin Making your own compost is easier than you think and is a great way to recycle cardboard, grass cuttings and vegetable peelings. As a general rule, you should make sure your compost making materials are a mix of 50% nitrogen and 50% carbon. Nitrogen rich materials come from grass cuttings and other green garden waste such as weeds or plant cuttings. Whereas carbon rich materials include woody stems of plants and trees and cardboard. You need to ensure your compost bin has a good mix of both materials to ensure that it will probably break down and turn into compost rather than turn into a slightly sludgy mess! It can take several months for your waste materials to turn into compost, but if you start now then you should have a good supply by the autumn. You can then use your homemade compost for mulching and protecting your plants throughout the colder months.
Save and Reuse Plastic Plant Pots Be honest - after planting your new garden centre purchases, what do you do with the pots? Keep them in your garden shed to be reused; pop them in your recycling bin or just throw them in with your general waste? If you just throw them in the bin, then now is the time to stop! Many plastic pots from plant nurseries and garden centres are made of quite robust materials and are perfect for growing your own seedlings in. Make sure you properly wash the pots out first with hot water and washing up liquid or a specialist cleaner to ensure there is no bacteria. Once clean and dry, you can then refill with your choice of potting compost and use them to plant...
Spring is in the Air
After the very changeable winter weather we have experienced over the last few months, we are all very much looking forward to the arrival of spring, as we’re sure most of you are too! Our snowdrops and hellebores have just started to flower, which is a sure sign that the garden is starting to wake up. We are also really excited to see all of our spring bulbs starting to poke through the soil and can’t wait for them to burst into flower over the next few weeks and months.
One area of the garden which we are less than pleased about is our patio and pathways. The winter weather has really taken its toll on all of our hard landscaping to the point where some of us can no longer remember what colour our patio should be! If this sounds familiar to you, then you will love our range of outdoor cleaning products which are perfect for tackling even the toughest dirt and grime.
Planning Ahead for the 2023 Growing Season
We hope you have all had a good start to the year and that you are looking forward to the 2023 growing season? As the hours of daylight start to increase, the MyFarm team are busy planning what we are going to be growing in our allotments and garden vegetable patches this year. Whilst this winter the weather has been fairly unpredictable, alternating between hard frosts and warmer than average temperatures, there are still plenty of jobs which we can be getting on with.
If you’re looking for some inspiration and encouragement to get back outside over the next few weeks, then here are some jobs which the MyFarm team will be tackling.
Get Your Greenhouse Ready for Spring
If your greenhouse is anything like ours, then chances are it has started to turn a slightly unattractive shade of green from a combination of moss and algae. Now is the perfect time of year to give both the inside and outside of your greenhouse a good clean before you start planting your vegetable seedlings. Depending on the size of your greenhouse, the job could take anywhere from a couple of hours to a whole day and is best done on a dry, calm day.
Welcome to the family!
Introducing a new puppy or kitten into your home can stir up a whole range of emotions. There is the excitement of welcoming them in to share your home and meeting the rest of your family. The nervousness of hoping he or she will form a bond with you all or, if you already have existing pets, the worry as to whether they will get on with each other.
Whether you are a first time owner or a seasoned pro, you will all face the same challenges of toilet training; encouraging them not to chew everything in sight or dig up every inch of your garden.
Perfect products for your home
Here at myproductstore we have the ideal solutions to help train your pets to enjoy living in their new home and garden as much as you do.
One of the first tasks to do as a new puppy or kitten owner is training them to go to the toilet in an appropriate place. For puppies this will generally be in your garden or outside space, whereas for kittens it is likely to be in a designated litter tray. However, training can take time and accidents will happen along the way. This is why we have created GET OFF Wash Off Indoor Cleaner Neutraliser 500ml, which is...
Let’s Celebrate The Humble Woodlouse
This month we would like to talk about woodlice and how amazing they are for your garden. There are 30 species of woodlouse native to the UK and they range in colour from brown to grey and even pink. Although many people refer to them as insects or bugs, woodlice are actually crustaceans which means they are closely related to crabs and shrimps.
Woodlice are amazing at recycling
Finding woodlice in your home is not considered desirable, however if you find them in your garden then it is a good sign that you have created a healthy ecosystem. Woodlice feed on dead and decaying matter which means they are important recyclers in the garden. If you have a garden or allotment compost heap, then you may have come across numerous woodlouse living there feeding off your dead plant matter. You will also find them hiding under rocks or amongst fallen leaves as they love the dark and damp conditions which they provide.
Are woodlice bad for the garden?
Contrary to popular belief, woodlice do not damage plants so if you see them in your flower beds then you should leave them where they are rather than attempting to remove them. Unlike aphids or blackflies, they will not destroy healthy plants.Woodlice also provide a vital food source for other creatures such as shrews, toads, centipedes, some spiders and hedgehogs.
Finding woodlice in the home
Woodlice are attracted to damp conditions...
My Farm Products Receive Organic Approval
We are really excited to announce that two products in the My Farm range have recently been approved for use in organic systems by the Organic Farmers & Growers (OF& G) society.
The organic approval applies to Ecofective Pro Root Enhancer and Ecofective Pro Flower Promoter and is a fantastic recognition for the My Farm products. If you are an organic market gardener, smallholder or allotmenteer then you can now use both products safe in the knowledge that they meet all your organic requirements.
