Tips for Repotting African Violets to Boost Their Blooms

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"African violets are long-lived plants that can grace houseplant collections for up to 50 years. However, repotting African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) occasionally goes a long way toward keeping these plants healthy and blooming prolifically through the years. Signs that your violets need repotting include stunted growth, reduced flowering, pot-bound roots, and drooping leaves.

The following essential tips for repotting African violets will help you complete this task successfully so you can enjoy many more years with your plants."
 
Comments from Better Homes and Gardens

Know what plant needs are to stay healthy and beautiful.

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Perfect Time To Start Your Tomato Seeds Indoors

 

Photo source:  This Is My Garden

"If there is one task that gardeners often worry about more than any other in late winter, it’s trying to figure out when to start their tomato plants indoors from seed at just at the right time. Unfortunately, if you start your seeds indoors too early, it can create all kinds of issues.

Quite often, it forces gardeners to transplant their seedlings into larger containers. In addition, it becomes more and more difficult to get your plants the proper light, let alone find enough space indoors to keep the massive jungle of plants alive and well."  Comment from This Is My Garden

It is important to know when to plant your seeds.  I just plant them when I want to plant them, but don't always get good results.

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Easy Plants You Can Grow From Cuttings

 

Photo Source:  Southern Living

"Sometimes a houseplant starts to look a little leggy and sad and you want to rejuvenate it, or maybe you want to share a favorite plant with a friend. It’s simple to make more baby plants because many common plants are easy to grow from cuttings. When you take a cutting, you typically only need a few inches—or sometimes only one leaf—to create a whole new plant."  Comment from Southern Living

In my opinion, this is one of the most satisfying ways to propagate plants.  You can see the roots growing if they are in a clear container.

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How to Grow and Care for a Spider Plant

 

Photo source:  Martha Stewart

"Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are one of the most popular houseplants—and for good reason. Known for their forgiving nature, spider plants are low-maintenance, hard-to-kill plants with wispy, ribbon-like leaves. These adaptable growers thrive indoors, where their green or variegated foliage adds interest to any space. Thanks to their ability to tolerate a wide range of light and moisture levels, spider plants are especially well-suited to bright, humid environments. We spoke with gardening experts to learn how to care for these easy-going plants—and even how to grow them from seed."  Comment from Martha Stewart.com

Love spider plants!  They love my part of the world.

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Simple Seed-Soaking Trick Helps Garden Seeds Sprout Faster

 

Photo Source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Soaking seeds before planting them mimics the favorable growing conditions after a spring rain. Water wakes up many types of seeds and signals to them that it’s the right time to sprout. So do you need to soak seeds in water before starting them indoors or sowing in your garden? That depends on the type of seeds. Here’s what you need to know about which seeds to soak and how to try this technique correctly."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Great information I did not know!  Very informative . . . check it out.

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Hummingbird Migration Takes an Incredible Journey

 

Photo source:  Birds and Blooms

"It seems almost impossible that a hummingbird could even exist. A bird no bigger than a large beetle, covered with feathers that glow and sparkle in the sun, it hovers on wings that beat more than 50 times per second, dancing in front of colorful flowers to sip sweet nectar. That would make it remarkable enough. But on top of that, some hummingbirds migrate long distances— hundreds of miles, or even thousands—leaving cold climates for the winter and returning in the spring. Read on for insights into how they accomplish these amazing travels."  Comment from Birds and Blooms

The hummingbirds don't come to my part of the world, at least I have never seen them.  I have even put out the feeders in the past.  Very disappointing.

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Seed Starting Calendar

Photo source:  Garden Betty

"If you’re wondering whether it’s a good time to start your seeds inside or when you should put your plants in the ground, you’re in the right place.

With my seed starting calculator, you can quickly find the best time to sow seeds (indoors or outdoors) and transplant seedlings outside."  Comment from Garden Betty

It is so much better to have this calendar than to guess!

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Growing Marigolds With Tomato Plants

 

Photo source:  This Is My Garden

"Did you know that planting and growing marigolds with your tomato plants can be one of the best ways to keep your tomatoes healthy, happy, and most of all, incredibly productive?"  Comment from This Is My Garden

Good information to know as a beginning gardener.

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Make the Best Seed Starting Mix for Dirt Cheap

 

Photo source:  Garden Betty

"The best seed starting mix needs only three ingredients, and you can find them all in your local garden center. Save money with this simple recipe you can easily make at home (without complicated soil amendments and fertilizers)." Comment from Garden Betty

Excellent article with great information.

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Best Companion Plants For Peppers

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"Companion planting is a term with multiple meanings. Companion plants for ornamentals such as hydrangeas are selected for aesthetic purposes. In fruit and vegetable gardens, we select companion plants based on their services to neighboring plants.

The pepper companion plants featured here play various roles in the garden community, enhancing pepper yields through pest reduction, weed management, and soil enhancement."  Comment from Southern Living

Excellent article  for those who love to grow peppers, like me.

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