completely overgrown

I'm sure I haven't found everything yet, I still haven't even been tothe back of my property - completely overgrown with a large section ofwatery muck. It's a skinny long lot - 50' across by 432' long, theinterior of a block. Up near the house I've been tidying up. Foundthat some of the 'weeds' I pulled last year are this year's lilies.Still have to talk to the neighbors about the yew bushes on the propertyline - overgrown and now home to a mulberry tree growing up inside thehedge. Not a good situation.I have found 3 large rosebushes - red, yellow and orange-yellow striped.One miniature yellow rosebush, lots of day lilies, azaleas.In the back yard, I've made two 4'x4' raised beds, planted 4 tomatoes inone and in the other 1 cherry tomato, 2 eggplants and 2 green bellpeppers. The 4 tomatoes are going great. Nothing is doing well in the2nd bed. Tomorrow I'll take my sister's advice and check to see ifthey're rootbound. I was in a rush and planted them in deep twilight,so I might not have noticed at the time.My lilyturf doubled in size since last year, one of the few plants thatsurvived the trip from my last house. One other transplant survived, asucculent, and it's blooming like crazy! I have had these things for 10years at least and this is the first time I've had them bloom! I'llhave to see if I can get a picture up.

growing dahlias

Dahlias originate in Mexico and they love sun and poorer soil. Excess moisture destroys the tubers, thus they should be planted in areas that drain well. Yours may not yet have bloomed owing to weather conditions. Summer began last week but in some parts of the country you would never know it owing to overcast days and rainfall. I would not expect blooms until late June, early July. Depending on the variety you planted they will be taller or shorter. Excess vegetation often means too much nitrogen in the soil. Unlike mums, they do not need to be pinched back.

Iris or Dancing Iris

Neomerica gracilis is a tropical iris that is native from S. Mexico to Brazil. When the Apostle Plant blooms it is an indicator that spring has arrived in the greenhouse. Blooming Time: Late Winter-Early Spring Flowers are up to 2 inches across, the outer perianth segment are white with yellow and brown markings, the inner segments are blue. The flower is lightly scented and lasts only one day. Culture: Neomerica gracilis need intermediate temperatures and a humid environment. They do best in part shade. I grow mine in 40% shade. A suitable compost consists of 2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part sand. Keep the compost evenly moistened but not saturated. Fertilize weekly with a balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. Propagation: Neomerica gracilis are propagated by division or by removal of plantlets that form after flowering

Fast growing

These are lovely, and so fragrant. Are you putting this outside, orkeeping it in a pot? I have a link for you. The woman who writes thearticle, had one in a pot for years, saying she only fertilized it 2xper year. The fertilizer label #s refer to amounts of eachelement.N-P- K. The higher middle # - for potassium, is what you want,to promote bloom, and fruit. Follow the directions, if you choose to buy a prepared chemicalfertilizer, for correct amount to mix with water. You might run intoproblems if the water is too cold, in winter, or if your tap water istoo acid or alkaline, depending on the plant's needs. Some plants dobetter on filtered water, or water which has stood overnight, to getto room temp, and to let some of the chlorine gas out. Try to find anorganic feed, though. There are many on the market now, and the growthwill be much healthier.Ask an organic grower which is best. Maybe aseaweed fertilizer, or just good compost added in spring, right ontop, will be enough.Osmocote is a safe, easy, no mix, slow release pellet, so I use it onmy house plants in spring. It feeds gradually. You add based upon sizeof the plant's pot. You don't want to overfeed it, so, find out if ithas already been fed, before giving it more. If you want to pot it into a bigger pot, with some gravel at the verybottom, for drainage, mix some aged compost& manure with a storebought soil-less mix, or purchased rich loam. I think it would want tobe acidic, and might like to be kept evenly moist, but I don't knowfor sure. If so, you might add sphagnum moss to the mix, and don't letit get dry below the top 2" or so. Keep it near sunlight in winter, or provide grow lights. It will liketo go out in summer, if you can manage it. Do give it time togradually build up to the sun, in 15 min. increments at a time, indappled sun, ideally, for it's first exposure, or permanently. If it'skept in a pot, it may not be able to take full sun all day unless youwater it a lot, which will help if you use the gradual releasingpellet, so it always gets some food with each watering.If the soil is good, and it has been fed, then, you won't feed it fora while, and prune to keep the shape you want. You may want to getsome pruners, with a tapered tip - like for a Bonsai. Bonsai growersor stores where they sell Bonsai tools will be a help, there. Afterthe flowers, don't prune, allow the berries to form, if you like them. I found a description in an old catalog. It is also called OrangeJessamine / Murraya paniculata - zones 9 - 10. Full sun(if planted, orwatched)to part sun /" Upright evergreen shrub. Glossy light greenfoliage. Fragrant bell-shaped, pure white flowers in early summer.Fast growing( that's where the pruning comes in),good quick filler.NEEDS RICH SOIL, AMPLE WATER, FREQUENT FEEDINGS - good soil + a goodorganic feed, then. mature size;6'high x 4' spread.You could prune itfrom the sides, then trim back the top. It could be kept for manyyears as a topiary in a pot, in a rounded side - wider at the bottom,or flat sided, slightly wider at the bottom, in an obelisk form. Youmight like to keep the height from 2' to 3.5 ', and allow the sides towiden, and keep it in a rounded top dome shape - thinking of thesurface area of each design, covered with flowers, then berries, andwhich shape you like the best.I think you can grow plants from 3 - 5 " cuttings of Jasmine , but notsure.Hope this helps. Now I'm thinking I'd like one too. There aredifferent types, so I'll be looking into the various types. Yours willhave tons of orange oval berries. Maybe you can try growing from seed,if you let berries mature and age to a shrivel.'Hope you enjoy this plant for many years. If you tire of pruning itand re-potting it every few years, it would do well in a warm climategarden, where it can grow a bit more, and still get pruned, but lessextremely.It would be a good focal point in a garden - espedially inbloom. The blooms will stay longer if you take the plant out of thesun, just as the blooms are opening, then back into the sun to produceberries.

Anthurium Plant

Anthurium including the crop from the Araceae family.The crop had beautiful leaves this was still allied with several popular decorative plants a kind aglaonema, philodendron, the taro decorated, and alokasia.In the family araceae, anthurium was the genus with the number of types of most.Estimated had approximately 1000 kinds of the clan member anthurium.This crop including the crop kind evergreen or did not know the dormancy period.In the wild, usually this crop lives in a manner the epiphyte by clinging to the tree trunk.Also could live in a terestrial manner in the foundation of the forest.The main attraction from anthurium was the form of his leaves that were beautiful, unique, and varied.The leaves generally are dark green with the vein and big and prominent leaves bones.So as to make this crop noose appear solid but continue to broadcast elegance when mature.Not surprised when this crop had the luxurious and exclusive impression.Dimasa then, anthurium often became the garden decoration and the palace of kingdoms in Java.It seems, was worshipped as the crop of the kings.Generally anthurium was distinguished to two that is the kind anthurium the leaves and the kind anthurium the flower.Anthurium the leaves had the attraction especially from his DAU forms that were special.Whereas anthurium the flower more featured the diversity of the good flower results hibrid and the species.Usually the kind anthurium the flower was made for the piece flower.

Orchid Flowers

The ethnic group's member tended to have the organs that sukulen or "plump": thick with the content of high water.Therefore he could live in the condition for the availability of low water.Water was received from rain, the drop, dew, or steam in air.Nevertheless, the orchid was not found in the area of the desert because perakaran him was not intensive.The orchid liked the sunlight but indirectly so as he is normally found in the wild as floor plants of the forest or under the auspices of.As decorative plants, the orchid kept in space.The fibre root, not in.Epiphyte kinds that is developing the root sukulen and adhered to his place tree trunk grew, but did not damage the foster-mother's tree.There were also those who grew geofitis, with the other term terrestria meaning that growing in the land with roots in the land.There is also that was saprofit, grew to the dry media and rotten woods of the leaves that rotted to humus.To the surface of the root often was found the root fungus (mikoriza) that bersimbiosis with the orchid.The stick of the orchid beruas-part.The orchid that lived in the land (the land orchid) his stick was short and tended to resemble the roots.In the meantime, his orchid of the stick epiphyte grew good, often thickened and protected the layer of the candle to prevent evaporation being abundant.The growth of the stick could be "memanjang" (monopodial) or "widened" (simpodial), depended his genus.The orchid leaves are usually oval memanjang with leaves bones memanjang also, typical the leaves monokotil.The leaves could also thicken and function as penyimpan water.The orchid have the shape of typical and to penciri that distinguished him from the ethnic group's other member.Orchids were compiled compound, emerged from the stem of the flower that memanjang, emerged from the leaves armpit.His flower bilateral symmetry.The sheet of the flower Sheath (sepal) usually coloured resembled the flower crown (so as to be mentioned tepal).One sheet of the flower crown was modified formed a kind of "tongue" that protected a structure of accessories that brought the stamen and putik.The stamen had the stem was very short with two heads of the main point had the shape of the small disc (was mentioned "pollinia") and most protected by the small structure that must be opened by insects penyerbuk.

Aglaonema Anthurium Adenium philodendron

Puring
Sejak dahulu kita semua sudah mengenal jenis tanaman puring sebagai tanaman pagar atau tanaman yang suka ada di pemakaman , sejauh ini pula persepsi orang awam akan jenis tanaman ini hanyalah sebagai tanaman kuburan sehingga petani yang mau berbudi daya jenis tanaman ini selalu terbentur kendala pemasaran dan selama itu pula tanaman ini selalu dihargai murah dan hanya dijadikan sebagai pelengkap di kios-kios pedagang tanaman hias .
Penyebaran jenis tanaman ini sebenarnya sangat luas mulai dari India, asia tenggara , Australia , dan Negara tropis di amerika latin . Sudah tentu jenis yang ada pun sangat banyak .

Media Tanam Anthurium
Hampir semua tanaman hias memerlukan media yg gemur, pouros, subur, cukup mengadung, bahan organic, bebas dari hama, aerasi dan drainese yang baik, untuk menciptakan kondisi tersebut maka media tanam yang ideal adalah campuran bahan organik dan bahan anorganik.
Bahan organik dapat berupa cacahan pakis, kompos, humus, serutan kayu (tai gergaji), arang sekam, cocopeat, dll. Sedangkan bahan anorganik berupa tanah, pasir, pasir malang.
Komposisi media yang digunakan untuk setiap nursery pasti berbeda-beda tergantung dari kondisi iklim setempat, campuran media tanam yang dapat digunakan diantaranya :
sekam bakar dan cacahan pakis dengan perbandingan 4 : 1 untuk pupuk bisa menggunakan dekastar atau osmokot atau bisa juga pupuk kandang yang telah di fermentasi.
sekam bakar, andam ( kaliandra ) dan pupuk kadang yang telah steril dengan perbandingan 1:1:1.
humus, pupuk kandang steril dan pasir malang yang telah diayak halus dengan perbandingan 5:5:2
untuk menjaga kelembaban media dan mengatur drainese yang baik maka pertama-tama pot diisi terlebih dahulu dengan pecahan bata merah, pecahan genting, Styrofoam, dice coco ( sabut kelapa yang dipotong dadu ), sampai ¼ pot setelah itu baru media tanamnya diisi hingga penuh.
Untuk menjaga tanaman terhindar dari jamur, cendawan dan bakteri sebaiknya media harus dikukus setidaknya 1 jam. Selamat mencoba…...!

Tips Aglaonema
Botanically known as Chlorophytum Comosum, these tough and resilient clump-forming plants are probably the most popular of all houseplants because they can really thrive on neglect, yet present a remarkable fountain of gracefully arching thin stalks adorned with baby plants, resembling miniature versions of themselves. Thus, they are perfect for hanging baskets where their uniqueness is beautifully displayed. They’re so fascinating and lovely to look at! I love watching these beauties with their grass-like linear leaves often striped green, with yellow or white center, culminated in little tufts/rosettes of leaves tossed into the air on their wiry stalks, giving the plants the appearance of spiders dangling from strings….hmm…without fear of the creepy crawlies, moving all over me!! ;;)No wonder, it’s commonly known as Spider Plant, Ribbon Plant or Airplane Plant, which is so befitting its appearance!The wild species has green leaves, but most cultivars are variegated. 'Mandaianum' has a yellow stripe down the center of each leaf, 'Variegatum' has white stripes on the margins of the leaves with green down the center and 'Vittatum' has recurved leaves with white central stripes.Spider Plant is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and maintain. It thrives in the shade or bright light. Can tolerate some direct morning sunlight too! When in active growth, it should be watered regularly to keep the soil moist, but sparingly during the wet seasons. Occasional spraying of their leaves is recommended to prevent brown tips. Propagation is easily done by dividing the main root mass or by removing and culturing/rooting the ‘spiders’. The latter, being the better choice because it’s simpler and by not disturbing the main root mass and allowing them to be pot bound (overcrowded in their pots), they’ll produce more plantlets! More F.O.C plants to beautify my home!Spider plant is also known to cleanse the air we breathe! It’s placed in the top three of houseplants that are efficient for the removal of formaldehyde from indoor air. The other two are Philodendron sp. and Epipremnum sp. Other air purification/filtration plants are Chrysanthemum, Gerbera, Dracaena, Boston Fern, Palms such as Bamboo/Lady/Parlour Palms, Aglaonema, Spathiphyllum, etc.Therefore, it’s not surprising that I’m soooo… fascinated with these Spider Plants! I've propagated many pots of these lovely plants to keep me happy and smiling always, as well as healthy too!!

Aglaonema plants
Aglaonema is a genus of about 20 species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to the tropical swamps and rainforests of southeastern Asia from Bangladesh east to the Philippines and north to southern China. No common name is widely used, though they are sometimes called “Chinese evergreen”.
They are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 20-150 cm in height. The leaves are alternate on the stems, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, dark to medium green, 10-45 cm long and 4-16 cm broad, depending on the species. The flowers are relatively inconspicuous, white or greenish-white spathes that can give way to red berries.
Species:
Aglaonema brevispathum
Aglaonema commutatum
Aglaonema costatum
Aglaonema crispum
Aglaonema hookerianum
Aglaonema modestum
Aglaonema nebulosum
Aglaonema nitidum
Aglaonema pictum
Aglaonema rotundum
Aglaonema siamense
Aglaonema simplex
They are popular houseplants and ornamental plants for offices and shopping malls because they are among the easiest houseplants to grow. Numerous cultivars have been selected, including plants with variegated leaves. They tolerate a wide range of light, as well as neglect, and are relatively resistant to pests.
Chinese evergreens are very tolerant plants that do well in a variety of settings. Several species are available, some with dark green leaves and others that are variegated. Aglaonema flourish for years.
They prefer indirect light and partial shade. They do best in shadow-less light, such as a north window. They prefer heavy soil, which should be kept moist but not soggy. They do not tolerate the cold; they should not be exposed to temperatures below 10°C, with optimal growing conditions between 20°C and 30°C. High air humidity is also important. They are easy to propagate from cuttings, which will root in a glass of water, or from divisions.

Easiest houseplant
No time to take care of a plant? Try Chinese evergreen.
the leaves are so beautiful on Chinese evergreens that you just want to reach out and touch them. Glossy greens, silvers, and grays with stripes, spots, and streaks create a subtle tapestry of wonder. And when you learn all the qualities of this forgiving and carefree houseplant, you're going to wish that someone had told you about it sooner.
It's Simple
Chinese evergreens (Aglaonema sp.) are easy right from the start. You can find them just about anywhere-at the grocery store, nursery, or garden center. You can even order them by mail. There are lots of selections; so look for one with the leaf pattern you love, or try more than one. Use them in different rooms throughout your home, and then decide which plant is your favorite.
You don't need a green thumb to grow these. Care is not a problem, as Chinese evergreens require just a few things. They thrive in low light, so you can place them in locations where other houseplants won't grow. Being tropicals, they like warm, slightly humid conditions with room temperatures of at least 65 degrees. Leaf tips can turn brown if the air is too dry. Water well, let drain, and then let the soil dry slightly before doing so again. Overwatering is the most frequent way houseplants are killed.
Gardener's Secret
A common error beginners make when buying houseplants is transplanting new ones directly into decorative pots. all of a sudden, these beautiful plants start looking poorly, and the leaves begin drooping and falling off. The solution? Don't repot. It's much easier to keep it in the plastic container it came in. just place a plastic saucer or dish inside your decorative pot to catch the drainage.
Why is this better for your plants? Lots of reasons. It avoids the risk of transplant shock. You can water them where they are; or lift the plastic containers out of the pots, water them in the sink, and then let them drain. If the leaves get dusty, you can place the plastic containers in the shower to gently clean the foliage. It also makes it easy to give plants a summer vacation outside in the shade.
Is your plant leaning to the side? just rotate the plastic container inside the pot to balance the amount of light received. Remember, too, that large plants in glazed pots can be heavy to move. But if you keep them in their plastic containers, you can lift them out of the glazed pots and move the pots separately.
Nice Surprise
In the spring and summer, small blooms that resemble those of the common peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.) may appear on your Chinese evergreens. However, the leaves are the real show. NASA has determined that these plants help clean the air indoors. So not only are they easy and carefree, Chinese evergreens also work hard when you have things to do.
CHINESE EVERGREEN
At a Glance
Light: low to bright, indirect light (New selections with white and yellow in their leaves, such as'Deborah,' need brighter light.)
Temperature: Keep warm, with a minimum temperature of around 65 degrees. (New selections such as 'Stars' and 'Emerald Star' can take temperatures as low as 40 degrees.)
Moisture: Water well, let drain, and then allow soil to dry slightly before watering again. They also like a little humidity
Feed: In spring and summer, use a liquid plant food (10-15-10).
Expect to pay: $8-$35, depending on the size of the plant and where it's purchased.