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Audrey Woods

How Large Should The Tanks Be in Aquaponics?

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How Large Should The Tanks Be In Aquaponics

Setting up an aquaponic system is not easy but not rocket science either. One of the many factors to consider is the size of the fish tank. Identifying the right size of the fish tank is very important as it determines how many fish you should rear in it, what type of fish you may rear in it, and the volume of water in the tank determines the size of the plant bed. 

Choosing the right tank will help both your plants and fish to thrive and make your aquaponic system run smoothly.

Factors that Determine the Size of Aquaponics Fish Tank

The right size of the tanks will obviously depend on your purpose. You may want to set up a small system on your counter top. Some are more serious about producing food and need a larger tank and some may even look at aquaponics as a business venture.

Whatever your reason for going an aquaponic, there are two factors that you should keep in mind in determining the size of the fish tank:

Fish Type and Size

Fish are one of the main components in an aquaponic system. They provide food and fertilizer for the plants. There are many types of fish that can be used but not all fish can be used in aquaponics. 

In choosing fish to rear, make sure to know the adult size of the fish. Some fish need space to thrive. A goldfish can thrive in a minuscule counter top aquarium where as catfish can grow up to 40-50 lbs so they need a large fish tank of at least 250 gallons. Koi also require large fish tanks to thrive while cods are only suitable on high-density tanks to suppress their territorial behavior. 

Stocking Density

Aside from the type and size, the number of fish that you put in the system is also important. When determining the capacity of the fish tank, it is common to look at total fish length or weight rather than the number of fish. The idea is that bigger fish need more space. If you want to rear big fishes, you should choose a tank that can accommodate them.

For smaller-sized tanks with less than 50 gallons of water, the recommended stocking is 1 inch of fish for every 1 gallon of water. So, a 10-gallon tank can hold ten 1-inch fish or five 2-inch fish. For larger tanks that are over 50 gallons, the recommended stocking density is 1 lb of fish for every 5-10 gallons of water or 1-2 fish per 10 gallons of water. 

Stocking more than 1 lb of fish for every 3 gallons of water is not encouraged as it may increase the possibility for fish stress, disease and overall imbalance in the aquaponic system.

One of the best fish to rear in aquaponics is tilapia. Most of its species thrive in the system. Most people start with a fish tank of at least 500 litres. This gives approximately 130 gallons which allow enough room for between 20 and 40 full grown tilapia.

Plant Bed

The volume of water in the fish tank determines the maximum size of your grow or plant bed. The aquaponics system works on the principle of the fish waste becoming food for the plants. The plants need the fish waste to thrive. On the other hand, they act as powerful filters and clean the water for the fish. 

Buildup of fish waste in the water can be toxic for your fish. This is why adequate filtration is needed through growing more plant beds to recycle the amount of water in the tank. Fish tank to plant bed ratio should be applied. In general, the rule of thumb is 1 square foot of 12” plant bed needs 6 gallons of water. 

Selecting the right fish tank

Growing fish in aquaponics is quite complex. Selecting fish tanks to the system will make your system right from the start. Here are some considerations in choosing fish tanks:

  • Round fish tanks are recommended for aquaponics. Rectangular tanks allow solid waste to collect and rot in the corners. 
  • Tanks should ideally have a central drain in the tank’s bottom or a setup that allows solid waste to get out of the tank easily. 
  • Choose a fish tank that is sturdy, durable, non-toxic, food-safe and heavy-duty to withstand water pressure.

For more information read our articles on the benefits of aquaponics and the disadvantages of aquaponics.

What Kind Of Plant Food Do I Need For Aquaponics?

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What Kind Of Plant Foods Do I Need For Aquaponics

While most people prefer traditional farming methods, some are venturing into hydroponics and aquaponics to cultivate plants and vegetables.

The kind of plant food you need for aquaponics include kelp powder, potassium bicarbonate, and chelated iron which all help to prevent deficiencies.

What is aquaponics?

Aquaponics is a farming system that combines aquaculture, or the farming of fish, prawns, and aquatic plants, with hydroponics, a farming method that cultivates plants in water. This system uses these two methods in a symbiotic way with fish excretion as the main nutrient for the plants. In exchange, the plants clean and filter the water that sustains the fish.

In addition to the fish and its excretion, the microbes have a vital role in plant nutrition. The bacteria converge in spaces between the plant roots, converting fish waste and solids into substances that plants need to grow.  This resilient farming system is a sustainable method that allows you to grow your own food and help conserve water as well. 

Pros and cons of aquaponics 

Aquaponics is a dynamic indoor farming method that provides better nutrition and wellness. Here we list some of its benefits and disadvantages of aquaponics.

Pros 

  • plants grow faster 
  • reduced usage of water
  • conserves land, energy, and gas use 
  • vegetables are healthier and larger 
  • there’s no need to use artificial fertilizers 
  • it’s easy to set-up for year-round use 
  • there’s reduced damage from pests and disease 
  • no need for weeding and bending down on the ground 
  • you can have the option for fish meals

Cons 

  • it’s expensive to set up 
  • you need to have a greenhouse 
  • it requires technical know-how’s 
  • you need to constantly monitor the water 
  • it requires electric energy output 
  • you can’t grow root crops 
  • it may be unsuccessful if one or more components may fail 

Do you needfertilizers for aquaponics?

Yes, you need fertilizers and supplemental nutrients for the plants to thrive.  This is because while fish food and excretion may contain the many of the required right nutrients this is not always the case in terms of quality or quantity.  While the important ingredients are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium sulfur, and magnesium, the plants also need zinc, copper, iron, and manganese. 

These are the common deficiencies in plants of the aquaponics method:

  • iron –  you’ll know that there’s iron deficiency in your plants if there’s yellowing between the veins while the veins itself remain green. 
  • calcium – this mineral is part of the plant growth cycle and in its absence, the plant’s structure will disintegrate and water is not retained properly. With high humidity and little ventilation, the plants may struggle and still become calcium-deficient and tend to not lose water but also retaining very little of it. 
  • phosphorus –  plants that lack this mineral tend to have stunted growth especially during the early stages of its development. Look out for leaves that are reddish and have a purple hue. 
  • potassium – deficiency of this nutrient is characterized by brown scorching and curling of leaf tips, the appearance of purple spots on the undersides of leaves, and chlorosis or the yellowing between leaf veins. Reduction in the root, seed, and fruit development, as well as plant growth, are also observed among potassium-deficient plants. 

Nutrients and plant food for aquaponics 

These are some of the recommended plant food and nutrients that you need for your aquaponics farming method.

Kelp powder 

This fertilizer is soluble and easy to spray on plants. It’s beneficial to prevent pest attacks and helps to build stronger roots. 

Chelated Iron 

The chelates work as carrier to allow the iron to be absorbed by the roots of the plants and if chelates are not naturally released in plants, chelated iron is used as a supplement to combat iron deficiency. The best choice is Fe-DTPA as it’s effective so long as the pH is 7.5 or lower to sustain healthy plants. To add, aim for 2 mg per liter, calculate the size of the water tank and add the necessary amount at least every 3 to 4 weeks. 

Potassium Bicarbonate

It’s needed to balance the system, increase the pH, and promote the growth and flowering ability of plants and vegetables. You may use it by adding one teaspoon of potassium bicarbonate to a bucket of water, mix it well, and slowly add it to the aquaponic system.   

Calcium chloride 

It effectively treats calcium deficiency and can be applied by spraying it to the plants. Simply mix it with some water with a starting ratio of 4 teaspoons for every gallon of water and simply spray once a week. You may also add shellfish bones to the fish tank to increase the supply of calcium and phosphorus. 

Rock Phosphate

This is used to treat phosphorus deficiency in plants of the aquaponics method. The supplement may be added directly to the plants to allow the roots to absorb it instantly. Try to aim for 20 to 40 ppm for the plants. 

What are the factors that affect plant growth  and fish stress in aquaponics?

The factors that affect plant growth and fish stress in aquaponics include too high or too low temperature, incorrect pH levels, and electrical conductivity.  The erratic temperature may stress the fish and they’ll likely to eat less which could lead to disease and potential death and slow growth in plants. Incorrect pH levels also affect fish stress levels which may cause diseases while plants will struggle to absorb the needed nutrients and may result to slow growth. Bacteria are exterminated preventing the conversion of ammonia to nitrates which could pose great risks to the fish as high levels of ammonia can kill fish within hours. 

Conclusion

Aquaponics is a sustainable and feasible farming and environment-friendly gardening method. It conserves water, land, and energy use and allows families to have an attainable means of food production and good nutrition. However, plant food and nutrients like chelated iron and kelp powder are also needed to help it thrive.

11 Benefits Of Aquaponics

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Benefits Of Aquaponics

Aquaponics allows allows a symbiotic relationship between the plants which filter the water and the fish which provide an organic food source for plants through their excretions with the help of microbes or beneficial bacteria. 

The main benefits of aquaponics are the following:

  • It allows you to grow your own fish and plants.
  • It consumes less water.
  • Plants grow faster and are healthier.
  • No artificial fertilizers as well as plant antibiotics are used. 
  • There is no need to dispose of fish waste or to provide an artificial filtration system.
  • There is no need to use soil and the setup can be used the whole year.
  • Aquaponics is (typically) organic.
  • There is reduced damage caused by pests and disease.
  • There is no need for weeding and you do not have hurt yourself by bending down.
  • You can use alternative energy sources. 
  • It requires minimal space.

Benefits of aquaponics 

1. It allows you to grow your own fish and plants.

Aquaponics is a highly sustainable means of food source and also a possible means of livelihood for you and your family. With an aquaponic system You can enjoy regular fish meals aside from your own homegrown vegetables and allows you to save money on groceries. 

Here are the some of the common fish species that you can grow using the method:

  • tilapia 
  • catfish
  • carp 
  • bluegill
  • pacu
  • fancy goldfish
  • ornamental fish like angelfish, swordfish, and tetras

Here are some of the vegetables and plants that you can cultivate:

  • kale
  • tomatoes
  • Strawberries
  • peppers
  • cucumber
  • melon
  • okra
  • peas
  • radish
  • lettuce 
  • cabbage
  • cauliflower
  • watercress
  • Mint
  • broccoli 
  • beets
  • basil
  • orchids
  • sunflowers
  • dahlias 

2. It consumes less water.

This farming method effectively conserves water and uses 90% less water compared to traditional farming systems.  Water is effectively recycled and reused in a closed-loop way which allows for efficient conservation. This particular benefit makes this method very suitable for places with a scarce water supply such as desert areas. Compared to traditional farming which requires ample water supply to keep the plants alive, with aquaponics you can enjoy fresh vegetable produce and fish even if you live in the desert or any place in the world. 

3. Plants grow faster and are healthier.

This farming method speeds up the growth process of plants  because they have round-the-clock access to nutrients that the fish provide. It also helps plants to become healthier and robust-looking. Lettuces for instance, which take around two months to achieve full growth are observed to be fully grown in just a month, thanks to the microbes and nutrients. 

4. No artificial fertilizers as well as plant antibiotics are used. 

With aquaponics, there’s no use for pesticides, herbicides, and other fertilizers because it can harm the fish.  Also, the fish don’t have hormones and antibiotics and everything is healthy for consumption, it’s safe even as baby food. 

5. There is no need to dispose of fish waste or to provide an artificial filtration system. 

Artificial filtration isn’t needed in this farming method compared to land-based aquaculture systems which need filtration systems to remove ammonia from the water. The ammonia from fish waste is mostly converted into nitrates by microbes and essential bacteria. Nitrosomas bacteria turn ammonia into nitrite while Nitrobacter bacteria convert it into nitrates which are then absorbed by the plants through the roots.  The roots itself also act as a form of biofilter 

6. There is no need to use soil and the setup can be used the whole year.

There’s no obvious need for soil for plants to thrive because the water itself is already sufficient. This benefit enables people even from urban areas and in places with no arable land to still produce healthy vegetables and abundant fish. Regardless if it’s the middle of winter, you can still harvest leafy greens if you have an indoor greenhouse facility for your aquaponics system. The farming method is highly advantageous because regardless of the season you can still avail of fresh produce the whole year as temperatures can be maintained and controlled in the method’s greenhouse-type setup.

7. This farming method is organic.

Just like what’s mentioned above in item no.4, the farming method doesn’t use fertilizers and therefore it’s an organic way of cultivating and growing plants and fish.  There are no chemicals, antibiotics, and artificial additives as it could harm the plants. Similarly, there are no growth stimulants and pesticides as it could harm and kill the fish. 

8. There is reduced damage caused by pests and disease.

Compared to plants that were grown using the traditional farming method, most aquaponics gardeners attest that there was less leaf damage with the farming method. Since pesticides are a big no-no, there are non-chemical ways that are normally used in this method to prevent pests and disease. These are in the form of traps, physical barriers, and the use of biological control like wasps and ladybugs to control aphids or whiteflies. Others also use neem oil in small quantities as an organic pesticide.  

9. There is no need for weeding and you do not have hurt yourself by bending down.

Since there’s no soil involved there’s completely no need for weeding as opposed to traditional farming where you have to regularly take out the weeds that can overpower the plants and rob it of essential nutrients. Also, you don’t have to go through all the trouble of bending down because grow beds are at waist height so you can easily inspect the plants as they grow. 

10. You can use alternative energy sources. 

Even as electricity is widely used for the farming method, there are various alternative sources that you can harness such as solar energy which is renewable energy. Other energy sources are wind and hydroelectric. 

11. It requires minimal space.

This farming method doesn’t require wide spaces at all as compared to land-based and traditional farming systems. Plant roots are completely underwater so there’s no overcrowding and you can place plants close to each other in grow beds. 

Conclusion

Aquaponic farming has its benefits but it does also have disadvantages. Weighting the two against each other should help you to decide whether it is the right farming method for you.

For more information, read our article on the pros and cons of aquaponics.

How to build a Succulent Terrarium

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I was really enticed when I saw a succulent terrarium at one of my friend’s living room, and soon realized that it is an awesome stuff for decorating home. Succulent terrarium is best for those who are really busy with their daily office work, and at the same time would like to do some gardening. Succulents are tough plants, which can live for decades with very less maintenance.

If you want an ready made option, here are the best options sorted by terrarium size:

[amazon table=”2489″]

Succulent terrarium or Cactus terrarium is a mini desert eco-system in a glass container.

[amazon fields=”B06XRTCZLF” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_alt=”Half bowl glass terrarium”]

This home decor or small garden can easily catch the eye of your visitors. If they love desert life, then they will be really amazed at this small desert eco-system in your living room. An awesome choice for giving creative gift to your loved one.

Now lets jump into action:

Materials Required:

Succulent Terrarium DIY ( Step by step guide)

Step-1: Choose a glass container, which can be bought from various online garden or home stores like Etsy, West Elm or Terrain. You can find some awesome glass containers from your nearby garden nursery center or aquarium stores. Clean the container using some detergent and dry it properly.
Step-2: Choose succulent plants with attractive color and texture.
Step-3: Fill the glass jar with gravel, make sure it has sufficient holes for water drainage. Then fill it with cactus soil mix. Plant the succulents on this soil.Water it properly
Step-4: Finally add a layer of desert sand and place your decorative stuffs add further beauty.

Best Succulents for terrarium

Now lets see how to choose the right succulents for our terrarium. You will get a good collection of plants from Annie’s Annuals. and some more cactus plants from cacti guide.com 

Some of the plants we recommend are :

  • Voodoo or Sedum spurium – With Amazing texture
  • Sunset Strain – With awesome flowers
  • Chinese Dunce Cap (scientifically known as Orostachys iwarenge) – Multi colour
  • Gymnocalycium alboareolatum – With attractive flowers
  • Rebutia albifloram – with multi colored flowers
  • Cintia knizei – Yellow flowers and thick leaves

I would like to choose plants which is having a good texture, because cactus plants are know for that, and it adds beauty to your terrarium.

Tips for cactus terrarium care

Succulents are for lazy people, they require very less maintenance and it will live for decades. But less maintenance doesn’t mean that you can ignore it completely. It needs your care and love.

Here I have listed some of the tips for proper caring of your cactus terrariums:

  • Soil: These plants doesn’t like too much water, meaning they get swamped in water if you don’t use right soil for terrarium. Make sure terrarium has drainage holes and wide openings so that excess water evaporates away. These plants have good root system; so quantity of soil is also important.
  • Sunlight: These are sun lovers; place them near windowsill to get enough sunlight or provide artificial light to stimulate its growth.
  • Air circulation: If you choose a small container and opening is too narrow, it will lead to humidity inside the glass chamber which leads to the death of your cacti.
  • Water: These plants can store water for long time. So we need to provide water only once in a month.

19 herb plants to grow in your kitchen

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Get a list of herb plants which can be easily grown in your small garden, in your kitchen or in the backyard. These herbs are plants with benefits. They are essential for our daily life to supply essential nutrients.

Some of the herb plants are having extra benefits like, repelling mosquitos, cleaning indoor air etc.

These plants are mainly grown outdoor, so when you start your indoor herb garden you need to take special care for getting proper sunlight, water and nutrients.

1. BASIL

Basil

Botanical Name : Ocimum Basilicum, Ocimum sanctum.

Benefits: A herb with highly fragrant leaves as well as health benefits. It is also used as seasoning for a variety of foods. It is a valuable source of Iron and Vitamin A. Basil also acts as an excellent mosquito repellent. Because of its health benefits, it is given a status of a holy herb in many countries. There are mainly four varieties of basil namely Mediterranean or sweet basil, Asian basil, Lemon basil and Thai basil. More tips to grow basil here :- Growing basil indoor

Characteristics: Mediterranean sweet basil has light green leaves and is mild and possesses sweet clove like flavour. Hence it is used extensively in the cuisines all over the world. Asian basil has large stem, purple leaves and pink flowers. It has a strong clove like flavour. Lemon basil has got lemon flavour and hence the name. Thai basil is similar to Asian basil but possesses pointed light green leaves and a sweet aroma.

Climate: Basil grows best under warm, tropical climates. Basil can be grown indoors or outdoors.

Type of Soil: Requires well-drained medium rich soil for optimum growth.

Methods of propagation: By seeds, stem cuttings.

Harvesting: The best time to harvest is right when the plant starts to bud (before the flowers bloom).

2. MINT

Mint

Botanical Name : Mentha spp.

Benefits: Mint is a herb with several health benefits and this forms a solid reason for you to grow it in your own home. Health benefits of mint is that it makes digestion easy, and is an excellent remedy for nausea and cough. Mint oil possesses antiseptic properties. It is used for seasoning of a variety of dishes. It is a well known mouth freshener. Mint, when planted indoors, helps in air purification. The aroma helps to repel pests. For more information read our article on why is mint good to use for aquaponics.

Characteristics: Mint is a perennial herb. Color of the leaves range from dark green to purple. Flowers are shade of white or lavender.

Climate: Mint doesn’t require much sunlight. It grows best in partial shade.

Type of Soil: Mint requires moist, well-drained and medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By stem cuttings and division.

Harvesting: Harvesting of one mint plant can be done two or three times in one growing season. Harvesting can be done anytime; just pick the leaves as you need them.

3. THYME

Thyme

Botanical Name : Thymus vulgaris.

Benefits: The flowers, leaves and oil of thyme are can be used for the treatment of diarrhoea, stomach ache, arthritis, sore throat, cough, bronchitis etc. It is also a culinary herb, used in culinary seasoning. Thyme also acts as a mosquito repellent. More details about growing thyme here :- How to grow thyme 

Characteristics: A perennial herb with oval or elliptical leaves. Flowers are light pink. The plant looks like a shrub with woody stems.

Climate: Thyme prefers a mild climate. It is a herb which can survive most winter conditions. Requires full sunlight. It can be planted indoors or outdoors.

Type of Soil: Light, well-drained alkaline soil is best suited for thyme.

Methods of propagation: By seeds, stem cuttings.

Harvesting: Thyme can be harvested anytime throughout the summer.

4. CHIVES

Chives

Botanical Name : Allium schoenoprasum.

Benefits: The leaves are used in herb vinegars. It’s a culinary herb used mainly in salads, which gives it a particular flavour. The slight aroma of this plant helps in repelling carrot fly, Japanese beetle etc. Chives are an excellent source of vitamin A. More details about growing chives here : – how to grow chives indoor

Characteristics: Chives have fine green onion-like leaves. The flowers are lavender in color. The flowers look like pom-poms, which is edible. It is a perennial herb.

Climate: Chives prefer full sun. They grow very slowly in cold temperatures.

Type of Soil: Chives grow best in well-drained medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By seeds or by division. Seeds germinate slowly whereas divided clumps increase rapidly. Chives should be divided every two or three years.

Harvesting: Chives can be harvested 30 days after division or 60 days after seeding. The leaves should be cut down to the base while harvesting.

5. ROSEMARY

Rosemary

Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis.

Benefits: Rosemary is a herb with aromatic leaves used in seasoning of foods and also in aromatherapy. It has numerous health benefits too. When planted indoors, it helps in air purification.Here is youtube video which explain how to grow rosemary 

Characteristics: Rosemary is a tender perennial with dark-green needle like leaves. The leaves are woolly-white in color on the underside, with small pale blue flowers.

Climate: Rosemary requires full sun for optimum growth. They prefer cold temperatures and are often grown indoors in containers.

Type of Soil: Well-drained medium rich alkaline soil.

Methods of propagation: By seeds or by cuttings. Seeds are slow to germinate.

Harvesting: Prune the stems to use it fresh, whenever necessary.

6. SAGE

Sage

Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis.

Benefits: Sage is a culinary herb which can be planted indoors or outdoors. Sage is an excellent anti-oxidant and helps in improving brain functions. Also helps in lowering blood glucose and cholesterol. Because of its pleasant aroma, sage is used in cosmetics and soap. More details here: – how to grow sage indoor 

Characteristics: Sage is a perennial herb with gray-green oblong leaves. The flowers are purple in color. The leaves have a leathery or pebbly appearance.

Climate: Sage requires full sunlight. Avoid humid conditions.

Type of Soil: Well-drained medium rich alkaline soil.

Methods of propagation: By seeds, cuttings and division. Propagation by stem cuttings is the most commonly adopted practice.

Harvesting: During the first year, harvest lightly to ensure full growth. After that, harvesting can be done upto three times in a season.

7. DILL

Dill

Botanical Name: Anethum graveolens.

Benefits: Dill is used as a flavouring agent in some dishes. Its seeds have more flavour than the leaves. Dill provides a tangy flavour to pickles and salads. The health benefits include improved digestion, relief from insomnia, diarrhoea, respiratory disorders and even cancer. It is also good for oral care. Here is more tips:- growing and harvesting dill

Characteristics: Dill is an annual herb with feathery blue-green leaves and small yellow flowers. Dill is planted outdoors only.

Climate: Dill grows best under full sunlight. It prefers warm climate.

Type of Soil: Well-drained medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: Propagation is by seeds. It is a self-sowing plant. The seeds can be sown directly in the garden or in a well-manured pot.

Harvesting: Harvesting can be done as soon as the plant has 4 to 5 leaves.

8. TARRAGON

Tarragon

Botanical Name: Artemisia drancunculus.

Benefits: Tarragon is a culinary herb used as a flavouring agent, mainly in Mediterranean cuisines. It is also a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and minerals like Calcium, Manganese etc. Tarragon is an excellent appetizer. Also is rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants; which improves health.

Characteristics: Tarragon is a perennial herb which does not set seed. They have smooth, olive green colored narrow leaves. A bushy plant with small branches.

Climate: Grows well under full sun to partial shade. Tarragon doesn’t like hot and humid climates.

Type of Soil: Well-drained medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By cuttings and by division.

Harvesting: Harvesting can be done regularly. Tarragon is best used fresh in the summer.

9. GREEK OREGANO

Greek Oregano

Botanical Name: Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum.

Benefits: Oregano is a culinary herb with strong peppery flavour. Commonly used in seasoning of Italian dishes. It is rich in disease-fighting anti-oxidants. Oregano is a rich source of Manganese and Vitamin K, which helps in improving bone strength.

Characteristics: Oregano is a perennial herb with light green, oval shaped leaves. Flowers, in the form of clusters, are white in color.

Climate: Grows under full sun to partial shade. Oregano prefers climates with low humidity. Grown in containers.

Type of Soil: Well-drained medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By cuttings.

Harvesting: Harvesting can be done anytime, although the flavour is most intense before the plants bloom.

10. PARSLEY

Parsley

Botanical Name: Petroselinum crispum.

Benefits: Parsley is a culinary herb, filled with antioxidants. It is also a rich source of Vitamin A and C. Helps in toning bones, effective for arthritis. Also helps to flush out unwanted toxins from body, thus helping kidney function. The most popular varieties of Parsley are curly parsley and Italian parsley. Curly parsley is very attractive whereas Italian parsley has more flavour. Check out more about how to grow parsley indoor from gardeningknowhow

Characteristics: Annual or biennial herb. Leaves are bright green in color. Flowers appear during spring time.

Climate: Grows under full sun to partial shade.

Type of Soil: Well-drained medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By seeds, but are slow to germinate. Seeds are sown directly into pots.

Harvesting: Harvesting can be done when the leaf stems have developed three or four segments.

11. ROSE GERANIUM

Rose Geranium

Botanical Name: Pelargonium xasperum Rose.

Benefits: Rose Geranium, when planted indoors, helps in air purification. It is an important ingredient in aromatherapy. Some of the health benefits are blood pressure reduction, hormone balancing, relief from stress and depression, improving skin health & blood circulation and reduce blood pressure.

Characteristics: A perennial herb (only in frost free areas). Leaves are velvety and soft; mildly aromatic. Flowers are pink in color.

Climate: Rose geranium prefers warm temperate to subtropical climates.

Type of Soil: Well-drained medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By cuttings.

Harvesting: Harvesting can be done after shoots with four fully expanded leaves are formed.

12. SWEET WOODRUFF

Sweet Woodruff

Botanical Name: Galium odoratum.

Benefits: Sweet Woodruff is used as a flavouring agent in foods and beverages. The dried leaves have got a fresh vanilla-like aroma and hence can be used as an air freshener. It has got many health benefits. Some of these are helps in treating disease relating to lungs, stomach, liver and heart. Also helps in blood purification, reducing insomnia and relief from migraine. Sweet Woodruff also helps in healing of cuts and wounds.

Characteristics: A hardy perennial herb with glossy green leaves. Leaves appear in star-shaped whorls. Stem is slightly hairy and brittle. Flowers are small and pure white in color.

Climate: Prefers shady area and can tolerate temperature as low as -25oC

Type of Soil: Well-drained rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By cuttings and by division. Commonly propagated by division.

Harvesting: Sweet woodruff can be harvested anytime but, for the best fragrance, harvesting should be done just before it flowers.

13. LAVENDER

Lavender

Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia.

Benefits: Lavender is an excellent mosquito repellent. Helps in air purification. It has got a clean aroma, hence widely used in perfumes. Lavender has anti-septic and anti-inflammatory properties, which helps in healing cuts and bruises. Health benefits of lavender include reduce tension, relieve pain, cleaning of scalp, improve blood circulation and treatment of respiratory problems.

Characteristics: A hardy perennial woody herb with narrow gray-green leaves and spikes of lavender colored flowers. Some varieties of lavender has pink or white colored flowers.

Climate: Prefers warm climate; can tolerate mild winters.

Type of Soil: Well-drained alkaline sandy loam.

Methods of propagation: By seeds and by cuttings. Cuttings are difficult to develop roots; hence seeding is commonly adopted for propagation.

Harvesting: Harvesting can be done when the flowers bloom; that is, during spring season.

14. WINTER SAVORY

Winter Savory

Botanical Name: Satureja montana.

Benefits: Savory herb is an excellent source of minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. It contains anti-oxidants and also helps in controlling cholesterol. Winter savory also has antiseptic properties. It has got a sharp, pungent flavour, so less used in cooking compared to other herbs. Savory is commonly used to season salads, pasta, mayonnaise, various sauces and sandwiches. Another variety of savory called summer savory is also available; but has less flavour than winter savory.

Characteristics: A hardy perennial shrub like herb with short dark-green oblong leaves and small white blossoms.

Climate: This herb can tolerate different climate conditions. Requires full sunlight for optimum growth.

Type of Soil: Well-drained medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By seeds and by cuttings.

Harvesting: Winter Savory can be harvested all year round. The ideal time is just before the blooming starts.

15. LEMON BALM

Lemon Balm

Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis.

Benefits: Lemon Balm is called ‘calming herb’ because it helps to reduce anxiety, promote sleep and improve symptoms of indigestion. The leaves have a strong lemon-like smell and thus in repelling insects including mosquitoes. This refreshing lemon scented leaves tastes excellent in teas. The aroma of this herb attracts bees; which helps in pollinating rest of the herb garden. Lemon balm is also rich in anti oxidants.

Characteristics: An easily seeding hardy perennial herb. It spreads very rapidly. Leaves appear wrinkled; with dark green color. Has small creamy-yellow flowers.

Climate: Lemon balm grows well in all climates; but prefers drier climate.

Type of Soil: Moist well-drained medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By seeds, cuttings and division.

Harvesting: Lemon Balm can be harvested just before the blooms develop, that is in May and June. It is better to harvest leaves during morning for fresh flavour.

16. SALAD BURNET

Salad Burnet

Botanical Name: Poterium sanguisorba.

Benefits: As the name suggests, Salad Burnet is a culinary herb often used in salad dressing. Its leaves give a cucumber like flavour to the salad. It also helps in healing cuts and wounds by stopping the blood flow. Salad Burnet helps in destroying disease causing organisms in the stomach. It is also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains vitamins C, A and some of the B-complex ones, along with the minerals iron and potassium. Learn more here: –  salad brunet growing tips.

Characteristics: A hardy perennial herb, very attractive in a garden. Leaves are medium-green, with rounded leaflets, along a slender stem. Flowers are in the form of pinkish tufts, with no notable petals.

Climate: Salad Burnet can be grown in full sun to partial shade. It grows best in moderately moist conditions.

Type of Soil: Dry sandy loam.

Methods of propagation: By seeds.

Harvesting: Harvesting can be done when the plant is about 12 cm tall. For best flavour, harvest them when the leaves are young and tender.

17. CILANTRO

Cilantro

Botanical Name: Coriandrum sativum.

Benefits: Cilantro is a well-known culinary herb used in almost all types of cuisines all around the world. The leaves of cilantro has got a very distinctive pungent flavour. The seed of Cilantro plant is known as coriander, which is used as a spice. Although cilantro and coriander are from the same plant, they differ in their flavours and hence used differently. Cilantro is known to have many disease preventing and health-promoting properties. It possess good amounts of antioxidants, essential oils, vitamins, and dietary fiber. The herb is also a good source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Check out this, if you like to know more tips about here : –  how to care and plant cilantro indoor.

Characteristics: Cilantro is an annual herb. It possesses dark green soft leaves that vary in shape; they are broad-lobed near the base, and slender and feathery higher up near its flowering stems. Flowers are in the form of umbels, white or pink in color. Seeds are tiny, oval shaped, yellowish brown colored with ridges and a pleasant aroma.

Climate: Warm climate is best suited for cilantro to flourish.

Type of Soil: Well drained rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By seeds and by cuttings. Propagation by seeds is the most common method. They don’t root easily from cuttings.

Harvesting: Harvesting can be done when the plant is about 15 cm tall. Harvest leaves from bottom through one third the height of the plant.

18. LOVAGE

Lovage

Botanical Name: Levisticum officinale.

Benefits: Lovage leaves have a pungent celery-like flavour; hence used in seasoning of soups, salads and stews. It is considered as a natural remedy for kidney stones. Lovage is a natural blood cleanser, has anti inflammatory properties as well. Used in treatment of certain skin diseases, rheumatism, migraine and throat ache. More detailed tips here –  lovage growing tips.

Characteristics: Lovage is a hardy perennial with dark green shiny leaves and umbels of small greenish yellow flowers.

Climate: Lovage grows best in sunny to partly shaded areas.

Type of Soil: Moist, well drained, medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By seeds and by cuttings.

Harvesting: Lovage leaves can be harvested whenever you need them. For fresh flavour, harvest leaves in the morning, just after the dew has disappeared. Harvest seeds during late summer.

19. MARJORAM

Marjoram

Botanical Name: Origanum majorana.

Benefits:  Marjoram is a culinary herb which has got many health benefits. Medicines are made from  marjoram’s flowers, leaves, and oil. Tea made from marjoram leaves or flowers is an excellent remedy for cough, cold, sore throat and various digestive problems like poor appetite, intestinal gas and stomach cramps. Marjoram also improves blood circulation. Other uses include treating diabetes, insomnia,muscle spasms, headache, and back pain. In manufacturing, marjoram oil is used as a fragrance in soaps and cosmetics. More about Marjoram from gardeningknowhow :-  how to grow marjoram.

Characteristics: Marjoram is a tender perennial with small gray-green aromatic leaves. Flowers are white in color, with knotted buds of overlapping bracts.

Climate: Marjoram prefers warm, less humid climates. They can’t survive freezing temperatures.

Type of Soil: Well drained medium rich soil.

Methods of propagation: By seeds and by cuttings.

Harvesting: Marjoram is ready for harvest 60 days after sowing, that is when the plant is about 15cm tall. Flavour is at its best when the leaves are harvested just before blooming.

Let us know which herb from this collection  that you started growing indoor.Having a living garden in your kitchen will  give an awesome appeal.

Japanese Maple: An ideal bonsai tree for all seasons

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Japanese maple bonsai trees are most common choice for bonsai because of its decorative, colorful and ornamental foliages.  Maple trees are deciduous small trees, with odd numbered pointed leaves. Usually 5 -11 pointed leaves are there depending on the genus and species of maples. Maples are commonly found in Japan, China and Korea.

A wide variety of maples are available for bonsai. Most common ones with five pointed leaves are called Acer palmatum. They are very widely used for bonsai due to their ready availability, beautiful foliage and graceful branch structure. They also responds to most bonsai techniques.

Japanese Maple trees are perfect specimen for the bonsai in your yard. They are adaptable to very wide range of climate conditions in North America, Japan, China, Korea. An ideal plant for both eastern and western hemisphere bonsais. It can grow up to 15 feet tall and you can get it shorter if you do extensive pruning and trimming.

Pruning Japanese Maples:

Japanese laceleaf maple pruning is also called “shell pruning”. Top layers will act as a protective cover of foliage for the entire tree. It will look like a shell , hence the name shell pruning. The branches or bones of maple tree is more important for its aesthetic appeal. Try out some unique and creative twisting techniques by doing proper wiring and trimming.

Thin wisely and evenly:  Thin laceleaf or shell prune maples intelligently. Don’t remove more than one fifth of the live crown in a given year to avoid stressing the plant or trigger unwanted growth. To reduce overall bulk and clutter, prune throughout the tree evenly. Thinned out plant will have space filled but with fewer branches.
Branch layers separation: If a lateral branch crosses into the area occupied by the scaffold above or below, you have to remove it.  Remove any branches that stray into the scaffold above or below.
Prune old and dead woods: Find out the old and dead woods and branches and cut it down. You may have to use a keyhole saw to make precision cuts. These cuts are very important for choosing the right style for your bonsai.
Remove dragging branches: For giving more appeal and aesthetics, remove the branches that touches the ground. Do not prune any branch that is more than half the diameter of the trunk.
Create a veiled top layer of leaves: As the final step, create a curtain effect where you can see through tiny spaces in the foliage by thinning out many small branches. The layers of twigs above the branches will look like a veil. Stripping out the topmost branches will lead to decaying the entire tree, so be very careful in trimming the top of the tree.

Bonus tips:

  • Branches that do not taper much , do not regularly divide or do not curve must be pruned out.
  • Pruning in summer stimulate less growth than winter pruning.
  • Good to avoid pruning if temperature is more than 27°C.

Colourful maple bonsai:

Another attractive feature of this tree is it can have different coloured leaves in different seasons. In Spring Japanese Maple Bonsai tree leaves are bright red in color. As they mature they will turn pinkish and purple. During summer, leaves will take green color with pinkish tinges. During fall season, leaves will turn dark pinkish red colour. When all leaves have turned pinkish red, then its an awesome sight to watch.

Disadvantages:
It takes 10-20 years to get the full fledged Japanese maple bonsai tree. So it needs lots of perseverance and will power to continue maintaining this awesome tree. Another option for having a Japanese maple bonsai quickly is to get a grown specimen instead of growing it from seed. Then you can start applying pruning and trimming bonsai technique to decorate the tree.

Mini Maple tree bonsai as home decors

Though these are not actual bonsai, we can call it look alike of bonsai. But these are awesome centrepiece for decorating your study table or living room tea table. Its an ideal way to bring nature inside your home.

Miniature zen garden ideas for relaxing

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Karesansui is the Japanese name of zen garden, which translates to dry mountain and water garden. The main components of zen garden are stones and gravel, with plants and water being the optional components. In case of miniature zen gardens, they are either kept on your desktop or used as home decor in your living room. So for miniature zen garden water feature can be avoided.

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A zen garden is a Japanese form of dry garden, where nature is represented in a miniature form by using stones and sand or gravel.

Most Zen gardens are dry gardens made of stones and gravel only, without any living components. Gravel is preferred to sand, as it is least disturbed by wind and rain. For mini Zen gardens, sand is used because of the small size of the garden. Here is another art form which shows Japanese people’s love for nature: Ikebana flower arrangement 

Lets take a look at how we can make a miniature zen garden.?  Advantage of  mini zen garden is you can try out different designs depending on your time and mood. These design represent various phenomenons of nature. All the miniature zen garden accessories are easily available and they can be collected with out much hassle. They are really inexpensive and something that every one can try it out at home.

Meaning of zen garden

In short, a zen garden can be described as an aerial view of a coastal area, where land meets sea. The stones in a zen garden represent features that stand above water such as islands, mountains or big rocks. The sand represents water feature like sea or ocean. Various patterns are drawn in sand using a rake. These patterns represent waves or ripples formed in water.

You can create various patterns depending on your imagination. The plants used in a zen garden represent the miniature version of actual plants. Only moss and some varieties of uniformly growing plants like air plants or some succulents  are used for this. The procedure of making patterns using rake called samon serves aesthetic as well as spiritual purpose.

How to make a mini zen garden:

  • Collect all the materials required: 1) Sand, 2) Pebbles 3) Rake 4) Container or box 5) Essential oil 6) Plants ( mosses , air plants or succulents )
  • Collect sand and pebbles from a beach, but make sure you clean them up. Get rid of bugs, dirt and  twigs from the sand you collected.
  • If you don’t want to collect sand from beach, good quality coloured sands are available in various online craft stores or floral stores.
  • Pour the sand in the container you choose. it can be a glass container which adds extra beauty to your decorative min zen garden. You can arrange it on normal box or container, here container doesn’t matter much.
  • Pour few drops of essential oil so that it gives you an aroma, which helps you to concentrate while you rake the pattern on the sand. This will give you a relaxing ambiance.
  • Adding some jojoba oil can give a wet look to sand, it need to be added in right proportion. It helps to keep the pattern you draw on the sand for longer time.
  • Place the different sized and coloured pebbles . Then you can plant some plants ( most commonly used are succulents, air plants or mosses ). This will give a living touch to your desktop zen garden.
  • Use the rake to draw various patterns. Use decorative pieces to add extra beauty.

The below inspiration is a miniature zen garden which represent yin yang. Yin and Yang are two half and together they represent completeness.

Most Japanese temples have zen gardens in their compound, where the monks practice samon to increase their concentration. It also gives a meditating effect to those who are watching this. The art of drawing patterns forms the essence of a zen garden.

Benefits of miniature zen garden:

Having a mini zen garden in your home helps you to increase your concentration, by drawing different patterns. You can redraw the patterns in sand as and when you desire according to your imagination.

You can involve your kids to join in creating a perfect zen garden. The method of raking can be explained by a simple example. Imagine a frog jumping into water. The stone in zen garden represents frog and sand represents water. The pattern should be drawn in the form of concentric circles surrounding the stone, like the ripples in water. Although it may seem easy, this art of making continuous patterns requires patience and extreme concentration.

Hanging Glass Terrarium Ideas

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Are you a gardening enthusiast and looking for inspirations to decorate your home? Then show your creativity by making a hanging glass terrarium garden.

Here are the most popular models on amazon:

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I was really intrigued at the beauty of this particular decor, when I saw it at my friend’s beach wedding reception. There they used it to decorate the reception venue. I really wanted to try out those hanging glass terrariums as a home decor. Then I started searching the internet about various ideas to implement these.

Materials Required:

  1. Glass globe, which is your planter.You can buy glass globes available on various online stores, or if you are creative enough then you can use some of your old glass jar, bulb etc.
  2. Rocks, pebbles and sand.
  3. Well drained potting soil.
  4. Activated charcoal.
  5. Plants to be planted in your terrarium; it can be succulents, air-plants or mosses.
  6. Rope or metallic clamp to hang your terrarium or metallic stand.
  7. Fairy decors.
  8. Water sprayer or mister.

All these materials can be purchased from local nursery, hardware store or some can be purchased from online stores.

Lets start:

Get all the required materials. Decide the location where you wanted to keep this hanging terrarium garden. It could be your living room or bedroom, or you can place it on your study table also. Fix  the clamp on the wall or arrange the stand on your study table to hang the globe. First, fill the glass globe with some rocks, and before that make sure the globe has some drainage holes.Fill activated charcoal as second layer and on top of that, plant mosses to cover those rocks and pebbles.

Decide which plant to be planted on this terrarium. If you are going to plant air-plants, then there is no need of potting soil. Also air-plants require very less maintenance. But if you are going to plant succulents or other small plants, then you need to fill up your modern terrarium with potting soil. And remember, it needs to be watered regularly.

And finally, add those decorative  fairy decors. You can hang your glass terrarium on the clamp you have fixed earlier on the wall or on the stand which you placed on your study table. You are DONE: :D :D :D

Plants for hanging glass terrarium:

Mostly succulents and air plants are used in hanging glass terrariums; sometimes along with moss for decoration.

Succulents:

Succulents are plants that store water in their leaves. Hence they have fleshy leaves. These group of plants do need water for their survival, but they can live for extended periods without water, by using the water stored in their leaves. That is precisely the reason for using succulents in hanging glass terrariums; so that you don’t need frequent watering. The amount of water required vary for different varieties, but in general succulents require less water compared to other plants. Also, succulents are aesthetically good and thus adds beauty to your glass terrarium.

Air Plants:

Air plants, as the name suggests, can grow and thrive without soil. Their specialized leaves absorb required amount of water and other nutrients from atmosphere and thus they are easy to care for. Roots of these plants merely serves as an anchoring device. They may need water occasionally, and you can provide that by soaking them in water for some time. Also, air plants need lots of air around them. A hanging glass terrarium fulfils these requirements and hence air plants are commonly used for this wonderful decor.

Have you tried any of these inspirations?? Let us know your comments and suggestions in comment box below.

How to care for an Air Plant

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Lets make a living decor using air plants to decorate your living room. These 23 air plants display ideas will help you to decorate your home using these unique plants.

Tillandsias, also known as air plants, are plants which doesn’t need any soil for its growth. Leaves of air plants absorb nutrients from air and water for its growth. Roots are for anchoring purpose only.

Before we jump into awesome display inspirations for air plants, lets learn how to care for air plants:

These indoor plants need special care and attention to grow indoor. It needs proper water, light, temperature and nutrients for its proper growth. This infographics will give you enough information for proper maintenance of this home decor.

How to care for air plants infographics

For simplicity, let us classify the air plant display ideas into 3 groups.

  • Wall Mount display ideas.
  • Hanging display ideas.
  • Table top display ideas.

Aquaponics systems that makes you self sustained for food

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How to cultivate food for 7.3 billion world population is always a perplexing question. Total agricultural land is getting depleted and majority of population is depending on food cultivated by less than 5% of total population. More over in-order to maximise the production, farmers from under developed and developing countries are using pesticides and fertilizers beyond recommended limits. Some developed countries have already given green signal for Genetically Modified (GM) crops. This is leading to dangerous and non curable health problems like cancer.

Do we have a solution for this problem? Can’t we produce our own herbs and vegetables? But in the absence of sufficient land space for cultivation, what can we do ?

Answer to all these questions is Aquaponics, which has many benefits. It is a symbiotic system which is very common in nature. It uses both aquaculture, which involves growing and breeding of fish and hydroponics (Here are 9 hydroponics systems to start an indoor garden.) which is cultivating plants in water without soil.

The following are the best indoor water gardens available at Amazon:

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Lets take a look at the aquaponics cycle:

Aquaponics cycle diagram

As I explained before, this is a symbiotic relationship between fish, plants and micro organisms. Fish droppings contain ammonia, which is toxic for fish as well, if concentration exceeds beyond a limit. Plants cannot utilize ammonia as a fertilizer directly. But there are some micro organisms which can convert this ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates. Nitrates serve as a good nutrients for plant growth and fish can live in this clean and aerated water.

A typical Aquaponics system block diagram:

How aquaponic system works

A grow bed is used to cultivate herbs and vegetables. This grow bed is used to culture micro organisms which then converts ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates. You can choose the size of grow bed and aquarium depending on the quantity of herbs and vegetables you are planning to grow. If you choose a bigger fish tank ( mostly suitable for outdoors) you can grow different types of fish, that becomes a source of food as well.

What are the recommended herbs, vegetables and fishes for aquaponics?

The plants that can be grown in an aquaponics system are:

  • Leafy lettuce, Cabbage, Cauliflower
  • Herbs like Mint, Basil, Chives etc. Here is list a of 19 herbal plants which can be grown in your kitchen. You can also choose some herbs from this list for your aquaponics system after consulting an expert.
  • Veggies like Tomatoes, Cucumber, Peas, Beans  are also successful in this system.

Recommended fish varieties are:

  • Tilapia, very commonly available and used in aquaponic system.
  • Kio is best choice if you are looking for a colorful fish.
  • Salmon, Crap and Catfish , if you have a bigger fish tank and if you plan to use fish also as a food source.

Tip: Choose fish which is locally available so that it can withstand climatic conditions such as temperature and pH.

Ikebana flower arrangement: 7 Unique styles

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Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is more than just arranging the flowers in a container, it is an art. This art tries to bring together nature (heaven & earth) and humanity together, that is bringing humanity closer to the nature. This art is also known as kado (meaning way of flowers).

Ikebana – An art or flower arrangement?

Any plant materials can be used for this awesome art form of floral arrangement. Most common materials are branches, leaves, grasses and flowers. Its beauty comes from color combinations, natural shapes, lines and total form of arrangement. So this art is more than mere floral arrangement. Ikebana is now getting more and more popular in western hemisphere as well. Every one is appreciating this form of floral arrangement, just like painting.

How is Ikebana different from flower arrangement?

Its asymmetrical form and use of empty spaces sets this apart from other forms of floral arrangement. You can feel a sense of harmony among the materials used in this floral arrangement. Its aesthetics share lot of common features from Japanese gardening, landscaping and paintings. Selection and arrangement needs an artistic touch with considerable skill to combine all materials into an enticing centerpiece.

Can I try ikebana as a home decor?

This art form is very much popular in Japan and that shows the Japanese love of nature. Japanese love for nature is visible in every nook and corner, be it in their homes or cars or offices, they always have some kind of natural decors which represent the beauty of nature. So the love of nature is like religion in Japan. This floral arrangement is one of the best decor to bring nature inside your home.

Ikebana and Buddhism: The spiritual line

We cannot neglect the spiritual aspect of ikebana flower arrangement. It helps you to live in the moment and to appreciate the materials of nature, which were seemed insignificant. You become more and more patient and tolerant to this nature and to other people. This is basic mantra that Buddhism teaches, which explains the direct relationship between Ikebana and Buddhism. This art form can ignite the artist in your and you will definitely start to love other forms of arts.

Ikebana styles:

1. Rikka Style

This style is taught and practiced by Ikenobo School. Rikka is a formal upright style, which portrays the beauty of the natural landscape. It can be classified into two styles, Rikka Shofutai which is more traditional and Rikka Shimputai which is more contemporary.

2. Shoka Style

Shoka is also practiced by Ikenobo School. It is a simple, graceful style suggesting the essential character of a plant as it grows in response to the factors in its natural environment. Though it looks very simple, it is one of the toughest ikebana flower arrangement. Similar to Rikka, Shoka can be classified into two, traditional shofutai and modern shimputai.

3. Shinka style

Shinka is the modern style of Misho School. Basically Shinka is divided into two styles, called Moribana and Heika. Moribana use the wide and shallow vases as shown below. Moribana is also practiced by Ohara School .

4. Kakubana style

This style consists of simple and perfect geometric designs. The tallest branch represents heaven which is called Ten, medium one represents human beings which is called Jin and shortest one represents earth which is called Chi.

5. Free style:

Taught by Ryuseiha school and in this, the artist is free to express his or her individual personality. Moderns styles demand more flexibility and fewer restrictions, so that the arranger can express his or her feelings and emotions more freely. This style represents more flexible harmony between humans and natural things surrounding them.

6. Nageire style

Nageire is a non-structured arrangement of flowers. The stems are bundled together tightly to form a triangular asymmetric design. It gives more stress to the natural beauty of flowers and plants used in this arrangement. It is arranged more freely than the traditional rikka and shoka styles. Vases used for nageire are cylindrical, tall and with narrow mouth opening. It is composed of three main branches: shin, soe and  tai. One of the main characteristics of nagerie is that one branch will hang below the mouth of vase and the other two will be upright, with one being tall and other a shorter one.

7. Morimono style

This style uses fruits and vegetables in addition to flowers and branches.  

7 Moss garden ideas to bring nature inside home

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Are you looking for ways to bring nature inside home and at the same time decorate your home? Indoor moss garden is an ideal option to try this out. Its green colour will entice your neighbours or friends and light up your home as well.

You probably love going into the woods to watch many trees covered in moss. Then you keep wondering how beautiful it will look to grow an indoor moss in your home. Growing moss in your garden or in a terrarium is the simplest and elegant way of creating a miniature forest. This will give your home a perfect natural decoration.

How to make an indoor moss terrarium

Making an indoor moss terrarium is a fun do it yourself (DIY) for parents and kids together at home. Here are few steps to follow:

Step 1: You can create an indoor moss terrarium with a clear glass container. Choose a wide and shallow one. A wide terrarium jar or mason jar with a lid is an ideal choice. The size is depends on space available, location and budget.

Step 2: Create a bottom layer with small rocks and pebbles. This helps for proper drainage and avoids creating a swamp inside the container.  Top the pebbles up with an handful of granulated charcoal. Collect it  from pet stores or aquarium stores.

Step 3: Once topped with granulated charcoal, you can then add a couple of inches of potting soil. Push down the potting soil to make a good base for moss growth. Mist up this soil with clear water using a mister or sprayer.

Step 4:  Now top up the base with some tree branches, rotten barks or pine needles. Mosses love these and grows fast. Rough rocks are another option to grow mosses. Use your creativity and aesthetic sense to arrange all these to create a miniature woodlands.

Step 5: Collect sheets of mosses from neighbourhood woodlands if you have any. Don’t worry if you are living in an urban environment; look for some moss terrarium kits online. You can also buy moss separately from garden centers.

Step 6: Arrange the moss sheets on top of rocks, barks and sticks placed inside your terrarium. Press it firmly into rocks and soil to make sure it gets attached to those.

Tips:

  • Do not over water your moss terrarium. Always use a mister or sprayer to water your indoor moss garden.
  • Do not keep it under direct sunlight, some moss only needs few hours of sunlight for proper growth.
  • Moss doesn’t need any fertilisers.

It’s easy to nurture an indoor moss garden, since it requires little or no moisture and light.  However you must keep the surface of the moss moist for couple of days in a week. You may place the moss garden close to sunlight for two hours a day or place the moss garden under a fluorescent lamp. Make  sure this lamp stands at about 12 inches above the container.

How to use moss as a decor?

When placed indoors, a moss can beautify and transform a home from within. There are various options available for decorating home using moss.

1. Table top moss terrarium

Having a table top moss terrarium can fill up your home with greenery; that too in a very limited space.

2. Moss wall decor

Making a moss wall is another time consuming but elegant option to decorate your living space. A lot of expertise is required to grow moss vertically on the wall. You need to limit the growth to certain area, instead it will grow all over your wall to create more mess.

3. Kokedama moss ball garden

This is another option to decorate home using moss. This is a form of Japanese gardening which adds beauty to your living room and at the same time, helps you to practice small gardening.

[amazon fields=”B07TKLY7VC” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image=”2″ image_alt=”Beautiful plant with moss”]

4. Moss Graffiti

Doing art on the wall using moss is called moss graffiti. This is good option to try outdoor than indoor.

5.Floor decors using moss

Use creative containers to grow moss and place it as a decor on your pavement.

6. Zen Garden

Making a zen garden is another option to bring moss into your garden. This can be tried both both indoor and outdoor. If you would like to know more about zen gardens, check out our article: miniature zen garden inspirations.

7.Holiday decors:

If its holiday season you can use moss to decorate your home.

How to take care of moss indoor?

Moss is different from normal plants, thus they don’t need heavy watering.  They requires only moistening, and that too only a couple of days a week, to keep the surface of the moss wet. Make sure you do not expose the moss garden to direct sunlight. Some species of mosses need very little sunlight. Here you get a complete guide of growing moss indoor from gardeningknowhow.com.

Moss is quite inspirational, especially for those who appreciate the gift of nature. Moss does not grow rapidly and it can survive varying weather conditions on its own. A perfect choice for your indoor small garden!!!

Bonsai Tree Care – 8 Tips for Beginners (with infographics)

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Are you confused about how to care and maintain your bonsai tree? Well, here in this article I  have covered the basic steps of bonsai tree care. If you are a beginner, then I am sure you will have tons of questions about how to maintain and care your beloved bonsai. I can tell you from my personal experience, you will be overwhelmed by the contents available in internet.

First of all, here are some of the most popular products related to bonsai care on amazon:

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So here I try to cover eight basic questions that every bonsai gardener will have.

1. How and when to water my bonsai?

Understanding how and when to water a bonsai is the most toughest part of bonsai tree care. Each plant is unique and water demand is different. It also varies based on type of plant, location, climate in which it is grown and type of soil used. So as a good bonsai enthusiast, first step you should do is to try to understand and read the demands of your tree.

There is no strict schedule or formula for how often to water bonsai. You need to decide the timing based on the rate at which the top soil is getting dry. It depends on season, temperature, type of soil used and plant species. Plants need more water during growing season, demand will be less during dormant season. During warm and sunny summer season water will get dry fast, so plan to replenish more often. Choose a plant which can be grown in your existing climate. So don’t choose a wrong plant and you might end up killing them.

Techniques used to determine when to water:

  • Insert a finger to the top soil and check out the dampness of soil.
  • Second method is a scientific one. Get a soil moisture sensor from a garden store and use this to determine the moisture level.

Tips:

  1. Best time to water the bonsai tree is early in the morning when the sun is just coming up.
  2. During winter season, which is the dormant season for most of the trees, it is a good practice to water once in a week as the demand during this time is less. Overwatering during this time will lead to destruction of plant roots.
  3. During summer season, when temperature rises for a prolonged period, plants will shut off its respiratory mechanism to minimize the water loss. This period is known as summer dormancy, when plants stops growing to conserve water. So watch out for temperature outside before you water your tree during summer.
  4. If you are growing a bonsai indoor, humidity will be a noticeable factor. Humidity which is best for humans will not be suitable for bonsai. Its good to have mister or sprayer filled with water at room temperature. Apply them on the bonsai leaves at regular intervals.

References:

2: Do I need to use fertilisers for my bonsai?

Yes of course. Since the bonsai plant is growing in a small pot, it cannot spread its roots to gather all nutrients required. Its required to provide the essential nutrients for proper growth and health of plant. This is one of the fundamental steps in bonsai tree care.

Nitrogen(N), Phosphorous(P) and Potassium(K) are major nutrients required for any plants. Nitrogen is essential for proper growth and green colour of leaves. Phosphorous helps in root growth and potassium helps in cell regeneration, fruit and flower production. The ratio of N:P:K is usually decided by type of plant and season of growth.

Tips:

  • Fertilise during the growth season of plant for outdoor bonsai. Its good to fertilise indoor bonsai through out the year, but vary the ratio based on demand.
  • Buy fertiliser specific for bonsai plant from bonsai stores, instead of preparing by yourself.
  • To stimulate more growth use high nitrogen ratio, 12:6:6 is an ideal ratio for spring season for outdoor bonsai.
  • During summer the growth rate of plant reduces due to summer dormancy, a ratio of 10:10:10 is good.
  • During dormant season, reduce the nitrogen content; so a best ratio will be 3:10:10 for outdoor bonsai.
  • For indoor bonsai, a ratio of 10:10:10 is recommended throughout the year.
  • Never over feed the plant because it will have reverse effect and kill your bonsai.
  • Its a good practice to water the bonsai before fertilisation for uniform distribution of solid fertilisers.

Reference:

3: What’s the best temperature for my bonsai?

Temperature becomes a prominent factor for your indoor bonsai. Select a tree suitable for your climate and get rid of the implications due to temperature change. For example, attempting to grow a Japanese maple bonsai tree in tropical climate will be a disastrous. Here you will get a complete species guide from bonsai empire, so choose a right tree for your location.

Tips:

  • Check temperature and humidity at regular intervals. Change the location of indoor bonsai pot based on temperature. Move your indoor bonsai closer to window during day time so that it gets sunlight for at least 5hrs a day.
  • Outdoor bonsais also need optimal temperature. Based on the season, adjust the bonsai pot location so that it gets enough sunlight for its growth.
  • Avoid keeping in direct sunlight for prolonged periods during summer season. It will quickly lead to leaves turning yellow.

Find a list of species which can be grown indoors : Bonsai tree species guide for indoor and here is a list of bonsai tree for beginners from BonsaiMary .

4: Can I choose any soil for my bonsai?

Choosing the right recipe of potting soil for bonsai plant is a vital step in bonsai tree care and it is a much debated topic. The components for making bonsai potting soil mixture depend on various factors. You should consider the availability of soil components locally. Growing conditions i.e: climatic condition and  pH of the soil mixture is another factor.

An ideal soil mixture would be one in which all the ingredients will be of uniform size, so that it will help in quick drainage of water and proper aeration.

We need to understand the fact that there is no soil in bonsai soil mixture.  The components used to create a good potting mixture are, in fact, soilless. They are designed to provide an ideal environment for root growth. In fact the mixture used for bonsai potting doesn’t contain any nutrients. It can neither hold moisture for long time. This makes regular watering and fertilisation unavoidable steps in bonsai tree care.

Ideal bonsai mixture is composed of 75% inert aggregate and 25% organic material. Main criteria is that all materials has to be of uniform size. Clay is a good choice for organic material; some examples are Akadama, Kanuma and Turface.  River rock and fragmented granite form ideal non-porous aggregates; Haydite, Lava Rock, Permatil form ideal porous aggregates.

Tips:

  • All components need to pass through different sieves to filter out fine dust particles.
  • A neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.5 is ideal for bonsai potting soil.

References:

5: How often should I repot my bonsai tree?

Identifying the right time for repotting is important for providing a good growth environment. Most of the trees come out of dormant season (winter, for most trees) starts growing by using the energy stored in roots during dormant season. This is the right time for repotting.

How can I identify whether my tree is ready for repotting?

  1. Existing leaves will start becoming pale yellow and new leaves start to grow. This shows dormant season has ended and now the tree is going into growing season.
  2. Another prominent change we can notice is formation of buds on the stem. This is a sign of growth of new branches. There are four stages of buds in a typical deciduous bonsai tree. Winter bud, which is a tiny protrusion in stem. Then the bud starts to swell towards end of dormant season. Bud extension happens just by the onset of growing season. The last stage is bud opening which is clear sign of tree moving to growing phase.

Tips:

  • You need to take your bonsai plant outside with the help of a hook and start analysing the damaged roots. Cut down all damaged roots; which is known as root pruning.
  • Remove the old soil from the roots and move the plant to a new pot. As the plant grows, its recommended to use deeper and larger pots for bonsai.
  • You should provide higher nitrogen ratio fertiliser just after repotting. Plants start to grow extensively after repotting; which is the main purpose of repotting.

Reference:

6:  How to choose right pots for bonsai ?

Choosing a suitable pot for the bonsai plant is not an easy task for beginners. A pot with good reliability, effective drainage and suitable aeration is the ideal choice. A good harmony between pot and tree is a must for giving an aesthetic appeal to your bonsai art.

Pots made out of Bonsai-friendly clay mixture should be used, which available in markets. Pots made of ceramic, porcelain, concrete, metallic and plastics are available.  Here are some of basic guidelines given by Bjorn Bjorholm of Bonsai Empire.

  • Gender of the plant is important, firstly, you must decide whether your plant is masculine or feminine. In case of trees having both characteristics, then you need to identify which one is dominant. Feminine attributes are curves, grace, smooth bark and  few branches. Masculine traits are strength, old bark, deadwood, thick trunk and dense branches.
  • Size of pot is directly proportional to tree height and spread. If your pot is oval or rectangular in shape, then pot size should be 2/3rd of the tree’s height. Round or square pots should be  1/3rd  of tree’s height. A good height to size ratio is a must to maintain proper growth and stability of bonsai.
  • Design of pot is important to add extra beauty to your bonsai art. Choose a design which shows masculinity, if your tree is masculine dominant and vice versa.

7: How to save my bonsai from diseases and pests?

Prevention is better than cure. So lets practice some of the prevention steps so that bonsai wont be prone to diseases. Most important step is to provide enough sunlight, proper aeration and drainage of water. Fallen leaves must be removed periodically. Repotting and changing soil once in a year are some other precautionary measures.

Infected leaves are the first sign of attack by pests. Its a good practice to remove those leaves and affected branches using sterilised tools. Move the plant away from others if you have more than one bonsais in your garden. Always use sterilised tools while pruning and styling.

How can I treat my bonsai if I see it infected? 

  • Changing the growing environment is the first thing to try. This involves changing the location of bonsai so that it gets more air and  sunlight. Changing the composition of bonsai soil mixture is another way to change the environment.
  • If the bonsais are infected by pest, use biological alternatives to kill those pests. Using ladybugs will kill those pests; without affecting your bonsai.
  • Third solution is to use chemicals to wash away the pests by using a warm solution of liquid dish soap and water.
  • The last and final resort will be using pesticides to kill those pests. Avoid using high dose of pesticides.

Reference:

 8: Can I style bonsai by myself?

Yes,  you can style your bonsai by yourself. Styling involves pruning and wiring.

Pruning is the technique to get desired shape for the bonsai by cutting off the branches. There are two types of pruning. Maintenance pruning, which is to maintain and refine the existing shape of bonsai. Structural pruning is a more rigorous pruning technique to give bonsai its basic shape and style. Here is a detailed guide from Bonsai empire which explains how to prune the bonsai.

Tips:

  • Pruning should not be done during dormant season of plant. Maintenance pruning can be done throughout the year. Best time for structural pruning is during the onset of growth season.
  • Using the right tools for pruning is most important to get the desired shape and appeal to your tree.

How to prune a bonsai tree?

Prune the branches and shoots that have outgrown the desired canopy size and shape. Use twig sears or normal cutters to do maintenance pruning. To develop a dense foliage and to force an even distributed growth, prune the outer and top area regularly.  To get the desired style, structural pruning has to be done. Place the tree on a table at eye level and start removing the dead woods first. Take a look at your bonsai from a distance to check which branches and shoots doesn’t suit the style of your bonsai.

Wiring is the next step in styling the bonsai tree. This  technique involves wrapping copper wire around branches to bend and repositioning the branches.  This will help to get the desired style for your bonsai. Its a time consuming process and it takes months for the branches to grow in desired direction. After that, the copper wire should be removed.

Wiring can be done through out the year for most of the trees. During growth season,  the branches will grow thicker and faster and as a result, the wire will cut into the bark. When this happens, old wires and use new ones, if desired style is not yet achieved.

Bonsai Tree Care Infographics

Reference:

Bonsai tree care is an easy, delightful and informative experience that requires no formal education. It is the first step in learning and growing the art of bonsai.

Lets make an orchid terrarium in 5 minutes

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Which flower you like the most? If orchid is one of  your favourite flower, then lets make a beautiful orchid terrarium. Terrarium is miniature eco-system in a closed container.

The most popular orchid terrariums at different sizes and price points are:

[amazon table=”2510″]

There are many benefits of having an orchid terrarium. It helps you to grow and support your orchids for many years. It gives you absolute control of your small garden environment. Orchid terrarium brightens up your home and makes it easier for you to manage your plants.

How to set up Orchid Terrarium?

Making a terrarium is easy and enjoyable hobby for entire family. It is an awesome idea for having your indoor garden and home decoration at same time. Lets jump into action:

Step 1: Choose your glass container and make sure the glass is clear and large enough to support the orchid. If you are creative enough then choose a mason jar to create your own orchid terrarium.  You can buy decorative containers of various shapes from garden centers or online stores.

Step 2: Place some handful of rocks and pebbles at the bottom of the container. Make sure the container you choose have drainage hole so that it create a right green house inside. Otherwise high humidity will kill your orchid plant.

Step 3: Decorate the container using mosses and ferns. Use small tree barks to fill up the terrarium. Its good to leave half of the container empty because it gives enough space for orchid plant to grow.

Step 4:  Plant your orchid inside the container, its good to have orchids with potting soil in its roots. So that it will get adjusted to the new environment quickly. If you are planting a new stem, then use good potting soil so that orchids get nutrients for initial growth.

Tips:

  • Choose a small orchid plant so that space inside the terrarium will be enough for growth.
  • Leave the aerial roots above soil, its absolutely necessary for orchid plant’s health.
  • Choose orchids which grow best in low light condition.

Choose your orchid for terrarium.

There are many species of orchid plants that can be used in an your terrarium. Some of the best and most preferable types of orchid plants for terrariums are:

  • Phalaenopsis or moth orchids
  • Vanda orchid or Singapore orchid
  • Slipper orchids
  • Cattelya orchids

The Phalaenopsis orchids are some of the toughest one that you can keep in a terrarium.  The plant grows quickly and fills the terrarium fast.  An ideal orchid to grow at any light level. They are the most aggressive orchid plants you can consider.

What is orchid vivarium?

An orchid vivarium, simply put is an area or region comprising of orchids. The vivarium is normally enclosed and used for keeping several orchid plants at a time. A vivarium can be a single tank that can be kept indoors, or a large tank placed outdoors. The vivarium is used for several purposes, for instance, it may have dual entry points. A vivarium is to provide different habitats for different species and geniuses of orchid plants.  Orchids that may not survive certain lighting conditions or environment. These plants are raised and integrated into this environment. Many orchid plants can survive in a vivarium but not all orchid plants can survive in the same terrarium. The orchid vivarium is created using pebbles, soil and leaf litters. They may be more complex in nature than the single orchid terrarium.

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