Keep on Growing with GardenMama!

Ya Mama’s Blog

1
FEB
Already in Bloom
So, I’ve opened a Twitter account and will soon be tweeting the procession of flowering trees and shrubs in 2012. Ok, it’s not exactly a handwritten journal, but since the Japanese magnolias started blooming during the third week of January instead of early February, it might be interesting to follow along. Here’s what’s blooming now…
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Propagate This!

1
FEB
A Simple Setup
Here’s my uncomplicated take on setting up a rooting bench indoors. Fill flats or small cells with a soilless, fine-textured media such as Metro Mix and water them thoroughly. On the bench, roll out a heating mat made for propagation. On top of that, put a plastic tray that is at least an inch deep and nestle the flats of rooting media into the tray. I dip the base of each cutting into a little bowl of full strength Hormex liquid concentrate before inserting it into the media. This setup lets me provide bottom heat and water the flats from the bottom by filling the tray. I use plastic boxes with vents on top of the flats to keep humidity levels up around both cuttings and seedlings. A grow light fixture with energy efficient, full spectrum bulbs on a timer hangs over the setup.
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Grow Organic Tips

31
JAN
Wormy Wisdom

Organic is all over the news these days, and for good reason! Even gardeners who do not think of themselves as organic gardeners are asking about these strategies and using them now because they are effective, sustainable, and grow better plants of every kind. Soil building is important to everyone, and organic matters like Vermicompost and Vermicompost tea work to improve soil conditions and nurture micro life for healthy roots. You don’t have to take my word for it: check out the photographs and research information at wormwise.com. And watch this space for weekly tips for organic gardening, sponsored by WormWise.