Pflanzen

Even if you haven’t been growing plants or maintaining your home garden for a long time, the chances are that you’ve still heard of macronutrients. The most important of these are of course NPK or Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. These are the building blocks upon which you build your garden but they aren’t the ‘be all and end all’ when it comes to plant nutrition. You also need to know your micronutrients!

The essential plant micronutrients are boron (B), chloride (Cl), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo).

Though not required in as large quantities as the macronutrients, these still play an incredibly important role in plant growth and development. They also develop a plant’s ability to fight off pests and diseases that plague most home gardens.

Let’s take a look at how they help the plant by taking each micronutrient individually.

1) Boron (B)

Living in a region with high rainfall and sandy soil? Haven’t checked the pH balance of your soil and think that it may be too acidic? Well, if your plants are displaying stunted growth or hollow stems and fruit, then your soil most definitely lacks boron!

Boron helps in cell wall formation which ensures plant growth and development. Processes like pollen formation, germination, and flower retention also require boron.

2) Chloride (Cl)

Chloride helps in a little known yet incredibly important function of the plant; it regulates the stomatal opening. Through this, it affects some outcomes, the most significant being plant water loss. The stoma is an opening on the surface of leaves through which evaporation takes place. The presence of chloride means that this is regulated so that the plant doesn’t dry out.

But in its absence, you’ll see wilting, widespread roots that are striving to search for water to compensate.

3) Manganese (Mn)

Necessary for that most important process of all, photosynthesis! Manganese aids in the metabolic processes in the plant, forming the compounds that are needed for metabolism to take place. If your soil lacks manganese, then you’ll see the effect in the leaves, as they develop brown/white/ gray spots that indicate decay. You’ll also notice a higher rate of leaf drop and delayed maturity.

4) Iron (Fe)

Not just humans, but plants need iron too! It is a cog in many plant processes, including but not restricted to energy transfer, production of chlorophyll, nitrogen fixation and acting as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions that produce energy. If the leaves of your home plant are yellowing, then they lack the required iron content.

5) Zinc (Zn)

Plants need a constant supply of Zinc to display the most optimum growth, especially in the early stages i.e. germination. Zinc also helps in the development of enzymes that regulate growth, produce energy and synthesize all the essential proteins in the plant. A lack of Zinc means stunted growth.

6) Copper (Cu)

The presence of copper helps in strengthening the plant’s cell wall structures by synthesizing lignin, which also reduces the chances of wilting. It is also a necessary component of nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism. Pale green leaves and dieback of stems are the symptoms of copper deficiency.

7) Molybdenum (Mo)

Molybdenum makes its presence felt in the process of pollen formation which goes on to affect fruit and grain production. It initiates enzyme systems that relate to nitrogen fixation in legumes so that symbiotic bacteria may grow easily. However, molybdenum requirements are usually low, so most plants don’t exhibit any deficiency in this.

Now that you’ve been introduced to these essentials start testing your soil for deficiencies and help your plant grow long and healthy!

Source by Siddhant Bhalinge

The grass plant has taken millions of years to get to the stage it is at now. In early times grazing herbivores used it as a primary food source. Grass plants that grew close to the ground and developed crowns went on to survive and flourish. Today’s turf grass has evolved from these early survivors. Almost all homeowners receive enjoyment from their lawns. Very few of us really takes the time to examine the grass plant up close, by doing so we would be astounded by its complexity and characteristics.

The primary growth in a grass plant grows from a ground hugging point known as the crown. By mowing at a height above the crown you ensure the plants survival. Many times during a spring clean up, the crew will damage the crown causing devastating results if the damage occurs during active growth. Shoot and roots originate from the crown. The root system is utilized by the plant to hold it in place, as well as being the primary means of acquiring nutrients and water from the soil. By developing leaves and stems above ground the plant takes in sunlight and carbon dioxide in a process known as photosynthesis. First to appear from the crown is the primary shoot . It produces a leaf and a stem. Each leaf has a blade and a sheath. The sheath wraps itself around the blade to protect it, while the blade continues to grow upwards. Where the blade and sheath meet is known as the collar. In the interior of the collar is a ring of hairs known as the ligules. Ear shaped lobes known as auricles are found at the end of the ligule. Grass identification uses the different sizes, and shapes of the auricles and ligules to categorize individual cultivars of grass.

Additional shoots originating from the crown are known as tillers. Tillers aid in making your lawn thick and lush. By encouraging a thick, lush lawn you go a long way in stopping weed growth, insect infestation, and damage by turf diseases. Kentucky Bluegrass, which is a common cultivar in our area, spreads by creeping stems underground known as rhizomes. As the rhizome continues to grow it will create additional plants that are capable of sustaining themselves by producing their own roots and shoots. By taking the time to understand the basic structures of your grass and how different grasses reproduce, you will be on your way to creating a lush, thick weed free lawn.

Source by Paul Burke

Aloe Vera – the plant of immortality has been used since ages for medicinal and healing purposes. It is a short plant, just 2 to 3 feet in height. The leaves of this plant are rich in water and contain several other nutrients like minerals, vitamins, acids, salts and antioxidants. Technically, it contains around 22 different nutrients which are considered very useful for skin and hair. Owing to its miraculous healing power, this plant is widely used in the manufacturing of several beauty products.

Let me discuss first some of the properties of Aloe Vera.

It possesses antibacterial properties.

This plant contains various antioxidants which restrain the growth of bacteria. Because of this property, it is used in case of infection and inflammation. It contains compound from the hydrocarbon family which prevents the growth of fungi and bacteria.

It acts as moisturizer.

The Aloe Vera plant contains around 95 percent of water. Owing to this, it acts as an excellent moisturizing agent. The regular use of this helps in removing the dryness of the skin, thus making it more attractive. There are several skin moisturizers available in the market. You can also use them in order to give your skin attractive appearance.

It helps in preventing ageing of the skin.

This plant contains antioxidants as well as vitamin C and E. These ingredients are very effective in providing firmness to the skin. Moreover, the regular use of this helps in retaining the elasticity of the skin, thus giving you attractive and younger looks.

It is used to lighten skin.

It helps in lightening the texture of the skin. The ingredients of this plant help in controlling the pigmentation of the skin. When used on a regular basis, it helps in controlling the activity of the collagen, thus offering you bright skin.

Aloe Vera is also very useful for hair. Because of its miraculous healing properties, it is widely used in the manufacturing of the wide range of hair care products. As it contains around 22 amino acids along with different vitamins and mineral supplements, it helps in enhancing hair growth. It prevents the growth of dandruff and helps a lot in maintaining hair healthy and strong. The study has suggested that disturbed pH of the scalp is the main cause of hair fall. This is very effective in maintaining the pH of the scalp, thus preventing several diseases associated with hair.

There are several beauty and health care products available in the market. One can easily use these products in order to avail the several benefits offered by Aloe Vera. As it is basically a plant, its regular use doesn’t offer any side effect.

Source by Samaria Thomas

Have you heard of Micro Plant Powder? Many people haven’t. This may be one of the more interesting supplements on the market right now. Further down, I will discuss the boring background info on how Micro Plant Powder is produced but first, some info about why I am interested in it and why you might be too! The healing benefits of this miracle supplement are pretty amazing and there are no reported side effects. Silica, which makes up Micro Plant Powder, is one of the basics of human life. Because silica is no longer prevalent in our soil, it is sorely lacking in our food diets. This is an easy way to get that back into your daily intake.

This supplement has so many regenerative and healing benefits that can be life altering – you will just have to try it for yourself to see the results.

Here are some of the benefits of Micro Plant Powder:

Lowers high blood pressure naturally. It doesn’t just lower it a little – it lowers it a lot.

Improves joint and bone health and encourages healthy building of cartilage. As we get older, calcium in our bodies depletes and our bones become brittle and weak. Studies suggests that, instead of building bone mass, calcium supplements may speed the leaching away of bone calcium.

Here is some of the background about Micro Plant Powder – feel free to skip this paragraph and get to more of the benefits.

Here is the technical and possibly boring background on Micro Plant Powder and how it is produced. Micro Plant Powder is made from single cell microscopic plants that are found in fresh water beds on the east coast under zeolite beds. These tiny plants are made up of only one cell. They form a hard shell around themselves and over many years float to the bottom of fresh water beds and aggregate to form a solid compound that is made up of 89% or more of pure silica surrounded by molecules of oxygen and other basic but vital minerals.

* May stop the pain of osteoporosis and can help the self repair process. Silica in the powder is useful in creating calcium in the body when deficient.

* Excellent and restorative for hair, skin and bones. It is used extensively around the world for improvement to hair, nails, skin, and bones.

* Lowers high cholesterol dramatically.

Other benefits:

* Fades age spots

* Anti-aging properties

* Stimulates metabolism for more energy

* It helps to detoxify the body of bacteria and pollutants.

* Reduces inflammation

* Lessens undesirable side-effects of menopause

* Can help prevent kidney stones and heal urinary tract infections.

Micro Plant Powder’s benefits go on and on – there are more on my site, including some pretty major benefits. It’s the best “miracle pill” that it isn’t a drug. It is natural and gives your body what it needs to heal itself.

Source by Dominique Scott

Planting seeds is one of the most important parts of successful gardening. Having seed packets is only a start though; after planting, you should provide support so your seedlings can grow.

The first thing you need to know is that each variety of plant is different from the other in regard to the planting procedure. To determine what type of support you will need, research all the varieties and their potential root systems. An example of such support would be something such as gravel or sand. However, some varieties require more support than others, so make sure you know what each variety needs before you start any process.

For each method, the technique for planting varies. Most people prefer the simplest method, however, it may not be the best for you. Regardless of which method you choose, you will want to do your research before you begin planting, and you should be able to easily tell the difference between different methods.

One of the most basic methods for planting is called the coil method. It uses wire to hold the seedling in place while it grows and develops in the ground.

Once the seedling is in place, the next step is to keep it. Some varieties need a different kind of support than others, so if your plant is at risk of toppling over, it is always a good idea to add some support.

In addition to containers and other types of containerized plants, you can also plant flowers and trees that can be kept in a small pot in your garden. Most plants require support to stay upright, but a few plants do not, but with the proper support, they will remain in place.

Many potting varieties are available to grow with container plants, making this type of planting popular. Those who use containers as a method for planting will find this method to be quite easy.

Picking a soil that suits your plants is an important part of a successful planting. Before you choose a soil, make sure you know the exact type of plant you are planting, and this will help you select the best soil for your plant.

The second step in the process is to provide proper protection for your healthy plant. Even if you will have to move the plant out of its container, there are plenty of support systems available to allow you to properly move the plant.

Properly caring for your plant is just as important as providing it with a container. There are many products available to care for your plant and prevent diseases that can affect the plant.

By following these steps and taking into consideration your specific plant, you will be able to successfully complete the planting process. Whether you have a large garden or a small patch of land, proper research and planning will help you plan successfully.

Source by Dan Licamara

Eventually we are all given a house plant either as a gift or a plant from someone who is moving and can’t take their plants with them, instantly giving you the basis for indoor gardening. Many times if you don’t know how to care for it the plant will wither and die. Other times people start to care for the plant and suddenly become avid gardeners.

Indoor gardens are similar to outdoor gardens, it’s just that you are caring for plants in your home instead of in your garden. A big plus to indoor gardening is that it can be enjoyed by people that live in the cities with no access to land. It is also a joyful hobby for people that are confined indoors. The real bonus is that they are healthy for us. Basically plants take in carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen (photosynthesis) thereby purifying the air that we breath. So you have attractive plants with added benefits.

Indoor gardens are ideal for people that live in hard, cold climates or for someone who lives in a climate that gets searingly hot. With an indoor garden the gardener can manipulate the environment so that their plants thrive. If it is dreary, cold and grey wouldn’t it be delightful to have gorgeous plants sprinkled around your home that not only add beauty but cheerfulness too?

After choosing the plants you wish to grow you must choose a container for it. You can opt for a small plant that can be placed on a counter or windowsill. Even a large evergreen in a big pot can be placed next to your door or in a sunny spot in the corner. You must make a plan for your indoor garden. Figure out where you want to place your indoor garden so you will know how much space you have for the plants. Once this is done you can choose the container and the plants you wish to grow. Don’t forget to research the plants needs, like watering, sunlight and food before you go to the nursery center.

Once you have gathered all of your material you can start planting and arranging your indoor garden in your home. When arranging your garden be sure to put plant that needs bright sun near a window. Plants that just need indirect light should be put in a more comfortable spot of low or indirect sun for them. If you get this wrong you will be throwing out your plants and buying new ones.

Don’t overlook planting an indoor herb garden especially if you like to cook. Herbs needs are four to six hours of sun per day and loose easily drained soil. They are pretty plants and will add zip to your meals.

If you have pets carefully choose your plants. Pets and plants must be able to cohabitate in your home peacefully. Some plants are toxic to animals. You have to be sure that your animal and the plant can live together. For instance, a tall plant may be seen as a scratching tool by cats or even a litter box. Cats have been known to wrap themselves around larger plants and snuggle in the warm dirt. Sometimes this can disturb the roots. One way to beat this is to put ornamental rocks or crushed seashells right on top of the soil.

You can have an indoor garden and enjoy all of the benefits of beautiful plants. Just do some research either at you local nursery or on the internet. What are you waiting for? Start planting.

Happy Indoor Garden!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Source by Mary Hanna

On Raksha Bandhan, what can be the loveliest gift for your brother and sister? Of course, it’s your time and affection but there has to be a way to express your emotions for your brother or sister. One way is to give a rakhi plant gift. It’s one of the sweetest ways of showing your love and respect for your sibling. Let’s find out more.

A rakhi plant will remind your sibling of you in addition to strengthen the bond of love between you two. This long-lasting gift will serve as a symbol of true love. This is the reason it’s one of the best choices for Raksha Bandhan.

You can choose from the following list of rakhi plants for this special occasion:

• Jade plant

• Good luck bamboo plant

• Tulsi plant

• Money plant

Go for Green Plants For Rakhi

On this Raksha Bandhan, you can choose from a wide range of green plants and place your orders online. In fact, this is one of the best ways of surprising your brother and sister-in-law. All you need to do is send a plant as a gift and it will bring good luck in the life of your brother or sister. Besides, it will help them stay protected against the evil eye.

You are free to opt for the best rakhi combo in order to make them go over the moon on this memorable occasion.

Send Rakhi With Plants

Nowadays, people have been leaning towards nature. When you exposure nature, you will be amazed to realize how many benefits it can offer for you. Due to the increasing level of pollution, more and more people are suffering from breathing issues.

Therefore, green plants are rising in popularity across the globe. And this the reason they make a great gift item on Raksha Bandhan as well. If planted in a crafted case, plants can be the perfect eco-friendly gifts that may surprise your brother or sister.

Since Raksha Bandhan is an ideal occasion to exchange rakhi gifts, you can go for the green beauties for your brother or sister. We bet that these gifts will make them go over the moon. You can choose and order rakhi with flowers for the rakhi festival.

Order The Perfect Combo Of Rakhi With Plants

The beauty of rakhi plants is that green plants serve as effective air purifiers for the recipient’s home. So, plants make the best gift for your siblings. At Giftsvalla, you can find amazing plant combos like pear rakhi along with a box of the Jade plant or money plant.

You can choose from different combos based on your personal taste. So, all you need to do is choose the best plant combo that comes with chocolate. And the good thing is that delivery is super-fast.

In short, you can celebrate this Raksha Bandhan with green plants as gifts for your brother or sister.

Source by Abdul Waheed Zafar

Bamboo has a tensile strength superior to mild steel (withstands up to 52,000 pounds of pressure psi) and a weight-to-strength ratio surpassing that of graphite, bamboo is the strongest growing woody plant on earth. There is a suspension bridge in China 250 yards long, 9 foot wide and rests entirely on bamboo cables fastened over the water. It doesn’t have a single nail or piece of iron in it. Used in ladders, scaffolding and construction, bamboo is twice as stable as oak, walnut and teak.

Thomas Edison’s first successful incandescent lamp (light bulb) used a filament made of carbonized bamboo. It was patented in 1880. This light bulb still burns today in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC.

Alexander Graham Bell used bamboo for the first phonograph needle.

Bamboo has thousands of uses including airplane “skins”, aphrodisiacs, blinds, brushes, crafts, desalination filters, diesel fuel, fly-fishing poles, food, furniture, medicine, musical instruments, ornaments, paper, rope, scaffolding, umbrellas, walking sticks, wind chimes and many, many, more. They even make beer from bamboo and yes apparently it tastes good.

Currently there are some 1250 known species of bamboo with an estimated 1 billion people living in bamboo constructed homes. Bamboo is an enduring natural resource and provides income, food, and housing to over 2.2 billion people worldwide.

Source by Mark Hutchison

The overwhelming majority of climbing plants tend to be rampant and aggressive in their growth habit. They need to be so in the forests where they grow naturally, in order to scramble up towards the light of the forest canopy. This attribute is often welcome in many garden situations, but tends to become problematical in small spaces. The temptation to plant the likes of Bougainvillea, Thunbergia, or Campsis, with their rapid cover and spectacular blooms, can be very great, but many a small plot has been taken over or become an unmanageable tangle as a result.

In contrast stands Star Jasmine, (Trachelospermum jasminoides) which is fairly slow growing and not as showy as many of the usual climbers. Often considered a drawback by the unaware, its lethargy in getting started makes it easy to keep under control, and so it is far more suitable for the small private garden or backyard.

In its own way, Star Jasmine is actually a very beautiful ornamental. Reaching about 2-3 meters (9 ft) it has small, dark green, shiny leaves, which add a refined, woodsy feel to the garden. The plant is smothered by delicate, but very fragrant white flowers in the spring and early summer. It looks good at close quarters, maintaining a decent appearance all the year round. Star Jasmine is therefore suitable for small, intimate spaces such as entrances and narrow paths.

An ornamental plant, like an ingredient in a recipe, is only as good as its place in the general scheme of things. In design terms, a specimen has to relate appropriately with the other plants. In this regard, Trachelospermum climbing up a wall combines excellently with low growing shrubs of medium texture, like Pittosporum “Wheelers dwarf”, Coprosma repens and Green Island Ficus. It also goes well with bushes like Carissa, Viburnum, Duranta, and Raphiolepis.

For those who like the natural feel of a plant scrambling up a tree, Star Jasmine is an infinitely wiser choice than rampant climbers such as Ivy. The latter, though not a parasite in biological terms, can virtually strangle a tree, causing branches to collapse under its weight, and seriously shortening the tree’s life. Trachelospermum simply does not possess such belligerent qualities!

For climbing on tall walls, Star Jasmine needs tying and training. With age, the vines do become thicker, and so the structure on which it is trained, ought to be able to take some weight. On short walls though, it does not require support, as it cascades over the top of the wall. It is also used sometimes as a medium scale ground cover. Left to its own devises, it tends to mound somewhat, and in time can become bare and bald, other than at the growing tips. It is therefore worth pruning and clipping on a regular basis in order to induce lateral growth and ultimately, a denser, more compact appearance.

Source by Jonathan Ya’akobi

Do you understand the meaning of “Plant your feet”? It is basically an analogy that describes the planting of a tree. It also means, to fasten yourself to something very tightly.

When you plant a tree, the seeds are inserted into the ground and the roots spread widely as the tree grows upward. Typically, you can cut down the tree but the roots remain and sometimes, the tree will continue to grow.

This is what I’m referring to when I describe planting your feet in business networking. I am saying to attach yourself to it in a way that transcends average attachments. Attachment in which you would typically give up when the going got rough.

The reason I recommend this, is because far too many people call it quits when they don’t get immediate results. I am a living example that long term relationships are possible, even for beginners, and can become very fruitful with time.

So, if you are wanting to get more out of your networking efforts, keep going and don’t quit. It is highly recommended that you plant your feet. Here are 3 ways to do so;

1. Make a do or die commitment and stick to it.

Making a do or die commitment and planting your feet are synonymous. It doesn’t mean that you will die if you don’t meet your commitment but you want to train your brain as if it’s actually true. If you were ever involved in a life or death situation, you know how priorities can change in the wink of an eye. You also know the severity in your resolve, when it comes to such things.

2. Put yourself in a position where you have to “Come through” for others.

This step requires you to put pressure on yourself. This demands you to leave your comfort zone. Nothing puts you under pressure like having to be accountable to others.

For example; you can hold your own business networking event or meeting. You can also invite an important colleague to meet you at a certain event knowing that you’re good standing would be greatly affected if you don’t show up.

3. Keep track of your activity and progress.

Another way to plant your feet and somewhat ease the pressure, is to keep track of your results. I say “ease the pressure” because once you are able to see the progress you’re making, it can encourage you to proceed further. Just remember to keep your feet planted even if you notice little or no progress. This simply means that some adjustments are due.

Source by J. H. Lee