Indoor Plants: Wick and Grow (How Does It Work?)

You could decide to go on vacation and leave your plants behind while you are away on your trip. But how will they stay watered so they don’t die? There is a new “invention” called Wick & Grow, which is a type of planter and plant set-up that allows the plant to slowly seep up water from a reservoir below inside its own planter pot, so it stays hydrated.

What is Wick & Grow?

With the use of cotton strips planted in the soil of each plant, they slowly wick moisture and water components up through the soil to the roots of the plant. During this process, the root zone remains moist without being soaked. Creating such a setup is quite easy and it is not as expensive as getting someone to stay in your apartment while you go on a vacation.

You might want to drop your plants under a tray of water, so they would keep getting water, but this is a bad idea because continuous watering in your absence would drown the roots in no time.

The roots are fans of oxygen, so if you sop wet soil, it could easily rot, catch an infection or mold too. Making use of a simple wicking system would allow the right amount of moisture to get to the dirt to keep your plants alive.

How to Wick & Grow:

Items Needed:

The things you need to create your own indoor wick and grow planter includes the following:

A house plant, cotton fabric, scissors, a large bowl of water taller than the container of the plant, and a small bowl of water.

Directions:

You should prepare the wicks by cutting the cotton fabric into strips of about 1″ wide by 12″ long. Then you just lay an end of the strip into the soil. Gently wrap it around the base of the stem of the plant, loosely. Then you use one of your fingers to dig into the ground without touching the roots. Gently bury the end of the strip into the soil.

From here you get the tall bowl with water and put it close to the plant. Get the other end of the strip into this large bowl of water. Make sure the cotton strip is taller than the plant bowl. Then the water would slowly wick from the tall bowl into the ground. Making use of the cotton strip.

Or, you could first tie the wick around the stem of the plant not tightly like the previous method and then bury the stem in the ground.

Then get the free end of the wick into a bowl of water which is smaller than that of the plant pot’s width.

Get the pot of the plant and put it into a bowl of water. The aim here is for the plant to rest inside the bowl and a huge amount of water under it. Then the water would wick up through the cotton strip from the little pot under the plant.

You can also find premade wick and grow plants and planters at your local gardening center, such as at Lowe’s or Home Depot from brands such as Costa Farms. Happy planting!

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Herbs to Support the Body’s Natural Defenses

A lot of the things we consume have several ways of supporting the immune system and the body’s natural defenses. These strive to make the immune system of the body stronger and to make sure it is working properly. Especially in times when we are stressed or we have a serious working or training schedule.

The natural defenses in our bodies micro quite several herbs consumption for the body to function properly. Most times these nutrients are from plants instead of from high dose supplements. And these high dose supplements could cause more harm than good.

Some of these herbs and nutrients, which support the body’s natural defenses include the following:

4 Herbs to Support the Body’s Natural Defenses

Astragalus

This herb helps the body in providing a high level of immune support, and it also aids in the adaptation of daily stress by the body. This herb was founded in China as a traditional means of medicine for a very long time. Astragalus helps in the promotion of resistance from basic stress which the body goes through every day.

Astragalus as stated by those who have used it has helped in supporting the liver and strengthens the defense system. The adrenals are not left out. Because this herb also aids in adding power to the resistors of stress in the body.

Black Elderberry

If you are looking for a means to add to your body’s defense system, this is the right choice.

Black elderberry aids in strengthening the defense system and also serves as an antioxidant, because it is concentrated with anthocyanins. This also another antioxidant that gives this herb its very dark purple color. It is also used to make flutes by Native Americans, by making use of its branches. Also known as the tree of music.

It serves as a delicious daily defense that could be used throughout an entire period.

Echinacea

If you require a quick burst of energy or you need your internal body defense system to pick up and fight out an infection. This is the herb for you.

Echinacea is publicly known as one of the most studied herbs worldwide. The Native Americans made use of this herb and mostly in the 1800s, and since then it has been brought out to be known by the public.

Mostly known as the purple coneflower, it can be used to support continual and acute immune health issues. It is known that different types of Echinacea species are known to perform different functions and different support to the body’s defense system.

It is best to use the different types together, to get the best results from the onset.

Olive Leaf

This is used to support the defense system and also used to offer the aid gotten from the antioxidant.

We all do not like joking with issues of the heart. This herb aids the defense system close to the heart by supporting it with an antioxidant like olive oil and olives.

With these herbs and other vitamins, your natural defense system would be fully supported. For immune support, try Banyan Botanicals’ Immune Strong or Dr. Mercola’s Immune Support.

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Annuals and Perennials: What to Plant in the Spring

Although there may still be snow on the ground in your neighborhood, mid-February is actually a great time to start planning your spring garden. Not only can you start seeds under a greenhouse lamp, you can also sketch what you want your garden to look like when warmer weather arrives.

If you consider yourself a gardening newbie, it’s best to start with understanding your zone, as well as the types of plants you can choose from. Should you look for sun or shade-loving varieties? Do you want the pop of color from an easy-grow annual or are you looking to invest the time and money of cultivating perennial flowers and shrubs?

We have the answers for all of your beginner gardening questions, so read on to learn more.

The Difference Between Annuals and Perennials

If you take the time to read the tags stuck into the soil of the plants you’re perusing, they will always be labeled either “annual” or “perennial” – here’s the difference:

Annuals

An annual plant only stays around for one growing season, and dies in the winter, leaving you to replant something in that spot each year. There is a chance they could throw out a few seeds that germinate in the spring, but it’s not a sure thing.

Perennials

A perennial on the other hand, will return each spring, so given the correct care you should only need to plant these varieties once. Of course you can kill any plant through neglect or poor planning, so you’ll still need to provide healthy soil, water, and sunlight.

3 Great Annuals to Plant in the Spring

Pansies

If you’re looking for a hearty, affordable pop of color for any space in your garden, you can’t go wrong with pansies. Pansies prefer cool weather and will easily add vibrance to up your curb appeal this spring.

Dianthus

This charming little flower is hearty enough to keep blooming through a light spring frost. Dianthus plants grow to be roughly 8 inches tall and produce fringed flowers in purple, pink, red, and white.

Petunia

These versatile annuals are popular and easy to come by at your local nursery or big box hardware store. Petunias have a long blossoming life and will provide color to your garden well past the spring months.

3 Stunning Perennials Perfect for Spring Planting

Black Eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan, or rudbeckia, is easy to grow and brings a burst of yellow, daisy-like flowers to the mix. This flower prefers full sun and well drained soil, and you may want to consider moving it every few years to keep it healthy.

Salvia

Salvia, sometimes called Russian Sage, is one of the hardiest plants you can add to your garden. There are many varieties suited for practically every zone, making it a perfect choice for your springtime planting.

Coneflower

Coneflower is a vibrant perennial that comes in various shades of purple and pink. Whether starting from seedlings or seeds, spring is the perfect time to plant coneflower in your garden.

So now that you know a few of your options, which plants will you choose for your spring garden? Share your favorites with us in the comments section below.

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