Thursday, January 16, 2020

How to Care for Silver Queen Plants (Also Called Chinese Evergreens)



If you’re a beginning gardener looking for a houseplant to boost your confidence and add color and texture to your home, then you are going to love the Silver Queen Plant. Also called the Chinese Evergreen, or Aglaonema, this plant boasts gorgeous, textured leaves and isn’t picky about light, humidity, or watering!

Keep reading to learn more about how to care for Silver Queen plants and get ready to look like a houseplant pro!

Sizes and Types of Aglaonema

This plant comes in many varieties, although the three most common are the Silver Queen, Roebellini, and Chinese Evergreen. The differences between these plant varieties are mainly seen in the leaf color, which can range from silver to brilliant green, as well as red speckles in certain varieties. Well-tended Silver Queen Plants and other Aglaonema can range in size, but mature plants can grow up to 4 feet tall. Keep in mind that this plant is slow-growing, so you have time to tend your plant before you need to re-pot it.

Set Up Your Soil for Success

Although this plant isn’t fussy, it does better when rooted in the right soil. Your best bet for happy Aglaonema and Silver Queen Plants is to use an equal mix of potting soil, perlite, and sand. This mixture drains well and will yield greater growing results for fuller, more vibrant plants.

Light Requirements

Each variety of Aglaonema will require slightly different light requirements. Darker-leaved varieties will require less sun, and the lighter the variegation on your plant’s leaves, the more light it will require. Do keep in mind, however, that no aglaonema will do well in full-sun, so set your plant up accordingly, or it will burn.

Watering & Fertilizer

Your plant’s watering needs will change slightly with the temperature outdoors. In the warmer summer months, you’ll want to water every 7-9 days or when the soil feels dry. However, in the winter months your plant will require less water, so you may only need to water every 2-3 weeks. You should fertilize your Silver Queen Plants in the spring with a balanced, liquid houseplant fertilizer, and reapply later in the summer, if needed.

Temperature and Humidity
Remember that your Aglaonema is a tropical plant, so don’t place it in a cool or drafty area as colder temperatures may kill it. Mist your plant often during the summer to ensure a humid atmosphere around the leaves.

Other Tips and Information

If you need re-pot or transfer your Aglaonema, wait until the weather is warm – generally spring to summer in most zones. You can also divide it at this time, gently pulling the roots of the plant apart, using a clean knife if needed. Transfer each new plant into potting soil and water well. Remember that these plants are considered toxic to pets so take care if your pet seems overly interested in your Silver Queen Plants.

Do you have any Silver Queen Plants in your home? Share your tips and tricks with us in the comments section below.

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Photo by Mark Bosky on Unsplash

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Medicinal Herbs Farming Techniques You Can Use at Home




For decades we have relied on pharmacies and modern medicine to heal our illnesses, aches and pains. What we forget is that for centuries, civilizations relied on natural herbs and homemade remedies to heal the body. The use of natural remedies and food as medicine is on the rise once again, leading many to wonder if they are capable of growing medicinal herbs at home.

If you want to learn more about medicinal herbs farming or the easiest healing herbs to grow at home, keep reading.

Top Medicinal Herbs

Here are 4 useful, easy-to-grow herbs to get you started on your medicinal herbs farming journey.

Feverfew
This small, white, flowering herb has a variety of medicinal uses but is particularly helpful for treating headaches and migraines. Feverfew is hardy across zones 5-10 and can act as an evergreen in warmer climates.

Chamomile
Chamomile is a great starting place for growing medicinal herbs because it’s both soil-tolerant and drought-hardy. This plant prefers full sun and can be propped up if the flowers make the plant top-heavy. The flowers and leaves can be easily dried and crushed to be used in a soothing tea like Sleep & Relax Herbal Tea from Gaia Herbs.

Lavender
Fragrant and beautiful, lavender stays a lovely gray-green color year-round, lending seasonal color to your garden in the cooler months. This soil-tolerant plant is best planted and pruned in the spring and can be harvested for an endless variety of uses.

Lemon Balm
A member of the mint family, lemon balm is easy to grow but can quickly become invasive. Be sure to keep it contained and well watered, but don’t use fertilizers as they can decrease the potency of the herb. Lemon balm can be used medicinally to treat anxiety, insomnia, insect bites, and more.

Growing Tips for Medicinal Herbs Farming

Ready to try your hand at growing these herbs for yourself? Here are a few tips to get you started

Quality Begets Quality
If you want to produce quality herbs, start with quality seeds and seedlings. Research your seed company or purchase young starter plants from a trusted, local grower or online source.

Pay Attention to Soil Type
Neglecting to understand the chemical makeup of your soil is the easiest way to kill the seed investment you have made. If you don’t know what sort of soil your dealing with, look into having it tested.

Know Your Plants
At the end of the day, the best approach to gardening is to understand the soil, sun, and watering needs of each plant. You’ll also want to research pest issues when they arise to get a feel for how to best protect your plants without the use of harsh chemicals.

Be Prepared to Work and Experiment
Often a gardener’s best friend is creativity and experimentation. Not every plant will thrive in your garden, and some plants will only grow with a bit of creativity. Be prepared to spend time in your garden or small herb farm to get a feel for what is working and what needs to be re-worked.

Preserving and Using your Herbs
Once you have succeeded in cultivating medicinal herbs you need to have a plan for using and preserving them. Whether it’s for home-use or for a small-scale business, knowing how to preserve and use your herbs is paramount.

Are you a student of medicinal herbs farming? Do you have any growing or preservation tips to share regarding lush, green plant life or hardy indoor plants that won’t die on you? If so, please leave a comment.

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Photo by Joshua Lanzarini on Unsplash