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His name is Darko, and he lives in Slovenia. He’s been growing microgreens for quite a while now and is very experienced. I love his experimental nature though…and the results of this test are pretty incredible! If you want to contact him directly about this experiment, email him at [email protected] Enter Darko! Experiment Details Start Date: 10/26/13 6.45 PM I was using plastic containers measuring 3.9×7 inches (10×18 cm). One was filled with special soil for herbs, second with cellulose pulp (sulfite hardwood cellulose pH below 6....

One of the most frustrating aspects of gardening is dealing with insect pests, which may frustrate some home gardeners to the point of giving up. Before you throw in the trowel once and for all, you need to hear about spinosad spray if you aren’t already familiar with it. It’s an organic form of pest control that’s derived from a bacterium called Saccharopolyspora spinosa and doesn’t pose much of a threat to nature, except for some beneficial insects....

The agave plant is inhabitant to the desert regions of Mexico and the Caribbean. It derives its name from the Greek word ‘Agauos,’ which means ‘Illustrious.’ Agave forms rosette of succulent blue-gray leaves. Depending on the species and growing location, it reaches a height of few centimeters to several meters. Agave Plant Benefits 1. It’s An Architectural Plant Agave plants can be a great focal point of any outdoor landscape. You can easily grow them in pots and have them indoors....

If you want to add to the look of your aquarium, then you can grow greens in it. Have a look at some really nice looking Fish Tank with Plants Ideas and get inspired! Check out our article on old fish tank uses here Fish Tank with Plants Ideas 1. Java Moss on Malaysian Driftwood Java moss on Malaysian driftwood inside a small fish tank will add a bright green look to it....

USDA Zones: Varies according to species Propagation Method: Seeds, cutting Difficulty: Moderate Soil Type: Highly acidic Carnivorous plants growing information Carnivorous plants are those plants that are capable of capturing and collecting the bodies of insects. Victims are small insects and crustaceans. Carnivorous plants carry out photosynthesis process but due to the fact that they grow in poor soils that lacks nitrogen and other essential elements needed for proper development, they gain these elements by the bodies of insects they kill....

In this guide, we’ll give you all the tools you need to help your Lamprocapnos spectabilis succeed. And psst, if you want to learn more about this uniquely beautiful plant, check out our guide to growing bleeding hearts. Bleeding hearts were meant for cool weather. The herbaceous perennial plants, that is. With its feathery leaves, fleshy stems, and heart-shaped blooms, this member of the poppy family, Papaveraceae, loves sweet spring breezes....

There are the spring-flowering alliums, crocuses, daffodils, and muscari – and don’t forget the summer-blooming begonias, callas, dahlias, and lilies! As the growing season winds down, it’s time to start planning your care and maintenance routine for fall, including how to prepare bulbs for winter. Flowering bulbs add gorgeous blooms and fantastic foliage in a myriad of colors, shapes, and sizes throughout the garden, lending their charm, fragrance, and beautiful blossoms to the landscape throughout three glorious seasons, depending on the variety – and even a fourth season of indoor growth if you like!...

The purple waffle plant stands out from other houseplants due to its unique leaves. Puckered and rippling, they develop in a way to increase the surface area over each leaf surface. The underside of each leaf is a vibrant purple color. As a shaded groundcover plant, it can make for a multicolored mat of dense foliage. Table of Contents That increased surface area has another benefit. Hemigraphis alternata is known to be an air-cleanser....

If you’ve come from my post on hydroponics for beginners, welcome! Table of Contents If you haven’t, welcome anyways! This post is designed to give you an overview of hydroponic nutrients – what they’re made of, what they do, and the different types. What are Hydroponic Nutrients? Because we are growing plants without soil, we miss out on a good deal of nutrients that soil contains. When mixed with water, hydroponic nutrients are designed to replace all of the macro and micro nutrients found within soil....

Crafting cool designs from rocks and stones creates an earthy tone in the space. They are also a lot of fun for kids and you could involve them in these really amazing DIY Rock and Stone Crafts for Homes where they’d love to create few wonderful things for decorating! Check out our article on indoor rock garden here DIY Rock and Stone Crafts for Homes 1. Stone Candle Holders Create an artistic look on pebbles of different sizes by painting them abstract in your choice of color and design....

In this guide, we’ll explain what the causes are and how to identify which one is impacting your Spathiphyllum. Peace lilies have undeniably beautiful foliage, but the blossom-like spathes are what make them stand out. There are so many houseplants out there that have interesting leaves, but there are precious few that blossom. So it’s totally understandable that you want to make sure that your alluring houseplant flowers. There are many reasons a peace lily will fail to bloom, which can make it a challenge to fix....

The first step in successful vermicomposting is keeping the worms alive, reproducing, and recycling your food scraps and organic waste into worm poop, or beautiful worm castings. The second step involves how to harvest worm castings, ideally while disturbing the worms as little as possible, yielding you a relatively worm-free humus. Let’s discuss harvesting castings, so you can put this “black gold” to good use in garden soil, around fruit trees, and in seed starting mixes....

As strangely beautiful as they are, they are also a menace to tomatoes and other solanaceous crops, hungry enough to eat multiple leaves on a trip around your plant. Manduca quinquemaculata The first time I saw one of these mowing through a leaf like I attack a chocolate bar, I couldn’t believe the size of it. The presence of a horn on the back end of the green and white caterpillar only added to the alien look of the creature....

Oenothera fruticosa, commonly known as Southern sundrops or sundrops, is a tall-standing, day-flowering plant that produces beautiful, terminal clusters of bright yellow flowers in late spring and summer. The lance-shaped, fresh green leaves of the Oenothera fruticosa are a little jagged. The plant is called sundrops thanks to the cup-like flowers that bloom during the day. Even though each flower is short-lived, they grow in succession through a period of two months....

Maybe you’ve heard of xeriscaping. It’s a type of desert-style landscaping, right? Actually, I’m here to tell you that it’s way more! By definition, xeriscaping is landscaping geared to dry climates where little irrigation is available. It involves the cultivation of “xerophytes,” or plants that require very little water, like cacti and succulents. However, today’s interpretation of the concept is much broader, and may be applied to all climate zones....

Pilea is an easy-to-grow houseplant genus with uniquely variegated or highly textured plant species that look extraordinary as they cascade. Their compact size makes them a great centerpiece. Also, the trailing habit makes many pilea varieties an ideal choice for hanging baskets. If you, too, want to grow these gorgeous houseplants, check out these fantastic pilea types and varieties one by one below! Check out our article on growing pilea plant here Best Pilea Types 1....

I’ll cover the details about this poisonous plant here, and provide some common-sense precautions for safe enjoyment. Here’s what to expect: With their vibrant blooms, and ability to withstand salt spray and drought, oleanders are highly desirable flowering plants. But these shrubs also contain cardiac glycosides, which are poisonous. If humans or animals eat the blooms, leaves, stems, or roots, they can suffer a host of serious, or even fatal, reactions....

As indicated by the plant’s name, it is indigenous to China, Japan, and the Himalayas. Some call it Chinese witch hazel, for its membership in the Hamamelidaceae family. Loropetalum chinense Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense) has become a go-to shrub for southern gardeners in recent years, and for good reason. In addition to its attractive deep red leaves, this fast-growing plant puts on a breathtaking springtime display of fringy pink or white flowers....

Table of Contents If you’re used to eating boring iceberg lettuce salads that are covered in a flavorful dressing, fear not – there are plenty of more exciting and delicious salad greens to add to your garden! Standard iceberg lettuce is great, but it’s even easier in many cases to grow other salad greens that are more nutritious and delicious. Adding some of these into your salad-making arsenal will go a long way for your health and your taste buds....

One of the most common questions I get in emails is, “What books would you recommend to someone just starting out in hydroponics?” It’s a great question because there are so many bad ones and so few good ones. And this is not the first time I’ve addressed this topic – I also covered the very rudimentary basics along with some great YouTube channels and other resources in this article!...