Blogs
All posts about: seeds
| Page 1 of 2 | 1 |
2 |  Last |
May 4, 2008 | 7:00 PM PST
Tags: Thunbergia Vine , Black-Eyed Susan Vine , Black-Eyed Susan , Rose Mallow , Squirrel , Chipmunks , Seeds , Seedlings
I was so angry today. My Mother-in-Laws cat knocked the seed container off of my porch (luckily it didn't go all the way down on the far side). It landed on my porch. Most of the seeds were okay, however the ones that I was really happy about (the Rose Mallow, I believe also looks a lot like hollyhocks) got totally taken out. Smashed beyond repair. I will have to get some more started soon. Boy 'O boy I was so mad!!! The others are okay I think. (Fingers crossed.....XX)
*Above are the seedlings in the seedling container. The ones that were "murdered" are in the very back. Oh, it still gets me fire up just writing about it now!*
I also had a question if anyone knows much about the plant Thunbergia Vine or "Black-Eyed Susan Vine"? I planted some seeds indoors and outdoors and was wondering what people thought of the plant and how well it started from seed. I have never heard of this plant, but love the description and picture and am looking forward to seeing grow and climb in my garden.
Above is the cucumber and zucchini plants I started from seed. They are doing well!
The weather is getting better! We had about 72 degree weather today ( I love it, I love it, I love it!!) and I got lots of work done while the little one was napping.
Hannah is getting better, the fever is down, but she now has a slight rash on her chest and under her neck and is still fussy. She went for her first wheel-barrow ride today and loved it. She was so cute! The same cat mentioned above even rode with her in the wheel-barrow. I wish I could have got a picture of that, but didn't have the camera with me.
I also have new great pictures of a resident squirrel and more cute Chippie photos! You can check more out in my photo albums.
This is a little squirrel I saw 2 days ago and again today. It's so cute!
Below are pictures of one of the two Chipmunks that live in my backyard. I love to watch them running around and sun bathing. They're cute.....
Hope everyone is dong well. Have a great week!!
~M~
May 3, 2008 | 10:42 AM PST
Tags: compost , tomatoes , lavender , seeds
I prepared the veggie bed. I must've added about 6 inches of compost to it! I hope the 2 (haha) tomatoes I planted will be happy. I am planning on adding peppers and various herbs. Maybe I'll plant the lavender seeds my mom got me in there too- it's a raised bed so it should get plenty of drainage.
I still need to turn my other compost pile and add a bunch of "green" to it. Not a whole lot of fun without a pitchfork. I just don't want to spend $20- $30 for one!!
Some of the sweet pea seeds I planted about 4 days ago have sprouted! (dance of joy)
I took a bunch of photos the last few days. Now I just need to get DH off of the PS3 so he can offload them. Hopefully I'll have them posted tonight *fingers crossed*
May 1, 2008 | 12:21 PM PST
Tag: Seeds
I finally pulled the garlic mustard. Boy was that an aptly named plant- the whole yard smelled like garlic! I put it in a garbage bag and threw it out, I don't want to take the chance of it spreading...
Huge bare spot now- what to fill it with???????
I also planted some more seeds- Lupine, Mexican Sunflower, Mexican Cigar Plant, Nasturtiums, and Four O'Clocks. This time I marked where every seed was planted with a toothpick so I can tell them apart from the weed seedlings. I don't want a repeat of the kids garden Hehehe.
Megan and I let "Buggy" free. I took loads of pictures for her, if there's any good ones I'll post it here too ;)
Apr 30, 2008 | 2:46 AM PST
Tags: seeds , Hollyhocks , malva zebrina , weather , peat pots
Well, here are a few pictures of some of the seedlings I was talking about in my last blog.
Above is an example of the peat pots I use to transplant my larger seedlings into once they outgrow the seed things I started them in.
Above are the seedlings that I thought I started only a short while ago and they sprouted very quickly!! I am happy that they sprouted fast, I just love seeing them!
Boy o' boy, I've made a mess!! I have a 17 month old little girl and she gets into everything, so I have to keep everything up off the floor. It gets kind of cluttered sometimes.
Above is my Malva Zebrina that is struggling to make it. I was so happy when I noticed the new little leaf started!
Above is one of a few hollyhock seedlings. I am so happy they are working! I wonder though if I will get any flowers out of them this year?? Any ideas?
~
The weather is quite strange this week. Tonight I think it may have froze again. I wonder when our proper last frost date is going to be this year!? I looked it up online and it said April 1-April 30th. That really wasn't much help, I think I could have guessed better than that. We had a major rain yesterday afternoon with thunder and lightning (strange for this early in the year though). It was so nice to get some moisture. We really have had mostly cold and gray weather, not much rain this year (still more spring to come however, so we shall see). Today was warm if you got moving around (i.e. digging and raking, walking my daughter in her stroller), but still too cold to wear anything less than a warm sweat shirt. I can't wait for it to warm up. Just a little is all I am asking for, tehe-hehe. I know that as soon as it gets scorching I will be complaining about how hot it is though....hummm...
Anyway, I hope everyone has a great rest of your week! More updates later!
~M~
Apr 29, 2008 | 1:52 AM PST
Tags: Sweet Peas , Hollyhocks , malva zebrina , broccoli , seeds
~April 29th, 2008~
My seeds are doing well. I planted some more just 3 or 4 days ago and some of them have started to sprout already!! I couldn't believe it!! I had put it outside in the sun, they were in a plastic container with a clear lid on it slightly open for ventilation.
I am happy to say that the others are doing well too. I had transplanted a few of my others (cucumber and zucchini) and will probably be transplanting my sunflowers to larger pots (if I don't end up just planting them outside to minimize the root shock, depends on the weather.....hummm.....)
My hollyhock starts are doing okay I guess. They really haven't changed much in the last week, week and a half. I don' t know why not. They have the 2 main leaves, but nothing more. They aren't getting overly leggy or yellowed, they are just the same. Any suggestions/thoughts?? Maybe they are just slowing down now after the spirt of growth during the beginning of emerging from the seed (that doesn't sound right, but I can't write what I am trying to describe.....humm....)
The broccoli that I planted is kind of in the same boat as the hollyhocks (literally in the same "boat", well same plastic container/same window spot). They are in the same window as my zucchini and cucumber that are doing well. I just don't know, things happen so strangely when it comes to plants!
Good news on the Malva Zebrina!! If you look in my pictures you can see how they really had no leaves on them, just two stem things. Now they are growing a third leaf from the center!! I am so happy!! I was really bummed that they weren't doing well because I love hollyhocks and they are so close to them in appearance ( according to the books and my moms experience). I can't wait to see them grow!!
Anyway, I will keep updating. Thanks to everyone who has commented and added great suggestions! Hope the spring is treating you all well! Take care and have a great week!!
~M~
Apr 24, 2008 | 11:18 PM PST
Tags: seed starting , flower seeds , seeds , malva zebrina
~April 24th, 2008 - Extra!~
Thanks to Bill Mitchell I have pictures!!
Below is a picture of my daughter playing in the dirt. I ended up strapping her in her snow sled and putting different "toys" in front of her so I could do some work in the garden. She ended up throwing most of the "toys" and playing in the dirt. She was so dusty and dirty!! Straight for the bath when we got inside!! She had a blast though and tried eating her very first handful of dirt....lol!!
Below is a picture of some of my seeds started in my bathroom window sill. You can see the sweat peas growing nicely!! I am so excited that they are doing so well.
Below is a mix of seeds - Broccoli, Zebrina, and Hollyhock (my favorite flower!!) b
efore I put them back into the window sill with the other seed starts.
You can see in this picture below, my Zebrina are not doing to well!? Yikes...
I have to post another blog entry because it won't let me put any more picture on here.
Apr 23, 2008 | 2:38 PM PST
Tags: iris , purple , peony , veggies , seeds , hostas , creek
Despite the Iris Patch having a MAJOR aphid infestation, they continue to bloom :) They have never really done too much in seasons pasts (they are relatively new to my garden- passed along from my husband's grandfather's farm), so its fun to see what color they are. So far we have white and today, the purples are blooming. In the picture, they look more maroon colored. It depends which way the sun is hitting:
p>
I am also very pleased to report that some of the veggie seeds are starting to come up already and the freshly planted hostas are looking good. Also, the peony buds look like they might burst open any day now!
Oi Vey! Just had to take a quick break from writing this to go tell 3 neighborhood kids to get out of our creek and not mess up all my freshly planted goodies! They were swinging from bank to bank from the grape vines that I cut back! ARGH! I hate being THAT neighbor....but really, I don't want them to get hurt either, would be our liability you know. They quickly sauntered off with their tail between their legs.
Apr 18, 2008 | 6:19 AM PST
Tags: raised bed , vegetable garden , veggie , tomato , eggplant , companion planting , seeds , last frost , plan , hostas
I have had a wonderful couple of days in the garden! All the planning that I did over the winter months is starting to come together and since our last frost date has come and gone (April15), I got to start planting!!!! HOORAY!
First thing I did was put in all the annual flower seeds for the bed I laid out around the porch:
It doesn't look like much now, but soon it will have (from back to front) Sweet Pea Vine, 2 Varieties of Sunflowers, Bells of Ireland, Nemophila: Baby Blue Eyes and Sweet Alyssum.
I also had a great helper:
Then, when hubby got home he was kind enough to help me plant and divide all my new hostas! (Its a bit hard to bend over these days at 9 mo preggers) HAH!
We divided up and planted a few different varieties of hostas and put some under the saucer magnolia:
And the rest in the evolving azalea shade bed:
I also moved a couple of hostas from the hydrangea bed over to the azalea bed. This will make for a nice collection and I think they will fill in very nicely. They were all actually easier to divide than I thought and I was able to save a lot of money that way!
But, perhaps the most exciting part of the afternoon was installing the veggie bed plan! Here is a pict of the master companion planting plan:
And the results:
I know, doesn't look like much...I started everything from seeds except the tomatoes, eggplants, bee balm, peppers, and strawberries. I am super excited to see how all of this comes together! Hope the companion system proves to be effective. The only thing that didn't get planted yet are the sweet potatoes. Still waiting on those in the mail. They won't ship them until after May 15th....apparently they only like REALLY warm soil.
The plants that I purchased are as follows:
Tomatoes: Yellow Pear, Husky Cherry Red, and Better Boy
Eggplant
: Black Beauty and Ichiban
Pepp
ers: Mexibell, Gypsy, and Yellow Bell
Strawbe
rries: Quinalt
All of the varieties of seeds can be seen by looking at a previous post and clicking here. I also added a sweet basil plant and Dark Opal Purple Basil to that as well as okra, but I forgot to jot down its variety :(
We finished up just as the sun was setting and I tell ya, it felt SO good! Especially to have this done before I have the baby :)
Now we will just water and wait:
Apr 2, 2008 | 8:03 PM PST
Tag: seeds
Did not actually do any gardening work today, just looked around and enjoyed. Lots of birds out this afternoon. I threw some wild flower mix in a couple of my beds to "fill in".....they are coming up like crazy. Cant wait to see what they are. I think I recogonize some poppies and I know I have some zinnias from last year, but some I dont recogonize at all. Guess what.......I dont care what they are, I rarely meet a flower that I dont like. This will be my first year trying butterfly weed. We started some from seed and they are looking good. I also have 3 moonflowers, 3 dalias, 2 sunflowers and 5 zinnias almost ready to transplant. I need to divide my phlox, also.
Mar 24, 2008 | 2:34 PM PST
Tags: seeds , Hyacinth Bean , daisy , hummingbirds
Yay! My new seeds arrived today. Twenty-five each of red and white Hyancinth Bean seeds. I already have the seeds for purple ones, well, Rick's mom does I can't find mine, they must be in a box in the storage unit, which is a mess right now. So I'll share some of these seeds with Rick's mom and his Granny and next year we'll all have tons of the seed. The hummingbirds love this plant, and so do the butterflies.
I planted my freecycle vinca the other day, but I"ll be surprised if it survives. It poured for two days following my getting it, and it may have gotten too dried out. If it makes it cool, if not, well, it was free so I'm not going to be totally devistated. It doesn't look like the vinca I had planted last year or the year before either. This is an actual vining plant, the other stuff was mainly flowers with little greenery. We'll see what happens. As I said, it was a free plant and you gotta love free plants.
Hopefully sometime this week I'll get my big flower pot out of the storage unit and I can get the tomato cage I used last year as a trellis for the Hyancinth Bean set up in it, and the feeder hook/pole I'm planning to put in the middle of the pot set up and I can get those seeds planted soon. I also want to get the daisy seeds I have planted too.
Yay for spring!
Mar 19, 2008 | 6:50 AM PST
Tags: seedlings , seeds , malva zebrina , coleus
Here are some pics of *most* of my indoor plants and seedlings which I have started from seed for spring this year. All were started from seed, except for that succulent in the big white pot there. Many of them are still waiting to sprout.
I'm at the point now where I'm trying to acclimate some of the hardier plants to the outdoors, just to make room for my growing collection. It's getting quite crowded in here, but if I don't overdo it like this, I'll probably wish I had all summer. So, hopefully it will pay off. ;) Even though I am starting so many annuals, I have quite a few perennials too, so perhaps I won't have quite the same madness in here next year. I've also winter sown quite a few things, as well as direct sowed flower seeds, sugar snap peas, lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard.
The local nursery gave me some plain large and small black plastic pots. I felt that even though they were within my budget (free), they should still be pretty, so I painted them. I'm also sanding and painting that room, which is why there's dust all over the floor. ;)
This is a coleus that I pinched the heck out of at its growing points so that it would grow in more fully. The pic is kind of blurry. It has grown in since then, quite well.
One of my Malva Zebrinas has begun to bloom indoors!! Only 2 months after sowing. A marigold has bloomed too, but I don't have a pic of that just yet.
Mar 6, 2008 | 9:32 PM PST
Tags: seeds , blooming , birds , lily , strawberries , snow
We're supposed to get 2-5 inches of snow here tonight---maybe....the line they draw is around 10 miles south of here, and the snow is supposed to be south of that, just hope the snow remembers that and stays where it's supposed to.
Last week we were supposed to get 10 inches of snow, and we didn't get any, while all around us they got 5-12 inches of snow. That is the kind of mis-forecast I like!
Tomorrow I am going to start some seeds indoors and see how I do. I've said before that I don't have much success at that, but you know the old saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again". So I will.
I have just a few packets of seeds right now that I've been gathering little by little, so tomorrow I will start some Crimson Rambler Morning Glory, Heavenly Blue Morning Glory, some old fashioned single bloom hollyhocks, and some peppers and tomatoes. I'm also going to try to plant some spinach outside and see what happens.
I'm waiting on a Stella d Oro lily I ordered that hasn't shown up yet, I love that bright yellow color.
I have some zinnia and marigold seed too, but I don't know if I'll start them now or not, I usually just throw them down outside when the time is right.
There is more I'm going to try, in time. I have always wanted to grow strawberries, and just haven't committed to them yet, but this may be the year.
My knee that was giving me trouble still is, a little, but it is much better, and I can't wait to get outside and start doing something. The birds are singing, the peepers are peeping, the crocuses are blooming, the daylilies are sprouting, the brown grass is even standing up straight--everything knows that spring is almost here, and I feel so antsy, just waiting, waiting, waiting......
Feb 27, 2008 | 6:07 PM PST
Tags: seeds , seedlings , marigold , coleus , Epsom salt , tomatoes , daylilies , hosta , Spring Fever
Well, the marigolds are starting to set flower buds indoors just 4 weeks after sowing. Sheesh!! I had no idea they grew that fast. Oh well. It will be nice to have some pretty flowers indoors while I'm still waiting for spring.
Two of my coleus are starting to look very nice. They take quite a while to get started, but the longer they're around, the faster the new leaves grow. So they're growing at a decent pace by now.
I finally located some Epsom salt at the pharmacy, after have looked in several nurseries for it. 4 lbs. for 3 bucks. Not too bad. I've already put some on some of my more well established plants. We'll see if it makes any difference. So far, at least, it hasn't killed anything. ;)
I just sowed a bunch of tomato seeds-- beefsteak, cherry, Italian heirloom, and Italian market. Hopefully my crop will be better this year since I'm starting them so early, and I think I have a bit better of an idea of what I'm doing this year.
My one daylily which germinated about two months ago is really starting to take off. It must have been establishing a good root system in all of that time. Now sets of leaves are starting to poke through on the other side of the pot. And the new leaves seem much thicker and sturdier that the first set of leaves. I'm still waiting on the rest of my daylily seeds. Just because they haven't germinated yet, doesn't necessarily mean that they're duds. ;)
I have 58 hosta seeds. I most sincerely hope that all or most of them germinate and grow. I could so easily use 58 hostas around the yard.
What can I say?? I wish it was warm out! I'm so itching to get outside and move around at least a bit. But at least I'll be somewhat prepared this spring. ;)
Feb 19, 2008 | 5:30 PM PST
Tags: seeds , organic , coconut husks , herbs , tomato , chile pepper
I planted some seeds this weekend and am curious about how they will do as some are left over from previous years. I used some new kind of starter pots, they are made out of coconut husks. This is what I planted on Saturday February 16, 2008.
2006 Beefsteak Tomato 8-10 days germ. 80 days harvest
2006 Yellow Pear Tomato 7-14 days germ. 70-75 days harvest
2000 Long Red Cayenne Chile Pepper 10-12 days germ. 75-80 days harvest
2008 Oregano - Greek (Organic) 10-15 days germ. perennial
2008 Cilantro - Coriander (Organic) 5-10 days germ. 30 days
2006 Dark Moss Curled Parsley 18-24 days germ. ?
2008 Rosemary 14-28 days germ. perennial
2007 Common Chives 7-14 days germ. perennial
2008 Winter Thyme (Organic) 8-10 days germ. perennial
2006 Sweet Italian Basil 5-7 days germ. ?
Feb 14, 2008 | 3:48 PM PST
Tags: traveling , seeds , kiddie pool
Seed Box. It has left Oklahoma on its way to California.
My daughter, sent me a message today and I decided to share it with each of you. Especially that lucky member that is getting the Seed Box in a few days.Yes! It went out yesterday.
This is what she added:
Morning Glory
Giant Lime Zinnia
Ornamental Purple Pepper
Mexican Zinnia
Hyacinth Bean
Bellezza D'autuno Sunflower
Castor Bean
Larkspur
Anise Hyssop
Bronze Fennel
Cypress Vine
Jet Black Hollyhock
I think that's it. The little box is packed. $4.50 to mail it to California, not bad.
I can't stand it, I want to start planting already. Today it was pretty
nice so I moved the chickens and smoothed out the bed they've been
cultivating and fertilizing for me. That sure is some nice soil. I want
to start some things indoors, but it is really too early for that also.
Scarlett's (my big puppy grandpet) old kiddie pool that won't hold water is going to be turned
into a vegetable garden this year. I'm going to have Charles (that great guy) cut a bunch
of large holes in the bottom so it will drain well, then add sand and gravel and top it off with soil. I hope it makes a pretty good raised bed. Of course, I won't be able to reach the middle so I need to find a
garden ornament for that....
This gardening bug sure does keep you busy!
So you see we aren't the only people with cabin fever and the itch to dig!!
More to Come Later
Feb 3, 2008 | 2:58 PM PST
Tags: red oinions , shallots , grape vines , hibiscus , magnolia trees , suckers , obiedient , roses , compost , brocolli , manure , seeds , asparagus , lantana
Well I did get some things on my list done today. The red onion seedlings, shallots, asparagus (went with the in ground method this time) all planted. Cut back some of the roses, esp. the one at the front porch. And one bed of lantana, an my grape vines, hibiscus an some of the lavender obiedient plant stems that had gotten bit an cut the suckers off the 2 magnolia trees I had cut down last year, they were in a really bad spot. I am noticing a lot less tree roots where I have some raised beds at by cutting them down.
Got 6 trays filled with some potting soil, now to go thru some seeds an decide what to start seeding out. Added compost to the existing asparagus container beds that didn't get it in the fall. One thing I did notice when I was loosing the soil where the red onion sets were being planted was how rich the soil is looking. Back in the fall I had planted brocolli an cauliflower there an had added composted manure an it has finally paid off, I hope. So far its not looking so sandy, but nice rich soil.
I hauled the cuttings to the woods an burned the other pile while looking around for a place to experiment with the Strawbale Garden method. I think I'll put it either on the side of the house an use a somewhat level area near the garden to grow some corn. I don't ever have much luck with corn, but I keep trying. Thank goodness I have a BIL that farms in case I fail at it once again I can get some from him. Will try an get the red onion bulb babies planted tomorrow if I'm not to tired after work. Now to call it a day!
Feb 1, 2008 | 5:02 AM PST
Tags: container gardens , seeds
I have started my seeds of Lavender Hyssop, Snapdragons, Poppies, and an early Tomato plant (Beef Steak type) for my husband!
The Tomato is going to be transplanted into a large container, trellised, and grown in the Sun-Room near the window. The poppies are grown in peat pots and are going to be transplanted into bigger paper pots, until ready to transplant into large deck containers this spring.
I have big plans for my garden this year, a lot of changes to existing beds, and a lot of new beds! I will take pictures and notes as I go along and post them. : )
Jan 31, 2008 | 3:16 PM PST
Tags: Garden , dahlias , garlic , asparagus , vender , seeds
Well I went to the SE Garden Show in Atlanta on Wednesday an had a wonderful time. I was doing really good at not spending any money till right near the end then I spotted a vender that had Heirloom Seeds. Oh my God, my weakness I tell ya! I got 2 Dinnerplate Dahlias, Jersey Giant Asparagus, 2 bags of Elephant Garlic, an haven't counted the packs of seeds. They didn't have everything I wanted but that may have been a good thing, lol. But sure is a good start. Now for it to warm us to get everything planted.
Jan 26, 2008 | 2:01 PM PST
Tags: terrariums , other uses , seeds , cuttings , propagation , forcing twigs
Some more ideas on how you can use a terrarium, especially the tank style.
1. It can baby-sit your smaller houseplants while you're on vacation.
2. You can use it to over winter some of your plants that can't tolerate the dry heat provided for wintertime use.
3. Start seedlings. Sow seeds in flats and lay on wet pebbles in bottom of tank. Once germination occurs, uncover the tank during the day for ventatlion, and put the cover back on at night to keep the young plants warm. If you are providing a grow light in the cover, then prop up the cover during the day.
Keep the young plants out of the direct sun and if tropism occurs, turn the flats from time to time. Make sure to water seedlings from the bottom (immersed) in room temperature water. When two sets of leaves have developed, transplant them into other flats at least two inches apart or into individual pots. Make sure to ventilate, the plants can rot due too much moisture.
Some glass gardeners use the molded peat pellets which expand with water. They put two -three seeds in each pot and then thin to the strongest seedling. There is no transplanting shock when the pellet is lifted from the terrarium, as the roots will penetrate the pellet and extend into the soil after final planting.
4. Stem propagating. If you plan on taking cuttings or slips, you can use the terrarium. Start with about 4 inches of clean sharp sand, (not from the seashore, too salty) or sterilized soil or vermiculite or perlite. Follow the basics for preparing the slips. Place cuttings an inch deep and about two inches apart. Poke holes in the rooting medium with a pencil to make it easier on the stems. Although the cover should be on the terrarium for rooting cuttings, it will need to be lifted for a short time every day to provide ventilation.
5. Softwood cuttings. Slips from annual or perennial vegetation taken during the growing season can also be propagated in terrariums. These cutting should be six inches or less in length. They are prepared the same way as slips are, but they must be placed in a tightly sealed container which should be shaded for a week. Then give the cuttings dim, indirect light and slightly elevate the cover with something flat like a wooden ruler or tongue depressors.
To tell if the cutting is ready for transplanting, gently lift the cutting. If there are roots you will notice some resistance. If the are no roots, or the roots are not formed well enough to support the cutting, then put the cutting back into the growing medium.
While the roots are forming, make sure to water the growing medium with a hand sprinkler whenever it is dry. Once the cuttings are well-rooted they can be transplanted into individual pots or set outdoors. Keep moist and shaded from the sun until established.
6. Forcing twigs. You can enjoy the beauty of spring during the gloomy cold days of winter by placing budded twigs of deciduous shrubs and trees in the terrarium. Deciduous vegetation lose their foliage in the fall and form their buds as well, shrubs like forsythia or lilac. Branches cut after a good freeze will respond to the heat and warmth of the terrarium and will bloom within two to six weeks.
Cut the twigs about eight inches long. Store them overnight in a cool place. The next morning, plunge them into cold water and keep them submerged for a day. This fills their tissues with water. Next, remove about one inch of bark at the base of the twig and pound the peeled area with a hammer to stimulate the swelling of growth cells. Now the twigs are ready to be planted in the container.
Make sure the container has about four to five inches of aquarium gravel or shredded sphagnum moss to hold the twigs upright. Make sure there is enough room between the twigs for the blossoms to develop, and to arrange the twigs in an attractive display. Loosely cover the container to keep excessive humidity in check to prevent mold. Water the forcing medium when it begins to dry out with a hand sprinkler.
Remember you are trying to reproduce spring like conditions in the terrarium. The terrarium so be placed where it receives little light and the temperature stays between 50 to 70 degree F. When the buds begin to show some color, they should be exposed to more light. Keep it out of direct sunlight, it will make the blossoms fade quicker. If you have used a small container to force twigs in, and it is small enough to put in the refrigerator at night, it can lengthen the flowering period. By the way, African violets raised in the terrarium hold their blossoms for a longer period if treated in this same fashion.
7. Dried arrangements. You can keep your dried arrangements dust free in the terrarium setting. If you are using dried naturals, they will retain their natural color longer if not set in the direct sunlight. If you are using dried naturals in your arrangements, make sure to add a teaspoon or so of silica gel over the clay or flower holder before you cover it with moss and bark. If condensation does fog up the inside of the container, remove the cover and set the container in a warm dry location for several days.
8. Holiday Terrariums. You can make centerpieces and room decorations with any holiday theme by using holiday decor inside your terrarium, as long as it can withstand the humidity. Also, the holiday shaped plastic or glass containers, like hearts for St. Valentines day, or eggs for Easter, can be planted and make great conversation pieces. Use the basic principles to plant the holiday terrariums as you do the with the other styles of terrariums.
9. Growing your own food. Have you ever heard of sprouting alfalfa or wheat seeds in a wide mouth quart jar? That is one way to use a terrarium type container to grow food. You can grow garden cress for your salads in a tank type terrarium. A few flats planted at ten day intervals will provide a continuous supply of peppery cress. Cut the plants with sharp scissors when about two inches high and after two or three crops, pull up the plants and replant the flats.
You can use the tank type to grow mushrooms. Sow mushroom spawn over moist, rich, fertile soil and keep the container somewhere where the temperature will stay about 55 - 60 degrees F. and the light is dim. In about three weeks the first "flush" (tiny mushrooms) will appear. They will be ready to pick when the veil connecting the bottom of the cap to the stem breaks off. You will get successive flushes in three week intervals until the soil is exhausted. Remove the top layer of soil and replace it and start over with more mushroom spawn. Remember, mushrooms don't produce flushes in warm weather.
10. The zoo. When a terrarium becomes a home to a critter it becomes a habitat, or a vivarium. Several conditions will have to be met in order to construct a happy and healthy habitat. There is a wealth of info on this subject and you will have to research the particulars for the proper habitat for your pet.
11. The terrarium hospital. You can use a terrarium to help perk up a sickly houseplant. The humidity and constant temperature will help your ailing plant feel better. Keep in mind that if your plant is suffering from some type of disease or pest infestation that a trip to the hospital is not going to cure it. However, isolating the ailing plant might be helpful in keeping the other plants safe while you are determining what is wrong or treating it.
Well that is all I have, for now. I hope there is enough information here to help you get started in this neat gardening form, if you decide to do so. Remember, you may not have success with each project, but with patience and some experience you will be able to turn your creativity into beautiful living works of art. If you decide to create a terrarium, please post your progress, I would love to see it. I'm hoping that I will be able to start on mine by next fall. We are in the process of some much needed remodeling, so it will have to wait. One of the problems I'm now facing is too many ideas or glass garden themes! :)
Jan 22, 2008 | 8:43 PM PST
Tags: seedlings , seeds
As promised, here are some pics of my seedlings and makeshift light stands.
This is some grass that I grew indoors for my cat. I got the idea when I saw seeds in a catalog for "cat grass". It said that cats need a certain amout of vegetation to aid digestion. And after my cat ate 3 small Malva Zebrina plants to death, I decided to grow some grass for him. He isn't much interested in the grass, but my dog ate some from one of the pots when she had an upset tummy, so it wasn't a total waste. 
Leek seeds on the windowsill... haven't yet germinated. 
An assortment of pots and seeds. Some have seeds or seedlings in them, some are still waiting.
From left to right... Balloon Flower seedlings, Blue Flax seedlings, and two 3 month old Coleus plants. 
From left to right... Larkspur seedlings, a 6-pack of Hollyhock seedlings, a 4 week old daylily in the white pot, you can't really see it in the picture, but it's there, I promise, and two 1 1/2 month old Hollyhocks.
Some of you may be wondering why I'm starting seeds so early here in chilly zone 6b. Well... I have my reasons, no, really, I do. For one thing, I'm hoping that some of my perennials will flower this year. I'm even secretly dreaming that my foxgloves will bloom this summer, though being biennials, that is very unlikely. Another reason, some--not all--of the seeds that I'm starting are said to take anywhere from a few weeks to months to germinate. So, if they do take that long, then I may only have one or two sets of true leaves on them by the time Spring rolls around, even though starting them so early. With the annuals, I'm hoping to get a full summer's worth of flowers out of them, so I guess I'm erring on the side of having too many big plants to deal with indoors rather than having them bloom only to be killed by a frost a little while later. So... that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it. ;)
