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Note: If You allow poppies to go to seed and don’t disturb the soil in that area your poppies should reseed themselves.

The Poppy is a form of wildflower in the Papaveraceae family with many well-known varieties. The California poppy has the bright orange while my area is best known for the red flowered poppy. Other colors include white, pink, yellow, red, or blue bowl-shaped flowers of 4 to 6 petals.

There is also a form of poppy, the opium poppy, that is illegal to grow in most areas.

Most poppy flowers grow one per stem, and they come from very tiny black seeds. Poppies exist in annual, biennial and perennial varieties, and they are usually considered relatively easy to grow.

As an experiment I am also going to grow a few poppies indoors this year. I also planted my poppy bed outdoors this week (March 11th). You can never have too many poppies or any flower for that matter.

Growing Poppies Indoors

There is some debate on whether poppies can be reliably grown indoors and even why you would want to. The perennial poppy tends to need a full cycle of dormancy that the seasons and regular days and nights provide. Indoors the cycle is much harder to recreate.

So if you are starting poppies indoors use small peat pots with a few seeds in each. This will give you a better chance of viability. It will also help to locate the pots in different areas of the home or greenhouse. Germination for poppy seeds usually takes 20 days.

Poppies are a hearty, drought-resistant plant that prefers full sun but cool temperatures. This can  be a challenge to recreate indoors. Regulating light and temperature for germination can be difficult indoors, so you might want to sprout the poppy seeds outdoors and bring them inside after have fresh growth and look more like a miniature plant. That would be 3 to 4 inches tall. I am going to try starting the poppies both ways and see which works the best.

photo credit: sleepyneko

Once the poppy plants have growth place them on a windowsill that receives a southern exposure. A southern exposure will help them get the natural sun they need to grow to their potential.

I plan to place the poppies in the sun room and use unique pots and possible driftwood behind the plants. I think it will emphasis the delicate look of the blossoms.

Caring for Poppies Indoors

Once established poppies will grow quickly given the right conditions. They should receive full to sun to partial shade, but not be exposed to sweltering heat.

Their soil should be slightly acidic and well drained. If growing indoors set the potted plants on a drainage tray with pebbles.  And general-purpose fertilizer should be applied once each month to accelerate growth and keep the plant healthy.

Note: I use a compost tea for most of my plants; I find it to work the best.

Depending on the variety, poppies will bloom 65 to 90 days from planting.

A with most flowering plants pinching off mature flowers helps promote new blooms.

If you plan to harvest seeds, allow the flowers to die and dry. Cut off the seedpods and let them to dry completely. The seeds will separate easier from the seedpod once thoroughly dry.

Note: if seeds are not totally dry they will mold and the germination capabilities of the seed will be ruined.

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So baby your plant when you bring it home.

Your first step when bringing a plant home is to leave the store with it properly wrapped.

• When you leave the store there will be a temperature change so plan for it. If its freezing cold outdoors have the cashier give you one of two bags to totally cover the plant and get it home ASAP. Even a few minutes of below average temperatures will harm a plant and create shock.

• If it’s hot outdoors place the plant in a cool place in the car out of direct sunlight.

Indoor houseplant care tips

Check the plants soil when you get home to determine if it needs water and for a day just put the plant somewhere quiet. Also check the plant over for any insects or parasites. Trim off any damages leaves or broken stems or branches.

I often keep the plant separate from any other plants for a week to makes sure there are small insects on the plants. The last thing I want to do is infest all my other plants.

Next check the plant instructions on a plant tag, in a houseplant book or look it up on-line to make sure you know it’s watering and lighting needs.

Find a new home for your plant in your house and enjoy its beauty.

photo credit: moria

I used to move a lot for my one job. Each time I moved to a new town I bought a plant. It was my new friend in a town where I knew no one. Needless to say, it was not long before moving plants took all my time and space

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In my home houseplants are difficult to grow and I have had many people ask questions so here is a you tube about houseplants and a few varieties that are very hardy. And the plant selections are plants that add color to a home and in the winter that is important.

What I like about the selection of plants they talk about on this video is the selection of plants for high lighting in a room, medium lighting and low lighting.

In NW PA you tend to have more medium to low light in the winter unless you have a sunroom. And many renters and urban home have lower lighting conditions so this you tube and the mist below may help you select medium to low light plants for your home.

Medium light House plants

• Ficus
• Rex Begonias

Low Light House plants

• Philodendrons
• Peperomias

Ferns and pothos are also popular and easy to care for  houseplants for medium low light or low light conditions.

House plants are fun, great for the indoor environment and will keep the indoor gardener somewhat occupied while waiting for better weather.

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Indoor plants help to clean the air in the home, which is even more important with more home being sealed up to prevent heat loss.

This you tube talks about the different sizes and varieties of houseplants and their advantages for the home.

This list of plants covers some of the varieties of indoor plants and their care and needs for lighting in the home

• Eureka Palm
• Spathiphyllum (The Peace Lily)
• Golden Pothos
• Yucca – good for sunny window, needs less water
• Arboracola
• Dieffenbachia
• Austin Fern (hanging plant, good for bathroom)
• Succulents (require little maintenance)

It is said that to purify the home you need a minimum of 1 plant per 100 square feet to clean toxins.

I have a large selection of succulents and ferns in my home. I had never thought about the yucca plant but it is one of my favorite outdoors so we may have to add it indoors too.

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Plants are also known for adding enjoyment, beauty and health benefits to your home. And yes, plants help to improve the air quality in your home.

When carefully chosen and strategically placed, plants will add ambiance and warmth to any room or business.

How to Purchase an indoor Plant

The most important thing to remember when purchasing plants is that the plants you select must be compatible with the environment you provide.

• Lighting must be considered along with temperatures and any draft conditions.
• Time for maintaining a plant must also be thought of. If you have a busy office or travel you will not want a plant that needs to be fussed over to survive.

Choose plants whose foliage is rich green and uniform in color. Any plant that has broken stems, yellow or brown leaves, looks wilted or has sad looking soil should be avoided.

Inspect the plant for pests, such as mealy bugs, spider mites and worms. A sign of insects would be yellow leaves, sad looking soil, any odor or worn leaves.

Check the pot the plant is in. Is the pot clean and the right size for the plant? Does is have proper drainage? You may want to purchase a new pot if you answered no to any of these questions.

You may also want purchase a pot that will match the décor of your home or office. Many planters or pots that has a watering tray included, which is beneficial to the plant and in watering.

Check the label for the mature height of the plant. Make sure that it is not too tall for the location in your home. I have found that grouping a few plants makes a very attracting arrangement and will add depth and flow to a room. If you decide to group several plants in one area you will want to select plants of different heights.

One last consideration in purchasing a plant is to look for healthy new growth. New growth will let you know the plant has not been forced to grow quickly and that the soil and roots should be healthy.

Note: Bargain plants look attractive but check the plant over well to see if it has been neglected, as a pest problem or poor soil. Bringing home a plant that can infect your healthy plants or that may require a lot of attention may not be a bargain.

A plant or group of plants will last for years if properly maintained and the benefits to your home and office will be immeasurable.

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Whiteflies eat strawberries, cotton plants, vegetable plants and many houseplants.

The whitefly actually sucks out plant juices and sap from a plant which will slowly kill the plant. Even worse, whiteflies transmit diseases like sooty mold; due to the sticky honeydew the insects exude.

For whiteflies, look for tiny white flying insects.  Being very small they are hard to see with the human eye. They look more like tiny, flying, flakes of snow.

I usually see their eggs before I see the insect. Whiteflies will lay tiny eggs in crescent or circular patterns on the bottom of leaves.

Whiteflies also excrete a sticky substance called “honeydew” on the top and underside of plants’ leaves.

If you notice a sudden swarm of tiny, white, insects hovering over garden plants, they are probably whiteflies. Check for eggs and treat accordingly

Tips:

If you identify whiteflies in your garden, use seaweed spray on the garden plants. Whiteflies do not like to reproduce on plants treated with seaweed spray. The spray is also environmentally friendly.

Spray affected plants with insect soap. It’s best to use insect soap when temperatures are below 80 degrees, as this natural pesticide can burn tender foliage in hot weather.

Repel whiteflies with fine horticultural oil. You can apply a light mist of this oil to plants in the early spring, when it will smother the eggs and developing whitefly larvae. This is available at most garden centers.

Plant a Nicotiana plant in the garden. These plants attract and then trap whiteflies. Nicotiana is a pretty plant and again makes use of natural environmental insect control.

Use a vacuum to remove whiteflies from houseplants. Agitate the foliage on the plants to cause the whiteflies to swarm around the plants, and then use your vacuum before they resettle to resume feeding.

Another popular form of control is using yellow sticky traps. Distribute 4 cards evenly in every 1000 feet of garden or greenhouse space. Hang the cards among the tender new growth whiteflies enjoy feeding on.

With a little care, you can spot whiteflies before they cause damage to plants. If you woudl like more information on indoor plant disease you may want to read this article, Indoor Plant Diseases.

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The Gardeners Rake.

You see its snowing out and its way too cold (7 degrees) and I would rather be out playing in garden dirt. So, I’ll have to play with my indoor plants instead.

So tell me what your favorite indoor plant is and ask a question if you have one. Or tell me about your favorite plant.

photo credit: idalingi

Here’s a tip my neighbor gave me about African Violets. They grow best in a window with northern lighting. My neighbor, Irma, always had the most amazing African Violets and it was a plant I struggled to grow.

So I switched my plants to a window in the north and the plants recovered and were beautiful.

Send me a comment, story or a question about indoor plants and lets see where it leads.

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Over the years, one of my favorite plants has become the Aspidistra, which is commonly known as the Cast Iron plant. This plant will beautify any dark room or corner. And in my home this is a plus for the rooms on the north side.

Many gardening experts describe the Aspidistra as one of the toughest and most adaptable house plants. Its long blades of slender dark green or variegated dark green and white leaves shoot straight out from the soil but in clumps and up to 75 cm in height and 15 cm wide.

It is such a low maintenance plant that it only needs very low light, average temperature and humidity and just occasional watering. This is truly the perfect plant for hard to grow homes or for the person who has a brown thumb.

Low-light plants are usually defined as those that can survive in 25 to 75 foot candles – that is, a spot that is 4 to 5 meters from a bright window, just enough light to read by comfortably, but where artificial lighting switched on by day would give a brightening effect.

photo credit: marc kjerland

You can easily find the Aspidistra in your local garden center nursery. In addition, here are suggestions for five other plants that will suit very low light situations:

Aglonema (Chinese Evergreen) which are among the few plants that prefer only moderate light and adapt well to low light. It has large dark green oval then tapering leathery leaves later developing a caney base.

Drachaena deremensis varieties (also know as Happy or Fortune Plants) which are slender leafed and usually white variegated. The Drachaena family are caney plants crested with decorative rosettes of straplike foliage.

Holly fern which adapts to low light and Boston fern a fishbone type of fern that will remain in low light for many months but need a spell in brighter light to rejuvenate.

Neanthe Bella or Parlor Palm, which is more suited to low light situations than most palms.

Sanseviera (also known as Mother-In-Law’s Tongue) which stands low to very bright light has waxy, erect straplike leaves usually with cream-colored margins and an unusual banding of the grey-green center.

If you are finding it difficult to find a plant that will brighten up that dark corner, why not try one of these hardy favorites of mine?

Indoor plants add to any home and they also have health benefits so talk to your local garden center and adopt a plant today.

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I had read that there were numerous advantages to setting up your own nursery indoors at home. The prices of fresh produce were very expensive and I often could not afford it. I also liked the fact that my own produce could remain pesticide free.
photo credit: schnaars

After I read about all of the benefits of setting up an indoor nursery at home I was excited to give it a try. The article recommended the equipment that I would need to get started.

First you will have to find an area that has enough space to set up your plants.

Just make sure that the area you select does not get too cold. Garages and basements make great places to start your seedlings as long as they are heated.

Assemble whatever table or shelving system that you will be using for your plants and set up your trays filled with potting soil.

When starting your own indoor nursery, you should experiment with a variety of different seeds. Try out some fresh herbs and vegetables and a few different types of flowering annuals.

Remember whatever you can not plant at your home, your neighbors and friends will be happy to use in their gardens.

Many people choose a fluorescent grow light to stimulate the initial growth of the plants. These light are energy efficient and perfect for use in small areas, such as an at home nursery. A fluorescent grow light generates a lot less heat than some of the other types of grow lights and can be placed in much closer proximity to the plants.

A fluorescent grow light is also very affordable. You can use them in virtually any size space and there are a number of models available to fit your budget.

The article also informed me about the latest in technology for nursery and greenhouse lighting. Ufo led grow lights are environmentally friendly, energy efficient, and an excellent choice for starting seedlings. Many nurseries and greenhouses have already made the switch to ufo led lighting.

Even though ufo led lights are more expensive to purchase initially, in the long run they will save you money. Your electric bill will be lower and the bulbs will not need to be replaced as frequently as others.

In these economic times it just makes sense to establish your own indoor nursery.

You will save yourself money and have direct control over the types of plants that are available to you.

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photo credit: audreyjm529 Overall, if given a rest period during the year and watered and fertilized properly the Shamrock will live for many years. If you notice your plant looks a little weak or seems to be suffering there are two plant diseases that affect the shamrock plant.

Shamrock Plant Disease

Fungal Rust can be diagnosed when you notice an obvious orange color on the underside of the leaves. Treatment: I remove the plant from the pot and clean the pot thoroughly. If you feel the plant needs repotted this it the time to do so.

Before placing the plant back in its pot wash the plant carefully with a mix of neem oil. Neem oil is not one of the toxic chemicals that many people use so I feel its safe to use and its good for several other forms of plant diseases too.

After placing the plant back in the pot remove the top layer of soil and replace with fresh soil. Water the plant lightly with a chamomile tea mix. If your plant has really suffered you may want to take extra measures. This site has information on common plant disease

Spider Mites are a common problem on the shamrock plant.  These insect parasites are small mites that are almost not visible. They produce a little white webbing that is sticky. They seem to choose to hide and live under leaves and in the joints of stems.

You need to remedy the problem as quickly as possible or they will spread. A spider mite sucks the juice out of the plant and weakens it. If left untreated the plant will slowly die.

If you suspect mites, there are two treatments.  A home remedy of water a few drops of dish soap and a touch of garlic will stop the mites. If the mites are quite large touching them with Sea Breeze that is placed on a Q-tip will kill the bug.

You can treat the plant with Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insecticide.  Mix this product with water as directed and pour on the soil around the base of the plant.  It will kill the bugs within a week or so.  The plus to this product is that it provides protection from reinfestation for up to a year.

Note: Make sure you remove any old or infected soil from the top of the pot.

For more information on this plant check Shamrock Plant Care and The Shamrock Plant

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