|
[ Past Issues Index ] [ Rex's Seedco Home ] [ Our Seed Catalog ] [ About Us ]
|
|
Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:Couple of important things to mention this week. ** We will not be publishing an issue for the next two weeks. Tom won't have access to a computer during that time and he handles the distribution. We'll be sending our next issue May 16. Second, we've been updating a number of the pages on our site to make them easier on the eyes, and to have a consistent look and feel throughout the site. Please be patient with us during this transition. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Rex Gregor Tom Krueger 2) Cactus Care Tips:With a little patience and effort you should have no problem in raising some beautiful cacti from the seeds you get from us. You must understand that cacti seeds will sprout over a period of time, so do not be disappointed if it takes a bit longer for them to poke their heads through the surface. It is not unusual for cacti seeds to take from three to ten weeks to sprout. I recommend that you use bottom heat to get faster results. Your container
should be large enough to allow for two inches of crushed gravel or
sharp sand (aquarium sand) to facilitate drainage -- then place another
two inches of "sterilized" soil on top of the sand. I recommend
a mixture of one part sharp sand to one part of peat humus. You should soak the soil in distilled water (if you use tap water put enough water in a container, and let it set for two days before you use it.) It's best if you mix a fungicide with the water. This will prevent damping off later. Before you plant your seeds, make sure the soil is moist but not soaked. When you plant your seeds, lightly press them into the soil, then cover with about 1/8 inch of soil. Next, cover with a glass or plastic, and place in a warm location. Again, keep your soil damp, but not wet. I suggest you mist the surface regularly. After the seeds begin to sprout, make sure your seedlings do not get any direct sunlight because this may kill the plants. You should avoid any sudden temperature changes or any strong drafts. It will take your seedlings about two or three days to become hardy after they sprout -- treat them the same as you would treat a new born baby! Here are a Few Tips in Caring Your New Plants:
Only use a very weak solution of water soluble fertilizer, if any. Cacti seedlings are not a hungry plant, and the seeds do not need any thing to eat for the first few weeks. Do not expose your young seedlings to direct sunlight -- they need light but use diffused light. The quickest way to kill a cacti plant is to over water it! If your young plants develop a brown scarring, it is probably a sign of too much sunlight. I believe there is no other plant that can take as much abuse and neglect as the cacti and still provide us with beautiful blooms and a unique appearance. They are hardy, resilient and take up very little space. They will grow where no other plant will. They are truly the perfect windowsill plant! 3) Humor for Today:Several weeks after a young man had been hired, he was called into the personnel director's office. "What is the meaning of this?" the director asked. "When you applied for this job, you told us you had five years experience. Now, we discovered this is the first job you've ever held." "Well," the young man replied, "in your advertisement you said you wanted somebody with imagination." 4) Traveling Tip:Here is a timely tip for me. Now that we are entering the spring and summer vacation time, you might find it useful, as well.
The itinerary should include: Flight information including airline, flight times and numbers -- don't forget the destination details, also. Hotel names and phone numbers, or names and phone numbers of someone you might be staying with. Include the arrival and departure dates and times for each. If you will have e-mail access, let everyone know which address you'll be using. By following these tips, should an emergency arise, someone should be able to get a hold of you somehow. 5) Italy:Her name is Florence, not the girl, but the city. The father's name was Rome and he was the Western Power for over a thousand years. He built CHURCHES with a philosophy, and they have stood for over 2,500 years. His people created it with so much passion that people still stand and gaze in awe. It was a case of pure inspiration. The craftsmanship is awesome, and the love of art is a feeling you will never forget. He ruled his people with a love and passion that built a legacy that will never be forgotten. No, Rome was not built in a day, but neither was America. In Italy, when times were tough (poverty, pestilence, the Black Plague), they burned their buildings then rebuilt the cities including plumbing and sewer pipes. The result was an amazing Renaissance. Maybe in the United States it is time to get rid of the negative in our lives -- burn some of our bridges and get some positive influence in our lives. Renaissance means re-birth. Our great power should be re-born. Our story is the greatest rags-to-riches story ever told. Our world is prospering -- Art, Science, Literature, Commerce, Our Love of GOD -- it's all exploding. The question before us -- will there be a RENAISSANCE in your family? Will you be a part of a new Renaissance one day at a time? Together the World can be one family of people who will create more "millionaires in life" then at any time in history. Rags-to-riches stories like we've never seen before. Today we are part of a Communication Renaissance. The Internet has already changed things all over the world. You only have to look back in history to see the future. Our history is in the future and it will be found in GOD'S LOVE. 6) Inventory Your Refrigerator:When was the last time you did an inventory on what was in your refrigerator? Did you know that every week it is a good idea to do a quality check of the contents. You might find you save yourself some money.
With those leftover meats you might use the chicken in a stew or crepe recipe. Hey, be creative and you'll find those leftovers being used, and not thrown out. Over the course of a year it could save you a lot of money. 7) Masking Those Paint Jobs:I don't know about you, but when I do any indoor painting I always need to mask off window frames, door frames, moulding, etc. Okay, I know the professionals never have to go through such mundane tasks, but for me it beats having painted wood that wasn't painted when I started.
In the past I would always use good old regular masking tape. Invariably I'd have a devil of a time pealing it off. Little did I know there is actually tape intended for painting -- it is less sticky and will not become a permanent fixture in the room. Even though it is tape intended for painting use, you still need to apply it just before it's needed and remove it once you're done painting. Go ahead and grab a brush this spring to freshen up your house. 8) Subscribe/UnsubscribeThis newsletter, the Green Thumb Times, is sent out only to those who have requested a FREE subscription by signing up at http://rexseedco.com or specifically asked to be added PRIVACY: Your email address is held in the strictest of privacy. It is never traded or sold to anyone else. To subscribe to The Green Thumb Times To unsubscribe Rex Gregor, Editor Tom Krueger, Publisher Please feel free to forward The Green Thumb Times to a friend. Rex’s Seedco has searched the world for quality
growers of garden seeds. Many of these farmers bring together ancient
wisdom and modern science so people everywhere may have good health
and enjoyment in life. We are dedicated to providing the best wherever
they are found.
|
|
[ Past Issues Index ] [ Rex's Seedco Home ] [ Our Seed Catalog ] [ About Us ] Rex's Seedco
|
It
is very important that the soil be sterilized. You may sterilize the
soil by putting it in your oven for about 15 minutes at 200 degrees
F.
Never
use tap water or alkaline water on your plants. Cacti plants cannot
tolerate high alkaline soil. Use distilled water on your seedlings or
place your tap water in an open container for two days before using
it.
Before
you travel, make sure you leave a detailed itinerary of where you'll
be. Be sure to include specific dates, phone numbers and addresses on
each location. And don't just leave it with a family member -- let a
good friend know and someone at the office.
By
checking on the freshness of vegetables, you may find yourself using
those goodies, where in the past you may have had to throw them in the
compost pile. And even if they are starting to outlive their usefulness
for fresh use, you might consider making soup.
If you're
like me, you go to that home center and are faced with a whole aisle
with nothing but masking tape. The trick is knowing what to grab.