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1) Editor's Comments:We've flipped another calendar page. In the northern hemisphere our days are quickly shortening. For those of you in the southern hemisphere, you're quickly moving into your outdoor growing season, or even in the midst of it. Before we know it, Christmas and Chanukah will be upon us. As most of you know, we've been looking at flowering house plants the past couple issues - we've talked about them in general, and tips for purchasing and bringing live plants home. This week we'll look deeper into the area of light. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Rex Gregor Tom Krueger 2) Gardening Indoors: Light
However, if you have a house plant in an ideal place such as a bright window, or you've brought one indoors from mild weather, a fully bloomed plant can be moved to a not so ideal indoor location and be enjoyed for days or even weeks before you need to move them back. As we've said before, plants are adaptable to their surroundings. But if they are given the ideal environment for their species, they will surely flourish and reward you with very nice blooms. Light is so important. Why? Because of photosyntheses -- the process by which light striking a green leaf activates the process of combining water and carbon dioxide from the air to create the energy the plant needs to live. Yet each plant requires different light requirements. When you purchase a plant, be sure to check what its needs are. Or,
if you are planting from seed, check out what needs the plant will require.
There are many sources for this information, whether it be the garden
center, the library, the Internet, or even the publishers of your favorite
gardening newsletter. So what do you do if all your windows offer bright light and your plant doesn't need that much? Simply place the plant far enough back from the window to keep it out of the direct rays of the sun. Or draw a sheer curtain across the window. Even dark walls might help since they will reflect less light. How can you tell whether the plant is doing well? Drooping leaves can be a hint you're supplying too much light. Move it away from the light or draw a curtain part of the day and see if it makes a difference. Watch for the distance between leaves on new growth - if distance is greater than on older growth (before you brought it home), the plant is likely not getting enough light. Or, if it is a plant you started from seed and it is "leggy," a low level of light is likely the culprit. What do you do if you simply don't have enough sunlight. Unfortunately, homes in heavily wooded areas may not have enough direct light for some plants. Or there are folks closer to the poles where they don't have enough hours of daylight for many varieties. But that doesn't mean they can't grow them. Daylight can be supplemented with artificial light. Unfortunately, artificial light is not the perfect substitute. For artificial light, you might consider a pre-made planter. If you visit your garden or home center, you may find planters that only lack plants, and might even have timers. Or you can build your own. As a general rule, you want to use at least two tubes, allow 15 to 20 watts of light for each square foot of foliage, and keep the tubes six to 12 inches above the plant tops. It is important to remember that almost all flowering plants do need a rest each day - so you only want to use artificial light from 12 to 16 hours each day. Remember, light is arguably the most important plant need. In a future issue we'll take a look at the second most important element - water. For some unique house plants, feel free to Click Here Give the gift that will be treasured for generations. 3) Humor for Today:My wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to our 6-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" I wouldn't know what to say," she replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," my wife said. Our daughter bowed her head and said: "Dear Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?" 4) Thanksgiving Planning:
Click Here for Thanksgiving Planner Here she starts with early November tasks, then 4 days, 2 days, and 1 day prior to Thanksgiving. You'll find turkey choosing tips, as well as stuffing recipes, and tips for fixing the bird. Don't wait for the last minute. Check out her site. 5) Fluorescent Troubles:In our first article this week we discuss use of artifical light for your house plants. Well, there are times that fluorescent lights can give you trouble. As we all know, fluorescent lights can last for years. Of course, they eventually do go bad. But it might not be a burned out tube causing the trouble. What are the symptoms? If the light begins to flicker, or the light has become dim, your tube is likely ending its useful life. Look at the ends of the tube - you'll likely see they've turned black. If the ends are not black, you've likely got a different problem. Maybe the tube has lost a good connection - wiggle it to see. If the tube is flickering, this may sound strange, but remove the tube and turn it from end-to-end in the fixture; see if that makes a difference. If none of this works, you might have a bad starter. Take out the tube(s) and find the starter near the socket. You can get new starters almost anywhere. If you're fixture is more of a shoplight, one without a starter but has a balast that has gone bad, it is almost cheaper to just replace the fixture. Click Image for Our Waterfall
Gallery 6) Quotes for Today:"A woman's appetite is twice that of a man's; "When a man goes on a date he wonders if he is going to get lucky.
A woman already knows." 7) Webopedia:
When you come across a computer term you have no idea what it means, here you can search and find out what the devil it means. Other features include a term of the day, a list of new terms, the top 15 terms, and a quick reference area. So the next time someone asks you about RAM, your computer BIOS, or the latest techno term, you might even be able to stump them by using a term they don't know. 8) Keeping Plants Fresh:What do you do if you have a plant which has been in its growing medium for quite some time, but it hasn't outgrown its current pot? You might think you need to repot it to keep its potting mix fresh. Not necessary. All you really need to do is remove an inch or two of the old potting mix and top it with a fresh mixture. Of course, refill to the original level. You can also add a slow-release fertizizer at the same time. 9) 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.
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Like
all plants, flowering house plants need two important elements to thrive,
light and water. The amount will vary depending on the variety and the
conditions within their immediate setting.
Do
you want to make this Thanksgiving go a little smoother? How about visiting
We
know that many of our readers are not computer and Internet terminology
experts. We've come across a site you might find quite useful. It is
