Дек
03
Posted under
Blooming plants,
Plants,
Uncategorized by ruola
Blooming after planting — 30-70 days
Blooming period — 70 days
Light — sunny places
Area — spacious
Watering — generous but not frequent
In both cases the plant received its name after a man: Dahlia is named after a Swedish botanist Anders Dahl and Gerogina is named after a German naturalist Johann Gottlieb Georgi who worked in Russia. Since that time to the most of the world the plant is known as Dahlia while in Russia and nearby countries it’s known as Georgina.
Like no other plant Dahlia is famous for a wide variety of species with all its numerous colors and forms. Dahlia is a fine decoration of any garden: big flowers of bright deep colors always draw attention and deserve to be the centre of a garden bed. The flowers can be cut for a buquet and live in the vase for about 1-2 weeks.
Another advantage that makes Dahlia suitable even for a beginner is that the plant doesn’t require special care. Though there are some simple requirements that you need to meet. First of all ensure that Dahlia has enough of sun and water. The soil should be mellow enough or otherwise use fertilizers.
In April take the bulbs of Dahlia and check them for rotten parts which you need to remove. Put the bulbs into the soil so that the top of the bulb is 2-3 cm above the soil level. This will prevent the bulbs from rottening. Plant bulbs in such a way that there is a distance of 70 cm between them. This is a must-action because Dahlia needs a big area for nutrition and in case you don’t follow this recommendation there’s a big chance that flowers will be smaller than you expect.
When the first stems appear, choose only three most healthy and strong and cut the rest of stems with a sharp knife. If you do so the flowers will be bigger and more decorative. If you plan to cut Dahlia flowers for bouquets, you need to leave only one bud on the stem and remove the rest.
During its growth Dahlia does not require much attention. Watering is mainly important for the development of bulbs and it needs to be generous but not frequent. Sometimes rain will be enough for a normal growth. And of course, fertilizers will do only good to the plant. The choice of fertilzers is so big that you are free to choose. A natural fertilizer is ash which has necessary components for Dahlia bulbs.
In autumn when the temperature drops to 0 C the stems of Dahlia would fade and get dark. This is a right time to cut the stems leaving about 10-15 cm of each stem. A good temperature for storage is +5 C and this is why it is better to remove the bulbs from the soil for winter. For this purpose prepare a box with ventilation holes and wood chips (or other suitable material). Put the first layer of bulbs and cover with wood chips, then you can put another layer of bulbs which you also need to cover with wood chips. For storage choose a dark, dry and ventilated place.
Dahlia is known from ancient times and deserved its fame throghout the years. Thanks to a huge variety of colors and rich foliage it can find its place in any garden.
Авг
02
Posted under
Uncategorized by ruola
Lily is undeniably a very beautiful flower which every gardener would like to have in his garden. Lily is also a well-known flower for its exquisite form and pretty coloring. Its hystory goes into ancient times when the Greek considered the flower to be created by gods and be a symbol of hope. White lily is cultivated from ancient times for it had beautiful and sweet-scented flowers and was also used for making a parfumed oil. White lily is known as Madona’s Lily and considered to be a symbol of nobility and purity.
Lily is a perennial bulb plant. When choosing a place in your garden, check for the following conditions: the soil should be friable, fat and water-permeable. At the same time the place for lilies should not sink in water and have a good drainage otherwise there will be a danger of bulb rotting. The place should be well-ventilated but with no strong winds.
Normally Lily lasts for 3 or 4 years, sometimes longer. For planting choose smooth, firm and big bulbs. If there are lilies in your garden already, check old bulbs (3-5 years old) for younger bulbs which you can separate and plant each as a single flower. The best time for planting is spring and autumn. Prepair the soil in the garden in advance: the soil should be properly fertilized and dug for 40cm deep. After a week or two make small pits for bulbs about 10-15cm deep.
Using suitable fertilizers for Lily during emerging of spouts and blooming period you can have strong and very healthy flowers. Fertilizing is also important to enrich colors of the flower. If you want to cut the flowers and put them into a vasa, do it early in the morning, late in the evening or in a hazy weather. To ensure a good development of the bulb leave 1/3 of the stem when cutting it.
In case you find any signs of virus or mold, remove the flower immediately to exlude the possibility of infecting other, yet healthy lilies.
Another thing you might be curious about lily is what meaning it has in a bouquet. Lily has a meaning of virginity, purity and simplicity. That is why Lily is often used for a wedding bouquet. But it will also do for other occasions like birthday, St. Valentine’s Day, women’s day and whenever you feel Lily will be suitable.
Июль
13
Posted under
Blooming plants,
Uncategorized by ruola
Among all the garden flowers Iris is probably the most beautiful one. Iris has a rich hystory which roots into 2 B.C. At that time rulers of ancient civilizations admired the beauty of Iris. The flower is depicted on the walls of Knoss palace which is placed on Crete. During all those years a lot of wonderful legends were made by people throughout the world. Here’s one of them.
The first Iris started to bloom millions of years ago and it was so beautiful that not only birds, animals and insects but also the wind and water came to see it. It was so admirable that the wind and water took its seeds throughout the world. And when the seeds enrooted and grew into flowers, Iris became the favourite flower among all people.
Another legend says that Iris received its name from a greek word “Iris” which can be translated as “rainbow”. In greek mythology gods’ messanger Iris used a rainbow to go down to the earth from heaven and bring messages to people.
Iris has been widely used by people at all times as a decoration - at churches, monasteries and parks. There are over 300 species of Iris known in the world. Thanks to a wide range of colors and fanciful shape Iris is beloved by many gardners at present time as well.
Iris is normally cultivated outside. It likes dry places with a lot of sunshine but little winds. During a blooming period (from May to July) the plant demands a proper watering. As soon as flowers fade they should be removed from the stem.
Thanks to its beauty and hystory Iris has entrenched itself in different fields: floristics, aroma therapy; the name of Iris is used to call companies and Iris picture is used on crests and flags to symbolize hope, grace and strength.
Июнь
17
Posted under
General,
Uncategorized by ruola
Wandering on blogs about flowers today, the idea to write this article occured in my head. Gardening should not be a bore! Let’s forget about traditional ways of performing plants in our houses and apply a little bit of creativity and fantasy.
I’m sure that at least once you already thought of something interesting to do in your garden to present this or that plant in non-traditional way. You might have a desire to make your garden look different from all others so that it would delight your eyes every time you will look at it!
I tried to find pictures of different ways to do it smart or funny whatever you prefer and it should not be an expensive way.
Did you ever think of using old furniture (which you probably wanted to get rid of) in your garden? What can be easier than put chair legs into low boxes with tiny flowers? Or the pan which was probably used by your grandmother stands in the lumber-room with no use? It can be used as a vase somewhere outside, for example, on a garden table or a bench. But if you really want to plunge into this creative process try to think of some figure to wicker and decorate then with plants as it was done on the picture with a star. I also like a plant which is put into a cage - it can be hanged as inside the house as well as outside. It might also be a plant with long and narrow leaves than can look through the bars of the cage. And if you use a high enough cage you can put a lamp on the top (but mind a lamp voltage, it should not be too hot for the plant) and it will nicely serve as a chandelier.
For holidays like Easter you can put two-three types of plants into one glass container and decorate it with moss and figures of chiken or rabbit and eggs. What fun will it be for children!
Just give your fantasy some freedom and start to make your garden something special!
Июнь
15
Posted under
Blooming plants,
General,
Uncategorized by ruola
We are used to see flowers in composition - this is so “natural” today to make a garden look organized, to have some idea in it. We are getting used to admire mostly the composition and start making notes in the mind how to repeat it in our own garden. This sometimes can make us forget about the beauty of each flower separately.
At weekend i took my camera out to the garden of my friend. The garden is a place where you can find a great variety of flowers including wild flowers which are not cultivated on purpose. In my opinion the more colors in the garden the better - flowers should strike the eye and bring us joy wih all those unrealistical bright colors. On the photos i especially like a tiny flower by the fence that looks so touching and shy. Looking at this flower i start missing a simplicity in the life.
Март
29
Posted under
General by ruola
Keukenhof is a beautiful park in the western part of Netherlands close to Lisse city. This park is known for an enormous quantity of flowers on its huge territory (32 ha). They say it is the most photographed place in the world. The park is open from March till May and attracts thousands of visitors.
It was a little bit too early to visit this park in March because flowers just started to grow and those that were blooming already are mostly crocuses and narcissus. The advantages of this visiting time are less people and quietness. So if you’re lucky with the weather you will surely have most enjoyable walk around this park. At the same time you can see enough blooming plants inside the spacious green-houses.
Keukenhof has several green-houses which are:
- Oranje Nassau
- William Alexander
- Beatrix
- Wilhelmina
- Jualiana
Oranje Nassau, William Alexander and Beatrix are best places to see all types of flowers cultivated by highly skilled gardeners. Here you will find various plants like tulips, amaryllises, cyclamens and many others in all imaginable containers. You can buy any sample you like. Most prices are around 15-40 euros. Another remarkable thing about these green-houses is that it shows also plant compositions – it can be a column decorated with huge amaryllis flowers, lots of tulips and some fabulous leaves. Or it even can be a birdcage where instead of a bird you will see a nice composition of flowers. Isn’t it a nice idea for decoration in your garden or any room in the house? You will certainly see the modern trend – plants in high glass containers. A little bit of decoration in the container – a figure of a rabbit or small candles and it makes the plant look very special. After your eyes will be tired from diversity of all those colors go outside and enjoy a nice view of fountains which are numerous in the park. The largest is perhaps the one along the path from Oranje Nassau. For your comfort there are plenty of chairs in front of the fountain and it is a nice place for relaxation on a hot day.
Beatrix has a rich collection of orchids. Which color do you like better? Pink, orange, white, violet? They are all here!
Outside there’s also much too see – fields of flowers, all organized in a fanciful way. It is better to see them a little bit from the top and you can notice that a mass of yellow and pink flowers make a shape of a huge tulip from the top.
Keukenhof is also a good place to pip some design solutions for your garden. As you walk to Julian house you will see a small suspension bridge with a waterfall behind. Or you can enjoy the babble of the brook in a picturesque place. Certainly there are a lot of places to be admired.
So if you are fond of flowers and nature you will never regret your trip to Keukenhof – the most beautiful and unforgettable garden in Europe.
Март
07
Posted under
Blooming plants by ruola
So it is spring now and it’s time to look around and check which of your plants needs a new pot or fresh soil. Spring is time for renovation! My eyes caught the view of young Amaryllis which appeared in my house about a year ago. I could see that some of its leaves are growing not from the main bulb itself but from somewhere underneath. There’s an opinion that Amaryllis won’t bloom if it has bulbils attached because otherwise they will take a big part of nutrients from soil. Probably that was the reason why it didn’t bloom during last year unlike the second amarallys in my house.
Having chosen the correct soil for my Amaryllis which should include humus, peat mould and sand i carefully took the plant out from the pot. Then i shook it carefully to remove the rest of the soil from the roots and could see that the bulb has 3 bulbils. All of the bulbils has its own leaves — from one to three and its own roots. So they were independant enough to leave its parent bulb. I decided to put all the bulbs in one pot because they are very small yet — about ½ in (1cm) in diameter and thus they will look more decorative.
As for the parent bulb i removed the top dry layer and old rotten roots, refreshed it soil and put it back into the pot.
During a year young bulbs will grow the half of the size of its parent bulb. And in 2-3 years time they will delight my eyes with first flowers.
Март
01
Posted under
Cactuses by ruola
Watering is probably the most important thing in a cactus life. In this post i will try to collect the most important information on this question.
There are certain factors that should be considered: time of the year, age of cactus, type of cactus and even the weather.
Probably the first factor to think of before watering your cactus is time of the year. Every cactus has its year cycle: in a warm period it is time for active growing and blooming and winter is a time for rest. During dornant period the temperature should be lower than in spring and march — normally about 10º. At this time no watering is needed otherwise the cactus won’t «understand» that the year is over. At this period necessary vegetal processes take place that will ensure good blooming in summer. If you proceed watering your cactus in winter it will grow further which can cause a loss of decorative qualities or even death of the plant.
In summer when the cactus has best conditions for growth and blooming, water the cactus moderately and as often as the soil gets dry. Also pay attention to the soil condition — it should be friable so that water can go through easily. Some species of cactuses ( Notocactus, Rebutia, Lobivia) get still during the hottest days and therefore need no watering at that period.
When temperatures grow higher in spring it will be good to spray water on the cactus but still no watering. Exception for spraying are cactuses with floss. Check your cactus every now and then for signs of activation — point of growth gets green, buds appear and others. This is exactly the time to start slightly watering the plant. As soon as temperatures are hot enough and regular you can start to water the plant normally — see the summer period. Keep in mind that in rainy weather you need to reduce watering.
In autumn when days get shorter and temperatures go down - reduce amount of water. In the last bright days of the year water the cactus 3-4 times a month. As a rule in October-Novermber watering should be stopped at all and the plant should be moved to a cool place.
All the recommendations above are ment for «adult» cactuses older than 3 years. For young cactuses the conditions in winter can be milder. If you see that your cactus is drying out take it back into a warm place with enough of light and start watering. In one-two weeks it should look better and you can put into «adult» conditions again.
And a few words about the process of watering itself. Make sure water is NOT poured onto the cactus stem as it can lead to a cactus rot. Remove all excessive water from the bottom container for the same reason.
There are also other situations that may influence the frequency of watering. If the plant was stressed somehow stop watering it for some time. Stop watering the plant if you see it gets soft and «fades» as it is a sign of overwatering. Remember that the worst thing for cactus is cold overwatered soil.
I hope following these simple rules you will achieve succes in making your cactuses healthy and beautiful.
Фев
22
Posted under
Succulents by ruola
Water: heavy from spring to autumn, moderate in spring
Light: bright scattered, maybe direct in winter
Temperature: ~25° in spring to autumn, ~15° during dormant period
Blooming: in summer
This plant appeared in my house long time ago though it started to bloom only about 3 years ago. Before my Stapelia found itself on the north window and probably that was the reason why it didn’t want to bloom. Everything changed when i put it on the east window — the plant started to grow better and to give numerous flowers about 100-150mm in diameter in summer. Most species of Stapelia are known to have unpleasant smell but the type i have (Stapelis gigantea) has no strong and distinct smell so it never troubled me. At the same time i admire the beauty of its flowers — they are pleasant to touch and the color is quite deep so it can be a nice decoration of the house.
It is recommended to replant Stapelia every 2-3 years. During replanting remove the old stems in the center because they won’t bloom any more. Take one part of sand and 2 parts of humus to provide best conditions for the plant. Wait for one week before to start watering. This will prevent roots against rot.
The best time for propagating is a period of growth which ensures that the plant will enroot well. The easiest way is to cut a stem, put it into the water and wait till the roots will grow out and after that put it into the pot with appropriete soil. It will take about a year or maybe year and a half before the new grown Stapelia will start blooming.
For my Stapelia i chose neighbours among other succulents such as Kalanchoe and Crassula. All these plants are placed in alike ceramic pots so they delight my eyes even in winter by unusual elegant shapes.
Окт
22
Posted under
General by ruola
Hardly there are many countries where people are so fond of plants and flowers as in Holland. 
I couldn’t but praise the talent and work of Dutch plant breeders who developed such a great variety of plants with all imaginable and unimaginable colors and forms.
I just don’t know any other country where people are so much fond of decorating their houses inside and outside with our green friends.
My first impression of Holland (I should notice I started not in big cities like Amsterdam or Hague but in small quite villages), is that there’s a secret competition between owners of these beautiful gardens: everyone tries to make his house and garden more special, more beautiful than others. The curious fact is that they also use vegetables for decoration. It is not rare when you can see vegetables like pumpkin somewhere close to the front door among pots with flowers. Knowing some methods of growing they manage to have a needed word like ‘welkom’ on the vegetable. See the picture.
You can buy plants almost everywhere – in numerous plant specialized shops and at any supermarket. The choice is really amazing. All plants are blooming and looking very healthy.
There I found another type of Cylamen: its leaves look very much the same as my cyclamen has but its flowers are more than twice bigger and their color is white. The plant looks so touching and nice.
Another interesting thing is chrysanthemum available in all possible colors: red, pink, orange, white and so on. It seems to me that chrysanthemum is one of the favorite plants among Dutch people because you can find almost in every garden.
Purple Dahlia
This sample of Dahlia has a huge head (20cm in diameter) and very deep colors.