Gardening Blog

Have you adored orchids for your whole life, always giving them as gifts instead of regular flowers, or perhaps even had your own potted orchids? Since you’re so passionate, and have the know-how, you should start your own home business as an orchid cultivator by starting your own orchid greenhouse!

Let’s not get carried away, though. Before you can sell all those gorgeous orchids, you need to build a greenhouse for them to grow. Not only that, but you’ll have to make sure you can afford the financial investment involved in your growing operation. It is not just a matter of putting them in the soil, then harvesting them, you have to take special care of the plants like they were your own children. You need the right type of soil, specific growth ingredients that orchids need to thrive, and so on. So, before you jump run out and start buying tons of stuff, ask yourself this: “Am I ready to grow my own orchids? Do I have the money needed, the will power required and the special knowledge required?” If you answered “yes,” then read on. If not, you might want to wait for a while before building your own orchid greenhouse, or just keep dreaming.

Assuming you have what it takes, then it’s time to build! Here are five critical steps towards making this dream a reality:

1. Buy the appropriate materials needed to build. Look for corrugated fiberglass panelling, with some plastic sheeting and home insulation. These should be the basics, and they’re relatively inexpensive.

2. Draw up some plans for the structure and location of the greenhouse, the foundation (area under the orchid greenhouse), and what type of floor you want to have. This is crucial, as the success or failure of the project will depend upon the choices you make in the beginning.

3. Make a blueprint of the orchid greenhouse, and also keep a notebook for detailed information, such as how you want the greenhouse partitioned and layed out, what are the growing zones and what height will the construction have.

4. It’s now time for specifics! How will you make the lower wall? Will you paint it, or will you keep cover it with wallpaper, or something else? Do you want to build in seating so you’ll be confortable while inside? Also, don’t forget to include a storage area for your supplies.

5. Last, but equally important, you should take care of the exterior environment. After all, you want your orchid greenhouse to get as much sun as possible, so make sure you put it in a sunny area and not somewhere where trees shade the greenhouse for most of the day.

Well, that’s it, the five steps that will get you close to building your dream orchid greenhouse. But remember, building it is only half the battle. The other half is caring for your orchids, since they are delicate, sensible flowers, and any miscalculation or improper setup of the greenhouse will affect their overall quality.

Any plant growing business is no easy job, and if you aren’t positive that you can handle it, my advice would be to pay for real professionals, as paying them will guarantee you a good job. Good luck with your orchid greenhouse, and remember to have fun!

Find out more about starting your own orchid greenhouse by visiting http://orchidgreenhouse.blogspot.com

Good luck, and happy growing!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wesley_Lynx
http://EzineArticles.com/?Building-an-Orchid-Greenhouse—Five-Things-You-Absolutely-Must-Know&id=1385472

Many times we buy plants on impulse then find there is nowhere in the garden that really suits them. Before buying plants carefully examine your garden to see how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or waterlogged and whether your aspect is sheltered or windswept. You’ll then be equipped to go and buy the best plants for your situation; shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas, sun-lovers for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas which may be either sunny or shaded, and swamp plants for the poorly-drained parts.

But wait! Test your soil first, to determine the pH level of your soil and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. Is the soil acid or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that must have alkaline soil to grow. You can alter the soil’s pH level, but it’s much easier to simply plant for the soil you have.

Now you are ready to plant. Well - almost. Will you plant in groups or singly? If you buy ‘one of everything’ your garden may seem rather spotty. Group plantings are organised, harmonious and you can vary the color for interest.

Before planting out, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to see how they will look. Re-arrange them until you are satisfied. Grouping plants in sets of threes or fives usually looks better than planting in groups of even numbers. Be sure that you have an interesting combination of colors and textures of plants. Tall plants should go to the back, or the centre if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Try to keep your plants away from trees. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers.

The right color scheme is one way to maintain the harmony in your garden. Imagine the color of the flowers when they are in bloom. Some colors may clash with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they have a different blooming season. Foliage color is also important. Many flower plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still attractive well past the blooming season and so have added value.

Plants for sunny, moist conditions include:

Bee Balm (Monarda)

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Globe Flower (Trollius)

Japanese Iris (Iris ensata)

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)

Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Queen of the Prairie

Plants for sunny, dry conditions:

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

Bearded Iris

Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Coneflower (Echinacea)

Cranesbill (Geranium)

Daylily

Dwarf Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana pumila)

False Indigo (Baptisia)

Fountain grass (Pennisetum species)

Gayfeather (Liatris spicata)

Goldenrod (Solidage)

Lamb’s Ears (Stachys)

Lavender

Lavender Cotton (Santolina)

Ornamental grasses (Miscanthus species)

Pinks (Dianthus)

Sage (Salvia)

Sea Thrift (Armeria)

Sunflower

Switch grass (Panicum species)

Tickseed (Coreopsis)

Wild Rye (Elymus)

Wormwood (Artemesia)

Yarrow (Achillea)

Yucca

Plants (Perennials) for shady areas:

Astilbe

Bergenia

Colombine

Coral Bells

Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)

Hellebores

Hosta

Ligularia

Lily of the Valley

Pulmonaria (Lungwort)

Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

After the landscaping of your garden, patio or lawn area is completed; you will want to start thinking about garden furniture which means you will be making a trip to your favorite home improvement store or large department store to see what is available.

Garden furniture compliments the atmosphere and décor of the garden, patio or lawn setting of your backyard. The different of garden furniture you have to choose from will appeal to men and women alike. The garden furniture of today is built for comfort and durability, as well as fashion and style. You certainly want to match the garden furniture with the décor of your garden. Garden furniture will compliment the landscape of your backyard by turning your favorite backyard area into an outdoor dining room with a bar, or into a conversation pit that lends itself to stimulating as well as intimate conversations in front of a small roaring fire.

Choosing garden furniture is like choosing living room furniture and /or dining room furniture for your home. Your proposed use of this area will directly impact the decision of the garden furniture you choose. You may want to furnish an area with a living room setting for reading and relaxing or visiting with guests. You may want to have a formal dining area for outdoor dinner parties or for those large family cook outs. A large enough area would allow you to do both. You will want to ensure that you and all of your guests are comfortable with out overcrowding your garden or patio area.

Garden furniture is made of an array of materials, such as teak, wicker, different metals and wood. It can be elegant and comfortable. That is why ii is very important that you put a good deal of thought and consideration into your purchase. You will want to consider the care that would go into your garden furniture. Different materials require different types of care to maintain the look that you want to achieve. All of the materials used in the making of garden furniture are made to with stand the elements of the outdoors. Since you will want to keep them ever ready for your next get together with family and friends, the maintenance and care required to maintaining the condition of your garden furniture is very important. Your garden furniture will be a very important asset to your home and you will want the look of your garden furniture to last for years to come.

You will want to consider the comfort of yourself and your guest when choosing your garden furniture. Cushioned chairs, love seats, sofas, bench seats, swivel or slide rocking chairs, and loungers are just a few of the choices you will have to pick from. Garden furniture also has sofas, love seats, settees, and bench seats, with and without backs, to choose from. The small side tables will offer you and your guest a place to put your drinks and snack while giving you a spot to place a plant. Garden furniture comes in a wide variety of colors ensuring that you will be able to find the perfect color to add just the right amount of splash to your garden area. You can purchase garden furniture as a collection or just pick the matching pieces you need to accommodate your space.

For your outdoor gatherings with dinner or lunch on the agenda, you will want to choose your garden furniture for the types of gathering you will be planning. There are tables large enough to seat several people for dining purposes. The round tables will seat four to six comfortably; where as the oblong with pull up chairs will seat ten to twelve comfortably for a more formal dining setting. If you plan formal or informal adult entertaining you may need an outside bar to accommodate your guests. You will find you will have several styles to choose from along with bar stools to compliment the bar.
.
For the ultimate in garden furniture, go to:
Yardiac.com - The Ultimate Garden Center

Go to “Outdoor Living” and then “Patio Furnishing” to see their great selection.

There are many ways that you can add interest to a garden. Anything that becomes a focal point will add interest and that can range from garden sculptures to the types of plants you choose.

Adding block planting of a particular specimen can become a focal point in the garden.
Even adding areas of variegated foliage can create a focal point in the garden.

Seats are another item that can add interest to the garden and additionally they can offer a nice place to rest and relax while you admire your work.

Mirrors that are strategically placed can enhance the garden in many ways. They can bring reflected light to dark corners of the garden. They can also give the impression that the garden is bigger or alternatively they can give the impression that the open space is bigger.

Placed at various angles, mirrors can add a lot of fun and interest to a garden and help to lead a visitor on to other areas.

Using hedges can also add interest to the garden while offering protection to the plants.
Hedges are also an excellent way to gain privacy without feeling closed in.

Water features are a favorite for many people and the sound of running water in the corner of a garden can add an atmosphere of calm and relaxation. Water features can also be good for the birds in the garden particularly in the summer months when they might find it difficult to find water lying around to suit their needs.

As with sculptures, stones, rocks and pebbles can add interest and offer areas where you can walk even when the surrounding ground might be too wet. Shells also make a good cover on the ground for paths that can remain dry in the wet season.

There are so many different things that you put in your garden to add interest. Everything from old cartwheels to wind chimes, aviaries or anything else you can imagine.

Yardiac.com - The Ultimate Garden Center

The cedar garden furniture is lovely indeed for any deck or patio. The cedar tree is a very beautiful softwood that grows in North America and used to make furniture. A clear grade western red cedar commonly used to make outdoor garden furniture. One concern everyone has is the outdoor weather how will it affect the furniture that sits in sunshine and rain. The northern part of America also suffers from snow, sleet, and hail that could be very damaging to any piece of garden furniture.

The western red cedar fibers contain oils that act as a natural preservative to help the wood resist rot and decay making it an excellent choice for outdoor garden furniture. One of the first created pieces called the Adirondack Chair. All across America, everybody started wanting the Adirondack Chair. The government then saw the durability and the inexpensive wood used to make the chair decided that they want cedar benches that are useable in parks. The depression era brought forth the creation of many of these benches by people who worked on the WPA. The WPA was a work program created by President Roosevelt at the time to help those in this country who were unemployed. Many young men went into the forests at the time and cut down the cedar trees so that they used for things like park benches.

Many cedar chests made as these kept things very well and prevented mold and mildew from destroying the chest and its contents. The sailors often declared that the cedar chest was their friend on long trips. The funeral directors in the day used cedar and pine to build coffins for the deceased. Some doctors had declared in England where the plague that had killed many if they would bury those affected in a cedar coffin it would prevent the spread of the deadly disease. Cedar is a wood that over the centuries has had its uses for many good things.

Today we find that cedar garden furniture is a beautiful addition to anyone’s patio or his or her home. A beautiful cedar patio set accents any persons home. The elite of America often request that their patio and garden be inlaid with cedar. Many accessories made of cedar often found in stores today. Such items as serving trays and carts, made of cedar easily be found in stores like Target or Wal-Mart. Department stores like Sears and JC Pennies carry the cedar garden furniture at a very reasonable price.

You can find many accessories that help beautify your patio.

Yardiac.com - The Ultimate Garden Center