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Welcome Guests Properly

4/22/2016

Easy ways to welcome guests into your home!

Everyone has guests come to visit from time to time. You always try to do the right thing and have the home ready to greet them but other times you are so rushed and crazy that you only have time for a few small attempts. It's not as hard as you may think to welcome your guests beyond the usual clean sheets & towels.

Add some fresh flowers. Yep, simple eh? A small vase on a night stand with a bouquet of flowers or a simple daisy in a bud vase. It adds life to your guest room, color and of course smells heavenly. Maybe move in a potted houseplants. So many houseplants are know for their air refreshing properties. Make it one that not only keeps the air clean but fragrant. This is so much easier than healthier than a plug in.

Keep an extra blanket and pillow in the guest room so that they have access to them at all times day or night.

Make sure the window opens and closes easily. Get the WD-40 out if necessary to eliminate squeaks. Stock the bathroom with travel size shampoos and soaps. I keep a tray full of travel sizes on the counter in the guest bath so that they can pick and choose as needed. I also keep a potted plant on the counter to add life, and cleansing properties.

Lastly, keep a few snacks in the fridge for grab and go's. String cheese, apples, deviled eggs, carrots ticks, berries. Put bowls of nuts on the table for snacking.

These are all just small easy things but they really do make a big impression. What better way to let your guest know how much they mean to you!

Tips For Creating A Fairy Pot

4/19/2016

Creating a mini fairy garden in a fun container has become very popular. They are basically a new take on the old terrarium ideas of years gone by. What makes these extra special is all the miniature goodies that you get to place in the pot with the plants. Little things like benches, water features, houses, walking paths, stone, mini birdhouses, all things that are miniature and fairy like.

First you want to find the container. We have seen everything from a terracotta clay flower pot to picnic baskets, wheelbarrows, tea cups, boxes, suitcases, purses, colorful glazed garden bowls, metal cans, and pretty much anything you can think of. Next add soil and please use potting mix not dirt. Select your plants. Herbs, ferns, bonsai trees & bushes. Make sure it's miniature and you can keep it small.

Then add your fun and playful accessories. Seating areas, paths, fences, furniture, and tables. Use natural materials like reeds, rocks, raffia, twigs, bark. A small mirror makes a great reflecting pool. You get the idea.

Fairy Gardens should have a taste of whimsy.. This isn't the time for being realistic. Use seashells, marbles, buttons and bottle caps for stepping stones. Finish off with a few touches and that should do it.
Keep it clean, watered and replace items as necessary. These are perfect for a patio table or any garden area where you want a touch of playfulness.

Need Help Transplanting Plants!

4/12/2016

Most plants will eventually have to be re-potted. As a plant grows their roots grow along with them. Since there is only so much room in a pot they will eventually get root bound and the health of the plant will suffer. You want to re-pot before it gets to that stage. Here are a few tips to consider....

First select a planter that is at least 2 sizes larger than the current pot being used. The transplanting process is not easy on the plants health so you don't want to do it more than necessary. Use a new clean flower pot or one that has been cleaned and completely dried.

Then start with fresh potting soil. Do NOT use dirt out of the ground or old soil that is depleted of all nutrients. Make sure that the pot has a drain hole so that the roots do not sit in standing water. There is nothing that will rot your roots faster.

Fill the new pot half way with the potting soil. Carefully remove the plant from the pot. Gently loosen the roots from the bound ball they are compacted in. Center the plant in the new soil and spread out the roots gently. Then add more soil to fill. Company carefully. Water lightly because you want the roots to rest for a day or two before they have to start working again. After a couple of days water to moisten the soil completely.

You would be good to go for at least a couple of years or more. A lot will depend on the type of plant you have and how fast it grows.

Houseplants & Bugs - UGH!

4/8/2016

Everyone who has ever keep indoor potted houseplants knows that many times they will attract bugs and it can become an constant battle. So much so that you just want to toss them out and start over every Spring. We'll here are a few tips that make the process of keeping your potted houseplants bug free from season to season.

Potted houseplant go into a dormancy period during Winter which means during this time they are more likely to pick up a pest. They are weaker and more vulnerable. So use caution during this time of year and be extra aware.

We recommend starting with clean flowerpots and new potting soil. Don't skimp on this initial stage it can make a big difference on your success later. Make sure your plants didn't bring home any bugs from the nursery or landscape center where purchased. Look on the underside of all leaves.

Make sure to keep checking them occasionally so you can catch any issues early. If you do find an issue, then isolate the pot for a week or so till you make sure it's deal with. If you do find a pest issue then there are many things you can do from rinsing them off and then washing the leaves to purchasing a product at your local nursery and landscape center. The main thing to take away from this is to catch any issues early.

Having lush potted houseplants indoors especially during the Winter months is easy to do if you apply a few of the suggestions above.

How to Pot a Succulent

4/5/2016

Potted Succulents in Arizona Pottery Garden Bowl

You would think that potting up some recently purchased succulents would be super easy and it basically is. But, if you want to make certain that you are starting off the most successful way then read below for easy but foolproof tips.

The first thing you want to do is get all your supplies together. Collect your container that you are going to use. It's doesn't have to be deep because a succulent has a short root system. So, this is a great place to use a garden bowl or even bonsai planter. The more succulents you plant on planting the wider the garden bowl should be. Make sure they aren't going to be cramped together. Then select the succulents, get succulent potting soil and some pot filler & pot topper.

Now is the time to place a small piece of pot filler in the bottom of the garden bowl. This will keep the soil from coming out of the drain hole but let's the water drain thru. Then fill the pot almost to the top with succulent soil, but leave room at the top for roots and to add more soil once you place your succulent.

Remove your succulent carefully from the nursery pot being careful not to damage the roots. Place it in the pot and tuck the roots into the soil slightly. Now is time to top off the pot and make sure the plant is covered with soil but no leaves are buried. Press down slightly to make sure it stays in place.

Once done planting all the succulents, then top dress the pot. This not only gives the pot a decorative and finished look but it helps protect the roots from wind and sun. Use a bright colored rock or something clever like aquarium rocks. Now is where you really have fun.

Leave for a couple of days before watering to let the roots rest before they start soaking up water. Easy Peasy and So much Fun!