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Grow Your Own Spa |
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You do everything right. Pot fresh herbs every season to use in your kitchen. You place those garden planters next to the kitchen door so that you can get to them easily, or place the decorative pots on the patio so the fragrance can swarm your guests as they relax.
One thing you have noticed is that the potted herbs are getting overgrown cause you can't use them fast enough. So you think of clever ways to dry, or freeze them so you have them all year long but there is still an over abundance. You start giving them to neighbors and friends but even that doesn't help.
Well, here is another suggestion. Create your own spa goodies. Try these ideas and see if you love them as much as we think you will. With the holidays coming we think these make wonderful homemade gifts for loved ones!
Basil infused olive oil for facial - Fill a 16 oz mason jar with 2 cups of extra-virgin olive oil. Add 2 or 3 sprigs each of basil and chamomile. Cover with cheesecloth and let infuse for up to a month. Use as a moisturizing facial by dabbing 1/4 c max on face. Remove with a dry cloth. Yummy!
Herb & Honey Body Scrub - Warm 2 Tbs honey. Stir in 1 Tbs olive oil. Add 3 Tbs, salt or sugar. Add fresh herbs - such as 2 Tsp basil and 2 Tsp mint. Add a few drops of essential oil of your choice. The smellier the better....hummmmm Next bath, massage over your body and face, then rinse. Smooth, Silky, Smelly Good time.
Flower Petal Sugar Scrub - Mix 1 c brown sugar with 1/4 c honey and 1/4 c almond oil. Stir in 2 Tsp fresh flower petals or 1 Tsp dried petals. Try a mix of rose, lavender and calendula for a wonderful experience.
Add a few drops of essential oil of your choice. Use in bath, massage over body and face, then rinse.
So you now have a choice. You can use up your own grown herbs and potted flowers and create your own spa experience. You can make these up for wonderful, personalized gifts or you can spend a small fortune to go to a spa to get the same experience. We think you will make the right choice. Have fun!!!
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| [Read More] Let's Grow Cilantro In A Flowerpot |
| [Read More] 15 min DIY Project |
| spa, scrubs, make your own, diy, herbs, flowers, spa experience |
By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 9/19/2018 12:23:01 PM |
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Grow your own Spa! |
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It's always fun to try to decide what to plant and pot up from season to season. Maybe you are into annuals so you recreate new displays every year or perhaps you prefer perennials that last from season to season. Either way we would like to suggest a few things to pot into a few garden planters then turn into spa treatments. Here goes....
Herbs are always fun plants to pot. You can use them for cooking and healing products but here we would like to suggest a spa treatment. Basil is easy to grow. You can get quite a bumper crop of these herbs without much effort. If you need to plant it or already are growing it then here is a spa treatment that you can do with all those lovely, fragrant basil leaves.
Basil & Olive Oil Facial: Fill a 16oz mason jar with 2 C virgin olive oil. Add 3 sprigs each of basil and chamomile. Cover with cheesecloth, let infuse for up to a month. Use as a moisturizing facial. Simply dab 1/4 C max on face, remove with dry cloth.
Adding herbs and flower petals to essential oils is always fun. Here we suggest using flower petals from your garden planters that you have on your patio, porch or in the yard. Think of the kinds of flowers you would like to use before planting. Rose, Lavender or calendula. All beautiful and fragrant.
Flower Petal Sugar Scrub: Mix 1 C brown sugar, 1/4 C honey & 1/4 C almond oil. Yummy smelling!!! Stir in 2 tsp fresh flower petals and mix. Add a few drops of essential oil and massage all over your body, face and then rinse. Amazing!
Lastly lets try a herb and honey scrub for the body and face. If you have a choice pot up herbs like basil, thyme, and mint as a good suggestion. Honey and herbs have a symbiotic relationship in the garden.
Herb & Honey Scrub: Warm 2 T honey. Stir in 1 T olive oil. Add 3 T sugar. Add 3 tsp basil and mind and a few drops of essential oil. Use in bath or massage over body and face, then rinse.
Here are just a few idea of spa treament's that you can create at home yourself with just a few potted herbs and flowers from your flower pots. Think of all the possibilities and start planting them into your garden pottery this season for the best results.
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| potted herbs, potted flowers, spa treatments, home remedies, pots |
By ArizonaPottery
Post Last Updated: 4/4/2018 3:53:32 PM |
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Let's Talk Citrus in Pots |
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Growing a citrus tree in a flowerpot is nothing new. Gardeners have been doing this for many years. The attractive and edible fruit make these very popular and wanted by most folks whether they have a home or apartment. With a sunny window and a bit of space anyone can grow fruit in a garden planter.
Of course we feel the most important place to start is choosing the correct garden container. We recommend terracotta of course. Most terracotta breathes and is very healthy for a plants roots. It also drains well so it's a healthy choice for moisture control in the soil of pots. If you decided to use a different type of garden planter that doesn't dry out then you may incur issues. A citrus trees roots like to dry out between watering's and do not like to sit in moist soil.
When it comes to the size of the pot believe it or not a citrus plant does not like to be in a huge oversized pot. They really don't mind being root bound in a planter which we normally don't recommend and this is because they like it and tend to remain healthy. When selecting a potting mix they aren't fussy. Just make sure it's well draining and includes some limestone.
Most plants but especially citrus require lots of light so place the potted plants in a sunny window or outdoor area. Bring the planters outside when the weather reaches a 60 degree temp on a regular basis. Place them in full sun for at least half a day.
When it comes to maintaining the potted citrus plants water with a light hand. Do not over water and make sure that the planter drains well after each watering. It's ok to wait until the plant shows a little wilting even. When it comes to fertilizing a regular program is the best. So feed the potted plant when it is actively growing and stop during winter.
Also when it comes to pruning try to prune only when necessary. Even if the plant starts to look unsightly hold off until after the first fruit is picked. In general most potted citrus plants like to be left alone so try your best not to interfere. And lastly, pick fruit when ripened. Or if you prefer just leave it alone for a decorative look and wonderful fragrance. This way they make wonderful houseplants!
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| citrus potted, potted citrus, citrus in planters, citrus in pots, gardening |
By ArizonaPottery
Post Last Updated: 3/13/2018 8:34:24 AM |
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How to Grow a Avocado Plant from Seed |
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If you have read any health magazines you are probably already eating avocado. Well, have you ever thought about potting up that big seed and seeing what will grow? Many of us had the experience of trying to grow a avocado seed in school, where you poked holes in the sides of the seed with tooth picks and suspended the seed above a glass of water. Yep, remember that? Anyway, here are a few updated tips that will help you grow a real plant that you can pot up and keep.
First if you think that once you pot the seed and grow the plant you will be harvesting avocados that isn't going to happen. Even if you get fruit it won't be quality fruit. But, you can grow a healthy FREE houseplant that is lovely.
1. Remove the seed from a ripe avocado. Don't hit the seed with a knife but pull it out gently with your hand. Clean under warm water. Wrap seed in damp paper towel. Place in plastic food bag (not zipper) and store in a dark cupboard. Check every 4 days or so for germination. Ensure the towel stays damp.
2. When the seed germinates it will gradually crack open and a root will grow from deep inside the seed. Don't break open the seed. Just leave it alone. When the root reaches 3" long it is ready to pot up.
3. Start with a 8" flowerpot that has drain holes. Avocado plants like good drainage so use a new potting mix with perlite or sand to help out. Plant the seed with the bottom and roots aiming down into the pot. The bottom is the flat broader end.
4. Fill the pot halfway with potting meet and place the seed. Add more soil till the top inch of the seed is above level. Water until moist not damp and add more potting soil to the garden planter as needed. Place in a warm, draft free location with indirect sunlight.
Tips: Avocados are tropical plants so they like warm, growing conditions and can NOT dry out. Use consistent watering and mist if necessary. Fertilize ever 3 months. That is it. No toothpicks involved.
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| grow avocado, avocado seed into houseplant, potted avocado seed, pot a avocado seed into houseplant. |
By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 2/28/2018 9:17:39 AM |
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Grow Potted Bromelaid Houseplants |
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If you are not familiar to the houseplant called Bromeliad than you are missing out. These indoor potted plants are colorful and wonderful additions to the houseplant family.
Bromeliad plants will flower. Their blooms are boldly colored and stunningly exotic. Each bloom is a spiky flower in lush red, yellow, pinks and orange. Many petals form each flower. The leaves also vary. From frosty looking light green to lush deep hunter green they are shiny and wide.
Like orchids, bromeliads are epiphytic, which means they grow on trees, rocks or other plants and get their water from the air and rain water. They do not get water from roots but their roots are what they use to attach themselves to the growing support.
Potted indoor bromeliads are considered a low maintenance potted houseplant. They are a slow growing plant and may only bloom once in their lives and unfortunately die after they bloom. When it comes to watering don't water thru the soil. Keep the container potted soil dry and fill a center cup with water and they will stay happy.
Since a container of bromeliad like humid air you should mist on a regular basis. If you prefer you can keep them in a bathroom or close to the kitchen sink where water is present. You can place a humidifier near the indoor bromeliad pot during the winter months when the indoor air is very dry from the furnace.
When it comes to light potted bromeliad can survive in low light situations. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves so for best results place in a spot with lots of natural light.
Potted Bromeliad make a wonderful addition to any house. Just research in advance so you give it the best chance to thrive and survive.
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By Arizona Pottery |
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Salad In A Pot |
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This time of year you are not thinking of planting and growing a garden full of vegetables. But just because the cooler weather is coming doesn't mean you can't grow a salad full of fresh lettuce in a garden pot indoors.
Who doesn't like fresh lettuce year round. Well growing your own in a flowerpot indoors is so easy. Start by selecting the correct garden pot to grow in. We suggest a garden bowl. A pot that is wider than higher. It can be round or rectangle that doesn't matter. What matters is the depth of the planter. Try to keep it 6" deep or so. What you are growing has short roots and doesn't need a need flowerpot full of potting soil.
Next let's talk soil. Use a new good quality potting mix that is loose and drains well. Never use old potting soil from a garden plant. Old soil can have bacteria, bugs and worse living in it and it is never recommended. Remember that your potting soil doesn't have fertilizer so add your own when planting.
Choosing salad types. Of course your main focus is lettuce. There are many types to choose from. Romaine, Looseleaf, butterhead, spinach, swiss chard and more. If you want to grow complimentary items you can just use a separate container. You can grow herbs, onions, chives, basil. You can choose to start from seed packets or purchase young plants at the local garden center.
Keep your pots in a sunny spot that receives a few hours of direct sunlight during the day. Keep the soil slightly moist but not wet. Just check to see how much water you will need. It is not necessary to water ever day.
In 30 days you can start to harvest the potted lettuce. Pick leaves when you need them letting the lettuce plants rest and regrow as necessary. No rules to follow just go with your instincts.
This is a easy project and should be a fun one for you to try.
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| potted salad, salad in a flowerpot, potted lettuce, lettuce in a flowerpot
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By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 12/5/2017 1:20:52 PM |
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Grow Okra In Pots |
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Every time we see something unusual and fun to plant and grow in a garden planters we have to share it with you. Today it's how to grow Okra in a flowerpot. It doesn't require a lot of space and is considered easy to grow and if you have ever eaten fried okra you will know why this is a great idea.
Okra in general is a warm season vegetable. It has delicate leaves and showy bloom that look beautiful. If you are growing for a decorative purpose or to eat they are easy to pot and place on a patio or porch area.
When choosing a pot make sure of a couple of things. Don't go any smaller than a 12" deep pot. You want to make sure that there is room for the roots but not so over sized the plant is dwarfed. You can pretty much choose any material as long as the pot has a drain hole. These plants love heat so a dark poly resin or concrete planter is great but glazed or terracotta will both work.
If you can't find a starter plant at the local nursery you will have to go with seeds. Ask for the dwarf variety so it doesn't grow over 5 feet tall. Plant on potting the seeds when the temperature stays above 60 degrees. Spring is the best time of year and the frost season has passed. Follow the seed packet instructions.
Place the pot where it can get as much full sun as possible. Use a potting mix that is crumbly and rich in organic matter. Water regularly cause potted okra likes moist soil. Fertilize on a reg basis with a low nitrogen fertilizer. Watch for pests and remove them if they show up. When it comes to harvesting, do it on a frequent basis. It blooms in approx 2 monts and fruit appears 5 days after flowering. Pods are harvested when still tender, otherwise they become to hard to eat. Look for them to be 3 to 5 inches in length.
That's it. Have fun experimenting with unusual plants like Okra!
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| [Read More] Grow Cauliflower In A Flowerpot |
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| potted okra, how to pot okra, grow okra in a pot, okra potted, |
By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 10/25/2017 11:25:22 AM |
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Let's Grow Cilantro In A Flowerpot |
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Think it would be fun to grow cilantro in a flower pot? Well, it's very easy to do! The best part is that it is not only easy to do but think of what you can do with fresh cilantro growing indoors during winter! Salsa anyone!
Cilantro grows best in cooler temps. It does well when potted outside in spring, fall and even early winter. Unfortunately if you want to grow cilantro outside during the summer it will go to seed fast and end its' growing life. So the best thing to do is fill a garden pot with it indoors and have it available all year long.
Start by filling with potting mix. Cilantro likes all kinds of pottery so this is the time to choose a planter that matches your home decor. Just make sure that there is a drain hole. No herb not even cilantro likes to have it's roots sitting in stagnant water. Water the potting mix now and get it damp. Make sure the overflow comes out the bottom of the pots drain hole.
Sprinkle the cilantro seed over the surface of the moist soil evenly. Cover with 1/4" of potting soil and mist it with water to moisten. Now is the time to start misting the soil to keep it moist till the seeds germinate.
Take the pot and place in direct sunlight. Hopefully the potted cilantro will get 6 hrs of direct sunlight per day. Mist the soil when it begins to dry out and keep misting for 7 days till germination.
Now water the plants when the top soil dries and rotate the pot so that all sides of the cilantro get sunlight. Here is the fun part. Harvesting the cilantro leaves. Wait till the indoor potted plant grows 4" in height and have full size leaves. Cut the leaves with kitchen shears leaving at least one set of leaves on each plant. We recommend you harvest off different sections of the pot so that each plant has time to regrow.
Lastly fertilize the potted cilantro when the plants are 6 weeks old. This will help to keep the grow steady and healthy. Now top salsa with these beauties and enjoy.
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| [Read More] Pot Tips To Use Everyday. |
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| potted cilantro, planted cilantro in a garden pot, pottery filled with cilantro, how to grow cilantro in a pot. |
By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 10/30/2017 9:20:16 AM |
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Grow Hot Peppers in a Flowerpot |
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We have shared many posts on how to grow specific vegetable in garden pottery. In this post we are focusing on Potted Hot Peppers! Many people are growing their own potted vegetables and finding out how easy it is to do. No pesticides, no traveling for mile in a truck, no imports from other countries.
When it comes to wanting to make your own salsa, or spicy tomato saucers there is nothing easier to plant and harvest than Potted Hot Peppers. They come in a lot of shapes, colors and spiciness. You can preserve them by fermenting, pickling, drying and freezing them if you harvest an abundance. If you are bold you can eat them, stir fry them, stuff them and bake them.
Ideally Hot peppers are grown from seed. Start them indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant them outdoors when frost danger has passed.
When it comes to growing them in a garden planter you will find that they don't need a lot of space. Make sure the garden container you do use is 10" deep or more and if you live where the climate is warm go even bigger. That way you will water less and they will have more room to grow.
Fill each garden container with potting soil. Add fertilizer and water peppers well after transplanting them. Keep the soil moist during the growing season and don't let the soil dry out. Potted peppers will flower and continue to produce fruit till the outdoor temps dip below 50 degrees. Move the pots indoors if you can and place in a warm spot. You can keep them producing by picking the fruit as it begins to turn color. They will continue to ripen after picked.
The best time to harvest potted Hot peppers is when they are plum and just beginning to color. If you wait till they are completely colored there will be more sugar in the fruit and the plant will produce fewer peppers. Lastly, watch out for enemies. Aphids, flea beetles, weevils, spider mites all love these plants. Treat them if you see this happening.
So try potting some of these colorful, and tasty plants next time you are looking for something different to plant. They are a uncommon addition to any porch or patio decor.
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| potted hot peppers, peppers in flowerpots, pottery, planters, pots |
By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 8/10/2017 10:59:31 AM |
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Stretched Succulents |
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Succulents are so popular right now and right fully so. They are stunning and come in such a variety. They are easy to pot and make wonderful wall and table decorations. They are easy to grow if you follow the correct growing tips. But, what about those ones you thought would remain compact and small and instead of over grow and stretch out. Here are a few comments.
When you have potted indoor succulents they are usually slow growing. But, when they don't get the light they need they tend to stretch out, reaching for any light. The potted succulents will bend and twist to get the light they need.
Even though potted succulents look better if they get the light they need they will still grow well in low light. The leaves will be farther apart and the stems will twist but they will still grow. If you place a pot of succulents in low light it will eventually die. If you move the plant to a better light situation it will not go back to it's original shape.
Basically what you want is for your potted succulents to get as much indirect sunlight as possible. The next time you see them leaning toward the light just move them closer so that they won't stretch out.
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| succulents, potted succulents, stretched out succulents, indoor succulents.
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By Pam Brooks
Post Last Updated: 7/26/2017 1:07:37 PM |
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