Lemon balm is often grown in gardens to fight the mosquito menace. The active mosquito-repellant component is citronellal, which gives the herb its pleasant lemony smell. Fortunately, that smell is repulsive to insects.
Though onions are usually easy to grow, gardeners who want to plant onions face a universal problem known as bolting that can plague even the most skilled gardener. So what is bolting and how do you keep it from happening to your onions? Read on to find out.
Aloe vera is one of those intriguing plants that checks all the boxes. It is drought resistant and incredibly tolerant of forgetful waterers. It is useful for health and beauty. And it looks absolutely stunning in your home or garden. This succulent is a great place to start if you have no experience with plants but is also an excellent addition to the extensive collection of any avid gardener. Here are just a few reasons everyone show have an aloe plant in their home and how to grow this hardy succulent.
Treats sunburn
Even if you’ve never grown an aloe plant, you are probably well aware of the soothing and healing properties it has on a nasty sunburn. When you break off a piece of the plant and squeeze out the clear gel onto your battle scars from a day in the sun, it works to heal the skin at a cellular level. It also protects the skin from future burns and keeps it from drying out and peeling by locking in moisture.
Fights aging
Wrinkles and fine lines are an inevitable part of aging. However, aloe vera is a natural way to increase skin elasticity and fight off those tell-tale signs for a few more years. This plant is loaded with antioxidants and vitamins such as beta carotene, and vitamin C and E that restore your skins natural firmness and keep it hydrated
Improves acne
Acne is a frustrating and irritating skin condition that doesn’t always go away once you escape the throes of puberty. Adult acne sufferers often deal with oily skin, clogged pores, and massive pimples that linger for days. Thankfully, aloe contains salicylic acid, which is an exfoliant that helps unclog pores, and it works as an anti-inflammatory on the oil glands that cause acne. Whip up an aloe vera face mask or simply use it as an overnight spot treatment for problem areas and rinse it off in the morning.
Remember: Aloe vera is a great topical solution but should not be taken orally as it can cause indigestion and nausea. Make sure to keep your plants out of reach of dogs and cats since it is toxic to pets if ingested.
How to grow aloe vera:
All these amazing skin benefits and more are just a few steps away. Read on to find out how to grow your own aloe vera plant today.
Place it in indirect sunlight
Most gardeners choose to keep aloe vera as a houseplant since it only thrives outdoors in very warm climates and will not survive a frost. It is possible to keep your aloe outside in containers over the summer but be sure to move them into your house over the cold winter.
Keep your aloe plants in bright-indirect sunlight. Too much direct light (such as extended time in a windowsill) can actually cause your aloe to dry out and cause the leaves to turn yellow.
Choose the right pot
Porous pots such as terra cotta work best for the aloe plant since it is a succulent and prefers dry soil. You can use glazed or plastic containers, but they tend to hold more moisture so you will have to be careful not to overwater. Be sure that the pot has at least one hole in the bottom to allow excess water to drain out.
Meet soil requirements
Choose a light, well-draining potting mix such as one specifically designed for succulents and cacti. The mix should contain lava rock, coarse sand, perlite, or a combination of all three. Do not use regular garden soil as it is too heavy and does not allow water to drain, which could lead to rotting and wilting.
Water deeply
When you do water your aloe plant, (about once every three weeks or when the soil is completely dry about 2 inches down) be sure to water it thoroughly. Water until the excess comes out of the drainage hole. Remember, overwatering is the most common reason that many people struggle with growing aloe plants. They thrive on neglect so don’t baby this hardy houseplant.
Have you ever grown an aloe vera plant? What are your favorite uses for aloe in your beauty routine? Let us know in the comments below!
-Taylor Ramsey
Gardening, as a hobby or occupation, is not only a delightful and rewarding activity, but the benefits of gardening include its positive effects on mental and physical wellbeing.
Let’s take a closer look at how gardening can positively impact your health.
Terrarium (Pl. terrariums/terraria) by definition is a miniature garden sealed in a glass container. They are excellent for displaying beautiful plants individually or as a composition that represents a piece of nature. They take a bit of effort to set up but are easy to maintain and add a beautiful and delicate touch to any space.
It would almost be easier to list what echinacea can’t do rather than what it can. This vibrant purple plant is a veritable gold mine of healing properties and has been used for hundreds of years to treat many issues including pain, inflammation, migraines, and can even act as a remedy for the common cold and flu. So what exactly are the health benefits of this wonder herb and how can you grow it today?
The concept of a moat to protect a piece of property is not a new one. In medieval times, a wide, deep trench was dug around the perimeter of a castles property and usually filled with water. This ditch or moat served as a unique natural defense system and deterred enemies from approaching the stronghold. This same concept can be applied to the modern garden. However, instead of using depth and water as the natural barrier, you use chickens.
Inflammation is your body’s natural protective response to an injury or illness and can help speed up healing and encourage your body to repair itself. This is referred to as acute inflammation and is a healthy, helpful process. However, chronic inflammation, when your body is continually inflamed and at a heightened state of emergency for an extended period, can be incredibly detrimental. Rather than protecting your body, inflammation has suddenly become the enemy and can lead to pain and a host of health issues.
If you live in a part of the country that regularly experiences temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the summer months, you have good cause to be concerned about your plants in the baking heat. Though plants do need the bright sun and usually thrive in the summer, the blistering intensity of a heat wave combined with less rainfall can often cause serious problems for your garden. Here are 5 ways to protect your garden this summer.
Pesticides are a bitter pill. Without them, our lawns and gardens could quickly become overrun by pests. When we use them, they pollute the soil and water and even the air we breathe.
Death is an inevitable part of life in this world. Birth and death are the two things that every single human being has in common, and while the mainstream has been accepting of advancements in alternative birthing options in recent years, such as home births and midwives, the view on death has not been so progressive. Until recently, cremation and traditional burial were the only options for funeral services and the processing of human remains. However, a new kind of revolutionary burial called “recomposition” is on the rise and is good news for earth and garden-lovers everywhere.
So what exactly is recomposition?
The bill signed on May 21 by Washinton State Gov. Jay Inslee, explains recomposition as a “contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil.” This process speeds of the process of converting dead bodies to soil in a respectful, controlled, aboveground setting and is often referred to as “human composting.” The bill passed on Tuesday, and legalizes human composting in Washington State starting May 1, 2020.
According to Katrina Spade, CEO of the human composting company, Recompose, “(The) body is covered in natural materials, like straw or wood chips, and over the course of about three to seven weeks, thanks to microbial activity, it breaks down into soil.”
The company advertises its services as a way to “support new life when we die” and is very focused on improving the environment and enriching the soil by supporting the natural cycle of decay and gently returning human remains to the earth.
Over the weeks that the body is being broken down into the soil, the family can visit the facility and will ultimately receive the earth that is created from their loved ones to use as they wish. This option is a way to return minerals and nutrients to the ground and is a viable alternative to burial.
Traditional burial in a cemetery can cause preservation chemicals from human remains, casket fumes, and varnishes to leech into the groundwater. Not to mention, this practice is only viable for so long before cemetery plots become overcrowded. Cremation releases harmful fossil fuels and carbon emissions into the environment, only contributing to the growing concerns of atmospheric pollution.
This environmentally friendly method of “natural organic reduction” is appealing to many who wish to see their body used to support the planet and create life through plants, after their death. The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Jamie Pedersen, states, “It’s about time…we allow some technology to be applied to this universal human experience … because we think that people should have the freedom to determine for themselves how they’d like their body to be disposed of.”
Pedersen has vocalized his support of this bill, claiming that “Researchers from Washington State University have found the process to be safe and less expensive and better for the environment than burial or cremation.” Compared to rising funeral costs that now average between $8,000 and $25,000, human composting is likely to cost around $5,500, making it an affordable way to go green even after you pass on from this world.
Safety and benefits of human compost
Aside from supporting the environment by avoiding traditional burial or cremation and abstaining from the use of chemicals, the product of human composting, just like regular compost can return vital nutrients to the soil.
Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, professor of soil science at WSU, performed a recent study with six human bodies that had been donated for the process to determine if the practice was a safe and viable way of handling remains. The study showed that the soil made from recomposition met and often exceeded state and federal safety requirements for pathogens and metals that could be dangerous to humans and nearby plants
Carpenter-Boggs asserts the success of the process goes to the to thermophilic microorganisms that quickly raised the temperature of the container, and the selection of carefully calibrated plant matter that gently decomposed the body.
The soil could safely be used in the garden to grow flowers, fruit, and vegetables, or anywhere you would place traditional compost. What better way for a garden-lover to spend their eternal rest?
What do you think about having your body turned into compost? Let us know in the comments below.
-Taylor Ramsey
Susan has been nurturing her gardening tips and advice for over 00 years, it’s fair to say she knows her beans. She’ll be sharing her knowledge from tried and tested methods.
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