About Homemade Herbal Salves The benefit to making homemade herbal salves is that you control the ingredients. Most herbal salves recipes call for two simple ingredients; beeswax and oil. Homemade herbal salves are semi-solid, making them an attractive option for carrying in a purse, pocket or first aid kit. They can be used to heal dry skin, chapped lips and diaper rash or treat rashes, sunburn, scrapes and cuts and even eczema....

The Christmas cactus has rounded scalloped leaves, while the Thanksgiving cactus has pointy leaf tips. The Easter cactus also has more rounded scalloped edges. Holiday Cactus Care Luckily, caring for all three kinds of holiday cactus is essentially the same. In most growing zones, they are not considered hardy and will need to be kept as a houseplant year round or brought indoors during the colder months. Unlike their desert cactus cousins that require a warm and dry environment, Christmas cacti prefer humidity and moisture....

Sea buckthorn fruit harvesting is dangerous to the skin. This is because the hardy, stoic plants are covered in vicious thorns. But after some careful extraction, the fruit may be used several ways. The name translates to ” Dune Thorn” and the plant is also known as Sand Thorn and Siberian pineapple. The plants, with their rangy root systems, are often used for soil stability. In marginal areas, they help keep soil held on slopes....

I am truly an amateur photographer; however, I have held my own in various photography contests, shows and related events when it comes to first-place ribbons and awards. In this article, I will be sharing some of my thoughts and processes of taking pictures of the roses and flowers, which I love. When to Take Pictures of Flowers My favorite time to take pictures of roses and flowers is in the morning, before noon and before the heat of the day....

What Is Native Landscaping? Natural landscaping is a type of gardening well-suited for today. It not only makes use of native plants that require far less in terms of pesticides and fertilizers than fancy cultivars, but it also reduces and can sometimes eliminate the need for irrigation. As the environmental, economic and aesthetic benefits of natural landscaping are becoming better known, many are urging community leaders to incorporate these principals on government managed lands....

Tips for Starting a Hobby Farm Look before you leap: Research is the cornerstone of any good business plan. Even if your stay-at-home goal is to save money by raising your own food, understanding the time and resources you’ll need will help you achieve your goal quicker and with less risk. Seek hobby farming tips from print resources and the local farming community. Don’t overlook your agricultural extension office as a valuable resource....

Compost pH Range When compost is done and ready for use, it has a pH of between 6 and 8. As it decays, the compost pH changes, meaning that at any point in the process the range will vary. The majority of plants thrive in a neutral pH of around 7, but some like it more acidic or alkaline. This is where checking the compost pH comes in handy. You have the opportunity to fine tune the compost and make it more alkaline or acidic....

Why Hyacinth Buds Fall Off Spring bulbs need a period of at least 12 to 15 weeks of chilling. This helps bulbs break dormancy and sprout a vigorous root system. Hyacinths are normally planted in fall in order to allow nature to provide this chilling period. Alternately, you can purchase pre-chilled bulbs and plant in spring. If your buds are forming but dropping before they have a chance to open, the cause may be in your soil....

When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden It’s easy to go by the frost-free dates that are expected during spring or fall as well as the hardiness of the plants themselves. To determine the best time to plant vegetables in the spring, check the hardiness zones for your area. These zones can be found on individual seed packets or in most gardening books. Crop Planting Info Most crop planting info on when to plant vegetables centers around the types of crops grown– early, hardy/half-hardy, midseason, and tender crops....

Island Bed Garden Design There are a number of considerations to keep in mind when designing an island bed. This can include its location, shape, size, plant selection, and additional accents. Island Bed Location Island beds are not placed against the home or any type of structure. Instead, they float alone in the landscape, oftentimes surrounded by lawn where they can be viewed from all sides. Island beds can be placed near a corner, by the driveway, or by an entrance walk....

My Wisteria Leaves Turned Yellow, Why? A classic garden is almost incomplete without the lush vines and pendant blooms of a wisteria vine. The plant’s easy elegance and twining vines create a layer of texture and beauty that is unmatched by other vines. Wisteria leaf problems can stem from a number of conditions, but the plant is vigorous and relatively tolerant of minor imperfect conditions. My wisteria leaves turned yellow during October as a natural response to cold temperatures....

Garden bug lessons can be a lot of fun and in the process, kids learn the difference between destructive pests and helpful bugs that work to keep bad guys under control. Wondering how to teach about insects? Basically, just tap into their natural curiosity. Here are a few helpful suggestions about bugs and kids. How to Teach About Insects The Internet offers a wealth of information when it comes to lessons about insects....

Money Plant Growing Info Also known as Honesty, of the genus Lunaria, silver dollar plants are named for their fruit, with pods dry to flat silverish discs about the size of — you guessed it — silver dollars. They hail from Europe and were one of the first flowers grown in the dooryard gardens of the New World for their pods and edible roots. They are members of the family Brassicaceae or mustard family, which is evident in their foliage: fast-growing, single stems that can reach about 2 feet (61 cm....

Herbal Tea for Plants Herbs have been used as restoratives, medicines, and tonics for centuries. Their benefits are un-arguable as evident by store shelves filled with beauty, health, and wellness products containing natural herbs. What’s good for you is also good for your garden. Herbal tea for plants is one way to give your plants a booster shot of well-being with organic, time-honored goodness. Plus, herbs are hardy, easy to grow, and have a host of other uses besides fertilizer....

Gardening in the Northeast The Northeast starts in New England, generally considered to be Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. While this area may not warm up as quickly as the rest of the Northeast, the entire region is in full swing by June. Assuming you have been a good gardener and done the chores in the yard necessary for your region, late spring/early summer is the time to really play....

As with any plant, diseases of pitcher plant may occur and should be dealt with immediately. There are also some common pests of pitcher plants that can chew away the modified pitcher shaped leaf, preventing the plant from harvesting its food. Pitcher Plant Problems The most common pitcher plant problems lie in cultivation and environmental issues. That said, there are a few pitcher plant diseases and pests that may affect them as well....

What Plants are Poisonous to Dogs? There are numerous plants that are poisonous to dogs. Because of this, it would be nearly impossible to go through and name each one (along with symptoms) in one brief article. Therefore, I’ve decided to split some of the mast common toxic plants to dogs into three categories: those that are mildly poisonous, moderately poisonous, and severely toxic. Plants Poisonous to Dogs with Mild Effects While many plants can result in mild toxicity, these are some of the most common:...

Popcorn Plant Info Popcorn (Zea mays var. everta) is a Native American plant grown for its tasty, exploding kernels. The two types of popcorn that are grown are pearl and rice. Pearl popcorn has round kernels, while rice popcorn kernels are elongated. Growing popcorn and sweet corn in the same garden produces disappointing results because of cross pollination. Cross pollination yields popcorn with a high percentage of unpopped kernels and poor quality sweet corn....

Caring for Orchids after They Bloom You don’t have to be a collector to love orchids. Even grocery stores carry a selection of orchids as gift plants. Usually, these are the easy-to-grow Phalaenopsis orchids, which produce a vigorous stalk with numerous flowers. This variety of orchid blooms may last up to 2 months with good care but, eventually, all good things must come to an end. When the flowers have all fallen from the stalk, it is time to consider how to keep the plant in good condition and possibly encourage a rebloom....

Tomato Leaf Types If you are a true garden geek, then you probably already know this, but tomato plants are of two, well actually three, leaf types. As aforementioned, we have what is referred to as a regular leaf tomato, those with serrated or ruffled leaves. There are hundreds of varieties of regular leaf tomato, and among these are: Celebrity Eva Purple Ball Big Boy Red Brandywine German Red Strawberry...