Club Gardening - Herbs
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peapot:
Thanks for the suggestion. I actually pour vinegar and water solution into the soil. My plant turn all black the next day! It died on me. So now I m without thyme and basil and oregano. I m so sad. Always attacked by the same type of bugs. I think it's better to grow herbs in individual pots rather than grow them in planter box. What do you think?[/quote]Oh no. Poor peapot. :hugs:zarahsmom:
[quote=\"peapot\"]Hi people, as expected my thyme is not doing well. It has these tiny insects running in and out of the soil. I believe these are harming my thyme. How do I get rid of it in a more \"organic\" way?
garlic spray.. buy organic garlic.. take about 8 cloves into a pint of water.. blend on high until you get a smooth/clear consistency.. put in a sprayer... spray the leaves and roots..
you can also plant wormwood, fennel or neem around the perimeter of your thyme (to protect it)...
I think chen did mention that different herbs need different types of soil so one big planter with the same soil and same everything for different herbs may not work too well. Maybe you can plant hardier herbs in your big planter.
I am learning as well. And I observe that curry leaf, pandan, lime, lemongrass seem rather resilient. Chilli are rather susceptible to white flies but these can be kept at bay with regular application of organic sprays. Basil, oregano and thyme seem more particular so plant them in individual planters.
Prevention is better then cure when keeping bugs at bay. So apply organic bug treatment to the soil and plant even if there aren't any signs of bugs. And if infestation does occur, it usually takes a few weeks of consistant treatment before the problems can be resolved. -
Funz:
Thanks for the clarification Funz :hugs:
Sweet basil is used more for pasta and western cooking. Thai basil is used for asian style cooking. Like vietnamese pho, or thai basil chicken/beef.autumnbronze:
Nice!! :love:
Funz,
I just read your post above, what is the difference between Thai and sweet Basil? I have been using the latter to make pesto sauce as that is the one which is always available at NTUC
I find that the thai basil has a sharper smell compared to sweet basil. You can try substituting thai basil with sweet basil for your asian cooking but I will not recommend thai basil for pesto. -
How to tell the difference between Thai basil & sweet basil?
Was given a pot of basil recently, they r only abt 3inch tall. -
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Hi, ladies.
I need some advice for my money plant.
Eversince I moved the pot from the shaded corridor to the balcony (which is direct east facing), it has been growing like wild fire (think due to abundance of sunlight and rain water).
Roots are growing along the stem and trying to latch onto the balcony outside platform (which I do not think is allowed by the condo mgt).
What should I do now? Prune it? Or try vertical gardening?
Please advise. Many thanks. -
Funz:
Imami:
One more question - terrariums are supposed to be auto-pilot right? No need watering, no need fertilizer. How come ar? How does it work?
Wonders of nature and science.
The terrarium is an enclosed/ contained environment and creates its own micro-climate within the container. Water transpires from the plant in the form or water vapour, this is trapped in the container and condenses back into water on the sides of the container and then runs back down the sides and into the soil. It is then taken up into the plant via osmosis and the cycle continues.
The same applies to old leaves, they die and decompose within the terrarium returning their nutrients back to the soil.
The only time a little water is added is when the plant has grown substantially, then a top-up may be required as the plant requires more water than the closed system currently contains. Additionally a little extra fertiliser may be required to sustain the increased growth at the nutrients within the container are also limited.
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_plants_survive_in_a_terrarium_with_little_watering#ixzz23OIa4Y9k
Open terrariums that I did last week. These may need more watering. Maybe once a mth and for the succulent one, maybe once every few mths.
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http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m560/cylsfun/b786f447.jpg\">
Very beautiful...how to get started?
Some plants seem to survive well in my hot balcony...are this mainly indoor plants? -
Nebbermind:
Now that I see them again, I still feel the same - wah so nice...
Very beautiful...how to get started?
Some plants seem to survive well in my hot balcony...are this mainly indoor plants?
Mine had died some time back. In it's replacement are 2 pots of money plants. So far they look happy but growing slowly. Probably due to aircon environment and hardly hv any su light. I only bring them out to the pantry window ledge where there is sunshine once a week and they stay there for the whole day till I am about to knock off. -
Thanks for sharing it.You have just inspired me
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Nebbermind:
Share another one I made as a xmas present for a friend
Very beautiful...how to get started?
Some plants seem to survive well in my hot balcony...are this mainly indoor plants?
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Most of what you see in my pics are plants that do not need direct sunlight. They do well indoors though I leave some of them in the shaded area in my garden. You will need a container, pebbles, activated coal, sphagnum moss, potting soil and choice of plants. You can get all of these from the plant nursery. I usually get mine from far east flora.
•\tThe bottom layer is for drainage, and consists of pea gravel, pebbles, or very coarse sand. Proper drainage is essential to ensure that the soil doesn't become over-saturated, which may lead to root rot, and the death of your plants. Depending on the size of your container, you will want to spread at least an inch of drainage material evenly across the entire bottom of your terrarium. For large or deep containers, up to 3 inches of material may be used.
•\tOn top of the drainage layer, it is a good idea to spread a thin layer of activated charcoal, like you would use in your aquarium filter. This layer will help to clean the air of the fumes caused when the organic materials begin to decompose.
•\tThe third layer is a thin cover of sphagnum moss, spread evenly over the first two layers. The purpose of this, is to prevent the soil from sifting down into the drainage layer, which would render it useless.
•\tThe final level is that of your soil. Many garden centers sell a potting mix specifically for terrariums. In reality, all that you normally get for the extra money is sand added to their regular potting mix. You may choose a pre-mixed terrarium soil, or if you prefer, just add one part coarse builders sand, and one part leaf mold (or humus) to each two parts of your usual mix.
Never use beach sand in any potting mix. Do not add any fertilizer to the terrarium mix. It already has enough nutrients to last a long time. Too much fertilizer will cause the plants to out grow their surroundings much too quickly.
•\tIf your intent is to create a desert type terrarium garden, be sure to add extra sand to the soil mixture, and additional gravel to the drainage level.
Choose plants that require similar type of soil, amount of sunlight and water. You can usually find these information on the pots of the plants. To maintain the 'landscape' of the terrariums, you may have to prune them periodically. -
Thanks you, Funz!!
I’ll see what I can gather from my balcony and try to grow them in a bottle and see how long they will last.
Have a Great Valentines’ Day!! -
tried to make moss terrarium but they didn't survive :sad:
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Mine still alive but not as manicured as when I first planted them.
Any pics of your moss terrariums? What type of moss? -
all turned black and not sprouting.
Picked moss from drain…can? They seem to survive very well by the drain…the green was soooo lush!
Was your an open terrarium? Mine was closed…I experimenting on a maintenance free one…perhaps that’s why! -
Nebbermind:
I never tried moss from drain so not much help there. Maybe too much moisture or the area you put the terrarium in traps too much heat.all turned black and not sprouting.
Picked moss from drain...can? They seem to survive very well by the drain...the green was soooo lush!
Was your an open terrarium? Mine was closed...I experimenting on a maintenance free one....perhaps that's why!
I have both open and closed. The closed have become opened as well as the plants are outgrowing their bottles.
Terrariums can be very low maintenance but not maintenance free. -
one question for the herbs experts here. i do not have a green thumb.
i’ve got a sprig of spring onions with roots which grown new leaves in the fridge. i planted it into a pot and tried to grow it. but instead of growing, it wilted.
what have i done wrong? what is an ideal growing environment for spring onions? more sunlight? shady sun? dry soil or muddy ones? more water or water sparingly? do i grow them from seeds for better results? -
No expert here. But I plant from bulb. Whenever I see any of the onions sprouting, I will shove them into a planter and they will just grow. But I will not get those big long spring onions like in markets, those that I grow are usually rather small and thin but very nice and crunchy.
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oh, u mean those red onions? the leaves that sprouted can be eaten? geez, i'm bad at this!
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icy_mama:
Ideal is to put it under indirect sunlight with composted soil mix for plenty of nutrients. I put rabbit poo in mine as fertilizer. Works like a charm.one question for the herbs experts here. i do not have a green thumb.
i've got a sprig of spring onions with roots which grown new leaves in the fridge. i planted it into a pot and tried to grow it. but instead of growing, it wilted.
what have i done wrong? what is an ideal growing environment for spring onions? more sunlight? shady sun? dry soil or muddy ones? more water or water sparingly? do i grow them from seeds for better results? -
travelmummy, do u grow from bulb, or plant those that u bought from the market? water sparingly or flood them?
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Icy_mama,
For your ref
http://www.noobcook.com/how-to-grow-spring-onions/ -
Funz:
thank you so much, funz! :snuggles: this is so easy. i've got a new project!Icy_mama,
For your ref
http://www.noobcook.com/how-to-grow-spring-onions/