The purchase of a houseplant and the care and maintenance of it requires time and effort. It will reward you through its ability to bring life to the home and as a decorative feature. You can gain additional benefits through growing your own new plants from seeds or cuttings.

Seeds

You should always collect and use good quality seed. It is not always possible to guarantee that the seeds are first rate unless you have selected your own from a good plant. If you obtain your seeds from a reputable source, that is a good start.

If you are growing plants from seeds, it is vitally important that the soil is properly prepared. You should begin with sterile earth, not just the dirt that is outside your house as this soil may have weed seeds, bacteria that may be harmful to the new seedlings, insect larvae or any number of other problems. To maximize seed germination, it is best to use good soil that is known to be pest free.

Using a seed starting tray is best for most new plants as they contain a capillary mat which will soak up water from below, feeding the seeds and maintaining moisture in the soil. They are also an ideal size for the critical first few months of a plant’s life. You should aim to keep the soil warm (at least 72 degrees F or 22 degrees C) during the day and no less than 65 degrees F or 18 degrees C at night. Use a warming lamp if needs be.

Enough light is vital for newly developing seedlings. If the climate or the location of the plants does not allow enough natural light, supplement with artificial lighting. The light should be suspended above the tray allowing a few inches between the tray and light.This heat will then penetrate the soil, warming the seeds to allow germination and once the seedling is above the surface, the same light and heat will supply the energy required for photosynthesis and therefore plant growth.

When the seedling has developed a few leaves, it is time to apply a fertilizer that is diluted to between 1/4 - 1/2 strength. It is then time to transplant the seedling into a pot.

Cuttings

You can use many of the same ideas when growing a new plant from a cutting. For instance, you would like to try growing Bird of Paradise plant from cuttings. Just like growing white Bird of Paradise from seeds white bird of paradise from seeds, the first step is to choose a good, healthy cutting. Green stems that have not hardened or become woody are the best and choose one that has a node (this is the point where a leaf attaches to the stem). This will then develop into roots to support and feed the new plant.

Be sure to remove all but one or two leaves with their nodes. Until the nodes develop roots, the plant will obtain its nutrients from the leaves. The soil should be prepared as for the seeds and the cuttings inserted with care and gently into the soil.

Ensure that the soil is kept moist but not overly wet during this stage as too much water will cause rot that will kill the new plant. Allow for plenty of light as with seeds - at least 12 hours per day, supplementing with artificial lighting if necessary.

After the plant has developed a root system, allow a few months before replanting into a longer term pot.

Some Interesting Facts About The Mini Bonsai Trees

You are aware than bonsai means ‘tree in a pot’ in Japanese and this terms refers to a type of trees that are dwarfed by special growing techniques to reproduce the larger version in a miniature form. These plants are not only stunning beautiful, they are also very expensive and painstaking to grow. This is why most people would be surprised to know that there is another yet smaller type of miniaturization called the mini bonsai.

What Is The Mini Bonsai?

The mini bonsai is a tree which is further miniaturized having it grow to maximum the size of your palm. This type of bonsai is very common in Japan and China where it is also known as mame bonsai or shonin bonsai. The great thing about these mini bonsai trees is that almost all of them flower and fruit every year offering an amazing spectacle.

The mini bonsai can propagate from both seeds and cuttings in different seasons according to the growth chart of the species they belong to. The best part with these miniature trees is that they can be grown absolutely anywhere as they need very little special care or space. Their beauty is such that it can completely mesmerize anyone who sees it for the first time.

The same conditions and rules apply to the mini bonsai as it would apply to the regular bonsai trees, i.e. utmost care should be given that water is sufficient in the soil because flooding would rot the roots while dryness would kill it. You need to ensure that the plant has adequate food and light or it would wither away. Most of the mini bonsai trees though considered (maybe owing to their exquisite shape and size) to be indoor plants are actually outdoor plants.

This is why when kept indoors these trees need to be placed in a well ventilated area preferably facing southeast in a place where they could get well exposed to sun light for about six hours per day. If the place offers more than six hours direct sunlight, ensure that they have something that provides shade as protection against dryness.

For food the miniature bonsai trees would need nitrogen based fertilizer twice a month during the spring and summer and daily watering. Pruning and shaping should be done in late spring and early summer when the growth of these trees attains the maximum rate. These trees need to be repotted once every two years until they reach ten years of age. Immediately after repotting the tree would need a lot of water and natural shade to allow the roots to catch up.

Sometimes all of this looks like a lot of trouble and special care; however when you see the miniature trees in all their glory flowering and fruiting, you would find that each one of the efforts involved to get these masterpieces are well worth the trouble.

Instead of telling you all the ins and outs of how to care for you Bonsai tree, the different styles, the techniques, the why and the when…let me just take you into the feeling of Bonsai and give you some idea as to why most Bonsai gardeners are addicts!

If you have not heard of Bonsai trees or Bonsai plants you are a rare person indeed! Bonsai miniaturization probably dates back before the Chinese started several centuries ago. Then Bonsai techniques were picked up by the Japanese who really went to work and refined and perfected the skills to turn them into an art form. Since then the rest of the world has caught up with this amazing hobby and taken to it with a vengeance!

The newcomer to Bonsai could well be tempted to give up before they even start given the seemingly overwhelming amount of information. There are styling rules, pruning rules watering rules, repotting rules….the list goes on and on. But to get bogged down in the intricacies of the how to information is to miss the point of why the hobby has taken such a hold.

Bonsai trees carry an air of indefinable uniqueness. You are taken to a different perspective by their miniature stature and undoubted beauty. To be in the presence of a fully mature tree that is only 12 inches or 30 centimetres tall is a feeling that has to be lived to be fully appreciated. You are transported to a different place, one far from the hustle and bustle of modern city life with its pressures and stresses, and into a place of inner calm. That feeling is enhanced when those Bonsai trees have been trained by you.

There is much to learn, as there is much to practice, but the benefits of having patience and just spending time with your Bonsai plant are enormous. The more you get to know your Bonsai the more you will find yourself entering into a kind of meditation where the world is shut out while you study the form and style of your Bonsai tree. A little pruning here , a little shaping there, some watering and feeding and you become so involved that you are in danger of becoming addicted. But so what! Its an addiction you are happy to live with.

You have to put in the time and care to achieve your end result. However the thing about Bonsai is that it is the time spent that is the addiction! That is what calms the spirit, the doing not the getting.

However there are some basic things you need to learn before you can loose yourself in this type of meditation. Start with some good quality supplies and the type of Bonsai tree suited to your area. There is plenty of “how to” information available for both new and experienced growers alike and you may want an interesting pot and display table to finish off the project.

You will be rewarded with endless pleasure and satisfaction for life if you get a few basics in place in the beginning.

Garden Oasis Patio

Gazebo landscaping and a beautiful oasis patio will provide the perfect setting for your next outdoor event. Flagstone landscaping would complete the look and feel of a tropical paradise. Your guest will feel comfortable and relaxed as they sit around an outdoor dining table enjoying the evening.

Designing Gazebo Landscape

If staying out of the sun is a concern a gazebo landscape structure is a great place to serve a meal or just relax. The gazebo could be near the house or set out in the garden as a destination spot in a beautifully designed yard.

After installing the gazebo landscape adding vines or hanging plants adds to the drama and beauty. By installing the gazebo to house a jacuzzi you will have created an intimate spa room outdoors. This will also add protection from the sun.

Long Lasting Flagstone Landscaping

With the natural look of a flagstone landscape your garden oasis patio area will be complete. Flagstone carefully placed around your garden creates a dramatic footpath leading out to your gazebo landscape. This look combined with beautiful tropical plants builds on the relaxing theme of the outdoor space.

Remember, no matter what you want for your outdoor area, you need to think about the ways in which the space is used. For example, if you love to entertain on the weekends and perhaps have a swimming pool, then it would be important to have comfortable seating and perhaps an outdoor fireplace or chimnea so once people get out of the pool, they have place to get cozy.

Consider adding an attractive storage area. When entertaining you do not want to have garden rakes, hoses or tricycles laying about. There are many storage solutions on the market that are attractive as well as easy to install. Find something that fits in with the mood you have created in your outdoor space. You may want something rustic or a more classic looking structure.

Backyard entertaining components can be found at your local home improvement center or after a quick online search. If you want to create a garden oasis patio for a small intimate group or for a large crowd you can easily do it yourself. Some prefab gazebos or storage structures can be ordered online and delivered to your home and you can have them set up in no time. A flagstone landscape design can be laid in a weekend.