Indoor Plants – Green Gardens

All about Pruning of Bonsai

Bonsai trees are known for their beautiful, miniature appearance, which is achieved through careful pruning and shaping. Pruning is the process of selectively removing branches to control the shape and size of the tree. However, pruning is not just about cutting off branches; it requires careful planning and attention to ensure that the tree remains healthy and attractive. In this article, we will discuss how to prune bonsai and the care that should be taken before and after pruning.

Why Prune Bonsai Trees?

There are several reasons why bonsai trees need to be pruned. The primary reasons are:

To shape the tree: Pruning is used to shape the tree and create the desired form. By removing branches strategically, you can create the illusion of a mature, full-sized tree in miniature form.
To control the tree’s size: Bonsai trees are small by nature, but they can still grow quite large if left unchecked. Pruning is used to keep the tree small and in proportion with the pot it’s planted in.
To promote new growth: By removing old or damaged branches, you can stimulate new growth in the tree. This can help to improve the overall health and vitality of the tree.

When to Prune Bonsai Trees?

The timing of pruning depends on the species of bonsai tree and the desired outcome. In general, pruning should be done during the tree’s dormant period, which is typically in the late fall or early winter. This is when the tree is least likely to experience stress from pruning. However, some species of bonsai trees, such as azaleas, should be pruned immediately after they finish blooming in the spring.

Before Pruning: Preparation

Before pruning, there are several steps you should take to prepare the tree and ensure that it is healthy and strong enough to handle the stress of pruning.

Water the tree: Water the tree thoroughly a day or two before pruning. This will help to ensure that the tree is well-hydrated and less likely to experience stress during pruning.
Inspect the tree: Take a close look at the tree and identify any dead, diseased, or damaged branches that need to be removed.
Gather the necessary tools: You will need a pair of pruning shears or scissors, a concave cutter, and wire cutters. Make sure that your tools are sharp and clean before you begin.
Prepare the soil: Remove any weeds or debris from the soil, and make sure that the soil is moist and well-draining.

The Pruning Process

Once you have prepared the tree, it is time to begin pruning. The following steps will guide you through the process:

Choose the branches to be removed: Identify the branches that need to be removed based on your desired outcome. Dead, diseased, or damaged branches should be removed first. Then, you can remove branches that are interfering with the tree’s overall shape.
Cut the branch: Use the pruning shears or scissors to make a clean cut just above the branch collar. The branch collar is the raised area where the branch meets the trunk. Cutting too close to the trunk can cause damage, while cutting too far away can leave a stub that will take longer to heal.
Shape the tree: After removing unwanted branches, you can shape the tree by pruning the remaining branches. Use the concave cutter to remove larger branches, making a clean, concave cut to promote healing. Use the pruning shears or scissors to trim smaller branches and leaves.
Wire the branches: After pruning, you may need to wire some of the branches to help shape the tree. Use wire cutters to cut the wire to the appropriate length and wrap it around the branch, being careful not to

Some additional important tips and information on pruning bonsai:

Pruning Techniques: There are several pruning techniques used in bonsai, including pinching, pruning back to buds, and directional pruning. Pinching involves removing the tips of new growth with your fingers or bonsai scissors, which can help to create denser foliage. Pruning back to buds involves cutting a branch back to a bud, which will encourage new growth in that direction. Directional pruning is used to direct the growth of a branch by cutting it back to a side branch that is growing in the desired direction.
Maintenance Pruning: Regular maintenance pruning is necessary to keep bonsai trees healthy and looking their best. This involves removing any new growth that is unwanted, such as shoots that are growing too long or in the wrong direction. Maintenance pruning should be done throughout the growing season, but be sure to avoid pruning too much at once, as this can stress the tree.
Wiring: Wiring is used to shape the branches of a bonsai tree by gently bending them into the desired position. The wire should be wrapped around the branch in a spiral pattern, starting at the base and working towards the tip. However, be careful not to wire the branches too tightly, as this can damage the bark.
Aftercare: After pruning, it is important to take care of the tree to ensure that it heals properly. Keep the tree out of direct sunlight and wind for a few days, and avoid watering it for at least a day after pruning. You can also apply a wound sealing paste to any large cuts to help prevent infection.
Pruning for Different Tree Species: Different bonsai tree species have different growth patterns and pruning needs. For example, conifers should be pruned in the spring or early summer, while deciduous trees can be pruned in the winter. Research the specific needs of your tree species before pruning to ensure that you are doing it correctly.

In conclusion, pruning is an essential part of maintaining a healthy and beautiful bonsai tree. With proper preparation and technique, you can shape your tree and promote new growth while avoiding damage and stress to the tree. Regular maintenance pruning and care will ensure that your bonsai continues to thrive for years to come.

Benefits of Pond and Garden at Home

There are numerous benefits to having ponds and gardens, both for the environment and for personal well-being. Here are some of the key benefits:

Environmental benefits: Ponds and gardens provide habitats for a range of wildlife, including birds, insects, and amphibians. This can help to promote biodiversity and support the ecosystem.
Water conservation: Ponds and gardens can help to conserve water by collecting and retaining rainwater. This can help to reduce water usage and promote sustainable living.
Air purification: Plants and trees in gardens help to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, improving the air quality in the surrounding area.
Stress relief: Spending time in nature, such as in a garden or by a pond, has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, promote relaxation, and improve mental health.
Physical activity: Gardening and maintaining a pond can provide a form of physical activity that can improve cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility.
Aesthetics: A well-designed pond or garden can add beauty and interest to a property, improving its overall value and appeal.
Food production: Gardens can be used to grow fruits and vegetables, providing a source of fresh, healthy food.

Overall, ponds and gardens can provide numerous benefits to both individuals and the environment, making them a worthwhile investment of time and effort.

Tips To Grow Roses Easily

From western culture it has been believed that Roses were created by the goddesses of love Aphrodite. According to the legends, her tears and her lover, Adonis’, blood watered the ground from where roses grew.

Apart from the legend now we have started growing roses for the beauty of our heart in the garden. It needs more care and softness than its petals are.

There are more than 150 varieties of rose across the globe. Though this plant thrives best in temperate climate conditions but in torrid temperatures also it blooms in winter.

Ideas:

Roses not only represents romanticism but it also shows the true form of art. Some ideas to grow roses are:

Gate: Most people like to form gates with rose plants, and it looks gorgeous when it blooms.
Container: Now it has been an overcoming trend for all gardeners to have roses in pots.
Indoor: Some peoples are even growing roses in their homes, with a plentiful of sunlight. This gives a delightful fragrance which will make a relaxing feel.
Bushes: Rose bushes are very common if it been cultivated in a large scale. But many grow it in their gardens too.

How to take care of your rose plants?

Choosing a plant: Choosing a plant is the most important step to grow any plant. Roses could be broadly categorized into two types Indian Variety and English Variety. Indian variety are small in size but it grows throughout the year even in equatorial regions and has it’s max bloom during winter. Whereas English Variety are larger but only grow in winter in equatorial regions. And both of them blooms well throughout the year in cold climate regions.
Collection of a plant: Roses are mainly propagated through cutting and grafting. Grafted ones are easier to grow.
Soil: Though Roses are hungry plants, during the plantation its no need to provide a high quantity of fertilizer. It could be grown best in laterite or alluvial soil. But it could also be grown in mixture of compost 40%, sand 20%, garden soil 20%, bone meal 5% and horn meal 5%.
Sunlight: It requires at least 6 hours of daily sunlight. But in high temperature regions it should be only provided in winters, during summer it should be kept in shades. Better to keep it under green nets.
Watering: Soil should be well drained, and deep watering should be done as roses are water loving. As it loves moisture, water spray is also necessary. But all types of watering should be done in the earliest morning or the plant may get shock.

Advanced care:

Fertilizer:

To fertilize your plants you need an expert knowledge of what each component, you are using, have its effect on the plant. And obviously the amount to be used. Roses mainly requires NPK, Magnesium, Sulphur, Calcium and copper, zinc, iron, manganese, boron are also required in very small quantities.

Organic: It’s better to use organic fertilizer to each and every plant. It will not give an instant effect but is a good choice for long run. Organic fertilizer could be used once a month. And surely to be given just before winter. Now there are two recipes
1. Solid: vermicompost 40%, used tea/coffee leaf 20%, neem cake 20%, bone meal10%, fish meal 5%, egg shell5%. Precaution: This is not to be provided for newly planted plants. This is to be given in adequate amount. 50gms for small plants 100gms for large plants and 500gms for large plants (only in soil). No undecomposed fertilizer to be added as there will be a chance of fungus.
2. Liquid: In 5 litres of water mustard cake 100gm, neem cake 200gm, banana peel 200gm, orange peel 200gm to be decomposed for 10 days and then the water could be provided to the plant after dilution.
Inorganic: If you are not satisfied with the organic fertilizer and want to have a quick effect on plants then you may use PGP (Plant Growth Proteins), Seaweed Fertilizer, Micronutrients, Vitamins etc. But remember in case of inorganics a plant uses only a little amount and the rest are stored in soil which makes the fertilizers unusable for future and that’s acidify the soil. So if you use inorganic fertilizers then apply less than the amount mentioned to apply on the soil.

Pruning:

Roses are most prone to bacteria and fungi. And rotten flowers, half yellow or brown leaves will boost up the fungi attacks. For this it need to be pruned (2-3 inches) whenever you see an old flower or yellow leaves before it starts to rot. This will also increase flowering rate by raising branches. This is known as soft pruning.

Removing Suckers:

In cases of grafted rose plants suckers grow from the stock i.e. the mother plant. These suckers take up much nutrients and let the plant to reduce its growth and flowering. So how can it be identified? Simple, you will see that Suckers are the stems that will grow from below the place of grafting, near the ground. And normally roses have 5 leaved compound leaves but suckers have 7 leaved compound leaves. So you just need to cut it off.

Diseases and Cure

Here I have already mentioned many times that rose plants needs special care and are very prone to diseases like bacterial and fungal attack. And many insects attack roses.

Here also you can use organic medicines. To make it use baking soda 10ml, neem oil 10ml and a small amount of mild soap in 1 litre water. This should be sprayed at the earliest morning or before the sunrise and not only the upper portion of leaves to be sprayed but the underneath too. And as an inorganic medicine there are different types of fungicides available in the market. Use it but in less amount.

So get a Rose plant and have a plentifully of roses this winter. As it is now easier for you to grow plenty of gorgeous roses. For the beginners I will suggest that have a regular look over those plants.

To know more about your rose plants comment here and follow the site.

Top 38 Indoor Plants could be grown easily

In the world of growing technological developments many of us are aware of ever increasing pollution. And some of them have involved them in various works to reduce outdoor pollution. But we should now look up at the indoors too. There are various pollutants that are being formed at houses. In that case indoor plants are most effective.

Most of us thinks that indoor plants are too difficult to grow and a lot of care is to be provided to them. But you will be surprised that these are too easy to grow and could be grown by those also who get a very less time to care about the plants. The only thing you need to do is to choose the correct plant. Plants those are under mentioned can be grown easily. For knowing how to grow these plants easily, see my another article Grow Indoor Plants Easily.

Peace Lily
Snake Plant (Mother in Law’s Tongue)
Lucky Bamboo
Bamboo palm
Chinese Evergreen
Jade Plant
English Ivy
Dragon Tree
Rubber Plant
Aloe Vera
Philodendron
Philodendron Birkin
Geranium
Money Plant
African Violet
Begonia

ZZ Plant
Crown of Thorns
Bromeliad
Kalanchoe
Air Plant
Spider Plant
Table Palm
Christmas Caclus
Ponytail Palm
Dieffenbachia
Cast Iron Plant
Asparagus Fern
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Schefflera
Pleomate
Calathea
Guiana Chestnut
Yucca
Peperomia
Phalaenopsis Orchid
Anthurium
Aralia

For more information about the plants comment here.

7 Important Tips To Grow Indoor Plants Easily

In today’s world we are running with an ultra-high speed of technological development. And some where we are forgetting about the nature. So it’s high time now that we think about it and start planting trees. But most of us have a very restricted place to do so. For them indoor plants will be an ideal one.

Benefits

Now a days planting small plants indoor have become a trend. This not only give you a feeling of in-between the nature but also keep the indoors fresh and full of oxygen. For those who lives in regions with high pollution level, must have plants indoor.

What types of plants do you choose?

In case of choosing plants for indoors, you must have some criteria.

Shade Lovers: Collect plants that could be grown under shades easily. But for almost every indoor plants you need to provide them partial sunlight once a week.
Oxygen level: Some plants like Aloe Vera or types of snake plants provide a little amount of oxygen even during night time. So choosing that type of plants are good choices.
Toxicity: If you have pets or have your children at home then you must have special care as some plants maybe toxic if swollen or eaten. Like money plant or spider plant or some types of succulents.

Best Indoor Plants to grow

According to NASA Report this plants ranks best as indoor plants;

Bamboo palm
Chinese evergreen
English ivy
Ficus
Gerbera daisy
Janet Craig
Marginata
Mass cane/Corn cane
Mother-in-law’s tongue
Peace lily
Pot mum
Warneckei

For more indoor plants to know about see my other article 38 Indoor Plants To Grow.

How to grow them easily.

1. Soil: For indoor plants it is been referred to use mixture of coco peat and compost.

2. Watering: Watering plants doesn’t only mean to pour water in the soil. For indoors watering is proposed to be done by spray.

3. Sunlight: Keep the plants where they could get at least 1 hour of partial sunlight. If not possible keep it outdoors in partial sunlight once a week.

4. Pots: Use plastic pots to avoid messing the room. And should look over the water level in it.

Medicines

Normally indoor plants are less affected by insects. In case insects’ attacks it can be removed by any insecticide neem oil is mostly preferred.

But the most infected diseases are root rot or fungal attack. For that anti-fungal should be used and kept in sunlight (partial or direct as per requirements).

For further information on indoor plants comment here.