Month: January 2024

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Plants

Seed Plants

The Two Seeds

There are two main groups of seed plants, also called spermatophytes. These groups are angiosperms and gymnosperms. Both plants have their own unique traits and characteristics, making them great to observe and learn about. Whether you want to impress your local hiking group or just know how plants relate to one another, read on!

Gymnosperms

Between the two groups, gymnosperms are the older group, appearing over 300 million years ago. Due to their old age, there are less unique species on the planet, but that doesn’t make them any less important. The most defining gymnosperm trait is their seed. The seeds of a gymnosperm plant lack protection in the form of a fruit, exposing them to the outside world. This causes them to be called “naked” seeds.

The second trait you should look for in gymnosperms is the type of plant. Usually, gymnosperms are shrubs or large trees. A common example, especially during Christmas, is a pine tree. If you want to see what is considered a living fossil, do a quick search of a cycad. These trees have been around since the dinosaurs, showing their fortitude.

The last trait that should be noted is how gymnosperms reproduce. Gymnosperm seeds usually come as cones (more formally called strobili). Female cones are usually large and further up the tree, while male cones are smaller. However, they both grow on the same tree. Like everything in nature though, there are exceptions. Some gymnosperms only grow one type of cone and need a partner for the other (see cycads from earlier).

Angiosperms

The other ones. The plants that inherited the gymnosperms world. Estimated at about 250,000 unique species, they make up the majority of plant life. Angiosperms are more commonly referred to as your flowering plants.

Does that mean all angiosperms have flowers? Sort of. They aren’t the flowers that you might expect when you first hear the word. The flower is the reproductive part of angiosperms, so your fruit has them too. In fact, the fruit is the protective layer that surrounds the seeds.

If you’re looking to identify flowering plants, odds are they’re some of the first ones you’ll spot. Angiosperms make up nearly 80% of all living plants and include flowers, fruits, and even grasses. The next time you look around, stop and smell the flowers! Or, as you now know, the angiosperms.

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Garden Tips Plants

Types of Soils

There’s Different Types of Soil?

Yes! There’s a lot of different types of soil. Soil is one of the most important parts to growing a healthy plant, so make sure you choose the right one. The three most common types are sandy, loamy, and clay. Keep reading to see the benefits of each type!

Soil pH

I know. This isn’t a type of soil, but it’s important to know about before we cover the three types. If you remember from chemistry or even biology, the pH scale ranges from 0-14 for our intents and purposes. The lower the number, the more acidic the substance. The higher, the more alkaline (basic) the substance. A neutral substance has a pH of 7. For soils, we’re aiming to have a pH of about 3.5-10.

The majority of plants prefer a neutral soil, but some like the extremes, so check for your specific plants care guide!

To make a soil acidic, and lime fertilizers. More common items include vinegar and coffee grounds. To make a soil more alkaline, you can add sulfur or ammonia fertilizers. This is the most efficient method, however, it is believed that you can use baking soda or eggshells as well.

Sandy Soil

Sandy soil usually has a lighter color. It drains and dries quickly and warms up quickly, making it phenomenal for succulents. Why doesn’t everyone use this if it helps prevent diseases such as root rot? Well, it doesn’t hold nutrients as well. Since it drains so quickly, the nutrients are washed away so supplements have to be added for your plants to grow properly.

What makes sandy soil lighter? There is more room in the soil. The sand particles are larger than the soil which allows for aeration. This also makes the soil lighter, which is an additional benefit for those not wanting to lift heavy pots.

Sandy soil for a succulent!

Loamy Soil

Loamy soil: Your go to choice for most plants in a garden. It’s a mixture of sand, clay, and silt, usually in even amounts. This is the thick, nutrient heavy soil that you see packed into bags or soil in mounds. It retains moisture, doesn’t dry out quickly, and holds structure. This makes it ideal for your lawn, flowers, and fruits or vegetables.

Why is loamy soil not everywhere then? Well, it kind of is. The only plants that really dislike this type of soil is succulents. The moisture retaining properties of this soil can lead to succulents number one cause of death; root rot. If your succulent is in loamy soil, I recommend replanting it as soon as you can.

While loamy soil is high in nutrients, the common plants require just as much. In order for your plants to thrive, make sure you add supplements and mulches. There’s a great technique you can use for food production called rotating crops which can also be applied.

Clay Soil

The last type is clay. Clay soil is particular. It’s hard and made of sediment. Roots can’t get into the soil so a majority of plants struggle to thrive. Bigger roots, however, can thrive in this rough soil. If you’re planting trees or large shrubs, they will take quite well to the moisture retaining mixture.

If this is your only option, there are a couple ways to make this soil more hospitable to other plants. The first is to mix in some other materials that will aerate the soil. This can be gravel or other soils. You can also break up the clay so that it doesn’t clump together.

What soil should I use then?

Well, it depends. Each type of plant likes different types of soil and your best bet is to learn from others, so look for care guides online! In general, you can follow the suggestions I listed above if you don’t want to look for additional opinions. Succulents like sandy soils, most plants like loamy, and large plants like clay.

Remember to provide supplements to your soil, regardless of type, so that your plants have the best chances of growing. Listed below are some links to other Plant Palatia media where you can find help if need be. Good luck with your garden!

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Garden Tips Plants Succulents

Deep Water

What is “deep water”?

Deep water is a method that gardeners use to water their plants. Water is essential for life on the planet and plants are not excluded, but people have differing opinions on how to provide that water, especially for succulents.

Simply put, deep watering is watering the plant enough so that water flows through the drainage holes. Another way to measure this is to check inches. If the water saturates the soil approximately eight inches, the plant has been watered deeply. This allows less watering for more growth, a great positive exchange for your garden. If that’s all you needed to know, great! If you want to know why deep watering is important, read on!

Why does deep watering matter?

When people think about succulents, they think desert plants. The first plant that generally comes to mind is a cactus. Due to this, there is a false impression that succulents do not need a lot of water. However, succulents, at least anatomically, are similar to other plants. They require water so that the roots will grow, which lends stability and strength to the plant itself.

Stop for a second and think about roots. The roots provide nutrients to the rest of the plant, and as such, grow towards where those nutrients are provided. When water (arguably the most important nutrient on the planet) is provided, the roots will of course grow towards that water.

You’re here to learn about deep water, but to understand the true benefits of this method, you have to understand the pitfalls of shallow watering. Shallow watering is giving water to the plant where just the topsoil layer appears saturated. This causes the roots to grow outwards and near the top of the soil, rather than down towards the bottom of the pot.

This doesn’t sound awful and in practice, the plant will survive. It can still get nutrients and will be mostly stable. However, there are glaring issues after that. The plant lacks the stability provided by deep roots. If the plant is hit, due to an accident or even high wind, it could go flying out of the pot, causing extreme damage.

The fix is simple. Deep water! When the roots grow down to reach the water rather than to the side, more stability is created. Wind is less of an issue since there is so much soil holding the roots inside the pot (or ground). The fix is easy and provides many benefits. However, like everything in life, there are downsides.

Cons of deep water

While deep watering provides lots of benefits, there are risks, at least to those who are unaware of them.

The number one cause of death in succulents is root rot. Remember how I mentioned earlier that people think succulents don’t need a lot of water? That misconception comes from root rot. Succulents are extremely prone to this disease. To summarize root rot quickly, it’s the deterioration of the root system of a plant. General soil holds water extremely well, but it sacrifices breathability. This creates the perfect playground for root rot. Roots are stuck in soaking wet soil that won’t dry for a long time, allowing the infection to run rampant.

Does this make deep watering bad? Not in the slightest. Instead, make your own soil! The process is easy, fun, and you know exactly what you’re planting your plants in. By doing this, you control the breathability of the roots, allowing you to deep water your plant while minimizing the chances of root rot; a win-win.

Conclusion

Overall, deep watering is a skill that can provide huge benefits, as long as it is applied correctly. You get to water your plants less and they’ll grow better because of it. Best of luck with your garden! Below are ways to learn more about deep watering or plants in general.

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