Plants and summer tend to go together. People are outside more, plants are larger, and garden stores are frequented more often. Don’t get me wrong, definitely grow plants during the summer! You should, however, begin to think about plants months in advance.
If plants grow best during summer, why would you think about them earlier?
Winter Growth
The most obvious reason is that not all plants grow during the summer. The heat of summer may be too extreme, and as such, they actually do better during what is generally considered the off-season. Some prominent examples include carrots and broccoli. If vegetables aren’t your thing, don’t worry! Flowers like snowdrops bloom even in the snow.
Furthermore, some plants actually require the cold to grow. We know that spring and summer showcase a wide-variety of flowers, but how do they grow so quickly in time for spring? As it turns out, some species of flowers actually require the cold to germinate. Similar to how some pine trees require fire to germinate, these plants utilize the frosty air to sprout in time for spring.
Spring Growth
Even though there are a lot of reasons to start specific plants in winter, generally speaking, spring is the ideal planting season. For newly started cuttings or offspring, you should wait to put the plants outside until the last frost has settled. Every plant has specific needs, but most succulents and houseplants thrive on the warmth that the summer season provides. By planting these types in spring, we give the plants a chance to establish a strong system for growth.
Learning when to start a plant is essential for its well-being. While many plants can survive through the off-season, you won’t see much growth and they may struggle. If you plant them at the right time, however, they’ll flourish under your care.
Plants have very specific needs. Like any other living thing, their needs vary based off the type of plant. However, generalizations can be made that will suit the majority of species. For example, you don’t want a pot that is too small, just like you don’t want to put an indoor plant in extreme heat. Read on to learn more about proper size conditions and materials for different types of pots!
The Size
A pot’s size is probably the most important aspect to consider when you purchase a new plant. You don’t want it to be too large or small for your newest green addition. The general rule of thumb is to choose a pot that has a diameter two inches larger than your plant. This way, the plant has enough room to grow comfortably and the root to soil proportion will be proper.
The root to soil proportion is crucial for deciding the proper size. If the pot is too large, the plants roots won’t be able to absorb moisture as quickly. Since there is so much damp soil, this could eventually lead to root rot which is a devastating plant disease. On the other hand, if the pot is too small, then the plant can become root bound. This is when the roots fill the entire pot and have no more room to grow. Luckily, the fix for this is much simpler than root rot, just move the plant to a larger sized pot!
The last thing to consider for size is the is the shape and depth. If the pot is too tall, plants may struggle to grow out of it and it could lead to some weird growths. On the other hand, if the pot is too shallow, many plants like flowers or trees will have a difficult time establishing a strong base. Each shape has a different benefit, but I generally stick to deeper, circular shaped pots, regardless of what I’m planting. If that doesn’t work for you, you can always repot it!
The most common type of pot that I use.
Materials
Pots can be made out of a wide variety of things. From your common terracotta and plastic pots that you find in stores or online, to 3D printed filament pots and glass jars, almost anything can be made into a unique pot!
Not all of these pots are made equally, however. For example, terracotta (or any clay-like pots) absorb water. This means that your plants will more than likely need some more maintenance compared to other plant types, but it will also help prevent over-watering. This is an amazing benefit for many succulent species.
Plastic, on the other hand, has no such features. The material doesn’t absorb the water and as such, you may not need to give your plant so much water at once. The biggest downside to plastic is the way that they manage heat. The black plastic absorb heat and that heat transfers to connecting surfaces, which in this case, is the soil and plant. This dries out the soil which in turn dries out the plant and could potentially kill it.
What Pots Should I Use?
The best way to figure out what you like is to experiment. I use a wide variety of containers and, at the end of the day, they aren’t all that different from one another. Metal rusts, terracotta breaks, plastic holds heat but is inexpensive. All types have their own pros and cons and the best way to learn is by getting hands-on experience with all of them, so get to gardening!
Flowers are angiosperms, which make up nearly 80% of all plants on the planet. If you want to learn more about angiosperms, click here. Within angiosperms, however, there are two different types; annual and perennial. If they’re both related to one another, then what’s the difference?
Annual Flowers
Annual flowers are just that; annual. They grow for one season and then die as winter hits. Why, then, would anyone grow a plant that just dies a few months later? Well, the biggest reason is for variety. Since annual plants die, you can replant your entire garden with a new variety of flowers after every winter. The biggest issue with these plants, however, are the cost; you either leave the ground bare or have to purchase new plants.
This next point is more about personal preference, but should be mentioned regardless. The majority of people consider annual flowers to be brighter and more colorful than perennials. Some common annual flowers include sunflowers, most marigolds, snapdragons, and zinnias.
Perennial Flowers
Perennial flowers, on the other hand, last for multiple seasons. The part of the plant above the ground, usually the stem and flower itself, usually dies as winter hits and then regrows when the weather improves. They provide consistency to your garden and better yet, you don’t have to buy new ones every season (if you keep them alive, that is).
The biggest downside to perennials is the same as their greatest strength. They last for multiple seasons. This means that you will run out of room as the plants grow, unless you decide to replace them with others. Common perennials are roses, lilies, and one of my personal favorites, dahlias.
What’s best?
Luckily for both you and I, that’s up to you! The answer can change for a variety of reasons, but a lot depends on your budget, space, and time. If you want to just plant something once and then manage the care of it, perennials are the way to go. If you like change and don’t mind planting new flowers every year, annuals may be better for you. Regardless of what you decide, best of luck with your garden!
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.
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!
