Plant Stop

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa)

2010-04-22T01:26:00.001-07:00

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tree, and a very special one at that. The leaves are considered to be highly medicinal and are recognized as both a stimulant and a depressant. It’s use is gaining in popularity but should by no means be abused. Amongst the many alkaloids contained in Kratom, mitragynine is considered one of the most active.

There are many uses for Kratom and it is a very important tree. The consumption of the leaves may result in an opiate-like sense of well-being and euphoria, and many people actually use Kratom as a means to treat opiate addictions.

If you are interested in trying this wonder-plant, we are actually selling it in powdered form at our new online store.

Humulus lupulus

2010-03-01T16:34:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the name "Humulus lupulus," I'm sure you are acquainted with the taste of it's female flowers-- most commonly known as "hops." Yes, hops: the bittering/flavoring agent in almost every beer you have consumed.

At first glance one would most likely refer to H. lupulus as a vine, when in reality it is considered a "bine." Vines climb using tendrils and suckers while bines climb by forming a helix around their support, utilizing small bristles on the stem to hang on.

Hops are herbaceous perennials and are typically either grown on a trellis or a run-up string. The first graphic of this post shows a hop plant growing up a string and back down again. This seems to be an effective technique for the home gardener seeing as how a twelve-foot-high string isn't necessarily easy for the average, non-commercial gardener to achieve, let alone reach.

This post is merely an introduction to hops. Check in soon to find out more on growing hops at home!

A Carnivore for the Nutrient Poor

2009-04-22T18:30:00.000-07:00

Are you hesitant to grow plants simply because you don't have sufficient nutrients in your soil? Well, there's a plant for everyone. In fact, there are plants that have specifically evolved to endure and even thrive in soils like yours. The plants I'm talking about are referred to as carnivorous plants, occasionally called insectivores.

One fairly common carnivorous plant is called the Venus flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, and it catches and digests animal or protozoan prey. Yes, you heard me correctly; it catches prey. If that doesn't get your attention, I don't know what will.

A carnivorous plant does not catch it's prey as a means of energy, but rather a means of nutrients, hence the ability to survive in nutrient deficient mediums/soils.

It's best to feed your carnivorous plants distilled, deionized, or rain water because most tap water contains minerals that can potentially kill the plants. Keep them well-watered in a humid, sunny environment for best results.

Where there's a willow, there's a way...

2009-04-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

Are you skeptical about using commercial rooting hormones? That's completely understandable, considering most are synthetic and it's hard to be completely sure about all the chemicals you are feeding to your new cuttings/transplants/etc. But being conscientious of your plants' safety should not mean that you can't have the same advantages of other gardeners.

The solution lies within the wonderful willow(any of the Salix species) tree. Willows have a natural plant hormone called Indolebutyric Acid (IBA). IBA is very effective in inducing root growth, and the process of extracting it from willow is quite simple:

1. Cut a few willow twigs
into about 2-inch pieces.

2. Boil the twigs in a couple
inches of water for a
short while(1-2 minutes)
then let soak for a day or
two.

Congratulations! You have just made "willow water." Now use that as an overnight soak for your cuttings or simply to water your fresh transplants.

Think Tubular for Deep Watering

2009-04-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

Are you having trouble with deep watering your plants? Well, don't worry! It's a common problem and I've got an easy, cheap DIY to amend your 'deep' concern.

The solution is a slow soaker pipe. It is simple yet effective. To start, all you need to do is go to your nearest hardware store and buy a few 14-inch-long pieces of 2-inch-diameter PVC pipe. If you have those stashed away in your garage somewhere, then you're nearly done!

Once you have your PVC, drill several 1/4-inch holes in one end of the pipe similar to those shown in the picture. Once this is complete, you are done with the construction.

Before these can be used, you need to figure out where they're going to go. Scope out your thirstiest plant and pound one of your soaker pipes near it. After that, pull it back out and clear the plug of soil within the pipe. Put the soaker back in place and fill with water whenever you water your plants.

Voilà! You are done! Now watch your plants as they rehydrate and become beautiful once again.

Spice it up with an Espalier

2009-03-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

Originally, an espalier was a fruit tree trained so that its branches grew in a flat plane, typically in a rigid, candelabra arrangement. This was used as a method of training against a sunny wall so that crops could be raised early or in marginally warm regions.

Nowadays, espaliering commonly includes purely ornamental plants trained against walls and fences, both in the traditional formal arrangement and in irregular patterns determined by a plant's natural growth habits.

If nothing else, completing an espalier will give you a sense of accomplishment, and everyone needs a pick-me-up now and again.

The following is a list of some plants that are great for espaliering:

-Acer circinatum
-Azalea (rhododendron)
-Camellia (not all of them)
-Citrus
-Eucalyptus orbifolia
-Ficus auriculata
-Fig
-Hibiscus rosa-sinsensis
-Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa'
-Magnolia grandiflora
-Nectarine
-Peach
-Pear
-Plum

There are many more, and if you would like a bigger list or simply an answer to a question, feel free to e-mail me.

Flowering Teas

2008-12-26T00:32:00.000-08:00

If you like drinking tea and/or growing flowers, this is for you. A flowering tea is one that is made up of individual tea leaves woven together to form a small ball-- slightly smaller than a ping pong ball. When steeped, the ball opens up and blooms into a very showy flower-like specimen.

The result of my first flowering tea is pictured above. That one flower ended up making three batches of tea, and probably could have gone for one or two more. It's best to use a transparent, glass teapot to steep in so you can watch the progress. It's quite neat and there's many different types of flowering teas to try out.

Sweet, Sweet Stevia

2008-08-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

Many of you may have heard of the plant, Stevia, but don't quite know what it is. Stevia is a non-caloric plant with a sweetness that cannot be beat. Here is a little information from a Wiki article on the sweeteners of Stevia:

"Steviol glycoside

The steviol glycosides are responsible for the sweet taste of the leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana bertoni). These compounds range in sweetness from 40 to 300 times sweeter than sucrose.[1] They are heat stable, pH stable, and do not ferment.[2] They also do not induce a glycemic response when ingested, making them attractive as natural sweeteners to diabetics and others on carbohydrate-controlled diets."

As it has yet to be approved in the U.S. by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for reasons beyond me, it can only be sold as a dietary supplement-- rather than a sweetener. Stevia has been used in Paraguay for about 1500 years and about 20 in Japan. There has never been a complaint that it has caused any harmful side-effects. There has also been scientific studies proving that Stevia is perfectly safe for human consumption.

As it IS legal to grow and use it, I highly recommend Stevia. There are many ways to use it such as fresh leaf, extracts, tea, powder, etc. If you would like any further information on Stevia, I would be more than happy to provide it. Feel free to contact me or comment with questions.

[EDIT] Stevia has now been FDA approved. We will be seeing it a lot more, now!

Warm-season vs. Cool-season Vegetables

2008-08-09T13:52:00.000-07:00

Warm-season vegetables require warmth for both germination and forming/ripening fruit. The fruit is typically the object of the harvest-- rather than leaves, stems, roots, etc. The main need of these types of plants is enough heat to grow, and without significant cooling at night.

Cool-season vegetables grow steadily at average temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below those needed by warm-season vegetables. The object of the harvest is mostly leaf or root crops, rather than fruit or seeds. Some exceptions to this are peas, artichoke, broad beans, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Recommended Warm-season Vegetables

-Corn
-Cucumbers
-Eggplant
-Melons
-Okra
-Peanuts
-Peppers
-Pumpkin
-Squash
-Sweet potato
-Tomatoes
-Watermelon

Recommended Cool-season Vegetables

-Beets
-Broccoli
-Brussels sprouts
-Cabbage
-Carrots
-Cauliflower
-Celery
-Chard
-Leaf lettuce
-Onions
-Peas
-Potatoes
-Radishes
-Spinach
-Turnips

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me.

Know Your Roots

2008-08-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

As you probably know, roots are the parts of your plants that are underground. They serve three main purposes: (1) they anchor the plant in the soil, (2) they absorb water, minerals and nutrients from the spaces between soil particles, (3) they act as part of the plant's transport system.

(1) is self-explanatory. As for (2), here's a little further explanation: the main reason that roots are able to absorb so well is because of root hairs, which grow behind the root tip. This allows maximum absorption of vital substances.

Further explanation of (3): xylem* carries water and minerals from the roots to the stem and leaves, and phloem* carries nutrients from the leaves to all parts of the root system.

*xylem and phloem are the two types of transport tissues.

The Classes of Flowering Plants

2008-07-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

Flowering plants (Phylum Angiospermophyta) are divided into two classes: monocotyledons (class Monocotyledoneae) and dicotyledons (class Dicotyledoneae).

Typically, monocotyledons have seeds with one cotyledon (seed leaf); their foliage leaves are narrow with parallel veins; the flower components occur in multiples of three; sepals and petals are indistinguishable and are known as tepals; vascular (transport) tissues are scattered in random bundles throughout the stem; and, because they lack stem cambium (actively dividing cells that produce wood), most monocotyledons are herbaceous.

Dicotyledons have seeds with two cotyledons; leaves are broad with a central midrib and branched veins; flower parts occur in multiples of four or five; sepals are generally small and green; petals are large and colorful; vascular bundles are arranged in a ring around the edge of the stem; and, because many dicotyledons possess wood-producing stem cambium, there are woody forms as well as herbaceous ones.

Thanks to DK Ultimate Visual Dictionary for information

Got Slugs?

2008-07-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

Are you currently having slug problems or just worried about the future? Don't worry, you're not the first and you're not alone.

Slugs and snails are technically mollusks, not insects. You know they have been around from the large holes in your plants' leaves and the slime they leave behind. The feeding/damage is usually done at night or on overcast and rainy days. Slugs hide during the day, so don't bother trying to catch them in the act before about 10:00pm.

There are quite a few ways to control slugs and snails. An easy anti-slug mixture is 1 part ammonia to 5 parts water. Simply spray the mixture on slugs and they'll die.

Another similar technique involves a substance that is a potent neurotoxin to all mollusks. What's that substance? Caffeine. Yes, the same stuff that you have every morning in your cup of coffee. Just spray your strongest coffee on the slimy buggers at night.

If these suggestions don't take care of your slug problem, or you just want alternatives, feel free to leave a comment or e-mail.

Mulch, mulch, mulch

2008-07-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

The following is a list of seven recommended mulch materials:

-Grass clippings
rich in nitrogen and easy to get

-Hay
breaks down fast when exposed to rain

-Leaves
provides long-lasting organic matter and easy to get

-Paper
kills weeds, decomposes quickly when moist, easy to get

-Sawdust
provides long-lasting organic matter, easily stored, easy to get

-Straw
usually free of weeds, easily grown, easy to use

-Wood chips
usually free of weeds, provides long-lasting organic matter, easy to get

Having Blackberry Problems?

2008-07-24T18:01:00.001-07:00

Here's a little information on those pesky, yard invading blackberries.

What's interesting about blackberries is the roots are perennial but the canes are biennial, meaning they grow one year and flower and form fruit the following. As you probably know, they spread rapidly. The reasoning is because (a.) they send out underground runners and (b.) birds eat the berries and spread the seeds wherever they darn well please.

The best way to approach this is pulling out all of the young plants in Spring, before the feeder roots can develop. If the plants get to be matured, then cut them back during the summer growing season, simply because they are easier to work with and dispose of when they're fresh, as oppose to dry. When doing this, make sure you wear heavy gloves (or you'll witness first hand how sharp those thorns really are.) It's also recommended that you use a pick and a shovel to up as many roots as possible.

Recommended Vines (Perennial)

2008-07-23T01:39:00.000-07:00

The following is a list of vine plants that are recommended for your garden:

-Clematis (Clematis hybrids)

-Climbing Rose (Rosa hybrids)

-Cross Vine (Bignonia capreolata)

-Grape (Vitis species)

-Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta)

-Passionflower (Passiflora hybrids)

A personal favorite is Passionflower. It has one of the most beautiful flowers you'll find. Along with stunning, complex flowers, it bares delicious Passion Fruit. The fruit is not the only edible part of the plant, though. Many people use the flower heads in tea to act as a mild relaxant.

Vines to Avoid

2008-07-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

Thinking about adding a vine or two to your garden? The following are a few examples of which vines to avoid:

-Climbing euonymus (Euonymus fortunei)

-English ivy (Hedera helix)

-Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

-Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

-Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)

The reason you want to avoid putting these in your garden is simply because they are TOO invasive. With some, you may be able to control the behavior of, but you can't always keep track of where the seeds go. All in all, it is not worth it to place the mentioned vines into your garden.

Cleft Grafting

2008-07-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

Start by splitting the stock several inches down a straight-grained section. Make sure the split is even.

Shape one end of your scion into a tapering wedge, like shown in the diagram above.

Using a wedge to hold open your stock, insert the scion or scions into the stock.*

After all is done, cover the whole grafted area in grafting wax.

*It is important when inserting your scion(s) into the stock, that you match up the cambium layers with each other.

Are Your Seeds Still Good?

2008-07-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

Every packet of seeds has a date that tells you the year for which they were packaged. The majority of seeds stay usable for at least 2 years if stored in a cool, dry place. If you are still uncertain if the seeds are still good, then use this test:

1. Fold a moistened paper towel in half
2. Place 10 seeds, not touching, near the center of the towel
3. Fold the towel into thirds and place it in an empty Ziploc or sandwich bag.
4. Place the bag in a warm place (e.g. the top of your fridge)
5. After 3 days, check to see if any seeds have germinated. Then sprinkle the towel with a few drops of water and put it all back the way it was. Continue checking like that every other day.

-If more than 6 seeds have germinated after 7-10 days, the germination rate is 60%, so the seeds are good for planting. If fewer than 5 seeds sprout, then make a trip to the seed bank.

Growing a Tea Garden

2008-07-15T00:59:00.001-07:00

Ever wanted a tea garden but have no idea where to start? No problem, but I strongly suggest you try. Here are some plant ideas that make for a great tea garden:

1-alpine strawberries (Fragaria vesca)
2-anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
3-bee balm (Monarda didyma)
4-Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
5-lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
6-peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
7-sage (Salvia officinalis)
8-spearmint (Mentha spicata)
9-English thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
10-lemon thyme (Thymus x citriodorus)

Number of each plant recommended for garden:

1-6
2-1
3-1
4-6
5-1
6-1
7-1
8-1
9-1
10-1

Of course, the amount of each plant will vary with the size of your tea garden, but you typically won't need more than what these will grow. REMEMBER: plant your mints in containers or they will spread and take over your whole garden. The amount of space this recommended garden takes up is roughly 8 square ft.

Growing All Your Onions

2008-07-15T00:40:00.000-07:00

Typically, if you are buying onions prestarted from a nursery, you get way more than you have space or a need for. That is, unless you're planning on having a yard of strictly onions. But for most, that is not the case.

Some people plant what they need and throw the rest away, but others are uncomfortable with wasting perfectly good onions. For the people in the latter group, here is a solution. Leave all of the prestarted onions that you have left over INSIDE the original container, watering them enough so that they don't die. It doesn't matter how close they are.

Sure, there may not be enough space to grow a full-size onion but if every single left-over you have grows about a centimeter in diameter, then you have yourself a nice mini crop of onion and it doesn't take up any space in your garden.

Separating and cutting them from the stem and roots may be a little tedious and eye watering, but it's worth it. If you have trouble getting the papery skins off, try boiling the onions for a bit and it makes it substantially easier.

One suggestion I have for these puppies is pan frying them with mushrooms, or anything for that matter. But seriously, these mini onions are great tasting, very aromatic, and very usable.

Herbal Healing/ Uses (Still Acquiring)

2008-07-14T00:42:00.000-07:00

A
Appetite-
Dill Seed/Weed (Anethum graveolens)
B
C
Calming- (also see- ‘Sedatives’)
Skullcap (Pedicularis lateriflora)
Chamomile Roman/German
Basil Leaf (Ocimum basilicum)
Blue Vervain Herb (Vervena officinallis)

Colds- (also see- ‘Diaphoretics’)
Blue Vervain Herb (Vervena officinallis)
Chamomile Roman/German
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)
Sarsaparilla Root (Smilax officinalis)

Coffee Substitute-
Camellia sinensis (Green Tea)
Yerba Mate
Raja’s Cap

Cough- (also see- ‘Demulcents’)
Coltsfoot Leaf (Tussilago farfara)
Country Mallow (Sida cortifolia)
D
Diaphoretics-
Angelica Root (Angelica archangelica)
Blue Vervain Herb (Vervena officinallis)
Sage Leaf (Salvia officinalis)
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)
Sarsaparilla Root (Smilax officinalis)
Sassafras Leaf (Sassafras officinale)

Diuretics-
Angelica Root (Angelica archangelica)
Blue Vervain Herb (Vervena officinallis)
Chamomile Roman/German
Dandelion Leaf (Taraxacum officinale)
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)
Queen of the Meadow Herb (Eupatorium purpureum)
Sandalwood Yellow Chips/Red (Santalum album)
Sarsaparilla Root (Smilax officinalis)
Sassafras Leaf (Sassafras officinale)
Savory Leaf (Satureja hortensis)
Sheep Sorrel Herb (Rumex acetosella)
Soapwort Root (Saponaria officinalis)
Spearmint Leaf (Mentha spicata)
Speedwell Herb (Veronica officinalis)

Digestion-
Allspice (Pimenta dioica)
Anise Seed (Pimpinella anisum)
Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis)
Chamomile Roman/German
Rosemary Leaf (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Savory Leaf (Satureja hortensis)

Decongestant- (see- ‘Expectorants’)

Dandruff-
Infusion of sage, rosemary and cloves as a post-shampoo hair rinse
E
Expectorants-
Angelica Root (Angelica archangelica)
Anise Seed (Pimpinella anisum)
Blue Vervain Herb (Vervena officinallis)
Chamomile Roman/German
Sandalwood Yellow Chips/Red (Santalum album)
Sanicle Herb (Sanicula europaea)
Soapwort Root (Saponaria officinalis)
Speedwell Herb (Veronica officinalis)
Cowslip Flowers (Primula varis)
Dead Nettle Leaf (Lamium album)
F
Fever- (also see ‘Diaphoretics’)
Barley Grass (Hordeum vulgare)
Blue Vervain Herb (Vervena officinallis)
Borage Leaf (Borago officinalis)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Sheep Sorrel Herb (Rumex acetosella)
Small Willow Flower Herb (Epilobium parviflorum)
G
H
Headaches-
Lemon Balm
Chamomile
Thyme
Skullcap

Heartburn-
Chamomile
Peppermint
I
J
K
L
M
N
Nausea-
Ginger
Cinnamon
O
P
Perspirants- (see- ‘Diaphoretics’)
Q
R
S
Sedatives-
Skullcap (Pedicularis lateriflora)
Chamomile Roman/German
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Basil Leaf (Ocimum basilicum)
Blue Vervain Herb (Vervena officinallis)
Cowslip Flowers (Primula varis)
Dill Seed/Weed (Anethum graveolens)

Stomach Ache-
Spearmint
T
Toothache-
Calendula
Cloves
Tarragon
Yarrow
U
Urinary- (see- ‘Diuretics’)
V
W
X
Y
Z