Friday, December 2, 2011

How to Grow Capsicum Annum

Peppers are both ornamental and edible.

Flag this photo

The species Capsicum annum includes the varieties of peppers best known to U.S. growers: sweet types such as bell and sweet banana peppers and hot peppers such as cayenne and jalapeno. The many types of peppers within the species bring more than flavor to the table. They offer color, shape and size options and ornamental varieties that can dress up your planters. Because they are tender plants that thrive in the high temperatures of warm-season gardens, getting peppers started is one of the trickier parts of growing these plants.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll NeedNursery plants or pepper seedSupplemental heat sourceBlack plastic mulchRow coversStarter solution fertilizer33-0-0 fertilizerSuggest Edits1

Purchase nursery-grown plants for transplant into your garden, or start your own seeds indoors, six to eight weeks before the last frost date for your area. Provide supplemental heat for your seeds, as temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit will encourage germination. Sow pepper seeds 1/4 inch deep, whether planting indoors or out. Provide a bright light source for your seedlings to prevent legginess in your plants. By starting your own seeds, you will have access to a wider range of pepper varieties.

2

Select an outdoor growing site with well-drained soil and full sun. Harden your plants off over a period of one to two weeks. Set your plants out after all danger of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures remain above 55 F. Cooler temperatures cause yellowing of leaves, poor pollen production and loss of blooms, so cover the ground with black plastic mulch. It serves a dual purpose -- preventing weeds and helping to warm the soil. Use row covers to protect your plants from wind damage and to hold warm air around your plants until they establish themselves.

3

Perform a soil test to determine if there are any nutrient deficiencies in your garden. Lacking a test, apply a starter solution fertilizer before planting your peppers 12 to 24 inches apart, depending on the variety, and in rows two to three feet apart. Side-dress the plants with a 33-0-0 fertilizer at a rate of 3 tablespoons for each 10-foot row after your plants set peppers.

4

Water your plants deeply, to a depth of 6 inches, particularly during fruiting. Provide supplemental water if necessary to supply plants with the equivalent of 1 to 2 inches of rain each week. Moisture is crucial for the proper development of fruits on your plants.

Tips & Warnings

Wait three to four years before planting peppers in the same space as other members of the Solanaceae family, such as tomatoes and eggplant, due to diseases passed among these crops.

Suggest item

ReferencesUniversity of Illinois Extension: HortAnswers: PepperColorado State University Extension; Peppers and Eggplant; J.E. Ells; April 2007Clemson Cooperative Extension; Pepper; Robert J. Dufault, et al.; April 2003Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension: PepperCornell Cooperative Extension; Vegetable Growing Guide: Pepper; Nora Teter; 2009University of Arizona; Arizona Master Gardener Manual: Vegetable Garden: Selected Vegetable Crops: Peppers; 1998Virginia Cooperative Extension; Potatoes, Peppers and Eggplant; Diane Relf, et al.Utah State University Cooperative Extension; Peppers in the Garden; Dan Drost; June 2010ResourcesNorth Carolina Cooperative Extension; Poisonous Plants: Capsicum Annum (Longum Group); Dr. Alice B. Russell, et al.Washington State University Extension; Hardening Off Transplants; Holly S. KennellNorth Dakota State University; Spice Up the Garden; Sarah D. KeizerPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

How to Germinate Boswellia Sacra

Print this articleBoswellia sacra has been in cultivation for thousands of years -- Queen Hatshepsut had the tree imported to Egypt for cultivation in the 1400s BC. Boswellia sacra is a large shrub or small tree, the dried sap of which is known as frankincense. Native to Somalia, Oman and Yemen, Boswellia sacra thrives in arid environments with rocky soils. It bears jagged-edged foliage and gray, peeling bark. Boswellia sacra seeds can be pricey, and their germination rate is between 8 and 10 percent.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll NeedHydrogen peroxideSmall bowlNursery potVermiculitePeat mossSand (optional)Heat matSuggest Edits1

Combine one part of hydrogen peroxide and two parts of water. Place the Boswellia sacra seeds in a shallow bowl, and pour the hydrogen peroxide/water solution over them. Allow them to soak for 24 hours.

2

Prepare a nursery pot with equal parts of vermiculite and peat moss, well combined and moistened.

3

Place the Boswellia sacra seeds on the surface of the mixture, and cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite or sand. Carefully moisten the top layer of the germination medium with water from a spray bottle.

4

Cover the pot with plastic wrap or seal it in a plastic bag. Place the potted Boswellia sacra seeds on a heat mat set to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination may occur as soon as seven days. Open one corner of the plastic when the seed sprouts but allow it to remain on the heat mat as you gradually reduce the heat over the course of one week. Turn the heat mat off and remove the plastic.

ReferencesPlants for a Future: Herb GardensUniversity of Florida IFAS Extension; Three Ancient Gifts; Dan Culbert; December 2004B&T World Seeds: Germination Guide for Boswellia sacraRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Green Algae Growing on the Trunks of Crepe Myrtles

Print this articleThe distinctive, attractive characteristics of crepe myrtle trees aren't so pretty when they're covered with substance that looks like green algae. Crepe myrtle, also known as crape myrtle and crapemyrtle, make beautiful ornamental trees when they're healthy. When the trees aren't healthy, they're a problem in landscapes. Identify and manage the problem that's causing algae-like growth and keep crepe myrtles healthy.

Related Searches: Identification

Crepe myrtles are not immune to fungus. Powdery mildew may create growth on leaves and branches, but this fungus resembles white, powdery spots as the name suggests. Growths that resembles green algae on crepe myrtles are actually lichens. The easiest part of the lichen to recognize is the main body, which is largely comprised of fungus. Some lichens look like a crust, while others grow in leafy layers, but in all cases they are green and attach themselves directly to crepe myrtle trees.

Smarter Than Algae

Technically, lichens are not algae. Lichens are a fungus-like symbiotic organism. Like plants, lichens produce food for themselves through photosynthesis, absorbing sunlight to take in nutrients. The lichens give moisture to the plant upon which they grow. Because the unique relationship they have with the trees where they grow, lichens are something more than your average green algae, but they may not look it.

Lichen Damage

Lichens may change the appearance of crepe myrtles, but they are not damaging. Lichens do not fracture or harm bark, allowing pathogens and bacteria do harm the crepe myrtle. The lichens will cover and obscure the distinct bark on crepe myrtles, however, and for this reason many gardeners do not want the algae-like growth on their trees.

Control

Because lichens do not damage crepe myrtle, removal is not necessary. Gardeners who do want to remove lichens to improve the look of the tree can scrub the algae-like growth off the trees with a wet scrub brush. Alternately, they can cover the lichen growth with a shade cloth and eventually it will die.

ReferencesOhio State University Extension; 10 Things You Should Know About Lichens; David J. Goerig, et al.Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service; Crape Myrtle Diseases & Insect Pests; Nancy Doubrava, et al.Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture : Moss and LichenResources"Southern Living" Magazine: Beginner's Guide to Crepe MyrtlesUniversity of Florida, IFAS Cooperative Extension Service; Crapemyrtle in Florida; Gary W. KnoxNC State University Extension; Crapemyrtle Problems; Erv EvansRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

Cultivation Of Capsicum

Chiles, or peppers, are a flavorful addition to your diet.

Flag this photo

The Capsicum family is native to South America. The five domesticated species of peppers and chiles include the sweet bell pepper, the Anaheim chile, the smoking hot habanero and the tabasco pepper. The history of harvesting wild peppers goes back at least 10,000 years. Farmers are known to have cultivated peppers as early as 3300 BC. Today, peppers and chiles are grown worldwide by farmers and home gardeners. The most popular spice in the world, peppers not only provide capsaicin to add heat to foods but also 100 percent of the daily requirements of vitamins A and C in a single fruit.

Related Searches:Difficulty:EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedHeating padPlasticSeed starting traySterile seed starting mixTweezersSandSpray bottlePlastic wrapFluorescent light fixtureHigh intensity fluorescent light bulbsLamp timer4-inch flower potsPotting soilSoup spoonShovelCompostStakesPlant tiesSoaker hose or drip watering systemMulch5-10-10 fertilizerBucketDishwashing soapSuggest EditsPepper Seed Sprouting1

Cover an old heating pad with plastic to protect it from water. Place the seed starting tray on the heating pad.

2

Fill the seed starting tray with sterile seed starting mix. Moisten with water. Turn the heating pad on the lowest setting.

3

Place one or two seeds per compartment on top of the seed starting mix. Some gardeners use tweezers to insert seeds into the soil. Barely cover with a thin layer of sand. Spritz with water to moisten. Cover the tray with the plastic lid or plastic wrap.

4

Hang a fluorescent light fixture 4 inches above the seed starting tray. Use high-intensity fluorescent bulbs to increase the amount of light emitted by the fixture. Attach to a timer so the light provides 14 to 16 hours of light daily.

5

Remove the lid or plastic wrap as soon as the seeds germinate. It may take up to two weeks, depending on the variety, for the pepper seeds to sprout.

6

Mist the seedlings gently to keep the mix damp, but not soggy, until the seedling have at least two sets of leaves.

7

Transplant the seedlings into 4-inch pots filled with a good-quality potting mix. Do not pick up the seedlings by the stems, instead use a soup spoon to carefully scoop the seedlings and roots out of the tray.

8

Move the light fixture up as the seedlings grow, keeping it 4 inches above the tallest plant.

9

Harden off the seedlings when they are 6 to 8 weeks old and night temperatures are above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the flower pots outside in a sheltered area for an hour, then bring back inside. Repeat daily, adding an hour each day, for a week to 10 days. Once the seedlings are outside all day, it is time to transplant them in the garden.

Cultivating the Peppers1

Prepare the garden bed by digging up the grass and unwanted vegetation. Place on the compost pile.

2

Add a 3-inch layer of compost to the garden bed and dig it in, mixing well with the garden soil. Then rake the soil into 1-foot-wide mounded rows.

3

Dig a hole for each pepper plant in the top of the row, 1 foot apart. Remove the pepper from the flower pot and place in the hole. Backfill and tamp gently.

4

Insert a stake next to each plant and tie it to the stake using a soft plant tie. Add more plant ties as the plant grows.

5

Arrange a soaker hose or drip watering system along the row. Water when the top of the soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize with 5-10-10 fertilizer according to the manufacturer's directions.

6

Add a 4-inch layer of mulch to the garden bed, surrounding the mounded row to within 4 inches of the pepper plant stems. Mulch inhibits weed growth and helps the soil retain water.

7

Monitor your pepper plants for pests such as aphids, caterpillars, earwigs, slugs and snails. Kill aphids by spraying with soapy water. Remove other pests by hand and dropping into a bucket of soapy water. Pour the water and dead bugs onto the compost pile.

8

Harvest according to the seed packet directions. Different varieties of peppers and chiles are harvested when green, yellow, orange or red. For example, bell peppers are harvested at any stage between green and red. The longer a mild pepper like a bell pepper stays on the plant, the more vitamin A and C are concentrated in the fruit. Hot chiles are often allowed to ripen on the vine, then hung on a string to dry.

Tips & Warnings

Consult the local agricultural or cooperative extension office for information on gardening and growing peppers in your area.

Wear gloves and safety glasses when digging, planting, harvesting and preparing peppers and chiles. It is extremely painful if you get the capsaicin oil in your eyes. Capsaicin is what makes chiles hot.

Suggest item

ReferencesWashington State University, Clark County Extension; Planning for a Peck of Peppers; January/February 2002University of Minnesota Extension Service; Peppers; Beth R. Jarvis; March 1999University of California, Davis, Good Life Garden: ChillisResourcesTheChileman.org; Guide - New to Chillies?; Julian LivseyNew Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service; Growing Chiles in New Mexico; Paul W. Bosland, et al.; October 2004Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Success Story on Greenhouse TechnologyPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

How to Grow Green Algae on Rocks

Algae grow readily on damp rocks.

Flag this photo

Algae on rocks need not always be a slippery pest. Green algae on rocks around a water feature make it look older and more rustic. In a pond or aquarium, algae provide grazing opportunities for fish, mollusks and tadpoles. Algae are resilient organisms with simple needs. The provision of moisture and nutrients usually promotes the growth of all the algae you could want.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedRiver rocksPlant misterSeaweed fertilizer5- or 10-gallon tankOrganic houseplant fertilizerBucketsSuggest EditsAround a Pond1

Position river rocks around the pond in positions that receive plenty of light but not necessarily direct sunlight.

2

Spray or paint the rocks with a solution of seaweed fertilizer and water. Use the strength recommended on the packaging for most plants or a slightly stronger solution.

3

Mist the rocks with rainwater daily. The key to encouraging algae growth is moisture. If the rocks dry out quickly, move them to a shadier location.

4

Apply more of the fertilizer solution once or twice a week until the rocks have the desired appearance. After this, leave the algae to take care of themselves.

For Aquarium Fish1

Set up a small tank with dechlorinated water and all the rocks you wish algae to grow upon.

2

Position the tank in a well-lit location or switch on a powerful aquarium light for 12 hours a day.

3

Add a little organic houseplant fertilizer to the water once a week.

4

Conduct occasional water changes to control the growth of free-floating phytoplankton, which compete with the attached algae for nutrients and light. Replace about 25 percent of the water with fresh dechlorinated water once a week before adding fertilizer.

5

Transfer rocks to the main tank or pond once they have sufficient algal growth. Replace each rock with a new one if you want a continuous supply of algae.

Tips & Warnings

Dechlorinate tap water by leaving it in buckets for 24 hours. Alternatively, use a commercial dechlorinator from an aquarium supply store. Note that neither method will remove chloramine. If your water supply contains this chemical, ask an aquarium supplier for the appropriate treatment.

Although adding nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, to a pond encourages the growth of algae on rocks, this practice is best avoided. These nutrients also promote the growth of free-floating phytoplankton, another type of algae. Phytoplankton blooms can reduce oxygen levels, block light to submerged plants and, in the worst cases, kill aquatic life. Let underwater algae establish themselves.

Suggest item

ReferencesAquatic Community: Algae in AquariumsMinnesota Department of Natural Resources: What’s That Green Stuff?Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty ImagesRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

How to Grow Garcinia Cambogia Fruit

Print this articleGarcinia cambogia, also known as gambooge, grindleberry or Malabar tamarind, is a tropical evergreen tree. The trees grow naturally in India and Asia and produce sweet, pumpkin-shaped fruits. The fruits, in turn, produce resin that is used as an appetite suppressant in alternative medicine. The fruits themselves also add flavor and spice to Asian and Indian dishes. If you want to grow this tropical tree for yourself, do so in a large pot and keep the tree indoors for temperature control.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll Need20-gallon potGravelOrganic compostGarden loam/potting soilSpray bottleSuggest Edits1

Start the Garcinia cambogia tree in spring for warmth and sunshine. Prepare a heavy 20-gallon pot with drainage holes for long-term growing. These trees reach over 10 to 15 feet in height, even in pots.

2

Mix your own potting soil with 1 part garden or potting soil to 1 part organic compost. These trees hail from rainforests and require the rich, crumbly and moist foundation of that environment. Lay 2 inches of gravel in the bottom of the pot, then fill the pot two-thirds full of potting mixture. Don't use soil from the garden, as it may bring weeds and disease into the pot.

3

Set the Garcinia cambogia tree's roots on the soil and pack more potting mixture over and around them. Plant the tree up to its crown and leave at least 3 inches of space between the soil surface and the top of the pot.

4

Put the tree in a site with full, bright sun and temperatures of 70 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. These trees prefer hot, humid weather. Water the tree with 3 to 4 inches of water every week and spray the tree with water at every watering to maintain good humidity. Keep the tree outdoors during the height of summer but move it into the protection of the house well before any frost occurs.

Tips & Warnings

Garcinia cambogia fruit grows during the summer and attains yellow, red or purple coloration at maturity. This fruit is not edible raw, and requires baking and cooking.

Any fruiting tree requires at least 3 years of growth to produce its first fruit.

Suggest item

ReferencesHerbal Organics: Brindal Berry or GamboogeGarciniaCambogia.net: Garcinia CambogiaDrvikrama's Friendly Holistic Herbalist: Garcinia CambogiaCalifornia Rare Fruit Growers, Inc.: Growing Fruit Crops in ContainersRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

Wie man den Blues und grünen geheimnisvoll-mix

Blau und grün sind harmonisch Duo, wenn Sie mischen.

Die Flagge dieses Bild

Irisierende Federn auf den Schwanz der Pfau Showcase wie wunderschön Maß- und grün hole. Blaue und grüne geheimnisvoll mag mit jeder Augenfarbe fesselnder wunderbar, aber das Mischen von Farben ist wesentlich für ein schönes Aussehen. Verwenden Sie die Bürsten mischen mit den Fingerspitzen verlassen Öle auf Ihrer Haut, die Ursache-basierte Pulver Schatten zu Klumpen können, so werden, um einen Ton zu einem anderen Feder.

Ähnliche Suchbegriffe: Schwierigkeit: moderat EasyInstructions Dinge werden NeedTranslucent powderMirror1/4-Zoll Grimm brush1/2-Zoll-Zoll Make-up Make-up brush1 BrushSuggest Edits1

Staub Ihre tarnen Bereich mit transluzenten Pulver. Zusätzliche Pulver wird alle Körner von hoch pigmentierte Eyeshadow, übersichtlicher als und fertig aussehen zu fangen.

(2)

Wenden Sie ein heller Schatten Eyeshadow über seine Aheadkappe mit Pinsel Viertel Zoll Make-up, beginnend mit der äußeren Ecke der Ihre Augenlider und arbeitete auf der Brücke der Nase gewölbt. Ihre oberen Lid Eyeshadow umfasst von Ecke zu Ecke und bis zu der Falte, aber nicht nach dem. Wiederholen Sie diesen Schritt mit dem anderen Auge.

(3)

Schlagen alle anderen durch ein Viertel Zoll Lidschatten-Pinsel und verwendet, um die Brushload dunkler Schatten der Eyeshadow wählen. Drücken Sie den überschüssigen Schatten von Pinsel und Pinsel die kleineren in die Falte der Ihre Augenlider, ausgehend von der äußeren Ecke. Wiederholen Sie für die andere Seite des Gesichts.

(4)

Verschieben des Pinsels, mit einem dunkleren Farbton in V-Form des Punktes des v in der äußeren Ecke des Auges. Auf der einen Seite des v fällt in Ihre Augenlider Falte; Andererseits wird an der Basis der Ihre oberen Wimpern überfliegen. Fortsetzen Sie Arbeit auf dunkler Schatten in dieser Zone V-Form Ihre Augenlider, bis die gewünschte Intensität, dann erfüllen Sie das andere Auge zu.

(5)

Reinigen Sie den Pinsel von Hälfte-Zoll gewölbte Make-up nach dem Vorbild der Abgrenzung zwischen der heller Schatten der Ihre Augenlider und dunklen Schatten in der Falte. Die Verwendung von einen breiten Pinsel Federn Farben einen größeren Raum, die Schaffung der gemixten Fläche mischen. Gemischte grünen und blauen Lidschatten auf Ihre anderen Augen zu entsprechen.

(6)

Vergleichen Sie die beiden Seiten des Gesichts nah an die Symmetrie und Intensität. Anpassen Ihrer Eyeshadow wo notwendig ist, um die Augen zu machen. Verwenden Sie die Hälfte-Zoll Feder Pinselfarbe beantragen Sie mehr Schatten um Ungleichgewichte zu korrigieren.

7

Überschüssige Pulver unter Ihren Augen und dem Rest der Ihre Augen Make-up angewendet werden, wie üblich.

Tipps und Warnungen

Experimentieren Sie mit verschiedenen Schatten und Platzierungen von blau und grün. Flotte in der Falte und Eyeshadow Seafoam, grüne Augenlider erscheinen auffallend anders als powder blue Augenlidern und Forest grün in der Falte.

Wenn zwei Schattenfarben in ähnlicher Weise hell oder dunkel sind, klicken Sie auf die Eyeshadow mit mehr Schimmer auf Ihre Augenlider und füllen Sie die Falte mit Matt Lidschatten.

Abgezogen mit schwarzen Eyeliner und Mascara abgeschlossen.

Arbeiten Sie mit einem sauberen Pinsel, um den schlammigen Farben und mögliche Augenreizung zu vermeiden.

Kräftige Farben und metallischen aussehen seiner besten glatt Augenlider; Wenn Ihre Fensterläden neigen dazu, Windung, gedämpften Tönen und weichen Schimmer oder Matt Lidschatten auswählen.

Vorschlag eines Elements

ReferencesAllure: jetzt-Look helle Augen MakeupWestern Schönheit Institute: Make-up-Tipps von der WBIUniversity von Kansas Medical Center: Hautarzt Leitfaden für CosmeticsPhoto credit digital Vision/Photodisc/Getty ImagesRead weiter:

Drucken Sie dieses ArticleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article