covenofkeys
November 24th, 2006, 06:41 AM
Lesson 15-cultivation-growing herbs inside and care/cleaning.
GROWING HERBS INDOORS
Sun-loving herbs need around 6 hours of sunlight every day to thrive, and that is mainly why a lot of herbs do not do so well indoors.
If they have poor lighting or inadequate lighting, the plant will show signs of distress, such as thinning out or elongated, narrow leaves, and will become dull and lifeless looking. The aroma may even disappear from the plant altogether.
Remember to get the position right in the home or wherever indoors you are going to have the plants, -it needs to be understood that they should not be in direct sunlight as the glass may magnify this causing the plant to burn, unless your windows have the reflective property in them. Turn them a few times each sunny day, so that the sun hits the plant equally.
You could if you like {if you want to cheat a bit} use some artificial lighting, I guess, but I think that proper sunlight is much better and more beneficial to the plant.
TEMPERATURE
Many herbs prefer a warm comfortable temperature of around 60-70 F {15-21C} maybe a drop of 10 F at night or 5 C.
You may want to keep them away from any draughts too, as this will certainly affect their growing.
Try to position them in a place where the temperature is minimal in changing. Although they dislike the draughts, they definitely will appreciate some fresh air each day.
This will make sure the plant remains healthy and happy and removes stale air, hinders airborne diseases and helps to rid the remnants of pollution from gas central heating or oil fumes.
WATERING
Plants that are potted, are probably more vulnerable than plants outside, and need more T.L.C.
They can dry out extremely quickly, so during the warmer days, check them at least once.
Use a spray bottle to keep the leaves and soil moist and drain them on a gravel tray.
In Autumn, water them only when the soil is dry, but seedlings need more watering. The herbs with larger leaves, that are in active growth need regular watering.
Never over-water them as this will drown them, make sure too that they have adequate drainage.
Also if you over-water them it could deplete vital air pockets in the soil around the roots, thus causing the nasty root fungus. This will then slowly rot the plant and it will die.
Moisture in the atmosphere is also good for the plants.
Growing plants together may help to create a humid area, or you could put some Sphagnum moss on the surface of the soil, then spray the area with a mist spray atomizer, in more hotter weather.
FEEDING
Herbs which are regularly harvested, need to be fed with a mild or weak liquid fertilizer, every 14 or so days in the Spring and the Summer, but reduce to 28 days as the growth slows, and do not feed at all during the Winter.
Never over-feed or use more than is necessary, and if it is a non herbal or manufactured fertilizer, always read the label.
CARE/CLEANING
Use a small to medium round-tipped paint brush {a soft one} to clean furry leaves such as Clary Sage. Gently brush them from stem to tip in sweeping movement.
To prevent the dust from clogging the pores, use a mist spray bottle to lightly cover the plant.
If you have high lime content in your water supply, it will manifest itself as white gritty deposits on the soil’s surface.
FERTILIZERS
Liquid fertilizers dissolved in water, can be fairly reliable, if you must use a manufactured one. Don’t forget to apply it as directed.
If you have ever bought large plants or herbs from a shop, you may have noticed the little
White globules that are mixed in the soil. This is a slow-release fertilizer that provide up to a whole growing season of feed.
HERBAL-YES, HERBAL FERTILIZERS
COLTSFOOT- tussilago farfara-provides sulphur and potassium.
COUCH GRASS- agropyron repens- rich in minerals, potassium and silica.
DANDELION- taraxacum officinale- an excellent source off copper.
DILL- anethum graveolens- rich in minerals, potassium, sulphur and sodium.
FAT HEN- chenopodium album- contains iron and other minerals.
FENUGREEK- trigonella foenum-graecum- the sprouted seed heads are rich in nitrates and calcium.
HORSETAIL- equisetum hyemale- contains a high concerntration of silica.
NETTLE- urtica dioica- described as a treasure-house of iron and nitrogen, as well as other minerals and trace elements.
SUNFLOWER- helianthus annuus –the ash of the sunflower stalks is high in potash.
TANSY- tanecetum vulgare- rich in potassium and other minerals.
TEA LEAVES- contain nitrogen, phosphoric acid, manganese and potash, but these elements remain locked within the tannin, until brewing.
YARROW- achillea millefolium- provides copper and is a good general all round fertilizer.
HEALTH IN PLANTS
As said before, it is important to keep an eye on your plants so that if disease is there, you may get to it quickly. Just gently observe their condition and check regularly the underside of the leaves and stems for nasties.
A great way to rid and prevent the nasties, is to plunge the plant top first into a bucket of mild washing up liquid solution. This will remove them if they are already present.
If however, you do have insect problems, you can try to combat them with an organic or herbal insecticide. Derris is a vegetable insecticide, taken from the roots of a tropical plant called Derris elliptica. Usually available in a ready mix from organic suppliers, again you must ensure you read the instructions, properly.
Removing scale insects is easy, -just scrub the leaves with a soft scrubbing brush using a strong detergent solution.
Next lesson {monday}will be diseases-prevention and cure and harvesting your herbs, then we shall return to healing with herbs!!!
Task:
find out the description of the following…..
1}althaea officinalis.
2}calendula officinalis.
3}monarda didymus.
Complete the following…
1} ___________ is good for headaches.
2}____________ is good for nausea.
3}____________ is good for eye infections.
The plant Boneset, is an emetic in high doses. Its latin name is eupatorium ___________.
complete whenever, i feel slack today! lol :hahugh:
GROWING HERBS INDOORS
Sun-loving herbs need around 6 hours of sunlight every day to thrive, and that is mainly why a lot of herbs do not do so well indoors.
If they have poor lighting or inadequate lighting, the plant will show signs of distress, such as thinning out or elongated, narrow leaves, and will become dull and lifeless looking. The aroma may even disappear from the plant altogether.
Remember to get the position right in the home or wherever indoors you are going to have the plants, -it needs to be understood that they should not be in direct sunlight as the glass may magnify this causing the plant to burn, unless your windows have the reflective property in them. Turn them a few times each sunny day, so that the sun hits the plant equally.
You could if you like {if you want to cheat a bit} use some artificial lighting, I guess, but I think that proper sunlight is much better and more beneficial to the plant.
TEMPERATURE
Many herbs prefer a warm comfortable temperature of around 60-70 F {15-21C} maybe a drop of 10 F at night or 5 C.
You may want to keep them away from any draughts too, as this will certainly affect their growing.
Try to position them in a place where the temperature is minimal in changing. Although they dislike the draughts, they definitely will appreciate some fresh air each day.
This will make sure the plant remains healthy and happy and removes stale air, hinders airborne diseases and helps to rid the remnants of pollution from gas central heating or oil fumes.
WATERING
Plants that are potted, are probably more vulnerable than plants outside, and need more T.L.C.
They can dry out extremely quickly, so during the warmer days, check them at least once.
Use a spray bottle to keep the leaves and soil moist and drain them on a gravel tray.
In Autumn, water them only when the soil is dry, but seedlings need more watering. The herbs with larger leaves, that are in active growth need regular watering.
Never over-water them as this will drown them, make sure too that they have adequate drainage.
Also if you over-water them it could deplete vital air pockets in the soil around the roots, thus causing the nasty root fungus. This will then slowly rot the plant and it will die.
Moisture in the atmosphere is also good for the plants.
Growing plants together may help to create a humid area, or you could put some Sphagnum moss on the surface of the soil, then spray the area with a mist spray atomizer, in more hotter weather.
FEEDING
Herbs which are regularly harvested, need to be fed with a mild or weak liquid fertilizer, every 14 or so days in the Spring and the Summer, but reduce to 28 days as the growth slows, and do not feed at all during the Winter.
Never over-feed or use more than is necessary, and if it is a non herbal or manufactured fertilizer, always read the label.
CARE/CLEANING
Use a small to medium round-tipped paint brush {a soft one} to clean furry leaves such as Clary Sage. Gently brush them from stem to tip in sweeping movement.
To prevent the dust from clogging the pores, use a mist spray bottle to lightly cover the plant.
If you have high lime content in your water supply, it will manifest itself as white gritty deposits on the soil’s surface.
FERTILIZERS
Liquid fertilizers dissolved in water, can be fairly reliable, if you must use a manufactured one. Don’t forget to apply it as directed.
If you have ever bought large plants or herbs from a shop, you may have noticed the little
White globules that are mixed in the soil. This is a slow-release fertilizer that provide up to a whole growing season of feed.
HERBAL-YES, HERBAL FERTILIZERS
COLTSFOOT- tussilago farfara-provides sulphur and potassium.
COUCH GRASS- agropyron repens- rich in minerals, potassium and silica.
DANDELION- taraxacum officinale- an excellent source off copper.
DILL- anethum graveolens- rich in minerals, potassium, sulphur and sodium.
FAT HEN- chenopodium album- contains iron and other minerals.
FENUGREEK- trigonella foenum-graecum- the sprouted seed heads are rich in nitrates and calcium.
HORSETAIL- equisetum hyemale- contains a high concerntration of silica.
NETTLE- urtica dioica- described as a treasure-house of iron and nitrogen, as well as other minerals and trace elements.
SUNFLOWER- helianthus annuus –the ash of the sunflower stalks is high in potash.
TANSY- tanecetum vulgare- rich in potassium and other minerals.
TEA LEAVES- contain nitrogen, phosphoric acid, manganese and potash, but these elements remain locked within the tannin, until brewing.
YARROW- achillea millefolium- provides copper and is a good general all round fertilizer.
HEALTH IN PLANTS
As said before, it is important to keep an eye on your plants so that if disease is there, you may get to it quickly. Just gently observe their condition and check regularly the underside of the leaves and stems for nasties.
A great way to rid and prevent the nasties, is to plunge the plant top first into a bucket of mild washing up liquid solution. This will remove them if they are already present.
If however, you do have insect problems, you can try to combat them with an organic or herbal insecticide. Derris is a vegetable insecticide, taken from the roots of a tropical plant called Derris elliptica. Usually available in a ready mix from organic suppliers, again you must ensure you read the instructions, properly.
Removing scale insects is easy, -just scrub the leaves with a soft scrubbing brush using a strong detergent solution.
Next lesson {monday}will be diseases-prevention and cure and harvesting your herbs, then we shall return to healing with herbs!!!
Task:
find out the description of the following…..
1}althaea officinalis.
2}calendula officinalis.
3}monarda didymus.
Complete the following…
1} ___________ is good for headaches.
2}____________ is good for nausea.
3}____________ is good for eye infections.
The plant Boneset, is an emetic in high doses. Its latin name is eupatorium ___________.
complete whenever, i feel slack today! lol :hahugh: