Many gardeners have noticed that grass is greener and plants look healthier after a good rain. They conclude that rainwater is better for gardens than tap water. Is that really true? Is rainwater better than tap water? Does rainwater make our gardens greener? Let’s open that umbrella and find out. Key Takeaways Are Plants Greener … Read More
Gardeners claim that nitrogen levels in the soil increase after rain. Water floating down through the air picks up nitrogen and deposits it on and near plants. Lighting adds even more nitrogen to the process. They base their conclusion on the perceived greening of the garden after a rain. In agriculture, it is well understood … Read More
How much light should tomato seedlings get? If you give them too little, they will become tall, skinny, unhealthy plants, a condition called leggy. If you give them too much the leaves will be damaged. How much is the best amount?
The new science of growing tomato seedlings will surprise you.
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It used to be very common to add drainage material, such as rocks, Leca, or clay pot shards in the bottom of pots for added drainage. Then it was claimed that this is a myth and it does not work. But then some new science this year upsets everything by showing drainage material may actually work.
Should a gardener use drainage material? What kind of material works best?
Logic would have you believe that adding gravel or pot shards in the bottom of a pot or container will increase drainage and this has been a common practice for a long time. More recently some gardening experts and scientists have declared this to be a myth, claiming that gravel does not increase drainage when placed in the bottom of a pot. That is the current thinking.
New science has now been published that debunks the claimed myth and concludes that drainage material in the bottom of a pot or container does increase drainage.
Bats have long been shrouded in mystery and misconception. Their nocturnal habits, unique appearance, and association with darkness have fueled numerous myths and superstitions. This article aims to dispel these falsehoods, revealing the true nature of these vital mammals. Learn to appreciate and understand them.
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I am sure you have heard the stories; that a small bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes a night. This idea is so well known that many people have put up bat houses to attract this animal even though most people hate bats. I guess they hate mosquitoes even worse.
It all makes so much sense. Bats fly at night eating insects. Mosquitoes come out at night to hunt us. Why would bats not eat this plentiful food? And then there is the science; scientists studied bats and determined they could eat 1,000 mosquitoes a night.
In this post, I will look at this myth and explain how the myth originated. It is quite rare for me to be able to know how a myth starts, but in this case, it’s fairly clear.
In the good old days, it was easier for gardeners to talk about the artificial light plants required because most gardeners used fluorescent bulbs and most manufacturers produced about the same quality of bulbs. We could easily say that, for example, African violets should be grown 6 inches below a two-bulb fixture, and that would … Read More
Watering may be the hardest part of growing streptocarpus well. Not because they are difficult to water but because there is a lot of confusion and misinformation about their care. The goal of this post is to describe some watering experiments and provide clarity about watering.
Gardeners make repotting more complicated than it needs to be and in the process, they have created all kinds of myths about the process. It’s time to simplify repotting and bust the myths around it.
Greensand is an organic fertilizer that has been around for many years but it has never become popular except in certified organic farms. Are gardeners missing out on an important soil amendment and source of potassium? Key Takeaways What is Greensand? Greensand fertilizer is a natural soil amendment derived from ancient marine deposits, primarily composed … Read More
Can you use too much compost? If you believe what you read, compost is the best thing for your garden. If that’s true, how can you have too much? The truth is that too much compost, especially manure and commercial compost, is harmful to your soil and plants.
