For many people the perfect accent to their home is a lovely plant. So, they go to the nearest home improvement center or gardening shop and look around at the different plants that may be available.
This can be overwhelming and quite daunting once you see the price on some of the plants. Many people just simply shy away and decide to do with out and not worry about having plants in their homes. What if, you could'nt actually simply grow plants for your home out of things that you already have? Now you are probably thinking that this woman is crazy. But, I'm not. You already have the seeds in your home, you just don't know it.
There are many things that we actually eat on a regular basis that make lovely plants. You probably chop off the important pieces when you go to prepare your meals and then simply discard it in the trash. Well, its time to help keep less out of the trash and more to help beautify your home.
Time to take a look in your pantry!
Okay so you probably do not keep many of the items that we will be discussing in your pantry, but you do keep them in your kitchen as staples.
Onions-that's right those wonderful tasting vegetables that we use to add a little spice to sandwiches, salads and soups make beautiful plants for our homes. The onion is in the Lilly family. The ball that we eat is actually the root of the plant. When you prepare the onion for eating, you actually cut off a section that once had a long beautiful stem growing from it this part can actually regrow.
Potatoes-potatoes are a great side dish to any meal. Some as you will find, have eyes all over them, it is these eyes that grow roots which then extend to grow other potatoes for you to eat and enjoy. When you cut off the peel and the eyes, you are actually cutting off parts that can regrow. You can actually cut a potato into chunks and wants it to grow into plants and other new potatoes.
Sweet Potatoes-the same as potatoes, so they do the same. Each of these tubers grow beautiful lush green plants that will look lovely in any home.
Pineapple-Yes, they are great for throwing into fruit salads and how about for that lovely pineapple upside down cake, but the top part that you cut off with the lush green that will make a lovely plant and can grow quite large if you let it.
Herbs-these are a little tricky, if you have fresh, you may be able to work with the cuttings, however certain dried herbs will regrow into plants. A good example of this is dill weed, dill seed, rosemary, tyme and there are a few others.
Let's get growing!
Okay, now that the idea is planted, it to pull is time together some supplies and get thing growing for your home.
You will need; flower pots, potting soil, plant food, and any one of the above items.
Let's first start off with a pineapple plant. This plant will grow nicely but you have to tend to it quite often starting off. Here is how to get this lovely plant growing.
1) Cut off some of the meat along with the lush green part. about a quarter of in inch around the base of the top.
(2) Soak is the bottom portion of the some water for about 24 to 48 hours. This help will revive the top that has been starved of fluids while it has been laying around waiting to be taken home and eaten.
(3) In a day or two it is time to prepare your pot. You will want to start off with a medium size pot. This will allow the pineapple to have plenty of space for rooting. We want to make sure that the plans is nice and happy.
(4) Place a few pebbles in the bottom of the pot, fill half way with soil then.
(5) Set the pineapple top into the soil, then add more soil, be sure to keep about 3-4 inches of the top visible over the top edge of the pot. By planting the pineapple top deep into the dirt it allows the plant to be stable and helps with the stress level on the plans.
(6) Mix together some plant food. Many people like to use the name brand "Miracle grow" which works great, if you are frugal like many of US, you probably reach for the off brand of it which does just as well.
(7) Water and feed the plant. Every day or two stick your finger into the soil near the plant to see how moist it is. Since this is a tropical plant you will want to make sure that it does get plenty of water.
(8) Set the plans in a window. The pineapple loves the heat and the sun. This will help the plans more to grow quickly and be stronger and healthier.
There you have it one pineapple plant to grow in your lovely home. There may be an occasion where you will be required to move the pineapple plant to a bigger pot, this is okay. Move it and enjoy the plant. It is a lovely looking plans that will give you several years of enjoyment.
Now lets try growing a sweet potato plans!
This is another easy plant to grow, however, you will have to be patient with it, because you aren't a ' t going to get greenery from it in the first day or week.
(1) Take a sweet potato and cut off a small piece, about a 1/2 inch size piece.
(2) In a small flower pot or medium if you prefer, place small pebbles and soil about half full.
(3) In the middle of the pot, place your piece of sweet potato.
(4) Fill the pot the rest of the way with dirt.
(5) Water the dirt. This will help get the growing process started.
You will want to keep the soil moist. This will help the plant to grow more quickly. Like planning the pineapple, you can use some of the food to help it grow.
In about a week, you will start to see a small green shoot pop out of the soil. When this happens set the plans in a place where it can get some sun. However, not direct sun or sun all day. This a bit plans is on the picky side and won't care for it. So you will have to watch it close.
The potato plant is grown in the same fashion. So why not, one of each and see which one start first sprouts.
The onion is another plant that does take some time to get growing. But, when it does you are sure to enjoy the beauty of this lovely flower. Yes, that's right the onion is actually considered to be in the flower family. That is because it is related to the Lilly.
(1) After preparing your onion for consumption. Take the top of the onion with the flowering end and set it aside.
(2) Prepare the pot that you wish to use for this plans and fill it about 3 / 4 of the way to the top. You do not want as much soil over the onion top because it like to breath more than other plants do.
(3) Place the onion top into the soil, enhances cover with more soil then water. As with the other simply keep moist and it plans it will grow just fine.
(4) This plant does like a cool dry place in the initial growing, you may want to consider keeping it in a dark closet at night, then moving it out into the light during the early morning.
Experiment with different vegetables in your kitchen to see if you can get any of them to regrow into a nice plans for your home. You will be amazed at what you can do.
If you get carrots with the greens still on, give it a try. How about spinach in the stores many of them are actually bunched together with the roots still remaining. Try sticking the roots into some soil to see what happens.
With any of these if you feel your plans may need a little boost to get the rooting started, there is a product that you can use called rooting hormone. Simply roll the rooting end in the hormone before sticking it into the soil. Many avid gardeners will use the rooting hormone to start their own rose bushes from clippings and such.
Have fun experimenting and seeing what you can grow from your pantry!