California Plants

Here are the steps to create a seed starting rack for your home. Creating this seed starting system doesn’t require much effort at all.

1. Purchase a wire rack. You can get this at a kitchen store, restaurant supply store, Costco, or another store. Ensure it has casters so it can roll. Ensure the shelves are adjustable.
2. Buy fluorescent tube grow lights or shop lights, with one warm and one cool bulb.
3. Hang shop lights from the rack shelves. Use the chains they come with.
5. Get a seed starter kit from any local home improvement store. Or just get a tray and punch holes in the bottom.
6. Use a soiless mixture for these seeds as new seedlings like a light and airy mix. Pre moisten the mixture in a bag before using it.
7. Don’t plant your seeds too deep. Just plant them about 1/2 centimeter deep, pressing into the mix.
8. Put a layer of sphagnum moss on top of your mix to prevent the seeds from dying overnight from damping off.
9. Optional: put a plastic dome on top of your seed tray so it acts as a greenhouse to give seeds a moist environment to sprout. Remove this dome once the seeds sprout.
10. Note that seedlings need 10-12 hours of light per day. You can use a timer so no there is no need to worry when the lights will come on. Keep the light close to your seedlings.
11. You can move the lights as close as possible as the seedlings grow.
12. Don’t forget to water the mix so it does not dry out at any time.
13. Once seedlings have grown 3 sets of new leaves it is time to be fed.
14. You can water with a soluble fertilizer at 1/2 strength so the plants feed themselves.
15. Pant seedlings in peat pots so when the weather is right they can go right into your garden - learn how to plant them with high density gardening here.

These shade loving plants are loaded with color and texture. This post should give you a great idea of some shade plants to buy for your garden at home. Pinch off finished blooms on any of these all summer long to keep them flowering. Feed these once a month.

• Impatiens - There are many colors of these that thrive in the shade
• New Guinea Impatiens - These can do with less shade, they have darker green foliage, and they also have larger brilliant blooms than regular impatiens
• Tuberous Begonias -  These can tolerate up to 6 hours of sun, and can be grown in baskets or containers
• Fuscias - Fuscias can be grown in hanging baskets
• Coleus - These have bright leaves including purples, greens, yellows, chartreuse
• Hostas - These can be dwarf to giant and the more yellowish the leaves, the more sun they can take
• Bleeding Hearts - These can take a little sun, they are on average 1-3 feet tall, and flowers are usually between pink and white
• Astilbe - These have soft feathery plumes in mid to late summer in pink to red
• Lily of the Valley - Quick spreaders
• Ferns - Quick growers
• Baby Tears - Low growing

If you would like to learn about high density gardening in the sun and shade, click here.

High Density Gardening

When looking for privacy plants, shrubs, and trees to create an outdoor privacy screen, there are a number of great options. Although it is possible to buy a garden fence for outdoor privacy, living things are relaxing and fun to look at. Outdoor privacy screens block out noise, give privacy, and look pleasant. Here are a number of plants, shrubs, and trees we recommend, all listed and priced here.

1. Stephanandra ‘Crispa’ - Shade, prevents erosion on hills, grows in zones 3-8
2. Taxus Margarita - Part shade or full sun, 4 to 6 ft height/width, grows in zones 3-7
3. Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ - Part shade, beautiful big blooms, grows to height of 4 feet tall, grows in zones 4-9
4. Rhododendron P.J.M. - Part shade or full sun, beautiful foliage, 5-6 feet tall, grows in zones 4-8
5. x Cupressocyparis leylandii - Sun or light shade, fast growing, dense, can trim to be 10-30 feet tall, grows in zones 6-9
6. Caryopteris ‘Longwood Blue’ - Sun or part shade, great as a hedge, about 2 feet tall, grows in zones 5-9
7. Cryptomeria ‘Radicans’ - Part shade or full sun, drought resistant and fast grower, can grow 10-40 feet in height depending on your trimming, grows in zones 5-8
8. Pinus ‘Thunderhead’ - Sun, easy to grow, 5-6 feet in height, zones 5-9
9. Thuja ‘Green Giant’ - Part shade to sun, easy to grow and fragrant, trim to be anywhere between 10-30 feet tall, grows in zones 5-8

Many people ask me when is the best time to start planting indoors and outdoors. Although I would say anytime, now really is the perfect time. If you are in a colder climate, start planting indoors in trays. If you are in a warmer climate, plant in the ground. The banner ad below has some great web specials from Wayside Gardens.

Taking care of Orchids can be easy or difficult depending on the Orchid you choose and location you will grow the Orchid. The best way to select an Orchid is first choose where in your home you will grow the Orchid. Note if you will have bright light, shade, and when the light will come through to the plant. If you like to water more often, note this. If you are ok neglecting plants, note this. If you want an Orchid to bloom for months, note this. If you want an Orchid that will bloom for a couple weeks, note this.

To take care of the Orchids you choose to buy at home, first either get a humidity tray, choose a humid location such as the bathroom or kitchen, or place rocks in a saucer around the plant. This ensures your Orchid has proper humidity. Next make sure you have Orchid fertilizer, and use this at least once a month. Some Orchids like to dry out between waterings and others don’t. Depending on which kind of Orchid you have, lift the pot to decide by weight if the Orchid needs to be watered. Ensure to locate your Orchid without any direct sun on the leaves, no matter what kind of Orchid. The more appropriate your care conditions are for needs of a particular Orchid, the more blooms, healthy foliage, and healthy roots you will have.

These are the three easiest Orchids to grow in bright light indoors. There are many varieties of each of these kinds of Orchids.

1. Oncidiums - These Orchids light bright indirect light, almost drying out between waterings, like to be potted in fine bark, and can take temperatures as low as 55 and as high as 85.
2. Vandas - These Orchids love when they can briefly dry out between waterings, like temperatures between 65 and 90, like very bright indirect light, and like to be potted in medium or large bark.
3. Dendrobiums - These Orchids like to dry out briefly in between waterings, enjoy very bright indirect light, and like to be potted in fine bark.

For all of the Orchids above, use a humidity tray or tray with rocks and water.  All above Orchids should be misted when it is hot.

These seven kits are our recommendations to grow seeds for plants, vegetables, and herbs in your home. Growing these from seed to plant will be a pleasure.

1. This terra cotta kit herb garden is very affordable and includes six kinds of seeds.
2. This indoor kit to grow culinary herbs includes 12 culinary herbs, 50 peat pellets, a greenhouse dome, tray, and instructions.
3. This mini power plant helps you grow any plant without any fuss.
4. This portable greenhouse is such a bargain, and great product.
5. This Aerogrow kit includes everything you need to grow herbs and vegetables at home.
6. This is a space saver AeroGrow garden for herbs and vegetables.
7. This kit includes everything you need to grow the moving tickle me plant that moves!

Phalaenopsis Orchid plants are the easiest Orchid to grow for the beginner grower. They are not only the easiest Orchids to care for, but they are also ideal for growing indoors. This post has information to help you shop for, buy, grow, and care for Phalaenopsis Orchids.

1. When buying a Phalaenopsis Orchid, choose one without all blooms open. This will give you more blooms to come.
2. When shopping for Phalaenopsis Orchids, choose the Phalaenopsis Orchid with the strongest leaves, and biggest roots and leaves. Look for leaves and roots that look like they are active and growing.
3. Buy your Phalaenopsis Orchid somewhere that will stand behind the plant if it does not do well. Good stores offer a return or exchange policy.
4. Phalaenopsis Orchids are epiphytic. This means they grow on trees and rocks. They get their nutrients and water from items that fall to them. They are very used to having their roots dry out at times because of this.
5. Most Phalaenopsis Orchids can bloom 2-6 months in a row. To have your Orchid bloom this long, you need humidity around the leaves and flowers. The best way to get humidity is purchase a humidity tray and grow your Phalaenopsis Orchid on top of the tray.
6. Phalaenopsis Orchids do not like to sit in water for days. Water the plant over the sink well, let the mix drain, and then don’t water again until the mix is almost dry. You can tell when to water by lifting the pot. If the pot is light, water.
7. Fertilize 2 out of 3 waterings with a very weak solution of Orchid fertilizer.
8. Repot your Phalaenopsis Orchids every 2-3 years when the plant is growing out of the pot.
9. When caring for leaf problems, only cut off a leaf with fungus.
10. Care for your Phalaenopsis in the right location in your home. Choose a location with low indirect light, good air movement, and no temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.