Living Plants Add Texture And Warmth for a Healthy Room

Filed Under (Nature) by Keith Markensen on 03-07-2008

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by Keith Markensen

Color is what makes a house a home, and your family will enjoy taking care of indoor plants as well. If you want to find additional benefits for houseplants, think about the quality of air that house plants are going to add, and the colors, the feel of living things all around you - it is all an outstanding feeling.

You are most likely wondering just how hard it is to care for houseplants. Well, caring for houseplants is actually quite easy. You need dirt, the plant, light and water. Very few plants require any special light, but you might want to read up on the plant you are purchasing if you feel you don’t know much about that one type. Many green plants will need some amount of indirect light, which means as long as you have a window in that room the sunlight will come in and the plant will enjoy it.

If you have never had any types of plants before, you will find that many plants are going to grow slowly. You could have a small potted indoor plant, and it could be a year before you need a bigger pot. You can then use the smaller pot for another house plant that you have. In the living room, you could have hanging plants, plants on the end tables, or on the coffee table. Sometimes if you have large window sills you could even put small pots on the window sill of your living room for a great overall effect.

There are some types of house plants that are going to also produce flowers. If you find that you have a plant, that you want to keep until it flowers, you may be waiting a few seasons. Some indoor plants, such as a Christmas cactus are only going to bloom once a year, and then sometimes it won’t bloom again for two years. It is a wonderful time in the living room where the plants are colorful and many textures of the leaves are available as well.

Perhaps you want something a little different in your indoor garden such as exotic plants. You could choose from plants that are sun loving, desert loving or that are even aquatic. The choices you have are vast and you don’t have to have an indoor garden that is all green hanging type of plants as many people think about, but you can have flowers indoors, or plants that smell like candy.

What you need to watch for are plants that are going to attract insects. Insects are attracted to some plants but rarely. Geraniums indoors are going to attract small white flies. Spider mites are attracted to plants that are overly wet but there are also sprays for all types of little pests that you can use if you would happen to have a little creature in your plants. Don’t worry though the little pests are few and far between for the normal semi warm climates such as the indoors of your home.

Watering is not going to take much of your time at all. Indoor gardens really only need attention once a week or every two weeks depending on the variety of plants that you have chosen. The yucca plant is low in the water needs area for example. What you can look for is a calendar in your kitchen or on your computer and make little notes to yourself if you really think you are going to forget for weeks at a time. Otherwise, when you put your finger in the dirt and you find that it is a little dry add a little water and your indoor garden is going to be thriving!

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Tips In Birdhouse Design

Filed Under (Nature) by Chris Channing on 11-06-2008

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by Chris Channing

Viewing nature in all of its glory can be tough in a society filled with machines, technology, and other devices that make viewing birds in their natural form difficult. But obtaining the correct birdhouse can give the wonderful benefits of nature to bird lovers everywhere- the trick is finding the right birdhouse.

For some types of birds, it is necessary to use multiple housing compartments. This is because some species of birds will only nest as a group, and therefore the common birdhouse will not be able to meet their requirements. The acceptable type of birdhouse for colonized birds, such as the Purple Martin bird, looks much like apartment complexes rather than a traditional birdhouse.

Some birds will only take residence in a birdhouse if the hole into the residence is small enough. This is true in the case of the swallow family of birds, who need a hole no bigger than an inch and half or predators will come into the birdhouse and cause mayhem. To appeal to a swallow, a birdhouse must be anywhere from an inch to an inch and a half and no more, or they will try to find safer living arrangements.

The classic birdhouse, which is only one compartment, appeals to birds such as the woodpecker. Such birds are fine with not nesting with other birds of their type, do not usually need a specific hole margin, and will generally live in a wide variety of birdhouses. This means that the average birdhouse obtained or made can appeal to a wide variety of birds- just like the woodpecker. But in the woodpecker’s case, they don’t add cushion to their nests, so adding a bit of woodchips will help provide safety for eggs.

Other types of birds will need a large space in which to build their own nest in. Just like the woodpecker, the Great Crested Flycatcher will be able to make use of most conventional birdhouses. But this bird will attempt to make its own nest in the birdhouse- meaning it should be slightly larger than the average birdhouse most are accustomed to. It’s important to include an easy way of cleaning the birdhouse when making them.

Many types of birds are perfectly fine with making a conventional nest in a tree or bush- and bird watchers don’t necessarily need to provide special housing just to enjoy a good view of nature. But in the case of bird watchers who enjoy up close action, and views of specific birds, setting out the right birdhouse can mean all the difference.

Final Thoughts

The excellent sport of bird watching is something to be enjoyed by all ages. It helps out the bird community, gives elderly and young children entertainment, and gives homes a very homely and kind feel to them. Just keep in mind that attracting the right birds may take specific requirements- although the average birdhouse will do just fine in giving bird lovers a form of release.

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