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Propagating Wandering Jew

Propagating Wandering Jew in Water is super easy! Follow the given instructions and decorate your home with this stunning vine.

Rooting Wandering Jew Cuttings in Water

The resilient Tradescantia will root from almost any cutting, whether placed in water or in soil. So, starting a wandering Jew in water is a good project for anyone, including children and gardening beginners.You should see new roots begin to emerge within a week or so. After about two weeks in water or when the new roots are a few inches long, plant your cuttings in an all-purpose potting mix, and care for them by watering weekly.

Cut off one of the drooping stems from a houseplant. A cutting of 6 inches is easier to handle than a smaller one, but any length is likely to root as long as you snip just above a leaf or leaf node. That’s where the plant will push new roots. Clip off leaves from the bottom few inches of the cutting, then put the cutting in a jar or glass filled with water. The stem is submerged in water while the leaves are out of the water. It’s fun to use a clear glass or jars to see the roots growing

Put the glass on a windowsill out of direct sunlight. Replace the water every few days, checking for roots. You won’t have to wait too long. Once the roots appear and grow to several inches, they are ready to plant in potting soil.

How to grow Echinacea

These hardy perennial plants are broadly referred to as Coneflowers. They are highly attractive to pollinators and make excellent cut flowers. They look spectacular in mass plantings.

Timing

Sow indoors 8-10 weeks before planting out. If started indoors in late winter, Echinacea may bloom in the first year. It can also be direct sown in early spring or early fall. Germination should occur in 10-21 days.

Starting

Sow seeds shallowly at only 3mm (1/8″) deep. If starting indoors, provide total darkness and a soil temperature of 21-25°C (70-75°F). Once sprouts appear, provide bright indirect light ( near the window ). When sprouts are large enough to move outdoors, plant in a sunny location.

Growing

Space plants at 30-38cm (12-15″) apart in any average, well drained, slightly acidic soil. Water plants regularly for best results, keeping the leaves as dry as possible. Leave seed heads intact over winter to feed birds and provide shelter for beneficial insects.

Using Orange peels in the garden

Gardens thrive off of the items we may otherwise be inclined to throw away, making them even more frugal and affordable to enjoy. Orange peels are no exception when it comes to household scraps you can use in your garden. Below are a few ways to use orange peel this garden season.

Make your own biting bug and insect repellent.

If mosquitoes and other biting bugs are an issue, orange peels can help.You can place orange peels around the garden while you work to keep these insects away, or just try rubbing an orange peel on your clothing. Some of the pests that orange peels can help repel include: aphids, slugs, mosquitoes, and biting flies.

Adding peels to your soil. Orange peels can be dried and grounded and used to enrich your soil.Some plants thrive off of acidic soil. If you are planting a perennial that needs acidity in the soil, orange peels may be able to help. Marigold, Nasturtium, Petunia, Zinnia and herbs such as; Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme. Make your own budget friendly fertilizer.

Did you know that orange peels are chock full of nitrogen? Nitrogen is essential to good fertilizer.When your soil needs a boost, you can add in ground up orange peels. The peels will release the nitrogen and the result is nutrient rich soil your plants will love.

Bugs aren’t the only things that don’t like the smell of citrus. Shred up your peels and sprinkle them on the top of the garden or containers that you don’t want your dog or cats going near. This is a great way to get your paw friends away from your houseplants or plants on the patio.

Gardening with Junk

Gardening with Junk

Plants and junk containers sometimes seem as though they were made for each other. A few junk containers gradually let loose among other pots or partly hidden in a bed can help to enhance your garden without major upheavel. The hunt for a piece of junk with planter potential can bring an enjoyable new aspect to gardening.

6 household items you can repurpose as junk plant pots

Colanders. Colanders are not only useful for draining: they are great used as alternative hanging flower pots. …
Tin cans. Instead of placing empty cans in the recycling bin, give them a new purpose with a simple upgrade.
Tea pots
Muffin tins
An old sink
Plastic bottles

Barrels, old buckets, pots, drums and tubs can all be used providing drainage holes are present. As a designer I like to think that pots should look good too and if you are gardening on a small balcony or small patio.

The trick is to create a beautiful effect in a limited area to get the most out of your junk container. Select a plant that highlights the strength of the pot and creates a balance when placed. Such as primrose brings a splash of color to the garden in early spring. In addition try to match the color of the flower or foliage with the color of the junk container to create a simplicity vibe.

Have you made any junk containers? If so please share in the comments!

DIY fire starters

DIY fire starters are one of the few guarantees in life. They’re guaranteed to make your fire starting struggles a thing of the past. These inexpensive and easy to make fire starters are all about reducing your fire starting stress. Because no one wants to come off the trail and spend the next hour fighting for a spark to catch. Or in the morning, as you stir in your sleeping bag, avoid having to do battle against the dew covered fire pit. One technique that you’ll need to know for most of these fire starter designs: how to melt wax. We recommend the double boiler method, but you can also use a microwave if you prefer. Once you have that part figured out, you’ll be full steam ahead to create fire starters for your next camping trip or for a backyard fire.

This design will likely cost you nothing to make since most people can find the required items around the house. They’re also ultra-lightweight and a great option for backpackers that want to avoid adding weight wherever they can.

Instructions:

Find one of these common cotton items: cotton string, a cotton pad, a tampon, or a shoelace.
Fully submerge it in melted wax
Set aside to dry
Once the wax has dried completely, you may want to cut the cotton item into smaller segments to give you multiple uses.

Most well-known fire starter design on the list. It’s a super quick way to make a dozen DIY fire starters, and there’s a good chance you already have everything you’ll need kicking around at home.

Instructions:

Grab an empty egg carton
Fill each of the twelve spots with a pinch of dryer lint, making sure not to overfill it or pack it too tightly. Leave plenty of room for wax to be poured onto the lint without overflowing
Pour melted wax into each ‘cup’, completely covering and saturating the lint
Poking it with a knife or fork can help the wax work its way into the lint
Set it aside to dry on newspaper (or something similar)
Cut out each cup to create individual fire starters

A basket full of pinecones sitting next to a fireplace not only looks good, but also smells great and provides extra fuel to get a fire going.

Instructions:

Head outside to collect as many pine cones as you want
To keep your hands away from hot wax, you can tie a string around each pinecone and then hold onto the extra length of string as you dip them into the wax
Set aside to completely dry and use when needed

This DIY fire starter is as easy as it gets. All you have to do is peel an orange and then leave the peel out to dry. Not only is this incredibly easy but when burnt, the orange peel produces a wonderfully sweet fragrance too. You’ll be a hit around the campfire with this one.

If you don’t want to recreate these easy DIY fire starters you can find a bundle already created at our Etsy shop. https://www.etsy.com/listing/909057034/fire-pit-wax-fire-starters-for-outdoor