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Planting Tips for Aloe Vera

One of the best plants to have in your home or office is Aloe Vera. It can provide some tropical flair to your desktop or garden as an easy-going succulent.The plant is stemless or very short-stemmed with thick, greenish, fleshy leaves that fan out from the plant’s central stem. The margin of the leaf is serrated with small teeth. In this blog to keep your potted friend happy you can follow with these quick care tips.

First, plant aloe in a terra cotta pot with well-drained dirt. Your best bet is to mix equal parts sand and potting soil or buy a special succulent mix. The terra cotta also dries faster than other plastic or glazed containers. If you purchase a small plant you can start with a container that is small and as it grows re pot into a larger terra cotta container. Re pot your aloe if the weight of the plant causes tipping, but otherwise don’t worry about giving it lots of space. This plant thrives in snug conditions. ( You can visit Flymeawyacreations Etsy shop to see different style small planters to help your gardening).

Second, Place your aloe in a bright, sunny place. Otherwise it will go dormant and stop growing. Water the plant heavily about once every two weeks, waiting until the soil dries out fully. Since this is a desert species, keeping the dirt moist will cause the roots to rot. Limp or brown leaves also signal you’ve overdone the watering. If you like, you can move your potted plant outdoors for the summer, but don’t put it in direct sunlight right away. Gradually place it in a brighter spot every few days to prevent overexposure.

Taking Care of your plant

Your aloe will produce a tall stalk of small, bell-shaped flowers from time to time. Once the blooms fade, you can snip the stem off at the base. Even better, aloe plants also produce new, smaller plants perfect for propagation. If you notice one of these “babies,” dump out the dirt and pull apart the roots of the different plants, replanting in separate containers.

If you’re keen to give aloe plants to friends, you can try starting your own plants by cutting off a few leaves. Trim to about 3 inches from the leaf tip; then put the cut ends down in a container of potting mix. While not everyone will take, some will sprout tiny new leaves at the base. Wait until this new plant grows a few inches before re potting again.

You will notice that Aloe leaves contain a clear gel that’s a popular home remedy. According to the Mayo Clinic, this substance may shorten the healing of first- and second-degree burns and promote wound healing. Applying aloe gel to the skin could also help reduce acne and redness caused by mild to moderate psoriasis. However, the Mayo Clinic does not recommend ingesting aloe as eating too much could cause kidney damage. With this in mind, you can snip off an aloe leaf (as close to stem as possible) when you need it and rub the juicy end on a sunburn or sore spot. This plant is best to keep around during those hot sunny beach days!

Visit the shop on Etsy to find the best style planter for you!

http://www.flymeawaycreations.com

Houseplants that need “almost” Zero Sunlight

Are you looking for easy houseplants to take care of or struggle with keeping houseplants alive? I am sharing 5 of my favorite low-light houseplants for low-light or darker living-spaces in this blog. These houseplants would also be a great solution for your windowless office, your bathroom or even your cubicle at work. There are so many selections of plants that thrive on nearly zero sunlight, but my personal favorites are those that also require little care or have vibrant blossoms. I work from home, so I love being surrounded by houseplants that are beautiful, but require little attention.

If you decide to add some low light houseplants to your home or office that are sure to survive being ignored or left in a dark room, read all of my favorites below.

Spider Plant this plant can survive with nearly zero sunlight. It can also survive for years in indirect light and even live prosperously if it’s been lacking water for a while. In fact, during the winter months it needs very little water at all. This houseplant will thrive in fluorescent lighting as well. It will produce tiny white flowers, grow quickly, are great indoor air filters, and needs almost zero sunlight!
Begonia is perennial flowering plants. They come in several colors and shapes. These little beauties live nicely without any direct sunlight and add a perfect pop of color to your home. These plants can easily be over watered, be sure to let the soil dry between watering, and look great in small planters or hanging planters!
Mint is typically grown outside, but this herb makes a fabulous house guest as it delivers its aroma throughout your space. It can be harvested for teas, drinks and desserts, and grows quickly. The soil needs to be kept moist and need (almost) zero sunlight.
The Snake Plant is beautifully green with variegated leaves; its sharp point gives this low-light house plant its nickname of mother-in-law’s tongue. It needs little water, it can grow up to several feet tall, and needs (almost) zero sunlight.
Areca Palms are excellent air purifiers and can also act as a humidifier for your indoor space! It can add a tropical feel to your home, can produce small, yellow flowers, and needs (almost) zero sunlight.

For those of us without a green thumb it can feel a little overwhelming to try and choose plants that we won’t accidentally kill. However, these houseplants require very little care and almost zero sunlight and will be easy to take care of. Not only do these low-light houseplants enhance indoor decor, there are numerous other benefits to having some indoor plants in your space. Plants are also scientifically proven to purify the air and get rid of chemicals and toxins inside, replacing them with pure oxygen. An abundance of greenery can also help to reduce stress levels and create a naturally inviting element in your home. So the next time you decide to shop for an indoor plant maybe try one of these easy and beautiful plants above from the list! Also Flymeawaycreations Etsy shop has over 20 different style planters that can work well with Mint, Spider plant, or the Begonia!

Follow the link to see each style planter!

www.flymeawaycreations.com

To my Taurus friend,

Importance of Outdoor play

Summer is the perfect season to let children play outside. While the weather is nice, it’s a perfect chance to encourage your child to show self-efficacy through independent play, develop muscle tone and coordination, and use his or her creativity and imagination. Playing outdoor games can be a brilliant way to enhance learning abilities in kids.

Outdoor play is not only beneficial, but also crucial for the brain’s healthy development. During independent play, with little structure or rules, children solve complex social and emotional problems with little outside assistance. The children are the ones who will need to make the critical decisions for what they feel the rules and limitations should be for their games or activities, which in turn improves children’s negotiating and social skills.

Obesity is a growing concern, so what better way to combat this issue than through fun, healthy outdoor play? Through the simple act of playing, children are running, jumping, climbing, squatting, and rolling. Exerting their bodies is a form of fun, informal exercise. For children with special needs, outdoor play is especially critical in core muscle development, small motor skill refinement, and increasing coordination. Children need to navigate obstacles, maintain appropriate space around other children, and use their strength to throw, catch, manipulate objects or tackle a jungle gym.

Our world is changing, and not for the better. If a child grows up never walking in the woods, digging in soil, seeing animals in their habitat, climbing a mountain, playing in a stream, or staring at the endless horizon of an ocean, they may never really understand what there is to be lost. The future of our planet depends on our children; they need to learn to appreciate it.

When you tell your child to “Go outside and play”, you’re not just getting him or her out of the house and out of your hair. You’re also promoting healthy brain development, as well as a good workout for your child’s body.

Follow the link to my Pinterest board and you can find fun outdoor summer activities for all age children:

https://pin.it/f7fnn4ejqwb36g

For the Love of Puddles Splish Splash Smart_Boy stomping in puddle

Making an Indoor Fairy Garden

Miniature gardens filled with fairies, gnomes, and cute little fairy houses offer children an enchanted play space to develop their creativity and imagination. Add a bit of magic to your favorite indoor potted plants by adding fairy accessories from a local craft shop or creating your own with a little bit of glue and imagination to create a one of a kind fairy garden for any child or a kid at heart! In this blog I will describe how to create an indoor little fairy garden by using a few materials and show you some ideas to create a fairy garden by just adding homemade/bought accessories to your potted plants.

First, some of the materials that you will need to create a fairy garden

(1)Large container

Potting soil

(2-3)Small plants (indoor plants) & rocks or pebbles

First decide what type of container you would like, this is up to you, A few of my favorite fairy garden container ideas is a large round planter, clay pot, glass container, or small metal container. Then you will put your soil into your fairy garden using an organic potting soil for best results. Choose some of your larger plants and furniture as “anchor points” for your design. Next, add in our secondary plants and pieces and make sure everything that needs to be is planted in the soil. This is where you can add fun flowering plants or even plant flowering seeds and watch them grow in your garden! You can use colored aquarium gravel or small pebbles to cover the soil and give your fairy garden a finished look. You can use two tone colored pebbles to create a path through the garden leading to her home. If your container is large enough, you can make different scenes in your fairy garden, such as a sitting area for your fairy or different little paths throughout the garden. Fill in the areas that you molded to be rivers, ponds, walkways, and paths. Any of the elements below can be added to finish these features:

stones

pebbles

glass gems

sea glass

wood slices

With a little hot glue, a few craft supplies and some potted plants, you can create a beautiful indoor fairy garden that’s perfect for every season. Click through this gallery for fun ideas and inspiration to get started on your own fairy garden.

You can also find flowering seeds; wildflowers, lavender, and sunflowers at Flymeawaycreations Etsy shop. Here is the listing for one type of flowering seeds:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/700786585/english-lavender-seeds-organic-for-herb

Also when visiting Flymeawaycreations shop you can find a very unique 3Dprinted fairy house to add to your garden! This adorable home features a small door for any fairy to enter and rest for the night. The complete home is 3D printed with biodegradable PLA material and hand painted olive green with a touch of gold sparkles! The house is shaped in a dome to help blend into the flower garden and sparkles in the sun or moon light to attract any passing fairy!

You can find it here by following the link:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/710169825/fairy-garden-house-3d-printed-for?ref=shop_home_active_3&frs=1

Hope this blog can help you start your very own little fairy garden!

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Planting Lavender

Lavender is a flowering plant in the mint family that’s easily identified by its sweet floral scent. I have several lavender plants planted in my garden because I love the fragrance and using it in several dessert recipes! This beautiful herb can be found in many gardening shops for you to replant or start from scratch by planting the seeds! Below I have a few tips on how to plant, care, and harvest this special herb.

Tips for How to Plant and Care for Lavender

Lavender should be planted in the spring. You can wait until summer or fall, but the earlier the better to ensure the plants are strong enough to survive the upcoming winter. Ideally, you should allow about two to three feet between each plant, and don’t plant in areas that receive a lot of moisture. This is a low-maintenance plant, so you only need to water about once or twice a week as the plants start to grow, and then slowly cut, watering to every two to three weeks. In a formal garden, lavender may be clipped to form a low hedge or an aromatic border along a path. In a rock garden, a single plant or just a few plants may be used to great effect as an accent. Lavender also grows quite well in containers. In the Deep South, it actually does better in pots, as it benefits from improved drainage and air circulation. While the plants thrive in arid Western climates, they are usually considered annuals in the South. Remember that lavender needs good drainage and good air circulation. Do not over-water, and allow the soil to dry before watering again. When there is a lot of heat and humidity, fungus can attack the plants, turning the leaves brown. To minimize the chance of having such a problem, mulch with pebbles or sprinkle sand around the base of the plant. Bugs are a nuisance during the summer and warmer months. You might be happy to learn that lavender may act as a natural bug repellent, keeping away a variety of critters, like flies, mosquitoes, and moths.

Harvesting

Begin harvesting when about half of the buds open. Cut the stems long for easy bundling, and then place the lavender bundles in a cool, dark place to dry. However, avoid clipping more than every third stem to keep the plant looking full. Flowers will keep their perfume for months when you harvest just before they are entirely open. To dry flowers, gather a bunch of stems and hang them upside-down in a dark, well-ventilated place to preserve color and keep the stems from molding.

Using Lavender

Fresh flowers may be used in sauces, marinades, and desserts. Handle fragile dried blossoms with care and use them in teas, salts, potpourri, sachets, and crafts. Also, you can place lavender in different areas around the house to help freshen the smell of a stale room. This can include the laundry room, the garage, and closets. Or dab a little bit of the essential oil on your finger and place some of the oil around your neck for a natural perfume.You’ll find that lavender is also an ingredient in some soap, lotions, and body washes. These products can leave your skin moisturized and promote calm, relaxing feeling after bathing.

You can find lavender seed packets available at Flymeawaycreations Etsy shop to help you start planting your flowering garden!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/700786585/english-lavender-seeds-organic-for-herb

Planting Lavender