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Growing Herbs in Water

No garden? No Space? No Problem! You can grow your own indoor herb garden without a pinch of soil! Even if you live in an apartment with nothing more than a tiny back porch or balcony, there is still room to grow some fragrant herbs. All you need is water, sunlight, and a place for your plants to spread their roots. There are several fresh herbs that will grow well in water such as; Oregano, Basil, Sage, and Peppermint.

You can take cutting right off the fresh herbs that you buy in the store. Wash them and cut them to about 6 inches and put them into the water filled containers. Make sure to remove the leaves from any part of the stem that will be under water. If the stems are not 6 inches long to start with, you still need to cut the end off, so that they will start to root. Most herbs will root fairly quickly if you start them this way. If the herb has a woodier stem, such as rosemary, they are a little more time consuming to start. The water must be changed once a week without removing the plant from the container. It can take as long as six weeks for the roots to start growing. Once they do, the water does not need to be changed that often.

Now that you have your favorite herb, the container is the next element that you will need! Using colored glass works best, since herb roots do not like direct sunlight. The easiest way to stop this problem is to put them in a container that blocks direct sunlight. If you don’t have any dark containers, you can use clear glass just don’t’ place the glass directly in the sunlight (like a window sill). This is where your imagination can come into play by displaying and growing your herbs! Flymeawaycreations Etsy shop has a cute vintage set of bottles that would work great with this DIY project. You can find these cute bottles by following the link below the post.

The water that you will use is important as well. You can use tap water, but you need to let it sit for 24 hours before using it. You can also use bottled water, but I still recommend that you let it sit out for at least 8 hours before using. The best water to use is rain water that you can catch by sitting out a bucket or jug. For myself I use rainwater to water all my indoor plants by sitting out a bucket outside to collect large amounts of water.

So if you don’t have a green thumb or garden space don’t worry! Just grab your favorite herb clipping and place it into a little glass container with water and in little time you will have your own little fresh herb garden!

Vintage bottles

https://www.etsy.com/listing/592501834/vintage-mini-bottles-set-with-cork

Meet The Maker

#MarchMeetTheMaker is a great challenge for many creative makers to showcase the social media world their creativity! For this year the month long challenge and strives are bigger and better than before! You can see for yourself a month of creative posting on Instagram and discovering an incredible amount of new talent to follow. As an Etsy shop owner I am participating along with this challenge and couple of my friends are too. I wanted to share along in this blog post a little bit about myself the “face”behind the shop’s name Flymeawaycreations and highlighting two Etsy shop’s!

I’m Angela the owner of Flymeawaycreations, and I was born and raised in NC. I love gardening, art, and especially nature. I wanted to create a shop blending my passions into one, so when you visit the shop you will see the shop inspired by my art, nature, and gardening! I’m a southern girl at heart! I love sweet tea, being outdoors, spending time with my family, and I love being creative! I love using the 3D printer for my designs, which it plays a huge part in the making many of the planters that are listed in the shop. Technology is growing so why not blend it with art and creativity! The idea name behind Flymeawaycreations was helped by my kids and the love of butterflies since I was a little girl.

To see and follow the shop on Instagram and on Etsy visits the links below:

http://www.instagram.com/Flymeawaycreations/

Etsy shop: http://www.Flymeawaycreations.com

Lucy Katze, is a small business owner known as, obsessedwithorganics, and a native of Los Angeles, California and currently lives in Michigan. She’s a solo mom of 6 and DIY addict. This vegan hippy animal lover is literally obsessed with organics. Her strange obsessions with all things organic lead her to her Etsy store where you can find vegan organic salve (multipurpose moisturizer) that is available.

A core value that she has always had and now incorporates into her business is the golden rule. Treat others as you wish to be treated. Salve is a definite must in your natural pharmacy. It’s perfect for relieving skin irritations, inflammations and wounds. There is minimal risk of negative skin reaction or allergy because salve contains few and simple ingredients. Plus it’s vegan and cruelty free. Her salve is available at Rare Earth Goods in Ishpeming, Michigan and Madgoodies in Marquette, Michigan.

You can visit her Etsy store, Instagram, and email by following the links below

http://www.etsy.com/shop/obsessedwithorganics

http://www.instagram.com/obsessedwithorganics/

email is: owithorganics@gmail.com

Jodie, owner of Ornamental by J Phelan, which you can find on Etsy, Facebook, and Instagram, has a unique shop with very cute hand-sewn ornaments! Many years ago she began making animal figurines and other momentous for family and friends. They have either symbolized an event in her life, such as an amazing travel memory, or just been inspired by the world around her. She notes, “I’m always amazed when the picture in my head comes to life in my hands”. Traditionally, she would give these as Christmas gifts, always left as a big surprise until that day. Many people have told her that they love them so much that the figurines are left out year round to enjoy. With their encouragement she opened an Etsy Shop sharing the joy with others by capturing the essence of one moment in time in a small figurine that she created. I hope you too come to enjoy seeing the world thru her eyes and the love of these handmade figurines as much as I do! Jodie has also adopted the reduce/reuse/recycle attitude and started to make decor items by up cycling and re purposing whenever she can.

You can visit her Etsy store, Instagram, and Pinterest by following the links below

http://www.etsy.com/shop/OrnamentalByJPhelan

http://www.Instagram.com/ ornamentalgal/

https://www.facebook.com/ornamentalbyjphelan/

https://Pinterest.com/ ornamentalgal/

Container Gardening for Beginners

Everyone has the time and the space to have a garden. No matter how busy you are or how small your yard or even if you don’t have a yard at all, you surely have room for a plant-filled container or two. Container gardening is quickly becoming one of the most popular growing techniques.

How do I start a container garden?

GARDENING in containers is a fascinating way of growing plants. It has expanded the horizons of gardening for homeowners and often has provided the only way to garden for apartment and condominium dwellers. Planting in containers has also provided a contemporary aspect to gardening. The use of unusual plants in unusual pots and containers provides interest and color to surroundings that were once considered drab. Containers bring plants up close and personal. You can choose the plant, the container, and the location. And when you put them all together, you can stand back and marvel at what you’ve created.

Interesting containers often make plants more picturesque, and the varieties available are almost endless. Color, size and texture are important, but the most important consideration when choosing a container is whether it has adequate drainage holes. Flymeawaycreations Etsy shop has over 20 different style planter containers that have drainage holes to help water flow for any plant!

Most people fill their containers with plants that grow for a single season; at the end of the season they toss the plants and start with fresh plants for the next round of growing. This is the easiest way to grow plants in containers because you don’t have to worry about the temperature extremes that challenge many plants, especially in regions with cold winters. Fear not: Choosing this option doesn’t mean you sacrifice anything. Some of the biggest, brightest, and longest-blooming flowers are ideal for single-season containers, as are most vegetables. For example, petunias, impatiens, beans, and tomatoes are grown as annuals and enjoyed for a single growing season. They require just a few months of commitment from you.

Helping Your Container Plants Thrive:

Plants in containers need a little more ongoing attention than plants in the ground. Container plants depend on you for their water and nutrients. Poorly drained potting mixture can lead to root problems. Under conditions of excess moisture and poor aeration, roots become stressed and are easily invaded by root rotting fungi. Under these circumstances, plants fail to grow properly or even die. Commercial potting mixtures are ideal for container plants. These are referred to as “soil less mixtures” because they do not contain soil but rather various combinations of minerals and peat moss as well as either per-lite or ground pine bark. The latter two components are used to improve drainage and aeration. The better commercial mixes are also fortified with fertilizer and lime as well as a wetting agent. These mixtures can be found at any local gardening shop, known as “potting soil.” Some plants need full sun to thrive, but any place that has sufficient light to read by is a suitable location for some type of potted plant. The key is choosing the right plant for the spot. The corner of your desk or any sun lit room may be a perfect spot for a small plant. The great thing about growing plants in containers is that you’re not limited by climate, how much space you have, or the plants commonly available at most garden centers.

If you would like to try planting Herbs in the container you will need at least a couple hours of good sun per day. Fill the container with 2-4 inches of compost soil. If you’re planting sprouts, make sure to give them a few inches of space around the roots. If you’re planting seeds, scatter the seeds evenly across the planter. Planting succulents make sure you use a container with a drainage hole in the bottom, and use a sandy and soil mixture. Stay tuned for a new blog regarding Planting succulents!

You can follow the link to Flymeawaycreations shop to see all the different style container planters for any small plant!

www.flymeawaycreations.com

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Caring for Cacti

The cactus family includes a large variety of succulent plants that vary size and color. Some grow into tall columns, reaching up to 50 feet high, while others are only a few inches high and well-suited for growing in pots. These mini-cacti generally produce brightly colored flowers and take on interesting shapes. You can buy mini-cacti already potted in small containers at several local gardening shops!

Cacti are quite low-maintenance, making them an ideal plant for new gardeners and a great housewarming gift. The secrets to growing healthy cacti indoors include providing them with plenty of sunlight, not over watering, and using the right soil. The most important thing to remember when choosing a pot for a cactus is drainage. Find a pot with drainage holes in the bottom that will allow excess water to drain out. Cacti also do well in smaller pots, so choose a pot that’s about twice the size of the plant. Flymeawaycreations shop has several planters that work great with small cacti plants! Many of the 3D printed planters that are listed at the shop have drainage holes to help release the excess water.

So where is the best spot for your new little plant? Kitchen and bathroom windows are great for cacti, because they can pull additional moisture from the air as needed. Most species of cacti need several hours of direct sunlight every day. A south- or east-facing window will be ideal for most cacti. However, if the cactus starts to look yellowed, bleached, or orange, it is likely getting too much light, and you should move it to a west-facing window. Some cactus varieties do better with indirect sunlight. If your cactus is turning white, yellowing, or spots are turning orange, it likely means the plant is getting too much sun. Move the cactus to a window that gets less direct sun.

How do you take care of your new cacti plant?

When you get home with your new cacti, first check the soil don’t water if the soil is still moist, as this will cause rot and kill the plant. Over watering

can kill a cactus, but the plant will need weekly watering during active growing periods. Growth phases are typically between spring and fall. When the soil feels dry to the touch, water the plant until the soil is thoroughly damp. Rain water is preferable to tap water, if you can manage to collect and store it.

Remember for the first two weeks after transplanting, from the store bought container to a new planter that you find at Flymeawaycreations or at another shop make sure the soil is damp, but not soaked and find a great location with enough sunlight for your new little plant!

You can follow the link to Flymeawaycreations shop to see all the different designs for your new cactus!

www.flymeawaycreations.com

Gardening with Turtles

There are hundreds of kinds of tortoises and even more kinds of turtles, but my experiences have been limited to but a few. I have found they make excellent garden companions. Did you know that the box turtle can be a great gardener friend? Yes, these beautiful animals can help keep those pests away from your beautiful flowers! The box turtle’s diet can consist of

Slugs

Flies

Grubs

Snails

Grasshoppers

Crickets

Box turtles will eat most bugs; essentially, if they can catch it, they will eat it. The rest is their diet is made up of fungi, moss, and berries. If you can, please welcome box turtles in your garden. Invite box turtles into your garden by planting their favorite fruits; mulberry, blackberries, and elderberry. In sunny areas, encourage dense clusters of brambles, and let the ripened berries fall. Choose species that fruit at different times during the season. Also be aware that these cute creatures have a well-known penchant for raiding vegetable gardens, especially for cantaloupes and tomatoes, so erect a little box turtle barrier. Leave large, continuous areas of natural leaf litter mulch beneath the trees on your property, where the animals can remain camouflaged and forage for prey. Build brush piles over soft, loose soil by layering branches and leaf litter, where they can spend the night or overwinter. Any moist place, whether swamp, damp forest depression, or simple water garden, will help turtles survive the hottest parts of the day.

Should you be fortunate enough to witness a turtle nesting in your garden, identify and protect the site from any dogs or cats. If you can identify the species of wild turtle that has graced your garden, report it to your local fish and wildlife office. The common box turtle is not so common nowadays. Even these masters of retreat, temperature regulation and patient waiting for dangers to pass are not faring well in a quickly changing climate. Being stolen from the wild to be kept as a pet or sold in a pet store is another major impact that they can’t recover from quickly. Fresh water, and safe corridors for wild turtles to travel to fresh water, is increasingly scarce. Box turtles are listed as vulnerable, one step away from endangered, on the IUCN Red List because of these hazards and more.

So the next time you are in your garden or plan to create one think about this cute slow moving gardener friend!

Flymeawaycreations Etsy shop has two unique 3D printed planters that are designed as a cute bronze colored tortoise and a mint green adorable sea turtle! You can follow the links below to check out both styles!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/667570566/sea-turtle-planter-for-indoor-gardening

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129676347/tiny-tortoise-planter-for-small