Thursday, May 24, 2012

Putting Your Tropical Plants Outside -Part 1 - Change of light


     Most of your indoor tropical plants will benefit from spending the spring, summer and early fall outside, and by now, you may already have set them out. Here are some guidelines and things to consider to ensure their time is beneficial and well spent for both the plants and you.

      Most tropical plants enjoy some sunshine but should not have extended periods of direct, intense sunshine. Plants moving from your lower light, indoor environment to the great outdoors will adapt to the increase in light intensity of being outside. Without your guiding hand, they may adapt by dying. Even outdoor shade areas probably have higher light intensity than most of the areas in your home where your plants reside.

      Plants grown in lower light will have thinner leaves. They may be very healthy and happy because they have adapted to your indoor lower light. Now, when you move that plant outside and it is exposed to more light, both in intensity and duration, there is a possibility that these thin leaves will burn. They cannot process the increase, sometimes quite dramatic, in light energy.

      You can avoid this trauma, by positioning the plant in a spot that only allows 2 hours maximum of sunlight a day. The rest of the day your plant can be in the shade of another plant or tree or roof or building or statuary. You do not need to keep moving your plant every 2 hours; but rather give some creative thought to your initial plant placement. Where does the sun shine on your balcony, porch deck or garden and at what times of the day?

      An increase in light will almost certainly affect how much water your plant will need. We will get into more about that next time in Part 2 of this series Putting Your Tropical Plants Outside.

*This will Help *
 Ants - no they won't help; but we have something that will. Safer's Attack Ant Killer. We have been using this product for a few years to control ants near our trailer and it is amazing. Safer's Attack Ant Killer is a Class 6 Pesticide using Borax as the active ingredient. It is safe to use both indoors and outdoors. The bottle we have is a large 240ml and we sell it at $5.79. We have used the same bottle for 3 years at the trailer and it is still at least half full. It is a great value, it's safe to use and it works.

6" pot Aloe vera (Medical Aloe)
  And one more thing ....

We have posted a new web page featured plant on our web page at http://www.plantsforall.ca . We are offering a 6" pot  Aloe vera (Medicinal Aloe Plant)  for $15.25 with a regular price of $19. Check it out on the "Featured Plant" page of our web site. That offer expires Monday, June 4, 2012.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Add Intention to Your Gifts

Welcome back. With Mother's Day just around the corner, then Father's Day and then my wife's birthday and on and on .... there always seems to be pressures to get the right gift for every occasion.
Sure, we are a plant retail store and sell all of the required accessories. However,  I am not about to try to persuade you that you must get this, and that and those for that special someone.  There are lots of excellent choices including something that you make and even, or I should say especially, your time.

Whatever you give, you can multiply the true value of that gift by giving the gift with intention. Think about your gift and think about the person who will receive the gift. How will your gift enrich their personal well being?

We belonged to the local chapter of the Taoist Tai Chi Society for a year. We enjoyed it very much and intend to rejoin when grand-parenting joys and duties are not as pressing. Going through the exercise routines is pretty straightforward; but the real benefit comes when you do each move with intention. Put yourself fully into each move with the intention that you are helping your mind and body. The results are multiplied. Likewise, add intention to your gifts.

For many years we have been helping clients apply the Chinese art or practice of Feng Shui to their situations with the proper selection and use of plants in their homes and offices. Many times the right plant in the right place is the 'cure' needed to help balance the chi or energy of their space.  However, to make any cure work at its best, the person applying the cure should do so with intention, believing that applying the cure will improve the situation. It does work and it does make a difference. Likewise, add intention to your gifts.

So, next time you are giving a gift, add intention to your gift. Both the recipient and you will feel and enjoy the extra value.

On a completely different subject, I have been having a bit of fun lately learning how to Tweet. So if you're into Tweeting, or want to be, follow me and let's start a conversation. My personal Twitter address is @BrianOsmond1 and I have just started a business account @PlantsForAll1.  I had to put the 1 after @PlantsForAll because a US garden centre chain 'took' @PlantsForAll; but that's another story for another day.

And one more thing ....
AP8 - Areca Palm Tree

We have posted a new web page featured plant on our web page at http://www.plantsforall.ca . We are offering an 8 feet tall Areca Palm Tree for $190 with a regular price of $225. Check it out on the "Featured Plant" page of our web site. That offer expires Tuesday, May 22.

Until I talk to you again. Enjoy life.


Brian Osmond
Plants For All