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Vol. 4, Num. 12, March 26, 2009 (Read It Online) Do you have any gardening tips or photos to share with the ThriftyFun community? Feel free to share them on one of the contest pages. Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team
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If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information:
Use Press and Seal for Seedling Containers When planting your seeds for spring and using those pots that you saved from last year, use "Press and Seal" on the bottom of them when you don't have a tray, to keep the water from leaking out.By Melmarr from MI
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Rate It: Garden: Plant Annuals Close Together If you plant your annuals close together, with a few perennials, you will avoid getting weeds in a small garden.By Terry from New York, NY
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Rate It: Craft Project: Easter Bunny Fabric Wind Sock Create a cute bunny windsock for your outside trees or porch to twirl in the breeze.Approximate Time: 20-30 minutes Supplies:
Instructions: Cut out an oval face and bunny ears from the polyester thick fabric you will need one each of the ears and 2 for the face. I buy polyester blankets at Wal-Mart for $5 in any color as my thick polyester fabric for his face and ears. I use that blanket time and again for all my craft needs where a thick stable but soft batting is needed. Place your bunny ears slightly inside the bunny top head sandwiching the ears inside the 2 face pieces. Now stitch around the complete face circle but leave a bottom section open to fill with polyfill fiber at this time but still leave open for now. Also stitch around the bunny's ears outer edge as detail. I used a pretty dark pink thread and gave it a zigzag stitch. Now cut strips of cotton fabric into 2-3 inch wide pieces at different lengths. You can leave these with raw selvage edges but I like to serger stitch around my outer edges and taper my ends off at a point on the ends. But you can leave straight across if you like on the bottoms of each strip. I like my strips to be different sizes you can have them all one length if you desire but I like mine to have both shorter and longer lengths so it looks like he has shoulders and a bit of a collar. I used a combination of solid colors and a cute bunny print as well for my strips. Place your strips (I used 9 strips) place them slightly inside the bunnies bottom chin where you still have your opening but the head has been filled with polyfill fiber. Turn your strips facing each other on both the front and back sides (so you see just the right sides of the fabric strips) Now after you have slightly placed your strips in a bunch up into the bunny's bottom face, sew up that opening on your machine with whatever stitch you prefer. Now take a very long piece of ribbon and loop it and sew it onto the back top center ear section of the bunny's head. This will be your hanger for the tree limb or nail hook outside so it can twirl. Add any facial expressions to your bunny on one or both sides, using any number of embellishments like buttons, ribbons, etc. The reason I told you to stitch the bunny's outer ears is because it gives them added strength to hold up and not flop so much. You can also sew on pipe cleaners to the ears to give even more stability and beauty. I used fabric glue to put on my eyes and nose so the damp weather or hot sun will not let them loosen like hot glue will. That way I can wash it too as needed. Hang up, watch it twirl and enjoy. By Julie from Tenn
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Rate It: Gardening: Spring Crocus Blooms Spring Has Sprung!By Laura from Parsippany, NJ
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I grew up on a small farm where we raised practically everything we ate. I've always liked to have some fresh produce growing somewhere. We have downsized to our retirement home and try as I might, I haven't been able to find a suitable place to plant very much of a "Victory Garden." Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96144314.tip.html
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Rate It: Use old forks as garden markers. Simply "weave" your seed packets through the tines on forks you no longer use. Stick them in the garden to mark your rows. Even plastic forks could be used, but be sure they are firmly pushed in the ground. Source: Saw it in Country Living magazine, tried it, and it works great. By Iluvlife from Central Illinois Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90804912.tip.html
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Rate It: Use Old Bowling Ball for a Garden Globe Recycle those old bowling balls. Spray them with primer and then spray paint them any color you choose. Use them as garden globes. The size is a little off but they are not so breakable as the glass globes. Your will just have to buy a stand. This was my idea after breaking so many of those garden globes. By Linda O from Highland Lakes, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71437522.tip.html
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Rate It: Use Old CDs as a Bird Deterrent Do you have birds making nests on your porch or in your plants? Then get some old CDs you don't want, put a strong string through the hole and tie it and take the other (long) end and tie it to your porch so it hangs down. It will twirl and reflect light. The birds are scared of it and will not come back. I have them all over the front porch, no more birds! This method works in the garden as well, just hang them in a tree or post where the birds come around. Source: My own experience with pesky birds. By sewnva from Danville, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf66652357.tip.html
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Rate It: Starting a Cherry Tree from a Pit Question: How do I start a cherry tree from the pit? Hardiness Zone: 7a Edie White from Whitmore, CA Answer: Edie, To start a cherry tree from a pit, remove the pit from the fruit and clean off any remaining flesh. Don't try and remove the hard part of the shell that surrounds the pit. Cherry pits need a chilling period before germinating. To mimic the necessary winter-like conditions, place the pit in a plastic bag filled with moist vermiculite or peat moss (or damp paper towels) and store the bag in the refrigerator for about 10 weeks. Check the moisture level in the bag now and then and don't let the pit dry out. After about 10 weeks of chilling the pit is ready to be planted. You can start it in a pot indoors or plant it outside. Plant seeds about 1/2 inch deep in nutrient-rich well-drained soil with exposure to full sun. You should expect to see growth in after a few weeks. If our planting outdoors during cold weather, the seedling may just stay chilled and resume growth the following spring. After planting, you can expect to see mature fruit after 7 to 10 years. Grafting your seedling onto an already mature tree will reduce the waiting time considerably. It's best to plant several seeds at one time, because a good number of seeds may fail to germinate. It's also helpful to understand that the fruit you eventually harvest from the "pit" tree is not likely to be the same juicy cherries you ate from the parent tree. Commercial fruit trees are propagated from grafting or budding so your seeds will not likely reproduce true to the parent plant. The fruit from your seedling may be somewhat bitter, then again, it might taste even better than the original cherry. Good Luck!
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Rate It: Tips for Growing Palms Indoors
Growing a potted palm as a house plant is a wonderful way to add a bold, tropical focal point to any room in your home. Because of their size, mature palms are one of the most expensive houseplants you can buy. Here's how to protect your investment by keeping yours lush, healthy and green. Diffuse Their Lighting Different types of plants have different growing requirements. The same is true of different types of palms. Although some palms are said to be more "shade-tolerant", a barely lit corner of the room will not due). Almost all palms prefer bright, natural sunlight, but they appreciate curtains or blinds that diffuse the light. They need this bright diffused sunlight year round, so placing them in a west or southeast facing window is best. As a rule, palms with thicker, leathery foliage prefer more intense sunlight, while those with thinner, more transparent fronds, like Parlor and Kentia Palms, require less light. Keep Their Climate Tropical
Temperature: Don't make the mistake of thinking that indoor palms need dry desert air or temperatures in the nineties to grow well. During the active growing season, palms do best when daytime temperatures are between 70 and 80 °F and nighttime temperatures stay between 55 to 60 °F. In the winter, they prefer the cooler 55 to 60 °F temperatures. Most palms will suffer damage from cool drafts (from windows and air conditioners) and when temperatures drop below 50ºF. If given time to gradually adjust to the increased light intensity, like other house plants, palms enjoy being moved outdoors in partial shade for the summer. Humidity: Palms also love high levels of humidity. Mist their leaves occasionally, especially in hot dry weather or in centrally heated rooms. Other ways to keep the air around palms humid include keeping them grouped near other plants, setting their pots on a tray filled with water and pebbles or placing their pot inside of a larger container and filling the space in between with damp peat. Don't Drown Them In general, palms should be kept relatively moist in the spring or summer during their active growing period. This means watering them as soon as the soil feels like it's starting to dry out just below the surface (about _ inch deep). It's important not to let them dry out completely, and it's important not to let them stand in water. No species of palm likes wet feet, so use a soil mix that is porous enough to provide good drainage and never allow the water to stand in the collection tray beneath the pot after it drains. It's important to know how your specific palm reacts to moisture conditions. A few palms, like Neanthe bella, prefer to dry out between watering. Other palms prefer to be kept moist at all times. Feed Them Lightly Compared to other house plants, palms tend to be light feeders. Fertilize them a few times with a diluted liquid fertilizer (fish emulsion) during their active growing period-from late winter through early fall. When fertilizer salts build up in the soil, the tips of the leaves will start to turn brown, so when in doubt as to how much, remember less is always more. Keep Their Leaves Clean Keep your palm's fronds clean with an outdoor rain shower, an indoor rinse or by wiping the leaves carefully with a soft, damp cloth. Although palms are generally fairly insect resistant, keeping the fronds clean will go a long way toward preventing insect infestations from the likes of scale, mealy bugs, thrips and spider mites. It will also keep leaves free of dust and able to absorb light properly. Groom them in the morning so leaves have time to dry out during the day. Avoid using the so-called commercial leaf cleaning products that claim to make your palms leaves shiny. They produce a shine by coating the leaves with a substance that clogs the pores in the stoma and prevents the leaves from transpiring correctly. Keep Their Roots Confined Palms do best when their roots are confined and they seldom need repotting. Repot them every two to three years, but only if the roots are filling the pot and disrupting growth or when the pot starts to look way out of balance with the plant. The new pot should only be one or two inches larger in size. The best time to repot is in the spring before the active growing season begins. Watering the palm first will make the transplanting process a lot easier. Common Palm Problems The following signs may indicate your palm is in trouble. Leave with brown tips: This is usually a symptom of dry air, under-watering, over-fertilizing or damage caused by cold air or as a result of touching leaves. Yellowing leaves: Symptomatic of under-watering. Leaves with brown spots: This is often an indication of leaf-spot disease caused by chilling or over-watering. Remove affected foliage by cutting. Occasionally, brown spots will also appear on leaves due to very hard water. Brown leaves: Lower leaves brown and droop naturally as the palm grows. Remove them by cutting (not pulling). If the entire plant is displaying brown leaves, the problem may be due to over-watering. Common Types of Indoor Palms Because care requirements can vary somewhat depending on the variety, it's best to follow the specific care requirements for the type of palm you're growing. If your not sure what kind of palm you have, start your search by using this list of common indoor palms: Parlor Palm or Neanthe Bella (Chamaedorea elegans); Reed Palm (Chamaedorea Seifrizii) and Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea erumpens); Kentia or Sentry Palm (Howea Forsterana); Lady Palm (Rapis excelsa); Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens); Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis) and European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis).
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How do you graft fruit trees? Thank you. By Danny from Florida Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58770195.tip.html
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Rate It: I remember an article about planting potatoes in an upright position which allowed you to remove the bands and harvest without digging, but cannot find the article. Can someone help me? By Marie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72930508.tip.html
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Rate It: Growing Tomatoes in Containers I am growing tomatoes in planters. The containers are 2 1/2 to 3 gallons. I just transplanted the plants. They are about 8-10 inches tall. Are these containers big enough to grow healthy tomatoes? Or should I transplant them into something bigger, like five gallon buckets? By Rob from Santa Cruz, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37205887.tip.html
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Rate It: Inexpensive Desert Landscape Ideas I am looking for inexpensive desert landscape ideas. Hardiness Zone: 11 By Tish from Las Vegas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48266471.tip.html
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Rate It: Buying Plants from Gardener's Choice Has anyone bought any of the Giant Tree Tomatoes, from Gardener's Choice? I bought 3 of what I thought were plants, but they sent me seeds instead. I would not have wasted that much money on seeds, if I had known. By Sharon from Vian, OK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99855927.tip.html
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Rate It: Grass seed is too expensive, but I have bald spots in my lawn. What can I do that won't cost me any money? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf150186.tip.html
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Rate It: I am looking for retro 50's or 60's landscape ideas. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79636651.tip.html
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Rate It: Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here
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