Aglaonema Plant: Description, Growing Tips & Uses

                              Aglaonema Plant
Aglaonema Lady Valentine is hardy, low maintenance, air purifier and good luck bringer houseplant. The plant is almost the height of 6-10 inch.The plant almost height of 6-10 inches.The foliage is the colour of hot pink with speckled green. This dramatic foliage makes the plant attractive and fantastic indoor feature plant. This can be found almost 150+ extremely elegant hybrid varieties of different shapes, shades and colors.Aglaonema is also known as Chinese evergreen

Common Name:Aglaonema Lady Valentine
Botanical Name:Aglaonema Modestum
Family: Araceae
Life Cycle:Perennial
Plant Height:6-10 inch
Foliage Colour:Hot pink with speckled green
Flower Colour:Greenish-white
Tempareture: 15 C to 25 C
Light Requirements:Shade, artificial light
Soil Type:Loamy soil
Advantages:Low maintenance

Growing Tips

Aglaonema tolerate full temperature. If the plant is in high light the soil should be potting mix and dry before watering .In lower light soil should be dry completely between watering. The temperature should remain above 60℉. In cold temperature the foliage may damage.Keep the plant full and bushy, remove some of the new leaves as they appear. Do this firmly. As the new leaf grows from and hold the new leaf near its base and gently pull. Scissors should not be used. Otherwise insects can attract. Remove flowers or bracts in the same way. Do not plant it in direct sunlight.

Uses
As a house plant.

Banyan Tree: Description and Uses

Description:


Banyan tree, which is called Bot Gach in Bengal is the national tree of India.It is the tropical and subtropical plant and found all over the India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Banyan trees are one of the largest trees in the world and grow up to 20-25 m with branches spreading up to 100 m. It has smooth greyish brown bark. It can penetrate very hard surface like concrete even stones sometimes.The leaves are large,leathery, glossy, green and elliptical. Dimensions of the leaves are 10-20 cm in length and 8-15 cm in breath. The fruits are small, pinkish red in colour, with some external hairs and 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter.This is one of the world’s biggest tree and also covers more area .This tree can supplies massive quantity of oxygen.

Common Name:Banyan
Botanical Name:Ficus benghalensis
Family: Moraceae
Life Cycle: Annual
Plant Height:25 m
Foliage Colour: Green
Fruit Colour: Pinkish red
Tempareture: 16-21 degree c
Light Requirements:Sun Loving. Suitable for displaying indoors also
Soil Type: Any type
Advantages:Easy to growth


Benefits and Uses:


1. The Banyan tree is still used as a source of shade in many villages.

2. The fruits are favorite edible fruit of bird.

3. Each and every part of this tree has medical uses.The bark and seeds can be used as a tonic to maintain body temperature and treat diabetes.

4. The roots can be used to strengthen teeth and gums by brushing with them.

5. The bark is also used in making of paper, fiber.

6. The soft wood of banyan tree is used as firewood.

7. It is the fast, instant and one of the best cure for Nasal bleeding.

8. It is also very good for diarhoea, gas and dysentery.

Gerbera Flower Plant: Description,Germination & Uses

                         

                               Gerbera Flower Plant
Gerbera is a daisy like bloomer that grows on top of single, tall stems. The mature plant height is 8-24 inches , depended on the variety. The plants are basically grows in winter in India.This is normally grown as annual but in U.S they are perennial. The leaves are slightly fuzzy. Gerberas has the appearance of a single flower, but is actually a cluster of hundreds of individual flowers.They vary greatly in shape and size. Colours include white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The centre of the flower is sometimes black. Often the same flower can have petals of several different colours.

Common Name :Gerbera

Botanical Name: Gerbera hybrida

Family: Asteraceae

Life Cycle: Annual

Plant Height: 8-24 inches

Plant Type: Shrub

Flower Color: Pink,Purple,Red,White,Yellow,Orange

Sun Exposure: Full/half sun

GERMINATION

Fill trays or pots with a light seed starting medium, or make a own mix using peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. Dampen the medium with water.

 Plant Seeds: Use a toothpick to poke a hole in the planting medium. Plant the Gerbera seeds with the seed end pointing down, and the little brush part just barely at the top of the soil.

 Grow Seeds: Keep the seeds moist, but not waterlogged, and above 70° F, with eight hours or more of bright light per day. The easiest way to do this is to cover the trays with a clear plastic tent and place them indoors in a bright window or under grow lights. When the Gerbera  seeds germinate in two to three weeks, remove the plastic cover but keep the seedlings moist.

Harden Plants: When it’s consistently warm outside, and the Gerbera  plants are hardy and growing, move the pots outdoors to a protected spot for a few days to get the young plants used to the breezes and temperature shifts found outside.

Transplant Seedlings: After the Gerbera seedlings have developed two sets of true leaves,  carefully transplant the plants to larger pots.

Enjoy Flowers: At this point,  it can leave their pots or plant them in the yard. Locate the plants in a spot with plenty of morning sun and a little afternoon shade to keep them from wilting. Feed the plants regularly with a balanced organic fertilizer, and keep them watered.

Uses:

Root infusions are used for heart pain and for abdominal pain in babies. Cut flowers can be used in bouquets. The plants can be sold for special occasions/traditional events. They can be sold as dried flowers andused in artistic combinations.

Ajwain: Plant description, Germination & Heath benefits

Ajwan plant is a very easy growing, herbal, perennial plant. This is very good to look at. The beautiful ridged leaves of the ajwain plant are edible and an easy home remedy. The plant is similar to parsley and seed looks like cumin seeds.Its plant is a small, annual shrub with soft fine hairs. It has many branches of leafy stem which has 4-6 rays of flowers head.The flowers are white, tiny, hairy outside appear in summer. Fruits are tiny, aromatic, small egg shaped and brown grey in colour.

Botanical name: Trachyspermum ammi

Family : Apiaceae

Plant height :Up to 1 m

Colour: Green

Fruit Colour: Brown grey

Temperature: 15 to 25 degrees C

Rainfall: 100-110 cm

pH balance: 6.5- 8.0

Light: Full sun/Adequate sunlight

 
Soil: Moderately fertile, rocky or sandy, well-drained soil

Advantage: Easy to grow


GERMINATION:

Use a germination dish/seeding basket prepared with a mixture of compost and cocopeat. Seeds can be shown in shallow, 1/4 inch deep holes or scattered on the surface of soil.Place in semi-shade and spray water evenly. Spray the sowsn seeds daily until seedlings emerge in 7-15 days.
After 2 weeks of growth plant out the seedling when they start leaves emerge.Now choose medium-composted, well-drained soil that could be alkaline, mildly acidic or neutral, as this plant will tolerate different soil types. It does however, produce the richest foliage in alkaline soils that are not too rich in organic matter.It does however, produce the richest foliage in alkaline soils that are not too rich in organic matter.If you use cuttings planting them a few inches into the soil. plant the saplings/cuttings in direct sunlight or partial shade, and spaced about 6 inches apart to allow room for growth. Carom will grow well on open plots or in containers.

HEALTH BENEFITS

• This gives the the instant Relief from Acidity and Indigestiona and cleans the body.
• Ajwain leaf is a very good treatment for cold and cough congestion for infants and small children.
• Ajwain leaf gives relief from stomachache and other stomach problems like abdominal disorders.
• Ajwain leaf juice with little honey can be consumed for children and infants weekly to build up their resistance power against small illness and also to prevent them from having cold cough very often.

Canterbury bells: Description and Germination

                                   Canterbury bells
Canterbury bells plant is a popular biennial (perennial in some areas) garden plant reaching about two feet or slightly more. Campanula Canterbury bells can be easily grown that can add grace and elegance.Plants grow 21/2 feet to 4 feet tall, with roughly the top two-thirds covered with pink, rose, lavender, blue, or white flowers. The plant shape is pyramidal and leaves are long and narrow.
It is a mixed flower and bloomed mostly in summer.

Common Name: Canterbury Bells or Bellflower

Botanical Name: Campanula Medium

Life Cycle: Biennial

Temperature: 15-35 degree c

Mature Height: 20-25" tall & 12-18" wide

Flower Color: White,Pink, Blue,Purple

Light: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Type: Well-drained loamy soil

Soil pH : 6.6 - 7.8

Advantage: Cut Flowers, Containers, Plants for Small Spaces


GERMINATION

1.Mix one part per liter sand and one part potting soil in a 5-gallon bucket. Add water slowly to the mixture until it is evenly moist but not soggy. Fill a plastic seedling tray with soil, tamping the media down slightly until it is 1 inch below the tray's top.

2.Spread the Canterbury bell seeds horizontally over the surface of the media in the tray. Space the individual seeds 2 to 3 inches apart. Press the seeds down gently to ensure full contact with the soil's surface.

3.Put on a pair of gloves. Read all label directions and warnings on a package of seedling fungicide. Dust the fungicide onto the surfaces of the seeds with a small paintbrush.

4.Sprinkle a 1/4- to 1/2-inch layer of soil over the top of the seeds, covering them completely. Lightly mist the soil's surface with water from a spray bottle. Cover the tray with a clear plastic cover.

5.Position a heat mat in an area with bright, indirect sunlight and a constant temperature of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn the mat on and adjust its temperature setting to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the tray on top of the mat.

6.Remove the cover once per day, and wipe away any condensation from its interior with a paper towel or cloth. Lightly mist over the tray when the top layer of soil begins to dry. Keep the media moist, but never soggy.

7.Watch for emerging sprouts one week after planting. Remove the cover once the seeds germinate. Remove the tray from the mat, put the mat away and replace the tray in its former position.

8.Water the seedlings in the morning with a watering can when the top 1 inch of soil becomes dry. Pour the water directly onto the growing media, being careful not to splash the leaves.

9.Fertilize the seedlings weekly with a 10-10-10 water-soluble fertilizer. Mix 1/2 teaspoon fertilizer with 1 gallon of water. Pour the fertilizer solution directly into the tray, applying it in place of a watering.

Brownea Flower Plant: Description and Germination

                                     Brownea
Brownea is a slow-growing, small, tropical tree with large heads of orange-red flowers, 6-8 inches across, which hang primarily beneath the foliage, on older branches. It is also known as Scarlet Flame Bean. Generally, the exotic looking flowers are not visible at all from the outside. Leaves are compound, leaflets up to 6 in long and up to 2.3 in wide, up to 6 pairs, with sometimes one terminal leaflet, pink-brown and pendulous when young. Flowers borne in large, bright, orange-red clusters, hanging mostly beneath foliage primarily on older branches, which distinguishes it from other Browneas. Fruit is a woody pod about 6 in long and 5 2 in broad.

Common Name: West Indian Mountain Rose, Brownea

Scientific name : Brownea grandiceps

Family: Fabaceae or Pea family

Plant Height or length:4 to 6 meters

Flower color:Red

Foliage color: Green

Tempareture:10-25 degrees C

Light:Full sun/Semi shade

Water:Normal, Can tolerate more

Advantages: Attracts butterflies, Evergreen Tree


GERMINATION

Use a flat tray like container about 10 inches by 15 inches (biggest or smaller your choice) 1.5 to 2 inches deep. Make sure it have plenty of holes in it for good water drainage. Put the seedling mix that prepared up to almost top leaving about 0.5 inches space. Now evenly spread the seeds over it after that cover the seeds with seedling mix only about 0.5 cm (half centimeter). Now water it by watering can. Place the container in semi shaded place.

Step 1 :

Fill a pot with water that equals five times the seed volume and bring it to a boil on a stove. Check the temperature of the water.


Step 2:

Place the Brownea flower seeds in the hot water and stir them for up to two minutes with a spoon before draining the liquid.

Step 3:

Fill a bowl with lukewarm water that's between 86 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit and soak the seeds in it for 24 hours. This pee-treatment is called scarification and alters the hard seed coat, which increases the chances of uniform germination.

Step 4:

Fill a pot with moist seed-starting mix up to 1 inch from the top, place the seed on top of the surface and cover it with a 1/2-inch layer of the mix. Tamp down lightly and moisten the surface with a water-filled spray bottle to avoid washing away the seed.

step 5:

Cover tightly plastic polythene wrap over the pot to promote soil moisture retention and place it in a dimly lit area of the house. Lift the plastic daily to check that the soil is moist. If not, lightly moisten it with a water-filled spray bottle before replacing the plastic. Expect germination within three to five days.

Step 6:

Remove the plastic as soon as the seedlings emerge, and gradually move the pot to a brighter area over a two-week period so that at the end of that time they're acclimated to being in full sunlight.

Step 7:

Transplant the seedlings outside to an area with full sun and well-draining soil after three to five months, when the seedlings are about 8 to 12 inches tall.

Azaleas Flower Plant: Description, Planting & Germination

                                          Azaleas
Azaleas is a popular flowering bush and foundation plant, with bright spring blooms..The mature plant reaches almost 20 ft. This is a shallow rooting plant with red, pink and white blossoms. Gardeners have developed a number of hybrid varieties over the years.They will usually bloom for a couple weeks, or longer if the previous winter was warm.The colorful Azaleas often bloomed in spring. They're quite easy to plant.

Common Name : Azaleas

Botanical Name: Godetia amoena

Family: Rhododendrons

Plant Height: 20 feet

Plant Type: Shrub

Flower Color: Pink,Purple,Red,White,Yellow

Bloom Time: Spring,Summer

Life Cycle: Annual

Soil pH: Acidic

Sun Exposure: Full/half sun


PLANTING

Azaleas likes part shade of sun. Deep shade or full sun is harmful.A sunny spot that receives a few hours of shade is perfect.Soil should be well-drained, humus-rich, moist, and acidic (pH 4.5–6). Early varieties can blossom in march, late ones into July or even the fall.

HOW TO GERMINATE AZALEAS

Step 1 :

Fill a pot with water that equals five times the seed volume and bring it to a boil on a stove. Check the temperature of the water.

Step 2:

Place the azaleas seeds in the hot water and stir them for up to two minutes with a spoon before draining the liquid.

Step 3:

Fill a bowl with lukewarm water that's between 86 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit and soak the seeds in it for 24 hours. This per-treatment is called scarification and alters the hard seed coat, which increases the chances of uniform germination.

Step 4:

Fill a pot with moist seed-starting mix up to 1 inch from the top, place the seed on top of the surface and cover it with a 1/2-inch layer of the mix. Moisten the surface with a water-filled spray bottle to avoid washing away the seed.

step 5:

Cover tightly plastic polythene wrap over the pot to promote soil moisture retention and place it in a dimly lit area of the house. Lift the plastic daily to check that the soil is moist. If not, lightly moisten it with a water-filled spray bottle before replacing the plastic. Expect germination within three to five days.

Step 6:

Remove the plastic as soon as the seedlings emerge, and gradually move the pot to a brighter area over a two-week period so that at the end of that time they're acclimated to being in full sunlight.

Step 7:

Transplant the seedlings outside to an area with full sun and well-draining soil after three to five months, when the seedlings are about 8 to 12 inches tall.

Croton Gold Dust - Thin Leaves: Description, Planting, Caring & Uses

                  Croton Gold Dust - Thin Leaves
Croton Gold Dust is a bushy, upright houseplant. The leaves are splashed with green, orange and red with the veins often yellow, depending on the variety. An evergreen shrub that is dense and compact when young. It can become more rounded and leggy when larger. Some cultivars are more green and yellow, while others can be brilliant mixes of reds, oranges, maroon, and yellows. Leaves are alternate to spiral in the arrangement. Leaf shape is also variable with some cultivars being elliptical to oval and others being narrow and linear, while some are even corkscrew.

Common name: Croton Gold Dust

Botanical name: Codiaeum variegatum

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : Upto 7 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: White

Temperature: 25-35 degree C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: well-drained soil

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow

Planting and Caring:

• Plant the croton plant in well-draining soil to prevent insect and mold issues. If you're planting it in a pot, use a pot with drainage holes, and fill the pot with a mixture of equal parts sphagnum moss and perlite. Outdoors, consider mixing 2 to 3 inches of moss, perlite or aged compost into the soil to aid with drainage.
• Provide the plant with at least six hours of full sunlight each day to maintain the look of the leaves. If it's outdoors, make sure there are no overhanging plants that will block the sun. Indoors, keep the plant in a sunny window, or move it from location to location throughout the day to make sure it receives enough light.
• Water the croton at the first sign of wilting in the leaves, or whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Indoor crotons will require more frequent watering ,sometimes every day,than outdoor crotons, which generally need to be watered once per week. A little wilt will not harm the plants, so allow them to dry out between watering.
• Feed the gold dust plants with a liquid or slow-release fertilizer when blooming begins. The fertilizer should have a 3:1:2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, this should be indicated on the box or bag in which the fertilizer comes.

Uses:

 Beautiful and popular houseplant.

Trisul Croton plant: Description, Growing Tips & Uses

Trisul Croton plant

The Trisul Croton plant is one of the most dramatic. This is also known as Croton Variegatum Duck Foot, Codiaeum Variegatum Duck Foot. This is bushy, upright plant because of the vividly coloured foliage.Their green leaves turn into shades of yellow, red and purple depending on the variety. It produces tiny, green coloured fruit. This plant is ideal house plant in India,It can be grown indoor and outdoor both in the full sunlight.

Common name: Croton Norma, Trisul Croton

Botanical name: Codiaeum variegatum

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : Upto 7 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: White

Fruit colour: Green

Temperature: 15-35 degree c

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: well-drained soil

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow

Growing Tips:

Trisul croton plant likes full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade.
This Should be kept in warm temperatures, with the minimum being approximately 60 degrees F.
Water the plants when the top of the soil is dry. On especially hot days, it may need water the twice a day.
Fertilize the plant every 2 weeks from early spring through summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Uses:

Croton is a plant. The oil from the seeds is used to make medicine. Croton seeds are also  treated as gallbladder problems, colic, blocked intestines, and malaria. Croton seeds are sometimes applied directly to the skin for muscle and joint pain (rheumatism), gout, nerve pain (neuralgia), and bronchitis.

Rhoeo Spathacea compacta: Plant description, Growing tips & Uses

                              Rhoeo Spathacea compacta

Rhoeo Spathacea compacta is also known as Moses-in-a-basket, Tradescantia spathacea, the boat lily, moses-in-the-cradle, boat lily and oyster plant. The plant is widely grown all round the world as a houseplant.It is a quick growing plant. It grows to about 9" tall.It has tough, waxy, dark green leaves.It produces small white flowers that are surrounded with two purple bracts making it look like a miniature.These plants are a succulent herb.If you wish to enjoy the beauty of Rhoeos, you can either plant them in a container or you can try planting them under trees.

Common name:Oyster Plant

Botanical name: Rhoeo spathacea compacta

Family : Commelinaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : 0.50 to 1.00 feet

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: White with blue blush

Temperature: 10 to 15 degrees

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: well-drained soil

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow

 Growing Tips:

These plants are very easy to grow.

For a healthy and strong root system watering schedules must be consistent and ways of watering are different in winter and in summer.

Soil must be well-drained for these plants.

Watering must be done once in a week and it must be done deeply and slowly so that the water passes deep down to the roots.In the summer months the top soil must be dried out between two waterings while the bottom soil must not be dried out and in extreme heat, watering must be done more.In winter the soil must be allowed to dry up completely between waterings.

Fertilize the plant around 3 to 4 times in a year with liquid fertilizers. As it is a flowering plant, the plant has higher needs.

Uses:

• As a houseplant, grow in hanging baskets or along shelves it forms an excellent ground cover looks.
• The plant is used for ornamental purpose.
• Leaf extacts can cure fever, cough and bronchitis.

Butterfly Bush Flutterby Grande Vanilla : Description and planting Description

            Butterfly Bush Flutterby Grande Vanilla

Butterfly Bush is the easy growing , stunning and fragrant flower plant produces creamy, white blooms with silvery foliage. This plant blooms profusely, and has that magical quality that butterflies cant resist it.Its not just the pretty flowers that attract the butterflies, like any bright flower. Buddleias emit a special honey-scented fragrance that butterflies like a moth to a light, and then once there, they find the flowers super-rich in nectar.A butterfly bush in the garden will often be seen with a mass of butterflies on the flowers, especially during hot sunny afternoons. Buddleias attract other insects too, like moths, and the reddish ones strongly attract hummingbirds.

Common Name : Butterfly Bush Flutterby Grande Vanilla

Botanical Name :Buddleia

Mature Height :48-72" tall (4-6 feet) and 48-72" wide (4-6 feet)

Flower Color :White

Flower Size : 6-10" flowers

Foliage Color Green

Foliage: Bushy arching stems

Light Requirements : Full Sun/ half sun

Soil Type : Loamy Soil, Drought/Dry Soil

Advantages : Deer Resistant, Attract Butterflies, Attract Hummingbirds, Attract Birds, Rabbit Resistant, Easy to Grow, Fragrant

Planting Instructions :

In India Butterfly bushes grows well in winter. In the very cold places they die in the very starting. but in hot regions, they are evergreen. In the warmer states, butterfly bushes often grow to 24 to 30 inches high, and require pruning to keep them shapely. They're happy in almost any soil and prefer moist ground, but will also do well in dryer spots. They need plenty of sun, but will be fine with some shade in the warmer areas. All this tells you that this plant is a tough one, and should be easy to grow in your garden. A well-grown specimen can be a magnificent "fountain" of flowers, since the stems with heavy flower clusters tend to arch in all directions.

Planting steps :

Choose a warm place with well drained and acidic soil.
If weather cooperates begin planting as soon as possible. If not, keep butterfly bushes where they get some sun through a window, and keep them moist, not soggy.
As set out the potted butterfly bushes, dig to loosen the soil around and below the actual spot, and then set the rooted plant at the same level if was growing in the pot.
Plant butterfly bushes about 4-6' apart, depending on the variety.
When remove the plant from the pot, do not pull on the leaves or stems. Squeeze the pot a little and the roots and soil will slide out for you.
Water well after planting, and continue to water at least every two weeks, depending on rainfall.

Tutti Frutti Butterfly Bush : Description and Planting information

                            Tutti Frutti Butterfly Bush 
'Tutti Frutti' Butterfly Bush is a dwarf variety and a shrub-like plant with striking purple coloured flower grows very quickly.The highly fragrant flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden.A butterfly bush often can be seen with a mass of butterflies on the flowers, especially in afternoons. Buddleias attract other insects too, like moths, and the reddish ones strongly attract hummingbirds. So it is more than a name, it is actually a botanical phenomenon.

Common Name : Butterfly Bush Flutterby Petite

Botanical Name : Buddleia Flutterby Petite

Mature Height : 24-30" tall and 16-22" wide

Flower Color : Purple

Flower Size : 6-10" flowers

Foliage Color Green

Foliage: Bushy arching stems

Light Requirements : Full Sun/ half sun

Soil Type : Loamy Soil, Drought/Dry Soil

Advantages : Deer Resistant, Attract Butterflies, Attract Hummingbirds, Attract Birds, Rabbit Resistant, Easy to Grow, Fragrant

Planting Instructions :

In India Butterfly bushes grows well in winter. In the very cold places they die in the very starting. but in hot regions, they are evergreen. In the warmer states, butterfly bushes often grow to 24 to 30 inches high, and require pruning to keep them shapely. They're happy in almost any soil and prefer moist ground, but will also do well in dryer spots. They need plenty of sun, but will be fine with some shade in the warmer areas. All this tells you that this plant is a tough one, and should be easy to grow in your garden. A well-grown specimen can be a magnificent "fountain" of flowers, since the stems with heavy flower clusters tend to arch in all directions.

Planting steps :

Choose a warm place with well drained and acidic soil.

If weather cooperates begin planting as soon as possible. If not, keep butterfly bushes where they get some sun through a window, and keep them moist, not soggy.
As set out the potted butterfly bushes, dig to loosen the soil around and below the actual spot, and then set the rooted plant at the same level if was growing in the pot.
Plant butterfly bushes about 4-6' apart, depending on the variety.
When remove the plant from the pot, do not pull on the leaves or stems. Squeeze the pot a little and the roots and soil will slide out for you.
Water well after planting, and continue to water at least every two weeks, depending on rainfall.

Simul Plant: Information and Its uses

                                       Simul plant

Simul plant (in bengali) is commonly known as Semal or shalmali is the kind of tropical or subtropical plant. The plant grows upto an average height of 25 meters, with old trees up to 60 meters.This tree has a straight trunk and its leaves are deciduous in winter. Flowers are having red colour with 5 petals appear in the spring before the new foliage. It produces a capsule which, when ripe, contains white fibres like cotton.When the tree grows upto 8-10 ft tall, the flowering begins.The flowers are 6 to 7 inches long and are up to 7 inches wide.The fruit is a ball like structure, on maturity appears during March and April. These are full of cotton-like fibrous stuff. This substance is used for filling economically priced pillows, quilts, sofas etc. The fruit is cooked and eaten and also pickled.

Botanical name: Bombax ceiba
Family : Bombacaceae
Life cycle: Perennial
Plant height : 60 m
Leaf Colour: Green
Flower Colour: White, Yellow, Pink

Temperature: 16-35 °C
Light: Full sun/ half sun
Soil: Loamy, sandy
Climate : Tropical, subtropical
Advantage: Easy to grow

Uses:

Flowers can be used as chutney, salad, and also cooked as vegetable.Flower paste applied to boils, itches and affected sore. Petal removed from the flower and rest of the part is cooked as vegetable.
Cotton is produced from fruits is used to make pillows, blanket.
Juice prepared from the crushed root is taken in the morning to increase sex in male and clear bowels.The tree extracts a gum. The gum has some value in cigar and ice-cream manufacture, and can be used as a substitute for gum in various industrial processes. It is sweetish, cooling and sedative and helpful in cough medicine.

Cotton plant : Information, Planting and Its Uses

                      
                                     Cotton plant
Cotton plant is a shrub and is widely cultivated in over 90 countries for its fiber and secondly for seeds. This is basically perennial but now- a-days it is treated as an annual plant.The plants can grow to be about 6 to 20 meters high, but are kept much shorter in cultivation. Cotton leaves are broad, with anywhere from three to seven lobes on each leaf.Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, around the seeds of the cotton plants. Under natural conditions, the cotton bolls will increase the dispersal of the seeds.It prefers warm and humid climate. So it is very common in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Botanical name: Gossypium

Family : Malvaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : 6-20 m

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: White, Yellow, Pink

Temperature: 16-35 °C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy, sandy

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow

Planting

Cotton plant likes warm climate. The ideal temperature should be 15-35 °C.

Cotton can grow in almost all well drained soils sandy loam soils with enough clay, organic matter and a moderate concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus. The best yields are often achieved in loamy soils that are rich in calcium carbonate.
Cotton plants are grown from seeds. Seeds can be directly seeded into garden, or seeded indoors for transplanting later.

Space plants 12" 15" apart.These plants are heavy feeders. Mix plenty of compost and manure into your garden prior to planting. Add fertilizer high in potassium, on a regular basis.Keep the soil moist, not wet, during the growing season. Water deeply.Harvest cotton from the bolls when they break open.

Uses:

All parts of the cotton plant are useful. The most important is the fiber or lint, which is used in making cotton cloth. Linters – the short fuzz on the seed – provide cellulose for making plastics, explosives and other products.

Fibre
• Textiles and yarns for clothing, towels, bedding and other household items.
• Cordage (cords and ropes)
• Cord for car tyres
• Plastic reinforcing
• Stuffing inside pill bottles

Seed
• Plastics
• Explosives
• High quality paper products
• Batting for padding mattresses, furniture and automobile cushions
• Computer chip boards
• Flat-panel television screens

The cottonseed is crushed to separate its three products, namely oil, meal and hulls.
• Oil – refined oil is used in shortening, margarine, cooking oil, salad dressing and cosmetics. Less refined grades are used to manufacture soap, candles, detergents, artificial leather, oilcloth, and many other commodities.
• Meal – livestock, poultry and fish feed, and fertiliser.
• Hulls – fertiliser, fuel, packing.

Leave
• Ploughed under to enrich the soil.
• Fibre from stalks is used for pressed paper and cardboard.

Dwarf Fescue Lawn Grass: Plant description and planting information

                                

                               Dwarf Fescue Lawn Grass

Dwarf Fescue Lawn Seed Mix is a low-maintenance, low water, low-growing  grass for yards, play areas and more. The varieties in this mix are extremely durable and easy to grow, creating a long-lasting, lush lawn with little work.This grass has great resistance to disease and insect attack. It thrives throughout most of the country and tolerates most growing conditions.

Common Name : Low Work and Water Dwarf Fescue Grass Seed

Light Requirements : Full Sun, Half Sun / Half Shade

Seed Life Cycle : Perennials

Temperature: 15-30 °C

Soil Type Clay Soil, Sandy Soil, Average Soil, Drought/Dry Soil.

Planting Instructions

• At first soil should be prepared. It grows in clay, sandy, average, drought/ dry soil.Some fertilizer may add to improve the germination. 
• After the soil is prepared, apply the seed at the recommended rate. See the back of the this guide for seeding rates. 
• If it is poor soil, you could lightly apply an organic fertilizer after seeding, although this is not a necessary step for strong growth. 
• Many choose to cover their grass seed after planting, even though this is not necessary. If choose to cover the seed to help retain moisture and hold the seed in place, it is recommended a maximum depth of 1/4”. It can cover the seed with topsoil, sterilized straw, or peat moss. Coated seeds such as Bermuda and Clover seeds should not be covered more than an 1/8” deep. 
• Water gently and regularly, keeping the seeds moist until they begin to sprout. This could mean watering more than once a day if having a dry spell. Once the seeds sprout, water deeply and less frequently. This helps to ensure a deep rooted, healthy lawn. 
• After 3-6 weeks of planting, cutting is important at the first few times. 
• After cutting several times, you can apply an organic fertilizer to promote strong growth.

Croton Petra : plant description, planting and uses

 
                                           
                                                             Croton Petra
Croton Petras are unique houseplants with their vivid colors foliage of vibrant yellows, greens, red and even a little purple. Most houseplants are boring of one shaded green, but no one ever gets tired of looking at the vibrant Croton Petra. This is an evergreen shrub native to India, southern Asia and the western Pacific islands.The croton plant is one of the most dramatic plants. The mature plant height is 7-10 ft.

Botanical name: Croton Petra

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : 7-10 ft

Leaf Colour: Multi-coloured

Temperature: 20-40 °C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy, sandy

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow


Planting

Plant the croton outdoors in a location with well-drained, humus-rich soil. For indoor growing, use a large container with unobstructed holes in the bottom and a commercial potting soil designed to provide good drainage. Add a layer of gravel to the bottom of the pot to improve drainage even more.

Place it where it will receive six to eight hours of bright, unfiltered sunlight each day. Provide shade from direct summer sun during the hottest part of the day.

Maintain a consistent temperature between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Outdoors, avoid low spots that may become very cool on winter evenings. Move container-grown plants indoors when the temperature becomes too high or too low.

Irrigate moderately and infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Water about once per week for outdoor plants. During the winter, water less often, keeping soil moist but not wet. Spray the leaves of indoor plants with lukewarm water once per day.

Fertilize it about once per week with liquid fertilizer. If the plant seems to be stunted or suffering from a nutritional deficiency, increase fertilizer quantities slowly, since too much can cause the leaf colors to become dull.

Uses:

Croton  oil has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat severe constipation, heal lesions, and is used as a purgative. It is used as a liquid bandage, as well as for other medicinal purposes, by native peoples.

Lemon/ Nimboo / Lime: plant description, planting & uses

                              Lemon/ Nimboo / Lime
The mature pant reaches upto 10 to 20 ft in height. The leaves are alternative, reddish when young, become dark-green above, light-green below; are oblong, elliptic or long-ovate, 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 in (6.25-11.25 cm) long. Flowers are fragrant and may be solitary, white on the upper surface (inside), purplish beneath (outside). The fruit is oval and 2 3/4 to 4 3/4 in (7 -12 cm) long.The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world. The juice of the lemon is about 5% to 6% citric acid, with a pH of around 2.2, giving it a sour taste. The distinctive sour taste of lemon juice makes it a key ingredient in drinks and foods.


Botanical name: Citrus limon

Family : Rutaceae

Life cycle: Annual

Plant height : 10-20 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: white

Temperature: 16-35 °C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy, sandy

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow

Planting & Caring

Citrus trees need a warm or mild climate. so place them in the sunniest part of garden or balcony. Pots must have drainage holes in their base and be elevated slightly off the ground. Water potted citrus two to three times a week, and possibly daily in very hot weather.
Moisten the potting soil so that it is damp, but not soaked, all the way through.
Fill the smaller pot with soil, all the way up to an inch below the rim.
Cut open your lemon and remove a seed.
Do not delay to plant.
Spray the soil that is directly above the seed gently with water from a spray bottle. 

Uses:

Lemon juice, rind, and peel are used in a wide variety of foods and drinks. The whole lemon is used to make lemon curd and lemon liqueur. Lemon slices and lemon rind are used as a garnish for food and drinks. Lemon zest, the grated outer rind of the fruit, is used to add flavor to baked goods, puddings, rice, and other dishes.

The fruit, juice, and peel are used to make medicine.Lemon is used to treat scurvy, a condition caused by not having enough vitamin C. Lemon is also used for the common cold and flu, H1N1 (swine) flu, and kidney stones.

Heena/ Mehendi Plant: plant description, planting and uses

                             Heena/ Mehendi Plant
The henna tree, also known as mehendi plant, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet, is a flowering plant and a tall shrub or small tree, standing 1.8 to 7.6 m tall (6 to 25 ft). The leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. They are elliptical in shape and average dimensions are 1.5–5.0 cm x 0.5–2 cm. Henna flowers have four sepals and a 2 mm, with 3 mm spread lobes.Henna fruits are small, brownish capsules, 4–8 mm in diameter, with 32–49 seeds per fruit.It is the source of the dye henna used to dye skin, hair and fingernails, as well as fabrics including silk, wool and leather.

In the north and western parts of India, mehndi (or henna painting) is a very important part of the wedding ritual and ceremony. As the story goes, the deeper the color obtained on the skin, the longer the love between the couple will last, hence the belief that a proper mehndi application is tantamount to a prayer to the gods for everlasting love and a successful marriage.

Botanical name: Lawsonia inermis

Family :Lythraceae

Plant height : 4-6 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: White with yellow

Temperature: 22°C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy, sandy

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow

Planting

Even though you may grow henna plant indoors with the assurance of direct sunlight, . This is because henna plants grow better in hot climates. The minimum temperature needed for a henna plant to grow and nourish well is

Henna plant likes direct sunlight. The minimum sunlight is needed for a henna plant to grow is 22ºC. So it is always preferred to grow in outdoors.

Propagation from seeds:

Sow the seeds in soil, which is commonly having the characteristics suitable for planting cactus. If want to grow in indoor then sow the seeds in a pot, and keep it in direct sunlight. Then may transfer it to the ground after the process of germination.

Stem cuttings are commonly used to plant a henna plant. Cut the stem at the node and insert it ta few centimetres down into the ground or into the pot. Remember to keep some leaves above the surface.

It is recommended to keep a well-drained soil for the proper growth of the henna plant. Allowing the soil to get dried in between each watering cycle will allow the plants to grow well. Generally, watering is needed only when the soil is dry.

Fertilizers: Applying fertilizers will help to get a good leaf supply. Use the leaves of the plants for making dye once the plant starts to produce thorns.And also use fertilizers by mixing with water or mixing with soil.

Uses:

Henna is sometimes applied directly to the affected area for dandruff, eczema, scabies, fungal infections, and wounds.
In manufacturing, henna is used incosmetics, hair dyes, and hair care products, and as a dye for nails, hands, and clothing.
As a medicinal plant henna is used as an astringent, anti-hemorrhagic intestinal anti-neoplastic, cardio-inhibitory, hypotensive, and a sedative. The Henna extracts exihibit antibacterial, antifungal, and ultraviolet light screening activity.

Telakucha/ Ivy Gourd: plant description and its uses

                           

                           Telakucha/ Ivy Gourd

Telakucha is a kind of perennial climbing herbal vine sized almost 9 ft tall. which grows in a sun-drenched protected place. Normally it prefers sandy soil. Leaves are of five lobes like pentagon form and green coloured. the length of the leaf is 5-10 cm. Upper surface of the leaf is hairless, while the lower is hairy. Flowers are usually star-shaped, large and white and about 4 cm in diameter. The fruit is smooth, small and ellipse in shape which is called Ivy gourd also known as berry. Its dimensions are 60 mm long by 15-35 mm in diameter. The clear white flesh of the fruit looks like the appearance as well as taste of the cucumber.

Botanical name: Coccinia grandis

Family :Cucurbitaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : 9 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: white

Temperature: 16-35 °C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy, sandy

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow

Uses:

1. Freshly extracted plant juice of Telakucha has traditionally been used for treating diabetes as it controls sugar level of blood.
2. The application of paste, prepared from the leaves and dry fruit of Ivy-gourd has been used topically, for curing skin infections, scabies, and eczema and skin eruptions.
3. Regular intake of leaf juice of Coccinia indica has helped to flush-out toxins through urine discharge. It has also been reported to cure urinary tract infections. The dried bark of Telakucha has been found cathartic properties, preventing formation of kidney stones.
4. The ethanolic extract of fruit of Coccinia indica remove toxins from liver to cure poor liver functions and reduce fat absorption in liver.
5. Regular intake of two tea-spoonful root powder of Telakucha in warm water after dinner, which has enhanced the digestion process and ensure bowel smoothness due to presence of dietary fibres.

Claude Shride Martagon Lily : Description and Growing

                                         Claude Shride Martagon Lily
Claude Shride Lily produces unique, downward-facing dark red blooms, dusted with orange spots and set against pronounced golden-orange stamens. A tall lily, Claude Shride grows up to 72" and blooms early to mid-summer. This Lily loves any sunny spot and blooms in early to mid-summer. Claude Shride prefers moist but well-drained soil. This lily attracts butterflies in spades and is beautiful when cut for arrangements. Once established, Martagon Lily can form a huge clump and result in what may be the biggest spectacle in your garden every season.


Common Name : Martagon Lily Claude Shride

Botanical Name : Lilium martagon Claude Shride

Plant Type / Life Cycle : Perennial

Light Requirements : Full Sun, Half Sun / Half Shade

Flower Color : Red

Mature Height : 48-72" tall (4-6 feet)

Bulb Size : 14 cm

Soil Type Loamy Soil, Well Draining

Advantages : Attract Butterflies, Easy to Grow, Cut Flowers

Growing Lilies: 

True lilies are easy to grow and more popular every season. Since they are upright and take practically no space at ground level, it's easy to plant lilies between other established perennials and shrubs. Most can also tolerate some shade, which adds versatility for the gardener. There are many lily groups, but to keep it simple, consider only a few of the main types that are important to gardeners.

Zinnia: Description and Growing

                                     Zinnia

This is the standard mixture of solid color blooms, growing upto three feet tall. They're great for all wildflowers, and just as good in more formal gardens. They're super-easy from seed, started indoors or out. With these, bouquets can be decorated very well. Best of all, they are a monarch butterfly magnet. They'll give you every color but blue, and they bloom all season. This can be found all over world. In India it is planted mostly in winter.


Common Name : Zinnia

Botanical Name : Zinnia elegans

Seed Life Cycle : Annuals

Light Requirements : Full Sun

Flower Color : Mixed

Mature Height : 24-36" tall

Bloom Time : Winter (India)

Soil Type Clay Soil, Sandy Soil, Loamy Soil

Advantages Deer Resistant, Easy to Grow, Cut Flowers, Containers, Extended Blooms

How to grow them: 

 
Zinnias are some of the easiest wildflowers to grow, adding their bright, cheerful color to any sunny spot.
Full sun is ideal for Zinnia seeds, some hybrids will even bloom in partial shade.The soil should not be wet and should be warm.
Zinnia seeds are perfect for starting indoors to have bloom early. There about 20 species of Zinnia in the wild, all in the arid, rocky soils of North, Central and South America, most common in Mexico. Zinnias are one of our most heavily-hybridized wildflowers.

Patriot Hosta: Plant description and Propagation

                                   Patriot Hosta

Patriot Hosta is a kind of perennial, sun loving hosta, long-time favorite, noted for the dramatic color contrast it lends to the landscape. The mature plant is 10-18" tall and 24-36" wide. Leaves are deep green with a wider white margine. The spade-like foliage is elegant and in a shady spot where it can shine against the greens of other perennials. Flowers are lavender and shoot up from tall scapes in late summer.This is very easy to care and forgiving plant that really brightens the garden.

Common Name : Plantain Lily Patriot

Botanical Name : Hosta Patriot

Mature plant Height :12-24" tall

Flower Color : Purple

Flower Size : 4-6" flowers

Foliage Color : Variegated

Light Requirements : Half Sun / Half Shade, Full Shade

Soil Type : Loamy Soil, Moist/Wet Soil

Advantages : Easy to Grow, Containers, Low Maintenance, Great for Mass Plantings, Multiplies / Naturalizes

Propagation:

Choose a warm place with Loamy , Moist/Wet Soil. It can be planted also in pot.
If weather cooperates begin planting as soon as possible.
Most Hosta species can be relatively easily propagated from leaf cuttings. Place the cutting in a warm, bright place until new growth emerges.
When remove the plant from the pot, do not pull on the leaves or stems. Squeeze the pot a little and the roots and soil will slide out.
Water well after planting, and continue to water at least every two weeks, depending on rainfall.

Hepatica Liverwort: Description

    

                             
                                Hepatica Liverwort
One of the  most beautiful woodland wildflowers is Hepatica Liverwort.The mature plants are in height of 4-6" and 6-9" wide. The flower is the colour of  pink, blue and white. Some even take on a picotee coloring, with stunning white-edged purplish petals. The foliage colour is green. Three lobed leaves appear after blooms. Each plant is approximately the size of a healthy African violet. An easy-to-grow must-have species for all shady gardens. Some parts of the plants are poisonous or toxic to the animals if ingested.

Common Name : Hepatica, Liverwort

Botanical Name: Hepatica acutiloba

Light Requirements : Half Sun / Half Shade, Full Shade

Flower Color: Pink, Blue, White

Flower Size : 1" flowers

Mature Height : 4-6" tall

Foliage Color : Green

Soil Type  :Loamy Soil, Moist/Wet Soil, Acidic Soil

Advantages Bee Friendly, Native, Multiplies / Naturalizes

Black Knight Butterfly Bushs: Description and Planting information

                  Black Knight Butterfly Bushs

Black Knight Butterfly Bushs is a perennial fragrant flower plant of 48-96" height.The foliage is bushy arching stems, green coloured foliage. Deep purple blooms create a stunning contrast to its dark green foliage. Intensely fragrant and attractive  'Black Knight' is perfect for planting outside a window for a delightful show of butterflies and hummingbirds. Easy to grow, deer-resistant, and useful when planted as a hedge or privacy screen.


Common Name : Butterfly Bush Black Knight

Botanical Name : Buddleia davidii Black Knight

Mature Height : 48-96" tall (4-8 feet)

Flower Color : Purple

Flower Size : 6-10" flowers

Foliage Color Green

Foliage: Bushy arching stems

Light Requirements : Full Sun

Soil Type : Loamy Soil, Drought/Dry Soil

Advantages : Deer Resistant, Attract Butterflies, Attract Hummingbirds, Attract Birds, Rabbit Resistant, Easy to Grow, Fragrant

Planting Instructions :

Butterfly bushes grows well in summer. In the cold place they die in the very starting. but in hot regions, they are evergreen. In the warmer states, butterfly bushes often grow to 10 or 12 ft. high, and require pruning to keep them shapely. They're happy in almost any soil and prefer moist ground, but will also do well in dryer spots. They need plenty of sun, but will be fine with some shade in the warmer areas. All this tells you that this plant is a tough one, and should be easy to grow in your garden. A well-grown specimen can be a magnificent "fountain" of flowers, since the stems with heavy flower clusters tend to arch in all directions.

Planting steps :
Choose a warm place with well drained and acidic soil.
If weather cooperates begin planting as soon as possible. If not, keep butterfly bushes where they get some sun through a window, and keep them moist, not soggy.
As set out the potted butterfly bushes, dig to loosen the soil around and below the actual spot, and then set the rooted plant at the same level if was growing in the pot.
Plant butterfly bushes about 4-6' apart, depending on the variety.

When remove the plant from the pot, do not pull on the leaves or stems. Squeeze the pot a little and the roots and soil will slide out for you.
Water well after planting, and continue to water at least every two weeks, depending on rainfall.

Duchesse de Nemours Peony: descriptoion and Planting steps

                   

                      Duchesse de Nemours Peony

In cultivation for over 150 years, ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ Peony will add a timeless elegance to the garden's border. Pure white double blooms with a hint of gold at the center and a sweet fragrance to a garden setting.
This is the plant of 30-36" tall  and 30-36" wide with glossy green oval-lance shaped leaves. The flowers are white in colour  Plant in compost enriched well-drained soil in full sun or light shade and provide medium moisture. They are cold-hardy and butterflies love them.

Common Name: Peony Duchesse de Nemours

Botanical Name : Paeonia lactiflora Duchesse de Nemours

Mature Height : 30-36" tall

Flower Color : White

Foliage Color : Green

Foliage :

Light Requirements : Full Sun

Soil Type : Loamy Soil,Well Draining

Advantages : Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Easy to Grow, Fragrant, Cut Flowers, Great for Mass Plantings

Planting Steps:

Choose a site with well-drained soil and sunny place.

Dig a hole 12" wide and the length of the roots. Add any compost in the bottom of the hole. Plant the roots 1" to 2" below the soil level with the eyes (buds) pointing up. If planting more than one, plant 2-3 feet apart to allow enough space. Do not allow any air pockets, adding pressure to compact the soil.

Once planted, gently give water around the plant. Add a light mulch or chopped leaves to reduce weeds and to regulate soil temperature and moisture. Water every day for 5 days in the morning or evening, unless it rains or there is lots of moisture. Be sure not to over water.

Miss Molly Butterfly Bush : Description and planting information

                                           Miss Molly Butterfly Bush    
'Miss Molly' Butterfly Bush is a kind of perennial plant which is 4-5' tall and 4-5' wide. Leaves are green colored lance shape foliage.The flowers are vibrant bloomer and red rose colour.This is the honey scented blooms which attract butterflies hummingbirds throughout the season. A heat-loving deciduous shrub, Butterfly Bush needs to be planted in full sun to produce a healthy number of flowers and to attract butterfly activity.

Common Nam : Butterfly Bush

Botanical Name : Buddleia

Light Requirements : Full Sun

Flower Color : Red

Foliage Color : Silver-Green

Mature Height : 48-60" tall

Soil Type : Loamy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Acidic Soil

Advantages Deer Resistant, Attract Butterflies, Attract Hummingbirds, Rabbit Resistant, Easy to Grow, Fragrant, Cut Flowers, Containers, Extended Blooms


Planting Instructions :

Butterfly bushes grows well in summer. In the cold place they die to the ground . but in hot regions, they are evergreen. In the warmer states, butterfly bushes often grow to 10 or 12 ft. high, and require pruning to keep them shapely. They're happy in almost any soil and prefer moist ground, but will also do well in dryer spots. They need plenty of sun, but will be fine with some shade in the warmer areas. All this tells you that this plant is a tough one, and should be easy to grow in your garden. A well-grown specimen can be a magnificent "fountain" of flowers, since the stems with heavy flower clusters tend to arch in all directions.

Planting steps :
Choose a warm place with well drained and acidic soil.
If weather cooperates begin planting as soon as possible. If not, keep butterfly bushes where they get some sun through a window, and keep them moist, not soggy.
As set out the potted butterfly bushes, dig to loosen the soil around and below the actual spot, and then set the rooted plant at the same level if was growing in the pot.
Plant butterfly bushes about 4-6' apart, depending on the variety.

When remove the plant from the pot, do not pull on the leaves or stems. Squeeze the pot a little and the roots and soil will slide out for you.
Water well after planting, and continue to water at least every two weeks, depending on rainfall.

Red Majic Peony: Description and Planting tips

De

                                 Red Majic Peony
'Red Magic' peony is the kind of fragrant perennial, long lasting garden flower. The flowers are narrower shape and dark to deep cream at the center. The plant is the 28-36" tall and 24-36" wide.
 Red Magic peonies have bright cranberry-red, large (5-7") double blooms. Fragrant flowers with feathered, twisty petals make this peony a standout garden performer.Flowers have glossy green foliage.The plants are very easy to care.


Common Name : Garden Peony Red Magic, Double Peony

Botanical Name : Paeonia lactiflora Red Magic

Mature Height : 28-36" tall

Light Requirements : Full Sun

Flower Color : Red

Flower Size : 6-8" flowers

Foliage : Color Green

Soil Type : Loamy Soil, Well Draining

Advantages : Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Easy to Grow, Fragrant, Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance, Great for Mass Planting


Planting Steps:

Choose a site with well-drained soil and sunny place.

Dig a hole 12" wide and the length of the roots. Add any compost in the bottom of the hole. Plant the roots 1" to 2" below the soil level with the eyes (buds) pointing up. If planting more than one, plant 2-3 feet apart to allow enough space. Do not allow any air pockets, adding pressure to compact the soil.

Once planted, gently give water around the plant. Add a light mulch or chopped leaves to reduce weeds and to regulate soil temperature and moisture. Water every day for 5 days in the morning or evening, unless it rains or there is lots of moisture. Be sure not to over water.

Red Trillium: Plant description & Propagation

                                      Red Trillium

One of the most famous members of the famous Trillium family, the Red (or Purple) Trillium is also known as Wake Robin. This beautiful wildflower is one of the easiest Trilliums to grow, since it is tolerant of acid or alkaline soils. The  blooms are up to 4 in. across, and held high above the leaves on upright plants to 16 in. tall.The foliage is slender green stalk with three large connected leaves. Blossoms leave a berry-like fruit. The flower has sometimes lemon flovour scent.Some parts of the plants are  poisonous or  toxic to the animals if ingested.

.
Common Name :Wake Robin, Stinking Benjamin, Purple Trillium

Botanical Name :Trillium erectum 

Flower Color : Red

Flower Size : 1-2" flowers 

Foliage Color : Green

Mature Height : 6-18" tall

Light Requirements : Half Sun / Half Shade, Full Shade

Soil Type : Loamy Soil, Moist/Wet Soil

Advantages : Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Fragrant, Native, Multiplies / Naturalizes

Propagation:

Trillium plants are propagated from seed. Trilliums such as The Great White spread very slowly by underground root stocks, and the seed produced creates new plants even more slowly. From a planted seed, it takes approximately five to nine years for a Trillium grandiflorum plant (the Great White Trillium) to bloom. So when you see a massive drift of these in spring,  looking at a bunch of plants that are at least a decade old, probably much older.

Indian Pink: Plant description & Planting

                                  

                                      Indian Pink

Indian Pink is kind of perennial vibrant red color flower.The unusual blooms are trumpet shaped with a red exterior, yellow inside, and a unique flare at the top that forms a star shape.Indian Pink is also known as woodland pinkroot. The plant is easy o grow and glossy green oval lance shaped foliage.


Common Name : Indian Pink

Botanical Name : Spigelia marilandica

Light Requirements :Half Sun / Half Shade, Full Shade

Flower Color : Red

Flower Size : 1-2" flowers

Mature Height : 12-18" tall

Foliage Color : Green

Soil Type : Loamy Soil, Drought/Dry Soil, Moist/Wet Soil

Advantages : Attract Hummingbirds, Easy to Grow, Native

Planting Depth : Plant so that the top of the root is 1" below the soil line.


Planting:

Its best to be planted in late summer or early fall to ensure summer blooms. It’s a favorite among butterflies and hummingbirds. Indian Pink should be planted along the wood edge or in a shaded garden. Its growing nature prefers neutral, well-drained soils.

Arjuna: Plant description, Germination Guide & Health benefits

                                 

   
Description:


Arjuna is the large size deciduous, evergreen plant. The tree reaches up to 75-80 ft. It has conical leaves, yellow flowers and grey colored smooth bark. The roots are very strong and long. The roots are very essential in ayurvedic medicine. The fruit, leaf, bark and roots as well as the whole plant is used in herbal product.

Botanical name: Terminalia Arjuna

Family : Combretaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : 80 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: Yellow

Temperature: 20-30 °C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy, sandy

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to growth


Germination Guide:

1:Mix one part per liter, one part sand and one part potting soil in a 5-gallon bucket. Add water slowly to the mixture until it is evenly moist but not soggy. Fill a plastic seedling tray with soil, tamping the media down slightly until it is 1 inch below the tray's top.

2:Spread the desert rose seeds horizontally over the surface of the media in the tray. Space the individual seeds 2 to 3 inches apart. Press the seeds down gently to ensure full contact with the soil's surface.

3:Put on a pair of gloves. Read all label directions and warnings on a package of seedling fungicide. Dust the fungicide onto the surfaces of the seeds with a small paintbrush.

4:Sprinkle a 1/4- to 1/2-inch layer of soil over the top of the seeds, covering them completely. Lightly mist the soil's surface with water from a spray bottle. Cover the tray with a clear plastic cover.

5:Position a heat mat in an area with bright, indirect sunlight and a constant temperature of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn the mat on and adjust its temperature setting to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the tray on top of the mat.

6:Remove the cover once per day, and wipe away any condensation from its interior with a paper towel or cloth. Lightly mist over the tray when the top layer of soil begins to dry. Keep the media moist, but never soggy.

7:Watch for emerging sprouts one week after planting. Remove the cover once the seeds germinate. Remove the tray from the mat, put the mat away and replace the tray in its former position.

8:Water the seedlings in the morning with a watering can when the top 1 inch of soil becomes dry. Pour the water directly onto the growing media, being careful not to splash the leaves.

9:Fertilize the seedlings weekly with a 10-10-10 water-soluble fertilizer. Mix 1/2 teaspoon fertilizer with 1 gallon of water. Pour the fertilizer solution directly into the tray, applying it in place of a watering.


Health Benefits and Uses:


1. One of the most benefit of Arjuna herb is that it helps to maintain cholesterol system.

2. It also regulate our blood function and thus it is good for our heart.

3. It helps to prevent ulcer in the body.

4. Arjuna bark is the best to reduce breast cancer.

5. Arjuna twig is used for teeth-cleansing.

6. The paste of the bark is applied over the fractures helps to promote early healing.

Jasmine/ jui: Description, Growing tips and its Uses

                                       Jasmine/Jui
Juhi is one of the most beautiful flowers.It is called jui in bengali. They are very easy to grow, takes both sun and shade, dry and moist conditions. It produces a beautiful aroma similar to the smell of jasmine and is considered as one of the most attractive all aromas. The leaves are dark green, small and flowers are white. Flowers appear in bunches from summer to fall.


Botanical name: Terminalia catappa

Family : Combretaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : 5 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: White

Temperature: 25-30 °C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy, sandy

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to growth


Growing tips:

Jasmine tolerates a variety of soils. Jasmine prefers sun to shade, in fact, this plant like sun so much it does not need shade at all. If the garden is filled with trees, the gardener must carefully trim them on a regular basis in order to make sure that jasmine stays in the sunshine.

Uses:

Jasmine has been used for medicinal purposes, jasmine flowers are worn by women as hair decorations.

The applications of lotions made from jasmine flowers to skin problems like sunburns and rashes have been widely noted. The juices of the flower are said to restore the skin’s moisture and elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and giving the skin a healthier look and feel.