Check the compost(potting soil). If it has dried out, the plants have been neglected. Don’t buy
Lift and check the base of the pot. If lots of roots are coming out of the bottom, the plant should have been repotted sooner. A few small roots through the bottom of the pot is not a sign of neglect and is normal where plants have been grown on capillary matting.
If buying a flowering plant, make sure that there are plenty of buds to open, otherwise the display may be brief.
Avoid plants with damaged or broken leaves.
Turn the leaves over. Look for signs of pest and diseases. If you find any, don’t buy.
Buy your plants last, immediately before you go home.
Don’t put the plants in a hot car boot.
Buying Fertilizers
All plant fertilizers contain three key elements, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) with extra trace elements. These three promote respectively foliage, growth, flower, fruit and root development.
When buying a packet of fertilizers check the balance of ingredients which is printed as NPK ratio for instance as 12:5:12. A fertilizer with a ratio of 10:5:10 provides a balanced diet.
Controlling Plant Eating Animals And Insects In The Garden
If rodents are attacking your ornamental plants, the solution is to make it hot for them. Chop up the hottest pepper and combine it with one table spoon of ground pepper and two litres of water. Boil the mixture for 15-20 minutes, then let it cool. Strain through a cheese cloth, add one table spoon dish washing liquid and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray vulnerable plants liberally every five days or so.
Aromatic plants such as basil, marigolds and sage send signal to insects to go elsewhere. Planting these near your ornamental plants or vegetables will help in repelling insects.
By mixing strips of aluminum foil in your garden mulch, one can keep insects and slugs away from your plants.
Dangling strips of aluminum foil on branches helps in keeping the birds away which peck on the growing plants.
Old moth balls scattered around your garden or flower beds help in keeping the rodents away.
Boosting Plant Growth
An occasional treat of ammonia mixed with water helps plant grow healthy. 1/4 cup of ammonia diluted in four litres of water and sprayed on plants helps in the supply of nitrogen.
An occasional shower of one tablespoon of bicarbonate soda mixed in two litres of water in alkaline loving plants will provide a fuller and healthier bloom.
Banana peel is rich in potassium, an important nutrient for plants. It can be dried during winters. In early spring, it can be ground and used as a mulch in new plants and seedlings for a healthy start. With their higher content of potassium and phosphorous, bananas and its peel can be added to any compost heap.
Raw potatoes provides a fledgling geraniums all its nutrients. Carve a small hole in the potato. Slip a geranium stem into the hole. Plant the whole thing.
In order to perk up ailing ferns use castor oil with water. Mix one tablespoon of castor oil and one tablespoon baby shampoo with four cups lukewarm water. Give the fern about three tablespoon of this tonic then follow with plain water.
Ten Golden Rules For Repotting
Never repot plants during flowering time or their rest phase.
Never repot plants with a completely dried out root stock, always give them some water beforehand.
Damaged or sick(blackish or spongy) roots should be cut off.
Carefully remove old soil or compost from the surface, sides and below the root stock.
Do not damage the very finest roots.
Fine roots that have formed a densely matted mass can be cut off or trimmed.
Injured fleshy roots should be dusted with charcoal powder so that no disease inducing germs can penetrate the plant.
Use only thoroughly cleaned containers.
After repotting, water the plant thoroughly.
Do not fertilize the plant that has been repotted for at least six to eight weeks.
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