How to Grow a Pineapple

Author: Linda Paquette

Article: The first thing you need to grow a pineapple is a pineapple. The pineapple (ananas comosus) is a bromeliad; in fact, one of the few in its family that is edible. However, the fruit of an unripe pineapple is poisonous and will irritate both your mouth and throat. Even the ripe fruit of the houseplant pineapple is not nearly as luscious and sweet as that grown in the sands of the tropics; still, the pineapple is a striking, interesting, and unusual plant to add to your collection.

The pineapple is a biennial. The first year it produces leaves and the second year it produces the flowering stalk that becomes the fruit. Actually, the pineapple flower becomes the popular fruit. A small leaf-like cluster produces up to 200 dagger shaped bracts that are the flowers. These flowers have immature ovaries that are called inflorescences. Each ovary turns into a seedless berry, the berries fuse together into one unit: the multiple fruit or sorosis we call the pineapple.

So how do you grow a pineapple?

To grow a pineapple, purchase a whole one at your local grocery. Cut off the top, making sure your cut contains some of the fruit. Let this dry in the sun for a couple of days. When this plug has “hardened off”, plant the top fruit side down. Cover the plug only enough to make sure it is firmly seated in your pot. Water the plant weekly until it is established; then water only when the sand is dry to your touch.

One of the interesting parts of growing pineapple plants is that they absorb nutrients and moisture through their leaves more than through their roots. When you water a pineapple plant, pour the water into the vase-like center of the leaves. Alternatively, you can mist the leaves with a spray bottle, concentrating the spray near the center of the plant, but continuing until the surrounding sand is damp.

About the author:

Linda is an author of <a href=""http://www.gardening-guides.com/related-articles/how-to/rel ated-how-to.htm""> Gardening Tips Tricks and Howto's</a>&nbsp; of Gardening Guides and the<a href=""http://www.lawnmower-guide.com/product-pages/prod_lawn_care .htm""> Lawn Care</a> section of the Lawnmower Guide.

Linda writes and inspire you to try new ideas from her own experience.

Wind Chimes Go Great With Gardening

Author: Lee Dobbins

Article: What could be more relaxing than gardening on a nice summer morning? Listening to your wind chime while you garden! Wind chimes are not only fun to look at but they add much more to your garden then just visual appeal.

Wind chimes have tones and vibrations that soothe and calm the mind helping to release all your stress. When you dig in the garden and connect with the earth, listening to your chimes tinkle in the breeze can help you also connect with your inner spirit. Chimes have been used for much more than just decoration for centuries. In fact, wind chimes are used in many Feng Shui cures. You can hang your chimes inside as well as outside, metal chimes are best for North, Northwest and West while wood chimes are best for South, Southeast and East. The number of rods can be associated with the cure you want. Use 4, 6, 7, 8 or 18 rods for luck and 5 rods to reject bad energy. Use bamboo for outside.

Of course, you should pick chimes that decorate your porch or garden area to your liking. There’s plenty of styles and materials to choose from. I favor the chimes with a stained glass decoration on top that comes in all kinds of whimsical styles. If you are more traditional, you might go for a simple bamboo chime with an Asian flair. You can even get chimes that are hand tuned if you are really into the sound quality of your wind chime.

Hanging your wind chimes is easy. To hang from the top of your porch, you can use a simple C shaped hook that screws into the ceiling. Any type hook can be used as long as it is strong enough to support your wind chime. Be sure you hang it in an area where it’s freedom of movement is not obstructed by anything. You can also buy fancy hangers that screw in or that stick up from the ground. When hanging your chime, try to pick a place that will not get a strong wind – this way you can be sure your chime does not blow off and break.

So, the next time that you get out into the garden, make sure that you hang out some wind chimes so that you can add a new level to your gardening experience!

About the author: Lee Dobbins writes for <A HREF=http://www.wonderful-wind-chimes.com>http://www.wonderful-wi nd-chimes.com</A> where you can find all kinds of wind chimes to brighten your day. Learn more about the differnt kinds of stained glass chimes at <A HREF=http://www.wonderful-wind-chimes.com/Glass-Chimes.html>http: //www.wonderful-wind-chimes.com/Glass-Chimes.html</A>

Drying Roses

Author: Jan Nicholas

Article: There are many reasons why you might want to dry your roses. Some people just want to keep a memento of a special moment. Perhaps they are a part of a wedding that you went to; maybe they were a gift from a mate, friend, or family member. Whatever your reasons for doing it, this is the section where you will learn to dry your roses properly.

There two ways drying rose petal can happen and that are cheap and relatively easy.

Air Drying

Air drying is by far the easiest and cheapest method of drying flowers including roses. It is simple; all you have to do is follow these simple instructions.

Start with perfect and unflawed roses on their stems. If the roses are not in perfect condition, they will wither and the petals will fall off.

Remove any leaves that may be on the branches.

Bunch them up together in a manner that lets them fan out. Tie the bottom with string or a rubber band.

Hang them upside down in a dark, dry place for two to three weeks to be certain that they are completely dry.

Sand Drying

Start by picking the roses that are in perfect condition. They shouldn’t have any dew on them and the stems should be dry as well.

You can reinforce the stems and blossom with either white glue or florist wire.

For florist wire, you will want to cut off most of the stem. Leave about one inch of stem.

Push about 3 inches of wire through the stem and right through the flower head.

Next, you want to bend the end of the wire into a hook over each rose head and pull it down. This helps to keep the head secured to the stem.

When choosing to use the glue, begin by diluting the glue in a dab of water.

You will take a toothpick and dab a thin coat of the glue mixture at the base of each petal.

Next, you will work the glue into the base of the stems of each flower so that you can attach each petal to the base, wait till the glue dries completely

Now for the sand, slowly and carefully cover the flowers with sand in deep open boxes.

Make the sand in the box deep enough to hold the flowers upright.

Sit each flower in the sand filled box and slowly pour sand around the base, around the sides, and over and under the petals. You should pour the sand evenly so that you can preserve the flowers natural shape.

You will want to wait for the flowers to dry while facing upright.

Put the boxes with the roses in a dry space that is warm and brightly lit. This will ensure that your roses will maintain their bright color.

Let them dry for one to three weeks. If you want more muted colors, you will want to dry them in a more humid area.

To remove the sand, tip the drying container slightly so that the sand can fall off the flowers. Remove each flower one by one.

Now you have successfully learned how to dry your roses so that they are ready for you to do whatever you’d like with them. These dried flowers will make great decorations for any room in your house or office, or whatever else you’d like to do.

About the author: More gardening articles, information and tips at <A HREF=http://www.gardenarticles.com>http://www.gardenarticles.com< /A>