For years, gardeners “in the know” have been amending their garden soil and potting soil with coconut coir. Coconut coir, or coir, is a natural fiber that is found between a coconut’s hard internal shell and its outer coat. Commercial coconut harvesters remove the long coir fibers for use in products like doormats, brushes and…
Spring is the ideal time to remineralize the soil with all-natural rock dust, before these fast-growing beauties really take off. If it helps, think of roses as teenagers. With the proper nutrition and in the right conditions, they will blossom right in front of your eyes! It is not enough to rely on commercial rose…
Chemically synthesized fertilizers are designed to feed plants fast. They cover the necessary macronutrient requirements and contribute to rapid leaf growth (if not proper root growth). In that sense, they do their job very well. But there are a multitude of secondary nutrients, micronutrients and trace elements that aren’t available in most commercial fertilizers and…
Think your soil sleeps in winter? Think again! It may be hard to believe that millions of living and breathing microorganisms are under the ice and snow. Bacteria, fungi, algae, nematodes, anthropods—you can’t see them with the naked eye, but they all contribute to the health of the soil. Winter doesn’t slow them down. In…
Happy Chinese New Year! 2014 is the Year of the Horse, which Chinese astrology says will bring good fortune and be filled with lively energy. We predict a bountiful growing season thanks to the organic soil-boosting benefits of volcanic basalt. Read on. Lan Su Chinese Garden Here in Portland, Oregon, a good way to get…
Reliable plant growth and healthy yields depend on a balanced combination of nutrients, some of which are made available to plants quickly—and others that are made available over time. That’s what makes volcanic basalt an ideal addition to indoor potting mixes. The slow-release benefits of crushed volcanic basalt make it an effective way to minimize…
What contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and iron and contributes to the growth of stronger and healthier plants and increased yields? The answer is volcanic basalt. The proof is in the brix. Brix levels are often used to describe the nutrient density of fruits or vegetables as a measure of their sugar levels. In actuality,…
The holiday festivities are over and the winter solstice has passed. This can only mean one thing: It’s time to start planning for the spring garden! What are your resolutions for the year ahead? Maybe you’ve decided to do more composting. Perhaps you’ve resolved to try planting new and different varieties of fruits and vegetables. It…
Is eating a healthy diet one of your New Year’s resolutions? If you’ve resolved to start eating better for health reasons, you are not alone. It is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, year after year. For most people this means eating less sugar, eliminating junk food, drinking more water and adding lots…
Just in time for the holidays, the Christmas cactus is adding some much-need color to the season with its show of flowers that can include variations of white, pink, yellow, orange, red or purple, depending on variety. Have you added a Christmas cactus to your indoor garden, or received one as a holiday gift? Consider…
