How to Propagate Succulents

My latest obsession is the pretty succulent. They are beautiful plants and come in so many varieties and great colours. They are very hardy and need little watering (once every two weeks or once a month depending on your climate and environment) so they make a very good plant for indoors and anyone who doesn’t have a green thumb. 

The great thing about these guys is you can actually grow heaps of succulents from the one plant. It’s called propagating and I’ll run you through just how to do it!

Step One:

Choose the succulent. Head to your local garden nursery or local market to pick one. 

Once you’ve got your little friend home. Start by carefully removing the lower leaves. Pull off as many as you would like to propagate. Most people usually remove all the leaves from the lower level. That way you have a few if any don’t make it. Hold the leaf firmly and wiggle it until you can feel it pull away.  Make sure you get the whole leaf and don’t tear it otherwise it won’t grow a new plant.

 Step Two:

 Your leaves should look something like this If you have correctly pulled them off in one piece.

Step Three: 

Now we wait. This step is the most important!! The leaves need to dry out & callous over before we plant them or else they will  absorb too much moisture,rot and die. This usually takes a few days to a week. 

Step Four:

Once you feel the ends have dried over, place them in a pot or tray ontop of well drained succulent & cactus soil mixture (you can buy this in a bag from your local hardware/ garden nursery I got mine from Bunnings). Some people dip the ends of the leaves in a plant cutting mixture (contains stimulating root hormones). This speeds up the growth process. You can try this but not essential.

Leave them inside where they can get indirect sunlight. After a few weeks you will notice roots shooting out the ends of the leaves. Then very small succulents will begin to form. Lightly water once you see these. During the process if the soil is dry add water to keep the area moist. Remember too much water is not good. Succulents aren’t big fans. 

Step Five:

Congratulations you've successfully growth succulents! Once they get to this size (see image below)  or even like the above image. You can carefully remove the new succulents and plant them in their very own pot (remember to use a succulent cactus soil mixture) and watch them blossom! Pretty cool hey! 

Now you can start getting creative and making gorgeous features out of your succulents. Mix them with other plants just like this. 

Happy Gardening! x 

http://kaerriie.tumblr.com/post/165872484339/how-to-propagate-succulents

To believe in tomorrow

To plant a garden, 
          is to believe in tomorrow.

 ~ Audrey Hepburn

   

Tea Facts 101

Tea Facts 

Black tea

Think black tea makes you feel good? You’re right. It’s been proven to help you de-stress fast. It also helps eliminate bad breath. Plus medical research indicates that it lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and reduces bad cholesterol.

Green tea

Want to stay slim, trim and beautiful? The antioxidants in green tea just might slow signs of aging, prevent the flu and raise your metabolism. More dramatically, it’s being shown to prevent and slow cancer, and help with arthritis and bad cholesterol too.

Oolong tea

This one’s known as a fat-buster in China, and science is indicating that it does indeed speed up your metabolism, burn fat and block fat absorption! Use it to fight expanding waistlines, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

White tea

Science is saying that white tea might be more effective than even green tea at preventing cell damage, shrinking cancerous tumours and stopping the growth of cancer cells. Plus it’s becoming the new cosmetic fix for aging skin. Beautiful!

Pu’erh tea

Traditional Chinese medicine prizes Pu’erh as a wonder tea. It’s said to aid digestion, cleanse the blood and help with weight loss. Studies in Europe are also saying it busts cholesterol as effectively as some medications.

Rooibos tea

It’s said that rooibos helps you recover from hangovers, and that it could slow dementia. Plus there’s evidence that it fights skin cancer and boosts the immune system. And it’s supposed to help with insomnia!

Yerba tea

Yerba mate is a fabulous stimulant, without the jitters. It’s also full of antioxidants, so there’s scientific speculation that it could have anti-cancer properties, help stimulate the immune system and protect against disease.

Herbal tea

Herbs, spices, fruits and flowers have long been used in traditional medicine to cure everything from headaches, stomach bugs and colds to stress and insomnia. The power of the tea depends on its ingredients.

Invisible God, Visible Nature

Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature. Unaware that the Nature he is destroying is this God he is worshipping.

~ Hubert Reeves

 

Hubert Reeves (born 1932), CC OQ is a French Canadian astrophysicist who popularised science. He has been honoured by the highest civilian awards of both France and Canada for his contribution to society and science.

How to Easily Remove Pesticides From Your Fruits and Vegetables

How to Easily Remove Pesticides From Your Fruits and Vegetables

Its true that pesticides and chemicals leach into the and get absorbed by the plant through their roots. However the majority of germs, and pesticides are on the outside. This way we can be safer even if not completely safe



My thanks  to Vijay Ramaniah for this very useful and important link

Little known 13 extra uses for banana

13 Extra Uses for the Banana

Bananas are known as 'energy bombs' with very high nutritional values.
Possessing a multitude of vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin C, many of the vitamin B family, potassium and three natural sugars - Sucrose, Fructose and Glucose.

If you thought that nutrition is where the role of the banana ends, you may want to think again .....
Here are some other unconventional uses of this wonder fruit and its skin.

1.  Shining Shoes
If you happen to be out of shoe polish, don't worry. After you have finished eating the banana, use the peel. Remove the remnants of the banana from within and then rub the inside of the peel on your shoe. To finish use tissue paper or better a paper towel.

2.  Overcoming your smoking habit
The banana can help people stop smoking. The vitamins B12, B6 and the minerals potassium and magnesium found in bananas, held the body overcome the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

3.  Soothing stings and bites
The sugars in the banana peel will sooth an itchy and annoying mosquito bite, as well as the redness that accompanies it.

4.  Eases heartburn
The banana has natural anti-oxidants, that may relieve your heartburn. Eat a banana to cool down.

5.  Tenderising meat
If you want to tenderise meat while thawing it, wrap it in banana leaves. This also works for fish. While cooking, add a ripe banana to help them soften, and add a sweet flavour while you're at it.

6.  Relieving PMS
The B vitamins found in the banana regulate the levels of sugar in the blood, which directly affects the general feeling and mood. The potassium in the fruit neutralises the swelling and the liquid build up.

7.  Getting over a hangover
Boil a cup of  water and put two banana peels in it. Wait for it to cool and then drink.

8.  Treating piles (bloody hemorrhoids)
Steam 2 bananas with the peel, until they soften. Eat on an empt stomach, morning and evening, until relief is achieved.

9.  Improving quality of sleep 
Bananas come with a great vitamin B6 boost, that helps maintain a normal and functional sleep/wake mechanism. Eat a banana preferably each morning to get quality sleep.

10. Substitute for vitamin D
Lack of vitamin D is a big contributor to depression. Modern lifestyles and winter can reduce a person's exposure to sunlight, which is the main source of vitamin D can be compensated by dietary means. Other than milk, and fish, banana is a great source for vitamin D

13. Return moisture to a tired face
To moisturise your dry skin, use a banana paste to relax the skin.
Here is a simple recipe:
  2 spoons of almond oil
  1 ripe banana
  1 Egg yolk
Mash the banana with a fork and remove the thick pieces. Add egg yolk and almond oil and mix well. Wash your face and dry with a clean towel. Then put the mix on your face and leave for 20 minutes. Wash your face with cold water and dry well.

11. Helps fight anemia
The vitamin B family found in bananas encourage the creation of hemoglobin and help prevent and treat anemia.

12. Whitening teeth
Despite their yellow color, bananas can actually help whiten your teeth. Research shows that the minerals in the banana peel, such as potassium and bromine, help whiten the teeth naturally without leaving damage.

Cut the peel into little pieces, rub the inner part of the banana in circular motions on the teeth for 2-3 minutes and then don't touch for 15 minutes (don't eat, drink or rinse). Then rinse well. In a few weeks of this daily treatment, you will see great results.

13. Treating Bunions 
Vinegar and cosmetic creams can dry painful and ugly bunions, but when these aren't available or too expensive, a banana will also do the trick. Squish the banana and rub it on the affected area. You can use the peel to rub it on the skin, while some wrap the inner side of the peel around the bunion and leave it for the night.

Nature and Us

~ Davi Kopenawa, Shaman and Leader of the Brazilian Yanomami

Biologically are we vegetarian or non vegetarian?