Posted on Jan 14, 2009 under garden advice |
by Thomas Fryd
Mealybugs and scale insects can be two of the most aggressive bugs to attack cacti and succulents. New seedling plants are also subject to damage, but the main pest of these plants is when they are over watered by their owners.
There are many varieties, more than a thousand to choose from, and we are going to list a few of the more popular ones. For many reasons, these types have proven to be great houseplants.
A Christmas Cactus, which also goes by the name zygocactus truncatus, is admired for its mid-winter flowers. It grows in a cluster of leaf-life joints extending from a single base. The flowers run up to 3 inches long, are deep red in color and will bloom from October to January.
This particular cactus is aided by being placed outside during the summer months. It should be only be watered sparsely once it is brought back inside. This is only necessary until it shows signs of blooming again, then watering should be increased. It should be planted in loose soil, and it does not need sand, unlike other varieties of cacti. It tends to be droopy and would be best planted in a hanging basket.
The Peanut Cactus is another popular cactus of the succulent family. It is very different from its cousin the Christmas Cactus. It is a lower growing plant it seldom grows over 3 inches tall. It is made up of clusters of joints that are covered by soft white spines. It has large, funnel shaped flowers and it propagated by cutting the joints.
Another variety is the Night-Blooming Cereus, as the name implies, it flowers will only open at night. There are many different varieties of the Night-Blooming Cactus. Some of which can grow to be very high in stature. In the houseplant variety, it can grow to a height of 3 or 4 feet and it blooms large white colored flowers.
The Orchid Cactus, is also in the same family as the Christmas Cactus. But this cactus blooms in the spring and summer, as opposed to the winter time. There are dozens of types of this cactus, all have exquisite blooms and can reach tremendous height and size.
Aloes are in the succulent family, they grow heavy lily-shaped leaves that sprout from a single base. They can be either fully green or green with white and silver stripes and spots.
Aloes can often be mistaken for the Agave, the Century Plant. They strongly resemble each other. The Crown-Of-Thorns is known by the botanical name Euphorbia. It can be grown upright or trained to vine, it has a thick stem and succulent spiny leaves. This plant needs more moisture and humidity than many other succulents or the yucca cane.
The Jade Plant, or Crassula, is another typical succulent plant, it has flat, round leaves that are bright green or can be variegated in color as well. This plant is easy for a even a novice to grow, and will withstand almost anything except over watering.
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Posted on Jan 07, 2009 under landscape belfast |
by Adam Peters
This article gives information about the various features of star burst railings. It describes the unique design of these railings and how they impart a stunning and gorgeous look to the deck.
If you are bored by looking at the same pattern of design for your deck, then you can install star burst railings and bring about a whole new look to the deck. With star burst railings, the deck will have a trendy look and to add to this, it also gives you more privacy while having a relaxing time on the deck. These railings are designed by playing with the balusters in such a way that it gives out the appearance of spindles that start as a cluster from the bottom rail and thin out as they reach the rail at the top.
If you use star burst railing designs that are made out of wood as the material for construction, then the whole process becomes relatively simple and the final result is beautiful and elegant. All you need to make sure is that you adhere very strictly to the building code requirements that are relevant to your area.
The benefit of the star burst design is that there is no rigidity about using them in isolation. This means that they can be used very effectively by combining them with various other railing designs. This is one reason why star burst railings are so much in vogue today. In fact, when star burst railings are used as the definitive feature in combination designs, it appears very classy and trendy. In other words, by incorporating this railing into your overall deck design, your deck will have a very modern look that will give you a lot of joy and pride. If you are skeptical about the number of star burst patterns that you should include in your deck design, a good idea would be to look at the size of the deck and then arrive at a rational decision so that the ultimate result looks apt and definitely not overdone.
The materials that are normally used for constructing star burst railings are wrought iron and wood. Aluminum which has wonderful qualities like light weight and durability and is relatively easy to maintain is also a good alternative for constructing star burst railings. If these railings are made out of wood or wrought iron they can blend easily with different styles of railings. However, if these railings are made from wood they cannot be kept outdoors as it may lead to the material being damaged due to the rain and harsh rays of the sun. So, for outdoor settings, star burst railings made from wrought iron and aluminum are preferable.
Read more information regarding metal porch railing and related articles that are available here.
About the Author:
Did you like the article on starburst railing? Adam Peters contributes editing articles for websites. A website with tips on
metal porch railing and aluminum railings.
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