Toilet Roll Planting Pots Tips

Do you find that you have a lot of mold 

when using toilet rolls for starter planting pots?

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Try sterilizing your toilet paper rolls before using them.

(Caution, DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED) If the cardboard gets too hot it can catch fire. Do not use a high power microwave. Do not leave in the microwave for more than 30 seconds at a time and no more than a minute in a 1000 watt microwave. If you start to see scorch marks on cardboard, your leaving them in too long!

After sterilization, go ahead and cut your tubes in half.

Using your thumb and middle fingers, pack and compress your potting soil in the tube.

Make sure soil is damp but not wet. It should compress in tube and not fall out of tube.

You can then place your tubes in your plant tray. 

Add your seeds as you would a normal peat pot and go from there.

DIY electric fence insulators

Electric fencing can be expensive but there are alternatives to the high-priced electric fencing components. One such alternative is a DIY insulator for stringing your electric wire on.

So first find a empty plastic soda or water bottle with a fairly deep lid. Don't remove the lid from the bottle until you're done making your holes and a slit. I use the water bottle to hold the lid so I can safely drill and cut the lid without having to have my hands in close proximity to cutting blades. First I drill an 8th inch hole all the way through the lid so that it comes out the other side.

 I then take a saw such as a Dremel saw blade and I cut a slit from one whole to the other.

Then I drill a 16th inch hole in the top of the lid. 

This is what I will use to screw the insulator to a fence post. Preferably a screw that will set recessed away from the wire. Optionally, once I have attached the insulator to the fence post I may use a small dab of silicone or hot glue to insulate the wire from screw if I think the wire is too close to screw. 

(A small piece of plastic placed in the lid, over the screw will also work.)

 Once I have attached the DIY plastic insulator I will give it a good coating of spray paint to keep the plastic from decomposing. Almost all plastics are treated with cornstarch so they will decompose. Personally I think it's just so that they can force people to buy more product but nonetheless a coating of spray paint will prevent plastics from decomposing. 

 

At this point you're ready to string your electric fencing, just slide the wire down through the slot into the holes on either side as shown in the photograph above.

Attach your electrical fencing to the charger and you're ready to go.

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Guess who showed up on 18 April?

The hummingbirds started showing up in Fallon Nevada on April 18, 2016 several days earlier than last year when they showed up on April 22 .

A special thank you to my dad for keeping track of the hummingbirds and other wildlife that come and go here in Fallon, Nevada

Dealing with Pests and Predators, finding out who the enemy is.

     Dealing with pests and predators can be a difficult task. Especially when we may not even know what we're dealing with. Fortunately in this day and age there are many electronic devices to assist us in controlling pests and predators. The first step in controlling pests and predators is in discovering what it is you're dealing with. As many of these critters may be nocturnal, you may not even know that they are coming into your garden until it's too late. Sometimes these critters will leave telltale signs as to who they are, such as tracks, droppings(fecal matter), and teeth marks, but that may not always be the case.One tool that we can use is a game camera. This is a motion activated camera that is capable of taking pictures not only during the day but at night as well. The price of these game cameras has been dropping over the years and many of them are now reasonably priced. I have used them not only to identify the pests or predator, but also to identify how these critters are getting into my garden in the first place. Kind of like finding the chinks in your armor (fencing).The camera can also help keep an eye on who is coming onto your property or going into your garden.
once you have identified your culprit, you can then easily decide the best plan of action to take care of your problem.
  Now you can use a wireless webcam, but they can have limitations such as needing to be wired to your computer, or limited as to how far away they will operate, compatibility with your software or phone, ect.
     Conventional cameras can be useful but not necessarily practical. The Gopro Hero camera can be controlled remotely but does not shoot pictures in the dark, nor is it motion activated. It is a pricey camera to be used for such a thing, but if you already own one it might be worth a try. It will shoot photos in a timed sequence, where you can set it to take photos every few seconds or minutes, but it's battery may rundown before you catch your culprit.
    As you can see there are many ways you can go with this, but if cameras are not what your looking for there are some simple things you can try.
    Tracks are a very good way to identify your enemy but some times they don't leave tracks. One way to solve this problem is to lay-down a good coating of talcum powder, powdered sugar or diatomaceous earth around the problem area. Your pest will walk threw this white powder leaving more visible tracks. Then it is a simple matter of identifying the tracks. You can also make a muddy area the animals might walk threw. The softer soil will make it easier to see tracks. Just make sure not to make it too muddy. Clay is also an option if kept damp and soft.
A good field guide to animal tracks
will not only show tracks but scats as well.

Garden plant sensors for the brown thumb in all of us.

One of the most interesting products I have come across is the Parrot flower power sensor, a computer sensor that tells what to plant, where to plant and how to heal that sick plant. This is not the first of it's kind, but it is one of the first sensor that the average gardener could afford.  Easybloom was the first one I tried and it was about $65 at that time. And I got okay results and info that did help with my gardening. My guess is as time goes by they get cheaper with more info and features.Up until now only commercial growers could afford these things that were in the hundreds if not thousands of dollars. For $47 you too can now have expert advice for each and every plant and tree in your home and garden. Are you watering your plants too much, or is the PH too high, or is there too little sunlight for the location you have chosen? Tools like this can make you look like an instant green garden expert, and they come in every price budget.
If you are not a gardener it makes the ultimate gift for one.

  

Garden Sage, Harvest

 After picking your sage pinch off the leaves just below the leaf stem.

Place a single layer of leaves in your dehydrator and dehydrate for a day.

Sort out any bad leaves and set them aside with the stems.

   The innermost leaves are saved for freezing, because they are the most flavorful and tender parts of the plant. I use frozen herbs in place of fresh herbs, when my fresh herbs are not available.

    Stems, bad leaves and other trimmings are saved and used for either smudge sticks or potpourri, as the stems can be very bitter.

     This smudge stick was blended with wild sage, and allowed to thoroughly dry. It is wrapped with a cotton based embroidery thread. The different colored threads are used to color code the sticks so I know what each stick is made from.

DIY sugar ant poison

DIY sugar ant poison and save.

The basic formula for sugar ant poison is a light syrup and a 5% solution of borax. Basically if you wish to make a large quantity it would be one liter  or 100 mL of light syrup (which you can make) and then add 5 mL of borax. The approximate recipe that we use is [ 2 cups of water add 1/2 cup sugar. Bring water to a Boil ,turn off heat and then stir in sugar until desolved. Remove the light syrup from the burner and add 1  to 1 1/2 level tablespoons of borax. (Laundry soap booster) stir until completely dissolved and allow to cool. 

Once you have your poison syrup made you can dispense it with a squeeze bottle into soda pop bottle caps. You can then place these baited bottle caps wherever you see ant activity. I refill the caps once a day until I see a reduction in ant activity. It may take several months before I see real results but usually I do not see the ants return for several years after I have eliminated them completely.

Caution: 

This ant bait is toxic if ingested in large quantities and you should keep it out of reach of children and pets. Make sure you clearly label all containers with the ingredients,  recipe used, and be sure to include contact information for the Poison Control Center should you need it. Do not dispense more than half a teaspoon per bottle cap so that if it is accidentally ingested it is not in large enough quantity to be fatal.
Note: an adjustment has been made to recipe as it may have been on the strong side, do to a math Error. but you still want a 5% solution.

Hummingbird feeder review

Hummingbird feeder review

   Over the year's I've tried a number of hummingbird feeders, in an attempt to attract hummingbirds. They are one of nature's pollinators, consume insects in addition to nectar, build their nest out of spider webs and can fly in any direction. To me they are just plain pleasing to watch and have around.

    To my dismay in the last couple of years an intruder has showed up called the oriole. This bird although beautifully colored in black and orange colors, has turned out to be more of a pest than anything else. They eat my grapes and other fruit, harassed my hummingbirds and steal nectar out of my hummingbird feeders and just plain make a mess. Originally I tried appeasing these intruders by giving them their own feeders with grape jelly. This worked the first year when I only had one or two Orioles hanging around. They left my grapes alone and I didn't mind feeding them. But this last year the feeder has done nothing more than attract dozens more Orioles and they are no longer satisfied with just the grape jelly. These birds are quite intelligent and have learned various ways of getting nectar out of the hummingbird feeders.

Perky-Pet 122TF Aster Top Fill Push-Pull 12-ounce Plastic Hummingbird Feeder

 One of my first hummingbird feeders was this hummingbird feeder above. I liked the elegant design and the idea of filling it from the top. Unfortunately, it was also one of the first hummingbird feeders that I got rid of. If you didn't have the feeder put together just right the nectar just simply drained out. I found it to be hard to put together or take apart for filling or cleaning. I liked the perches on the flowers but quickly found that the Orioles liked them too because then they could rock it back and forth to spill nectar.
The next hummingbird feeder I tried, I liked a lot. This is a First Nature 3091 16-Ounce Hummingbird Flower Feeder I found this hummingbird feeder to be easy to clean, and easy to fill. But once again I found the Orioles liked it as well. They would rock the feeder back and forth and spill nectar everywhere. But because I liked this simple design so much, I still use this feeder when the Orioles are not around.

old version of perky pet hummingbird feeder

So this next one is an old version of one of the Perky Pet designs. I do not believe they make this model anymore and the new one is all plastic instead of glass and plastic. The first problem I had with this one was the glass bottle threads stripped out and it wouldn't stay together. I liked the glass design for better sanitation, but the design might do better with a metal bottom rather than the plastic. The bee guards also helped keep bees out of the feeder, but the Orioles quickly learned to pull these off and I had to put screws into the feeder to keep them from doing this. I do not know much about the new all plastic design but once again the Orioles like to swing the feeder back and forth to get nectar out. Hummingbird feeders without a perch would probably make a better feeder.
    This next design is better than most.

First Nature Hummingbird Feeder, 16 oz

This is a First Nature Hummingbird Feeder, 16 oz that uses slots instead of holes. It is easy to take apart and put back together for cleaning and a largemouth for ease of filling.
I thought the slots might be a deterrent to the Orioles but again to my dismay the Orioles were still able to get nectar out of the feeder.

Blue Bunting 28-oz Glass Hummingbird Feeder.

   This last feeder on the right is the best feeder I have found thus far. It is a Blue Bunting 28-oz Glass Hummingbird Feeder. I like the large capacity glass jar which means I only have to fill it once in a great while. I'm not sure about the glass threading with the plastic as yet, but so far it has worked quite well and I think it will last quite a while as long as I take care not to over tighten the threads. The most impressive feature of this whole design though is the flowers themselves. The flowers are fashioned after trumpet vine flowers and have a fairly deep throat that the Orioles cannot reach the bottom of with their short tongues. The feeder is heavy enough that the Orioles can't rock the feeder back and forth. And the feeders are spaced far enough apart that an oriole cannot sit on one feeder and try to feed from another. The flower perches are too short for the Orioles to use, and I find it quite amusing to watch them try to put their head between their legs in order to try and feed out of the feeder. I don't know if Blue Bunting intentionally designed the feeder so Orioles and other birds could not feed out of it, but I like it a lot. So if your having problems with Orioles and you are not able to find the Blue Buntinghummingbird feeder, try any hummingbird feeder that doesn't use a perch.

Using solar light stakes as drip risers.

 Solar light stakes double as drip irrigation risers. 

Did you notice that drip risers look a lot like solar light stakes? So the next time you buy a solar light or get ready to throw out a solar light that doesn't work, think again. Convert solar light stakes to double as drip irrigation risers. All you need is a 1/4-inch drill bit and drill to make your solar light double as a drip riser.

Using your quarter-inch drill bit(or Dremel bit) drill a hole through both sides of the solar light stake. Be sure to drill your hole below the diffuser so if the solar light stops working it can be removed or replaced.Thread your 1/4-inch drip tubing through the light stake and then attach your drip emitter as you normally would. As shown in the photo below.

And there you have it, an upscale, upcycled, recycled solar light stake.You save a couple of bucks and help save the environment. For a little more detail on how to do this project and an extra idea or two watch the following video.

Ideas for starting your garden seeds

Seedling trays and starting gardens indoors

A big part of the cost for starting a garden is buying seeds and seedlings to put in your garden. And a big part of that cost is buying the start trays and mini greenhouses that only seem to last one year. Here is a video with a few ideas to save you money.

natural fertilizers versus store-bought

Natural organic fertilizers versus store-bought

I use to be one of those people that bought their fertilizer ( manure) at the store. I believe like everybody else, that store-bought fertilizer didn't have any weeds. Not once did I stop to think, that it did not matter. The wind, birds and other animals do a very good job of spreading seeds. After a year of not using any fertilizer, I noticed that I did not get any better results. I still got weeds in my garden and it did not produce any more or any less than when I fertilized with store-bought fertilizer.
    This last year I finally took my father's advice and used real manure from a farm. As you can see from the photo above, my father produced a bumper crop of over-sized banana squash.What was interesting, is that I got similar results , and just as many weeds. I do not know what they put in store-bought fertilizers but as far as I'm concerned they're worth next to nothing. I will never buy store-bought fertilizer ever again. Cow manure seems to work the best. I tried chicken manure and it seemed to burn anything I put it on, no matter how small an amount I used. I am trying the chicken manure on my compost in hopes of reducing how hot the manure seems to be. Worm castings works really good but is expensive if you have a large garden like mine. Raising your own worms would probably be cheaper. Rabbit manure also works very good and if you put your worm beds under the rabbit pens you get two for the price of one.
    The true test of a healthy soil is simple, pick it up in your hands and smell it. It should feel good and natural and have a nice smell to it. If it smells like chemicals you can bet there are no organisms alive in the soil and it is pretty much dead. The problem with chemical-based fertilizers is that it does not stay in the soil. It ends up in the plants you grow and in the water you drink. It kills the good bacteria and organisms as well as the bad. We need to stop buying into the illusions and lies of chemical companies and corporations that only want to make money at any cost.

DIY solar lighted stepping stones

How to make solar lighted stepping stones.

[note:  The glass used in this project is not safety glass and can break under certain conditions. If rocks or other objects strike the glass with sufficient force it is possible for the glass to break creating sharp edges and unsafe conditions. The author of this blog is not responsible for misuse or persons not taking do care and it's information is intended for conceptual purposes only. A plexiglass version is described at the end of this blog if you are concerned about glass breakage]

To make your mold  cut off the bottom of a 5 gallon plastic bucket. (note: do not throw away the upper half as it can be used to be used to protect plants and other things, but that is for another blog.) Using a ruler or tri-square cut 3 inches off the bottom of the bucket. This should give you a mold that is 2 1/2 inches to 3 inches deep. Steppingstones need to be at least 2 inches thick in order to support your weight. Be sure and spray a mold release such as vegetable oil on the inside of your mold.(note; do not spray the glass jar as you want the cement stick to the jar. you may even want to sand the outside edges to make the cement stick better, but do not sand the bottom.) Be sure and select jars that are wide-mouth and large enough and deep enough to fit your solar light inside of before you pour the cement.

 Once your cement is poured (mortar mix works best - NO ROCKS ) be sure and tap the edges to remove air bubbles. Wipe any cement sticking to the edges of the lid, as you'll want to remove the lid later. Let your cement set overnight to cure and your stones should be easily removed from the mold. Be sure and take care as the cement will not be completely cured as yet and the stones are still fragile. If it does not easily remove from the mold, then allow the cement to cure a little longer. Once they are out of the mold set them in a tub of water or keep damp inside a plastic bag for at least 5 to 6 days to finish curing. The slower cement cures (dries), the stronger the cement.

I used these glass ball solar lights. The LED is mounted on top of the solar cell, which makes them perfect for this project. Using gloves, safety glasses and a screwdriver I carefully pry off the glass ball. Work the screwdriver down the edges loosening any glue and then twisting the screwdriver to pry the glass ball loose. Discard or save for another project the glass ball and tube stand.

                                         Remove your lid from the glass jar. Using a Styrofoam ball I cut off the bottom of the ball to create a flat surface and cut a hole in the center of the ball to mount the solar light in. (Any piece of Styrofoam will work as long as it holds the solar light up right.) I used a low temp hot glue gun as I wanted to be able to remove the solar light if I needed to make repairs. I glue the flat bottom to the inside of the jar lid and tack the solar light to the Styrofoam ball to hold it in place while it is being assembled.            

Once you have your stone assembled, you are ready to set the stone in the ground. Select a site that is free of rocks and other debris. Rocks and other debris could score the glass causing it to break or cause uneven pressure on the stone itself and break the steppingstone. Digg a depression large enough for the stone itself (about a 1/2 inch deep) and a small depression slightly smaller than the diameter of the jar and slightly deeper than the depth of your jar in the center to accommodate the glass jar. Be sure and do not set the stone too deep as you do not want the stone to become buried. Move the stone around slightly and tamp the soil firmly making sure the stone is set firmly and does not rock back and forth. Uneven pressure on the stone could cause it to break, so it is very important that the stone is set firmly before you put your full weight on the stone.

So there you have it, solar lighted steppingstones to light your path or just add accent to your garden or landscaping.

***********************

If solar lights are not your thing or you just want to add color to your stones then a low voltage system may be what you want. The diagram below shows how you might use wine bottles cut in half to make your lighted stepping stones.

You could also use a light set like this and clear bottles to get colored lights. ( note: make sure lights are rated for being buried or exposed to moisture ) or you could paint transparent paint,, nail polish or colored marker on your solar LED.

All in all each solar steppingstone costs about $2-$3 to make as opposed to buying a similar solar lighted stone costing $50 or more. 

     In addition, you could make one using 1/4 inch plexiglass and PVC pipe if you're concerned about glass breakage and still not cost more than five dollars each. Simply cut circles out of your plexiglass the same diameter as the pipe being used. Use a threaded pipe cap on one end and glue your plexiglass circle on the other end.

Drip systems home made DIY.

Homemade drip emitters / systems

The four plex emitter connector on the left is a commercial connector that is usually fairly expensive.

The multiplex emitter connector on the right is my homemade version. It is made from a flexible riser and PVC cap and regular drip connectors. The advantage is that I can connect as many connectors as I need and replace them if they get broke. The cost is usually much less than that of what a commercial four plex is. I drill 1/8 inch holes or the same diameter as the connector shaft. Then using pliers force the connector into the hole.

Sensitive plant, conversation piece for the house.

A houseplant everyone will talk about.

common name: Sensitive plant

scientific name: Mimosa pudica

  This one was grown from seed and is about three to four weeks old. Some garden shops do carry the seed but the easiest way is to simply Google it and order it online. Once they have been touched they take a couple hours to recover. They are one of the more unusual conversation pieces that I have in my home. And if nothing else, a good way to keep the kids occupied for a few minutes.

watering seedlings

So the next time you're looking for something to water your seedlings with that won't wash the seeds away, try a squeeze bottle or reuse an empty dish soap bottle.

hanging planter from recycled soda bottles

Turn your empty soda bottles into hanging planters for indoor and outdoor use.

water is recycled from bottom catch bottle back to top planter.

    I cut a hole in the bottom of a to 2 liter soda bottle just big enough to thread the top of another bottle through the whole. [I recommend using a Dremel Rotary tool to cut the holes. A soldering iron or wood burning tool may do the job as well but be sure to do it in a well ventilated area and try not to breathe the fumes.] I drill one or two a 1/8"holes in the cap. Then I put the two bottles together and thread the cap back on the bottle,to hold the two bottles together. I make the hole in the side of the bottle large enough to put my hand in and thread the cap back on. I make the chain of bottles as long as I desire.I spray paint the bottles white so they do not get too hot in the sun and so they do not decompose while hanging in my window. The bottles on the left have one bottle inverted at the bottom to catch the water dripping from the upper three. This bottle has a hole in the side and is simply hung with a wire hook on the bottom bottle so I can empty it as needed. The bottles on the right painted white will be hanging outside over other plants and does not need a catch bottle.I simply attach a drip line to the top bottle, fill with soil and plant my hanging herb garden. This system should work very well for people living in apartments or small living spaces. 

I hang the bottles by drilling a hole in the top bottle. Run a wire loop through a nut or washer and put the loop through the whole using the nut  to keep the wire from pulling through.
   At the bottom of the bottles I take a bottle and do the same thing with the lid, but instead of the loop I make a hook. Cutting a hole in the side of the bottle to catch whatever water runoff that drips through to the bottom.This allows me to empty the bottle periodically as needed.
  Typically this type of planner does well for  vines or small plants such as strawberries, herbs, or above ground vegetables and flowers. 

Note: In resent trials I found the edges of the holes to be too sharp and I have had to tape the bottom edges to keep the plants from cutting on those edges. Split tubing, foam or hot glue may work better.

DIY aluminum plant tags

Home made aluminum plant tags

So you may have wondered why I didn't use aluminum cans?

Aluminum cans are hard to work with and leave sharp edges. That's not to say you can't use them, just be more careful. If you use an aluminum can be sure to bend the edges over to eliminate sharp edges.        (note: If you can get cut on a piece of paper, you can get cut on one of these tags.) Sorry in this day and age with all the idiots out there, I have to put disclaimers on everything.

The aluminum I use is easy to work with and it's an aluminum that doesn't normally get recycled. It is not as rigid as aluminum cans, but still holds it's shape.
    The plant tags will last for a long time. I have some tags that are over 10 years old. The following is an example of what I put on my tags.

• Name of plant
• date planted (moon phases and or planetary  alignment )
• where purchased (note many stores guarantee plants)
• original location (if moved or propagated)
• herb, fruit,vegetable

Or

• Name of plant
• Ref number

Then have a catalog with the reference number and all the details about the plant that you could not include on the tag.

    Other ideas are to use the tags on gifts, as Christmas ornaments, luggage tags, or anywhere you need a nice tag.

(Note: disposable pie tins and disposable roasting pans also work very well . )

Garden pest control

Pest control

Live bull snake

Snakes, real or fake in your garden can help deter pests.  If you cannot tolerate the real thing, then a few fake snakes here and there can be of big help.

rubber snake

The local dollar stores are a good source for rubber snakes. I try to select snakes that look like something you might find locally . I then place the rubber snake in a conspicuous place in the garden and make sure to move the snake periodically. If the snake does not look realistic enough I may take the time to paint the snake with model paint . I use rubber snakes in areas that get a lot of water as they tend to hold up better.

wooden snake

 Flexible wooden snakes are also great for the garden . The one pictured to the left is supported off the ground by a piece of coathanger wire . This gives the snake some animation when the wind blows and as a result does not have to be moved as often. 

This snake I simply zip tied to a fence railing .

It should be kept in mind that no artificial deterrent works 100% of the time .  How effective a deterrent works depends on the type being used and how often it is moved . Even with moving them daily wildlife tends to get used to them.

Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds

So let's talk coffee grounds.
For years I have used coffee grounds to acidif the soil around my plants. I would sprinkle my coffee grounds around my roses , tomatoes and evergreens. But I didn't know you could use coffee grounds to keep pests away from your plants. I was having problems with worms in my cabbages.  A friend suggested that sprinkling some coffee grounds on and around my cabbage  would deter the cabbage worms .  To my surprise it worked and have used it ever since .

homemade scarecrow

Homemade scarecrows

Keeping birds away from your garden can end up being a full-time job . But here are some ideas for reusing items you normally would throw away and save a couple dollars in the process.

If you go to the store to buy reflective tape or some other reflective scarecrow , you're wasting your money. Why pay $5 for a roll of reflective tape when you can use old CDs instead .Take two old CDs and put them back to back, shiny side out. At one edge drill a hole through both, then tye the two CD's together with fishing line leaving a leader to hang from.

Hang them in the garden.  The movement and reflective surface will help deter those pesky pest that think your garden is the latest smorgasbord .

(2)Another idea may require you to think ahead a little bit.

 Remember those Christmas sales the day after Christmas ?Remember to pick up an extra role of that reflective tape or gift ribbon or giftwrap that is on sale for half off . Cut into 1 or 2 foot lengths and hang it like you would the CDs. Then weight the bottoms with large paperclips.