Something that is always confusing is the massive number of soil amendment options found at nurseries. They have a multitude of similar names, and it is very hard to know which is appropriate for what you are doing. This episode is a deep dive on how to take the confusion out of the marketing language behind these products, and guide you what to look for. I categorize the amendments in these buckets:  Top Soil 50/50 Mix Compost and Humus Planting Mix, Soil Conditioner, Garden Soil, Garden Booster Chicken/Steer Manure    To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:  Facebook Instagram email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com  Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 78: Soil Amendments – how to figure out what to buy

Musings with people in the world of gardening, botany, horticulture and nature. Marlene takes her years of gardening experience, success and failures and turns it into an unpretentious, humorous listen. From organic vegetable gardening, houseplants, bee keeping, flowers, and everything in between -- this podcast covers it.

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Soil science can be a bit confusing. How long does it take for materials to be broken down, is it good practice to add microbes and what exactly are microbes? Robert Pavlis addresses these questions and more. Check out his new podcast Garden Fundamentals plus his impressive list of books including Soil Science for Gardeners and Compost Science for Gardeners. Check out more at his links below.   Links below can be found to Robert’s vast expanse of media. ·       Podcast:  Garden Fundamentals (available on Apple & Spotify)  ·       Website:  gardenmyths.com  ·       Facebook:  @GardenFundamentals  ·       YouTube:  @Gardenfundamentals1  ·       Books:  o   Soil Science for Gardeners  o   Plant Science for Gardeners  o   Compost Science for Gardeners  o   Microbe Science for Gardeners Book  o   Garden Myths – Book 1 and Book 2     To ask questions for future shows, submit them at:  ·       Facebook  ·       Instagram  ·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com  Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 196:  Soil science, with Robert Pavlis of Garden Fundamentals

 If I was picked up and dropped into a gardening zone relatively different than mine, it would be a huge steep learning curve. I love talking to gardeners from zones different than my zone 9b and it doesn’t get much different than zone 3. I have a fun and educational chat with Theri Vasina LHirondelle who grows amazing flowers and veggies in Montana.    Theri can be found on Instagram at  @backyard.impressions    Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.    To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: ·       Facebook ·       Instagram ·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 195: Montana gardening, with Theri Vasina L’Hirondelle

Dieffenbachia, ‘pothos’, Monstera… a great majority of houseplants are in the Araceae family which most people shorten to just say Aroids. I discuss this broad family with UC Davis  Botanical Conservatory  volunteer extraordinaire Bruce Ritter. He has revamped our collection and he shares all his tips and tricks with us. Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.    To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: ·       Facebook ·       Instagram ·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 194:  Aroids, with Bruce Ritter

Believe it or not, spring is around the corner.  Here in NorCal, it is still wet with periods of cold, so one does have to be careful with working soil and protecting from potentially freezes.  LOTS of prep to do for the upcoming season.   It is time to plant: ·       Broccoli ·       Cabbage ·       Carrots ·       Cauliflower ·       Collards, swiss chard ·       Kale ·       Leeks ·       Loose leaf lettuce ·       Peas ·       Potatoes….late in the month    Chores include: ·       Sow tomatoes inside ·       Start flowers (sunflowers, strawflower, zinnias, etc) ·       Direct sow sweet peas ·       Plant bare-root (roses, fruit trees, asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, berries) ·       Spray fruit trees ·       Fertilize ·       Compost ·       Clean up, cut back ·       Prune roses, fruit trees    Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.    To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: ·       Facebook ·       Instagram ·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 193:  February To Do List

It’s here – the last To Do list of the year.  So far it has been a mild winter, with regards to both temperature and moisture.  It is the time to plant another round of winter vegetables, work on pest management, and start planning for your spring garden.  We are at the apex of short days, so time to work is limited.  Episode includes Listener Q&A;, with topics listed below.  It is time to plant: ·       Asparagus ·       Bok choy ·       Kale ·       Onion sets ·       Radish    Chores include: ·       Cut back garden, clean up ·       Watch for cabbage aphids, loopers ·       Spray for peach leaf curl, dormant sprays ·       Order seeds for spring    Listener Q&A; section.  Topics covered include: ·       Waterless amaryllis – can it be planted in a pot? ·       Banana plant – do they need to be brought inside for winter?  If not, should be wrapped for protection from cold weather?  At what age will they duplicate and produce fruit? ·       Can fallen leaves in the garden be used to cover garden beds containing flowers? ·       Butterfly bush – should the significant new growth be cut back in order to optimize growth in spring? ·       Pineapple plant – have had for 2.5 years….when should a pineapple be expected? ·       Bromeliads – how to care for them after the flower blooms and subsequently dies?   Help support feral cat rescue/spay-neuter/finding good homes by contributing at Flower Power Garden Hour Patreon.    To ask questions for future shows, submit them at: ·       Facebook ·       Instagram ·       email Marlene at marlenetheplantlady@gmail.com   Find Marlene over on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

Flower Power Garden Hour 78: Soil Amendments – how to figure out what to buy

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