| DISH GARDENING | | | | metal leaf, creeping fig) |
| | | | | |
| | | | | 2) Cacti and other succulents (e.g. siempre viva, |
| | | | | small species of cacti, dwarf snake, peperonia, silvery |
| Dish gardening is the art of planting small ornamentals | | | | episcia, common episcia, white torch cactus, velvy |
| in pots, shallow vases or dishes. Or it is in itself a | | | | episcia |
| miniature garden which you can carry them to any | | | | |
| part of your home. | | | | 3) Ferns and Leafy Ornamentals (e. g. lacy-leaved |
| | | | | papua, small varieties of dieffenbachia, corn plant, |
| There is no record as to the origin and who started | | | | spotted dracaena, mayana, coleus, heart-leaved |
| dish gardening, though it is very popular today among | | | | philodendron, aglaonema, prayer plant, elephant grass, |
| gardeners, florists ,and plant lovers. | | | | lacy-asparagus). |
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| If you’re creative and resourceful, you can make | | | | |
| your beautiful dish garden. It’s only a matter of | | | | Before you establish your dish garden, you should |
| your initiative to create your own dish garden. | | | | select the plants which have the same soil and water |
| | | | | requirements. |
| The soil medium for your ideal dish garden is an equal | | | | |
| mixture of compost, ordinary garden soil, and sand or | | | | Don’t plant cacti and water plants together in |
| crushed charcoal. This medium provides the fertility, | | | | one dish. Water plants will die when water or |
| porosity, and drainage which the plant needs in its | | | | moisture is withheld for a long time, while the cactus |
| growing period. | | | | will rot with too much water. |
| | | | | |
| This becomes even more important when the | | | | You should always bear in mind that plants for dish |
| container does not have drainage holes. | | | | gardens should remain healthy and vigorous inside the |
| | | | | house for long periods without sunlight. |
| For those with drainage holes, water should be | | | | |
| allowed to drain before the dish garden is brought | | | | Generally, dish garden plants are shade loving. |
| inside the house. | | | | However, bring them out gradually to the open |
| | | | | especially to the morning sunlight. |
| Containers for dish gardens differ in size, shape or | | | | |
| texture. Clay or earthen pots, shallow dish or trays | | | | Don’t expose them immediately to the noon day |
| with or without drainage holes may be used. | | | | sunlight, since they will get scorched. |
| | | | | |
| The depth of the container may vary from 2.5 to 10 | | | | Fast growing plants should be avoided but trimming |
| cm ( 1 -4 inches). Glazed clay pots or dishes are of | | | | them regularly will keep the dish garden beautifully |
| course more attractive, but the color of the | | | | balanced. |
| containers should not be more attractive than the | | | | |
| plants which are the main attraction. | | | | There, you have your dish garden guide. Follow it up |
| | | | | and send me your comments. |
| Plants for dish garden may be classified into … | | | | |
| | | | | _________________________ |
| 1) Climbers and creepers (e.g. wandering jew, | | | | Cris Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes about home |
| yellow water plant, brown water plant, snail plant, | | | | gardening and Internet marketing tips. |