Popular Indoor Plants for Tropics

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When gardening is pursued indoors as a hobby, it is known as indoor gardening. Indoor gardening can be a leisure-time pursuit or a main hobby for plant lovers. Indoor gardening may be practiced as a practice of horticulture therapy where therapeutic benefits of indoor plants are exploited to the benefits of inhabitants. When a garden is created indoors, it is called an indoor garden. An indoor garden may created indoors of residential as well as commercial buildings. That is, an indoor garden may be created inside residential buildings like individual houses, private villas, and apartments or inside a commercial establishment such as a hotel, hospital, and a business office.

As mentioned earlier, indoor plants are used to decorate interior spaces of residential as well as commercial buildings. Hence great care must be taken while arranging indoor plants so that aesthetics of interiors must be enhanced to the maximum point. While arranging indoor plants, they may be placed either in suitable combinations or as a single specimen piece. For a large room, group of bold leaved large plants must be placed against a big wall. Single plant specimens are most suitable for small rooms. Tall plants like philodendron and rubber plant are best suited for rooms with horizontal lines whereas tall monstera plants and large ferns are most suitable for rooms done in contemporary style with simple straight lines. Ficus, diffenbachia and dracaena are best suited for traditional rooms with ornamental furniture. Plants with red, pink and orange flowers like amaryllis or chrysanthemum are most suitable plants for rooms with white or light colored background. Plants with bright colored foliage like coleus and caladium may also be suitable for decorating such rooms. White flowered plants are best for rooms with dark background while plants with variegated foliage like caladium may also create similar effect.

As far as placing of ferns are concerned, a group of different varieties of ferns should be grouped together to get the best visual effect while in case of begonias, a group of different varieties of begonias should be grouped together to get the best visual effect. While grouping indoor plants for dark corners of the rooms, height of individual plants must be taken into consideration. Tall plants are arranged at the back; medium tall at the centre; and dwarf trailing ones are arranged at the front. While grouping of plants in centre of a hall or room is concerned, tall plants must be placed at the centre; medium tall plants arranged around tall plants; and dwarf ones along the edge. Best plants for such arrangements are potted chrysanthemums; potted asters; potted coleus and caladium. Best indoor plants for table decorations are plants grown in terrariums and glass cases; plants grown in bottles; bowls; dishes and troughs; and aquarium cases. Indoor plants may also be used for creating miniature landscapes inside the houses. By using suitable combinations of foliage and flowering plants miniature landscapes such as woodland scenes; desert scenes or formal garden scenes can be created.

Indoor plants can be displayed in beautiful combinations on floors; window sills and window ledges; tables and desks; book cases and book shelves; shelves and trolleys; window boxes and planters and on plant stands placed on the floor.

An attractive display of indoor plants may be created by keeping pots inside a beautiful metal or red basket. Color, texture and size of the containers should harmonize with those of the plants and the setting of the room. Living and dining room spaces can be divided with beautiful planters having gorgeous foliage and flowering plants for enhancing overall aesthetics of the room.

Roby Jose Ciju, Horticulturist and Agribusiness Consultant from India; Owner of Agrihortico CPL at http://www.myagrihortico.com/

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Grapevines That Produce the Wine Grape Have a Pedigree

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The grape vine is where it starts if you like wine. Developing the root stock is an industry where science embraces Mother Nature in the finest ways. Cloning, growing and then planting the root stock is raw science that goes to the core of everything; even human existence...DNA. It's the graft above the ground the produces a new clone of a varietal vine that produces the grape that makes the wine.

We see where grapes come from, but where do the vines come from? I've got the answer to this mystery; it's the nursery just like the place you pick out your plants for spring planting. There is a slight difference because it is very high tech. Napa has the oldest grapevine nursery in California.

Nurseries turn out some very prestigious root stock that can have some very impressive pedigrees. Some of vines have pedigree's involving very prestigious root stock. And yes, vineyard owners validate the stock from DNA testing. To support this industry many of California's premier universities offer degrees in viticulture.

Nurseries use cold storage facilities (that's where the dormant grapevines are stored awaiting sale), this will keep the vine fresh and dormant. It would not be unusual for a grapevine nursery to offer about 15 clones of the Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 clones of the Chardonnay and an equal number of Pinot Noir clones. When a vineyard decides to replant, for a number of reasons, these clones are what make a vineyard owner excitable. Two things are critical when it comes to a new planting: 1.The characteristics of the cloned varietal, and 2. the root system. The cloned varietals are breed to influence such things as the ultimate yield or tannins or make for early ripening of the fruit. The root system/stock is important because that is what is dictated by soil conditions and climate where the vines are to be planted.

What is a 'clone'? Well, Junior High biology comes into play here. The root stock is selected that will receive a piece("sprig" to me) of another vine with the desired DNA. What grows is the new vine that will produce the cloned fruit. Grafting is exactly that; slice off a branch of the clone vine you want and cut a notch into the root stock and splice that cloning piece into the root stock and wrap it tightly and put it in the ground for 1 year to grow. That is a very simplistic description, Assuming that grafting happens, then in 1 year that root stock is harvested and put into cold dark storage to make it dormant and until planted in the vineyard. Once in the vineyard it will take 3 years for that new cloned varietal to produce fruit. This is just one of many reason why wine is so precious.

A vine will sell for $3-$4 each and there are about 1,000 vines per acre; sometime 2,000 or more. Right now vineyard owners are cautious in new plantings because of the downturn in the economy.

Vines can live for 150-200 years, so who buys new vines? There are of course new vineyards being planted in such places as Texas, Michigan, NC, Virginia and California; they require new root stock. Then there are new plantings due to old vines producing poor yields. Then there are the ever present ravages of disease. Finally, marketing considerations brought on by the ever changing tastes of the consumer that demands new varietal wines."

Some nurseries in the U.S. are licensed by the European clone developers association called ENTAV. This is the European body that test root stock and genetics, develops new clones and breeds new clones for ever changing vineyard conditions. UC Davis is also the premier institution in California that helps keep new vine heritage on the forefront of evolution.

Steven S. Lay has been in the travel and corporate meetings business for 30 years and is now focused exclusively on small luxury corporate gatherings in Wine Country. More information about his company, Symtrek Partners, is available at http://www.symtrekpartners.com/

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Aronia Berry Juice Health Benefits

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INTRODUCTION

Pucker up and prepare to experience the benefits of the tart Aronia Berry. The term "super food" gets used a lot, but when it comes to these berries and their juice health benefits, the term is well-deserved. These berries are a genuine miracle of nature. Aronia is a low-maintenance and nearly a pest-free crop. It is easy to grow the aronia plant organically because it does not need to be protected against pathogens, pest, and diseases, as a result the fruit does not contain traces of pesticides.

They are 3 times healthier than blueberries. The unique taste of the berry is one of life's unique experiences. Their high antioxidant levels, and high tannin levels make these berries tart. The berries are often made into juice mixed with other juice or made into jelly or other products. Another juice or sweetener is often added to reduce the tart taste

THIS JUICE IS AN ANTIOXIDANT LEADER

First the berry juice is a leading source of antioxidants. Antioxidants as you probably know are composed of a variety of compounds this includes vitamins, enzymes, bio-flavonoids, and peroxidases. Antioxidants break down the free radical molecule neutralizing it. Free radicals formed in your body essentially damage the cells leading to a host of negative effects, including making you age faster and rendering you less able to fight off diseases.

Drinking this juice supplies your body with free radical eliminating compounds that helps get rid of many of them. This helps you slow the process of aging and fend off disease. This claim it is backed up by solid science.

ESSENTIAL ACIDS OFFER DIFFERENT ARONIA BERRY JUICE HEALTH BENEFITS

Constituents within the berry include tannic acid, folic acid, quinic acid, phenolic acids, catechins, ascorbic acid,known as vitamin Cas well as Vitamins B6, B12, and E, minerals, resveratrol, hesperidin and rutin.

The primary organic acids in the berries are: tartaric, natural polyphenolic compounds, antioxidants, malic, and citric. This produces a low pH of 3.3-3.8 inside berries. This in turn hinders bacterial invasion and facilitates transport and storage of aronia berries.

Aronia berry juice is high in tannic acid, or tannins, which is well-known to be an anti-inflammatory agent. The tannins in the berry is what gives aronia berries their astringent taste that most people find objectionable. Aronia berry juice is reported to ease intestinal inflammation, and also inflammation of the joints, or even the skin.

Inflammation causes blood levels of certain proteins to be elevated. Inflammation causes the disruption of normal brain molecules. Inflammatory proteins are thought to possibly be connected to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Let's talk about cancer one of the most dreaded diseases. It is well-known that anyone can get cancer, and so it only makes sense to take any precautions you can to eat and drink as much as practical of the healthy foods which do the most to give you the greatest chance of preventing the start of cancer. The juice fends off cancer in a variety of ways.

It also helps prevent cancer of the stomach and colon because it contains pectin, which is a soluble form of fiber. Aronia berry has a substantial amount of pectin. Pectin is a substance that is needed to thicken jams. It can be added to other fruits that are low in pectin when making jams. Pectin bonds to cholesterol in the stomach and intestine slowing glucose absorption by trapping carbohydrates. The consumption of pectin has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels.

EYE PROTECTION AND ARONIA BERRIES

Amazingly, aronia juice offers some protection for the agonizing condition of macular degeneration of the eyes. This is something for which there is no cure, and which causes blindness. A study found that those who drink high amounts of fruit juices, especially antioxidant rich juices like aronia berry and blueberry juice, have far less chance of developing macular generation as they grow older.

ARONIA BERRIES AS A MEMORY AGENT

Another one of thehealth benefits of the juice is memory improvement. Aronia berries and blueberries have been shown to not only increase brain function, but specifically memory. This is creating excitement among the scientific community because it suggests high aronia berry or blueberry/juice diets can play a role in preventing or staving off Alzheimer's disease. Dark purple berries are reported to promote health and anti-aging. The dark purple pigmentation with their high level of antioxidants called anthocyanins and have been reported to promote mental focus, protect the heart and vision, and prevent free-radical damage or oxidative stress.

GROW YOUR OWN

Why not think about adding a few aronia plants? If you want to become more self-sufficient you might want to think about planting some low maintenance Aronia shrubs. Purchase your Aronia berry plants from a reputable farm and nursery. The berries are produced on easy to grow shrubs that have low maintenance and add beauty to your landscape. Nero aronia plants grow about 3 to 4 feet tall and can make a nice hedge as well as being a source of fruit. A few plants could produce all the berries you need for the year. You can freeze those you do not use during the harvest time and have them throughout the year. You could also make juice and freeze it for use later.

SUMMARY

In my view, aronia is one of the best investments in your health. For less than the price of a cup of coffee at Dunkin' Donuts, McCafé at McDonald's or Starbucks you can have an anti-inflammatory, anti-heart disease, anti-cancer, anti-Alzheimer's, anti-diabetes, eye protection, and memory enhancing aronia berry drink that's delicious and healthful. Make some juice from your own home-grown plants and keep it in the refrigerator or freezer for daily use.

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The Milky Bar Kids - Dog + Dairy = Disaster

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Due to previous bad experiences with dogs, we thought it kindest to our new 'girls' (or dairy herd) to keep our dogs tied up on our first official milking day. On foot ourselves, we gently but firmly brought them in - no noisy, smelly vehicle or relentless barkers and heel-nippers for us, as we proceeded to lead them - like over-large lambs to the slaughter, coming to meet their Milkers. And we were confident at this, our second milking, there would be no repeat of the morning's bedlam and mayhem following our exceptional and memorable 'false start'.

Now we were seasoned troopers, and as this second, more educated approach began to near its end, we were almost ready to heave a sigh of relief and congratulate each other loudly on achieving a new world record of 1-1/2 hours only. Well-ll-ll...you know how you shouldn't 'count your chickens before they're hatched'? Hmm-m, well you shouldn't start whipping up a milkshake before you've milked the cow, either.

Disaster loomed, and struck, from a totally unexpected quarter. Our youngest dog wiggled herself loose from her collar and chain, and came to see what Mum and Dad were doing. Gypsy understood she should make a wide detour around these gargantuan beasts, but unfortunately, this took her out onto the dirt road our dairy was close to (for ease of milk pickup).

What she didn't understand was what a road and traffic was, compared to the extra long driveway in to the farmhouse where she had been born and bred, not to mention the care all users had taken to ensure the safety of Mum Candy, and her 8 baby puppies. Admittedly, there was not much traffic on this road, but what there was went fast, and swerved for nothing smaller than a milk-tanker.

And so a truck hit her and sent her helplessly rolling over and over countless times. She was just barely able to painfully and groggily make her way towards us as we came flying out of the dairy, alerted by the truck's horn and the sickening thud.

My husband lifted her into a corner of the milk-room of the dairy and gently placed her on a hastily improvised 'bed' of hessian feed sacks. Then we faced Catch 22...truly, all of that and more. Couldn't leave the cows whilst they were milking, in order to get to the house and summon the Vet. And even if we could, a Vet from where? We didn't even know that yet.

Necessity therefore made the choice for us - just to keep ducking in and out to our darling in the milk-room as often as possible between rows of cows, and finish as quickly as possible. At first Gypsy was semi-comatose, but breathing evenly, though her pulse was rapid (mine was even more so!).

By the time we had finally finished completely, our beloved pet was fully conscious, licking our hands gratefully, profusely and lovingly. She took a little water, but still needed carrying home. Nothing, thankfully was broken and it seemed shock and soreness, and some tearing of the pads on her feet, were responsible for her inability to walk for some hours after her accident.

Apart from bruises and scrapes, Gypsy had survived - and never, for the rest of her long life of 17 years, would she come near enough to a car to suffer possible damage...except to jump on the back of our utility, of course.

Do you wonder that we slept like zombies on the night of our first day's milking? I remember murmuring, before exhaustion won out, "It can only get better from here on....surely!?!".

And it did!

You can read more of our lessons in dairy farming in my other Ezine articles that begin with - The Milky Bar Kids. If you want reading entertainment, you won't be disappointed as you follow our bumbling and humbling steps along our journey to final success. And there are pictures on my 'journal' site of farm stories and thoughts -

Kids at a Milk Bar?

Enjoy!

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How to Get Into the Livestock Export Industry

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Despite the vegetarian movements in many parts of the world, meat lovers are rising in number every day. It has not only turned the attention of agricultural scientists towards sources of meat, but has also given a new dimension to the livestock trade worldwide. Argentina, Brazil and New Zealand, once the hub of milk and meat industry are threatened by rising livestock sectors in other developing world. While the Scandinavian countries are busy in expanding their milk and milk products industry across the world, South Asia is trying to capture the livestock markets of Europe and Middle East. Overall the world food trade balance is tilting fast towards developing world mainly due to the demand of more palatable variety and lesser labor cost inputs. Nevertheless, livestock traders all over the world can change their fortunes by simply carrying out a SWOT analysis of the situation and adjusting accordingly.

While an exporter plans indulging into livestock sector, he must carry out an analysis of various factors in both demand and supply markets, identify the best advertisement mechanism and explore the most promising trade routes. To begin with, understanding and analyzing following is necessary.

a. Consider the size of market before you choose to start your exports. Bigger markets are not necessarily the best places to sell; instead lesser number of competitors should be your preference initially. While it would be difficult to make a niche in a big market, alternatively it will be easier to capture a slot in less competitive area by providing a better variety.

b. Next choose the breed that you want to trade in. People in different areas have different taste preferences and more than anything else people's taste should be the deciding factor for your choice of breed. Do not forget to include breeds resembling with the most wanted one in the list of your supplies. You can not only cut on your supply costs (as generally the other breeds are most likely to be less expensive) but also count them as your reserve in case you don't find the required supplies at some time. This is essential in order to keep the market in grip during your bad days and not to allow your competitors to have a clean sweep.

c. Now find your supply areas. While you choose your suppliers, consider their location, commuting route to your rallying point, flock size and general profile of your suppliers. You cannot afford to accommodate ailing and diseased animals as the results would be disastrous. Your supplier should preferably be certified by Veterinary Department of the state.

d. Locating your collection points can be decided on the basis of above factors. While you may have many collection points in country side as an option, try finding a supplier who could deliver the animals to your place initially. It may be expensive, but will rid you of transportation worries and allows you more time to concentrate on more important things in the initial days of your business. You must recruit workers locally. They are inexpensive and can provide you information which may be helpful for your efficient management.

Although the intricacies of business need a lot more to plan, above mentioned guidance can help in establishing an outline of your working plan. It is always advisable to seek help from livestock ministry (if any in your country/state) and commerce ministry before you launch your business activity. A careful planning and a dedicated work are sure to give you initial success, but it is your strategic vision which is ultimately going to decide your fate in livestock export. Like other businesses, you are strongly advised not to be carried away by the territorial limitations. Modern trade focuses on efficiency and competition, and hence calls for beyond the country's limits thinking; negligence can cause your name a damage that may have long lasting negative repercussions for you.

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