The bamboo plant is actually a type of grass that is found mainly in the tropical regions of the world. As such, these plants have acclimatized to areas with warm weather and high rainfall. They are beautifully simple plants and for this reason, many people choose to grow them indoors. Bamboo is a relatively easy plant to care for if you follow a number of tips.

How Do You Take Care Of These Things?

To ensure that your bamboo remains healthy, you must first realize that they need high humidity and warmth. If you keep this in mind, the rest will follow.

When you have purchased your bamboo, situate it in a spot that is sheltered, but has a balance of light and shade. This will allow the plant to acclimatize to living indoors. Do not fertilize the bamboo when you get it home as it was most probably already fertilized in the nursery.

The amount of water that your bamboo will need will depend upon the microclimate in its position. If you find that the soil dries out fast indoors, a deep soaking water is the best option to prevent it from stressing as a result of not enough water. This may not necessarily mean it has to be watered daily; each plant has to be treated according to its individual needs. If the leaves of the plant are curling, it will need more water: drooping leaves suggest it is getting too much.

A great way to care for the watering needs of your bamboo is to "mist" it. A pebble tray is also a wise choice. Misting will replicate the conditions that the bamboo would experience in nature. A pebble tray is a simple tray filled with pebbles and enough water so that the pebbles can just be seen above the surface. The pot containing the bamboo is put on top of the pebbles making sure that it does not touch the water.

It will become easier to care for bamboo once you have had some practice. There may be times when you will have to place the bamboo out into your garden to allow it to obtain the necessary amount of sunlight, or alternatively you can place lights near the plant to replicate sunlight and help the plant achieve photosynthesis.

By: Thomas Fyrd
Don't delay - Now is the right time to gain more knowledge on the subject of bamboo palms.
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African violets are glorious indoor blooming plants. They are not hard to take care of, but they do require bright light and the proper care in order to flourish and bloom all year long. African violets grow very well indoors under artificial light.

African violets require ten to fourteen hours each day of good light. Plants with variegated leaves need more than that, and African violets with yellow flowers need less. Fluorescent lights are appropriate for this task, as are HID lights. HID, or high intensity discharge lights, come in a metal halide and high-pressure sodium versions. They give off a higher quantity of light than either fluorescent or incandescent bulbs, and more closely resemble sunlight. Both HID lamps and fluorescent lamps need digital ballasts to control the electrical current flowing through the bulb.These ballasts can be futurebrite digital ballasts or lumatek digital ballasts, and can be installed inside the light fixture or used as a separate component linked to the fixture and the bulb. These plants also need eight hours of darkness each day so that they bloom properly.

Other cultural needs your African violet has is for temperature, humidity and soil. These lovely plants do well in household temperatures that range from 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. They thrive in an area of high humidity, so adding a humidifier to their room is helpful. They like light well-drained soil, and soilless mixes are very good for this purpose.

You will not want to spray or mist your African violet with water, because this can damage and discolor the fuzzy leaves. Instead, water the plant from the bottom by putting water in the saucer and let it be drawn up into the pot by the plant's roots. If there is calcium in your water supply, it is best to let some water sit for 24 hours before you use it so the calcium dissipates. It is easy to overwater these plants, so check the soil with your finger, and give it some water when the top of the soil starts to feel dry. At the same time you can also fertilize the plant lightly.

There are many beautiful varieties of African violets from which you can choose your favorites. If you like bi-colored flowers, 'Fancy Pants' has single, frilly red and white ones. 'Spectacular Blue' actually look a bit more purple than blue, but its double ruffled petals will thrill you. If you like burgundy, you will flip when you see the double deep burgundy 'Blackberry Jam.' There are miniature African violets as well, such as the stunning double pink 'Queen Sabrina.' Your African violets will be spectacular when you meet all their easy cultural requirements, especially appropriate artificial lighting.

By: Allison Agnock
Alison Agnock is an expert in indoor hydroponic gardening methods that use grow light digital ballasts, http://www.hidhut.com/, and full spectrum grow lights.

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