Spring is the time of year when all garden magazines are full of the plans you should be making for the season to come, but very rarely do they cover one of the most basic of gardening techniques. Sowing seeds properly is crucial if you want to ensure a good crop of flowers and vegetables in your garden. We all love to take that small flat packet of seeds and take joy in the vision of what it will produce, but like everything, a good foundation is required to ensure a good crop.

The seed contains everything that is needed to start the growth cycle of the plant and it will keep safe the promise of the future until the time is right. Most basic of those requirements is water, followed swiftly by temperature and appropriate growing conditions in terms of soil and nutrients. Then you must protect that baby plant from pests and diseases until it is strong enough to fend for itself, just as you would any newborn.

The most basic method of sowing is to use good quality seed compost which has not been stored somewhere cold. Place it in seed trays or pots so you can avoid too much thinning or pricking out later. Make sure your seeds are fresh and of good quality before sowing them gently onto the soil, not too close together, and then cover them lightly with a fine layer of compost or vermiculite. As a rule of thumb the depth of the covering should be about twice the diameter of the seed, certainly no more. If your seeds are a little shrivelled you can try soaking them. This is often done with hard coated seeds or where you are expecting a dry spell if you are intending to sow outdoors. It can speed up germination quite noticeably.

Some seeds require a little preparation before they are sown, peas and beans particularly produce seeds with hard coverings that need to be pre-treated if you want them to germinate in our somewhat artificial environments. Generally speaking I try to just chip the surface which mimics nature's action in breaking down the seed coating. If the seeds are too small to do this, like Lupins for example, I put them into a plastic tub, secure the lid and shake them for a while which just breaks up the skin - it has the added advantage of amusing everyone watching me as well!

Sowing seeds outside, especially vegetables, is usually done in rows. I always like to fill the drill with water before I plant anything, and let it drain. Again try not to sow too thickly as this will avoid wasting those precious seedlings when thinning and if you are sowing where you plan to grow, it will save a lot of labour. I must admit I don't sow flower seeds in rows all the time as I do like rather more informality in my flower garden, but where vegetables are concerned I try and sow in such a way that I can tend them easily. It might be rows or it might be in squares depending on how I intend them to grow.

Fine seeds are best mixed with some silver sand or suchlike to spread them more evenly - it can be a nightmare trying to keep all those tiny seeds evenly spread and the effort of mixing them with the sand more than pays off in time saved later. Larger seeds can be individually placed either where you are going to grow them or you could try using a little trick of mine. I save the cardboard centres of toilet paper rolls, fill those with compost and plant the seeds in those. When they are big enough to plant out I just soak the cardboard (which is generally pretty wet anyway) and plant the whole thing. You don't disturb the tender baby roots and they just grow through the wet cardboard as they develop.

Whichever method you use to plant your seeds, make sure you keep them adequately watered, using fresh clean water. Using these simple gardening techniques will ensure that you have a good supply of plants for your garden and vegetables for your table.

By: Lizzie Westerley
Lizzie Westerley has spent many pleasurable years developing her garden and her gardening skills. You can find more of her insights and information on how to make your garden equally magnificent at The Garden Magazine.

The orchid plant has been around for a very long time. In fact it was one of the very first plants to evolve. Therefore it is not surprising that there are so many species around. And therein lies the problem when it comes to knowing how to care for orchids. You can follow general advice but as that well known saying goes "the devil is in the detail".

So here we are going to only look at the care of the one species of orchid. That plant is the Phalaenopsis, also known as the Moth Orchid. It is one of the most popular varieties to grow as it is very tolerant of centrally heated homes.

The Phalaenopsis originates from Thailand and Japan. It likes warm temperatures so you must be able to provide temperatures around 65F during the winter months and 75 to 80F in summer time. Do not let night time temperature drop below 60F.

The orchid likes humidity in the range of 50 to 70%. Using a hand spray, preferably filled with rain water is a simple yet practical option. Or, in summer you could stand your plant pot on a bowl of wet pebbles but never let the bottom of the pot touch the water. Always spray in the morning so that water evaporates before nightfall. Allowing water to rest overnight in the centre of the plant is very high risk. Rot will quickly set in.

Light is vital to the health of the Phalaenopsis plant but you must shield it from direct sunlight or you risk scorching.

Good air circulation is essential. A ceiling fan on low is ideal.

The orchid will need watering on average every 4 to 6 days. Where possible use rain water. Early morning is the best time to water the plant. Do not over-water.

Regularly feed your Phalaenopsis with a specialist orchid fertilizer.

Re-potting will be necessary on average once per year. Spring is the best time for this task. Make sure the pot has good drainage and use either New Zealand sphagnum moss or a fine to medium orchid bark mix.

By: Steve Crane
Discover more about the care of Phalaenopsis and other popular orchids.
The care of orchids depends on buying the right plant. Learn how to pick a healthy plant and many more care for orchids tips.
Get step by step instruction on growing orchids in a hydroponic garden.

Many orchids including cattleyas, phalaenopsis (moth orchids), cymbidiums, and paphiopedilums (slipper orchids) will bloom in the spring. If your plants are setting buds, or already in bloom, keep them well watered and do not change their growing conditions drastically. You'll get nice full flowers that last for their full potential; for phalaenopsis, this could be as long as three months!

Spring is an excellent time a good time to repot your orchids in fresh mix as it gives the orchid plant time to get established before the more stressful heat of summer. It also helps the plant be prepared to "get on" with the work of growing, once warmer brighter weather arrives. If your orchids are blooming, wait for the flowers to fade before repotting. For the rest, look for vital signs that your plants are emerging from rest/dormancy and getting ready to grow.

The two most important signs are new growth (new pseudobulbs and/or leaves) and new roots (white with green tips) in the spring. This is your cue to repot your plants. Repot when the roots are about half an inch long, as it will be easiest to do so at this stage, without damaging the roots. Remember, an orchid is only as good as its roots. Strong root growth is needed if your orchid is to thrive and bloom. If your orchid doesn't seem inclined to respond to the longer days and warmer temperatures of spring by producing new growths and roots, that's OK. Look to see if the mix is mushy, crumbly, or stays wet for long periods. If it is, then it is definitely time to repot. In any case, it's a good idea to repot your orchids every 12-18 months at a minimum. Use a potting mix best suited to your orchid. Specialty mixes are available at garden centers and usually consist of fir bark or coconut husk, often with perlite and other additives to improve drainage. Do not use standard houseplant potting mix for your orchids.

Orchid nurseries and growers will also start shipping plants soon. This is an excellent time to build your collection. Buy blooming size plants this spring, and they will also have a whole season of growth ahead of them before rewarding you with flowers later this year.

By: Yassir Islam
Yassir Islam is an award-winning orchid grower and a former President of the National Capital Orchid Society in Washington D.C. He has given numerous talks on slipper orchids and his articles on orchids have appeared in the Orchid Digest and the Alexandria Times. Visit his website for free original information on how to grow and buy orchids.

There are many different opinions on how to grow bonsai trees. There is no right way. Learning to grow bonsai trees should be a personal experience. A hobby you can individualize for yourself and be able to enjoy.

Those lucky enough will have an experienced bonsai grower to guide them. Others will have to depend on books, guides and the internet to teach them. Whichever methods you learn by, remember you are working with something that is living. Bonsai trees are each individual and different.

Learn the different styles of bonsai. There is the classic and the informal. With the classic, the tree is wider at the base and tapers up. It is the more difficult to learn. The easiest to learn is the more informal style. This is where you prune and wire the trees to be a smaller version of what appears in nature. Study the trees or shrubs. Imitate how they grow.

You can start your bonsai by seed or you can purchase one that is already started. Purchasing one may be an easier way to start your hobby. Ensure that you acquire your plant from a reliable source. Starting with a healthy plant will give you a greater chance of success.

Consider purchasing a starter kit. These will include everything that you need to grow your bonsai. You need a shallow container, specialized soil, fertilizer, specialized tools and of course your tree. Consider the type of tree or shrub you would like to start with as well. Asking for recommendation on what a beginner can start with as well as personal preference should be measured.

Bonsai growing is a very enjoyable hobby. It can be very rewarding taking care of these small trees. They need love and attention. Once you have the basics down there are more advanced techniques to conquer. There are always new things to learn about growing bonsai.

By: James Penn
Discover bonsai tree care secrets at http://www.squidoo.com/bonsai-tree-care-secrets.