tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:44:52 +0000HowToDIYSeedsPlant PropagationSeed StartingCacti And SucculentsAmaryllisBulbsGrowing from seedPollinationSeedlingsCuttingsGhetto GardeningGlossaryHumidity TrayPizza Table UsesSeed ScarificationAdenium ObesumAir LayeringBaggie MethodCarnivorous PlantsCeropegia WoodiiChristmas CactusCitrusCollectingDesignEcheveriaFreeGarden DesignGarden PestsGardening PhotosGreenhouseSeed GerminationSeed PodSeed SproutingSeed StratificationSucculentTerrariumvinesJust like a computer hacker only not as smart and having to do with the gardening and plant world.http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)Blogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-1586678765121945082Sun, 18 Nov 2007 23:12:00 +00002007-11-18T13:12:36.213-08:00BulbsDIYHowToBack in May I wrote "Bulb Planting Hack" and posted about an experiment I was going to try out when planting tender bulbs in my garden that had to be dug up in the winter. The idea is really simple and I'm sure had been thought of by many gardeners before and I wish it would have occurred sooner to me.The problem I had in my garden was trying to find bulbs I planted once the foliage had died downhttp://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/11/bulb-planting-hack-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-600351883570148916Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:22:00 +00002007-11-16T11:01:44.145-08:00HowToPlant PropagationvinesThis spring I bought some Ipomoea batatas 'blackie' plants for my container garden and have decided to store the tubers and take some cuttings to try to root the cuttings indoors for next spring. Ipomoea batatas is better known as sweet potato vine or ornamental sweet potato and are related to morning glories and the sweet potato vine flower (see photo at link) has a remarkable resemblance to thehttp://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/11/rooting-sweet-potato-vine-cuttings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-8297240258540115365Thu, 01 Nov 2007 05:37:00 +00002007-10-31T23:11:43.027-07:00Cacti And SucculentsChristmas CactusCuttingsPlant PropagationChristmas cactus plants are popular plants during the holidays, they come in a variety of colors and are pretty easy plants to take care of and get to bloom. On my other blog I posted a entry on how to make your Christmas Cactus flower. Once you've managed to make your Christmas cactus flower you may want to move on to taking cuttings from your Christmas Cactus and rooting your Christmas cactus http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/10/rooting-christmas-cactus-cuttings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-880786702230942481Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:57:00 +00002007-10-28T20:34:59.981-07:00Cacti And SucculentsCuttingsHowToPlant PropagationSansevierias are easy houseplants that are commonly called "Snake Plant" because of the leaf color or "Mother-in-law's tongue" because of the sharpness of the leaves. This plant is native to Zaire and requires moderate watering in the summer and very little in the winter-too much water will cause your plant to start rotting. This low light houseplant can easily be propagated by splitting the http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/10/snake-plant-propagation-by-leaf.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-8986834424060390786Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:08:00 +00002007-10-16T15:34:47.389-07:00Cacti And SucculentsDIYHowToOn my other gardening blog I wrote a post explaining how I repot a cactus to give new indoor gardeners an idea on how to do it without getting pricked by the spines. If you haven't seen that post click the link above and read that entry and look at the photo of the cacti that I'm repotting. Follow the instructions on that entry because everything is the same.The only difference in that repottinghttp://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-repot-cacti.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-7402258762692751337Tue, 04 Sep 2007 02:01:00 +00002009-09-23T10:05:10.632-07:00DIYGarden PestsHowToGarden slugs are a pest that just about every gardener has to deal with. Not only do they leave a gross slime where they walk but they cause plant damage and frustration. For years garden hackers have been discovering non toxic methods of slug control. The following are non toxic methods of slug control and that can be found in your kitchen. Natural -pest control solutions work best in an eco http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/09/non-toxic-slug-control-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-453911378797700739Mon, 03 Sep 2007 22:01:00 +00002007-09-03T15:35:34.617-07:00Growing from seedHowToSeedsOn an entry title When I collect Purple Coneflower Seeds I blogged about the problems faced when trying to collect seeds from plants when birds are present. In the comments section another garden blogger and I discussed using cheesecloth to cover some seed heads to protect them from hungry birds.When trying to save sunflower seeds from hungry birds it is a good idea to allow them to eat some and http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-save-sunflower-seeds-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-1937613412414529527Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:03:00 +00002007-09-01T10:33:07.804-07:00Seed StartingSeedsOn my main gardening blog I posted an entry titled When I Collect Purple Coneflower Seeds that has a photo of what a ripe Purple Coneflower seed head looks like. On another of my gardening blogs I posted an image to help identify the Purple Coneflower Seeds. If you are looking for help in identifying the seeds of a Purple Coneflower or want to know when it is time to collect the seeds look over http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/09/removing-purple-coneflower-seeds-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-3292346840772603275Wed, 16 May 2007 04:53:00 +00002007-05-15T22:00:36.479-07:00BulbsSince most of my favorite bulbs are too tender for my garden and would probably die over the winter here in Chicago I need to be able to plant them and later find them. The problem is that once fall comes around I sometimes forget about where I placed them. This year I have been using things like this strawberry basket from the grocery store.By placing them inside of something like this basket I http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/05/bulb-planting-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-7799753763750065274Tue, 03 Apr 2007 19:26:00 +00002007-04-03T12:38:44.160-07:00DIYGlossaryGrowing from seedHowToSeed StartingDirect sowing has to be the easiest and least expensive method of seed starting for any garden. When you don't have time to make soda bottle greenhouses or use the sandwich bag method or don't want to spend money on buying soil or peat pellets direct sowing your seeds is the way to go. Simply sow your seeds according to the recommendations for planting depth and spacing in your garden or http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/04/direct-sowing-gardening-terms-hacked.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-111731218574606518Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:54:00 +00002010-12-30T21:18:30.644-08:00AmaryllisPollinationSeedsThis weekend my seed pod on my Amaryllis split open and I was able to collect the seeds. As you can see from the photos the seeds are very thin almost paper like and dark. Amaryllis seeds always remind me of Hosta seeds and from my experience they're very easy to germinate. If you're interested in propagating your Amaryllis or pollinating your Amaryllis you can see this entry on Amaryllis http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/03/amaryllis-seeds-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-7112706253983112446Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:41:00 +00002007-03-12T10:51:59.652-07:00Ghetto GardeningSeed StartingI was in the greenhouse of a local garden center and came across these plant labels from Ferry Morse the other day. The price is pretty steep when you consider that they're just thin pieces of plastic and you could easily make your own plant labels to keep track of your growing houseplant collection or the seeds you start making mini greenhouses out of used soda bottles. You can make something http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/03/plant-labels-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-1549399450309761045Sat, 03 Mar 2007 17:02:00 +00002007-03-03T09:19:39.137-08:00Ghetto GardeningPlant PropagationSeed StartingI've found myself throwing away a lot of these instant soup cups lately because we have guests and they eat these like crazy. It's not unusual to throw away 10 or more of these cups in one day around here. The other day as I was taking out the garbage and they kept falling out of the bag and it dawned on me that these sturdy cups have a use for gardening.Take a sharp pencil and poke holes in the http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/03/instant-soup-cups-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-4040327538150377205Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:56:00 +00002010-12-30T21:17:58.047-08:00AmaryllisPollinationSeed Pod In a previous entry about Amaryllis pollination I think I promised an update on what the seed pods would look like when the pollination was successful. Notice how green and plump the seed pod on the right is compared to the one on the left. The one on the left didn't take even though it was self-pollinated just like the one on the right. In both of them you can see how I've left the flower on http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/amaryllis-seed-pods.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-1474440801318892346Mon, 19 Feb 2007 04:30:00 +00002007-02-18T20:39:11.521-08:00Cacti And SucculentsGlossaryIf you spend any time on gardening forums you may come across the word etiolation from time to time. You'll particularly encounter the word in Cacti and Succulents forums where it is often discussed or seen in pictures of people who are having trouble with their plants.Basically etiolation occurs when a plant does not receive enough light and produce weak up-right growth. Plants that should be http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/etiolation-glossary-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-7497250089325248783Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:31:00 +00002007-02-15T11:50:49.196-08:00HowToHumidity TrayDuring the winter months your houseplants will benefit from any attempts at increasing humidity in your home. We live in homes with heating that is designed to be comfortable for us but what is comfortable for us and be detrimental to our plants. You may even notice the effects of the dry air inside your home manifest themselves in the form of dry skin or dry nasal passages. If the dry air is http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/increasing-humidity-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-515040539751719966Sat, 10 Feb 2007 20:05:00 +00002010-12-30T21:20:13.254-08:00AmaryllisDIYHowToPollinationSeed Starting If you have an Amaryllis you can easily hack it to produce seeds which you can then sow and produce even more plants that you can share with others, keep for yourself or sell. Look at the image on the right. The stamen is the slender white stalk that's holding up the anther. The anther is the sack that holds the pollen. These are considered the male parts of a flower. This usually matures http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/amaryllis-pollination-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-4771407012984590984Sat, 10 Feb 2007 04:15:00 +00002007-02-09T19:38:36.508-08:00Seed ScarificationSeed StartingSeedsIf you're starting from seed and need to scarify several seeds using sandpaper can save you some time and hassle. Sometimes the seeds are too small to hold each one while you nick the seed coat or sometimes you have a lot of seeds you need to get started for planting in your garden.Aside from the seeds all you need is just need a really rough piece of sandpaper to do this. You simply place your http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/seed-scarification-hack-sandpaper.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-9037823334977641023Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:32:00 +00002007-02-06T16:00:27.137-08:00BulbsPizza Table UsesIn this previous blog entry I mentioned those plastic things that are put on top of pizzas to keep the box from touching the cheese.I've found another use for them.A lot of my plants are rather small and all are growing on a shelf near a window. Since so many of the plants are small and in small pots like the two in this photo I find it necessary to add something underneath the second row of http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/use-for-pizza-table.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-6913521763166624710Mon, 05 Feb 2007 02:31:00 +00002007-10-26T21:28:02.759-07:00Humidity TrayPizza Table UsesMany houseplants benefit from sitting in a humidity tray especially during the winter months when our homes are heated and the air can be quite dry. You can go out and spend some money of trays specifically designed for this purpose but if you're smart you can hack a humidity tray out of anything that will hold some water. For example a Tupperware container that is longer than it is deep, cuttinghttp://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/humidity-trays-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-8158560572956244024Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:14:00 +00002007-02-03T13:55:33.858-08:00DesignDIYFreeGarden DesignHowToEver wanted to someone to design your garden or to see what something you're imagining for your garden would look like but you can't draw a box to save your life? On my other blog I made an entry about Virtual Garden and how easy and kinda fun it was to work with. Even if you're not computer savvy I think you could use this tool to help you map out what your garden could look like without the http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/do-it-yourself-hack-garden-design.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-4830395077188980884Fri, 02 Feb 2007 04:23:00 +00002007-02-01T21:01:01.499-08:00DIYHowToSeed GerminationSeed ScarificationSeed StratificationTwo terms that sometimes confuse people who are new to gardening and even some old timers are Seed Stratification and Seed Scarification. The words look similar and sometimes one word is used when you really intended to use the other.Seed Stratification-simply put, is a cold moist period a seed needs in order to germinate. Some seeds cannot germinate immediately after being collected and need to http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/02/stratification-and-scarification.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-2993275989499794325Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:21:00 +00002007-01-28T13:36:14.976-08:00Gardening PhotosSeedsThis time of the year can be a little boring if you're strictly an outdoors gardener. If you don't have the benefit of having a houseplant collection to keep you occupied you're probably scrounging around looking for gardening related things to do. I found myself looking for a new project recently and decided that I wanted to take my seed cataloging to a new level. So I pulled out a couple of http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/01/photographing-seeds-hack-light-diffuser.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-35313784022957380Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:11:00 +00002007-01-27T11:47:00.142-08:00Carnivorous PlantsTerrariumThe Popularity of Apple's "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC" ad campaign recently reminded me of a web page created by Ania Mitros that I came across when I was researching building a terrarium. I was pretty impressed with her creativity because I was planning on building one in an aquarium and hadn't considered housing one inside of something other than the traditional enclosures like a glass bottle or http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/01/im-mac-im-pc-im-terrarium.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8380274678131885251.post-4025016705995399123Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:06:00 +00002007-01-19T10:28:19.832-08:00Air LayeringCeropegia WoodiiPlant PropagationI guess this method of propagating a Ceropegia Woodii can be described as air layering. Even though you aren't really wounding the plant by making an incision to make it produce roots in a certain spot. Here we're taking advantage of what this plant does naturally if you don't have a lot of confidence in your ability to grow from cuttings.All I really do is set the tuber that this vine produces http://gardenhacker.blogspot.com/2007/01/ceropegia-woodii-air-layering-hack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MrBrownThumb)2