How to Pot a Rhododendron

At this time of year many of us think about rhododendrons. Although the different types flower for a long period, it is in May that they really make an impact on gardens across the land. But rhododendrons must have lime-free soil and that can make them tricky for some of us that garden on neutral or limey soils. Planting in the garden is a waste of time and money. If you want, you can make a raised bed and fill that with acid soil but digging a hole in your garden and filling it with acid (ericaceous) compost only works for a while. The water from the surrounding soil will drain in and spread the lime and although you can acidify soil with sulphur chips you really are making life hard for yourself.
By far the best way to grow rhododendrons in these circumstances is to put them in pot. Rhododendrons have compact, fibrous roots and grow well in containers. But before you rush out and plant one in your favourite container, consider a few basics. Choose a dwarf rhododendron — many can get huge but there are lots of compact varieties, such as the ‘Bow Bells’ I chose, or all the Yakushimanum varieties (‘Yaks’). Then think about the pot. It should not be made of concrete or contain lime and must have straight sides so that, when the time comes, you can get the roots out of the pot to move it into the next size. It must also have drainage holes but if it has a saucer which can be topped up with water in summer, that is of benefit. You must use a lime-free compost. There are many brands of lime-free, or ericaceous compost but most are loam-free. Most are not, in my opinion, good for long-lasting plants and I prefer to use lime-free John Innes compost, possibly mixed with some fine bark.

What the Deal with Organic Foods?

Nutrition by Natalie

What is the difference between organic food and conventional food? Is organic really more healthy for you?

The USDA lays out certain guidelines that farms have to follow in order to be able to claim the food is organic. In this video Natalie discusses what each of those guidelines are.

What is surprising to learn is some of the growing practices of conventional farming and food processing. As an example, chemical plants and waste water treatment facilities will actually sell their toxic waist to conventional farms to use for fertilizer.

What you eat is an important part of health and nutrition.

BBC – Poison in the Mouth – (1994)

Startling documentary shows evidence of brain damage from Mercury in silver amalgam fillings. Nothing has been done by the Dental establishments since this aired, so just shows you ! The scary bit is when a school girl is tested using a mercury detector which shows mercury vapour leaking from her tooth. Then she rubs it to simulate chewing, and the needle goes off the scale. This from one filling, scary ! I will have mine removed by a qualified dentist and replaced with gold fillings which are harmless. Most dentists who deny mercury is harmful, will remove them without precautions and can cause a relapse or an equivalent of over 10 years mercury exposure in one go if they drill them out, so be sure to search out and go to a qualified dentist who uses the correct procedures to remove & replace them with safe alternatives, if you think you need to remove them, or else leave them in if they need replacing soon, and just get gold fillings next time. The IAOMT gives guidelines for the removal of mercury amalgam fillings in a safe way, as you will need to go on a mercury detox program before and after taking them out to rid your body of the amount of mercury you will absorb during extraction, as no matter how many precautions taken, you will still be exposed to very high levels, so will need detox; or take Cilantro & chlorella tablets or make a recipe using those plants, but be careful, research this well if you decide to take action, as you can do more harm than good if you don’t know what you are doing, you have been warned. It’s a very serious matter and some who have had them removed by irresponsible dentists or quacks cashing in on this, have suffered greatly! Apparently President Reagan heard of the dangers and got all his removed removed and shortly after developed Alzheimers. Whether this was going to happen, or the high level mercury exposure during improper removal or detox caused this, will need to be looked into. I can’t be responsible and so assume no responsibility for people who get their mercury amalgam fillings removed and suffer serious consequences, as you must do your research, and find out, & ask questions to safeguard your health.You need to have flashplayer enabled to watch this Google video