Seed Starting in Your Home

Spring is in the air!  The sun is warmer, the days are longer, the air is fresher and the ground is alive with the beginnings of new growth.  We live in a society where products are at our fingertips almost immediately.  All it takes is a drive to the local supermarket and we can pickup any food our stomach desires.  While most people are happy with this process, growing your own food is a more rewarding experience.  Even if you weren’t born with a green thumb, cultivating your inner farmer can easily be done all year round.

Did you know it’s possible to start your own plants from seeds indoors?  Seed starting is a method

used for those who want to start a sprout inside away from the cold and later move them outdoors to avoid shock.  If you’re thinking about seed starting before the warm weather arrives, follow these easy tips:

·         Keep your plants near a sunny window.  A south-facing window should give your container sufficient lighting.

·         Start seeds four to eight weeks before the plant-out date.  This will provide enough warmth and light for them to start growing before you move them outdoors.

·         Choose a container with drainage holes in the bottom.  Something as simple as a yogurt container with holes punched in the bottom will work. 

·         Start seedlings in containers that will hold 3 to 4 ounces of moist seed-starting mix.  Don’t use soil from your backyard but instead use a fertilizer-rich soil.

·         Water the seedlings carefully everyday and make sure they are not too wet and not too dry. 

·         Keep plants indoors until the last frost date in your area has passed and your soil has warmed. 

When the weather has warmed up and the soil is ready for your seedlings, get planting!  Serving the Rochester area since 1991, Carousel Flowers offers a large arrangement of blooming flowers delivered at the peak of their beauty and guaranteed to be in good health.  Plant our flowers in your outdoor garden and they can be enjoyed for years to come! 

For a full list of our flowers and plants, visit www.carouselflowers.com.

Enhance Your Home and Health With Indoor Plants

Something that never goes out of style is enhancing your interior design with the use of plants.  If

your home is not filled with beautiful plants, you are missing out on a number of physical and mental health benefits.  Not only do plants add beauty to your home, but studies show they have the potential to reduce stress, improve health, and enhance your mood.

At Carousel Floral Gifts and Garden, we believe there are a number of health benefits to having plants in your home.  Take a look at just some of the ways plants will improve your quality of life:

Better Breathing

It’s no surprise that increasing the amount of plants in your home will enhance your breathing.  Plants

continually undergo the process of photosynthesis, which absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.  With the right plant, you can bring fresh air to any space day or night. 

Improved Health

From adding a few plants to your home and office, you can benefit from improved health!  Plants release moisture to the air that decreases the onset of dry skin, sore throats, coughs, headaches and even high blood pressure.  Studies have also shown that adding plants to hospital rooms can improve the recovery rates of ill patients.

Cleaner Air

Your home is likely suffering from indoor pollutants like carbon monoxide, lead particles, mold or smoke.  A simple solution to air pollutants is the addition of indoor plants.  Plants are a great way to rid the air of pollutants and replace them with clean oxygen.

Increased Happiness

It may sound silly, but plants can improve your overall state of mind.  The added oxygen of plants is shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.  Plants are also shown to improve your mood, self-esteem and optimism!

If you’re interested in enhancing your home with plants, we recommend placing at least one potted plant or floral in each room.  At Carousel Floral Gifts and Garden, our inventory features a variety of flowers, orchid plants, blooming plants and green plants.  We are happy to provide custom arrangements and baskets that will bring life to any home!

To order your floral arrangement from Carousel Floral Gifts & Garden, visit our website or give us a call at 507-288-7800.