Posts Tagged ‘natural’
Reading this blog for the first time?
Then, welcome! The biofloris blog has been in existence for some two years now. In case this is the first time you are reading it, today’s post is to tell you what it’s about, to “introduce ourselves”.
Biofloris Blog
In a nutshell
Environmentally friendly gardening is what this blog is mainly about. It is punctuated with a few recipes here and there, with garden pictures sent in by readers and with links to terrific articles. While most of our articles tend to be of the “how-to” variety, we like to think that our posts provide a nice blend of “personal experience” and useful information – in three languages: English, Spanish and French.
- Organic Food
Why the biofloris blog was started
The Biofloris Blog seems to be the perfect medium for the kind of messages we are seeking to convey. “How can I get rid of those nasty bugs that are bothering me so much?” “What should I do so that my basil leaves don’t have all those holes?” A blog specializing in organic solutions to gardening problems helps spread the word: how to care for your garden without using chemical pesticides.
Pests Insects
After all, it hasn’t yet been that long since regulations prohibiting or limiting chemical pesticides were imposed (2007 for the province of Quebec in Canada for example). Our blog offers readers details to the advice provided by our web site, http://www.biofloris.com/ and by our pest encyclopedia. What’s more, and this is of undeniable value, the blog allows biofloris to gather and share comments and suggestions from our readers.
- Beneficial Insects
The kind of advice we provide
- Beneficial insects are an extremely efficient way of controlling and even getting rid of pest insects
- When used properly, non chemical, natural pesticides, such as neem oil or insecticidal soap, tend to be very effective
- It is important to properly assess the damages to plants in order to correctly identify which pest insect or which disease is causing the problem. This, in turn, allows to choose the most efficient solution more easily, i.e. pesticide product or beneficial insect, to remedy the problem.
- Different gardening problems occur at different times of year. Keeping a vigilant eye is key.
- Bird Food and Care
Stay tuned for next week’s blog in which we will provide an overview of beneficial insects to use in your garden.
Photos: http://www.biofloris.com/
Plan ahead!
When we plan our seed purchases for the up-coming gardening season we tend to get carried away with great ideas for beauty and appetite. Just a reminder: make sure you purchase seeds of plants that will attract and provide a comfortable home to ladybugs. Ladybugs are instrumental in fighting off numerous pest insects that can harm your plants. That said, the ladybug-friendly plants on our list are actually quite beautiful and some of them, like mint and dill, are a delicious addition to your herb garden!
For more info and to help you with that list, we refer you to your blog of February 02, 2010:
“Just a quick reminder to those who are planning their seed purchase…don’t forget to include on your list seeds of plants and flowers which are popular amongst lady bugs. For those gardeners who plan to buy ladybugs as a natural, organic insecticide against a bunch of common pest insects (including aphids, mites, scales, thrips and small insect larvae) that can literally ruin plants, it is important to “welcome” your gardening ally appropriately. Plan now to ensure that the ladybugs you will purchase will feel at home. Remember: if they feel at home, they will stay in your garden rather than fly off to the neighbor’s and they will be of more use to you. The following plants are some which supply ladybugs with pollen:
Sweet alyssum- Golden rod
- Daisies
- Yarrow
- Dill
- Mint
Certainly there are other plants ladybugs like. Feel free to add to this list and….thanks in advance !”
Name that intruder…in Spanish!
Earwig/Perce-oreille/Tijereta
Biofloris is pleased to use today’s blog to announce that its Pest Insect section has been translated into Spanish and is now a permanent part of our Spanish blog page.
Photo: Wikipedia
http://www.biofloris.com/blog_es/insectos-daninos/
White Grub/Ver blanc/Gusano Blanco
The page presents a series of pest insects and diseases (with pictures), the damage they can do along with suggestions on how to control and even eliminate them.
http://www.biofloris.com/pests/?___store=default&SID=e31a9fc3dcfb610780db2bb3ce77f624
Our many readers know our blog is in three languages, English, French and Spanish. Our store is in English and French. Our Facebook friends are from all over the world (check us out http://www.facebook.com/pages/biofloris-organic-gardening-jardinage-biologique-jardineria-ecologica/233231454061) and a great number of them are Spanish-speaking.
Mildew/Mildiou/Mildiu
Biofloris’ passion is organic gardening and we thought it important to communicate efficiently with our Spanish-speaking followers. With the Spanish Pest Insect section, many more people around the world will be able to fully understand the different pest-insect problems we address in our blogs and the solutions we recommend.
Many thanks to our Spanish translator for doing such a terrific job!
By the way, do you know of a pest insect, and a solution to get rid of it organically, that is not in our Pest Insect section? Please write to us (in the “Leave a reply” section below) and we will add it in!
Rust/Rouille/Moho
The Praying Mantis As A Natural Pesticide
Terrie Greco, B.A.; HLT Dip.
The praying mantis is a Kung Fu King – really! Many martial arts have based defensive strike positions on the stance of the praying mantis.
Although there are many different species worldwide, one of the most familiar to gardeners is Mantis religiosa – or the European Praying Mantis.
Gardeners purchase this predatory insect in the egg state, or ‘ootheca’ and attach the egg casings to branches and twigs in the spring. It takes a few weeks of warm weather before the tiny mantis nymphs emerge – then watch out – they’ll be on the prowl.
Mantises are ‘ambush predators’ – they lie in wait for prey and strike with lightening speed. With the ability to camouflage themselves by appearing as part of a branch, twig or leaf, most unsuspecting prey does not have a chance of survival if they land near a mantis. The mantis holds their prey securely with their two front legs, which are equipped with razor sharp spines. Next, the mantis will bite the neck of their prey, paralyzing them. And yes, they usually start to eat them when they are still alive.
Mantises are true predatory insects – so they will control numerous pests – and the odd non- pest as well. Predators cannot distinguish between pest and beneficial insect. Why would you use them in the garden then? If your garden is experiencing problems with many different pest species, this generalist predator will keep pest populations at a manageable level.
Mantis religiosa - European Praying Mantis adult stage
Mantis religiosa – European Praying Mantis adult stage. The Praying Mantis predator uses its powerful front legs to strike with lightening speed. Image courtesy of: Joseph Berger, www.bugwood.org
Here is an interesting link from Animal Planet in which you can see predatory insects in action:
http://animal.discovery.com/videos/natures-perfect-predators-praying-mantis.html