Our Top 8 Indoor Plants And How To Care For Them

If you’re looking for easy ways to add some beauty in your home that will not only make it more beautiful, but also reduce stress and filter your air, then we HIGHLY recommend you come to Garden Valley Farmers Market and pick out some of the many indoor plants that we carry. Not only do they provide a warm, personal touch to your home’s decor, but they also remove toxins in the air and release fresh oxygen for you to breathe and enjoy.

Here are our top eight indoor houseplants that we recommend you add to your home
and how to care for them:

Bird Of Paradise
Light. Direct sun through a window or door
Soil. Well draining potting soil
Water. Water when surface of soil starts to look dry

Rubber Plant
Light. Bright, indirect light (can accomplish this by shielding the plant with a sheer curtain)
Soil. Well-draining and well-aerated soil
Water. In growing season (summer), keep the plant moist (Droopy leaves means that it needs more water)
You can also learn more about them here.

Succulents
Light. Succulents LOVE sunlight and need AT LEAST half a day of sunlight, depending on the variety you choose
Soil. Repot in a succulent soil
Water. Water heavily, but not often, making sure the soil is dry between waterings

Hoya Tricolor
Light. Bright, indirect light. Hoya also loves humidity, so it’s the perfect plant for a bathroom that has natural light
Soil. Well-draining soil with a perlite or pumice mix
Water. Less is better. Hoya hates overwatering, so make sure the soil dries out between waterings

Split Leaf Philadendron (Monstera Deliciosa)
Light. Bright, indirect light
Soil. Peat based potting mix
Water. Water regularly, allowing soil to dry slightly between waterings. You can also mist the leaves to create humidity, which mimics its natural habitat)

ZZ Plant
Light. These like indirect, moderate light, but can also survive in low light conditions (perfect for offices)
Soil. Not picky
Water. Only water when the soil has dried out (yellow leaves means too much water)

Pothos
Light. Do well in either bright/indirect light, as well as low light
Soil. Any potting mix is fine
Watering. Allow soil to dry out before watering again

Snake Plant
Light. Grows faster in bright light, but also does well in low light conditions
Soil. Well-draining cactus soil will do fine
Watering. Prevent overwatering by allowing soil to dry out

CAUTION: Even though these plants can be so beautiful, they can also be harmful and toxic to your pets and children. Please remember to research and take this into consideration when choosing your indoor plants.

And as a general rule of thumb, if you are going to repot your plants, remember to choose pots that have drainage holes in them (or drill your own) in order to prevent root rot. It’s also important to choose a pot that’s only 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the nursery pot. This will allow room for growth but will not engulf the plant.

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other blog posts or needing more inpsiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

How To Care For Verbena And Keep It Thriving

If you’re looking for an easy, annual flowering plant that’s not fussy, drought tolerant, and attracts butterflies, Verbena is a great choice for you! With a variety of vibrant colors and soft leaves, these flowers are the perfect addition to any of your baskets, window boxes, or gardens.

HOW TO CARE FOR VERBENA

The best thing about Verbena is that that aren’t picky. In fact, the most common cause of their downfall is too much attention, aka over-watering and over-feeding them. Follow these tips, and you’ll be just fine!

Where to Grow.
Plant in the sunniest place possible. These beauties LOVE the sun (need at least 8 hours of direct sunlight), and are able to withstand the heat. Be sure to plant them in a sunny place that will help them bloom and thrive.

When and How to Plant.
The best time to plant your verbena would be in the spring, however, you can plant in the summer if special attention is paid to them while they are still establishing.
Remember to plant at least 6 inches apart to increase the air circulation. Water at least two times per week while the plant is still establishing itself into the soil.

Soil.
Verbena needs well-draining soil. That’s what makes them PERFECT for a rock garden, but obviously you can plant anywhere. If you’re planting in a garden or mixed container, be sure to plant in a mound formation in order to encourage adequate circulation.

Watering.
The best way to water your verbena is to inspect it every day. If the leaves look limp, then that’s a sign that it’s time to water. They only require about an inch of water a week, but during scorching hot weather, they might need a little bit of extra water.

Deadhead.
This is a very important step if you’re wanting your verbena to continue blooming. It won’t produce anymore blooms if it doesn’t have anywhere to grow. To accomplish this, just clip the top part of your flowers that hold the blooms.

Where to Purchase.
So where can you even get these gorgeous plants? We still have quite a good selection available for purchase at each of our locations at Garden Valley Farmers Market. We are local to the following locations in North Carolina: Greensboro, Haw River, Graham, Elon, and Burlington. So stop by today, and see just how beautiful these gorgeous plants really are.

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other blog posts or needing more inpsiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

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Here’s a few photos sourced from Pinterest to give you all the Verbena inspiration that you’ll need!

How To Naturally Prevent Weeds

Weed prevention is one of the tasks of gardening that not only is time consuming, but is probably the most annoying. And sure, we could use chemical filled herbicides, but we don’t recommend it and here’s why: herbicides not only wash away and pollute our water, but they also kill important pollinators. Check this post out on why pollinators are important and how you can attract them to your garden.

So what can we do instead?
We’ve put together

5 Ways To Naturally Prevent Weeds

from growing in your yard and garden all year long.

1. Smothering.
So you’ve planted a garden, but you still have weeds growing? No problem! Just cut the weeds low to the ground, and then place either newspaper or cardboard over them. Cover with some mulch, and you shouldn’t have much of a problem with weeds. If you see a few stubborn sprouts shooting up, just repeat the process again. Not only is the method cost effective, but it’s also highly efficient and safe for the environment.

2. Cook Them.
Did you know that you can pour boiling hot water onto weeds and it literally cooks them. The next time you boil some tea, use the leftover water to pour on the pesky weeds.

3. Plant Close Together.
The more space you have between your plants, the more the sun will expose the ground. And the more the sun exposes the ground, the more opportunity for weeds to germinate. To avoid this, we recommend planting some flowers closer together, and digging a deeper hole to allow for root growth.

4. Vinegar.
What can’t vinegar do?! This process should NOT be used near precious flowers and vegetable plants. But it is great for sidewalks, driveways, and anywhere else that doesn’t have your gorgeous plants near them (maybe the ones you got from Garden Valley Farmers Market?). And sure, there are certain recipes that you can look up on Pinterest, but we recommend using undiluted white vinegar. Just add to a squirt bottle of your choice, and spray away!

5. Hand Weeding.
This method is not the most fun, but it is HIGHLY effective. The ideal conditions for hand weeding (if there are any) are with damp soil, maybe after a fresh summer shower? The key to this process is this: do it often. Just like cleaning a house, the more frequently you do it, the easier it is.

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Here are some tried and true tools that we recommend adding to your garden tool collection to make weeding your garden and yard much easier:

• Garden Knife- great for digging in tough areas

• Kneeling Pad- for protecting your knees while digging

• Garden Hoe- cuts weed roots deep under the surface

• Garden Cultivator- breaks up the top layer of dirt

What are some ways that you’ve found to be super helpful in preventing weeds?
Comment below and let us know!

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Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other blog posts or needing more inpsiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

5 Tips On How To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes

Picture this: you’re outside, enjoying the sunset, and enjoying the cooler weather that the day has FINALLY brought. You’re sipping on your souther, NC sweet tea, talking with your friends, and watching the grill master cook up some perfect sirloin steaks. But suddenly, you start to feel something itch on your arms, and then your legs. You look down, and there’s what seems to be a thousand little flying, annoying insects circling you like they’re about to feast on you. Mosquitoes. And just when you’re about to “call it a night” and go inside, you remember this blog post that gave you some tips and tricks to get rid of those mosquitoes.

5 Tips On How To Get Rid of Mosquitoes:

1. Remove Standing Water.
Mosquitoes love standing water and are drawn to it. Why? Because their eggs can not develop into larvae without water, so it’s essential for them to survive. Simply removing any water in birdbaths, dog bowls, or old tires might be just the trick you need to slowly get rid of those pesky insects.

If you’re wanting to have a water feature in your back yard, it’s best to have one that has continuously moving water. A great option that we have available at our stores are these fountains that are pictures above.

2. Plant Mosquito Repelling Plants
At Garden Valley Farmers Market, we recommend the following plants to our customers:
+ Citronella
+ Lemongrass
+ Marigolds
+ Catnip
+ Rosemary
+ Bee Balm
+ Peppermint
+ Lavender

You can plant these herbs and flowers around your porches, in the pots on your picnic table, or up your front porch steps. Basically wherever you spend your time outside, you will want to plant them there.

3. Hang Bat Houses.
Okay, this might seem a little ridiculous. But, in case you didn’t know, bats eat mosquitoes and mosquitoes are terrified of bats. It’s a simple trick to deter those mosquitoes from laying eggs around your home. Try it out and let us know if it works for you!

4. Trim Bushes And Mow Grass
Mosquitoes hate heat and need a place to relax from the hot sun. They also like to eat on the nectar of the plants when they’re not feasting on us… so trimming up your vegetation and keeping the grass mowed is a great way to reduce the population of mosquitoes.

5. Wind.
Luckily for us, mosquitoes are not strong enough to withstand wind. So even if it’s not a breezy day, grab a few fans, hang them around your porch, and turn ‘em on. Another great option is to finally install that ceiling fan on your covered porch that you’ve been wanting to have put up for the past 10 years. It’s worth it.

We’d love to hear your tips and tricks on how you prevent having mosquitoes invading your summer nights! Comment below and let us know.

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Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other blog posts or needing more inpsiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team