Dividing Perennials

Dividing Perennial Daylilies and Other Plants in the Garden-VIDEO & WRITTEN DIY

Spring and fall are the perfect times to divide your perennials. Today weu2019re dividing daylilies and you can do the same with all kinds of plants. Theyu2019re very easy to divide and for many perennial flowers thatu2019s how you get more plants.

Watch the Video tutorial I made. If you prefer written DIY’s you’ll find that below.

Daylilies can be cross pollinated pretty easily, so even if you did get seeds, unless youu2019re the only neighbor with them, it probably wonu2019t have true traits of the parent plant. That’s how new varieties are made and they can be pretty amazing. Hard to get plants can be divided.

They’re very easy to divide and actually looked better if you divide them every few years. Itu2019ll give you more plants to spread around your yard or to share. Perennials are not usually propagated by taking a cutting and putting them in water like tropical houseplants are. (Though many can, but that’s not what this is about.) For most plants you have to divide the roots to make a clone of the plant. Itu2019s really easy.

Daylilies, meadow sages, lambs ear, yarrow, bee balm, hyssop and more are divided like this.

As a general rule, however large the plant is on top, itu2019s probably got similar sized roots. Well established plants can have massive roots.

Dig the roots out with a shovel or pitchfork carefully digging all the way around it so you donu2019t break the roots off. Clean the root of dirt just enough so you can see them well and divide them in half.

If you bought a bare root plant, this is how it would come, with the roots washed of all the soil.

If I hadnu2019t been able to coax and pull the roots apart apart easily, I would have used a knife or shovel and cut the whole root ball in half.

Itu2019s really that easy. Make sure that any foliage has plenty of roots to support the new plant. Many of them can be divided several times, as I did here.

Plant the new plants in the garden with compost for organic nutrients that break down over time and will continue to feed it all year. You can also plant it in a pot to give away as Iu2019m doing. Water them and youu2019re done. Keep them watered until established, then you have a whole new garden plant!

I hope youu2019ve enjoyed this tutorial on I Breathe I DIY! Please share it with anyone who could use it.

You Can Start Seeds in a Small Space-Easy Growing Closet VIDEO Tour

If you’ve ever wanted to start your own vegetable or herb seeds indoors, and don’t think you have the space, you have got to see this super easy, small-closet grow space video I made. I show you my actual grow closet as I’m setting it back up for the year.

This idea could be used in any small areas like crawl spaces, sheds, garages, basements, closets, and more. If you have heat and power, you can set up your own grow space. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy growing your own food from seeds.

Here is a list of supplies for this closet:

Reflective insulation

24 inch shop lights

10 ft single jack chain

Soak Your Stress Away with these Custom Bath Salt Blends – WRITTEN DIY -Part 2

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas.

Imagine immersing into your bathtub filled with calming, warm (to mildly hot) water with mineral salts and essential oils. Breathe in. MMMM. Breathe out. Do it again. One more time. Yes. Much better. Your stress begins to dissolve. Like magic. Only, it’s science.

My favorite is a relaxing bath. I’m not talking about bathing. The shampooing and soaping – that’s a shower. I am talking about cleansing and rejuvenating. Soothing the mind, body, and emotions. Soaking in a pool of bath salts and essential oils is a surefire way to help your, well everything, CHILL OUT.

This is self care time on a whole other level. The benefits of the bath salts themselves are worth the 20 minutes, and all you have to do is lay there. How beautiful is that?! Add essential oils targeted to a specific issue and you’ve got yourself a power spa of wellness, Baby! (Blends coming up!)

So, here’s a brief breakdown of the benefits of bath salts. For an adult, you only need 1 cup of these in your bath.

Epsom Salts:

Improved magnesium absorption
Reduces pain and swelling in muscles and joints
Promotes sleep
Reduces stress

Himalayan Salts:

Increases hydration
Detoxifies the body
Reduces muscle cramps

Pretty spectacular, right?!

This recipe uses a 1:1 ratio of the two bath salts, and I am laying it out 1 cup at a time. Please, feel free to put more together and store it in a large mason jar. I just find it much more manageable to get the oils and salts as one when this is done one cup at a time.

You will need:

Bath salts (Epsom, Himalayan)
Essential Oils (List below)
Bowl for mixing
1 Cup measuring cup (dry ingredients)
Spoon
Mason jar(s)

Step 1: Sterilize your jar(s). To do this, wash them by hand in hot soapy water. Rinse them in scalding water. Set jars on a rack in a deep pot and cover with hot water (not boiling). Bring water to a boil, cover and boil the jars for 15 minutes, beginning when steam starts coming out of the pot. Turn off the heat, leaving the jars in the hot water for 10-15 min. Pull the jars out and let dry, inverted, on a towel. The goal is to fill them while they are still hot. While you wait for the jars to dry, throw the lids in the pot and boil for 5 minutes.

Step 2: Measure your bath salts into a bowl. Give them a little stir, then…

Step 3: Add your essential oils (20 drops MAX for every cup of bath salts). Don’t just let the drops collect in one spot. Let them fall all over the surface. This helps when you begin to stir. Which is what you do next!

Step 4: Stir it like you’re beating an egg. And by that I mean vigorously, without flinging salt everywhere. The idea is to get every grain of salt in contact with the essential oils so they’re blended.

Step 5: Pour/spoon salt blend into the jar, and screw on the lid.

Now LABEL your bath salts. Know what’s in there, and let others know what’s in there too.

NOTE: These make really great gifts (wink wink). For example, you can decorate your jar with fabric, twine, or ribbon. It truly is the kind of gift a person can soak up the goodness from.

OK, the two blends we’re making today are for stress and sleep. Enjoy!

Sleep Soundly Bath Salt Blend

1/2 Cup Epsom salts

1/2 Cup Himalayan Bath Salts

6 drops Bergamot oil

12 drops Lavender oil

2 drops Chamomile oil

Stress Melt Bath Salt Blend

1/2 cup Epsom salts

1/2 cup Himalayan Bath Salts

10 drops Margoram oil

5 drops Juniper oil

5 drops Clary Sage oil

Note: If any of these oils irritate you, here are other oils good for….

Sleep: Sandalwood, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Cedarwood, or Vetiver

Stress: Cedar, Vetiver, Basil, Clary Sage oil, Geranium, or Rose

NOTE: Remember only 20 drops of essential oils per 1 cup of salts. More is not better!

You know, when you think about it, it seems that a good number of the oils that are helpful for relieving stress, also promote good sleep. Coincidence? Nope! Coincidences aren’t real.

Anywho, there are a number of possibilities for your bath. You can customize the oils you put into your bath salts for whatever ailments you want: overworked muscles, a cold or flu, a headache, depression, anxiety; to name a few. Nearly endless I tell you!

For more great bath salt blends we created for you click here.

OK, I hope you have enjoyed this DIY as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing it with you.

Please leave a comment. And if you love it, share it! Thank you!

Soothe the Body and Mind – Custom Bath Salt Blends – WRITTEN DIY

Taking care of yourself can be hard to remember to do, but serious self-care is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. We’re taught and programmed to go, go, go all the time, and it takes effort to make yourself have me time. There’s nothing you need to do that’s more important than scheduling yourself a mini-vacation from your stress and worries.

I believe that relaxing is so important, that I’m giving you TWO weeks of Custom Salt blends to get us all through the holidays.

Stay tuned for more great blends next week.

This week Betsy will share her favorites that are quick and easy, using only easy to get supplies.

Next week Sara will share her favorites, as well as her final post, here on I Breathe I DIY.

These relaxing bath salts are the perfect answer to quickly unwinding and letting your brain have a break. A great soaking bath, can soothe the soul this time of year and any other. These make an amazing gift to give too.

Some of these blends have flowers in them and there’s no better way to keep flowers off your bum than using a re-usable cotton tea bag to hold the mixture in the tub! Find the DIY for the tea bag HERE.

For a moment, I want to talk to you about self-care. Yea I know, you try. I used to have to try too. It’s tricky to fit everything into a day. You tell yourself you should really do more things regularly like meditate, take a long bath, go to the gym more, whatever, just for yourself. For me, things came up and got in the way, as they always do, and I was being left ragged and tired every day. I made more time for myself happen.

I just moved wanting more time for self-care into my MUST do list, instead of letting it linger on my SHOULD do list. You can too. Make a short list of things in your life that need to be moved from, “Oh I should do that” to your, “I MUST do this ” list. Small steps really will take you where you want to go. Start by granting yourself time to soak in the bath!

The magnesium in the Epsom salt has many well documented health benefits including lowering anxiety, relieving migraines, helping calcium absorption, and it can be absorbed through the skin. Not to mention, Epsom salts’ ability to relieve aching muscles. Amazing stuff.

Make a batch of these, and your you time is always within reach.

Supply lists:

Mason jars or other airtight containers
Epsom salts
Essential oils (Listed below)
Pink Himalayan Salt
Dry flowers (Listed below)
Reusable cotton tea bag (See the DIY I did here)

Take time to soak away your stress. Let yourself unwind with these easy recipes to relax today… or tonight.

These make 1 cup of bath soak, so increase your recipe depending on your needs.

Unwind and Calm Salt Soak

Note: This makes a great personal salt soak to keep on hand. This is a great blend for anti-anxiety and for recovery when people pleasing has been at an all-time-high.

Relaxing Floral Soak

1 Cup Epsom Salt
1/8 Cup Chamomile flowers
1/8 Cup Hibiscus flowers
1/8 Cup Lavender Flowers
14 drops Lavender oil
6 drops Frankincense oil

To use: 1 cup per tub is recommended. Place a scoop of the mixture into a reusable cotton tea bag to prevent it from clogging your drain…and making a mess of your tub, and your skin. It may take two bags to hold it all depending on yours. Turn the tea bag inside out over the garbage to clean it out. Wash & reuse again and again.

Note: Mix in a large mixing bowl. Store it in a large container, or place it into smaller containers to give as gifts. To decrease simply use half of the listed ingredients. I grew my flowers, bu.t you can easily buy these varieties.

Headache Relief Bath Salt Soak

1 Cup Epsom Salt
14 drops Peppermint oil
2 drops Lavender oil
3 drops Eucalyptus oil
2 drops Chamomile oil

Note: This blend has a significant cooling effect on the skin, so it’s perfect for helping you cool down, but not for warming you up.

Mix them all together and let it dry out before sealing it up in an airtight container.

RELAX your cares away. Let nothing disturb your bath. No. It’s your time now. You’re no good to anyone, if you’re ragged and fraying at the seams. Breathe in the steam and let yourself have this little victory of youness.

Please share this tutorial if you love it.

Household Green Cleaning Solutions – 5 Common Ingredients to Replace Harsh Chemicals Around the House

In today’s world it is, unfortunately, getting harder and harder to stay away from exposure to toxic chemicals. Just the amount of exhaust we inhale on our daily commutes is enough to want to hold your breath. Forever.

Today, I am talking about “Green Cleaning”. I’m pretty sure we’ve all heard this term by now, and some are probably still wondering how to go about it. The point is to take control by reducing your toxic exposure in your home. The one place you actually have control over. Your sanctuary from the crazy outside world.

But why Green Cleaning? Two main reasons:

You are eliminating a large amount of toxic chemicals left floating about in your home. Think about it. You spray the cleaner. Yes, it goes on the counter, but the amount of molecules released into the air is staggering. If you can smell it, you are inhaling it. They say indoor air quality is far worse inside the home than outside.
The second reason, is that it truly is more economical. You can purchase the few ingredients needed for the same price as a single set of cleaning supplies, and the ingredients you buy will provide several rounds of cleaning supplies. Think of it as the best BOGO out there-only it’s more like 4 for the price of one!

There’s a plethora of recipes to be found online. Some work. Some don’t. Finding the right one can be an undertaking. And believe me, I know how easy it is to just go to the store and buy the chemical cocktails on the shelf. It would be ridiculous to ask someone to make the switch to completely green cleaning all at once. Especially since we have been conditioned to use all these harsh chemicals, believing our homes will not be clean otherwise. Let’s start small.

After experimenting and tweaking, I have two recipes which I find work well. The measurements here are for a sample size. A little goes a long way with these. It may not seem like you’ve made much, but trust me, it’ll do the job! Test it out. See what you think, we think you’ll love it.

One is an Eco Soft Scrub you can use on your sinks, counters, tub and shower, toilet, and even on hard to clean hands. Think gardening, mechanic, or construction work. The second is a Green Degreaser for hard to clean dishes, countertops, microwaves, and for the goo left behind from stickers. You get the idea. Both use simple, non-toxic ingredients you likely already have, and will leave your home genuinely clean. Imagine how many toxic products you can say farewell to with just these two cleaners in your arsenal.

Here is your entire supplies list:

Baking Soda
Distilled White Vinegar
Liquid castile soap
Liquid coconut oil – fractionated
Essential Oils
4oz jar
2oz spritzer bottle

First up, Eco Soft Scrub!

4 oz jar
⅔ c baking soda
2 tbsp distilled white vinegar
2 tbsp liquid castile soap
30 drops essential oil

Essential oil options (Choose one of the two below to customize your cleaner):

10 drops pine
10 drops orange
10 drops eucalyptus (lemon)

-or try-

10 drops lemon
10 drops rosemary
10 drops lemongrass

Mix all ingredients in your jar or bottle. To use, apply soft scrub on surface to be cleaned and let sit for up to 1 minute. Scrub with a sponge and wash off with a microfiber cloth.

Next, Green Degreaser!

2 oz spray bottle
¼ c fractionated coconut oil*
1 tsp baking soda
10 drops orange
5 drops lemon

Mix all ingredients together. Pour onto the bottle. Shake well before each use.

NOTES: *Fractionated coconut oil is produced through a process of steam distillation and hydrolysis to remove the long chain fatty acids. This allows the oil to stay liquid at room temperature and gives it a longer shelf life.