Published on: 09 July 2016
Last Updated on: 03 September 2024
In modern times, when people are flocking towards cities, the demand for homes has increased like anything. Builders have perfectly met this demand, but with some tricks. The sizes of the homes have gone smaller. Just look at the room sizes of rooms in the cities like Mumbai; these are really very small.
Small room size doesn’t mean that it has to really look small. Every problem comes with a solution, and the expert interior designers and creative people have found the solution to this problem as well. There are so many tips and tricks to create an illusion of larger room sizes.
5 Perfect Ways to Create Size Illusion in Room with Home Accessories
You just need some specific home furnishing accessories suitable as per Indian homes, right paint colors, and furniture to make your small bedroom look large.
1. Mirrors are the ultimate solution to create an illusion
By adding some mirrors to the bare wall in the bedroom, you can make it look bigger. If you want to create depth or height, you can buy an angled mirror. When talking about mirrors in the bedroom, most people find the solution in the mirrored closet doors. But this is not the right trick for every bedroom. If you want to create an illusion of a wider space, you should place the mirror near the window.
When buying lighting fixtures or lamps for the bedroom you should not rely only on the single source that hangs in the middle of the ceiling. Instead, you can use a combination of different smaller lamps to draw attention to the room. The best way for this is to place the lamps on the bedside table.
3. Carefully decide the height and color of the curtains
Curtains make in important home decoration and furnishing item. The best way to use curtains that are a few inches above the floor. Drapes that run all the way to the floor disturb the flow of the room and make it look more congested. For the best effect, you can also tie them with designer curtain tiebacks.
Further, the color of the curtains also makes an impact on the size of the room. You should buy light-colored curtains. If nothing matches your style, it is better to avoid using curtains.
4. Simple Carpets
Today’s homeowners love to buy patterned carpets due to their beautiful designs and themes. But for small rooms, you should avoid rugs or carpets with heavy patterns. If you don’t want completely plain carpets for your living room or bedroom, you can look for the ones with vertical stripes. These help you create an illusion of a longer room.
Though carpets make the room look beautiful, there is no compulsion of using them. Sometimes these can make the room look more cluttered. Instead, you can try for solid continuous flooring to make the room look bigger.
5. Try something bold to divert the attention
Most people suggest bright colors for small spaces, but sometimes the opposite can work wonders. Experiment with some accessories in bold and loud colors to divert the attention from the space to other things. You can either use some different colored furniture or just small cushions in bold and big prints. These are just a few tips to make your small bedroom look larger. Above all the tips, you need to keep your room clutter-free and organized.
Conclusion
No matter how much you spend on online shopping of home accessories, these are useless until your room is clean. So use the tips, opt for the right color coordination, experiment with different home accessories and you are ready to surprise the guests by creating an illusion of a bigger room.
Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.
Lemongrass is a tropical herb that has a fresh and citrusy flavor and aroma. It is one of the most essential herb that is people widely use in Asian cuisines. They especially use it in Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian dishes. It is also a popular ingredient in teas, soups, curries, salads, and marinades. Lemongrass has many health benefits, such as improving digestion, boosting immunity, reducing inflammation, and relieving stress.
But did you know that you can grow and harvest your own lemongrass at home? Yes, you can! Lemongrass is easy to grow and maintain, and can thrive in pots, containers, or gardens. You can enjoy fresh and organic lemongrass all year round, and save money and time from buying it at the store.
In this article, I will show you how to harvest lemongrass, and share some tips and tricks for growing and using this versatile herb. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how to harvest lemongrass, and how to make the most of this wonderful herb.
So, if that is something that you want to know, I have you covered! Keep on reading this blog till the end to learn more…
How to Grow Lemongrass?
Lemongrass is a wonderful herb that can add a refreshing and citrusy flavor to your dishes, drinks, and teas.
It is also a beautiful ornamental plant that can brighten up your garden with its tall, graceful stalks and fragrant leaves. Lemongrass is native to tropical regions, but you can grow it in cooler climates as well with some care and preparation.
Here are the steps and conditions for growing lemongrass successfully at home:
1. Choose a healthy lemongrass plant or stalk
You can buy a potted lemongrass plant from a nursery or garden center, or you can start your own from a fresh lemongrass stalk that you can find in most grocery stores or Asian markets. Look for a stalk that is firm, green, and has some roots at the base. Avoid any that are dry, brown, or moldy.
2. Prepare a sunny and warm spot for your lemongrass
Lemongrass loves full sun and heat, so choose a location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. If you live in a colder region, you can grow lemongrass in a container that you can move indoors during the winter.
Use a large pot with drainage holes and fill it with rich, loamy soil that is high in organic matter. You can also add some compost, manure, or leaf mold to improve the soil quality and fertility.
3. Plant your lemongrass in the soil
If you bought a potted plant, simply transplant it to the ground or a larger container, making sure to bury the roots well and leave some space between the stalks.
If you are starting from a stalk, peel off any dead or yellow leaves and trim the top part to about six inches.
Place the stalk in a glass of water and keep it in a sunny windowsill until roots start to grow, which can take a few weeks.
Then, plant the rooted stalk in the soil, leaving about two inches of the stem above the ground. Space the plants about two feet apart to allow them to spread
4. Water and fertilize your lemongrass regularly
Lemongrass needs moist soil to thrive, so water it frequently and deeply, especially during hot and dry periods.
A good rule of thumb is to water it once a week or whenever the top inch of the soil feels dry. You can also apply a layer of mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.
Lemongrass also benefits from a monthly dose of liquid organic fertilizer during the growing season, such as fish emulsion or seaweed extract. This will help it grow faster and produce more leaves and stalks.
5. Harvest and enjoy your lemongrass
You can start harvesting your lemongrass when the stalks are about a foot tall and half an inch thick. Cut the stalks at the base with a sharp knife or scissors, leaving about two inches of the stem in the ground.
Additionally, you can use the whole stalk, or peel off the outer layers and use only the tender inner part. You can also harvest the leaves and use them fresh or dried for teas and infusions.
Lemongrass can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to six months. You can also dry it and store it in an airtight container for later use.
How to Harvest Lemongrass?
Harvesting lemongrass is a simple and satisfying process that can be done in a few steps. Here are the basics of how to harvest lemongrass:
Choose the right time
The best time to harvest lemongrass is when the stalks are about 12 inches tall and 0.5 inches thick. This usually happens after 3 to 4 months of planting. You can harvest lemongrass throughout the year, as long as the temperature is above 40°F. You can also harvest lemongrass in batches, leaving some stalks to grow and regenerate.
Cut the stalks
To harvest lemongrass, you need a sharp knife or scissors, and a clean cutting board. Cut the stalks at the base, as close to the soil as possible. You can cut as many stalks as you need, or as many as you can use within a week. You can also trim off the leaves, as they are not edible and can be used for other purposes.
Wash and store the stalks
After cutting the stalks, wash them under running water, and pat them dry with a paper towel. You can store the stalks in the refrigerator, wrapped in a damp paper towel, and placed in a plastic bag. They can last for up to a week. You can also freeze the stalks, chopped or whole, in a freezer bag. They can last for up to 6 months.
Dividing Lemongrass: What is It and How to Do It?
Dividing lemongrass is a great way to propagate and maintain this aromatic and flavorful herb. Lemongrass is a perennial plant that grows in clumps of stalks and leaves.
Over time, these clumps can become crowded, woody, and less productive. By dividing lemongrass, you can rejuvenate the plant, increase its yield, and share it with others.
Here are the steps and reasons for dividing lemongrass:
1. When to divide lemongrass?
The best time to divide lemongrass is in the spring, after the last frost date when the plant is actively growing and has new shoots.
You can also divide lemongrass in the fall if you live in a warm winter climate or if you plan to overwinter the divisions indoors.
Avoid dividing lemongrass in the summer, when the heat and drought can stress the plant and reduce its survival rate.
2. How to divide lemongrass?
To divide lemongrass, you must dig up the entire plant and separate it into smaller sections. You can use a shovel, a sharp knife, or your hands to do this.
Each section should have at least one inch of root and several healthy stalks and leaves attached.
You can trim the leaves to about six inches to reduce water loss and make the divisions easier to handle. Discard any old, brown, or damaged parts of the plant.
3. Where to plant lemongrass divisions?
You can plant lemongrass divisions in the same spot where you dug up the parent plant or in a new location with full sun, moist and well-drained soil, and plenty of organic matter.
You can also plant lemongrass divisions in containers at least 10 inches deep with drainage holes. Space the divisions about two feet apart to allow room for growth.
Plant the divisions at the same depth as they were before, with the crown just below the soil surface.
4. How to care for lemongrass divisions?
Lemongrass divisions need regular water and fertilizer to establish and thrive. Water them deeply and frequently, especially during the first few weeks and during hot and dry periods.
You can also apply a layer of mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and prevent weeds. Fertilize the plants once a month with a liquid organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion or seaweed extract, during the growing season.
Protect the plants from frost in the winter by moving them indoors or covering them with a frost cloth.
5. How to harvest and use lemongrass divisions?
You can start harvesting lemongrass divisions when they are about a foot tall and half an inch thick. Cut the stalks at the base with a sharp knife or scissors, leaving about two inches of the stem in the ground. You can use the whole stalk, peel off the outer layers, and use only the tender inner part.
Additionally, you can also harvest the leaves and use them fresh or dried for teas and infusions. Lemongrass can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to six months. You can also dry it and store it in an airtight container for later use.
How to Use Lemongrass in Food?
Lemongrass has a long, green stalk with a bulbous base and grassy leaves. It has a lemony taste with a hint of mint and ginger. Lemongrass can be used fresh, dried, or powdered, depending on the recipe and preference. Here are some ways related to how to use lemongrass in different ways:
Fresh lemongrass
Firstly, fresh lemongrass is the most aromatic and versatile form of lemongrass. You can find it in the produce section of most supermarkets, Asian markets, or online.
To prepare fresh lemongrass, you need to peel off the tough outer layers and trim off the root end and the top third of the stalk. You can use a sharp knife or scissors to do this. The part that you want to use is the pale and tender lower part of the stalk.
After that, you can slice it thinly, chop it finely, or bruise it with a pestle or the back of a knife. Slicing or chopping is good for salads, stir-fries, curries, and marinades, while bruising is good for soups, stews, and broths.
You can also make a paste by pounding or blending lemongrass with other ingredients, such as garlic, ginger, chilies, and cilantro.
A paste is great for adding flavor to meats, seafood, tofu, and rice. You can store fresh lemongrass in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to six months.
Dried lemongrass
Secondly, dried lemongrass is less potent than fresh lemongrass but still has a nice, lemony flavor. You can buy it in whole or sliced form or dry your lemongrass by hanging the stalks in a warm and airy place until they are brittle.
Dried lemongrass is good for making teas, infusions, and herbal blends. You can also use it to flavor soups, stews, and broths, but you must soak it in hot water for about 20 minutes before adding it to the pot.
Additionally, you can store dried lemongrass in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
Powdered lemongrass
Lastly, powdered lemongrass is the most convenient form of lemongrass, as it does not require any preparation. You can buy it in spice shops, Asian markets, or online.
Powdered lemongrass has a mild and sweet flavor and can be used in baking, desserts, sauces, and dressings. You can also sprinkle it over salads, soups, and stir-fries for a touch of freshness.
The shelf life of powdered lemongrass is also great. For up to six months, you can store powdered lemongrass in an airtight container in a cool and dark place.
How to Use Lemongrass in Other Things?
Apart from cooking, you can use lemongrass in many other ways. Some of the best and most popular uses of this herb are as follows:
Beautifying
You can use lemongrass to make your own beauty products, such as soap, lotion, or shampoo. You can infuse the stalks or the leaves with oil, such as coconut, olive, or almond oil.
Moreover, you can also add other ingredients, such as honey, aloe vera, or essential oils. You can use the products to cleanse, moisturize, or scent your skin and hair.
Healing
You can use lemongrass to treat various ailments, such as headaches, colds, or infections. You can inhale the steam from boiling the stalks or the leaves, or apply the oil to your temples, chest, or throat.
Additionally, you can also drink the tea, or gargle with the syrup. You can use the products to relieve pain, inflammation, or congestion.
Wrapping It Up!
If you want to know how to harvest lemongrass, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. If there are any other queries about the same, please feel free to let me know. All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the bottom of the page. Then leave your suggestions and comments in the box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you!
Learn More About:
Everything You Need To Know About Harvesting Basil
Asparagus 101: When, How, And How Often To Harvest?
How to Harvest Spinach the Right Way: A Step-by-Step Guide
We’ve all been driving our car along the road and noticed a dead tree branch blocking the path. Driving along clear roads and being able to enjoy the beautiful scenery is a wonderful thing. Nature offers to us a variety of colorful shrubs, trees, and plants that are pleasing to the eye.
How Arborists Do Their Jobs?
Arborists are working long and hard hours every day to bring the beauty of the natural world to others. Arborists care for the trees in a way that poses little risk to utility lines, roads, and sidewalks. An arborist is always using their skills to keep the areas of importance looking neat, clean and organized.
To help them achieve this look of “beautification,” arborists use an assortment of unique tools to get the job done. Trees and bushes that pose the greatest threat must be trimmed to an acceptable limit. One of the main tools used to grind up the large chunks of tree branches is the wood chipper.
Arborists often must climb trees and cut away low-hanging dead branches using power saws. These big wood chunks are dropped right into the chippers to be pulverized. Once the large chunks of wood are broken up into smaller lighter pieces they are hauled off.
Read also: 3 Amazing Flower Street Garden – How To Design
Where Arborists Spend Their Time?
Due to the nature of the work, arborist workplaces a heavy emphasis on outdoor activities.
Exposure to the elements and other random factors thrill many who choose this exhilarating career path in their life.
Most arborists serve the community and are often under government contracts to provide work for firms, large companies, and other government municipalities. It’s also not uncommon at all to hear that many arborists who work as independent contractors end up becoming owners of their own landscaping firms and companies.
How Arborists Earn a Living
Arborists work in a variety of different beautiful areas throughout the United States. The field of workers that trim and prune trees is expected to keep growing more and more each year.
Most cities are now adding extra “green space” by planting lots of trees. Some skills that an arborist is required to be able to handle daily include:
Hauling away stumps, dead tree limbs, and wood chip scraps.
Pruning trees to limit the overgrowth and to cut away diseased or rotting branches
Responding in emergency situations like storms
Being able to operate heavy machinery and use hand tools for trimming/pruning
Moving seedlings from site to site
The Path to Becoming an Arborist
The requirements to become an arborist varies depending on the location to be worked. Some hiring managers may require an arboriculture or landscape design certification. On-site training is provided almost in all cases. When it comes to using the types of machinery involved, special training is a sure bet.
Working with certain chemicals may require special certifications as well. There are multiple courses you can take to increase your chances of being hired. Degrees that make potential arborists stand out can be passed with practice. Taking exams offered by great organizations like the Tree Care Industry Association or the International Society of Arboriculture are great ways to become an arborist.
Let us know in the comments what you think about becoming an arborist. Have you started an exciting journey to caring for the earth one tree, shrub and branch at a time?
It is highly important to clean your mattress on a regular basis. This is because mattresses could become a breeding ground for dust mites, stains, and bad odor. None of which we would want in our homes. Since we spend about a third of our lives sleeping, it’s only proper that the mattress we’re sleeping on is clean.
But mattress cleaning may prove to be an intimidating task, especially if you do not know what to do. Do you wash it or dry it out? What cleaning agents will you use? Are you using the right cleaning techniques? The questions are endless – and overwhelming, too. After all, no one would want to damage an expensive mattress.
To help you out, we have compiled a few tips to make the mattress cleaning experience a lot less daunting. Read on and find out.
Suck Up the Dirt :
Vacuuming your mattress is perhaps one of the easiest ways available to clean it. It may also be one of the most convenient ways. First remove your pillow top, sheets, pillows, and blankets. After doing so, you may then proceed to vacuum your mattress. This will:
Remove any crumbs that may have accumulated from late-night snacking sessions or from movie marathons.
Take off any pet hair that may have stuck to the mattress after letting your pet sleep in the same bed as you.
Remove any dust that has formed since the last time you took the time to clean your mattress.
Nearly every house would have a vacuum cleaner for general cleaning purposes. If yours does not, then consider getting one, as it is quite a good investment. It makes cleaning not only the rooms of your house a breeze, but it is a big help in cleaning your mattress as well, keeping it as comfortable as possible.
Easy Spot Cleaning :
The next thing you can do to clean your mattress is to spot clean it. The type of stains present on a mattress will vary from person to person. Likewise, the best ways to clean these stains vary as well. Here is a quick list of what you should use when you get an unsightly stain on your mattress:
Water: Water is a safe bet. It is cheap and safe to use on absolutely everything. It is good as an immediate treatment to prevent stains from setting. It also lessens the effect of dyes but is not 100% effective.
Detergents: These can be used for most situations, especially for grease stains. Commonly, people have detergents for laundry and dishwashing at their disposal. You must be careful with the latter, as it could damage the fabric on the mattress.
Salt: This one can be found in almost every household. It is effective in removing sweat or deodorant stains. It is also good in lessening red wine and bloodstains.
Vinegar or Lemon Juice: These two are amazing tools for removing coffee and tea stains. People have also found them effective against grass stains as well as tape and glue residue.
Bleach: Bleach is effective in removing dyes. This means that it is a good bet for make-up and grass stains. This should be used in moderation, as it can damage more delicate mattresses.
People also rely on a combination of hydrogen peroxide, liquid detergent, and baking soda. Simply spray the mixture on a stain and spot clean away. Another easy combination is that of lemon juice and salt. Spread this on a stain and leave it on for at least half an hour. Afterward, just wipe it off.
Remove Foul Odors :
The third step we suggest for the mattress-cleaning process is deodorizing. There are multiple, easy ways for you to do this.
Air Dry: Perhaps the easiest and most convenient way to do when you want to deodorize. Simply leave it in the heat of the sun for a couple of hours. This will remove any foul odors and naturally kill bacteria as well.
Baking Soda: Simply sprinkle this stuff on your mattress and leave it be for a couple of hours. It is a natural deodorizer that also kills germs. After it has done its job, just vacuum off the excess on the mattress.
Lavender: A bit of an extra step, but has proven to be worth it. It does not only remove unwanted odors from your mattress, it also adds a relaxing scent that will help you get a better night’s sleep every night.
While each one of these suggestions is effective in their own right, doing all three would help you achieve better sleep. It may take some more effort on your part, but it will all be worth it.
Clean Your Sheets :
Washing your sheets is another important step in this process. It’s not enough that your mattress is clean; your sheets should be, too. It is always a good idea to clean your sheets regularly as this would prevent stains from seeping through to the mattress. This will also remove unsightly stains and foul odors. Together with a clean mattress, this will help you wake up more relaxed and energized.
When doing this, it is important to remember the following :
The washing machine is your best friend when it comes to washing bulky sheets. A dryer would also help deodorize and kill bacteria with its heat.
Read care labels so that you do not cause damage to your sheets especially on sensitive fabrics. Some detergents are very strong and may actually do more harm than good. Some may even make the stain spread instead of removing it.
It would not hurt to use a scented detergent to wash sheets. Just know how much and which brand to use. As mentioned before, lavender is a good scent for some more peaceful sleep.
It is recommended that sheets be washed at least once a week. If this is not possible, then at least make sure to change them.
Protect Your Mattress :
Lastly, we would recommend you to protect your mattress. A lot of manufacturers offer mattress covers nowadays. They help prevent future stains from getting on the mattress itself. Not only that, some of them even make the bed more comfortable. As an added bonus, they can easily be thrown in the washing machine with the sheets.
And On That Note…
While this task may seem like it is too much, it really is not. This also has a lot more benefits than just removing stains. If you haven’t tried doing it and you’re scared of trying, ask someone who can help you out. Additionally, a wealth of information is available on the internet. Sometimes, the answers to your questions are a mere mouse click away.
Cleaning your mattress on a regular basis is important. This would help keep germs at bay and remove foul odors. This will also increase your mattress’s longevity. Your mattress will keep you comfortable for as long as possible. All of this would lead to you getting a better night’s sleep in the long run.
Take the first step today and you will thank yourself later. You invested quite well on that mattress; make that investment well worth it. Take good care of your mattress and it will take good care of you.
Read More :
Natural ways to get rid of flea in your lawn.
Home Hacks: Stuff You Can Clean in One Hour or Less.
