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Caring for carnivorous plants is a little bit different. This is because in order for the plant to live it needs to feel like it is still in its natural habitat. You cannot use regular potting soil when planting or repotting carnivorous plants or you will kill them. You need to use a mixture of sand, sphagnum peat moss & perlite.

You cannot use any fertilizers in your mixture. This mixture works best because it is low in nitrogen and because they retain water better. You should keep your carnivorous plants well watered, but be very careful not to over-water them. Make sure that your pot is well drained. The water you use cannot be tap water because it is full of chemicals that will kill a carnivorous plant with time. Distilled water or captured rainwater works very well. Don’t use clay pots for your carnivorous plant because they will eventually release chemicals and salt into the soil mixture that your plants won’t like.

Light: a lot of light but not direct sunlight

Water: regularly

Feeding: No fertilizer is needed – it will kill the plant

Compost: a mixture of sand, sphagnum peat moss & perlite

Correct pruning is an essential maintenance for ornamental plants, trees and shrubs! Pruning is usually ignored for several years. Then some trees and mostly shrubs become overgrown and weak, in need of a drastic pruning to bring the plant back. Remember that poor pruning can cause damage that lasts for the life of the tree.  Always have a purpose in mind before picking up the pruning tools as each cut has the potential to change the growth of the tree.

Trees may need pruning for various reasons:

• to remove diseased and damaged branches

• to thin the crown to permit new growth and better air circulation

• to reduce the height of a tree

• to remove obstructing lower branches

• to shape a tree for design purposes

• To prevent the plant from overgrowing

• To stimulate flowering and fruiting

Pruning Tools:

 One should use proper pruning tools! Keep them in good condition, clean and lubricated regularly to prevent rust. Following are some examples of common pruning tools:

In all cases, the key is to prune the unwanted branch while protecting the stem or trunk wood of the tree. Tree branches grow from stems at nodes and pruning always takes place on the branch side of a stem-branch node. Branches and stems are separated by a lip of tissue called a stem collar which grows out from the stem at the base of the branch. All pruning cuts should be made on the branch side of this stem collar. This protects the stem and the other branches that might be growing from it. It also allows the tree to heal more effectively after the prune.

Where Do I Cut?

As a rule, always cut back to a branch, that is pointed in the direction you want the tree to grow. This method encourages controlled, healthy new growth. If you’re unsure whether to remove a branch, don’t cut. You can always cut it later, but you can never put it back.

At the position where each branch originates from the trunk is a “collar” between the branch and the trunk. This branch collar contains vascular tissues from both the branch and the trunk. If you cut into the trunk tissue, you will interfere with the tree’s natural protective mechanisms, allowing the entry of disease and insect pests which damage the tree trunk. Make your pruning cut outside the collar on the branch side without leaving a stub.

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Isem bl- Ingliż: Aleppo pine

Iż-Żnuber hija siġra konifer endemika għar-reġjun tal-Mediterran u b'hekk tikber tajjeb ħafna f'Malta. Siġra li meta titħawwel fil-gnien hija tolleranti ħafna għan-nixfa.
Dawl: Barra fix-xemx
Ilma: regolari, ħalli l-wiċċ tal-kompost jixxotta bejn kull tisqija.
Fertliżant: kull ġimgħatejn
Kompost: C900 kompost ġenerali
Żrigħ taż-żerriegħa
Meta: Minn Settembru sa nofs Ottubru, jew Marzu
Fejn u kif: Iżra’ ż- żerriegħa ġo qasrija żgħira mimlija bil-kompost u sakemm tinbet ħalliha ġo post kenni mix- xita u riħ.Sakemm tinbet saqqiha u żommha dejjem niedja. Wara ġimagħtejn li tkun nibtet tista tpoġġija ġo pożizzjoni għax xemx.

Botanical name; Pinus halepensis

Maltese name; Znuber

English name; Aleppo pine

Pinus halepensis is an evergreen coniferous tree native to the Mediterranean region and hence grows very well in Malta. An established tree planted in a garden is very tolerant of drought.

Whether your dog is an adult or a puppy newly separated from his mother, his welcome to his new home must be prepared. A number of rules should be applied at once upon his arrival like this, it will be easier for the dog to find his place in his new home.

Upon his arrival, the puppy is going to discover the family members and the environment in which he is going to evolve from now on. As a general rule, one or two days are necessary for the puppy to adapt. Welcomed with calm and gentleness, he will quickly have favourite places where he’ll feel better.

Ever since dogs were domesticated, they have been helping humans in all areas of work, from hunting to guarding to herding. Over the years, dogs have also done much more:

The avalanche dog

Avalanche search is one of the rare first-aid disciplines in which there is an immediate need for the dog. His exceptional sense of smell, his speed and his tenacity place him in the forefront. However, this dog is part of a group which also includes probers and diggers. The teams work simultaneously, but the dogs have priority on the snow slide.

Just pots Set of 2 White or Silver

€14.50 €12.00

Looking after your puppy requires making a few regularly gestures that will ensure him a good hygiene and enable you to discover what could prove to be abnormal signs, warning you of a disease.

Indispensables outings

Outings are indispensable, not just to learn housetraining . The fact is that the dog is a sociable animal that needs to meet others and explore a territory. Whether he lives in an apartment or a house, he cannot content himself with a five-minute outing in the morning and in the evening or even with staying in a garden. A young dog needs many short-length outings in locations which do not offer too many risks for him. Walking on a leash and recall, for your puppy to come back to heel without arguing, should be learned at an early stage. Leash-free walks are reserved for open spaces and the countryside.

The domestic rabbits are available in many different breeds and colours ranging greatly in size. Rabbits are sociable pets appreciating the company of other rabbits and enjoy human companionship.

As with any pet, keeping a rabbit requires a commitment to care for it during its life which could be 5-10 years or longer. The commitment required in caring for a rabbit includes not only routine feeding, care and time spent with the rabbit but also the provision of veterinary treatment if the rabbit becomes ill.

According to some scientists, one is more at risk from the effects of harmful pollution inside his/her house than outside it. Certain toxic chemicals in soft furnishings, carpets, paints, computer equipment, certain white goods and some hi-fi paraphernalia can all be detrimental to health and well-being.

Modern houses and offices which are draught-free and not sufficiently air ventilated, built from modern materials, could create potential danger to our way of living in good health. According to some experts, constant exposure to chemicals produced in the home can bring on symptoms including burning eyes, sore throats, headaches, fatigue, sinus and respiratory problems.

There are a number of green friends one could use to revive those dark corners in your home. Please find here below a list of those plants which are currently available from our garden centre that can withstand these complicated conditions:-

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia: In temperate regions, it is grown as a houseplant. Over watering may destroy this plant; remaining on the side of dryness is preferable rather than risking tuber rot. Do not use leaf shiners – it definitely does not need it, since its foliage is luminous naturally. Bright, indirect light is best for Zamioculcas, although it will tolerate very low light.

L-aktar mod komuni li wieħed inissel is-siġar taċ-ċitru hu permezz tat-tilqim fuq selvaġġ li kapaċi jiflaħ għal diversi tipi ta’ mard u insetti, u għal kundizzjonijiet xejn favorevoli fil-ħamrija tagħna. Siġra mlaqqma trid bejn sitta u tmien snin biex tibda tagħmel il-frott, u kapaċi tgħix u tibqa’ tagħti l-frott għal mijiet ta’ snin. Is-siġar taċ-ċitru jikbru l-aħjar f’pajjiżi li għandhom klima bħal tagħna. F’pajjiżna jippreferu inħawi mkennija mir-riħ, postijiet xemxin, u ħamrija fonda. Is-suċċess ta’ ġonna ġodda jkun garantit b’tisqija b’ilma tajjeb u ta’ spiss. Siġar li huma miżbura kull sena u li jingħataw taħlita ta’ demel naturali u artifiċjali, jagħtu frott sabiħ u ta’ kwalita’ għolja. Wieħed irid joqgħod għassa għal ħafna mard tal-insetti li jaħkmu u jagħmlu ħsara liċ-ċitru. L-għar hija d-dubbiena tal-frott li tikkaġuna taħsir u t-twaqqiħ ta’ ħafna frott fil-bidu tal-istaġun.

Chocolate!! It’s everyone’s favorite. We just can’t seem to get enough! Choco­late is also very tasty to dogs, but not so tasty to cats. We all know that cats are pickier.

Chocolate comes from the beans of a plant called Theobroma cacao. The Greek word Theobroma literally means “food of the gods.” Ancient cultures used chocolate in their most sacred religious ceremonies. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, a potent stimulant that is chemically similar to caffeine. The stimulant effect was thought to be a sign that those who indulged were coming closer to their deities.

Trying to find ways how you can move your pet safely from one place to another? There are some useful and innovative carriers that can really help you move your pet without any hassle.

Kull meta trid issaqqi?

Ilma zejjed hija problema komuni fil-pjanti ta’ gewwa. Dejjem ghandek ticcekkja l-pjanta ghandiex bzonn ilma qabel issaqqiha. Ghandek taghmel dan billi ddahhal lapes zewg pulzieri l’isfel fil-kompost. Jekk il-lapes johroġ xott, il-pjanta ghandha bzonn l-ilma. Jekk il-lapes johroġ umdu jew bil-kompost imwahhal mieghu, il-pjanta ma jkolliex bzonn ilma.

Plectranthus Madagascariensis is also known as Coleus Canina, or the pee-off plant! It is an attractive foliage plant which also has a smell abhorrent to cats – thus helping solve the problem of unwanted felines in the garden! Apart from this great characteristic, it’s also a pretty little plant to have for its own sake with its striking grey-green foliage, which gives off a strong aroma especially when brushed against or in the sun. It produces heads of lovely pale blue/purple flowers in summer!

To show our appreciation, Piscopo Gardens has launched our Loyalty Card.

How Does it Works?

Living with a dog at home is a decision that will bind you for a long time, and one should give it a lot of thought.

A dog lives more than ten years on average. Consequently, you should choose a dog whose requirements will be well adapted to your own lifestyle, but also, one must learn how to live with him.

As with any pet, keeping a hamster requires a commitment to care for it during its life which could be 2-3 years or longer. The commitment required includes not only routine feeding, care and time spent with the hamster but also the provision of veterinary treatment if the hamster becomes ill. Although proper care will go a long way to ensuring that any hamster remains happy and healthy there may still be times when veterinary treatment is needed.