There are a few methods that you can utilize in identifying herb garden plants. As some species are not being labeled properly in stores upon buying them, having the required skills to identify them by yourself will allow you to give the best care to your plants. If you have inherited plants, then having those identifying skills will be of great help to you as well.
There are some key aspects involved with identifying your plants. First, you need to have a good eye for detail. The variations between one type of herb plant from another may be identified through the total number of leaves of the plant, the number of veins within each leaf or the slight differences in color. Don't be afraid to take your time in identifying your plants. Doing a thorough examination will be able to help you in making a correct identification. While two different species of plants may just have small physical differences, the way to take care of them may still vary.
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Once you're finished with the detail, what you're going to need next is the access to information. When it comes to identifying herb plants, having information through reference or pictures to compare with is vital in order to ensure that you've made a correct identification. Knowledge plays a key role when you're uncertain of the breed of the plant you're having.
It's important to remember that even with all of the data you've gathered, identifying these plants isn't an accurate science. Your plant's health can deceive you, making you believe that the plant you have is actually something else. An unhealthy specimen may not have all of its leaves, making it hard for you to identify what species of plant you're having. It is always best to identify your plant after you have restored it to full health.
An additional benefit to identifying your plants is the ability to know what's not an herb plant. It's not unusual for blooming yet lethal plants to be taken into a household. If you find out that you have one in your garden, then destroy or donate that plant in order to prevent it from causing harm to your family. Poisonous plants shouldn't be burned, as the fumes can be lethal as well.
By positively identifying your herb garden plants, you will be able to have the necessary skills in making sure that they are well-taken care of, protecting you and your family from the dangers of toxic plants, and knowing when you have bought an exotic or uncommon herb plant. This skill is also helpful when you're planning to breed plants, as it gives you the ability to determine when a plant is ready to be bred or not, and having compatible plants to breed it with.
How to Identify Your Herb Garden Plants
Mike Araujo is an herb expert. For more information about herb garden plants, visit http://www.startingherbgarden.com.