Sunday, May 23, 2010

How many house plants are needed to improve oxygen levels, in order to see results?

I think when plant absorb water, or H2O, they use the H, or the hydrogen, and aspirate (or "exhale" in animal terms) the oxygen they take in as a liquid as a gas. The aspiration I believe is very slow and could take 100 plants 100 years, longer than the average lifespan of a human being, to see significant increases in oxygen levels.

How many house plants are needed to improve oxygen levels, in order to see results?
Kurdiatcha gave a much better answer. Plants respire (using oxygen) around the clock, but only photosynthesize (releasing oxygen) under lighted conditions. If you have a lot of algae in your aquarium, and don't keep it lighted, your fish may die of oxygen deprivation at night. Report Abuse

Reply:There are too many variables to enable the question to be answered.





Contrary to popular belief plants dont; just produce poxygen. All plants are aerobic organisms, just like animals. That means they use oxygen to enable them to burn their food.





Plants can produce oxygen, but only when they are actively growing and only if they are in strong enough light.





If a plant is not under strong enough light or if it is unable to grow it will burn its energy reserves and use oxygen in the process.








The amount of light a plant needs to manage to produce oxygen varies with the species. Some species of indoor plant can produce oxygen under an 80watt or higher light globe. Most species can not and need to be taken outside regularly to 'recharge' as it were, to be able to build up energy reserves which are slowly depleted when they are taken back inside.





And of course in darker situations ALL plants consume oxygen. So overnight ALL plants will be reducing the oxygen content of the room.





As you can see you need to define species, age, time period and illumination levels to enable even a rough estimate.





Under 'normal' circumstances the more plants in a room the lower the oxygen levels will be.
Reply:.

Broken Teeth

How do I keep my cat out of my house plants?

get a spray bottle, fill it with water and give him a little spritz every time you catch it, it works and he,ll stop

How do I keep my cat out of my house plants?
There is a spray you can buy at any pet store or even your local walmart store, it is called Stay Off. It works good. I have both cats and dogs and none of them like the smell or taste of this stuff. It is very inexpensive. you can also try using a squirt bottle of water and see if that works, but also try Stay Off, use it Daily and or whenever you are out of the house. Or you could try putting your plants up high enough so your cat cannot get into them.
Reply:There is no hope, you don't get house plants.
Reply:Keep them as far out of her reach as possible, and try sprinkling some ground cinnamon (a natural cat deterrant) around the base of the plants. Be sure to look up the types of foliage you have as some are toxic to pets.
Reply:I had this problem. Tap the cat on the nose every time you catch him/her in them.





Cat's hate being tapped on the nose. Don't do it roughly, but have a little force behind it.
Reply:What I did, I use a clear plastic bowl. I cut a hole in it and let plant grow through the hole. It was like dome. My plant was more like a tree, and the cats were playing in the soil, but if your cat is chewing on the plant this might not work. Good luck. Poncco
Reply:If you cover the soil with small pebbles or stones, your cat won't be able to dig into it.
Reply:Are they digging up the soil?


or


Are they eating on the plants?





If they are digging in the soil I found that putting rocks as a mulch on the top of the soil stops them from digging.





If they are playing with or eating the plants then you need to put the plants up where the cats can't get to them. I fill up the whole windowsill with plants that way they can't jump up there.
Reply:If they are digging up the soil, I heard that putting aluminum foil around the plant on the dirt helps.
Reply:Use a spray bottle filled up with cold water since cats dislike water except to drink it.
Reply:this sounds funny but when they are near furniture or bothering anything, you squirt them with a squirt bottle everytime they bother something. they will eventually leave it alone RATE ME


House plants cattle won't eat?

Can anyone tell me what sort of plants I can plant on a house block in Central Queensland that cattle will not eat? I mean, shrubs,bushes, flower bed plants or anything really. We are having trouble with roaming cattle. We are in the process of putting up fences, but it is a slow process. They need to drought and frost hardy.


Thanks in advance.


Julie :o)

House plants cattle won't eat?
Cacti plenty of cacti cause they come in all sorts or shapes have various types of flowers and are extremely low maintenance , plus they might give the cattle a run for their money! Failing that wait until your fence is done.
Reply:Its my experience that cattle will eat pretty much anything from apples tomatoes to pulled up cauliflower plants and small berch trees. now are the cows yours or a neighbours^
Reply:Do you use a hardiness zone map similar to the North American one? It might help me answer. RScott


If your house plants could talk to you, what would they say?

Ya know, I've been in this pot for 8 years, I need a bigger one, not so much water, I'm getting root rot. And dang, do you know how hot that sun is? I'm a shade plant, thank you! Please remember, fertilizer every two months, but not in the winter, I need to rest. And by the way, I need a bit of a breeze now and then so I can have strong healthy stems that are flexible so I won't break when a real stiff one comes along. And could you please keep the grandkids away from me, they are picking me to death . . . . . . . . . . . .

If your house plants could talk to you, what would they say?
If they are droopy,they would be asking to be moved to a cooler place or asking for a drink of water if they are bright and bubbly they are happy play some music to them and make them feel wanted.John akathecompostman
Reply:My plants would say " I take very good care of them " They are healthy plants .
Reply:They would say, "HEY!!! HOWS ABOUT SOME FREAKIN' WATER OVER HERE!!!".
Reply:How about a drink of water on a regular basis...I'm dying here...cough cough. lol
Reply:Move me closer to the window.
Reply:WHY DID YOU LET ME DIE?





LMAO I can't grow a plant to save my life. They always die, I have one right now that is dying.
Reply:The old adage is "if walls could talk what would they say?" applies here.





What they would say is something that no one would want them to say for the secrets they know as we are truly ourselves we no one else is around.





The lesson here is to look at our-self and see how we need to be a better person in G-D then if the plants could talk they would say; we live a life pleasing to G-D and to our fellow humans and animals.
Reply:Water me adleast once a week,please.I'm busy and I forget alot....
Reply:Water please, pretty please w/sugar on top
Reply:Why did you pee on me!
Reply:fertilizer, please with a side of water......
Reply:I'm glad they don't! Oh the embarrassment
Reply:I often wonder if they know things about science and the spirit world that we don't. Then again im a freaking fruit loop.
Reply:I am not a baby why do you talk to me like that?
Reply:I wish I was a outside plant so I could ask you to pull the blinds
Reply:"Why did you let me die?"
Reply:Mine would say "Get the dust off my leaves and give me some fertilizer". " I might as well be a fake plant, for all you care!".
Reply:I hope they would lie, and say, "you are soooo beautiful ! "


LOL
Reply:Hey u lazy bastard, can I get some water please?
Reply:please stop smoking inside
Reply:i love you so much, you're totally awesome and cool
Reply:Water me PLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSEEEEEEEEE
Reply:feed me!!
Reply:I need waterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr please!!
Reply:"Lay of the acid"


House plants in apartment . Has my Green Thumb turned black w/age?

I have a pretty good sized apt. and love plants, used to have tons of them for years. Now I am having lots of failures. The only exposures available to me are North %26amp; West. I know that's part of my problem, easy plants like philodendrens, etc. do fairly well in North exposure, but I have two kitties who do a job on them, as they come and go in the front windows. I have 13 foot ceilings, can't think of an attractive way to use a full-spectrum light. West exposure is kitchen and bedroom with another tall apartment building next door, two large windows in kitchen, one in bedroom, but another tall apt. building right next door. Can anyone advise on plants like strawberry begonias and Wax plants (Hoyas) and the like? I believe hanging plants would be best, but have plaster walls and although I'm pretty good with a drill, I'm also short and can't see climbing that high. Thanks to any houseplant lovers!!

House plants in apartment . Has my Green Thumb turned black w/age?
try using a lamp or overhead lights. its a good way to get filtered light. this way you can put them any where you want.didn't get just what you were asking but I hope I've helped.
Reply:I have the best luck with succulents. They don't require too much of anything. I water them once a week and if I don't, they're still okay.
Reply:I like the succulents idea. "Japanese Jade" plants do well just about anywhere (not really "Japanese", buy the way - they're from South Africa).





But, I wonder if perhaps your plants are getting a fungus of some kind, either airborn or from white flies or aphids. Have you checked for that? Soil fungus can live in pots so changing potting soil alone may not solve a fungus or mold problem. Take a sample of soil or a wilted plant to your county agriculture office. They can usually tell right away and advise you.

safety shoes

Why do philodemdrons make good house plants?

The climbing varieties of Philodendron are easy to care for. They will thrive in lower light situations and tolerate some neglect. They do need warm air (nothing below 55 degrees F or so) and appreciate being misted regularly. Philos don't have too many pest problems aside from spider mites (if not given enough humidity) and occasionally, scale. Dry air will also cause the leaf tips to turn brown and crispy. While unsightly, it won't hurt the plant.





Read lots more at the link:


http://houseplants.suite101.com/article....


About house plants: would be ok to leave them outside for 5wks during summer while travelling?

...Or should I find someone to look after them? I'm thinking of my Christmas Cactus and a small crassula.

About house plants: would be ok to leave them outside for 5wks during summer while travelling?
my mother always left her house plants outside in the summer . wow did they grow and looked very healthy
Reply:Crassula and Christmas Cactus are actually plants that enjoy heat and summer temperatures out of doors. They grow wild in Italy!


They require relatively little watering and the odd shower will be quite sufficient to keep them healthy. I would not leave them in the bath as they might rot, whilst they will thrive out of doors. Mine are out all summer. The only thing they hate is frost.
Reply:My house plants spend the whole summer outside it really perks them up .


The only thing that would worry me is if it doesn't rain at all they could die ( but then if your in the UK i can guarantee it will rain ) other wise cant you get a neighbour to water them over the wall
Reply:It would be much safer to take them with you.
Reply:id leave them in the bath wheres theres some light from the window- wet a towel so its soaking and the plant will drink when it needs to
Reply:High! oosoart here, both your plants are classed as succulents,meaning that have fleshy leaves and store a lot of water for dry times, part of the cactus family.


Leave them in a lightly shaded spot,not full sun and if you can sit them on a tray of some kind with an old towel folded on the base to sit your pots on next to the tray put a bucket of water and the get some old sheeting or towelling long enough to reach from the bottom of the bucket and over the side down into the tray,the water should then soak up sheeting and down onto the towel in bottom of the tray just giving enough ,not too much to your plants.


Make sure the towel in the tray is wet to start with and the sheeting is wetted and twisted,should be fine.


Hope you understand all of this. Good luck, oosoart.
Reply:It would depend on the plant, and your weather in the summer for 5 wks. Some houseplants could not take the sun for that long, You would also be hoping that mother nature watered your plants, could your plants handle it if there was no rain for the entire 5 wks you were gone?or how about 5 wks of to much rain? the other problem that presents itself is that you will be gone for 5wks. If you have a plant sitter come into your house or apt to check on your plants they can bring in your mail pick up your newspapers,etc. Make the place look less deserted,and maybe less attractive to a burglar
Reply:If you get wild rabbits in your garden, it will take them 5 minutes, never mind 5 weeks to demolish your plants!
Reply:Some people recommend leaving house plants outside in the summer as it does them good. I am going to try it this year.
Reply:no, get some one to look after them,


Can you grow Sweet Peas or Nicotiana as house plants?

I am without a garden right now, but I would love to grow some favourites indoors anyway.





Thank you.

Can you grow Sweet Peas or Nicotiana as house plants?
Sweetpeas need deep soil with plenty of well roted manure to flourish so the answer to that is no. Nicotiana on the other hand should do well indoors as long as you give them a feed once a fortnight and make sure they get plenty of water.
Reply:I should'nt think so.
Reply:You could try the sweet peas near the window and let them have as much light as possible and go for the smaller variety as you do not want 6ft flowers indoors, and the nicotiana should be no problem. Any chance of a window box until you have a garden.
Reply:What you need to do is to plant these in a trough instead of pots, that way the plants have more room to put their roots into.





Because these garden plants need light all around you need to imitate the light outside, you need a big cardboard box and have it so that you have 3 sides and the top is open, cover two opposite sides and the back with kitchen foil, stand the trough up so that it is on the side that has no foil on it, the three sides that have the foil on them should be facing the window so that when the natural light hits the kitchen foil the plants have an all round natural light supply
Reply:i thnk sweet peas wud start to take up 2 much room


How do i get rid of the small flying bugs in my house plants?

you can go to a wild oats or trader joes or perhaps whole foods and buy this natural grapefruit serum... dilute it in water and spray away!!!! will get rid of those annoying bugs!!!! you can find these places on line as well... good luck!!!!

How do i get rid of the small flying bugs in my house plants?
The Vinegar idea will work well, in fact I spray some of my plants with water that has a few drops of dish detergent and a 1/4 cup of white vinegar added.


Spray about every other week or so, especially under the leaves, and the mites won't be back.
Reply:place a small amount of vinegar near the plant for about an hour and the bugs will go away

internet explorer

Can you help me identify one of my grandmas house plants?

OK so my grandma got this plant from someone and it doesnt have a directions tag on it to tell her how to take care of it like how much sunlight it need and how much water this plant has light green leaves with dark green egas its not very big and when you feel it it fells rubbery like its a rubber plant but it is a reall plant so if anyone has a plant like this can you tell me how my grandma is suppose to take care of it thanks

Can you help me identify one of my grandmas house plants?
????????????????????????????????????????...
Reply:Jade PLant?


http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http...





Snake Plant?


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...





Kalanchoe?


http://images.google.com/images?hl=en%26amp;rl...








Hard to tell without a pic.
Reply:I really don't know. With a picture I can probably recognize it.


What's a good way to kill those little bugs that fly on & around my house plants?

get some lady bugs and put them on your plants. They will eat the other bugs.

What's a good way to kill those little bugs that fly on %26amp; around my house plants?
Empty your pencil sharpener and put the shavings around the base of the plant. Now that you have the bugs, use a trap. They are bright in color and will attract the bugs that stick to it. Sounds gross but wait until you see how many you trap. Go to www.Dreamflipper.com for a good source.
Reply:They are like fruit flies, take a small glass or jar and put a little cider vinegar in it and a couple of drops of liquid dish washing soap and set it by your plants, wait a few days and look thru the bottom of the jar, you won't believe how many are in there, change the mixture as needed, I set several of these out every year....it does work!
Reply:You can go out and buy bug spray, you got just go a bottle of chemicals and spray it at them, or you can get nets around your plants!!!
Reply:If fruit flies are what those pests are, then set around several small bowls of vinegar-it attracts them and they get stuck in it. Leave the bowls for about two days; you shouldn't need anymore than that.
Reply:Do you mean fruit flies. I'd sure like to know how to ice those little beasties...
Reply:go to the hardware store they have the stuff over there in the plant isle it is a spray just tell the man at the hardware store what you are looking for he will help you. don't know the name of it there are a few diffent kinds.
Reply:they have stuff in a spray bottle at nurseries designed just to kill those bugs. im not sure what its called, im sorry.


Please help how do you get rid of gnats out of house plants?

Try not to have any excess water around the plants as the gnats larvae will live in it and grow to be a nuisance

Please help how do you get rid of gnats out of house plants?
To keep gnats away put sand on top of the dirt. The adults


lay eggs in the dirt When they hatch they cannot get throungh the 1/4 inch of sand


What are the best house plants for the summer months?

African Violet

What are the best house plants for the summer months?
Sanseverias and gardenias.
Reply:do a search under this exact question- i saw it earlier today and there was lots of ideas! Spider plants, and african violets are what i have very easy and pretty easy to take care of!
Reply:All of them. Makes no difference summer or winter.

bad credit loan

Cats and house plants?

what plants do you all have around the house with cats.


my angel keeps eating all the leaves off-is there a certain type that they don't like?

Cats and house plants?
Almond (Pits of)


Aloe Vera


Alocasia


Amaryllis


Apple (seeds)


Apple Leaf Croton


Apricot (Pits of)


Arrowgrass


Asparagus Fern


Autumn Crocus


Avacado (fuit and pit)


Azalea


Baby's Breath


Baneberry


Bayonet


Beargrass


Beech


Belladonna


Bird of Paradise


Bittersweet


Black-eyed Susan


Black Locust


Bleeding Heart


Bloodroot


Bluebonnet


Box


Boxwood


Branching Ivy


Buckeyes


Buddist Pine


Burning Bush


Buttercup





Cactus, Candelabra


Caladium


Calla Lily


Castor Bean


Ceriman


Charming Dieffenbachia


Cherry (pits, seeds %26amp; wilting leaves)


Cherry, most wild varieties


Cherry, ground


Cherry, Laurel


Chinaberry


Chinese Evergreen


Christmas Rose


Chrysanthemum


Cineria


Clematis


Cordatum


Coriaria


Cornflower


Corn Plant


Cornstalk Plant


Croton


Corydalis


Crocus, Autumn


Crown of Thorns


Cuban Laurel


Cutleaf Philodendron


Cycads


Cyclamen





Daffodil


Daphne


Datura


Deadly Nightshade


Death Camas


Devil's Ivy


Delphinium


Decentrea


Dieffenbachia


Dracaena Palm


Dragon Tree


Dumb Cane





Easter Lily *


Eggplant


Elaine


Elderberry


Elephant Ear


Emerald Feather


English Ivy


Eucalyptus


Euonymus


Evergreen





Ferns


Fiddle-leaf fig


Florida Beauty


Flax


Four O'Clock


Foxglove


Fruit Salad Plant





Geranium


German Ivy


Giant Dumb Cane


Glacier IvyGolden Chain


Gold Dieffenbachia


Gold Dust Dracaena


Golden Glow


Golden Pothos


Gopher Purge





Hahn's Self-Branching Ivy


Heartland Philodendron


Hellebore


Hemlock, Poison


Hemlock, Water


Henbane


Holly


Honeysuckle


Horsebeans


Horsebrush


Horse Chestnuts


Hurricane Plant


Hyacinth


Hydrangea





Indian Rubber Plant


Indian Tobacco


Iris


Iris Ivy





Jack in the Pulpit


Janet Craig Dracaena


Japanese Show Lily *


Java Beans


Jessamine


Jerusalem Cherry


Jimson Weed


Jonquil


Jungle Trumpets





Kalanchoe





Lacy Tree Philodendron


Lantana


Larkspur


Laurel


Lily


Lily Spider


Lily of the Valley


Locoweed


Lupine





Madagascar Dragon Tree


Marble Queen


Marigold


Marijuana


Mescal Bean


Mexican Breadfruit


Miniature Croton


Mistletoe


Mock Orange


Monkshood


Moonseed


Morning Glory


Mother-in Law's Tongue


Morning Glory


Mountain Laurel


Mushrooms


Narcissus


Needlepoint Ivy


Nephytis


Nightshade





Oleander


Onion


Oriental Lily *





Peace Lily


Peach (pits and wilting leaves)


Pencil Cactus


Peony


Periwinkle


Philodendron


Pimpernel


Plumosa Fern


Poinciana


Poinsettia (low toxicity)


Poison Hemlock


Poison Ivy


Poison Oak


Pokeweed


Poppy


Potato


Pothos


Precatory Bean


Primrose


Privet, Common





Red Emerald


Red Princess


Red-Margined Dracaena


Rhododendron


Rhubarb


Ribbon Plant


Rosemary Pea


Rubber Plant





Saddle Leaf Philodendron


Sago Palm


Satin Pothos


Schefflera


Scotch Broom


Silver Pothos


Skunk Cabbage


Snowdrops


Snow on the Mountain


Spotted Dumb Cane


Staggerweed


Star of Bethlehem


String of Pearls


Striped Dracaena


Sweetheart Ivy


Sweetpea


Swiss Cheese plant





Tansy Mustard


Taro Vine


Tiger Lily *


Tobacco


Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves)


Tree Philodendron


Tropic Snow Dieffenbachia


Tulip


Tung Tree





Virginia Creeper





Water Hemlock


Weeping Fig


Wild Call


Wisteria





Yews --


e.g. Japanese Yew


English Yew


Western Yew


American Yew





Hope this helps.
Reply:I believe Elana listed plants that are posionous to cats. Just b/c they are posionous does not mean the cat won't eat it.
Reply:Not really. Be careful you don't get one poisonous for cats. Also you may want to cover the dirt, sometimes they will use it for a bathroom.
Reply:*****EASIEST SOLUTION************************I had some Ivy that my cat ate until it was all gone. The best thing I did was get some cat grass. Its like wheat grass they sell at most grocery stores for cats. Its real easy to grow you just add water and light and my cat loves it, as long as I leave some out by his food bowl he doesn't go after the house plants. Plus its good for their digestive system to eat they grass, I think its just instinct that causes them to eat house plants if no grass is around.
Reply:There are certain plants cats do not like, but I would be more concerned on which ones are poisionous to the animal.
Reply:i would suggest you put the plants where your angel cant get to


Very dusty house plants how do i dust them it takes so long when i do it with tissue?

i have a housplant in my living room, i live near a main road and my living room get's dusty very quickyly especially the plant, the plant has alot of leaves and it takes ages for me to clean each one with tissue, i was woundering wats the easiest way to to clean them and quickly.please put ur tips. i would be very greatful

Very dusty house plants how do i dust them it takes so long when i do it with tissue?
if u can get it outside hose it or damp cloth slow but a bit easier then tissues. U could also try and spray it with a spray bottle just put plastic sheet/old towel on the floor.
Reply:Feather duster, or take it outside on a really windy day. I use both methods.
Reply:I'm not into plants at all, but i have a can of compressed air sitting on my desk here that i use to blow the dust off my computer etc, so you should maybe try one of those. You can get them from PC stores and Stationary shops. It's just like an aerosol can, but filled with air. They're very powerful, so be careful not to blow your plant away!!
Reply:Take the plant outside and use a feather duster.
Reply:I put them in the shower with a light spray.
Reply:I'd suggest You water Mist them with a fine spray bottle.


In caring for house plants, what's the deal with the egg shells in their water? What do the eggs do?

And are they the shells from freshly used (raw) eggs or from boiled eggs?

In caring for house plants, what's the deal with the egg shells in their water? What do the eggs do?
I don't know about the water thing, but if you put crushed egg shells around your outdoor plants (like a ring around them) it will keep the slugs off of them. Idea being they don't like oozing over the sharp edges on the shells
Reply:egg shell prevent critters from eating your plants. I don't think it matters which shell. If it's indoor, you probably don't need them but if your outside plants need help, then I would outside.
Reply:I remember someone telling me it put Calcium into the water. Don't know if it's true or not.


Where do GNATS come from, and how can I get rid of them in the house? (the only plants I have are succulents?

I have no fruits, no other plants but some succulents on the kitchen window... now gnats are all over the whole house, even upstairs!!

Where do GNATS come from, and how can I get rid of them in the house? (the only plants I have are succulents?
I also have houseplants (mostly succulents), and I've had gnats from time to time. Every time I begin to get gnats I start watering my plants with a solution of 1/2 tablespoon to 3/4 tablespoon apple cider vinegar mixed into 4 cups of water this will help get rid of the gnats. It helps kill the larvae and eggs they have in the dirt. Also let your plants go as long without water as possible between waterings.





By the way, watering all of the time with that solution doesn't hurt anything, and it keeps fungi from growing (mushrooms, etc.).
Reply:I'm thinking the ACID is getting rid of them, then.... Report Abuse

Reply:idk call exterminator
Reply:I know it sounds stupid, but when I was canning, I had gnats in the house with the veggies.. and I had to put out a glass of red wine. It attracts them like crazy, and after a couple glasses, they were all gone. It truly works!

nanny job

What can you use to keep cats away from house plants?

Stop chewing on them

What can you use to keep cats away from house plants?
There are lots of good sprays that will cause cats not to want to chew on them. You can look at them here:





http://www.fleascontrol.com/cats-chew-on...





One of the best is actually one called Bitter Apple, that has been around for a long time. Cats hate the taste, so they will get away from plants if you spray it on them.
Reply:The spray bottle will work for some. It didn't mine and since I love my cats more than the plants, it was the plants that went to a new home.
Reply:Everytime you see them go near it, spray them with a water bottle.
Reply:If they are real plants use the atomizer method. Just spray your cats with water when they go somewhere you don't want them. Or dance around and shout like a monkey every time. Be consistent with whatever you do, just don't reward them. Even clapping your hands can be punishment to a cat as long as you are invasive about their behavior and you use a consistent punishment.





If you have fake plants I highly recomend bitter-spray. The stuff is awful and they will learn where it comes from. Just spray your plants with it and when the cat goes to clean himself after rubbing the plant he will get a wretched taste in his/her mouth. Try some yourself if you are worried, it's non-toxic but awful. This is an especially quick remedy if your cats chew on the plants. Don't use it on real plants though, as certain plants will absorb the chemical instead of water.
Reply:maybe a spray
Reply:well listen my cats do the same thing and im worried the plants are poisiounsous so put tin foil around the bottom of the plant. they hate it my cats also used to pee in the bottom of it still us TIN!!! IT REALLY WORKS "PROMISE"!!!!!


What is the Effect of Bleach on House Plants?

What is the Effect of Bleach on House Plants

What is the Effect of Bleach on House Plants?
My Dad used bleach diluted with water to kill a bacteria that was growing on some bushes he had outside and it worked. It killed the bacteria thereby stopping its deadly progress. The Bush's are flourishing today.
Reply:slow death
Reply:(whisper): bad stuff will happen in 7 days.


really,,, it dies.
Reply:death
Reply:I think it would kill them


How do I stop my rabbit eating the house plants?

The key to preventing bunny


destruction is to make sure


your bunny has plenty of toys and


entertainment. The more they have


to do, the less destructive they


will be. but the best thing to do


is to keep the plants out of reach from the bunny


since the vast


majority of them are poisonous


to bunnies if eaten. And be


careful if you hang your plants


from the ceiling. If the leaves


fall, you'll need to make sure


they are well out-of-reach


of the bunny.

How do I stop my rabbit eating the house plants?
Keep ur rabbit in a hutch away from plants and give him nutrisious vegies and fruit instead
Reply:Not much you can do sadly, they're sneaky little buggers. You'll just have to keep them out of the bunny's reach I'm afraid.
Reply:What if you give the rabbit more greens to eat, like parsley and kale and stuff? Maybe then he wouldn't bother eating the house plants. We don't usually keep plants on the floor so my bunny can't eat them :p
Reply:Use taste/smell aversion. You can buy a special spray at pet stores for cats and rabbits. You just spray it on and they will hate the smell, its totally humane and non-toxic.
Reply:Yes i agree, put them on top of something.
Reply:Place aluminum foil on the floor around the plant the rabbit will go to eat the plant leaves, step on the foil and not like the sound of that so he'll avoid the area. Just be sure the rabbit doesn't take an interest in the foil and try eating it. Another option if you catch the rabbit eating spray water on him using a spray bottle you need to do it as he is eating the leaves or as he is starting to eat them and as you spray him say, "no", in a loud firm voice. Good luck with your rabbit! Sara
Reply:You'll have to put them out of your bunny's reach, as a matter of urgency ... many house plants are deadly poisonous to rabbits, and can kill them.
Reply:Eat the Rabbit!


lol just Kidding,


well. fence it and when you let it out, keep and eye on them.
Reply:There are several thigs you could do





1) Don't let him in the house





2) Move the plants





3)Turn the rabbit into Sunday's lunch!





4)Give the rabbit away to someone else.





Have a good lunch
Reply:Put them on stands off of the floor, so bunny can't reach.


Paint them with some cayenne pepper and water... bunny won't like the taste.


Good Luck
Reply:Put them out of its reach!!
Reply:keep them plants out of reach. Many houseplants are toxic. make sure you know that the ones that are in his reach that he can/has chewed on are non-toxic!


What is the best way to clean the leaves on my large house plants?

Use a sponge, mild soap and water and your hands. First rub the leaves with the sponge to remove the dust and then use soapy sponge for the final shine.


I know it is labor intensive but it is a lab our of love and it is economical.

What is the best way to clean the leaves on my large house plants?
Dust the plants leaves gentally with a soft duster, to remove the dust. To shine the leaves, take a soft cloth and add a little Canola Oil (yes the kind used for cooking) and rub the leaves gentally. That will make them shiney and keep them healthy too year round! ~Good Luck~
Reply:dust them
Reply:I usually wait until the weather warms and put them out in the rain for a couple of days. Not only does this clean the leaves naturally, but gives the plants some of the nutrients from rainwater that they don't necessarily get from tap water.
Reply:If it is not too large to handle, put it in the shower. Let the shower run on tepid until the leaves are clean and leave the plant there until enough moisture has evaporated on the leaves and it is light enough to move. Return it to its original location within 24 hours.
Reply:I have always used baby oil or mineral oil. Very light on a rag and wiped them on both sides. Good luck.
Reply:A wet towel or even a paper towel
Reply:Get a good sized new spray bottle and mist the leaves with plain water. (make sure the water isn't chlorinated)
Reply:My grandma used mayonnaise on a soft cloth. You just rub it all over the leaves, sparingly, and wipe off the excess. It takes the dust off and makes the leaves supple and shiny.
Reply:if they are not too big to handle, put them in the shower or take them outside (weather permitting) an gently spray them down with a hose with not too much pressure. my smaller ones I put in the sink and spray with the sink sprayer. Works great

rain roots

How do I keep knats out of inside house plants?

When I get a cloud of gnats, usually in February, I usually use a yellow "sticky trap". These are bright yellow pieces of plastic that have been coated with glue. I get them at a local garden center in with their houseplant supplies. There are a couple seed catalogs that carry them too, I think Parks does. You can even make them: paint a piece of cardboard bright yellow and spread on some Tanglefoot or other very sticky glue that will NOT dry. Then I lay the trap down on a pot because the gnats do not fly very well and will just hop aboard and get stuck. I use the traps for whiteflies too, which are worse than the gnats because when you've got one, you've got about a thousand or so...for them, I stand the trap up, or tie it in plant branches so they can fly right to their doom. I leave the traps for a few days, then move them around so the bugs don't get used to them in one spot. It isn't an instant kill, but it works for me. Why does it work? The bugs like the color yellow and they will travel to the bright color to check it out.

How do I keep knats out of inside house plants?
put a little vinegar in a milk cap close too it.


IT will attract the Nat's too it..
Reply:they are not knats they are fruit flies who are atracted to sweet smelling plants especially during the colder monthes. go to a gardening store and there is spray to use that will eliminate them.
Reply:burn a incense in the plant the smoke and smell will run them off ..


I have house plants. I heard that coke and sprite is good for the house plants.?

I do know from an experiment that Sprite or Sierra Mist will preserve cut flowers better than plain water if plant food is not available.


While it is true that Coke is saving crops in India as mentioned on the web, it has nothing to do with using Coke in place of water. The reports are that Coke is being sprayed on the plants to control pests with amazing success. Whatever is causing Coke to be a good pesticide would also cause it to be a very poor choice for watering your plants. Stick with water!

I have house plants. I heard that coke and sprite is good for the house plants.?
Good to do... what? Kill them? All that will do will cause a build up of salt... or whatever junk is in soda. If you are trying to fertilize them you can buy spikes you put into the dirt, solution you mix into water, or pellets you sprinkle in the pot with it.


Where can I buy house plants online?

There are many people who deal in houseplants. Logee's is one; so is Jackson and Perkins, Smith and Hawken (although expensive).

Where can I buy house plants online?
I have bought quite a few indoor and outdoor house plants at Jackson and Perkins on line. I find their quality is the best.


Can water standing in house plants cause upper respiratory infections?

Absolutely and also dirty water fountains, dirty fans and air conditioners not maintained.

Can water standing in house plants cause upper respiratory infections?
YEAH//THAT STANDIN WATER IS PUTRID..ITS NASTY//IT STANKS





ADD SOME BLEACH I SAY





DOES IT WITH A HELPING OF PEROXIDE





YA WANT MOLD? YA WANT SPORES??????

Why do hotels always use white towels

How do I get rid of a mouse that eats my house plants?

The old fashioned Victor mouse traps are the best. I have rat problems outside the house and have tried everything from poisons to electric "shock" traps. Nothing works as well as the Victors. Messy sometimes...but buy a pair of gloves and clear your mind. Consider the diseases that mice and rats could bring in, and you'll be glad to get one up on the furry little smurfs.

How do I get rid of a mouse that eats my house plants?
Decon makes this stuff it comes in a little yellow triangle and says Kills Mice on it . . its in the pest control isle of the grocery store . . .
Reply:Put poison pellets in the housse plants; try peanut butter with de con pellets in side.
Reply:Get a cat...
Reply:If you want to get rid of the little guy without killing him, they do have humane traps. If you don't care, then try a regular mousetrap. I usually don't recommend poison since it can hurt children and pets.
Reply:I like the throw away traps, or something called TOMCAT baits
Reply:I use decon to keep them under control.





The glue traps are horrible. We used to use them at work and the way they work is the mouse gets stuck to it and can't move that much. Mice have to move around to keep their body temp up. So, they essentially die because their temp drops too far. It takes forever, they scream and cry during the process, and I've actually found legs and tails attached to the boards where they've chewed them off to get unstuck. I won't let them use them in my office anymore. There are much better alternatives.
Reply:Go and get a small animal trap from your local animal control and set it up with some apples and peanut butter in it and wait. Once you catch it though you need to take it to animal control or drowned it. It it really hard to kill mouse/rat without being messy. So, the best way if you were going to do it yourself is to get a bucket of water and put the trap with the mouse in it into the bucket.


If it is a small mouse you can probably get a sticky pad from like Walmart and then once you catch it put it in water.





Good Luck!
Reply:You can set traps, but there may be others that may come later.





For a permanent solution, have a cat go out to your garden regularly
Reply:here's a trick i learned from my grand mah. brush some mustard mixed with little spice on and around the rim of your plant box or pot. if this does not help use a rat trap (those sticky fly papers? they do wonders) put them in a place where the mouse usually runs to. hope this helps.


How do you keep nats off your house plants?

I learned this works great for indoor and outdoor plants. Get a spray bottle and mix water and dish soap together.





so simple and works really great! Good Luck!

How do you keep nats off your house plants?
If you are referring to fungus gnats(tiny,flitty,black) they are laying eggs in the soil and killing the adults may not help.


One non-chemical approach is to put slices of potato on the soil surface each day and throw them out next morning, or at least within three days,as the adults will lay their eggs in the potato instead of the soil. Repeat until gnats are gone.


Chemically, put liquid sevin in the soil to kill the larvae
Reply:this is a sign that you are overwatering your plants. repot them, if necessary and then back off on watering.
Reply:Too much water. Refrain from it until you need to water again. I did just that and those insects disappear.


Do Aqua Globes work for watering my house plants when I'm not there?

Yes. They will water your plants for many days.





They claim:





"Easy-to-use, hand blown stained glass Aqua Globes water plants efficiently for up to 2 weeks.





It´s the most beautiful and fully-functional solution for automatic houseplant watering ever.





The globes are filled with water and inserted into the soil of houseplants."


_____________________________





They're really pretty, too. I've been meaning to buy a few for my outdoor patio plants. I've heard that you should be careful though, b/c plants that do not appreciate moist soil could fall victim to root rot.





I have only seen them available for online-purchase... Hopefully if they're not already, they will be in stores soon.








GL

Do Aqua Globes work for watering my house plants when I'm not there?
watch da commercial
Reply:i just got some for my mother and grandmother. i don't know if they've used them yet, but they love the look of them. they are really pretty, and i think they'll work well.


Is it okay to re-pot my house plants in the winter?

I do.





Just make sure you do it inside.

Is it okay to re-pot my house plants in the winter?
I would personally do it in the early spring when the weather is warming up and they are starting to grow.Don't let the new soil mix dry out and feed them with something like liquid fish emulsion.This will get the roots goring and stabilize the plant.Keep the plant in a sheltered spot until you see signs of growth so you can give the roosts time to stabilize.
Reply:Of course it is, you are providing them with an artificial climate so they do not care - other than the change in the length of the daylight, they just live.


Be sure to wet the new potting mix tho - as if it is dry it will pull the moisture from the root ball and may dry out the roots.
Reply:Ideally any plant should be re-potted just before the new growth cycle starts, ie. in the very early spring. However, if you are careful and do not disturb the root system TOO much, you can re-pot almost any time. Make sure you do not clip off or dry out ALL of the tiny outer roots, which actually feed the plant.


The bottom line is, yes, you can.
Reply:Yes.

massage shoes

House plants,were outside, look like webs /leaves dying?

ivy houseplant, has what looks like webs all over it and the


leaves all started to die? Is there anything I can do for it?


I put it outside until I know if there's anything to save it.

House plants,were outside, look like webs /leaves dying?
I believe it has a harened root ball. Remove it from its pot and submerge the soil in a bucket of water. Hold it down while observing the bubbles rising to the top. Once the bubbles stop, repot the plant and water it regularly.


Can adding house plants and being around plants improve your mood?

I've heard that their are studies showing seeing green in soothing to humans. This would make sense evolutionarily speaking as being drawn to green would mean being drawn to food and water. As far as that oxygen thing that's total b.s. They put off such a negligable amount of oxygen that it won't make up for the rate of exchange with air outside your house. In other words, it makes no difference. It's like that theory that splashing water on your face is good for you because there's oxygen in water. Such a crock of ****. It's not like the oxygen dissociates from the hydrogens and is absorbed in your cells. It's pretty much like saying you should throw an orange at your face because it contains vitamin C.

Can adding house plants and being around plants improve your mood?
Yep.. cause they give off oxygen, which improves your health, which in turn, improves your mood.
Reply:Only if you talk to them, at least in a transcendent way. If you treat them as mere objects, they will provide no benefit. It is the relationship you have with your plants that can be beneficial. I have taken plants that have almost died with others and had them flower, but I also have a lot of support. Good luck!
Reply:It depends on how well the plants are doing.. If you take a good care of it and its doing great.. you feel great because it looks great, give out oxygen..adds decor to your surroundings.. However if it is not watered, it looks dull and dying..definitely it would not set a good precedent
Reply:It does seem to relax me when there are potted plants nearby but there is no ready reason I can offer..


What types of house plants are or might be harmful to parakeets?

This list is for harmful plants and the second link below is for plants that are ok. I hope that this works out for you. I real love birds.





Harmful Plants (first source)


Amaryllis - bulbs


American Yew


Avocado


Azalea - leaves


Balsam Pear - seeds, outer rind of fruit


Baneberry - berries, root


Bird of Paradise - seeds


Black Locust - bark, sprouts, foliage


Blue-green Algae - some forms toxic


Boxwood - leaves, stems


Buckthorn - fruit, bark


Buttercup - sap, bulbs


Caladium - leaves


Calla Lily - leaves


Castor Bean - also castor oil, leaves


Chalice Vine/Trumpet vine


Christmas Candle - sap


Clematis/Virginia Bower


Coral Plant - seeds


Cowslip/Marsh Marigold


Daffodil - bulbs


Daphne - berries


Datura - berries


Deadly Amanita


Death Camas


Delphinium


Deffenbachia/Dumb Cane - leaves


Eggplant - fruit okay


Elephants Ear/Taro - leaves, stem


English Ivy berries, leaves


English Yew


False Henbane


Fly Agaric Mushroom - Deadly Amanita


Foxglove - leaves, seeds


Golden Chain/Laburnum


Hemlock - also water the plant is in


Henbane - seeds


Holly - berries


Horse Chestnut/Buckeye - nuts, twigs


Hyacinth - bulbs


Hydrangea - flower bud


Indian Turnip/Jack-in-Pulpit


Iris/Blue Flag - bulbs


Jack-in-the-Pulpit


Japanese Yew - needles, seeds


Java Bean - lima bean - uncooked


Juniper - needles, stems, berries


Lantana - immature berries


Larkspur


Laurel


Lily of the Valley - also water the plant is in


Lobelia


Locoweed


Lords and Ladies/Cuckoopint


Marijuana/Hemp - leaves


Mayapple - fruit is safe


Mescal Beans - seeds


Mistletoe - berries


Mock Orange - fruit


Monkshood/Aconite - leaves, root


Morning Glory


Narcissus - bulbs


Nightshade - all varieties


Oleander - leaves, branches, nectar


Philodendron - leaves and stem


Pointsetta - leaves, roots, immature


Poison Ivy - sap


Poison Oak - sap


Pokeweed/Inkberry - leaf,root,young berries


Potato - eyes, new shoots


Privet


Rhododendron


Rhubarb - leaves


Rosary Peas/Indian Licorice - seeds


Skunk Cabbage


Snowdrop


Snow on the Mountain/Ghostweed


Sweet Pea - seeds, fruit


Tobacco - leaves


Virginia Creeper - sap


Water Hemlock


Western Yew


Wisteria


Yam bean - roots, immature roots





Harmful Plants (other sources)


Alacia


Apricot


Autumn Crocus/Meadow Saffron


Beans - all types if uncooked


Birch


Bittersweet Nightshade


Bleeding Heart/Dutchman's Breeches


Bloodroot


Bracken Fern


Broomcorn Grass


Candelabra Tree


Cardinal Flower


Cherry Tree - bark, twigs, leaves, pits


Chinaberry Tree


Crown of Thorns


Croton


Elderberry


Euonymus/Spindle Tree


False Hellebore


Ficus (weeping)


Firethorn/Pyracantha


Four O'Clock


Glory Bean


Ground Cherry


Honey Locust


Honeysuckle


Horsetail


Indian Licorice Bean


Ivy


Jasmine


Jimsonweed/Thornapple


Jerusalem Cherry - berries


Johnson Grass


Kentucky Coffee Tree


Lupines/Bluebonnet


Mandrake


Mango Tree - wood,leaves,rind-fruit safe


Moonseed


Mountain Laurel


Mushrooms - several varieties


Nectarine


Nettles


Nutmeg


Oak - acorns, foliage


Peach


Peanuts - raw


Pencil Tree


Periwinkle


Pigweed


Pikeweed


Pine needles - berries


Plum


Pothos


Prune


Rain Tree


Ranunculus/Buttercup


Red Maple


Sandbox Tree


Scarlet Runner Beans


Snowflake


Sorghum Grass


Sorrel


Sudan Grass


Tansy Ragwort


Vetch


Yello Jasmine


Yew (Amer,Engl,Japan) - needles, thistles

What types of house plants are or might be harmful to parakeets?
weed,marijuana lol....ur parakeets might like it ul know coz they will be singing like crazy lol,.
Reply:there is a site called ehow go there adn go to parakeets and they will be glaad to give you all the info on that subject. The sites name is Learn everything you need to know about parakeets in one place.
Reply:might want to ask the pep here


Is there a way to water house plants automatically without you actually hand watering them?

you may want to look into "air ferns". not much bother at all.


perhaps try some cacti or sucullents.

Is there a way to water house plants automatically without you actually hand watering them?
Perhaps not watering forever, but you can get moisture plugs that you can water and leave for a fairly long time.





Real Simple magazine discussed it in their March Issue.


http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/con...

Perfect semi formal makeup

Is there a way to water house plants automatically without you actually hand watering them?

Plants that are watered constantly even a slight amount will rot. If it is too much work for you, give them away and get artificial, then all you have to is dust them once in a while.

Is there a way to water house plants automatically without you actually hand watering them?
Have you kid do it.
Reply:You could set up some plastic tubing above them with little holes in the tubing. Then you put a water pump on the end of the tube.


On the water pump, you could put a wireless controlled on/off switch which would be activated from your wireless computer


and a bit of timer software.
Reply:Make a terrarium out of a fish tank.
Reply:Ive seen these small indoor irrigation systems in a garden center called White Rose ,but they went out of business.


What percentage of peroxide to water do i use to erradicate stagnant water and root rot in my house plants?

I've copied and pasted this info from the link below.





H2O2 comes in several different strengths 3%, 5%, 8% and 35%, also sold as food grade Hydrogen Peroxide. The most economical is 35% which we recommend be diluted to three percent before using, as at this high concentration it can cause damage to skin and clothing. When working with food grade H2O2 it is very important that you clean up any spills or splashes immediately, it will damage almost anything very quickly. This is extra important with skin and clothing. Skin will be temporarily bleached pure white if not washed cleaned. Gloves are strongly recommended when working with any strong chemical.





Food grade H2O2 can be diluted to three percent by mixing it one part to eleven parts water (preferably distilled). The storage container should be opaque to prevent light from getting in and it must be able to hold some pressure. If three-liter pop bottles are available in your area they are ideal for mixing and storing H2O2. There are twelve quarter liters (250ml) in three liters, if you put in one quarter liter H2O2 and eleven quarter liters (250ml) water in the bottle it will full of three percent H2O2 and the bottle can hold the pressure that the H2O2 will generate. Three percent Hydrogen Peroxide may be added at up to three ml's per liter (2 1\2 tsp. Per gallon), but it is recommended that you start at a lower concentration and increase to full strength over a few weeks. Use every watering even on fresh cuttings. For hydroponics use every reservoir change and replace twenty-five percent (one quarter) every day. Example: In a 100L reservoir you would add three hundred ml's (3%) H2O2 when changing the nutrient. You would then add seventy-five ml's more every day.





Good luck!

What percentage of peroxide to water do i use to erradicate stagnant water and root rot in my house plants?
I think erradicating the source of the problem would be more beneficial than chancing the peroxide mixture.





Are they able to drain thoroughly without sitting in water? If you can, place the pot on gravel in a tray/saucer ABOVE the water line. Adding rocks to the inside of the pot won't help if it is sitting in water.





Is the potting soil compressed, old or have mineral salts forming on the soil or the sides of the pot?


Replace soil with a good quality, light weight mixture that holds moisture not water. Remove any roots that are black, broken/dead, break off easily as new healthy roots won't form from these anyway.





Take your plants outside into a shady area and keeping flushing the pot out several times if re-potting is not an option.





Change watering habits-how often should you water? Only when they need it. Not once a day-or week. Stick your little finger into the soil 1/2 inch; if soil particles stick to your finger, they don't need water yet.





If you fertilize-cut back the amount as fall approaches. Plants respond to the amount of light hours to dark hours and on their own slow down as winter approaches and take a "grow" break even though they are living pkants. They'll let you know when they are hungry again with new growth in spring.
Reply:I don't know about the peroxide but try this. You're pots have weep holes right? If not, make some. Set the pots in your sink or bathtub and keep filling them with water so it runs out the bottom several times. This will flush the soil. Next time you water use a weak fertilizer solution.





You might also want to repot with fresh soil if it doesn't improve.





Drainage is very important. Don't use pots without holes and a layer of pebbles on the bottom will help a lot too.
Reply:I've never had luck w/ that formula, either i burn them or it doesn't resolve I have always resoted to gently removing and salvaging what I can and repotting





of course i learned my lesson and repotted with a layer of gravel and sand on bottom to prevent it from happening again


Do some house plants produce more oxygen than others of the same size?

The more leaf area the more oxygen the plant will produce. It can be several large leaves or hundreds of small leaves. The Peace Lily is a very good houseplant for that purpose. I read a report NASA is studying it for use on the space station.

Do some house plants produce more oxygen than others of the same size?
Spider plants produce a lot of oxygen. In time your one plant becomes many plants in one. The more root bound they become, the more babies they will have.
Reply:Definitely. The larger the leaf, the more oxygen. A philodendron will produce more oxygen than a fern for example.


How do you prevent your cat from eating your house plants?

ive tried everything, nothing has ever worked. just get used to goofey looking plants

How do you prevent your cat from eating your house plants?
put your plants in a sepperate room or you can just lightly swat your cat on the bottom and it will evtualy learn not to eat them but not hard because thats mean.
Reply:idk i'll be checking this question too see if any good answers come cause i neeeed too read them!
Reply:squirt em with a water pistol when they go near the plants
Reply:did you go to a pet store and get the cat some cat grass to chew on. make sure to put it where the cat can get it. move your plants to where the cat cant get them.
Reply:tobasco or cayane pepper on them
Reply:Wish I knew - my cats have access to all the grass they could ever want but apperently nothing's better than chewing on a potted plant before breakfast !


They also sleep in the bigger pots and the vet once said - oh look - here's flea dirt and I said no, you look again it's compost ( and it was !!)


Some houseplants they leave alone - miniature rose, castor oil plant, rubber plant, money tree and any cactus !


they love spider plants and totally destroyed my 6ft swiss cheese plant
Reply:if you see him doing it, tell him bad, in like a strict voice, pick him up and tap him on the nose(not hard, but enough so it bothers him). do not pet him right after you do this. but make sure you show himt hat u love him a little later.
Reply:They have a spray called "Boundary" that you can spray to keep them away. Also mothballs in the soil work well too it you can stand the smell. You should get them some kind of indoor "kitty grass" or something for them to eat since it aids in their digestion and helping to remove hairballs.

inline skates

Acquired two house plants and now see gnats flying around?

what can i do to remove the unwanted pests ?

Acquired two house plants and now see gnats flying around?
mist plants with a solution of water and mild white soap, like ivory dishsoap. just a couple of drops of soap. this shouldn't hurt your plants. i got this from a plant care book, and it works for me.
Reply:that happens a lot, when bringing in plants from outside or a garden center rinse them under the shower to knock off bugs %26amp; eggs.
Reply:Yep, fungus gnats. They live in the soil and feed on rotted leaves etc. It helps to keep the surface of the soil free from moss, dropped leaves, etc. but that's no guarantee. They were most likely in the plants when you got them.


Your best bet is to add your choice of pesticides to the soil. They are not hard to kill, so an organic method would work fine if you don't want to add poison to your house plants. There are many different things that will work without harming your plants. The key is to either sprinkle a powder or granule on top of the soil or add a liquid to water and actually water the plant with it, since just spraying the plant probably won't get rid of the gnats.


I'm looking for an eco-friendly way to rid my house plants and my house of teeny tiny little gnats.?

try this.


get a clean spray bottle and fill it with warm water and 1 teaspoon of dish soap (original dawn is the best) then spray the soil and the plant.


warning do not do this on aloe or any other catus type of plants.


i have used this on my non fruit producing grapefruit tree, vine plants, and my mom uses this on all different kinds of her plants. but it will destroy an aloe plant.

I'm looking for an eco-friendly way to rid my house plants and my house of teeny tiny little gnats.?
Those arent gnats..they are fruit flies....
Reply:go to a farmer's supply store and get a hanging jar fly trap. it has a smell that lures gnats inside and they collect in the jar. farmers use these around cattle because you don't have to spray anything.


What are signs of overwatering house plants?

Yellow dropping leaves. Always check the soil before watering by touching the soil, if wet wait if dry to touch then water. You can also purchase a gadget to measure the wetness.

What are signs of overwatering house plants?
Overwatering rots the roots so in some ways drought injury looks similar. No roots, no water uptake.





Generally overall yellowing and leaf drop is overwatering. The soil will be wet all the time.......or there's no/insufficient drainage from the pot so the water is backing up into soil.





The soil may be stinky from anerobic decomp.





Too much water and not enough light causes oedema or corky spots to appear on the leaves of some plants.





General yellowing may also be spider mite damage, but you should be able to feel them as "dusty leaves" or even see the critters....they are nearly microscopic. Sticky leaves I'd be looking for larger critters such as aphids. Misc lumps or fuzzy bumps could be scale or mealybud.......all these pests are sucking insects, sucking the life out of your plants.





Too little light willl also cause yellowing and leaf drop. Too much light the leaves will blanch before dropping.





So think back........does the pot properly drain? Do you leave the pot in the overfill or remove it with a turkey baster? Do you feel the soil to determine if it needs water or just water by the calendar? Have you fertilized in the last few months? Have you repotted the plant recently? (doing so may have injured roots: no roots/no water) Or maybe it needs more soil, thus bigger pot (no more than 2" larger. )
Reply:if the water is seeping through the bottom or when u tap the dirt water pours up
Reply:I would just water them once maybe twice a week.
Reply:when they start asking for life jackets.....it's time to cut back.


What causes yellowish mold on the soil surface of my potted house plants?

it looks like yellow fuzz with clusters of tiny eggs (lots of them) in it.

What causes yellowish mold on the soil surface of my potted house plants?
Keeping it to wet and moist.
Reply:do you water it
Reply:it could be parasites or to much acid in the soil
Reply:Its a fungus the same fungus that killed my begonia:(.Only water your indoor plants (if you have high humidity) only when the dirt no longer sticks to your finger, it will keep it from happening. And a good fungicide will help just make sure its safe for your plant.
Reply:Thats fungi spores. Probably go away by itself or just push the soil around and bury them. Don't be alarmed. It's good for the plant.

Curves VC workout

I,ve just given one off my house plants an overdose of Baby Bio.?

Will it do any harm?

I,ve just given one off my house plants an overdose of Baby Bio.?
lol i dont know but it made me laugh! surely an overdose will kill it though... just give it a few hours and water it and try and water down the baby bio it has in it
Reply:Best get it to re-hab quick (bad joke sorry) No just follow advice already given.
Reply:Yeah! I`m affraid the plant police will be round to arrest you watch out for that tichmarsh guy he`s really mean.
Reply:It depends on how much you've given it! Put the pot in the sink and water it a few times, allowing the water to flow out the bottom and down the sink. It will act as a flushing system.
Reply:Flush it through with water, be OK.


Can anyone recommend a natural insecticide for house plants?

I've been told that red pepper powder diluted in water will work.

Can anyone recommend a natural insecticide for house plants?
Tea tree oil and water in a spray bottle works for me!
Reply:safer's soap
Reply:for most, but it will float on the water, not mix with it. Just plain soap will cause insects to not eat your plants.
Reply:I know this is going to sound weird but soap and water work great! My yard man gave me this tip, dont worry it will not harm them, water and dishwashing soap mixed together! good luck!
Reply:There is this book that gives you natural recipes of insecticides and fertilizers. http://www.squidoo.com/Natural-Insectici...


It was advertised on TV few times ago.
Reply:mix water and dish soap and spray leaves ...aphids and other small plant destroying pests will no longer bother plants...also try re-potting in fresh potting soil..be sure to rinse roots with room temperature water, that way you will not shock the plant!


I have tiny, tiny little flying bugs that appear to be coming from my house plants.How do I rid of them?

I personally use a little dawn dishwashing liquid ( about a tablespoon ) and a little bleach , same amount , to a half gallon of water and spray the plant with it . The dishwashing liquid will kill the insects and the bleach kills fungus . Spray plants periodically to prevent further infestations . Start with every week and then every other week .

I have tiny, tiny little flying bugs that appear to be coming from my house plants.How do I rid of them?
Sounds like fungus gnats. Try Gardensalive.com they have a product that you put in the soil around the plant. It kills the larvae of the gnats. It take two or three applications to get rid of them but it really works. It is a bacteria and not a chemical so it is safe for kids and pets.





We keep a bottle around all the time so when we get new plants we're ready.
Reply:go to any convenient store or drug store and look around for some sprays like raid that are plant safe and get rid of insects.
Reply:I got some cheeeep potting soil at a dollar store and it is full of little tiny black flies----I find bazillions of them in my bathtub and kitchen window---dead. Threw out the soil---no more bugs. I even taped the soil bag shut and opened it 4 months later---more bugs.
Reply:Same here. I'm not that sure how to get rid of them, but, check if there's mold around the roots of the plants. That's probably the cause.
Reply:Could be fruit flies.Use a mild detergent mixed with warm water and genly spray them off your plants.
Reply:they could be fungus gnats, using the moist soil in your house plant's pots as a development site.





try letting your plant's soil get completely dried out. that should kill off a lot of the larvae (but won't take care of any adults, and depending on your plants could be hard on the plants too)





or you could lay out sticky traps for the gnats. bright yellow cards covered in glue are available from most home and garden centres. lay them out near your houseplants, and cut back on the watering and it should make at least a dent in the problem.
Reply:Those are nats! yuck! they usualy fly aorund and feed of off dying or rotten things. like bananas, old food, some plants that are dying and trash. so be sure to keep your plants clean and heathly and buy some bug spray at your local store and make sure if u spray it on your plant that it wont kill your plant, so check the lables on the bug spray to make sure it wont! good luck! :)
Reply:not sure what kind of bugs they are, mix some lemon scented dishsoap with water and spray your plants daily, make sure the mixture is foamy
Reply:You can a)buy a garden snake to eat them, b)get rid of the plant, or c)call the orkin man


How can I stop my cats from nibbling on my house plants?

i love thee responces.....


Seiously, there is some stuff at Petco. it is like a bitter tasteing stuff and it is perfectly healthy to animals, its made to spray on things like that, so it wont ruin your plants eaither!

How can I stop my cats from nibbling on my house plants?
Get them some plants that they can nibble on. Many plants are poisonous, so let me check, I'll be back.





I tried looking at the online Merck's Veterinary Manual, but if it discusses the subject index is not useful to find it.





You could try growing catnip, but that makes them go loco, and from experience the smell draws big mean Tom Cats around, looking for love.





Those Tom's cannot be reasoned with, and are under the impression that there is a harem of females around to fight for.





So, tell your cats about the dangers of catnip, before its too late.
Reply:First you need to do some research on the houseplants that you have and make sure that they are not toxic to your cat. Some plants can make your cat very sick or even kill him. It would help to give him his own plants to nibble on. You can buy cat grass seeds at any pet store and plant them according to directions. You could probably buy some Rye grass seeds even at Wal-Mart or some place like that. After the grass is about 2 inches or so put the planters down on the floor and , if possible, raise your plants that you don't want your cat to eat up higher.
Reply:feed them
Reply:rub stuff on the plants
Reply:by raising your voice and saying no. You said cat so it will understand, it is harder with a kitten cause they are so full of mischief. My cat understands when I raise my voice, that is some place you do not go or something you do not do. When I whistle and call my cat it comes to me and sits in my lap. Just let your cat know what is right and what is wrong and believe me, it will understand. Even with a Christmas tree mine walks over and looks up at it and reaches up to touch a branch and I say No very loudly and she never goes back and does it again.
Reply:put the plants higher above
Reply:mothballs
Reply:get rid of one or the other....cats or plants... :-)
Reply:Put your plants in the place where the cats cannot reach it, and grow some (not toxic) plants especially for them to eat, it is good for their health; add carrot, apple, etc. in their food.
Reply:Take Chili powder (the spice you cook with) and lightly dust or sprinkle your plants. This works great. Cats will not touch them again if the chili powder stays on. Make sure when watering you don’t rinse the chili all off.
Reply:get gross tasting plants!


:]

roller blades

What kind of house plants don't need a lot of light?

Pothos plants... diffenbachia, spider plants, I suggest you purchase a book on houseplants and go to your local nursery or plant store and get what you like. They typically have tags in the pot that will tell you if the plant can handle low light.

What kind of house plants don't need a lot of light?
Aspidistra---"Cast Iron Plant".


Sanseveria---"Mother-in-Law" plant.


Pothos need mucho light to remain varigated.











Dieffenbachia need mucho light and fertilizer to retain and produce lower leaves.


English Ivy will tolerate low light if kept pinched back. The plant will remain bushy. Don't be afraid to pinch it


back---otherwise it will become gangly.
Reply:Ze ze plants as well.
Reply:The ones that are typically used as "office plants.


.... and Ivy .....


Thursday, May 20, 2010

What's best to prevent brown spots on leaves of house plants?

N/A

What's best to prevent brown spots on leaves of house plants?
Yes we can be over zealous when it come to watering. Best to limit watering house plants to once or twice a week, and depending on pot size, just a cup or two of water each time. Your home center should have a moisture meter or indicator


here's one to look at: http://www.frostproof.com/catalog/t1810....


Hope this was helpful :-)
Reply:keep them moist and in light. You might not even be able to prevent it because leaves have chloroplast that take light and turn it into oxygen. if kept in light they stay green and eventually they die turning the plant brownish. if you keep them aways from light and in dark, the leaves will turn white. I just recently took a plant biology class =)
Reply:I'm with Todd G who answered above. I learned the hard way that too much watering causes your leaves to turn brown. My plants are beautiful now that I don't water them so much.
Reply:miracle grow
Reply:I think that's caused by over-watering. Don't water it too much!
Reply:It sounds like you have a fungus problem. Usually find it more in humid conditions. Spray with Copper Oxychloride. Make sure you spray the underside of the leaves as well.
Reply:The most common cause of this is over watering. Only water a house plant when the soil is dry. In hot weather about once a week.In colder times about once a month.The only other problem could be over fertilising.Remember a plant in a pot doesn't need much of anything. Good Luck!


What are good house plants that require very little care or sunshine for a invalid person?

Pothos are good. It's a green plant that comes in several varieties and they're very hard to kill. They don't require much light, and if you miss a watering it's not gonna notice much. It can grow tall if given supports, I have mine growing down my shelves though.

What are good house plants that require very little care or sunshine for a invalid person?
Thanks to everyone. This is going to be an enjoyable shopping spree, and probably a difficult decision to make. Thanks again. Report Abuse

Reply:peace lily is low light and blooms.Any small leafed ferns ,not boston ferns.alumiun plants foilage is colorful and low maintance
Reply:not sure of the spelling but "philodendroms" are the best ...they do not needs sunlight and if you forget to water them and the get completely wilted ..you water them and they spring right back to life...big green leafs..very appealing ...good luck
Reply:philodendron is a great one, mother-in-law's tongue, prayer plants, jade plants, aloe plants
Reply:Philodendrons are good for that.
Reply:African violet
Reply:bamboo is a great plant that requires little attention. For a modern look i have 3 vases with sticks of fresh green bamboo- and they look awesome!
Reply:Philodendroms are tough, durable, fast growing plants, with very attractive leathery usually glossy leaves. But they can grow to be fairly large, 6-8ft high and just as wide. They should be planted in rich loose, well drained soil. If grown inside in a pot, I would use a fairly large pot, and use a water-absorbant column for support, like a slab of redwood bark, something that retains moisture to help plants grow better. Best near a window, but not direct sun light. Feed lightly, I use Miracle Grow, for good growth and color. Dust the leaves about once a month, or you can use leaf shine that you can spray on.





I have a Monstera, which is of the Philodendrom family, but with split leaves. I have it on my balcony which faces mostly south east and gets early morning sun. I have had it for several years, and have had to cut off sections, to give away several times, because it got so big. It was 7' across and most leaves 3' in length. A couple of months ago we had an unusually long very cold spell, (live in Northern Calif.) and even though the balcony is covered, the cold took it's toll on many plants including my beautiful Monstera. Ended up cutting off all the wilted leaves, down to the stem, but it is already starting to come back. They are very hardy, just give a good watering, especially in summer about once a week, just as long as it doesn't get too dry. But you need to allow extra room for the plant since they do get fairly large, but quite beautiful giving a tropical look to your home.
Reply:Any kind of vines.
Reply:Plastic ones.they don't need sun light no water no care but always look good and there are many shape sizes and colors to match your home.they get dusty just take them out side and rinse them off and back they go Oh and the best thing is they never die
Reply:Bonzai tress, they go nicely on a cubbard or nightstand. They also are know to clam the atmosphere of a room.


I have several house plants & my soil has white mold on the top. I let my soil dry out good before watering bu

The soil I usa is Miracle Grow. I have good drain holes,%26amp; always empty the water that has drained out. Help.

I have several house plants %26amp; my soil has white mold on the top. I let my soil dry out good before watering bu
To give my house plants a break from all the additives in municipal water I set all my house plants outside when it rains and let the rain water flush out the city water and nourish the plants with rain water,
Reply:It might not be mold, it is probably mineral and calcium deposits from your water.

buckles

Do banana skins provide good cleaning and fertilizer for all house plants?

I have a 3 large palm tree like plant s and their leaves get so dusty from being inside. Someone mentioned I should rub the inside of the banana peel on it's leaves to give it shine and remove the dust. I don't want to kill it either, any ideas?

Do banana skins provide good cleaning and fertilizer for all house plants?
why not just put some water on a paper towel and wipe them down.
Reply:Bananas are LOADED with potassium, which is great for houseplants. I'd rub gently though - those palm leaves can be fragile.





Also, if you have roses (in pots or in the ground), you can add chopped banana peel as a natural fertilizer. They'll bloom like crazy!
Reply:I'd suggest no. May attract gnats, and unless the banana is completely dried up, it may just rot.
Reply:I prefer kiwis


How do you keep from overwatering house plants?

don't just water them - take a look, they r all unique - drainage is an issue - i put some of mine in the sink and give them a good spray - as long as they have good drainage - they love it - about once a week right now - humidity is low, iowa...still cold and i keep my house at about 65 ish...again, each plant is unique - my catus' don't require the water that my fern type plants do - misting is another way to keep the leaves from browning on the ends - some times my plants just need a "shake up" - literally grab them and give a shake!-dont be afraid to trim - as long as u don't cut bk too far - they seem to apreciate the "hair cut" - might look ugly for a bit but in the long run, its worth it. hope i have helped a bit - email me w/any questions - i am so anxious for spring so i can get some of these guys out on the deck!


mw

How do you keep from overwatering house plants?
Spend a few bucks (you can find them for around $10)and get a moisture meter. It's pretty much foolproof. General rule is not to water until the soil an inch down is dry. Some plants like it drier, and some like it wet all the time. Best to check which is which.
Reply:Just stick your finger in the soil and if it's still damp don't water.
Reply:Add just a little bit of water at a time.
Reply:one cup depending on how big the pot is usually good once a week my mom has thousands of outdoor and indoor plants and that what she tells me all you need is a little water
Reply:give them to my wife
Reply:At some craft or home stores they sell little ceramic worms that change color when the soil is getting too dry in the pot. If I remember right they are about $2.00. I know they had some last spring at Micheals Arts and Crafts. But I am sure you could find them at any store that sells gardening supplies.


Good Luck
Reply:why we can't fly in the air


How to tell the age of house plants?

If there's a good college nearby, take the plant to a botanist at the school's botany dept.


A botanist should be able to determine your plants age since they study plant life.





Good luck.


Can I feed my young chili plants with Baby Bio House Plant Feed?

I posted yesterday about the tips of the leaves turning white and dying (they are potted outside). Someone suggested that I am not feeding them enough, and that I should try a high-nitrogen feed. Havent managed to get to a garden centre yet, but wondered if Baby Bio would do the job? it has 10% nitrogen in it...

Can I feed my young chili plants with Baby Bio House Plant Feed?
Hello,


The answer to your question is yes. Any feed is good, their all the same really. I use tomato feed on all of my conservatory plants and they have very quick growing sperts.


Any more questions don't hesertate to ask.





Thankyou
Reply:yes
Reply:I agree with Eoghan. I use bio on mine and have not had that problem.It sounds like the last frost got them and burnt the tips.Snip them off to prevent any disease spreading from the dead leaves better the energy go into new growth then into ugly leaves.
Reply:If you use a high nitrogen plant food you will end up with all leaf and very little crop. Nitrogen is used to stimulate green growth which is why lawn foods are high in nitrogen. whatever food you use make sure it is balanced and is suitable for a food plant as not all are and may leave residue that you do not want to consume! The best liquid feed is a soup made from manure, this is not always practical otherwise the nearest decent garden centre.
Reply:hi i have always been told that if you do not feed chili plants you get hotter fruit?
Reply:Yes - I feed mine with it and they are fine - last years crop was excellent

roller blades

What type of light do I use for my house plants to be healthy. Where do I find it?

I have all my plants against a white wall and have a up light pointed up against the wall to reflex the light. They have them a Home Depot for 10.00. I really like it. On days that the sun is not out I use it and the plants are doing fine.

What type of light do I use for my house plants to be healthy. Where do I find it?
I found a grow light at my Wal-Mart. You may also find some at Home Depot or Lowes. Just don't use it for too long, they can burn your plants if you leave it pas the recommended time.





*edit-


It works for most plants, if they need more shade than others then leave them under it less.


If they need indirect light, put the light on a table or window close by facing up. It will bounce back to the plant.
Reply:You have to find out where the plants grows naturally,ie if its tropical then moisture needed and some shade during the day with spraying of leaves needed to create humidity.If desert plant then full sun dry soil etc etc
Reply:First, do some research on what kind of levels of light (low, medium, high) that your plants like, and then I would go with a full spectrum bulb, something between 5000 to 10000K would be good. I have my orchid under a 26 watt cfl (equivalent to 100watts) and it's also in a west window. Goodluck!
Reply:We have a growth rack in the basement, built from PVC tubing. We put two regular (cheap) 48" shop lights (any home improvement store will have those) on each tier, and used full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs. Those are generally OK to start seeds, but the plants tend to get leggy. For an experiment, I got aquarium bulbs for one of the lights, and found that it makes shorter, more compact plants and promotes flowering. I've got some pepper plants that are now 8" tall and loaded with little peppers, and the parsley is thick and bushy. Regular houseplants do reasonably well under full-spectrum light. Any home improvement store has those types of lightbulbs.