Tag Archives: houseplant week

Houseplant Week: creepy crawlies

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(More Houseplant Week!)

I am sparing you a picture today.

So. Bugs. Gross, huh?  This link from the Colorado State extension is a pretty good primer on everything that could freak you out about your houseplants. You’re welcome. But basically there are many gross bugs ready to infest your precious green pets, and three easy household weapons: Your shower sprayer, rubbing alchohol, and a solution of Dawn suspended in water.

Here’s what you do. Pick off any obvious bugs. Then give the plant, pot and all, a good thorough shower. That knocks a lot of little guys loose.

Even mouthwash sprayed or daubed will eliminate bugs. And half a teaspoon of old-fashioned Dawn or Ivory dishwashing liquid in a gallon of water makes a satisfactory insecticidal soap.

Keep your plants far enough away from each other that they’re not passing bugs like a high school case of mono and isolate any infested plants. A good dose of shame never hurt ‘em, either. (HOW DARE YOU BRING THAT FILTH INTO MY HOUSE, et cetera).

In sum: with constant vigilance, good hygiene, and some bathroom accoutrements, you too can keep some of the bugs off some of your plants, some of the time. For the rest of you pansies, there’s pesticides.

Two other gross but helpful tips today:

  1. Miracle Gro Organic Potting mix has a strong tendency to arrive absolutely infested with fungus gnats. FYI. I did not realize this until (of course, Supa’s Law) I had repotted several of my most fawned-over specimens. Luckily there’s tip number two:
  2. In which I say, you can sterilize potting soil in the microwave. It’s gross but possible. In small amounts, in a freezer bag with the top open or a plastic pot, put the potting mix in and nuke it for 15 minutes on 50% power. Some people do 2 and a half minutes on high. It’s your call. Either way, take it out and let it alone for 20 minutes to finish working and to cool down before handling or dumping it on your plants. It’s going to be hot.

I did this for a few pints of potting mix and it worked just fine for killing off those stupid annoying gnats. Just be warned that your microwave (and kitchen, too, probably) is going to smell a bit on the earthy side for about two days.

Houseplant Week: Prepping for fall; recently bookmarked

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What up, my nerds? Houseplant Week continues!

I can't believe I haven't taken more pictures of my porch plants.

Last night I was panicking about the cold nights and wondering how to save some of my porch plants. I have two Boston ferns and two geraniums that I really want to hang on to for next spring, which would save me about $100 in porch decorating costs if I could put them up in my house during the upcoming Pittsburgh winter. (“Pittsburgh Winter” sounds like code for “Weather That Will Rob You Of Your Will To Live Plus OMG, Cold” which, for my purposes, is pretty accurate.)

I also think they would make fine houseplants, regardless. The ferns are especially ridiculously, comically huge (for my house, anyway), but I have a good corner for one of them in my living room and I’d like to have my hunky handyman (aka Iain) install a hanging hook for the other one. Ideally I’d learn to macrame a hanging plant holder out of all natural cotton cording, but it has been IMPOSSIBLE to find new and modern and not barfy macrame patterns.

(Hmm. Do I smell a book idea? Do for macrame what people have done for knitting and sewing and quilting and crochet and crewel? STUART TABORI AND CHANG ARE YOU LISTENING?)

(Oops! Sorry, that has nothing to do with houseplants) (But seriously, TBC, Macrame. Call me. I’m on it.)

ANYWAY. So my long and laboriously belabored point being that I want to bring these little green dudes inside but didn’t know if that was like, kosher, so I consulted the following web sites. Short story: Sure is! Bring ‘em in, give them bright light and a little bit of water and clean up after the ferns. For the geraniums, you can bring the whole pot in, divide them, and/or take cuttings. I’m on it, little green dudes!

And for locals, the last frost date for Da Burgh is 9/20, f.y.i. Only three weeks left to get crackalackin’.

Here are links that helped me:

A special note: GardenWeb is pretty much indispensible in my book for houseplant help. Those dudes and dudettes know their business.

Houseplant Week: ’70s as inspiration

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Houseplant Week continues!

Design*sponge had this feature about Annie Hall as decor inspiration and LAND SAKES, I love it. I’ve already got the rug, the books and the palm(s), and if I had the dough that black phone would be miiiiine.

anniehallrdp

I liked to describe my decorating style as part Seventies Split-Level, but maybe I meant Manhattan Disco-Era Intellectual.

This copy of Infinite Jest will have to stand in for the tennis racket, though.