Tip of the Day - 07/22/2010 (Inside Plant Care) (house, great, food)

[GloryB]

• For a plant polish, use milk or water and castille soap (soap made with olive oil) mixed together (can put in a spray bottle).
  
  To kill plant pests, put a whole clove of garlic in the pot at the base of the plant. This usually deters them.
  
  To kill insects on your houseplants, spray them (the insects) with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water (1:1 ratio). Do not use on food plants, ferns or leaves that are fuzzy/hairy.

[Sweetie Pie]

Great tips Glory!!! I wonder if the garlic will work on outside potted plants as well.

[sun queen]

I am the plant killer... I have no plants whatsoever, but if I ever get any I am calling on Dr. Glory.

[SATX56]

Originally Posted by Sweetie Pie

Great tips Glory!!! I wonder if the garlic will work on outside potted plants as well.

I like my garlic in a nice pot roast!! May ward off evil spirits in the garden. J/K !! Glory nice tips. Alcohol and water mix in a sprayer are good on Aphids!!

Dave green thumbs..

[rainroosty]

However, never use anything as a "plant polish"! The pores on the leaves, called "stomata",
become clogged and cannot breathe, causing the plant to die.
Thanks for putting up with my geekyness.

[Sunscape]

Good to know about the alcohol, as I am a plant lover.

[tasmtairy]

Great tips Glory! I wish my Christmas cactus would bloom

[normie]

Originally Posted by Sweetie Pie

Great tips Glory!!! I wonder if the garlic will work on outside potted plants as well.

Hmmm could be a good way to keep Dracula away from your house, too. (Although, if you get critters I think larger animals would eat the garlic.)

[Gue]

That garlic might keep the cats away too...

[FLPL75]

Originally Posted by tasmtairy

Great tips Glory! I wish my Christmas cactus would bloom

Tas - Did it bloom last Christmas ?
If not starting around late September it needs a certain number of hours of "darkness" so it will bloom around Christmas

There are some "Christmas Cactus" that bloom at Easter