Home And Garden

What They Look Like Aphids are tiny, soft-bodied insects that may be black, green, or red. They are pear-shaped and have long legs. Some have wings and others are wingless. Where to Find Them They typically attack new growth of plants. You may find them on growing tips and flower buds, where they suck plant juices leaving sticky deposits of plant sap. These plant-sucking insects cause distorted leaves and buds. Some types feed on roots. How to Get Rid of Aphids Home remedies sometimes do the trick. Try water or soapy water first, before resorting to harsh chemicals. Wipe off plant leaves -- top and bottom -- with a damp cloth. This will remove insects and their eggs. If you have a large infestation, spray the plant with water several times to dislodge the pests from the plant. Clean heavily infested plants with a cloth or sponge dipped in soapy water. Use mild dishwashing liquid that doesn't contain fragrance or other additives. Squirt 2 teaspoonfuls into 1 gallon ...

No house plant is indestructible. However, there are a feisty few that can't be beat for their tolerance of light, water, and humidity. If you want easy success with house plants, I recommend these power players: Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens) One of my favorites. Also known as the Sweetheart Plant, this is the most popular of the philodendrons because this one stays small and it is so easygoing. It's drought-tolerant. I don't recommend letting it go too long without a drink, but it will recover nicely. Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata) Put this one in a bright location and it will reward you with carefree beauty. The Dragon Tree doesn't like its feet wet, so I recommend good drainage. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) Jade Plant gets more beautiful with age. Tolerates room temperatures year-round. A succulent foliage plant, it's happy with indirect sun and little water. Cactus (Cactaceae family) You knew this one would make the list, didn...

Poisonous house plants should be handled with caution. Some can cause illness if eaten, and others can cause skin irritation. Children are unlikely to eat house plants, but some brightly colored fruit may seem tempting. Call your physician immediately if your child has eaten any plant and shows signs of illness. Cats, especially, and some dogs may play with or chew on plants. The toxic sap in poisonous house plants tastes extremely bitter and can cause a burning sensation in the mouth, so a pet is unlikely to play with them long. If your pet has eaten any of these plants and shows signs of illness such as vomiting, drooling, tremors, or any other abnormal behavior, contact your veterinarian immediately. It's a good idea to keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth while pruning or repotting these poisonous house plants, and to wash your hands thoroughly afterward. If your skin is sensitive, I recommend wearing gloves while handling them. Here's a round-up of the us...

If you've enjoyed indoor houseplants for any length of time, you’ve probably lost a plant or two. Insufficient and excessive watering are among many reasons a plant might fail despite what seem like pampered conditions. In some cases, pampering may be precisely the problem. Water serves as an important transport medium, allowing nutrients to travel from soil to plant cell. But too much water in the soil layer forces air from the root zone, reducing the plant’s oxygen supply. Unfortunately, there is no simple rule dictating how often houseplants should be watered. Some plants, adapted to bog or swamp life, enjoy soaking wet conditions. Other plants--the succulent family, for example--have adapted to long periods of dryness between heavy watering. Soil medium and pot type influence how efficiently a container holds moisture. How to evaluate soil moisture? Know the conditions you’ve given your plant to thrive in. Plants can be grown in almost any container, but some contain...

Introduction Growing and propagating cacti is relatively easy to do and can be quite rewarding. For the most part there are three environmental variables to consider to ensure your experience with growing cacti is successful. These are: Soil Water Light We'll examine these three conditions in greater detail shortly, but first let's note that there are at least two different groups of cacti. There are the desert cacti which is certainly the first type to come to mind whenever someone hears the word "cactus". However, there are also jungle cacti which grow in rain forests and other environments that most would consider the least likely habitat for a cactus plant. I'll address growing conditions for the two separately beginning with the jungle cacti. Jungle Cacti Jungle cacti include those species in genera such as Acanthocereus, Disocactus, Epiphyllum, Hatiora, Hylocereus, Lepismium, Rhipsalis, Schlumbergera, Selenicereus, and perhaps a few others. Alm...

Common Names: pineapple, commercial pineapple Family: Bromeliaceae (bromeliad or pineapple Family) Description The pineapple is a bromeliad, like Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) and ball moss (T. recurvata), but pineapple is a terrestrial bromeliad, growing on the ground, rather than an epiphytic bromeliad that grows on a tree. The pineapple plant grows as a rosette of evergreen, stiff, spiny edged dark green leaves about 3 ft (1 m) long. In summer it sends up a 12 in (30 cm) cone shaped cluster of little purple flowers in yellowish bracts. These give rise to the well known pineapple fruit, a delicious, fleshy, juicy, swollen stemlike structure (called a syncarp), usually red or yellowish in color. The pineapple "fruit" is actually composed of 100-200 fused berry like fruits. It is about a foot (30 cm) long and may weigh up to 14 lbs (6.3 kg). The fruit is topped with a rosette of small leaves, that forms a new, smaller pineapple plant. 'Red Spanish' is the m...

Norfolk Island Pine The secret to keeping Norfolk Island pine healthy is to give it ample light and humidity. In low light, the lower branches may turn brown and fall off. If the air is too dry, it becomes a prime target for spider mites, a common houseplant pest. In its native habitat, Norfolk Island pine can reach 200 feet tall, but don't worry -- indoors, it seldom grows taller than 10 feet. Why We Love It: This tree is perfect for decorating for Christmas -- or giving as a holiday gift. Outside the holidays, its soft texture adds a cozy feeling to any room. Name: Araucaria heterophylla Growing Conditions: Bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings Size: To 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide Grow a Fragrant Windowsill Spa Try growing scented geraniums on your kitchen counter or windowsill. These alluring houseplants put the scents of lemon, lime, rose, cinnamon, and even chocolate at your fingertips. Just pinch a leaf to release relaxing...