Houseplant 411

Here are a few fun & easy projects to teach children how plants grow. Do plants use water? Fill jar with water & add food coloring. Place celery stalk or white daisy in jar. As transpiration occurs, water is absorbed & colored water colors the celery stalk or daisy petals. Another way to show that … Read more

Hydroponics is a type of hydroculture and is a way to grow various types of plants in water, without any soil, and with the addition of mineral nutrient solutions. All kinds of plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in medium, such as perlite, gravel, or coconut husk. … Read more

Pepper sprays are a great natural way to get rid of houseplant pests. Peppers and even some herbs contain the chemical “capasaicin.” Capasaicin can be found in paprika, chili peppers, cayenne pepper, dill, and red & black pepper. You can make your own hot pepper spray: boil a few cups of water, add about 1/2 … Read more

Learn how to make an herb garden at Houseplant411com/glossary

Learn what fungicides are and how they are used to treat fungal and bacterial plant infections.

How to know if your plant needs water. Learn how to use a water meter, also called a soil moisture meter, to find out how wet or dry your plant soil is and whether it’s time to water.

This is an artificial light source that helps plants grow when there is not enough natural light. These lights attempt to provide a spectrum of light similar to what the sun provides. Orchids & African Violets can be encouraged to bloom all year & herbs and salad greens can be grown indoors. Different plants require … Read more

Deep plant saucers that collect excess water are necessary to prevent water from ruining carpets, floors, and furniture. Saucers can be placed either inside a decorative pot or basket or on the outside under the entire plant arrangement. I recommend that saucers be placed inside; not only does this look better but more importantly it … Read more

Springtails are tiny (about 1/16 inch long), slender white or gray insects. You can see them in the soil or in the drip saucer underneath your houseplant. Since they don’t like being disturbed, they’re particularly visible right after you water or if you start digging in the soil; jumping all around. Springtails feed off of … Read more

How to identify and treat Black Spot Disease, a houseplant disease caused by a fungal infection.