Monday, May 11, 2009

What plants repel ants or other insects and why?

I'm doing a project on organic pesticides and would like a little more information on why certain plants repel insects and what these plants are.





Thanks!

What plants repel ants or other insects and why?
They repel insects because of pungent odors usually.





Ants pennyroyal, spearmint, southernwood, tansy





Aphids garlic, chives and other alliums, coriander, anise, nasturtium and petunia around fruit trees


Borer garlic, onion, tansy


Cabbage moth mint, hyssop, rosemary, southernwood, thyme, sage, wormwood, celery, catnip, nasturtium


Colorado potato beetle green beans, horseradish, dead nettle, flax, catnip, coriander, tansy, nasturtium


Cucumber beetle tansy, radish


Cutworm tansy


Flea beetle wormwood, mint, catnip, interplant cole crops with tomato


Japanese beetle garlic, larkspur, tansy, rue, white geranium


Leafhopper petunia, geranium


Mexican bean beetle marigold, potato, rosemary, savory, petunia


Mites onion, garlic, chives


Nematodes marigold, salvia, dahlia, calendula, asparagus


Rose chafer geranium, petunia, onion


Slug prostrate rosemary, wormwood


Squash bug tansy, nasturtium, catnip


Tomato hornworm borage, marigold, opal basal


Whitefly nasturtium, marigold


What type of plants are best around a foundation of a house?

They would need to be hardy to zone 6 (lower NY State). I am trying to achieve a backdrop of plants that do not shed their leaves in the winter so they can block the foundation, which happens to show 3 feet of itself. In front of these plants, I have some perenialls in mind. FYI, the planting beds are 8-10' deep and in part to full shade. I can't think of any other information, except that my house is red and I love interesting leaves and azaleas. Thank you so much for helping.

What type of plants are best around a foundation of a house?
Basically you're looking for "facer plants" that conceal the lower extremities of landscape elements, %26amp; visually anchor taller elements to the ground.


I found some nice examples %26amp; info here:


http://www.northscaping.com/InfoZone/IS-...





You can use dwarf conifers like dwarf mugo pine, nest spruce or globe cedars, spreading junipers, compact spireas, dwarf boxwood or globe caragana, false spirea, potentilla, Japanese barberry.





There are golden %26amp; variegated conifers: Pinus densiflora Oculus draconis makes a spectacular sight with its horizontal banding of yellow and green.


Arborvitae: Thuja occidentalis Sherwood Frost is a beautiful slow growing cultivar with a dusting of white that becomes more prevalent in late summer and fall. Thuja plicata Zebrina has stunning variegation of gold and green, but unfortunately does not color well in heat.





Mahonia (Oregon hollygrape) has Holly-like leaves, brilliant yellow flower trusses, blue-black fruit, and bronzy winter color place Mahonia in the limelight each season. Be careful, this native evergreen spreads (in moist soil) to form broad colonies.


This Better Homes %26amp; Garden site gives pictures %26amp; descriptions of more flowering shrubs:


http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?storyid...





Dwarf Red Hardy Azalea is the hardiest of evergreen Azaleas. It brings life to shady spots year-round, with vivid, rose-crimson flowers for weeks in early spring and bright red foliage all winter. It grows 2-3' high with similar spread:


http://springhillnursery.com/product.asp...





Ground covers: Euonymus Emerald 'n Gold (green and yellow variegation), and Emerald Gaiety (white and gold variegation) These semi upright spreaders make large mats of evergreen color.





Plant the facer plants first, followed by those that lose their leaves in front of them, then the perennials such as: coralbell, hostas, lady’s mantle, artemisia, blanketflower, daylilies, sedum, ornamental grasses %26amp; ferns





Good luck! Hope this is helpful.
Reply:Rotodendron is good, how deep are the eaves on the roof, some ranch houses have eaves that keep rain away from the foundation. Good for the house, but I've seen places where only prickly pear will grow.
Reply:Just remeber not to plant the shrubs close to the house. You need a clear area around the foundation so that you can do house repair, painting, cleaning windows etc. Plant based on the full grown size of the plant. Look at the neighbors to see what works. Do not put arborvite or other tall evergreens in front of a window. Azalea are perfect. If you learn to soft cut after blooming they will always look great. I like white azalea with a red house. Be careful with mugo pine. Some are not really dwarf and they like sun.
Reply:In back of my fountain (full shade), I tried to use large leafed plants to give a jungle leaf back ground. I have hostas %26amp; rhubarb with some long-thin leafed day lilies. None of these stay tall during the winter (Zone 4). My neighbor has several perennial ferns in shade of their house. In front of them were flowering plants. May not be the help you wanted but may give you ideas.

shoe labels

Do plants suffer transpiration loss when the temperature is below the dew point?

When plants absorb carbon dioxide, they lose water (transpiration). At a given level of water content in the air, the air is saturated below a particular temperature (dew point). So, if a plant's stomata are open and it is absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, does it lose any water to the air, when the temperature is below the dew point?

Do plants suffer transpiration loss when the temperature is below the dew point?
Yes some plants keep their stomates open at night so will transpire through the evening dewpoint (during the warm season the lowest dewpoint temperature occurs mostly in the evening due to the longer day). Since the guard cells are also regulated by cell turgor they will close if the water loss becomes to great.





Actually plant opening or closing their stomata at night has a direct affect on the dewpont temperature. The stomata on a corn plant close overnight blocking transpiration. By not adding water to the air the dewpoint will fall by several degrees by morning. However this is not seen over plants like wheat that keep their stomata open at night. Wheat continues to transpire moisture into the atmosphere causing the dewpoint temperature to fall less overnight in spring.


The dewpoint is further altered by soil evapotranspiration adding to the air's moisture. This means summer dewpoints can vary between as little as 1 and 2 degrees Fahrenheit during the Midwest's summer.





Cacti only open their stomata at night when they lose less water by avoiding the high daylight temperatures. In the desert Southwest sometimes dew points are in single digits or even negative. The lower the dewpoint the less water in the air but cacti will still lose less to the cold, dry night than the hot, dry day.


What plants would work in a 20gallon long tank?

Hello. I was planning on moving my glowlight danios (danio choprai) into a 20 gallon long tank. I was wondering what plants would work the best in this size tank. Its not a very tall tank, so should I avoid stem plants? Any suggestions? Also is a HOB filter rated for 60 gallons going to be a problem for a tank this size? Will it create too much surface agitation for a CO2 system?

What plants would work in a 20gallon long tank?
Any CO2 you inject into the water will almost immediately be released into the air by your HOB. The surface agitation it creates will allow the CO2 to dissolve into the air, making your injection entirely worthless. You could either raise the water level high enough that there is almost no surface agitation (though this could be bad-- Danios are good jumpers), replace your HOB with an internal filter, or just not mess around with CO2 at all and grow easier plants.





Assuming you have the standard, 15 watt bulb, plants like Water Sprite, Hornwort, Crypts, Swords, Vallisneria, Saggitaria, Pennywort, Bacopa species, Lilies (Nymphaea species), Banana Plant (Nymphoides aquatica), Hygrophila (corymbosa 'Compacta', polysperma, or difformis), Anubias, Java Moss, and Java Fern. While some may grow tall, that is not at all a bad thing. It gives a tank depth, as well as something for the Danios to take cover in if they are startled.
Reply:Try some moneywort or hornwart. and that filter should be fine for your CO2 system
Reply:Yes, the filter is too much for that tank. I'm only running a HOB 40-gallon for my 30-gallon tall tank. There is almost no surface agitation.





I'd use one rated for 30-gallons and place it in the center of the tank. You could also use to smaller filters, one on each side.





I would avoid swords. What you can have in the tank really depends on what kind of lighting you have.





Here are some plants that I like... sorted by lighting...


Low (under a watt per gallon): anubias, java fern, crypts


Medium (1-2 watts per gallon): java fern, some crypts, hygro (if you can find it), apongeton (grows VERY fast), dwarf lily, foxtail, myriophyllum, anubias frazeri, bacopa


High (2.5+ watts per gallon): rotala indica, rotala wallachi, pomageton gayi, red foxtail, red tiger lotus, bacopa





There are TONS of options, and it really depends. Check out the link below. There are profiles of lots of different plants and their requirements. Your options are endless.
Reply:many different types of sword plants do not get that tall. there are tons of plants that stay short and still look nice
Reply:If you want a no-fuss, easy to care for plant, I'd recommend java ferns. They can grow in low light, lotsa light, little light, and are quite forgiving of temperature, pH, etc. fluctuations.





I bought a small bunch for $5 for my 30g tank...and now it's multiplied like crazy and taken over the entire tank. I have to constantly rip some out (they spread like strawberries via rhyzomes or produce miniature replications of themselves at the tip of their leaves), but better to have them multiplying than dying on ya! A lil bush in the corner should suffice.





You can trim their leaf density quite easily by snipping them at the stem. The danios will enjoy their coverage and probably rest under the leaves. Sometimes the leaves yellow and die, but then they float to the surface, and I can remove them quite easily. My only complaint are the baby plants that do unattach themselves from the mother plant and start floating around - can get sucked up into your filter.





And yes, that filter is too 'big'. Too much 'filter' creates too much surface agitation and cycle way too fast.


What plants would be good to plant outside that everyone would like and it would atrack animals to a creek???

Me and my friend have a creek in her back yard and all we need to do is complete it with animals and plants. Any suggestions?

What plants would be good to plant outside that everyone would like and it would atrack animals to a creek???
try something that has an edible food or fruit. also put out some cracked corn, that will attract them too
Reply:Plant some bog plants - ones that like wet feet like cannas and callas. Put in buddleia, bignonia, pentas farther up on the bank. Hummingbirds and butterflies will love you for it. The toads and frogs will arrive by themselves. A bird feeder could top everything off.


What kind of plants thrive in a wet area?

Our back yard never completely dries out, it's always damp. In order to "fix" this problem I'm planning on planting plants that thrive in a wet area and landscaping (this spring) so that the excess water runs off in a ditch nearby. I don't want to plant a willow tree because we have a custom in ground pool and I don't want the root system to ruin the cement walls of the pool. Best suggestions will get 10 points! Thanks so much for helping out!

What kind of plants thrive in a wet area?
Redtwig and Yellowtwig Dogwoods ( shrubs) (Cornus alba, C. sericea)


Sweetshrub ( Calycanthus)


Clethra


Itea


Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)


Winterberry, - a deciduous holly (Ilex verticillata)


Some ornamental grasses, such as Miscanthus,Carex,Juncus and Molina


Lots of varieties of those .


Sweetflag (Acorus)


Daylilies (Hemerocallis sp)


Iris - Japanese (Iris ensata) , Siberian (I siberica) ,Yellowflag (I. pseudoacorus) Blue Flag (I. versicolor)


Petasites


Lobelia


Ligularia


Trees? Somewhat limited because of the pool .





River Birch (Betula nigra ) Big(50-60') , so there will be leaves.


Bald Cypress (Taxodium distictum) this is the tree with "knees", that is common to southern swamps . It's surprisingly cold hardy. No knees, unless it's submerged most of the time .





Larch (Larix sp) These are deciduous confers, that populate much of the boreal forests around the world. Weeping European Larch (Larix decidua 'Pendula') is the most commonly available .





ps I see Pampas Grass mentioned ^ . Don't do it . Even the hardier dwarf type won't survive, long-term . Tried it here (S-Central NY) , 25 of 'em , where I used to work . Every one died within two years . The first winter was mild , so some made it, but none survived the second winter .
Reply:lucky you!! our ground is so dry it shudders when you walk on it. anyway try googling for bog plants, there are just so many, and you can create an absolutely stunning garden......
Reply:Can you please let me know what part of the country you live in and it you know your zone area I can try my best to help you.
Reply:I live in Washington state west of the Cascades, where it rains ALL the time. We have lots of ferns, blackberry, trillium (in the spring), aspidistra ("cast iron plants"), blueberries, and so on. Members of the pea family (like "sweetpeas") work beautifully; also, wild violets and members of the evening primrose family do well in wet ground. Mints, and the various figworts also grow well in moist soil. Many grasses and sedges, and true aquatics will also thrive in those conditions. Be sure to make your choices based on the level of light available as well as the fact that you have wet ground. Also be sure that if the water is going to run off into a ditch that you limit the amount of fertilizer that you allow to run off; when the stuff gets into streams it does some serious damage in terms of overgrowth of aquatic plants. If you can manage it, it's best to allow water to be absorbed rather than run off; there are lots of different types of open-structure paving stones that can allow this and still look very nice.





Good luck!
Reply:Roses, Iris, lily's and some vegetables may help your are. Also a drain line or a diversion culvert may help keep the water from reaching your area.
Reply:canna bulbs. after frost cut back and dig up the bulb,





also if it is constantly wet like a puddle that doent dry out a hardy wate lily is nice.
Reply:Iris's like a wet environment, as do most lilys, pampas grass, phlox, heliotrope, periwinkle, may apples, some kinds of bamboo...but be careful of those because they can take over an area very quickly.

rodeo buckle

What plants will grow under an evergreen tree?

I have an area directly under my almost 3-story (40 year old) evergreen tree where nothing seems to grow except for a few weeds. I really would love to have some low growing plants there as it is close to the patio, but do not know of any plants that are compatible with an evergreen. Any ideas at all would be much appreciated. I live in the midwest area of USA, St Louis Missouri to be more specific. The tree and area underneath is a northwest exposure. The branches are cut about 6 to 7 feet high off the ground so it can be walked under, so there is not a problem with it being super shady. Thanks for the advice!

What plants will grow under an evergreen tree?
Plant a perennial like Pachysandra. It is an excellent ground cover for problem areas as it grows in just about any soil and is one of the few ground covers that will grow under pine trees.


http://classygroundcovers.com/cat--PACHY...





Possibly even Vinca/Periwinkle.


http://classygroundcovers.com/cat----Vin...
Reply:HOSTAS--LOTS OF DIFFERNT BREEDS AND THEY LOVE SHADE, AND THEY GET BIGGER EVERY YEAR.
Reply:Hostas and a good assortment of colours.
Reply:Hostas or fern do well in full shade. Ferns will spread and hosta reproduce so even if you don't fill in the space completely it will start to do it on it's own in a few years.
Reply:possibly Sweet William
Reply:Build the soil with compost and get shallow rooted plants for the area.


I think you will just need trial and error. Don't go to a lot of expense until you have found what works there. Look around the neighborhood at similar situations and emulate them.





What grows under my evergreens seems to be whatever the birds drop there, but then I have rich black soil there because the have left what the tree has dropped as well.
Reply:My suggestion would be acid loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas
Reply:strawberrys and they will love the acid in the pine needles as they drop
Reply:sheman hensley-ur correct for the first part he is george jefferson. he makes his living in el paso texas. of all places huh?


he does do shows. very nice man though he does not to be called george jefferson, he prefers sherman. i hope the little bird does not give you alot of info lol!!!
Reply:Peppermint will probably do well there. It is a pretty plant and you can use it for cooking and making tea. Or basil, or any other mint plant that does well in shade.
Reply:Hey, thanks for your addition to the flag question. Oh, I'm pretty sure the design I mentioned was not intended at all. I also know the original had the union jack. I don't think any one was used officially during the fight for independence. I've also pondered that the union jack in the corner may represent a firey brown iris. Have you ever noticed from a distance that brown eyes glow red? And in some pictures, too. And in some up close there'a a tiny blue ring around the edge of the iris.


Behind all this is an idea I got from a newspaper "funny." It was a picture of military leaders gathered around a conference table with a map and plotting positions. But the marker pieces they used formed a huge funny face looking up at the ceiling.


I've kinda grown to try to "see through" what's on the surface. But I, too am still learning at 41.
Reply:Try "impatients" .


What are some plants i can plant around my pond?

I have a preformed pond and i want plants to cover the ugly liner. The soil does get splashed alot with water from the fountain and waterfall. I want some plants with colour and are hardy so i don't have to replace them every year. Right now i have calla lillies and agapanthus.


Thankyou for all replies.

What are some plants i can plant around my pond?
You might want to look into some bog plants if the soil gets very wet. As mentioned Cattail work well and you may want to look into some of the Rush variety, Horsetail and Corkscrew are my favorites. A really good low ground cover that works it Creeping Jenny or a little taller Houtuynia (Chameleon plant), be advised these 2 do spread quickly if not ringed in.





Karla


theprincings.blogspot.com
Reply:If they wouldn't be too terribly in the way (if just in one spot), in the wettest area might even try cat tails. We've had ours for many years in a pot, have been really hardy. May just have to trim them back now and then though because they spread easily.
Reply:Try some trailing plants to go over and soften the edges of the liner. I use golden moneywort at the edge of my pond, it just slightly trails into the water and makes a pretty show. I also have Siberian and Louisiana irises near the edge of the pond. Some of the mints are very pretty and will also trail down into the water but you must be careful with these as they can be invasive. Many annuals would be pretty, I can see the sun-loving begonias, periwinkles, verbena and others.





I also have flat rocks around the edge of my pond concealing the liner so I don't have to worry about concealing it with plants.


What plants can be poisonous to dogs?

I have heard that if your dog eats certian kinds of plants it can die. Which plants though, and how bad can the effects be?

What plants can be poisonous to dogs?
Purina has a list on their web site and if you search purina then you click dogcare and then you will see a word safety click on that and you will see a list of poison plants on a list. they also have one for cats.
Reply:Poisonous Plants by Category





Bulbs: Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Daffodil, Day Lily, Elephant Ears, Gladiolas, Hyacinth, Iris, Lily of the Valley, Narcissus, Orange Day Lily, Tulip





Ferns: Aparagus Fern, Australian Nut, Emerald Feather (aka Emerald Fern), Emerald Fern (aka Emerald Feather), Lace Fern, Plumosa Fern





Flowering Plants: Cyclamen, Hydrangea, Kalanchoe, Poinsettia





Garden Perennials: Charming Diffenbachia, Christmas Rose, Flamingo Plant, Foxglove, Marijuana, Morning Glory, Nightshade, Onion, Tomato Plant, Tropic Snow Dumbcane





House Plants: Ceriman (aka Cutleaf Philodendron), Chinese Evergreen, Cordatum, Corn Plant (aka Cornstalk Plant), Cutleaf Philodendron (aka Ceriman), Devil's Ivy, Dumb Cane, Golden Pothos, Green Gold Nephthysis, Marble Queen, Mauna Loa Peace Lily, Nephthytis, Peace Lily, Red-Margined Dracaena, Striped Dracaena, Taro Vine, Warneckei Dracaena





Lillies: Asian Lily (liliaceae), Easter Lily, Glory Lily, Japanese Show Lily, Red Lily, Rubrum Lily, Stargazer Lily, Tiger Lily, Wood Lily





Shrubs: Cycads, Heavenly Bamboo, Holly, Jerusalem Cherry, Mistletoe "American", Oleander, Precatory Bean, Rhododendron, Saddle Leaf Philodendron, Sago Palm, Tree Philodendron, Yucca





Succulents: Aloe (Aloe Vera)





Trees: Avocado, Buddist Pine, Chinaberry Tree, Japanese Yew (aka Yew), Lacy Tree, Macadamia Nut, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Queensland Nut, Schefflera, Yew (aka Japanese Yew)





Vines: Branching Ivy, English Ivy, European Bittersweet, Glacier Ivy, Hahn's self branching English Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy





Misc/Uncategorized: American Bittersweet, Andromeda Japonica, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Buckeye, Caladium hortulanum, Calla Lily, Castor Bean, Clematis, Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron, Florida Beauty, Fruit Salad Plant, Golden Dieffenbachia, Gold Dust Dracaena, Heartleaf Philodendron, Horsehead Philodendron, Hurricane Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Mother-in-law, Panda, Philodendron Pertusum, Red Emerald, Red Princess, Ribbon Plant, Satin Pothos, Spotted Dumb Cane, Sweetheart Ivy, Swiss Cheese Plant, Variable Dieffenbachia, Variegated Philodendron, Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow
Reply:check out petplace.com and do a search on toxic plants
Reply:Puppy's are funny and will eat anything and any plant can cause problems but some are poisonous. look up under poisonous houseplants and then keep all your plants where the animal won't eat them when you are away.


What plants can help keep mosquitoes out of the back yard?

our house is back to woods and there is a creek down below in the woods. This year the mosquitoes is worse than ever. We can't even step outside in the yard anymore.





I've tried sprays. It doesn't help much.





I heard that there are some plants that can repel mosquitoes. What are they? Do they really work? How to plant them?





I'm open to any suggestions that can help control the mosquitoes.





Thank you very much.

What plants can help keep mosquitoes out of the back yard?
allegedly citronella plants repel mosquitoes, I just use repellent (Deet/ Muskol).


The plants aren't winter hardy, though. I'd reccomend an insecticide fogger.
Reply:Marigolds contain pyretherins, that's a common ingredient in bug killers, they are perennial in some climates and if you have a creek, what happened to slow the water down enough for mosquitoes to breed there? Are there any areas of water standing in a recessed place puddling for mosquitoes to grow in? If so, plant something there that grows well in boggy areas, papyrus, reeds, iris, just to use the water and make it inhospitable to mosquitoes.
Reply:perennial geraniums are called the "mosquito chaser" plant.





A rub of eucalyptus and lemon oil is a homeopathic method for applying to skin.





I have also heard that crushing fresh basil and rubbing it on arms and legs works too.
Reply:I bought Citronella plants at Loews and Home Depot. They cost about 3 dollars each. You can plant them in your yard or I plant mine in Pots. I have several on my patio and around my pool. I have not been bitten in 2 years.
Reply:I wish I knew what they are called. Go to Home Depot. They have a wide selection of insect repellent plants and shrubs!
Reply:Eucalyptus trees are good for repelling all sorts of bugs, go to a green house and ask about this there is another plant that is suppose to do it too but I don't know the name of it!!

vacuum deodorizer

What plants can I plant in pots in my garden that will last all year round?

I'm a useless gardener. I have a few "tree looking" plants in pots that I never water and they're fine.

What plants can I plant in pots in my garden that will last all year round?
I've got a container garden this year, and the ones that I think are the prettiest and are also the hardiest are my rosemary and thyme pots. I put the rosemary in the center, and lined the rim of the pot with thyme, alternating regular with lemon for a slight color variation. It also smells wonderful!
Reply:firs?
Reply:The one i would suggest is Forest flame or Pieris as its known for aa medium sized pot. Its evergreen, yellow leafed in colour changing to a red hot red colour over the season. As we say in England " a right hard worker"
Reply:Air Plants are very good because you can put them almost anywhere and they will grow with little water or attention. You can even make little shelves from tree branches and hang them on your wall with an air plant attached to it. They last for years.
Reply:If you're a "hopeless gardener," why set yourself up for failure? Here are some other ideas:


1. Buy some giant pots--3-4 feet tall--and use them like you would use a statue for decoration. They cost a bit, but no more than a few dozen dead plants over the next couple of years.


2. Collect or buy some flatish stones. Stack them one on top of the other in varying heights, some in single columns and some in groups of 3-5 columns. You'll need to restack them once in a while, but that is easier than trying to grow plants when you don't have the knack.
Reply:How about lavender, rosemary or roses. Aloe Vera is also very nice (emergency cure for burns) but it all depends on the climate...


What kind of plants are we supposed to plant for the summer?

What kind of plants are we supposed to plant for the summer? please let me know or give me a link. Thank you.

What kind of plants are we supposed to plant for the summer?
sun flower! duh!!!!!!!
Reply:Visit your local plant nursery/garden shop and they will selling all the summer plants. You can plant annual flowers like impatiens and marigolds. People also plant vegetable plants in summer like green beans, tomatoes, pumpkins.
Reply:just go to your garden shop %26amp; pick some---perrenials bloom every year %26amp; you don't have to re-plant them. annuals--you have to plant them every year
Reply:mary juwanna, poppy
Reply:"supposed to plant .."????





The ones YOU like .;D
Reply:Get a few packets of sunflower seeds and plant them now. You can pot some geraniums and they will make a great show in a couple of weeks. Any perennials would do well now, and so will the bedding plants that are annuals. Tropical hibiscus and other tropical plants are easy to keep in their own container for the season. A tomato plant that hangs is very popular this year. You can go to Big Lots and buy rose bushes for $1 in fantastic colors and forms. I just go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy what looks healthy and affordable. Seeds is the most difficult to get to come up, so I buy bulbs in the summer for planting in November. By February, I will have tulips, daffodils, and crocus. You can have a nice property full of garden areas with spending just a few dollars each week. Best of luck to you!! Be sure to go by Starbucks and get a few bags of their discarded coffee gounds. This is a great fertilizer, and soil amender too. Ths plants just love those coffee grounds.


What plants could I get for my house?

I live in Pennsylvania and have a house on a corner lot, so there's some sun in the morning but not a lot later in the day because there's not many windows on the back of the house. I would like to get a few plants that don't need a lot of light. I have a fern and a spider plant, which seem to do well enough, but I'd like to find a few more. They need to be smaller (not a fig tree for example) and I'd prefer not to hang them from the ceiling. if anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

What plants could I get for my house?
Dracina


Peace Lilly


Arrowhead plant


snake plant


corn plant


mother-in-law's tongue


Chinese evergreen





Or just go to a nursery, and pick some plants from the "low light" section of the store.
Reply:Mmm....i think you should try a plant called a Pothos, or cactus. A Pothos plant has vines that grow out word that could reach sun most of the day.


Your friend,


Mr. McK
Reply:A creeping charlie works great in the kitchen or bathroom, because it likes the humidity. Also, an ivy will grow just about anywhere and are hard to kill, and they don't need alot of sunlight. A prayer plant is another thought, they like moisture more than light
Reply:chinesse evergreen! They can go months with out light or water. Also Jade trees are real good I have one of those and only water about once a month and it sits by a window that has closed blinds and I like it the best.
Reply:I read your question and I was going to say spider plant but you already have that so, ?
Reply:I just recently got a bonsai tree and I love it. It does take a lot of water but it doing really well in my window where it does not get direct sunlight but does have light.


How far should plants such as birds of paradise, cordylines and bromeliads be spaced apart?

My wife and I have just bought our first home and are planning on creating a tropical feel in our backyard. We live in Queensland, Australia.


We are completely new to gardening, but have worked out what plants we want to put in - we just don't know how far apart we should be spacing them from each other!


We are looking to plant the following: golden cane palms (along our fenceline to act as a screen from a two-storey house that overlooks our yard from one rear corner); cordyline rubra (underneath the palms, but between each and maybe slightly behind them); birds of paradise (the type that grows to about 1.5m - in front of the cordyline, between the palms); bromeliads (various varieties - at the front).


Any advice on how far apart these should be planted would be much appreciated.


I'm thinking of putting the golden cane palms about 1.5m apart along the fenceline, so that the leaves will overlap slightly and create the screen - would this be about right? This is the most important.

How far should plants such as birds of paradise, cordylines and bromeliads be spaced apart?
You garden should look really good when established. The distance between the palms sounds right, but beware of the bird of paradise plants. The small variety would be very good, but the large ones spread into enormous clumps over time and are really difficult to remove. (In saying this however, I do love them and have a large clump in my own garden, which looks fantastic).





With bromeliads, you can plant them as close to each other as you wish because they don't mind how many times you move them. I have a large and varied collection of these and move them whenever I need to fill a SHADY space elsewhere in the garden. They can also be separated as they multiply. They are my favourite plant in the garden, because there are so many varieties and they give a splash of colour to shady places. Also, their "flowers" last for months. GOOD GARDENING !!
Reply:Bird of Paradise: http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort...





Golden Cane Palm: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/38367/index...





http://www.plantsinternational.com.au/db...





Send me some dates! LOL!





Cordyline Rubra: http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/...





Bromeliad: http://www.plantsindesign.com/care_tips....





If you get pineapples from them, cut and dry the delicious things and send along with the dates please!





Oh, I forgot to mention....rain barrels....they could save your plants in severe water restriction times. Your fence will be beautiful when you are done I'm sure!

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What kind of plants can you plant in the fall in the Midwestern United States?

Be sure to specify the month. I would imagine that, whatever plants you may be able to plant, they would all have to be in the soil before the first frost. Am I right?

What kind of plants can you plant in the fall in the Midwestern United States?
For instant color you can plant chrysanthemums. I prefer the Belgian variety for their uniform shape and hardiness. Crocus, hyacinth and tulips are all fall bulbs that can be planted for spring bloom. Be careful with tulips, they can attract burrowing rodents like moles and voles which consider them food, so they wont come back every year. However, daffodils/Narcissus they leave alone and those come back, come a some scented types and multiply thru the years.





Then of course there are the perrinials. You need to check which zone you are in. This is available in any garden book or webiste. Once you know that they sky is the limit on what you can plant for flowers. My suggestion to you is if you plant say a border garden down your driveway to mix in perrinials with easy care annuals for continuous blooms all season. I strongly reccomend Purple Wave Petunias. They are profuse and put on a great show, need no dead heading, and can take a frost in in the spring and keep on ticking. Then there are tall things you can plant like grasses that even in winter if left will give structure and form to a lifeless landscape.





Be careful of bushes. I suggest those be planted in the spring as they need a season to establish sufficient roots to winter over properly. Butterfly bushes attract so many hummingbirds, butterflies and other cool bugs and with a weekly deadheading with clippers will bloom all season.





I could go on but I think that is enough for now.





Bulbs should be planted on average up until end of October, mid November latest. They need to rest.





Perrinials on average are best planted in time to let the roots expand, so I'd do it by end of September latest.





Mums, depending on variety, I'd get in the ground my Labor day.





Also, remember, water the ground, not from overhead for best results.
Reply:turnips, flowers that grow from a Bulb, wheat,


we planted turnips in nov
Reply:These bulbs would be planted in October:


Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Grape Hyacinths, and some types of lilies.
Reply:i live in upstate ny daffiodills grow well in late winter and early spring so do tulips both are bulbs they usally sprout when theres till snow the flower and then hang around until midsummer
Reply:Mums are a great fall flower. You would plant the bulbs in the spring and they will come up late summer and bloom all throughout fall. You can also just wait until they have them out (fall time) and plant them, they will come back every year. Or, I actually just had mine in pots saved them and will plant them in the spring. They are very low maintenance and very pretty.
Reply:Perennials, shrubs and trees can be planted up to a month before the ground freezes (that is later than first frost). Bulbs can be planted all the way up to the ground getting frozen.





In Delaware, that meant I could still plant in mid-October.


How can I plant some vegetable plants outside and stop them from being eaten by slugs, flies and other things?

How can I plant some vegetable plants outside and stop them from being eaten by slugs, flies and other things?


Without the use of pesticides?


BTW - I live in England

How can I plant some vegetable plants outside and stop them from being eaten by slugs, flies and other things?
To block snails %26amp; slugs you have several choices. Handpicking, baited traps, physical barriers and natural predators. Last year I kept count and I picked up over 300 snails after rain brought them out in daylight. I also use copper around sensitive hostas and lettuce plants but my best method is to lay a board over straw to offer slugs a shelter. Then lift every morning and drop slugs into soapy water. I sometimes bait it if I am baking bread and have a starter. This is because slugs are attracted by yeast scents. ? Try a mixture of 1 tablespoon (T) yeast, 1 T flour, 1 T sugar, and 1 cup water as bait or use beer.


Here is an article on non-toxic control methods by Arzeena Hamir


http://www.pioneerthinking.com/tv-slugs....


Copper barriers, garlic granules, shock mats, and plastic slug collars


http://www.greengardener.co.uk/slugextra...


http://www.just-green.com/ProductDetails...


I found this but have't tried it yet. Spray the hostas with a dilute (4:1 or even weaker) solution of water and household ammonia in the evening once a week-more often in the spring or with a lot of rain. Supposedly the slugs hate the ammonia and the plants love the nitrogen.





To protect against moth eggs being laid use floating row covers or cheesecloth tents. Sheer material allows photosynthesis but stops egg laying. Just use crossed stakes to prop material on away from the plants.





Cut top %26amp; bottoms off tuna tins or large 2L plastic bottles to make collars to prevent cut worms gnawing tender seedling stems. Push the ring into the soil around an emerged leaf and let the plant grow up through the ring. Cut worm controls include Bacillus thuringiensis known as Bt. Remove the wild or garden host plants like wallflower, mustard or members of the cabbage family from problem area.





Place bat boxes around to attract insect predators.


http://batmanagement.com/Batcentral/batb...


http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/lc/lc_b...





Earwig traps


Earwigs are nocturnal so the most effective methods are baited traps.


One earwig trap is plastic pots baited with fish oil (like tuna or sardines) on water. Place water %26amp; oil in a small cup sunk into the ground. Earwigs will visit this. Keep the level of the oil at least an inch below the surface, forcing the earwigs to crawl deeply into the cup. Many earwigs may be attracted into oil-baited cups and drown.





The second method is to roll corrugated cardboard. This can be very effective trapping earwigs, as can rolled or crumpled newspapers stuffed into small paper bags. Wheat bran and wheat germ are among the baits that have been effective in CSU trials. Roll the cardboard into a spiral while sprinkling with bran. Fasten with string or rubber bands.


Another is to place the bran %26amp; paper ball into a flower pot and invert it onto a flat piece of wood.


Old lidded candy tins with a small hole punch in the side can be baited with bran also.


All such traps should be collected daily, bagged and/or the captured earwigs discarded.





Many common pests are nocturnal like earwigs, slugs, and ground beetles. This makes it hard to ID the damage source so use a yellow sticky trap. This can be used to identify beneficial insects already present and hard to find insect pests.





Beneficial ladybugs and lacewings can be purchased online.





Calendula and Tagetes marigolds deter some isects if planted near the garden.





Pest %26amp; Disease Profiles


http://www.weather.com/outlook/homeandga...


http://www.buglogical.com/pestControlCat...


http://www.uidaho.edu/so-id/entomology/H...


Bug ID


http://www.whatsthatbug.com/index.html


http://www.odonalsnurseries.com/educatio...


http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740


Purdue's Virtual Plant %26amp; Pest Diagnostic Lab


http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/conhort.h...





Lists The Good, the Ugly (occasionally bad), %26amp; the Really Bad


http://gardening.about.com/gi/dynamic/of...
Reply:Try using a "Soap" based spray. It's the safest thing out there. You can pick this up at your local garden/hardware store.


How much oxygen do different plants emit and how much carbon dioxide do they consume?

Some plants will be better for the environment like maybe large leaf plants, tropical plants and evergreens. Are trees better for the environment than other plants such as ferns or grasses?

How much oxygen do different plants emit and how much carbon dioxide do they consume?
I don't know what each and every plants ratio is but don't forget they only consume CO2 in the daylight. In darkness they take in oxygen and give off CO2 just like we do. The biggest contributor to oxygen is now and always has been algae in the oceans.
Reply:It varies from species to species. The size and condition of the plant makes a difference as well. Overall you will be disappointed when you find out how much CO2 is being converted to O2 by an individual plant. I was.


How do solar plants and hydroelectric dams generate electricity?

Can anyone explain to me in a simple way how solar plants and hydroelectric plants generate electricity? I've done research, but I'm a little confused.





Please note, I am not asking how solar panels work. I want to know how solar PLANTS generate electricity.

How do solar plants and hydroelectric dams generate electricity?
if you are talking about dams, than water passes through turbines which is basically a big underwater fan. as the water passes across the blades it makes it spin. the turbine is connected to a generator which makes electricity.





Solar plants. if your referring to oraganisms i cant help but a plant that doesnt use solar panels probably uses mirrors that are pointed at central point, usually a tower. All this light shines on the tower heating water until it boils. The hot, pressurized steam rushes over a turbine just as at the dam, and that runs a generator to make electricity.
Reply:Hydro employs the simple conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy using turbines (generators).





Solar energy can be converted to electricty in two ways: heat is converted to mechanical energy and then to electricity in a manner similar to hydro, and light energy is converted directly into electricity by photoelectric means.
Reply:Hydroelectric dams work because the water held behind the dam is being let out slowly to the other side. While the water moves through pipes to the other side, the force of the water flowing spins a turbine. That turbine has magnets placed so that when the turbine spins it generates a magnetic field.

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Are there any plants that will deter dogs from entering the garden?

I am trying to set up a cottage garden across the back fence. All the seedlings get trampled on and broken by our young dogs as they run and play. The yard is huge and they are only small dogs, so there is plenty of room for them to play elsewhere. Its so frustrating to spend so much money, time, and effort to plant a nice garden only to have it trampled on and torn apart. Yes, I know I could put up fence, but I will have to save enough money for this. Meanwhile, I am working on training them to stay out. During this training and until I get a fence, are there any plants that will deter them from entering the garden? -- e.g., things dogs don't like the smell of, I don't want to go with cactus or spikey plants that would injure. The "get off my garden" sprays, etc. don't work and I cannot afford to keep on trying the various brands. Thanks for your help.

Are there any plants that will deter dogs from entering the garden?
I don't know if this will work on dogs, but I know we have a problem with squirrels digging up bulbs. I solved it by mixing black pepper in the top soil! A few "snoot fulls" and the squirrels went elsewhere!
Reply:There are no plants that will keep dogs away. Puppies will just romp and play everywhere until 2 or 3 years old. If you can afford it maybe some kind of "invisible " fence system will dissuade them. It will probably keep them in the yard rather than running into the neighbors yard as well.
Reply:DOG-B-GONE TONIC


to keep dogs away from your yard, liberally apply this spicy tonic to your soil.


2 cloves of garlic


2 small onions


1 jalapeno pepper


1 tbsp. of cayenne pepper


1 tbsp of Tabasco Sauce


1 tbsp of chili powder


1 tbsp of liquid dish soap


1qt. of warm water


chop the garlic,onions,and pepper fine, and then mix with the rest of the ingredients. Let the mixture "marinate" for 24 hours,


strain it through cheesecloth, then sprinkle it on any area where dogs are a problem. If your on the howl prowl , the hole diggers will go elsewhere!
Reply:Until your plants get established, you may want to surround them with something. You could buy the small tomato cages. Or make some inexpensive ones with hardware cloth, chicken wire, bendable metal wire to hold the edges together and some large metal U shaped staples to attach them to the ground. Even 2 liter bottles with the necks cut off would help until your plants get going. It won't be pretty, but your dogs may learn to change their route.


We have indoor plants. How often should they be watered? Type of plant or how dry the soil is?

There's different types of plants in pots. Is the dryness of the soil the best indicator they need watering or just a schedule for the type of plant?

We have indoor plants. How often should they be watered? Type of plant or how dry the soil is?
It does really matter what type of plant it is. Cacti get watered only about once a month during the summer. Ferns get watered much more regularly.


It also depends on the heat and moisture in your house.


Most house plants want a temperature between 68 -75 degrees. If your house is cooler or warmer, you will need to adjust your watering. Also, if you don't run a humidifier during the winter, you will need to water more often.


Your best bet is a book on houseplants OR the internet.


Do a search for your plant and ask for "care of", or just a general "houseplants, care of".


By the way, misting is not always recommended. Some plants don't like wet foliage - they'll get mites.
Reply:As far as indoor plants go, one thing you need to be sure and do is to mist them, just a spritz or two every day on the plant itself. As for its soil, if its dry about 1/2" to 1" down, just a slight watering will do good. The trick is to keep the soil lightly moistened.


What are some good plants to put in with my Gouramis?

I have a small 5gal fish tank. In it I have a blue gourami, a opaline gourami, a paradise fish and a plecostomus (they are all very small in size when they get bigger I am moving them up to a 10 gal tank). What are some good live plants to put in the tank with them. I bought some at the pet store I got them from but they tore the plants apart. Right now I just have some fake plants in there they hide in, but I would like to get them some real plants.

What are some good plants to put in with my Gouramis?
youll need more than 10 gallons, a common pleco will reach about 24 inches and need about 55-75 gallons, and blue gouramies and all of its color morphs are one of the larger gouramies so you need to be looking into at least 30 gallons for a few months.





anyway, they arent picky as to live plants, not really known to destory plants, so swords, java ferns, anubius nanas etc.. They are all fine.
Reply:I would think that there is another reason on tearing your plants. I would suggest some:





Amazon Sword Plant


Banana Plants and any floating plants.
Reply:mine like to eat dying stuff off my plants -- particularly apongetons and water sprite.





what plants you get largely depend on your light conditions and how much maitenance you want to do.





if you have a fluorescent light you can go with lots of plants -- an incandescent will have less options.





heres a website to start researching plants on --





http://plantgeek.net/


How many plants did the farmer grow?

A farmer planted 12, 000 corn seeds. Ninety-two percent of the seeds developed into plants. How many plants did the farmer grow?

How many plants did the farmer grow?
11040 PLANTS grew from the seeds planted. That is a fairly good germination rate.
Reply:easy 11040 seeds
Reply:None, cause the seeds grew themselves or multiply 12,000 X .92

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My vegetable plants have severe frost damage. Do I replace them or will they survive?

The plants that received the frost damage are the pepper, cantaloupe, and cucumbers plants. All the leaves are brown on the cantaloupe and cucumbers. The peppers plants look wilted and droppy.

My vegetable plants have severe frost damage. Do I replace them or will they survive?
Even if some by chance do survive..they will not produce maybe if lucky 10% of thier potential...I would start over ..I did when we had all that rain here in Florida this spring that completely covered my plants and killed them..heres some pictures of my second effort..well worth it...
Reply:Because your plants are all very frost tender, I think you should replace them while you still can


What are the best plants to grow indoors?

My house has very sunlight and I want to grow some plants inside the home.





Please tell me what plants can grow indoors.

What are the best plants to grow indoors?
The Calathea majestica 'Roseolineata' likes bright light!





This Prayer plant's leaves curl up at night, like hands folded in prayer. Up to 9 inches long and 5 inches wide, the leaves have pale pink stripes on glossy dark green leaves with purple undersides. The plant reaches 28 inches tall.





Also, the Homalomena rubescens 'Emerald Gem'.





Relatively new to the market, this compact plant bears dark green heart-shaped leaves that are 4 to 5 inches wide. Give it dappled sunlight and keep the soil evenly moist. Re pot infrequently since the roots don't like to be disturbed.








Hope this helps! =)
Reply:You didn't say what kind of plant you are looking for.


I have many plants, but my favourite is a peace lily. It can be purchased for very little money at a Walmart. It will be small, depending upon how much you want to spend, but you just keep repotting it into a slightly larger pot each time. (use good potting soil, and keep ground moist) You should keep it in a sunny window, and you will eventually get lovely white spike flowers on it. Mine is about 15 years old, and sits in a large pot on the floor. It always has at least 3- 8 blooms on it.


Other very easy, and pretty plants are: dieffenbachia, asparagus fern (hanging), spider plant (hanging), all of these help clean the air. Other fun plants are african violets and Christmas Cactus. These flower at least once a year, and are beautiful and all are fairly easy to grow.


One hint for a beginner - get good potting soil, and buy pots that have a watering reservoir (water into the reservoir in the bottom of the pot, and it draws water up as needed to the plant. As long as the reservoir has water, your plant has enough to drink. I also get the little pellets of fertilizer and follow instructions on the label.


Most plants help clean the air ,so you aren't just beautifying your home, but making it healthier as well.


Good Luck, and happy home gardening. .
Reply:I grow lots of herbs, cilatro, dill, chives.





You could get some ivy vines, but basicly you just need to go to the store and make a desicion.
Reply:i know www.seedneeds.com has some great seeds for indoor plants at great prices and all shipping is free!


Why are my cucumber plants and collards plants wilting and turning white?

We have had plenty of rain, we fertilized when we planted them, they were about 3-4 inches high when planted about 2 weeks ago. Garden gets sun all day. What could be the problem? All other plants in the garden seem to be doing fine.

Why are my cucumber plants and collards plants wilting and turning white?
Have you checked under the leaves to see if something is munching on them? That could definitely be the situation. There is specifically a cucumber beetle yellow-green in color and 1/5 inch long. The striped cucumber beetle has three black stripes running the length of its back while the spotted has 12 black spots on its back. Both damage foliage as they feed, but more importantly, they carry the organism that causes bacterial wilt and spread the disease to healthy plants as they feed. This disease plugs the water-conducting vessels of the plant, eventually resulting in plant death. As far as collards, they are extremely susceptible to aphids and cabbage loopers but are fairly resistant to most diseases. I work at a nursery and my suggestion is to get the ready to use bottle of Neem oil. It'll keep the bad bugs away from your plants. We have a huge problem with Japanese beetles here and they HATE Neem oil. It is made from organic ingredients so you can actually eat the vegetable 24 hours after spraying. You must spray on top and under the leaves to make it effective. Another thing I've heard a lot of people doing this year is planting some marigolds in with their vegetables and herbs. Ladybugs like the smell of marigolds and they eat the aphids. Those are my suggestions. I wish you luck. It may be too late for your plants this year, but at least you'll know what to do for next year.
Reply:are the leaves themselves turning white or are they coated white.


What specific plant plants live in the rainforest and what are their scientific names?

Also, if you know how tall do the plants grow, do they reproduce angiospermically or gymnospermically, what is their mature height, time from planting to fruit bearing, and is it useful for anything

What specific plant plants live in the rainforest and what are their scientific names?
You're gonna have to be waaaayyyy more specific than that. Plant types in the rain forest...soooooo many. There are orchids, acai berries, ferns, figs...soooooo many.





Elaborate and ask again!
Reply:Dont be lazy research and do your own homework

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Why are my cucumber plants and collards plants wilting and turning white?

We have had plenty of rain, we fertilized when we planted them, they were about 3-4 inches high when planted about 2 weeks ago. Garden gets sun all day. What could be the problem? All other plants in the garden seem to be doing fine.

Why are my cucumber plants and collards plants wilting and turning white?
Have you checked under the leaves to see if something is munching on them? That could definitely be the situation. There is specifically a cucumber beetle yellow-green in color and 1/5 inch long. The striped cucumber beetle has three black stripes running the length of its back while the spotted has 12 black spots on its back. Both damage foliage as they feed, but more importantly, they carry the organism that causes bacterial wilt and spread the disease to healthy plants as they feed. This disease plugs the water-conducting vessels of the plant, eventually resulting in plant death. As far as collards, they are extremely susceptible to aphids and cabbage loopers but are fairly resistant to most diseases. I work at a nursery and my suggestion is to get the ready to use bottle of Neem oil. It'll keep the bad bugs away from your plants. We have a huge problem with Japanese beetles here and they HATE Neem oil. It is made from organic ingredients so you can actually eat the vegetable 24 hours after spraying. You must spray on top and under the leaves to make it effective. Another thing I've heard a lot of people doing this year is planting some marigolds in with their vegetables and herbs. Ladybugs like the smell of marigolds and they eat the aphids. Those are my suggestions. I wish you luck. It may be too late for your plants this year, but at least you'll know what to do for next year.
Reply:are the leaves themselves turning white or are they coated white.


Is it good to plant new plants in our flower beds during this time of year?

We live in the Central Valley of California which is getting close to the freezing point during the night. We have new landscaping and want to start planting ASAP! We want to make sure that our plants will thrive. Daytime temps have been in the high 50's and low 60's. If the temps are OK, what plants can start out well when it's colder?

Is it good to plant new plants in our flower beds during this time of year?
check with your local gardening or home center,let them know what types of plants you are interested in. some plants will flourish in your climate zone, some will not survive.


How do you get plants to cease growing in areas you don't want them?

I am a new gardener. There a small rocks in front of my home. I thought it would prevent the growth of plants. However, the plants continue to grow. I don't want to put plastic underneath because I have seen how it can conduct the flow of water. What should I do to keep my designated areas clear of plants? I want to put rocks in other areas where I prefer no plants.

How do you get plants to cease growing in areas you don't want them?
You might also try a couple layers of newspaper under a thin layer of soil or mulch. it works because the fibers are too thick for the plants to grow through. also it's cheaper than the plastic and you probably get the paper anyways. it's easy and you can place it close to the plants you do want to keep weeds away. it also tends to allow much of the water through. chemicals don't last forever and don't work on all plants all the time. a barrier does. just be sure to overlap the layers to prevent them from weaseling through the cracks.
Reply:You may want to try Round Up . This chemical is meant to kill unwanted weeds or anything you have that you don't want to have growing.
Reply:Try Preen. They are granules that you work into the soil.
Reply:Inch layer of sand under the rocks.


Round-Up!
Reply:Rocks are always difficult to weed around, even if they're applied thickly.





I prefer something else for mulch, like wood chips, bark, straw, grass clippings, even a decorative mulch over cardboard. Otherwise you're caught in the cycle of either hand weeding or nuking with herbicides, which I prefer to avoid if at all possible.


I purchased tomato plants and now I cannot tell which plant is the cherry tomato plant and which is a regular?

I purchased tomato plants and now I cannot tell which plants are the tomato plants and which are regular tomato plants. I need to know the difference in the plants so I can plant them in the right places in the garden. Please help.

I purchased tomato plants and now I cannot tell which plant is the cherry tomato plant and which is a regular?
The cherry tomato will have smaller leaves and not have such a rough texture. The stock will also be thinner even though they are still small.
Reply:there is a VERY subtle difference in leaf shape for cherry tomatoes.. you might be able to differentiate them that way. With all of the different varieties of tomatoes, that leaf shape difference could be almost indistinguishable..





tough issue.. good luck.
Reply:If your tomato plants have flowered, you should be able to tell which is which. The "regular" tomato plant with have clusters of two or three blossoms fairly close to each other. The cherry tomatoes will have a longer stem the blossoms are on, more spaced out and more blossoms per branch.
Reply:Could go back to place you bought them ... if they are little, just take them with you and ask ...they should know...
Reply:Well, the good news is both those plants want the same conditions. So if you have a place that's "right" for one - the other will do well there, too.





The bad news is you can't really tell which is which until they fruit.

sweating

What kind of pot plants have lots of buds and flowers? what pot plant should i get?

I would like to grow pot plants and i like plants with bug buds an flowers n such, what types of pot plants should i get?

What kind of pot plants have lots of buds and flowers? what pot plant should i get?
Female
Reply:The answer to your flower needs is a fuchsia, begonia (is a tuber), or geranium plant, or all of the above. They are easy to grow and will bloom their little hearts out for you. They all require lite shade,not full sun, never allow to dry out. I have several and keep them for the patio every year. All that is necessary to over winter is to cut them back and place in a cool dry area such as a garage and pull them out in spring. I have had mine for many years. The variety in each of these choices is amazing. Color,size, and even topiary size are available. Just up to your imagination. Good luck and have fun.
Reply:Marigolds are a good plant for a beginner to grow..there are many varieties so you can mix and match with hues of different colors...once they take off and start flowering..They will increase immensely...When a flower dies down and crinkles up..pull that head off and dry it and save it..You pull it apart each head will have 30 to 50 seeds in each one...
Reply:Call your local Drug Enforcment Agency. They will be more than happy to come out and help you. Look in the phone book under the government listings. (Blue Pages)
Reply:Millionbells. They bloom like crazy all summer long and look like miniature petunias.


What kind of LIVE plants will work well in a Ball Python tank?

I have a small ball python, under 30 inches and i would like to put some live plants in with her. does any one have some suggestions of python safe plants?

What kind of LIVE plants will work well in a Ball Python tank?
Pothos is a safe, non toxic plant useful for any reptile. They are hardy, grow in low light and stand up well to being crawled on and over. Most of them thrive in cages as long as they have some light.
Reply:Live plants are good for rising humidity for tropical animals. I would worry in a snake envorment a tropical house plant(like you would use with frogs) would not do well. Also since balls are so large there is good chance he will just squish the plant if you put it in there. Snake plant seem to be sturdy but you may want to try plastic.
Reply:Big chunky plants for your chunky snake.


How about the plants called either Snakeplants or Mother-in-law-tongues? They are kinda spiky upward so the snake can crawl around the bottom. Hens-and-chicks could be crawled over. Jade plants might be sturdy enough. A plant I think is called an elephant-foot plant that has a really round at the bottom and skinny at the top with wispy leaves sticking out the top that looks weird.
Reply:I like the look of bromiliads. Some types do well with less water and little light, perfect for terreriums. Just clean them off a little before you put them in the cage.


My cucumber plants flowering but before the flowers open up, the buds are dropping off. What should I do?

My plants are about 2m. I'm planting them indoor and using vertical planting.

My cucumber plants flowering but before the flowers open up, the buds are dropping off. What should I do?
The don't like wet roots. It could be rot, but frankly they need a ton of sunshine and prefer being "hilled" (planted on top of a mound).


What are the disadvantages of genetically enhanced plants?

I have recently came across a website (GCspecial.com) thats has to good to be true plants. a friend of mine has said that he purchased a plant on the sam site that was a cross between tomatoe plant and potatoe plant. It grew tomatoes above ground and potaoes beow ground. He said that everything tasted great and he would by more plants in the future from them. Is there any health risk in eating such plants like this?

What are the disadvantages of genetically enhanced plants?
That looks very interesting.


I found a website that sells these plants.


Maybe they could answer you question in more detail.





http://www.springrivernurseries.com/
Reply:All that is is a tomato seed planted inside a potato. No genetic engineering involved. This is a great way to sell dumb things to dumber people.
Reply:You will gro boobs from your knees and balls from your earlobes.
Reply:There is no such plant!





Your friend is pulling your leg.

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What 2 plants do I need for the golden berries of wealth in plant tycoon?

What plants do I crossbreed to get this magic plant I have all the others and cannot get this.

What 2 plants do I need for the golden berries of wealth in plant tycoon?
i found this website that has the images of the seeds and the results... its a perfect seed catalog... you'll love it...





http://www.casualgameguides.com/games/gu...


Can I plant trees and shrubs two weeks before freezing temperatures arrive, or will the kill my plants?

These plants include boxwoods, shrub roses, lilacs, trees, etc. I will be ripping out old plants and this will be a complete renovation, but freezing temps will be here soon.

Can I plant trees and shrubs two weeks before freezing temperatures arrive, or will the kill my plants?
Water them in well and use a transplanting fertilizer like E. B.Stone's Surestart. Water them a few times during the winter. If you are afraid of the frost or if they are particularly cold, things could be damaged, but usually the roots are insulated. Mulch well when you plant. If these things are hardy in your area, it should be a fine planting time. Then the roots will grow and in the spring everything will perk up. Also check out the information at your local nursery, those people are trained to guide you through the installation of your plants.
Reply:Two weeks is cutting it close... I would say to try and plant at least a month before the first frost. However, I did plant 20 arborvitae in early November last year and we only lost two of them. I would make sure to mulch them in heavily to help protect the delicate new roots.





Good luck!
Reply:Spring is the optimal time for planting however, I have had tremendous good luck with fall planting. Make sure to cut back plant 1/3 of its growth and also trim the roots. Mulch heavily. The bushes you have planted now may already be going into dormancy so the shock of transplanting may not be too bad. I am proud to say that I have not lost one bush or tree to a Fall planting so even though it is said that Spring is best don't give up. PS Also remove any damaged branches or growth. Boxwoods and lilacs are very hardy and both of these have been some of my fall transplants. They did fine.
Reply:It is recommended that you do your planting in Spring because it stresses a new plant to go into a freeze.


How do you go about growing lavender plants?

I really like the smell of lavender, and would like to have some lavender plants outside my windows. I know that they are parennial plants, but do you start them from seeds? Are lavender plants like peony in that you have to buy the plant of-shoot of a mature plant? What is the best way to grow lavender plants?

How do you go about growing lavender plants?
Your local nursery will have at least 1 variety of Lavender. Or you can grow your own from seed, it's your choice. Some tips for growing it.....they do not like wet feet! Do not thirst them to death....but let the soil dry between waterings. Also they do not like a lot of fertilizer so use it very sparingly. Trim the faded blooms to encourage new blooms and if it gets too large do not be afraid to cut it back hard. It will regrow and re-bloom all over again! Lavender is a great plant, and I love the smell too! Have fun and good luck!
Reply:You're welcome! Thank YOU for choosing my answer! Enjoy your Lavender! Report Abuse

Reply:They're easiest to buy in small pots in the herb section of a nursery; but you can also get them in 1 gallon pots. There are many beautiful varieties, heights and colors--all of which have a very pleasant scent. I just set them out in my garden (in a sunny spot).
Reply:I grow lavender and I just bought the plants already started at the nursery and set them out like any other. They took off really well. I have seperated them a couple of times. It shouldn't be any problem to find them at the nursery and home and garden centers.
Reply:If you can't find any plants already started Burpee has a seeds in variety called 'Lavender Lady' that states it blooms the first year. Grows to about 18". I started these myself in two small flats. You get a ton of seeds in the package and it costs about $1.07. Hope something from this helps


Does planting plants and flowers outside do the same as planting trees?

I can't plant trees because I don't know how, but could I plant a seed for plants and flowers? Like would that do good for the environment like how planting tree would?

Does planting plants and flowers outside do the same as planting trees?
All green matter helps the enviroment....but planting trees are a MUCH better option...they shade and thus cool yards/house....they hold the soil in place(fighting erosion)....they take in and process MUCH more carbon dioxide(and other pollutants)





Planting a tree is east you just dig a hole 2-3 3 times as big as the root ball(make sure to take off burlap wrap or the pot!)....put in the hole....fill around with dirt....water...simple!





The important part is choosing the right tree( a LOCALor Native is the best choice),,,,,,,to do this just contact your local county extension office.
Reply:If you plant a tree, be sure to stake it so that the wind does not blow it around and the root ball become loose and dry out. Report Abuse

Reply:Absolutely. Every living plant contributes to the environment by obsorbing carbon dioxide and through transpiration. Planting a tree is just about as easy as planting seeds, let's say you've picked a location for a tree, taking into consideration that over the years the tree will grow larger it's important to note any interference its root system may involve, such as sidewalks, patios leach systems etc. Once you've determined the location all you need to do is visit your local nursery, there are many varieties in different sizes and your nursery man can give you tips on this as well.
Reply:actually most trees are just as easy as most flowers plus they last longer. I think you should plant a tree depending on the size of your yard
Reply:Yes it does and good for you. Kep up the good work and spread the word.
Reply:A good tree will grow big and could last hundreds of years, very few smaller plants will do that.





On the other hand planting trees is very easy, one only has to remember that you want the tree to be put somewhere it will be good to be for hundreds of years.





Something I do that you can too is to plant the seeds of the fruit you eat in small containers (like paper cups) with dirt and put them outside. Many will not grow, some will grow easily. Then you will not only have trees you will have fruit trees!





PS you can do this with vegetables as well

my fish

Recommend some flowers and plants for my garden?

I am new at this flower bed stuff and i dont know my flowers and plants very well. I love doing it but i need some information on different types of plants that grow well in arkansas. Please let me know what plant you like and describe it to me or send picture. Just trying to get ideas for my own gardens. I love gardening and tropical type plants, but i like all flowers really.

Recommend some flowers and plants for my garden?
Daylilies are a good choice as they are easy to maintain and come in a variety of colors. A mix of bulbs, spring and summer (tulips, Iris, etc) help to give color in down times. Sedum (tall variety with large flower head) gives you flowers in late fall and gives shape to your garden during the winter as well. One of my favorites is Lupin, depending on the variety they can be tall, short and a wide variety of colors. Another good one is Baptista, it looks almost like a shrub but gives excellent flowers, and year round form and interest.





Speaking of shrubs/bushes, one of the earliest blooming plants is Forsythia, vibrant bright yellow flowers make it stunning. Lilacs are excellent not only for scent but for color. Burning Bushes are also fun as they give excellent fall and winter color and if you look closely, they actually have green flowers. There are also evergreens like Rhododendron which will give you interest year round as well as flowers.





Check with your local nursery for varieties of these plants that do best in your area.
Reply:I planted pepper plants among my flowers. They did great. Still eating stuffed peppers that I froze.
Reply:http://www.arkansasgardener.com/
Reply:you have to show us front picture of your house, because it is important to know what look good and what not. then we will take a look at Weather conditions of Arkansas and the plants that grows and ... etc....


Picture is important!!!!!!!!!!!


Why do some house plants attract those little fly-like gnats, and how do I get rid of them?

I just moved into a nice apartment, and brought a bunch of nice potted house plants with me...except now I have these annoying little gnats flying around everywhere, and I have a feeling it's because of the plants. I don't want to get rid of my plants, is there a way to get rid of the bugs and not the plants?

Why do some house plants attract those little fly-like gnats, and how do I get rid of them?
They are a result of overwatering. They are fungus gnats or shore flies. The larvae live in the soil. What you have to do is kill the adults and the larvae.





To kill the larvae you need to let the soil dry out completely. Don't worry, the plants can take dry soil better than the larvae can. When it's dry, water it lightly--enough to get some water to the plant. Then let it dry out again. Do this 3 times and that should take care of the larvae.





When you start doing the soil treatment I suggest you use Shultz Houseplant Insect Killer. It's made from marigold flowers but will last a few weeks--long enough to kill the adults. Make sure you spray all the leaves (top and bottom) and the pots and soil.





Once you have the problem under control don't go back to overwatering.
Reply:In a bottom of a glass, dump about 1/4 cup of white sugar. Add 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar and add a drop of liquid dishwashing detergent.





Slowly fill the glass up to the (near) top with water and stir well. You may have to adjust depending on how tall your glass is, i.e. more sugar, or more vinegar.





Put it where the gnats are. They are attracted to the smell of the solution. When they land on it, they get stuck in it and fall to the bottom.





I have used this a lot, especially when I have had an infestation or something from a hidden, rotten potatoe or over-ripe fruit.





Good luck, those things are annoying! :-).
Reply:try washing the plant leaves with a damp cloth or spraying with Safersoap, a horticulture soap that deters insect infestation.


Where can I find information about which plants have cones?

Hi. We are studying the types of plants in the Biology class and I was wondering, where can I find out which types of plants have cones. We have four different types of plants, and at least one group should have cones. The four different types of plants are: non-vascular plants, seedless vascular plants, gymnosperms, angiosperms. Please help. Thank you. I think the answer is gymnosperms, but I am not 100% sure. Thank you.

Where can I find information about which plants have cones?
The conifers, division Pinophyta, also known as division Coniferae, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae.





They are cone-bearing seed plants ( Gymnosperms)with vascular tissue; all extant conifers are woody plants, the great majority being trees with just a few being shrubs.





Typical examples of conifers include cedars, cypresses, douglas-firs, firs, junipers, kauris, larches, pines, redwoods, spruces, and yews.





Species of conifers can be found growing naturally in almost all parts of the world, and are frequently dominant plants in their habitats, as in the taiga, for example. Conifers are of immense economic value, primarily for timber and paper production; the wood of conifers is known as softwood. The division contains approximately 700 living species.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coniferous





Cone is a general term used whenever the reproductive organs are in a compact cone like appearance.





Confers mentioned above are certainly in that category; but besides them , some pteridophytes like equisetum , lycopodium and selaginella also bear cones.





See below-


1) Equisetum -(Seedless Vascular plant) The spores are borne under sporangiophores





in cone-like structures (strobilus, pl. strobili) at the tips of





some of the stems. In many species the cone-bearing stems are unbranched, and in some (e.g. E. arvense) they are non-photosynthetic, produced early in spring separately from photosynthetic sterile stems. In some other species (e.g. E. palustre) they are very similar to sterile stems, photosynthetic and with whorls of branches.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Equis...





2)cycas-( Gymnosperm)


It is agymnosperm that belongs to Cycadophyta . Microsporangia are borne in cones.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cycas...





3) Lycopodium - ( Seedless Vascular Plant)Lycopodium is a genus of clubmosses, also known as ground pines, in the family Lycopodiaceae, a family of fern-allies (see Pteridophyta).





They are flowerless, vascular, terrestrial or epiphytic plants, with widely-branched, erect, prostrate or creeping stems, with small, simple, needle-like or scale-like leaves that cover the stem and branches thickly.





The fertile leaves are arranged in cone-like strobilli.





Specialized leaves (sporophylls) bear reniform spore-cases (sporangia) in the axils, which contain spores of one kind only. These club-shaped capsules give the genus its name.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lycop...





4) Selaginella-( Seedless Vascular Plant)Spikemoss refers to any plant of the genus Selaginella in the family Selaginellaceae. Many workers still place the Selaginellales in the class Lycopsida (modern nomenclature: Lycopodiopsida). This group of plants are included in what, for convenience, is called "fern allies".





http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/im...





http://www.skidmore.edu/academics/biolog...
Reply:try www.educationworld.org
Reply:at your local school library or any local library intown should have what your looking for.. or on the internet


What Carbon Dioxide and Pollution reducing plants are available in Canada?

I recently asked which plants are Best for reducing CO2, etc. But found that most of the plants suggested are not native to Canada (more specifically, Ontario). Are there any plants and trees that are particularly good at this, but are also native to my area (Ontario, Canada)??


Please don't say "the larger ones..." because that is obvious. I am looking for specific species, please. Thank you. :-)

What Carbon Dioxide and Pollution reducing plants are available in Canada?
David Bisset Bamboo will grow like crazy, sequestering a lot of carbon in the process, and it's hardy down to about -15 (F).
Reply:well,almost any plant is great for reducing co2 emisions.as long as it is a plant it is helpful enough...








-thanx for caring.. (im a treehugger)

horns costume

What kind of plants should I get?

I have a very small apartment that doesn't get a whole lot of light. I just have one window in the room where I would like to put some plants. I need inexpensive plants that aren't too.....hard to take care of. I would like to get as many as possible to give some life to my livingroom. So, some of the areas I would be putting plants in wouldn't be able to get much if any light. Any suggestions? Also, any fun ideas for cute or different plants that would be easy to find?

What kind of plants should I get?
I live in a townhouse that faces west and we get only a small amount of afternoon sun due to the trees. I have had good luck with a peace lily and anthurium. They have acutally become friends and bloom together at the same time about twice a year. When they are not blooming, they have nice foliage. Though I have had no luck with orchids, they are beautiful and maybe worth a try. You can get all of these plants at home depot.
Reply:Perhaps silk plants might be a better idea for you. They only require a bit of dusting off now and then, and will last for a very long time. And you can put them anywhere as they don't need air, water or anything else. A spider plant might also be a good idea and some sort of ivy. There is a website,


www.freetreesandplants.com. They ony you charge you a small s%26amp;h fee for the plants they have there. Good luck! Plants make so much of a difference wherever they are put and also if they are live ones, improve the indoor air quality.
Reply:I can suggest to go down to a local store were they sell plants and just ask.


They can always help.


Happy hunting
Reply:Let me tell you one of my favoite inexpensive plants is bamboo its funky and can take many different looks and I find they do well in a bathroom... I think it has something to do with steam from the shower... and for the record hgtv did a show on the top 10 designer mistakes and the number 1 mistake was fake plants/flowers so for my suggestion I say bamboo and there is another plant that I have its fairly non descript its a vine and its green leaves with yellow spots but it grows like crazy for me and im very bad with plants its something you can find at like supermarkets and almost anywhere they sell plants... anyway good luck with the growing


What kind of plants should i plant?

i live in the midwest, northwest indiana, and am looking for an idea of what type of plants i can plant that will come up every year, that can be in the sun most of the time. I have hostas and mini roses, i need something for filler that will come back year after year. I am not really talented with outdoor plants, so any help would be appreciated.

What kind of plants should i plant?
Plants that come up every year are called perennials.


Hostas are perennials and are shade loving plants, although there are a few varieties that can handle a few hours of full sun, those would be the newer introductions. Most Hostas will fry in full sun. Roses, another perennial, reach their maxium bloom potential in ful sun, approx. 6 hours a day. I'm guessing that you don't have these both planted in the same place, I hope?


Anyway, to answer your question, before deciding what kinds of plants you want to plant you need to find out first what the growing conditions are for that particular area besides that it will be in the sun 'most of the time." Has the soil there been amended with anything? Is it wet and clay-ey? Rocky? Rich and loose? Most plants have particular soils that they do


best in.


Do you have a way to water these plants or will you be looking for more drought tolerant plants?


In regards to general suggestions, there are many low maintenance perennials to choose from but many have only a few weeks of bloom . To get the most bang for your gardening buck, look for perennials that will bloom mid season (around the middle of June) until frost. My personal favorites are the coneflowers, which now come in many different colors besides the Purple Coneflower that is really pink..:) They're pretty much drought tolerant, not too picky about soil, birds love their seeds and the clumps can be divided and spread around ever year if you want to extend your gardening dollar even more.


Ornamental grasses are the hottest selling plant sold in new, high-end housing developments for their ease of care.


We have a great group on Yahoo Groups called therookiegardener with alot of experienced and inexperienced gardeners who like to share their projects and advice. Would love to have you.
Reply:Creeping phlox covers the ground with green carpet and is covered with flowers right now in NW Ind.Peonies and Iris are beautiful perennials .Surprise lillys and Stella D'Oro daylillys are great too.Decorative grasses come in all heights and some are variegated greens or red leaved . Have fun!

Hiking Shoes

Neighbor planted crown vetch and it spreads to my ground cover. How can I kill it w/o killing my plants?

I have spreading ground cover on my steep bank (can't remember the name of plant right now) but it used to look nice. I put a lot of time and money into my bank to have it look nice. Now I have ugly crown vetch growing in it and I have to keep pulling it out. I never seem to get the roots and it just spreads anyway.





is there anything I can put on it that won't kill my plants?

Neighbor planted crown vetch and it spreads to my ground cover. How can I kill it w/o killing my plants?
Where your land joins onto the neighbours put in a root barrier (available at garden centres). This will stop further encroachment.





Then, get some straight Roundup and an old small house brush and 'paint the plants that you don't want that are mixed with yours. If they are very close lay down some cardboard over the plants you want to keep to protect them while you paint the bad one. Remember you don't have to get round up on every part of the plant you want to kill it will take it down to the roots. Because it takes it to the roots you know you will eventually get all of it. Remember if you get Roundup on a plant you like immediately wash the good plant with water, it will usually survive.





It may take awhile, but you will eventually kill it roots and all.


What kind of plants should i put in my freshwater aquarium?

I want a plant that is inexpensive and will not die within the week, hopefully. i keep the water in the 70's and i have gravel, not sand. the aquarium is 10 gallons. and where would i find the plants that you might mention in your answer?

What kind of plants should i put in my freshwater aquarium?
Moss balls. The fish love them.
Reply:If you've got some decorations to attach them to, Java Moss, Java Fern, and Anubais are ideal-- they are very hard to kill, and will do quite well in low lighting situations (which is what you have if you're using the bulb that came with the tank). Another good choice would be lilies, which can be bought dry in most fish stores, including the big chain stores. All of the plants I listed are readily avaialable and fairly cheap (other than the Anubias)-- you shouldn't have any trouble finding them.
Reply:Here is a website with a whole bunch of freshwater aquatic plants for sale. http://www.aquariumgarden.com/store/cart...





But personally, I just went to my local Walmart and picked up a package of five aponogeton bulbs for two dollars. It was cheap, easy, and the plants thrived and one even had little seedlings. By spending two dollars, I now have thirteen plants. Of course, Walmart is Walmart, and not every pack will have viable bulbs in it. But even if you buy two or three packs, bulbs are still way less expensive than buying fully sprouted plants. Also, aponogetons are hardy and, since they take most of their nutrients from the water (not the gravel), they do the most to keep your water quality up. They'll also survive in lower lighting than other plants. Here is a website with handy info about aponogetons: http://www.petfish.net/articles/Aquatic_... Everything on that website is true except for the bit about them "dying back" to prepare for winter. If you shine a lamp on your aponogetons, they never die back. Mine didn't die back even right after it make seeds, which is technically the time when they're most likely to. They're awesome.





Try aponogetons. They're my favorite.