Recently I murdered a Gardenia. Trust me, it was not premeditated murder! I had always wanted a Gardenia. I just love the way Gardenias look with their glossy dark green leaves and their fragrant creamy blossoms. I fantasized about having a big beautiful Gardenia bush sitting on my deck, the sweet fragrance wafting through the summer night air. When I saw one at Home Depot, this last summer, I decided to ignore my history and pick one up. My summer evening fantasy fell apart immediately as it didn't do well on my deck. Who knew they were so fussy? It turns out Gardenias have to get just the right amount of light, not too much and not too little. They also need humidity but don’t like damp roots. I tried the poor thing in several different locations trying to find a good home for it. Finally, I tried placing it in my basement bathroom near the window. It seemed to be doing well in the bathroom where it could get lots of humidity. Then one day I walked in and all the leaves were turning black. Nothing I did, turned it around and I finally had to let it go. Sadly, if there was a Plant Killers Anonymous, I would be a lifetime member.
I like having plants in the house, though so I keep trying. I know that plans make your home feel fresher and will improve the home’s air quality. But investing in plants can get expensive if you can't keep them alive. Recently I did a little research to see if I could improve my record and found the following suggestions:
1. Use leftover water from cooking. Plants love the extra nutrients from your leftover cooking water that can’t be found straight from the tap. Instead of dumping the water right after boiling vegetables, let it cool and use it to water your plants.
2. Coffee makes great fertilizer. Rather than throwing your used coffee grounds in the trash, empty out your French press or coffee filter straight into a planter.
3. Dust your plants. This should be part of your regular dusting and cleaning routine. Keeping your plants’ leaves dust-free keeps them healthier.
4. Pay attention to soil types. Different plants require different soils. Do some research to discover each plant‘s preferred soil. For instance, succulents require sandy, dry soil.
5. Beware of root rot. Houseplants are prone to root rot because there’s often nowhere for the excess water to drain from the planter. Prevent root rot by putting pebbles in the bottom of the planter, which elevates the roots. Use a water-hydrogen peroxide mixture for plants that are already showing signs of root rot.
Dusting my plants is never going to happen. I only dust when I absolutely must. I might give the leftover water and coffee grounds a try though. I’ve also read that coffee grounds keep away ants if you sprinkle it around your outdoor plants. Hmmm, I wonder if it would work on my peonies?
1. Use leftover water from cooking. Plants love the extra nutrients from your leftover cooking water that can’t be found straight from the tap. Instead of dumping the water right after boiling vegetables, let it cool and use it to water your plants.
2. Coffee makes great fertilizer. Rather than throwing your used coffee grounds in the trash, empty out your French press or coffee filter straight into a planter.
3. Dust your plants. This should be part of your regular dusting and cleaning routine. Keeping your plants’ leaves dust-free keeps them healthier.
4. Pay attention to soil types. Different plants require different soils. Do some research to discover each plant‘s preferred soil. For instance, succulents require sandy, dry soil.
5. Beware of root rot. Houseplants are prone to root rot because there’s often nowhere for the excess water to drain from the planter. Prevent root rot by putting pebbles in the bottom of the planter, which elevates the roots. Use a water-hydrogen peroxide mixture for plants that are already showing signs of root rot.
Dusting my plants is never going to happen. I only dust when I absolutely must. I might give the leftover water and coffee grounds a try though. I’ve also read that coffee grounds keep away ants if you sprinkle it around your outdoor plants. Hmmm, I wonder if it would work on my peonies?
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