Photo by Elena Elisseeva/Fotolia
Tips for healthy houseplants
GL readers write in with their tried-and-true tips and tricks to keep houseplants happy
To kill bugs on your indoor plants, spray them with a mixture of 1 tsp of **Murphy Oil Soap** in a quart of water.
*—Dian Anderson, Courtenay, BC* Use a solution of one part **milk** to four parts **water** on a soft sponge to wash the leaves and keep them shiny and gorgeous.
*—Darci Paice-Bailey, Prince George, BC* I put **egg shells** in the water; it provides my plants with mineral nutrients.
*—Carole Dube, Red Deer, AB*
Giving my African violets an occasional drink of **cold black tea** keeps them happy.
*—Monika Getty, Kitchener, ON* I research each plant's **care and light requirements** and jot them down on a small piece of paper, I cover the paper with plastic and tape it to the pot so the info is always handy.
*—Fay Van Horn, Telkwa, BC* In the winter months, **mist your plants** every few days for extra moisture.
*—Jan Hosking, Courtice, ON* Repot your houseplants, putting two to three inches of **small stones** in the bottom of the container for extra drainage. This prevents root rot if you accidentally overwater.
*—Nick Aloe, Toronto* Use **oxygenated water** once a month when watering your houseplants. They will flourish.
*—Sharon Mcginnis, Saint John, NB* I **avoid overwatering** by letting my houseplants dry out for two weeks. Then I put the plant in a basin of water, pour two litres of water through it and leave it to absorb the water. I drain off any excess and put the plant back in place.
*—Lynn Newton, Shubenacadie, NS* Pour leftover **black coffee** on your plants or add coffee grounds to them every now and then; they'll love it.
*—Stacey Wellbrock, Calgary* Once a month, I put my houseplants in the **bathtub** in a couple of inches of lukewarm water. They soak up the water and I can spray them gently to clean the leaves.
*—Christine Schultz, Elkhorn, MB* Sometimes fungus gnats arrive with a new houseplant; I cover the top of the put with **plastic wrap** for about a week—no more gnats.
*—Doug Bilesky, Surrey, BC*
*—Dian Anderson, Courtenay, BC* Use a solution of one part **milk** to four parts **water** on a soft sponge to wash the leaves and keep them shiny and gorgeous.
*—Darci Paice-Bailey, Prince George, BC* I put **egg shells** in the water; it provides my plants with mineral nutrients.
*—Carole Dube, Red Deer, AB*
(continued below)
*—Monika Getty, Kitchener, ON* I research each plant's **care and light requirements** and jot them down on a small piece of paper, I cover the paper with plastic and tape it to the pot so the info is always handy.
*—Fay Van Horn, Telkwa, BC* In the winter months, **mist your plants** every few days for extra moisture.
*—Jan Hosking, Courtice, ON* Repot your houseplants, putting two to three inches of **small stones** in the bottom of the container for extra drainage. This prevents root rot if you accidentally overwater.
*—Nick Aloe, Toronto* Use **oxygenated water** once a month when watering your houseplants. They will flourish.
*—Sharon Mcginnis, Saint John, NB* I **avoid overwatering** by letting my houseplants dry out for two weeks. Then I put the plant in a basin of water, pour two litres of water through it and leave it to absorb the water. I drain off any excess and put the plant back in place.
*—Lynn Newton, Shubenacadie, NS* Pour leftover **black coffee** on your plants or add coffee grounds to them every now and then; they'll love it.
*—Stacey Wellbrock, Calgary* Once a month, I put my houseplants in the **bathtub** in a couple of inches of lukewarm water. They soak up the water and I can spray them gently to clean the leaves.
*—Christine Schultz, Elkhorn, MB* Sometimes fungus gnats arrive with a new houseplant; I cover the top of the put with **plastic wrap** for about a week—no more gnats.
*—Doug Bilesky, Surrey, BC*
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