Gardening
 Are orchids expensive?Cindy's answer: They used to be considered way more exotic and rare...now they are in Home Depot, Trader Joes, etc and at great prices. Orchids last a long time so they might be more than the cut flowers but you will enjoy it longer.Sally's answer: They seem to sell them at the discount stores now-I love them but I seem to kill them after awhile. I'm very bad with house plants-always refer to Joanna in this area.Michele's answer: Ask Joanna, that's what I would do.Joanna's answer: Not too bad ... from 14 to 30 dollars at the right place. Larger ones with more blooms can be expensive. Trader Joe's usually has a selection. The quality of the plants are all right. Whole Foods Markets have a great selection at times. Theirs are usually very nice quality. Your local nursery will have a green house with some also. They bloom for a long time, sometimes for months if the conditions in your home are right and if you select a plant that is not yet in full bloom. Choose a plant that has just one to three flowers in bloom and several more in bud still. My house is a bit dark for them but I can get a few to re-bloom. The Phalaenopsis, or moth orchid is one. There is a slipper orchid variety in several colors that blooms one at a time, but always has another bloom coming behind as the spent buds fall.
What is nice about giving an orchid plant in the place of a bouquet of flowers is that for a similar amount of money you can give a plant that will last longer than the bouquet for color in the home, I also love it for a birthday gift ... Valentines Day ... Mother's day .... Easter. |
How do I keep the houseplant pots from scratching my furniture? Cindy's answer: Do not slide them..pick them up when polishing or cleaning the surface they are on. If you need to slide them a cloth would work...a pretty doily or napkin.Sally's answer: A plastic or ceramic saucer-a little lace underneath?Michele's answer: Put a saucer under the pot. Anything under the pot will do, a tablecloth, a napkin, a tile. Actually, I guess a saucer or tile could scratch furniture too. Just put a pretty piece of cloth underneath.Joanna's answer: You can put little sticky felt circles on the base of the pot. Be sure you have some kind of saucer to catch any water drainage, either in the pot or under the plant, hidden in a decorative pot. A saucer from your tea cup works nicely under small pots. Even a salad sized plate, if you have enough plates to use under your plants. |
How often do I need to water houseplants? Cindy's answer: Well there are no real rules because it depends on the plant and the size of the pot, the amount of sun it gets, etc. People do tend to over water. I stick my finger in the dirt and if it is dry I water it.Michele's answer: I'm finally learning to find out what the plant I have needs. They usually have those little plastic things that tell you the type of plant, the amount of sun and water necessary. That's not enough. Look it up on line and find out if you should let it dry out and water it again, or keep it wet. I've had a lot more success since I've done this.Joanna's answer: .... once or twice a week ... and some are fine left for two ... Little pots need water more often. |
Sometimes I babysit in my home, what houseplants are poisonous that I might need to be careful about or eliminate from my home? Cindy's answer: I know poinsettias are poisonous. Keep all plants away from baby's reach to be safe.Sally's answer: That would probably be a good idea to get rid of them-Joanna will have to tell you about which plants are poisonous.Michele's answer: Watch the baby, if he/she gets away from you (it happens), and eats the plants or drinks a beer, call poison control. 1-800-222-1222, aapcc.org Really, you are supposed to be watching the child, kids get into everything, so be vigilant.Joanna's answer: I used to nibble flowers when I was little. I don't remember, but my mom told me I did. Even some pets nibble things that they shouldn't, so it is a good idea to keep toxic plants out of the way of children, puppies, hamsters and ferrets.
In looking into the toxic plant topic, I have found many more are toxic than I ever realized including some favorite plants for greenery at Christmas and bulbs for Easter and spring bouquets.
Some toxic houseplants are:Schefflera, Spider plant, Philodedron, Pathos, Ivy, Asparagus Fern, Creeping fig, Creeping Charlie, Caladium, Iris, Jerusalem Cherry, Iris, Daffodil, Tulip, Lily of the Valley, Amaryllis, Poinsettia, Ivy, Holly, Mistletoe.
There are many more so I suggest that you just keep certain plants out of reach and enjoy their beauty.
Check for more at the US Army's Guide to poisonous and Toxic Plants.
Contact the Poison Center near you if you have a concern.For More information, visit aapcc.org |
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