Easy-to grow-houseplants are more popular than ever. Even people who have never grown plants are adding houseplants to their indoor spaces. These new houseplant growers would never call themselves “gardeners,” yet they are going crazy over indoor plants. Why are easy-to-grow houseplants trending? Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, whose website at TheHouseplantGuru.com is a great source of information and inspiration about indoor plants, says houseplants nourish the body and the soul. “So many studies have been done that show the benefits houseplants have in the home and the workplace,” said Steinkopf. “Plants clean the air, they make people feel happier and actually lower their blood pressure. In office environments, plants also reduce the occurrence of sick days. What more could we ask for?” Expert Advice on Easy-to-Grow Houseplants Lisa Eldred Steinkopf (Twitter handle: @TheHouseplantGuru) says that anyone can successfully grow houseplants. “Growing a plant successfully is … [Read more...] about Easy-to-Grow Houseplants for Beginners
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Kill Fungus Gnats Naturally with BTI
Looking for a way to kill fungus gnats naturally? Sooner or later you will have to deal with fungus gnats infesting your houseplants. Fungus gnats are the tiny flying pests that can swarm like an annoying black cloud whenever an infested houseplant or outdoor potted plant is moved. Fungus gnats (Bradysia species) are small, mosquito-like insects that commonly infest the soil or growing medium of potted plants. When outdoor plants are brought indoors for the colder months, fungus gnats in the potting mix are brought indoors. That's when they can quickly infest the soil of other houseplants. Fungus gnats thrive in moist potting soil, where they lay their eggs. After the eggs hatch, fungus gnat larvae live in the top two to three inches of the potting soil. Fungus gnat larvae can cause plant damage by eating plant roots. After about two or three weeks, the fungus gnat larvae pupate in the potting soil. Then they become the tiny black adult gnats that fly erratically when a potted … [Read more...] about Kill Fungus Gnats Naturally with BTI
Natural ways to Keep your Dog Healthy
In case you haven’t noticed, Americans are pet crazy. There are almost 90 million dogs and more than 94 million cats living in our homes. According to statistica.com, a whopping 68 percent of all U.S. households owned pets, and that’s up from 56 percent in 1988. It’s estimated that the average pet owner spends $477 dollars a year just on food treats for their pets. Keeping our pets healthy and happy is certainly driving the increase in the sales of natural pet products such as natural pet foods. But natural pet food isn’t the only growth area in the natural pet products industry. Pet owners also trying other natural pet products, including healthy dog treats, vitamins and supplements, shampoos, and more. In this story, we highlight some great natural choices for dogs. (We’ll cover natural cat products in a different story.) Top natural dog food As people choose a more natural diet for themselves, they also tend to start looking for natural foods for their dogs. Finding the … [Read more...] about Natural ways to Keep your Dog Healthy
3 Easy Ways to Make Your Kitchen Greener
Today’s homes are getting greener because today’s eco-smart consumers are demanding greener household products and more eco-friendly choices. Outfitting a modern apartment, home or homestead is increasingly about creating a more self-sufficient lifestyle. This greener approach to modern living is probably impacting our kitchens more than any other room in the house. We are taking a more earth-friendly (and personal-health friendly) approach to cleaning, preparing and cooking food, serving food and practically everything we do in our kitchens. As a result, more and more families are getting smarter about natural household products. With new eco-friendly choices for getting dishes clean, why would you keep using the petroleum-based products your mother used? And why not cook and serve your food in products that were made with sustainability in mind? Here are three easy ways to make your kitchen a greener place for you and your loved ones. Recycled glass tumblers made by … [Read more...] about 3 Easy Ways to Make Your Kitchen Greener
