Bugs of Summer
I’d like to introduce you to some of your best friends
This is a Flat-Backed Millipede, from the order Polydesmida. This little guy is an integral part of the food chain and the Chairmen-of-the Board of the Decomposition Committee. These arthropods do not bite or sting, and are a big help to have in [...]
The Fruits of My Labor :D
I’ve been harvesting quarts and quarts of raspberries over the last few weeks! A couple times a week, I go out in the back garden and pluck a few quarts of the delicious fruits. The plants I have are called “Everbearing”, and they should produce all Summer. I pruned them back really heavily at first. [...]
Look What We Found!
I’m so happy! I just found an itty bitty baby praying mantis!
The picture is a little blurry because he’s soooo small, (he was less than a centimeter long) but when this little guy grows up, he’ll be a ferocious predator that will help protect my plants! These helpful bugs are the reason I refuse to [...]
Yellow ZZ
Dear Ivy,
The leaves of my Zanzibar Gem are yellow, I think it has been over watered. What should I do?
-Karen
Dear Karen,
Although the ZZ can tolerate drought, they also will relish lots of water. The yellowing of the leaves could be due to poor water quality. Some municipalities put flouride and chlorine into their water systems, [...]
Getting Out of the House
Dear Ivy,
Can I put my indoor plants outside for the Summer?
-Hesitant Harriet
Dear Harriet,
Don’t hesitate! Your indoor plants will love the fresh air, sunshine and rain water that mother nature can provide for them! I put as many plants outside as I can in the warm months.
The two potted plants are Dracaena and the hanging plant [...]
A New Mystery!
Well, I’ve found my mystery for this Spring. Two years ago, it was Argiope Aurantia’s egg sack in my Croton as I was about to bring it inside for the coming Winter. Now this!
I found this in the leaves of my Dracaena Warnekii. It’s a palm-like tropical plant that likes lots of light and humidity, [...]
Medicinal Milk for Mildew
Dear Ivy,
What is this causing these white powdery spots all over my ivy?
-Dusty Tendrils
Dear Dusty,
My first guess is to say powdery mildew. Yikes! Get in there and get crackin’! This problem is fixable if you act quickly. I’m not sure if this is an indoor plant or not, but the same basic guidelines apply to [...]
What Are These White Spots?
Question: What are the white spots on my trailing ivy?
Answer: Well, they could be lots of things… A really great thing to do would be to invest in a magnifying glass (I use the word “invest” here loosely, since magnifying glasses can be bought most anywhere and are pretty cheap). It is underestimated how helpful [...]
Winter Refugees
You know cold weather is around the corner when the bugs start their yearly exodus from the garden. There is a little spider taking up residence in one of my cupboards. He’s just too fast, I can’t catch him!
I only hope the first few light frosts kill off the smaller pests, like spider mites and [...]
Banana Answers
Question: I bought two dwarf banana plants. I kept one and gave the other one to my sister. Well, mine died, but hers is still growing. I don’t know why. Do you know where I can get another dwarf banana plant?
Answer: Try looking up some local greenhouses in the phone book. This is a tropical [...]