The Better Indoor House Plants

A mixture of rubbing alcohol and water can be diluted and sprayed on any leaves that appear to have pests. If no alcohol is available use water and dish soap. Pests are not very harmful to plants if you don't mind the yellowing leaves. Some plants however are poisonous to pets and children. Take care to purchase the right plants for your home.

If a new plant doesn't like the area of the home that it has been placed in it will surely let you know. It is common for new plants to lose some leaves when acclimatizing to a house. If the new growth is stunted or begins to die, change locations to either more or less sun. It may take a month or more for your plant to show new growth after being repotted or moved. This is normal and patience is key. Also observe the humidity of the area. Never let  the leaves touch a cold window.

Test the soil by placing your finger in up to your knuckle. If the plant is dry then water it. Be sure not to water log your plants. Adequate drainage is important to protect your plants roots from rotting and molding. Plants in pottery need to be watered a little more often than plants in plastic pots as the water is absorbed by the pottery quicker.

Some homes are not equipped with enough lighting to sustain certain plants. Artificial lighting can be used in place of sun in these cases. Some plants do better under this light. It is also helpful to place quartz chips on the soil for reflection. Aluminum foil can be used as well. Plants grown in an atrium are a nice possibility for apartments. Fish bowls and tanks work nicely and can be placed in the bathroom.The humidity being higher usually.Window boxes are great for small flowering plants.

I recommend palm trees because they grow fast and therefore you can see the results quicker. Following these tips will ensure you healthy and happy plants for years to come. Plants should be a relaxing part of your life. Never fear the death of a plant and begin a new leaf on life today.

UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley: A Plant Lover's Paradise

Research and Conservation
Nestled in the Berkeley hills, just above the Cal campus, more than 13,000 different species of plants on 34 acres grow in the University of California Botanical Garden, a scientific collection of plants from around the world and a wonderful place to spend the morning or afternoon. I recently went there for the first time. The garden is a living museum, created as a research garden but open to the public.
A network of paths takes you through the garden, which is arranged according to the plants’ geographic origin. These include Mediterranean, South America, Mexico/Central America, Eastern North America, Australasia, Asia, Southern Africa, New World Desert, and California. The garden’s website cautions visitors that it is virtually impossible to see everything on one visit. It says that to see every plant in one two-hour visit, one would have to see one hundred different plants a minute!
Edible Plants
One of my favorites parts of the garden was the section on crops of the world. In one corner was the “Three Sisters Garden” so-called by Native Americans referring to the interplanting of beans, corn, and squash. The beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which feeds the corn so it will be tall and healthy. The corn provides a structure for the beans to climb on. The squash plants provide ground cover to keep the soil moist and free of weeds. Recent studies have shown that this method produces higher yields than the typical planting of a single crop (monoculture).

Changes With the Seasons
Every season has its highlights, making the garden a worthwhile visit at any time of year. We visited the garden in August, when late summer flowers were blooming, while earlier blooming varieties were reaching maturity. In the garden of old roses, bushes were lush with old-fashioned varieties. It was a warm afternoon, but paths through shady groves and along ponds and streams provided welcome places to stop and rest.

The garden is also a haven for wildlife. As we meandered through the various zones, lizards skittered across the path, hummingbirds hovered over the flowers, and bees and butterflies were abundant. Throughout the garden, helpful signs identify plants, sometimes with additional information. But, even if you don’t want to know the plants’ names, you can enjoy them for their natural beauty. It’s better not to try to see one hundred plants a minute, but to enjoy a few at a time. I plan to go back in several months and explore some new paths and see what is growing at a different time of year.

Directions: The garden is located at 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA 94720 (midway between the UC Berkeley Memorial Stadium and the Lawrence Hall of Science.) Phone: 510-643-2755. For directions and more information, go to the garden's website.
Tours: Docent tours of the garden are offered at 1:30 on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.