Pruning tomato plants to remove unnecessary branches and stems is an easy and efficient way to increase yield and minimize disease spread. Pruning indeterminate tomatoes specifically should also help ensure optimal harvest results. To remove suckers, pinch off their lower leaves before cutting with clean gardening pruners or using a sharp knife for larger plants. …
Rockwool insulation is made of melted basalt, chalk or slag and spun into fibers for use across a range of applications. Horticultural grade rockwool is an ideal hydroponic media due to its high water-holding capacity and oxygen retention properties, while also offering more drierness than many soil mediums – something which comes in handy when …
Whiteflies are small winged insects that feed on plants, making them a common pest in both greenhouses and home gardens. Whitefly are capable of damaging or even killing entire plants due to their feeding habits, creating havoc in greenhouse environments or ruining entire home gardens. If you spot whitefly infestation, take quick steps to get …
Perlite is one of the most versatile soil amendments used to seed start and cultivate many different plants. It helps with drainage and aeration while increasing drainage rates in your soil. Geotextile is composed of transformed volcanic glass that has been heated to 1,600 degrees F and then heated further after popping, leaving microscopic holes …
Garlic can last a long time when stored correctly. To extend its shelf life, make sure it’s stored somewhere cool, dark, dry and with good air circulation. Paper or mesh bags are ideal for storing fresh garlic because they do not trap moisture like plastic ones do. 1. Remove the Skin Garlic skins provide essential …
Thrips is a group of insects found on various plants and is considered an annoying problem by gardeners. They serve as carriers for plant-specific viruses such as Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus and Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus that can infiltrate your garden and crops, potentially wreaking havoc with them and your garden or crops. Damage Thrips …
Fungus gnats can be an unpleasant sight in houseplants, particularly during fall when many hitchhike indoors. Furthermore, greenhouses and nurseries should also take steps to safeguard their plants against these invaders. Gnats can damage plant roots, restricting their ability to absorb nutrients and stalling growth. Additionally, they can attack leaves of your plants causing them …
White flies are sap-feeding insects that feed off plant sap, especially fruiting trees, causing significant damage. Furthermore, they excrete “honeydew,” an attractant sticky fluid which attracts ants and wasps and serves as a medium for black sooty mold growth. There are natural ways to combat pests like ladybugs and green lacewings/dragonflies; ladybugs being one such …
Rust is an unsightly natural phenomenon that threatens to compromise the usefulness of hand tools over time. Luckily, there are ways you can remove rust without buying new ones. Submerging rusted tools in a vinegar bath is one effective way of softening their rust and making it easier to scrub away, plus this approach is …
Roly poly bugs (pillbugs) are small blue-gray creatures known by various names including woodlice, tiggy-hogs and parson-pigs that curl into balls when feeling threatened. Roly poly bugs may resemble prehistoric creatures, but these crustaceans more closely resemble lobsters or crabs than beetles or butterflies. Roly poly bugs decompose materials in an ecosystem to improve soil …
