Neem oil treats pests organically Here's something new to try in the war against insects taking over your interiorscapes. Neem oil is a natural, organic insect and pest control made by pressing the seeds of the neem tree (Azadircta indica). This plant is native to East India and Burma, and is a tropical evergreen [...]
How does a plant drink water? How does a plant drink water? When you pour that half of a gallon of water into the soil of your Spathiphyllum do you ever wonder how it gets up to the very tips of the leaves? Part of the answer lies in the makeup of the water [...]
Jade pothos Epipremnum aureum is a wonderful addition to any interiorscape. Also known as Golden Pothos, this plant was formerly known as Scindapsus aureus. A member of the Araceae (Philodendron) family, they are native to the monsoon tropics of Malaysia. Here they are tropical climbers, creeping by rootlets, attaching to tree trunks to climb upwards through [...]
Watch out for signs of mildew on ivy plants One day, when watering your favorite grape ivy, you may discover something new. A white, floury deposit is suddenly covering the new growth! What could it be? This powdery looking deposit is actually mildew. Various conditions like fluctuating temperatures and stagnant interior air can create [...]
Obscure Poinsettia Trivia 1. Poinsettias were introduced to America in 1825 by Ambassador Poinsett, the US ambassador to Mexico. What was ambassador Poinsett’s first name? Where was he born? 2. In the early 1900’s Paul Ecke produced America’s first crop of poinsettias for retail sale. Name the first cultivars used in commercial production. 3. Most poinsettias [...]
Maintaining Holiday Flowering Plants Holiday Poinsettia Wreath During the holiday season, interiorscapers transform ordinary offices into festive workplaces with decorations and flowering plants. To keep the delicate blooms looking their best, follow these guidelines. Keep them moist Most flowering plants have extensive fibrous root systems that require constant moisture. Plants in flower do not [...]
Spotlighting: Dracaena fragrans canes What plant type tolerates low humidity and 50fc of light, sports designer stripes, comes in a variety of shapes and heights and has few pest problems? None other than our old friend Dracaena fragrans and the popular variety ‘Massangeana,’ commonly called the cornstalk plant! Originally from Upper Guinea, most of our fragrans [...]
Encourage New Cane Plant Growth Want to force new whorls of foliage on your Dracaena fragrans canes? Here’s a tip from Joe Cialone of Tropical Ornamentals, Delray Beach, Florida. Using awides aw blade, make a cut above a dormant bud at a node on the cane. Cut 1/3 into the cane to ensure the flow of [...]
Being late, whether to work, a meeting or a visit to a client's account, implies disinterest, laziness and a lack of reliability. If you keep people waiting, you have one strike against you before you ever open your mouth. In some cases, that one strike will be enough to kill your chance to get a promotion [...]
DO: Select a ladder that's the right length and weight capacity for the job. Ask for help with moving and set up if it is too heavy for you to handle alone. Inspect the ladder before use to make sure it is in good condition. Make sure rungs or steps are in good condition, have non-slip [...]
