theboldplant-blog

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Advice from a Plant

How many times have you looked at a plant and applauded its beauty? I do it every day— with the plants in my own house and all of the plants I see in nature. Daily, I am blown away by the beauty of nature. Thankfully, I live in a beautiful city packed full of all things green. I live in a smaller city on the western side of Wisconsin. I am surrounded by bluffs, a marsh, and the Mississippi River. Everywhere I turn, I am awe struck by the landscape. The city I live in is also chock-full of trees. After five years of living here, I still cannot fathom how there are so many trees lining the streets. The city I grew up in had nowhere near as much vegetation as my current city does. While the land has been greatly affected by construction, the plants have not seemed to mind. They have learned to thrive even though their original habitat may have been drastically altered.

My mom has told me that I was lucky enough to get the ‘green thumb’ gene passed down from my grandmothers on both sides of my family. I may not always keep the plants alive, but I sure do love to try. I am not positive why, but I seem to have always been drawn to plants. I love growing them, but I also love just observing their beauty. Maybe that is part of the reason I decided to move here for college. Multiple times I have found myself outside, walking my dogs, going on a hike, or just driving around and admiring the scenery around me. These observations have recently got me thinking. I have been thinking about life and about happiness. When given the right conditions, plants absolutely thrive. How can I be more like a plant? What tactics can I implement in my own life to grow and flourish like they do?

Below are some wonderful pieces of advice that plants seem to instinctively know. We can learn a lot from nature if we just slowed down and smelt the roses.

Gravitate towards things that help us grow Plants stretch upwards towards the sun and send their roots downwards towards water. Even when the sun is weakened by clouds or rain has not fallen in a while, they know what they need and they search for it. Some ways we can execute this in our own lives is with who we surround ourselves and the activities we participate in. Our environment has a huge impact on our well-being. If we keep negative people in our lives, people who are not lifting us up but instead dragging us down, we will not be our best selves. We should only keep those people around who brighten our days and facilitate our growth to becoming better versions of ourselves. Also, if we are working at a job or participating in an activity we dread going to everyday, even the most positive of people can quickly become pessimistic. If you find yourself in a rut, unhappy with the direction your life is going, reach for those things that make you happy. Try new things that you have always wanted to try. Reach for people and activities that will nourish your soul.

We should not compare ourselves to others, but instead we should just bloom Just like flowers do not compare themselves, neither should we. Nowadays, social media basically dominates our lives. Along with social media comes comparisons. Do not get me wrong, before social media was created or became popular, people still compared themselves to others. But people tend to only post the best parts of their lives on social media. Because we only see other people’s highlight reels, we are apt to think they do not have their own struggles. We think other people’s lives are perfect, and ours are inferior. What we do not see is that even the most beautiful people still have insecurities, some people who live the most lavish lifestyles are drowning in debt, and people in seemingly perfect relationships still fight with their significant others. Some ways that we can embrace a flower-like mindset is to focus on ourselves. While that statement may seem selfish, we must focus on our own lives and how we can better ourselves instead of wishing we were more like someone else or had someone else’s life. To do this, we have to realize that their lives are not perfect either. We all have our own trials; how we respond to them makes us who we are.

We are all beautiful in our own ways When a flower blooms, it does not look around and notice that unlike its bright yellow neighbors, it is a dull purple color. Plants do not get insecure when the tips of their leaves turn brown. Trees do not run and hide when their branches become bare. So, why do we feel like we are flawed when we do not look or act like the stereotype. We are not robots programmed to be identical in every way. Just like plants, our uniqueness is what makes us beautiful. We are all beautiful, brilliant, and amazing in our own ways. Instead of feeling insecure about our differences, we should embrace the diversity that our existence brings into the world.

Stand your ground Plants grow in such a way that makes them difficult to uproot. Even some of the strongest winds cannot knock them over. They grow where they know, and they do not let hardships change them. Just like plants, we should be true to ourselves. We should stand firm in what we believe in, whether that be a religion, a political view, a lifestyle, or anything else. Just because someone thinks differently than us, does not mean we have to change our opinions.

Be flexible Even though plants do not let disaster knock them down, they do know how to bend with the wind. There are certain times that we must give in a little bit. This is extremely important in relationships, whether they be with family, a significant other, friends, or co-workers. If everyone stood rigid in their thoughts, no one would get anywhere. When a tree does not bend, that is when it tends to break. Instead of bashing other people’s ways of thinking or living, we should instead try and understand where they are coming from. In certain times, a little give and take is necessary to stay standing tall.

“Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace” –French Proverb Plants seem to be able to grow anywhere. They will attach to buildings or find the smallest of cracks to root themselves. Just like plants, we are not always given the best situations in life. No matter the circumstances though, we should always try to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be. There are plenty of times where it is easiest to let our situations and experiences define us. If we let them shape us, who knows what we will become. Instead, we should do as plants do—embrace our exquisiteness and strive to be as magnificent as possible. Plants can find ways to grow in some of the worst conditions. Just because we may not have been given the best situation to facilitate our growth, does not mean that we cannot grow. We must use our own strengths and find those things that help us flourish.  

“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted” – Christine Caine You know how plants grow. A seed is planted into the ground, it is given plenty of water and sunlight, and eventually it will emerge from the soil. Sometimes that is what happens to us. We face plenty of hardships in our lives, but from these experiences is how we grow. We can be challenged with a number of things. From the death of a loved one, to getting laid off from a job, to failing a class, to many, many more. At the time, these troubles can seem like the end of the world. What we find is that though it feels like it, it is not. When we are in a dark place in our lives, it can be next to impossible to see the light. During these tough times is when we do the most learning. We learn things about ourselves that we otherwise may have never known. When we are faced with challenges, that is when we must dig deep within ourselves and find the courage to bloom.

There are so many more life lessons we can learn from plants. These are only a couple of them. Plants have a way of overcoming adversity and being true to themselves. Plants are courageous. Plants are beautiful. Plants are bold. That is why I named my page “The Bold Plant.” Plants are everything I want to be and more.

If you have any more advice from plants, please comment below! I would love to hear what attributes of plants you are inspired by!

[theboldplant-blog]

Essential Oils 101

Essential oils. You’ve most likely heard of them. They’ve become quite popular in recent years. People are finding ways to incorporate them into all aspects of their lives. Most people who use them seem to swear by them.

I remember a couple of years ago my aunt was selling them. The rest of my family had never heard of them before and honestly, we all thought she was pretty crazy because of it. At that point in her life, she was so obsessed with them. Almost all of her Facebook posts were about the oils, and she would bring them up almost every time you had a conversation with her. She talked about them so much that I actually became intrigued. Do they actually work as well as she is making them seem? I ended up caving and buying some, and I am actually glad that I did. I haven’t had a complete life changing experience because of the oils (yet), but I have noticed just an all-around improvement in my life.

Even though essential oils have become pretty mainstream today, there is still a lot of information that people don’t know about them. For instance, did you know that essential oils are actually made from plants? I didn’t until just a couple of weeks ago. Honestly, I had no idea how they were made, and I never seemed to question it. Continue reading below for more essential oil knowledge!

What are essential oils?

They are basically the “essence” of plants. They are a naturally occurring oil found in seeds, bark, stems, roots, and flowers that produces the plant’s distinctive aroma. You know when you stick your nose in a flower to smell it, what you smell is actually the essential oil. The makeup of each essential oil is unique and what gives them their own specific benefits.

How are essential oils made?

There are multiple ways that essential oils can be produced. If they are made through chemical processes though, they are not to be considered true essential oils. True essential oils are typically made through the process of distillation, resin tapping, and cold pressing. The time of day, season, geographical location, method of distillation, year planted, and weather can all affect the composition of the oils. Every step of the manufacturing process is critical in determining the quality of the final product.

How to use essential oils?

There are many different ways you can use essential oils. For your body you can either breathe them in, use them on your skin, or ingest them.

Aromas- By breathing in the aromas, they are absorbed by the olfactory receptors in your nasal cavity. These olfactory receptors are directly linked to the limbic system. The limbic system is a powerful part of the brain that controls emotion, motivation, behavior, and memory. This approach can be done by using a diffuser, putting drops of oil on a cotton ball, mixing oils in a spray bottle and misting around the house.

Topical- By rubbing the oils on your skin, they are easily absorbed. Not only are they absorbed, but they stay in the area you applied them for benefits that are localized. When beginning to use essential oils topically, it is recommended to use a carrier oil. Carrier oils help to dilute the essential oil and decrease the likelihood of developing a skin sensitivity when using more potent oils or using them for the first time. Some examples of carrier oils are coconut oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, etc. Applying the oils directly to the skin on your neck, forehead and temples, chest, abdomen, arms, legs, and the bottom of your feet tend to give you some of the most powerful benefits. Besides applying directly to your skin, you can add drops of the oil to your bath, make a hot compress with oils, and mix them with your lotion or moisturizer. Avoid more sensitive areas of your skin including around your eyes, your inner ears, and broken and damaged skin.

Ingestion- Essential oils directly enter the bloodstream by way of the gastrointestinal tract when ingested. After entering the bloodstream, they are then transported to the rest of the body. Due to the unique chemical make-up of the essential oils, they react with your body’s cells and organs in different positive ways. The oils can be added to water or other drinks, or they can be taken in pill form.

There are additional ways that you can use them in your daily life. The ways I stated above are not a definitive list. If I wrote down every way that you could incorporate the oils into your life, the list would go on and on.

What are the benefits of essential oils?

As you can see, essential oils are very versatile. They can be used multiple ways and give you many different benefits. They can be used in your home, for your health, in your beauty routine, and for balance and emotional wellness. Some specific benefits of essential oils are:

Lavender

Reduce anxiety, improve sleep, help heal burns and wounds, relieve pain, reduce acne, and slow aging

Peppermint

Reduce stomach aches, soothe digestive issues, freshen bad breath, relieve headaches, improve focus, and boost energy

Lemon

Relieve nausea, improve digestion, reduce acne and hydrate the skin, promote weight loss, relieve cough, whiten teeth, and boost mood and immune system

Tea Tree

Fight acne, soothe skin irritations, relieve congestion, improve bad breath, natural household cleaner, kill mold, and natural insect repellent

Frankincense

Reduce stress, boost immune system, reduce acne, prevent signs of aging, and improve memory

Ginger

Support healthy digestion, heal infections, reduce inflammation, strengthen heart health, and relieve anxiety

Sandalwood

Mental clarity, relaxation and calming effect, memory booster, reduce inflammation, prevent signs of aging, and hair growth

There are so many more essential oils, and so many more unlisted benefits! You can use the oils separately, or combine them with others to create unique scents and benefits.

There are two big essential oil companies. I’m sure you’ve probably heard of at least one of them before. Young Living and doTERRA are the main competitors in the market. They sell their products online. With the oils becoming more popular though, you can actually purchase oils from other brands in stores. I’ve even seen some at TJ Maxx! Be careful when purchasing off brands though. As I mentioned before, you should stay away from them if they are produced through chemical processes. It is hard to tell the quality of the oils when purchasing off brand products, so I would suggest buying through a company that is established and can be trusted. I highly recommend either shopping with Young Living or doTERRA over buying essential oils from chain stores. People tend to be loyal to one company or the other. I started off using Young Living due to the influences of my aunt, so I am most likely going to keep using their brand exclusively. I have heard great things about both companies though! You can read up on both companies on their websites and make the decision final for yourself.

Now, you may be thinking that all of this sounds great, but the prices are still putting you off. $30 for a little bottle of oil?! I totally get it! It delayed me from making my first purchase too. When I started using the oils I got one of the premium starter packs from Young Living. I had to become a member, but I was able to get smaller bottles of multiple oils to try out for a cheaper price than I would have paid for each oil separately. I didn’t know if I was actually going to like them, so why would I fork out the cash if I was just going to end up throwing them away or letting them collect dust? If your thought processes are anything like mine were, I’m telling you to just go for it! The benefits definitely outweigh the costs. Each oil has a variety of benefits for you and your home, and a single bottle can last you a long time. I have multiple bottles that have lasted me over a year! You typically only use a couple of drops at a time, and that’s all you need! When diffusing the oils, you do use more of the product, but you are spreading it throughout the whole room.

Young Living and doTERRA also sell other products besides single oils. They sell pre-made oil blends that are for specific purposes, such as relaxation, energy, focus, and improved digestion. They sell toothpaste, laundry detergent, supplements, and Young Living even sells make-up! Their products are all based around the oils and their benefits. They also sell diffusers so you can disperse the aroma and effect of the oil or oil blend throughout the entire room.

When using the products, you should always do your research first, and always, ALWAYS follow the directions of use. Some oils are more potent than others and may create different effects. Without following directions, you may use too much of the product and have adverse reactions.

*For your own research, you can reference youngliving.com and doterra.com

[theboldplant-blog]

10 Hard-to-Kill Houseplants!

Houseplants are awesome, but some are just more difficult to take care of than others. Below is a list of 10 of some of the easiest plants to care for indoors.

Snake Plant (Sansevieria):

Lighting: Snake plants grow in a variety of lighting conditions. They prefer bright, indirect light but can withstand low light levels.

Soil Conditions: They prefer good, well-drained soil but can handle dry and poor soil.

Watering: Snake plants are sensitive to overwatering, so make sure to let the soil dry out between waterings.

Fertilizer: Lightly fertilize during the growing season with an all-purpose plant food.

-Snake plants have distinct stiff, upright foliage. The leaves are flat and can grow anywhere from 1 to 8 feet tall, depending on the variety. This plant is one of the hardest plants to kill. Not only are they so easy to care for, but they also purify the air in your house! According to NASA’s recent study, snake plants remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene from the air. In the right conditions, snake plants will even bloom!

Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata):

Lighting: Jade plants need full sun to grow properly. If they receive too little sun, they can become stunted and leggy.

Soil Conditions: Do not let the soil dry out completely between waterings.

Watering: Do not overwater, instead water when the first inch to two inches of the soil is dry.

Fertilizer: Fertilize about every six months with a water soluble fertilizer. Only use fertilizer when the soil is wet; fertilize after watering as normal.

-Jade plants are a branched, succulent shrub. They have thick, woody stems and glossy green leaves. Not only are jade plants easy to care for, they are easy to propagate. From one jade plant, you can grow multiple. They can look like miniature trees as they age, but some pruning may be required.

Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum):

Lighting: Pothos are very tolerant and will do well in bright and indirect light as well as low light.

Soil Conditions: They can grow in soil or a jar of water. Just remember that they don’t do well when transferring from one medium to the other.

Watering: If growing in soil, they prefer that the soil dries out between waterings.

Fertilizer: The plants can be fertilized every three months, but they still grow quickly without being fertilized. If grown in water, liquid fertilizer should be added to supply the plant with the necessary nutrients they typically absorb from soil.

-Pothos have large, thick leaves and grooved stems. They are a vining plant and are beautiful when hung or placed on a high shelf. They grow different types of roots depending on the medium they are planted in. That’s why they don’t do very well when transferred from one medium to another.

Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica):

Lighting: Rubber plants need lots of bright, indirect sunlight.

Soil Conditions: They do best in well-draining and aerated soil. They should be planted in a pot with drainage holes.

Watering: In summer, rubber plants should be kept moist. The leaves should be wiped down with a damp cloth or misted regularly. In winter, they need less water and may only require to be watered once or twice a month.

Fertilizer: Fertilize the plant during the growing season.

-Rubber plants, or rubber trees, can be kept medium sized or allowed to become full indoor trees. They are a tropical plant, and therefore should be kept inside in colder climates. The plant has shiny and thick oval shaped leaves. Rubber plants hold a milky white sap in its stems and leaves. This sap is irritating when eaten or allowed to sit on skin or get in a cut. Not only is it poisonous, but it can stain fabric and furniture. 

Aloe (Aloe Barbadensis/Aloe Vera):

Lighting: Aloe needs bright, indirect sunlight.

Soil Conditions: It should be planted in cactus potting soil or a similar well-draining soil. It should be planted in a pot with drainage holes.

Watering: Aloe cannot tolerate standing water. Therefore, it should be watered when the soil is completely dry. When watering, the soil should be completely drenched, and the excess water should be allowed to drain out of the pot.

Fertilizer: You can fertilize the plant once a year in the spring, but it is not typically necessary.

-Aloe has thick, pointed and fleshy green leaves which are full of slimy tissue. It is a popular medicinal plant. It is best known for treating skin injuries, but it also has many other benefits. The gel contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. It has antibacterial properties, and it accelerates the healing of burns. It can reduce dental plaque, help treat canker sores, reduce constipation, may prevent wrinkles, lowers blood sugar levels, and much more.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum):

Lighting: Spider plants prefer bright, indirect light, but will also do fine in low light.

Soil Conditions: They are not fussy when it comes to soil, as long as it is well-draining.

Watering: Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Spider plants are sensitive to overwatering and susceptible to root rot.

Fertilizer: Fertilize the plant three to four times a year during the growing season.

-Spider plants are also known as the airplane plant. They have long, grass-like foliage, and often have a white stripe down the edges or middle of the leaves. In response to increasing daylight, they produce small white flowers. They grow well in containers or hanging baskets. Just like the snake plant, spider plants are also good as purifying toxins out of the air. They can filter formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene.

English Ivy (Hedera Helix):

Lighting: English ivy likes bright, indirect light. If it doesn’t receive enough light, the leaves grow smaller and further apart. If it receives too much direct sunlight, the leaves can get sunburned.

Soil Conditions: Ivy needs rich, well-drained soil.

Watering: Let the top couple inches of soil dry out before watering. If you are noticing crispy leaves, that is a sign of overwatering.

Fertilizer: It doesn’t typically need fertilizer, but you can fertilize it twice a year during the growing season.

-Ivy is a climbing plant. It can be used as a screen to cover unsightly views behind a fence. It can also be used to cover an unattractive wall or structure. English Ivy is another plant named by NASA to be useful at filtering the air. It can absorb toxins such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and benzene.

Mass Cane (Dracaena Massangeana):

Lighting: Mass cane grows best in bright, indirect light. It can stand low light, but the growth will be slower.

Soil Conditions: It should be planted in well-draining soil.

Watering: Mass canes should remain relatively dry between waterings. When watering, make sure soil is thoroughly soaked with excess water allowed to drain from the pot.

Fertilizer: Fertilize with an all-purpose plant food about once a month during the growing season.

-Mass cane is also known as the “Corn plant.” It is a slow-growing, slow-reacting plant. This means that it may take weeks for signs of over or under watering to show. Mass cane plants are characteristically sold as staggered canes with multiple heads sprouting on each cane. The leaves typically have a bright yellow stripe running down the center of them.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia): 

Lighting: ZZ plants do best in moderate to bright, indirect light, but they will also do just fine in very low light conditions. Be careful because direct sunlight can easily burn its leaves.

Soil Conditions: Plant them in pots with drainage holes and well-draining soil.

Watering: Less is more with this plant. Water only when the soil has dried out. They can survive months without water, but grow faster when watered regularly.

Fertilizer: ZZ plants don’t need to be fertilized, but if you want, you can give them half-strength fertilizer once to twice a year during the growing season. 

-ZZ plant stems start at a thick and bulbous base and grow upward in a wand-like shape. Their leaves are dark green and oval shaped. The whole plant has a waxy coating, making it resemble that of an artificial plant. ZZ plants are nearly indestructible. They are ideal for those people who tend to forget about their plants for long-periods of time. Because they do well in extremely low light levels, they are perfect for windowless offices or bathrooms with only small amounts of fluorescent light.

Succulents:

Lighting: Succulents love light, and need at least a half day to a full day of direct sunlight. Place them near a window or in the room of your house that receives the most light.

Soil Conditions: They should be planted in pots with drainage holes and well-draining soil. Typically, a cactus potting soil mix will do the trick.

Watering: Succulents are sensitive to overwatering. Because they store water in their leaves, they only need to be watered once every week to a couple of weeks. The soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings. When watered, the soil should be thoroughly soaked, with excess water allowed to drain from the pot.

Fertilizer: They don’t need regular fertilizing, but they will grow fuller and with brighter colors if fertilized regularly. Low strength fertilizer can be used every few months. Be sure not to use a fertilizer that is too strong because it can burn your succulents.

-Succulents have thick, fleshy leaves. They come in a variety of colors and shapes depending on the species. They originate from areas with arid climates. Because of this, they love light and have adapted to store water in their leaves. Succulents are another type of plant that love to be left alone. Not only are they easy to care for, but they are also beautiful and, in the right conditions, many of them bloom!

 *If you have kids or pets be sure to keep them safe and double check which plants are poisonous when ingested! If you have fallen in love with a poisonous plant, make sure to keep it up high and away from those who may try and eat it.

[theboldplant-blog]

Programme Été activé 2 / 🌞

20/04/2018

[theboldplant-blog]

More green please 🌿🍃🌵💚☘️✨

[theboldplant-blog]

went shopping for some gardening supplies today!!

[theboldplant-blog]

🌿💖

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🧡 her colors

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I was gonna post this under #plantfail, but sometimes leaves just fall off, ya know?

[theboldplant-blog]

😍

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I have a thing with large-leaved plants 🌿

[theboldplant-blog]

lusting over plants at the hardware store 🌿

[theboldplant-blog]

Remove those pesky pests!

It happens to even the best of us. You are admiring your plant’s beautiful foliage when all of a sudden you notice something out of the ordinary. There are little white dots or there are small spider-like webs on the leaves. If (or should I say when) this happens, do not worry! I’m going to go over some of the most common household plant pests, what they look like and how you can get rid of them.

Mealybugs – My experience with these little guys was not a successful one in the end. I had brought a gardenia plant home from my nana’s funeral to keep as a reminder of her. Everything was going smoothly at first. I thought the plant was pretty, even though it was not currently blooming. When I brought it home, I repotted it from its nursery pot. I found a couple of bugs in the soil, which should have been a red flag to me, but I was unexperienced and at the time thought nothing of it. I brought the plant inside and let it be for a week or two. When I checked on it again, I noticed something was wrong. I saw fur on it? I thought it was weird, but I did not know what I was seeing so I let it be for a little while more. The next time I checked on the plant, I noticed the fuzz had spread. I decided I should try and look it up. I did some research and found out it was actually mealybugs. I did not know how to get rid of them, so I ended up giving the plant to my mom to try and rehabilitate. She did not know much about the bugs either so she just let the plant sit for even longer. Eventually she just ended up throwing the whole plant away. Hopefully this information is helpful to you so you do not have to throw out your plant baby!

Up close, these pests kind of look like furry little white roly-polies. You know, the little bugs you find outside under a log or your garbage can when you move it; the ones that curl up into little balls when you touch them. From far away though, they tend to look more like a white fuzzy mold. Mealybugs belong to the Pseudococcidae family. They are unarmored scale insects. They are typically found in warm, moist climates. They feed on the juices of your houseplant and over time can cause major damage. Not only can they damage their host plant, but if your plants are touching, they can travel to the other plant and wreak even more havoc. They tend to hide in the nodes of plants or in unfurled leaves which means they can be tricky to see. They also reproduce very quickly. If left untreated, there can be hundreds of them before you know it. 

Some ways that your plant could possibly have gotten them are:

-A new plant

-Contaminated potting soil

-Putting your plant outside in the summer 

To get rid of the little buggers, you can completely toss the plant or there are other options to try and salvage what’s left of the plant. The plant should be quarantined and the infestation should be treated immediately after found. Some safe methods to killing mealybugs are:

-Rubbing Alcohol. Soak a Q-tip in rubbing alcohol and place it directly on the bug. There must be direct contact between the mealybug and the rubbing alcohol. If successful, the bugs are killed on contact. As I said earlier that they are sneaky. Make sure you check around and under leaves, stems, and especially at the base of the stem. It will take multiple treatments to successfully get rid of the mealybugs, so you should work at it every day until they are all gone.

- Neem Oil. Neem oil is great at not only killing the current pests, but also preventing them in the future. You can buy it online, just make sure that if you buy concentrated neem oil, you follow the directions on the label. While it is very effective, it can take multiple days for the treatment to start killing the bugs and even more for them to be completely gone. So, stay vigilant and continue applying the oil until all of the bugs are gone.

Spider Mites – I have had a difficult past with these guys. Every ivy plant that I have ever owned has become home to spider mites. The first time I dealt with them, I had no idea that it was even a pest on my plant. I had thought that there was just a spider who had made a web in my plant. I wiped away the visible webs and went on with my day. Before I knew it, the base of my ivy was dead. I thought it was weird, but maybe those leaves were just not getting enough sunlight. I turned the pot and let it be. The webs kept spreading and the amount of dead plant had increased. I was so confused. I tried looking up what it could possibly be, but I did not know how to describe it and therefore could not find any useful information. I ended up just having to toss the whole plant. It recently happened to me again, this time I was able to salvage a little bit of the plant. The spider mites had spread too much to be able to save the whole plant, but I was able to get some cuttings to propagate in water. If I had found it earlier, I would have been able to save the plant.

Spider mites are arachnids and belong to the family Tetranychidae. They feed on the chlorophyll in plants and create webs to protect their eggs. Spider mites reproduce incredibly quickly. They have an average lifespan of 30 days and can produce about 100 eggs during the time. For some varieties of spider mites, they can mature in just 5 days and are then able to reproduce. Due to this, populations explode rapidly. They are miniscule and tend to live on the underside of leaves. These two features make them quite challenging to spot. Adults are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. If left untreated, the leaves of the plant will turn brown and eventually drop off the plant.

To get rid of spider mites, you should first quarantine the plant to keep your other plants safe. You should also check nearby plants to see if they too have become infected. Spider mites are able to move more quickly and effectively than mealybugs can. Next you should identify that they are in fact spider mites. The easiest way to do this is to shake a leaf over a white piece of paper. If you see tiny black dots on the paper, you in fact have spider mites. Some ways to get rid of spider mites are:

-Spray the leaves. You can bring the plant into the kitchen sink and with the faucet spray attachment, spray the underside of the leaves. This will knock the little spiders off. You can also use a sponge to individually wash each leaf.

-Neem Oil. Just as you would for mealybugs, you can use neem oil to get rid of spider mites. Following the directions on the label of the container, you should spray the plant multiple days/weeks in a row until all of the spider mites are gone. You should especially focus on the underside of the leaves, since that is where they congregate.

-Insecticidal Soap. Spraying insecticidal soap smothers and dries out the spider mites until they die. Just like the neem oil, you need to use it multiple days/weeks in a row for it to work completely.

Aphids – I don’t have any experience with these guys, and for that I am glad. Just like mealybugs and spider mites, they are harmful to plants. There are over 4,000 species of aphids, also known as plant lice. They belong to the family Aphididae. They can be white, black, brown, gray, yellow, green, or even pink. They have pear-shaped bodies and long antennas. Adults are typically wingless and have two tubes extending from their backs, but they can develop wings in crowded colonies. Aphids can reproduce quickly, but they tend to move slowly and treating them is relatively easy. Just like mealybugs, aphids feed on plant juices. They typically feed on specific plants depending on their species. There are bean aphids, potato aphids, cabbage aphids and more. Aphids feed on both indoor houseplants outdoor garden plants. Most commonly, the light green (or pear) aphids feed on indoor plants.

To get rid of aphids, you should start just as you would with any other pest. Start by quarantining the plant and checking surrounding plants once you realize it is infected. Next, identify that they are actually aphids from the description above. Once you know they are for sure aphids you can:

-Spray the leaves. Bringing the plant into the sink and spraying the leaves will dislodge the bugs.

-Flour. Dusting large colonies with flour will kill them. This occurs because the flour clogs their digestive system.

-Neem Oil. Most pests seem to be affected by neem oil. Spray the plant with the oil until all of the aphids are gone.

-Soap Solution. Mix a solution of dish soap and water and either spray or wipe the leaves with it. This will need to be done multiple days in a row for at least 2 weeks or until all of the aphids have been removed.

 I hope these suggestions help to keep your houseplants healthy and thriving! Happy planting!