Use and Care Manual

out a bit between waterings can discourage fungus gnats from calling your
houseplants home.
• Your houseplants may sprout bugs once brought inside your house because
they no longer have outdoor predators.
• Remove aphids from houseplants with a mixture of equal parts rubbing
alcohol and water, plus a drop of dishwashing detergent. Apply this to
troubled plants with a soft brush.
• Mealybugs and scale are commonly seen on houseplants. The mixture of
rubbing alcohol, water, and dishwashing detergent described above works
on mealybugs and scale, too. Regular monitoring of your houseplants is
key to beating an infestation.
WINTERTIME HOUSEPLANT CARE
Even indoors, winter conditions can be tough on plants. Fewer hours of sunlight,
drier air, and cooler indoor temperatures can take their toll, so be prepared.
• In colder regions, houseplants that have been outside for the summer
should be brought in in August. A sudden cold spell will be too much of a
shock for them to survive. This is also a good time to take cuttings.
• It’s also good to bring in plants before you start heating your home. This
gives them a chance to adjust. Wash them thoroughly before bringing
them in to rid them of any pests.
• You can dig up your rosemary, basil, tarragon, oregano, marjoram, English
thyme, parsley, and chives to grow them inside as houseplants. Keep
them in a cool, sunny spot, and allow the soil to dry out before watering.
Snip off the leaves as needed in the kitchen, but do not strip
them completely.
• Divide and re-pot any pot-bound plants so they will grow well during
spring and summer. Prune judiciously to create a compact,
attractive specimen.
• Provide extra protection to houseplants on windowsills if it is very cold.
Place cardboard between the plants and the glass. Be sure the plants don’t
touch the windowpanes.
• Houseplants grow slowly in December light, so reduce watering by half
until active growth resumes. Hold off on fertilizing as well.
• If your plants seem a little worse for the wear after winter ends, provide
them with more sunlight, fresh air, and frequent bathing.
MORE HOUSEPLANT CARE TIPS
• Add a few drops of ammonia to one quart of water used for houseplants; it
will improve foliage color and increase growth.
• Save the water from cooking pasta. Let it cool, then use it to water
houseplants. The plants will appreciate the starchy supplement. (If algae