Managing Salt Buildup (white Crusty Substance) On Houseplant Soil

The Garden Mix
Please welcome ou new sponsor: Nature's Nook! Make plans now to join Melinda on her famous Garden Walks at Boerner Botanical Gardens in 2013! Download the schedule here. Nationally renowned garden expert Melinda Myers helps everyday gardeners find success and ease in the garden through her Melinda’s Garden Moments radio segments. Melinda shares “must have” tips that hold the key to gardening success, learned through her more than 30 years of horticulture experience. Listeners from across the country find her gardener friendly, practical approach to gardening both refreshing and informative! On this page, Melinda shares some more extensive garden tips, which expand on the information provided in her one-minute radio segments. New tips are added throughout each month, providing timely step-by-step tips on what you need to do next in your garden! Visit Melinda’s website www.melindamyers.com for more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and answers to your questions.
Managing Salt Buildup (white crusty substance) on Houseplant Soil by Melinda Myers , posted Dec 31 2012 3:15PM

Improve the health of your houseplants and the look of your indoor garden with a little container clean up. Scrape off any white crusty substance collecting on the lip of the container or soil surface. This build up of salt from minerals in fertilizer and hard or softened water can damage plants. High levels of these excess salts can prevent plants from absorbing the water they need, stunt growth and burn root tips, leading to rot. Repeatedly and thoroughly water, called leaching, to wash any remaining salts out of the soil. Water the plant thoroughly until the excess water drains out the bottom of the pot. Use twice as much water as the container will hold. For example a 6 inch pot holds 10 cups of water, so use 20 cups to wash out the salts. Wait 30 to 60 minutes and repeat. Repeat every six months or so to prevent plant damage. A bit more information: Reduce the risk of salt build up by always watering thoroughly and pouring off excess water. Fertilize only when your plants are actively growing. And use a dilute solution, about one fourth to one half the recommended rate, when fertilizing. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com Tags : Topics : Environment, Hospitality_Recreation, Human Interest Social : Environment, Hospitality_Recreation, Human Interest Back To Blog
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12/31/2012 2:15PM

Managing Salt Buildup (white crusty substance) on Houseplant Soil

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How To Help Tornado Victims
The tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma, as well the twisters as Kansas and Texas, have killed dozens and left thousands homeless. Officials expect the death toll to rise. Relief efforts are underway. Right now, the best way to help the victims is a donation to major relief organizations. Here is a list of organizations that are accepting donations: American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund: Click HERE to donate online. You can also text REDCROSS to 909999 to immediately donate $10 to the Red Cross Disaster Fund. Phone: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767); for Spanish speakers, 1-800-257-7575; for TDD, 1-800-220-4095. Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief: The Oklahoma Baptist Convention says says donations will "go straight to help those in need providing tree removal services, laundry services and meals to victims of disasters." For more information, and to donate, visit Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief's website by clicking HERE. You can send checks to: BGCO Attn: Disaster Relief 3800 N. May Ave. Oklahoma City, OK. 73112. Salvation Army - The Salvation Army is deploying mobile kitchens that can serve to 2,500 people a day. Click HERE to donate via their website. You can also text the word STORM to 80888 to make a $10 donation from your mobile phone. You can also donate to the Salvation Army via check: Put the words "Oklahoma Tornado Relief" on the check, and mail to: The Salvation Army P.O. Box 12600 Oklahoma City, OK. 73157. Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). Feeding America - Feeding America says it utilize its 200 foodbanks to deliver food and supplies. Click HERE for their website. Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma - Text the word FOOD to 32333 to donate $10 to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

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Grow Your Own Pickles & Celebrate National Pickle Week
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Celebrate Clean Air Month – Grow Some Air-Purifying Houseplants
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We get your letters...
What an amazing weekend! First of all, a very big THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Grafton and Mukwonago and waited in line amid cold, windy and rainy conditions for those Wisconsin Dells Season Opener Cards. For me, it is a chance to meet / hang out with YOU the listener and give you goodies! Second, got this letter from our 99.1 The Mix Contact Us forum, from the Dawson family of Port Washington and was truly surprised that my "simple gesture" warranted the following... Question: Your Name: Answer: Michelle Question: Your City: Answer: Port Washington Comments: Yesterday I took my parents to Grafton to wait for season opener cards. It was quite a cold morning. We arrived at 10 because in the past there have been huge lines. My mother is recovering from a recent open-heart surgery. She is a very petite older woman. Van McNeil was interacting with people people in line and I asked him if it would be possible for my mom to going to the bank to warm up. He unexpectedly took my mom's hand and escorted her into the building. He was so kind to her and gave her a hug. He made sure she was warm and dry and took very good care of her. My mom and dad are thrilled to be going to the Dells. Unknown to Van my dad just got out of The hospital last Friday after 4 1/2 weeks of being in. It's been a very rough couple of months for my parents and their health. My mother was just beaming about how nice Van was. I wanted to thank you for the season opener cards which will allow my parents and my family to enjoy a vacation in Wisconsin this summer, and send a special thank you to Van for being so wonderful to my parents. You're welcome and THANK YOU Michelle! Just doing what I do because that's how my mama raised me! Enjoy the Dells! -Van #everylistenermatters

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Year of the Watermelon
Year of the Watermelon The National Garden Bureau has declared 2013 the Year of the Watermelon. Be part of the celebration and consider planting watermelon in this year's garden. Don't let the sweet flavor deceive you – these are nutritious as well as delicious. High in Vitamin C, low in fat and calories - it is a great way to boost your energy. Plus, all parts are edible. You can pickle the rind, eat the fleshy portion fresh or roast or grind the seeds for flavoring. In china they stir fry watermelon while the Russians often pickle it before eating. You may want to try some new ways of enjoying this tasty summer treat. Grow watermelon in full sun and well-drained soils. Save space by growing these plants on a trellis or decorative obelisk. Just secure the heavy fruit to the support with a cloth or macramé sling. Or plant a few seeds in a container and let the vines wander over your balcony or trellis. A bit more information: Try planting one of the large picnic-type watermelons that can weigh 15 to 50 pounds. These are sure to get everyone in the family excited about growing and eating this, the largest edible fruit in the United States. Or perhaps you want to try one of the icebox melons that is much smaller at 5 to 15 pounds and easier to squeeze into the fridge. And don't forget about those with unique colored rinds and flesh and of course those that lack seeds. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com

Clematis Stem Wilt
Clematis Stem Wilt Your clematis looks beautiful until suddenly the stems and leaves start turning black. Though it looks bad your clematis will survive. The fungus that causes this disease enters your plant through wounds and cracks in the stem near ground level. Fortunately new growth arising below this point will be disease free. Reduce future problems by pruning out and destroying infested stems. Disinfect tools between cuts to reduce the risk of spreading this disease. As new growth emerges from the soil carefully secure it to the support to reduce the risk of cracking and damage. Eliminating the entryways for the fungus will reduce the risk of disease. In the future consider planting the crown of the clematis below the soil surface. This allows the plant to produce new shoots below the point of infection. Try growing small flowered clematis that tend to resist this disease. Alpina, macropetala and the viticella types are a few to consider. A bit more information: For a disease to occur you must have the causal organism (fungus, bacteria, virus) present, disease-promoting weather and susceptible plants. Remove one of these factors and you eliminate the disease. Keep this in mind when managing clematis stem wilt and other plant diseases in your garden. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com

I'm a fan, are you?
Who doesn't LOVE a good Roller Coaster? Am I right?! I've been so very lucky to been have rasied in the Midwest, a stones throw away from Six Flags Great America, where I practicaly spent my summers as kid with my best bud Edgar! Mom and dad would drop us off at open and pick us up at close. 10a-10p. Don't think I could handle that now. Heck, I could barley make it on one run of Batman The Ride Backwards! Yes, that's right, for a limited time this season, (BTW... I tried to find out when from officials, they wouldn't budge, so get there soon!) Batman The Ride will be running BACKWARDS!! MOBILE USERS: Click here to WATCH Van rides Batman: The Ride Backwards! www.SixFlags.com

NEW MUSIC: Safe & Sound
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Matt Nathanson AND Plain White T's coming to Festa!
YES! That headline is correct...Matt Nathanson AND the Plain White T's will be performing at Festa Italiana, Saturday night, July 20th and I have the honor of being your ON STAGE HOST!! I'm super stoked and looking forward to hanging with Platinum-selling singer-song writer Matt Nathanson, and Grammy-nominated Chicago-bred Plain White T's again! Check out the videos from both groups last visit to The Mix Studios: WATCH Matt Nathanson Interview and Performance. WATCH Plain White T's Interview and Performance.

Watch for and Prevent Borers on Trees and Shrubs
Extreme heat and cold, droughts and floods can leave our plants stressed and more susceptible to damaging borers. These insects are the immature stage of moths and beetles that feed under the bark and inside the stems of plants. Their feeding weakens and in some cases kills the plant. Many borers are opportunists, attacking already stressed trees. We can't control the weather but we can help reduce stress on our plants. Start by growing plants suited to the climate and growing conditions in your landscape. Mulch the area under and around the base of trees and shrubs. Organic mulches like wood chips keep the roots cool and moist and reduce competition from grass and weeds. Be sure to water new plantings thoroughly and as needed the first few years. And do the same for established trees and shrubs during extended drought. This will keep them healthy and help ward off borers. A bit more information: Incorporate trees and shrubs into perennial planting beds. You will create an attractive garden and better environment for the plants. Plus, planting beds as well as mulching will reduce the need for hand trimming and will keep weed whips and mowers away from the trunks of the trees. And don't pile soil or mulch over the stems of shrubs and the trunks of trees. These practices create entryways for pests and encourage disease problems. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com

Lawn Revival
If sparse, bare spots or lots of weeds describe your lawn, it is time for a little lawn revival. Start by evaluating the current state of your lawn. If more than 60% is bare or filled with weeds, it is time to start over. Look at this as an opportunity to properly prepare the soil, select a more drought tolerant lawn or convert it into a no mow or low maintenance lawn or planting bed. Overseed thin sparse lawns. Core aerate first or use a slit seeder to insure good seed-to-soil contact. For small bare spots use a lawn patch kit or make your own. Mix a handful of quality grass seed into a bucket of topsoil. Remove any dead grass and roughen the soil surface. Then sprinkle the commercial or homemade lawn patch over the prepared bare spot. Keep the soil moist until the grass seed begins to grow. A bit more information: Larger areas will benefit from the addition of organic matter into the top 6 inches of soil before sowing the grass seed or laying sod. Keep the soil moist until the sod has rooted into the soil below and the grass seed begins to grow. Consider overseeding the lawn to help create a more uniform appearance in the lawn. For more information, click here. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com