This is War!!!

Hello, Darlings

Well as you know, I recently got the white flies under control. The Cayenne Pepper spray does its job and the white flies have not returned. However, and to my dismays, the gnats are attempting to move in. This is happening whenever my husband, Stanley repeatedly opens and shuts the doors when he goes out and tends to the front and backyards. The little pests appear to lie in wait and then rush in when he opens the doors. Therefore, like with the solution for the white flies, I did some research and I found that a simple mix of peppermint oil (preferably 100% peppermint oil), and water works as a repellent for many in-house and garden pest.

Luckily, I happened to have a bottle of 100 % peppermint oil on hand. So I am now sharing with all you serious indoor hydroponic farmers this easy deterrent, and like the cayenne pepper spray, it is not a permanent solution, but when used as directed it works, making you and your plants happy.

😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

How to make and use 100% Peppermint Oil Spray For Gnats, Fruit Flies, Spider Mites and Other Household Pests

Ingredients

 

·         20 drops of 100% peppermint, if there is no dropper, this equals to 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon

·         15 drops or 1 tablespoon of dish soap.

·         a quart of water

 

Equipment

1.       a quart size spray bottle

 

 

Directions

1.       Place all ingredients into the spray bottle, add the nozzle and shake to mix

2.       With the spray nozzle turned to a fine mist, spray the entire house as well as around the windowsills, door frames and inside the cabinets.

3.       Repeat treatment every two to three weeks, especially in warm weather

 

According to what I read, the peppermint spray should be reapplied every two to three weeks as a preventive, and any food scraps, dead and rotten plant matter should be removed and the area cleansed.

 

Common Pests Repelled by Peppermint oil

 

1. Ants

Ants are one of the most common household pests that can be effectively deterred by peppermint. The strong scent of peppermint confuses ants and masks their pheromone trails, which they rely on to navigate to food sources. By disrupting their communication, peppermint can help keep these pesky insects at bay.

 

To use peppermint against ants, consider placing cotton balls soaked in peppermint essential oil near entry points or mixing several drops of peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and applying it around your home.

 

2. Spiders

Spiders are often uninvited guests in homes, particularly during colder months when they seek shelter indoors. Peppermint oil is known to repel various spider species due to its potent aroma. Many people report success in keeping spiders away by using peppermint oil sprays.

 

To create a spider-repellent solution, mix water with several drops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle and apply it around windowsills, door frames, and other potential entry points for spiders.

 

3. Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are notorious for ruining outdoor gatherings with their bites. Peppermint oil serves as a natural mosquito repellent due to its strong scent that masks the odors humans emit that attract these pests.

 

For personal protection, you can mix peppermint oil with a carrier oil (like coconut or olive oil) and apply it to your skin or diffuse it in outdoor spaces to keep mosquitoes at bay.

 

4. Cockroaches

Cockroaches are unwanted inhabitants of homes that pose health risks due to their ability to spread disease. The scent of peppermint is unpleasant for cockroaches and can deter them from nesting in your home.

 

To employ peppermint against cockroaches, combine equal parts water and peppermint oil in a spray bottle and target areas where cockroaches are commonly found, such as under sinks or behind appliances.

 

5. Fleas

Fleas can become a significant nuisance for pet owners and households alike. These tiny insects thrive on blood meals from animals and humans alike. The smell of peppermint is an effective deterrent against fleas.

 

To keep fleas at bay, you can create a flea-repellent spray using diluted peppermint essential oil and apply it onto pet bedding or areas where pets frequently roam.

 

6. Flies

Flies are attracted to decaying matter and food sources. They can be quite bothersome during warm months when they invade homes and outdoor spaces. The smell of peppermint is known to repel flies effectively.

 

To utilize peppermint for fly control, mix water with peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle and use it around open windows or near food preparation areas to discourage flies from entering.

 

7. Rats and Mice

While not strictly classified as pests in the same way as insects, mice can still create havoc within homes by chewing through wires and contaminating food supplies. The strong scent of peppermint can repel mice effectively.

 

To deter rats and mice naturally, place cotton balls soaked in peppermint essential oil in areas where you suspect mouse activity or around entry points like holes in walls or gaps under doors.

I hope you find this helpful. If so, click the link above to down a copy of this recipe.

Until next time,

 Keep Growing!!!

Too, Too Hot!!!

 

Hello, Darlings 

After monitoring the temperature in the sunroom with the curtains open, I have closed them up again.  The summer heat is much hotter than it was this time last year, and although natural sun light would be beneficial for the plants, at this time the sun and the heat it is producing would only make them suffer. In addition, the portable ac is running harder than it should, regardless of the three oscillating fans and free water I am getting from the condensation for the plants. However, I find, no matter how practical, placing a huge half barrel behind the ac to catch the condensation a little too much. 

Therefore, I will not be able to plant any of the seeds I chose for the three mini half barrels. I think perhaps late August or September might be a better time for fall planting and hopefully the weather will be cooler. I thought of trying to germinate the seeds without the sun and only the grow lights, but I rather wait until it is cooler, and let the grow lights act as supplemental lighting. I prefer this method for indoor plants grown in soil and containers. Whereas, with hydroponic plants, you just add the seed pod into the system's water tank and let it do the work under the grow lights.

In the means time, I will be learning about companion plants. I want to learn about  plants that grow well together and under the sane conditions and care, as well as those that are nature insect repellents and edible, like marigolds, nasturtiums and chrysanthemums, just to name a few.

Until next time,

    Keeping Growing!!!

A Widescreen Online Review Plus Article@2026

This is Personal!

 

Hello, Darlings

Whether you’re gardening outdoors or indoors, you will have to battle the pests that love to sh-t on, to chew on, or to juice the life out of your heartfelt cared for plants. Be they ornamental or edible, nature is not always on your side, and you’ll have to rescue your beloved plants, before they are no more.

Seriously, gardening and insects are fact of life. As I mentioned in a previous post, some of my hydroponic plants had become condominiums for white flies. I was getting upset about it because the store bought remedies appeared to act as a weekly shower. I mean, those flies were back within two to three days of me treating the plants against their invasion.

Well, tired and up to the point of despair, not quite, I did some research to find a more permanent solution for getting rid of the white flies. It had become personal. It was them or me, or all my beloved plants.

While it is not the nuclear incinerating, body smashing insect killing solution that I wanted, I found an old fashion remedy that is more effective than anything else I have tried.  All this being stated, below is the recipe for Cayenne Pepper Stray. This remedy was around long before my grandmother was born, but like most modern inventions, it has been nearly forgotten; however, I can tell you that when used as directed it really works and doesn’t harm the plants.

😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺

Cayenne Pepper Stray

Ingredients Needed

·         1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper powder

·         1 tablespoon garlic juice (optional)

·         1 quart of water

·         1 teaspoon of dish soap

·         A mixing bowl

·         A spray bottle

Mixing the Ingredients

·         Begin by adding the cayenne pepper to the water. Stir thoroughly until well combined. The pepper should dissolve as much as possible.

·         Next, incorporate the dish soap. This helps the mixture stick to the plants. Stir the mixture again to ensure even distribution.

Straining the Solution

·         Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Place it over a bowl or jug. Pour the cayenne solution slowly through it. This removes any solid particles. Solids can clog your spray bottle. Rinse the strainer afterward to remove residue.

·         Filling the Spray Bottle

·         Pour the strained liquid into a spray bottle. Use a funnel to avoid spills. Ensure the bottle is clean and free of any residues.

Proper Spraying Methods

·         When spraying, ensure that you cover both sides of the leaves. Pests often hide on the undersides, making it necessary to reach these areas

Frequency of Application

·         Consistency is important for pest control. Apply the spray every three days initially, and then once a week as a preventive measure.

Proper Storage Techniques

·         Store the solution in a cool, dark place. A cupboard or pantry is ideal. Exposure to sunlight reduces its potency. Always label the bottle with the date. This helps track the solution's freshness.

Check for Expiry

·         The cayenne spray is best used within a month. Discard any leftover after this period. Fresh solutions work best for plant protection

Reusing the Spray Bottle

Clean the spray bottle after use. Use warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and dry before refilling. This prevents mold and bacteria growth. Regular cleaning extends the life of your spray bottle.

To download this recipe click the link above  and log into your Gmail account. 

Until next time, 

     Keep Growing!!!

A Widescreen Online Review Plus Article@2026

My, Oh So, Mini Half Barrel Indoor Garden

 Hello, Darlings

I have decided to try indoor vegetable gardening in mini half barrels as the vegetables I want to grow are of the small/mini varieties.  

They are:

1. Korean Radishes – all year round

2. Scarlet Nantes carrots - all year round

3. Purple carrots – all year round

4. Purple Top White Globe Turnip Greens (for the root bulbs) – all year round

Since the Korean Radishes growing in one of the hydroponic towers have grown out stunted, I decided to add them as one of the vegetables for the mini half barrel garden.

To create my little soil based garden, I have set up three mini half barrels on the top of the white supply cabinet with two standing T8 grow light tubes, one placed on each end. These lights are supplements for the natural sunlight that comes in through the windows. I opened the curtains because it was about this time last year that I let the sunlight stream into the sunroom. Although, we are still suffering under the drought of the Indian Summer on the outside, maintaining the temperature in the sunroom has become easier.

My mini half barrels are cute and they were easy to set up. That is it for now, and I will keep you posted on the vegetables growth progress.

Until next time,

     Keep Growing!!!

A Widescreen Online Review Plus Article@2026

What is a bean?

 Hello, Darlings

My post today is about how my hydroponic grown green beans are measuring up to the store bought green beans I got some time ago. As you can see, my homegrown hydroponic Contender Green Beans on the left are equal to the store bought green beans on the right in size, which is great news. 

Although, I only picked a handful, because I was cleaning the beans’ hydroponic tower, these and the other I picked are now in the freezer. As for the store bought green beans, they always go into the freezer straight from the store, so I always have some around for cooking. 

As I stated in a previous post, the vegetables I grow are supplements for when we are running out on a particular vegetable, or when the store is out of them. Moreover, I have learned succession planting is the key to growing and storing a good supply of them. Much like the collard greens (another post) I grew for eight months, now I have enough of them for the remainder of the year.

Anyway, I am pleased with the growth of these green beans, and I will write a future post on how their taste measures up to those of the store bought ones.

Until next time,

         Keep Growing!!!!

A Widescreen Online Review Plus Article@2026

Whoa!!! We Got Radishes!

Hello, Darlings

I was amazed and happy when my Contender and Tendergreen bush beans appeared. Now I am simply ecstatic that my Korean radishes have grown.

To tell the truth, I thought the seeds failed to germinate, and while I was cleansing all the hydroponic towers this morning, I briefly thought of them with a little remorseful sign. However, this afternoon, I discovered them when I was trimming the green onions, and lo and behold when I lifted some turnip greens leaves to trim the onions, I saw that there were at least four white Korean radishes in the pods beneath them.

As the package states, these radishes come from are Gaeas Blessing Seeds company and you can buy them at Amazon, Walmart as well as Gaeas Blessing Seeds. They are a member of the daikon radish family, and they are milder than the usual red radishes and less gas forming.

The next time we have salad, I will post a review on these radishes taste and texture. In addition, when I germinate more seeds, I will use the larger pre-moisten grow pods, because these radishes are out growing the normal grow sponges and the plastic pods.

Until next time,

Keep Growing!

Yup! I Got Beans.

 Hello, Darlings

It's amazing! I got baby green beans. Since I put the Contender Bush Beans and Tendergreen Bush Beans in the hydroponic tower, I don’t know which bean plant is which. However, I am pleased that their blooms have developed green beans. and it looks like there are more too comes, so stay tuned.

Some are larger than the others because I seeded the smaller ones on a later date, but they will catch up. In the absences of nature pollinators, like bees and butterflies in the sunroom, I use a small oscillating fan set on low 24/7.

Until take time,

     Keep Growing!

A Widescreen Online Review Plus Article@2026

The Lemon Thyme Has Arrive!

 Hello, Darlings

This is a brief post to inform you that although growing common thyme was unsuccessful, my lemon thyme has grown tall and healthy as pictured below.

As with sweet basil, Thai basil, lemon basil, and mint, lemon thyme is great for cooked dishes, broil fish, salads, and my favorite, tea.

Until next time,

     Keep Growing!

Wow! Fred, Eight Years Later

 Hello, Darlings

Remember this rooftop twig that I potted back on November 19, 2020. 

Fred in 2019, a hurricane refugee
Bottom left

Meet Fred, the Oak Tree??? Nope, Fred The Indian Laurel.

Well as you know I have the habit of naming things, and so I named this plant Fred. Fred is an Indian Laurel tropical tree that is native to Taiwan, Australis and China. It made its first appearance in Florida in the early 20th century as an aesthetic landscape tree, and as you can see from Fred's rooftop beginnings, the tree is very adaptable and it grows well as an outdoor potted plant.  I am stressing outdoor because Fred is very susceptible to thrips, which you do not want in your house with your normal houseplants. I found that Sevin is the good treatment to control the thrips.

FRED  11.19.2021

Fred as an eight years old potted plants

Until next time,

     Keep Growing!

A Widescreen Online Review Plus Article@2026

Update 3: Put It in a Baggie!

 Good evening, Darlings

As you know I separated the tall seedlings of Contender and Tendergreen bush beans, from the seeds yet to germinate. However, since these young seedlings have not developed their true leave yet, I still needed to put them in an environment similar to the germination tray. Failing to come up with a suitable solution, I left them alone. Then later this afternoon, a light bulb lit up above my head, while I was dozing.

The solution was too simple. Place the germination tray into a two-gallon zip lock baggie. Zip up all but a three inch area at the top for ventilation, and voilà! an instant germination tent.

Until next time,

     Keep Growing!