When repotting house plants that have become root bound, only go up one pot size.  A plant potted in an over-large container will keel over, or worse, the soil may become waterlogged, as the plant will not need the supply of water the container will hold.   Worst of all, the roots may become damaged, and a rot may settle in.

Always use pots with drainage holes, The holes allow excess water to drain out and help aerate the roots. Jean T, Longbranch

Change water daily in your fresh cut flowers to give them longer life. - Lorraine, Topeka

Avoid watering plants with "softened" water, which contains sodium.  Sodium can disperse the soil and breakdown soil structure, making it difficult for the roots to take up nutrients & oxygen.  Hard water contains calcium & Magnesium, which help build soil structure so nutrients can be held in the soil and taken up by the plant.

More plants die from improper watering than any other cause, and over watering is the culprit more often than under watering.  Too much water coupled with poor drainage forces roots to sit in water, suffocate, and rot. J.S, Colo. Springs, CO.

Pinching - use your thumb and forefinger to remove the young tip growth of a stem.   This simple operation forces the plant to branch out below the pinch and become fuller and bushier.  G.jANSEN@netins.net

Check the Acidity and Alkalinity in the soil of your house plants, with a test strip.   PH should be 6.5 - 7.  High Alkaline soil causes a plant to lose leaf color and will stunt its growth. High Acid soil produces wilting and dropping leaves.   --Katie Wuebker

Cleaning - Plant foliage must be cleaned occasionally to rid the plant of insects, eggs, and mites.  Cleaning also clears the stomata (openings on the underside of the leaf) of dust and other particles, allowing the intake and release of gases, and allows the maximum amount of light to reach the plant.  Another flower fanatic - Allisa B.

Cut rose stems underwater at a sharp angle to get longer life.  You can also revive a rose when the head droops by cutting the stem under hot water while holding the head upright.  Hold stem in hot water for approximately 45 seconds, until the water reaches the head. Lola (Flower Garden)

Dividing Plants...When a plant looks overcrowded or cramped, it's time to divide (generally every three to five years). Remember: If a plant blooms in the spring, divide in the fall: if it blooms in late summer or fall, divide in the spring (midsummer-blooming plants should be divided in early spring).

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