Question# 1: I love to cook and grow many herbs to use in my dishes. I also love plants and would like to expand into growing some type of citrus tree indoors. Is this possible?
Answer #1: Growing citrus fruits indoors has been a pursuit since Victorian times. Many greenhouses can be attributed to that time period as they were introduced largely to grow this type of fruit. Having a greenhouse would be the best case scenario. Without one, you would need a full sun location where the plant would receive direct sunlight for part of the day. Ponderosa lemon, Meyer lemon, Persian lime and Calamondin orange can be container grown and are sold as hou
seplants. Plants like to be kept in a room where nighttime temperatures dip into the mid-fifty degrees F range and with relative humidity between 30-60%. When plants are stressed they become susceptible to scale insects and spider mites. Be on the lookout for these pests because they can be very damaging. Citrus plants need a slightly acidic pH so a peat based potting mixture works well. Allow the top inch or so of potting media to dry out between waterings. If the tree is in flower indoors you need to hand pollinate the flowers using a small paintbrush or a cotton swab. Do not fertilize from October until the end of February. Then use a fertilizer labeled for citrus fruits according to label directions. Prune the tree to shape it then move it outdoors after the danger of frost has past.
Question #2: My son’s fifth grade class is doing a project about composting. His teacher mentioned indoor year-round composting using special worms that eat kitchen waste. My son is now excited about trying this at home. I am not so happy about having worms in my kitchen. Can you tell me more about this?
Answer #2: Your son is learning about indoor composting with redworms, the term for this is vermicomposting. The species of redworms (Eisenia foetida) turns kitchen scraps into rich, plant-friendly compost that is valuable to all types of gardeners. It can actually be a fun project for kids and is not as messy as it sounds. The redworms are kept in a container, either plastic or wooden, that has plenty of air holes for air circulation. Moistened newspaper strips can be used as bedding. They will feast on coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable cores and peels. Redworms are content and will not try to escape as long as their container is not too wet inside, they are fed on a regular basis and kept in the dark. If you are interested in more information look for publication HG 40 Indoor Redworm Composting on the HGIC website.
Question #3: We have no pets in our home but yet my husband and I are being bitten by fleas. Where are they coming from and how are they getting into our house?
Answer#3: Most likely you have one or a few unwanted critters living in a crawl space, attic, an unused fireplace, or some other such area close to your home. The key to control is discovering where the animals are living and relocating them. Some pest management companies trap wildlife and there is a list of wildlife control cooperators on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website. After they are relocated, tightly seal up any entry points into your home.
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