Hints from Heloise: Here's help for variety of houseplants
Dear Readers: Houseplants help make your home inviting while adding color with something green, which can be calming. Many plants act like little air purifiers without needing electricity. Here are some hints from experts on how to care for houseplants at home or in the office:
- When buying plants, make sure there are no bugs and that the overall plant is healthy, with good coloring and undamaged leaves.
- Choose plants depending on the light needed. Many plants thrive in low light as well as bright light. That's why I love ivy. You can hardly go wrong with it. I have a pot that is more than 35 years old, and I just keep trimming it back and it grows like all get-out.
- Keep plants in containers with drainage holes. This helps prevent root rot. Or put small pebbles in the bottom of the pot so that water does not set.
- Do not overwater. This can cause plant death. Put your finger into the soil about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. If it's dry, the plant needs watering. -- Heloise
Dear Heloise: I have lots of plastic grocery bags. A neighbor showed me how to fold them into small triangles. Straighten out the bag (Heloise here: especially the handles), fold in half with the handles at the top, then fold again in thirds.
Starting at the bottom, fold up, forming a triangle. When you get to the handles, wrap around and tuck in the pocket. All my bags fit in a small container. -- Diane H. in Nebraska
Dear Diane: Clever, and it keeps them from becoming a jumble of plastic. -- Heloise
Dear Heloise: I cut a thin strip of rubber-mesh shelf liner, use double-sided tape and stick it to the inside of my purse strap/handle. No more purse slipping off my shoulder. -- Linda E.
Send a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; Fax: (210) 435-6473 or send e-mail to Heloise@Heloise.com.