Articles from January 2021

how to get rid of spider mites naturally

how to get rid of spider mites naturally

Plants require a series of care to stay healthy, grow and flourish. Depending on the type and origin, they will need to be in certain environmental conditions and perceive a series of risks, among many other things. Also, protecting them from the threat of diseases and pests such as aphids or spider mites is possible by taking preventive measures.

The spider mite is one of the most common and destructive pests on many plants. Therefore, it is convenient to know the best methods to prevent it from becoming a pest and keep it away from the plantations. To discover how to eliminate spider mites from plants, the most effective tricks to achieve it and how to get rid of spider mites naturally, we recommend that you continue reading this article about these small red spiders on plants.

How to get rid of spider mites naturally?

how to get rid of spider mites naturally

Knowing the symptoms of spider mites on plants is essential to detect them and act quickly. These tiny insects feed on the leaves and generate small spots on the plant surface with white or yellow spots and some discoloration.

The yellow spots are centered in the thickest veins of the leaves and the central part. If a few days pass and they are still present, the spider mites completely yellow the plant, which reduces its photosynthesis capacity because they lack chlorophyll.

At this point, the leaves will fall off and the plant will become so weak that it will eventually die. Therefore, it is essential to act simultaneously that you detect the presence of the red spider since the yellowish spots that it causes multiply at great speed.

Of course, you will also see tiny red spots, you can even see that they move a little, and as the days go by, you will see that they are larger and, probably, some fine cobwebs as well, which means that there are more of these parasites.

Sulfur to eliminate spider mites

Some fungicides contain sulfur, an effective chemical to eradicate red mites. Some with powdered sulfur can be applied with the dusting method, with ground sulfur. The use of sulfur to combat spider mites is common in many crops such as tomatoes, peppers, vines, and strawberries.

Potassium soap to eliminate spider mites

You can also go for products like potassium soap to eliminate spider mites. This resource contains the property of weakening parasitic organisms and in the end, they die. The application of potassium soap has many benefits, such as the following:

  • It does not intoxicate other insects, such as butterflies and bees, and does not damage the fruits.
    Protects the crop from toxic residues.
  • It is completely harmless for other animals and people. It does not endanger the health of the individual who applies it, nor that of pets, children or people around.
  • It is easily removed and biodegradable, so it does not negatively impact the environment.

Neem oil to kill spider mites

After applying potassium soap, neem oil is very helpful in eliminating flowering spider mites. It is a natural insecticide extracted from the fruits of the neem tree. In addition to fighting this mite, it also helps eliminate other pests, such as bed bugs, lice, and aphids.

Apply the neem oil to the spider mite plant one hour after using the potassium soap. This combination results in a very effective treatment to eliminate the spider mite from the plants and other possible parasites that you may not have seen yet, but that may have appeared because the plant was more vulnerable.

Garlic to combat spider mites

Don’t you know how to get rid of spider mites at home? Do you want to avoid the use of specific products and powerful chemicals? You can also protect your plants naturally with a product that is quite common in homes.

You just have to crush and dilute the garlic in water to apply it throughout the plant. Thus, it will act as a great defense against fungi, bacteria and insects. To use it comfortably, put the garlic solution in an aerosol or spray and always apply it when the sun has gone because if you wet the leaves and stems when the sun is out, they could burn.

Tobacco to eradicate the spider mite

Another of the home remedies for spider mites on plants is tobacco. You must follow these guidelines to correctly use tobacco to eliminate spider mites on plants:

  • Mix the tobacco (60 grams) with 1 liter of water. If you are going to use less quantity, consider the proportion, so if you are going to use 1/2 liter of water, you will have to add 30 grams of tobacco.
  • Add natural soap (10 grams if you are preparing a liter of water) to the mixture and stir to integrate everything.
  • Let it sit for 14 hours and then you can apply the mixture with a spray. It is recommended to use it once a week for approximately two months if the plague is severe or several pests.

Oak is incredible to build with

Oak is recognised as one of the most strongest and insulation woods that you can use. It has natural strength properties that set it apart from others. It has been the backbone of our Navy, in fact the HMS Victory has never been decommissioned so it can still see active service if need be!) where it was said it could resist direct hits from Cannonball fire, and it has been used in the building of our homes for supports like roof eaves.

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One of the most popular choices for the use of wood as a building material is with the construction of Oak Garages. Not only do they look amazingly stylish and full of heritage but they provided an excellent place to store the car as well.

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The thickness of Oak is what gives it the best properties for building. It is also excellent and begins to be treated with preservatives and paint that keep it looking rock solid and stop it from showing signs of decay and mould. Like many woods it has a natural resistance to this change. This is why you will see it in many stages of construction to do with support. For example it was always the go to wood for pit props and for railway sleepers. This is also why you see so many of the sleepers cropping up again in the garden for raised beds.

homemade baking soda air freshener

How to make homemade baking soda air freshener

There are many applications that sodium bicarbonate has in the cleaning and disinfection of the home. Still, perhaps you did not know that it is also an excellent ingredient to make effective and very cheap home air fresheners. Its absorption capacity makes bicarbonate the perfect base element to make your air freshener, ideal both for small spaces such as cabinets or drawers and for more open spaces such as a room.

If you want your house’s rooms to give off your favorite aroma, pay attention to the steps that we suggest in the following article, as we explain how to make homemade baking soda air freshener. Take note!

How to make homemade baking soda air freshener?

homemade baking soda air freshener

Steps to follow:

1
Take a glass jar that you have at home and wash it thoroughly so that no remains of its original content remain. A jar of jam or one that contained canned vegetables (peas, green beans, etc.) can go very well. Once clean, dry it completely.

2
Pour 3 large, heaping tablespoons of baking soda into the jar (about 70-90 grams). This is an approximate amount since it will always depend on the size of the bottle chosen. To give you an idea, the baking soda should take up 1/3 of the total capacity of the container you use to make this durable home air freshener.

3
Once the bicarbonate has been introduced, add 10-12 drops of the essential oil you like best. As a suggestion, lavender is great to place your air freshener inside a closet or on a shelf in the living room. The essential oil of citrus fruits such as lemon or that of aromatic plants such as basil, for example, leave a pleasant aroma in the kitchen. Simultaneously, if you prefer an air freshener for the bathroom, that of rosemary or eucalyptus is perfect for neutralizing the smell that they can dislodge sumps and pipes.

The bicarbonate will absorb bad odors and the oils will gradually release their pleasant perfume. Of course, keep in mind that the number of essential oil drops can be increased or reduced depending on whether you want a more or less intense aroma.

4
With the two ingredients in the jar, stir well with a spoon or rod for a few minutes so that the bicarbonate is diluted, soaks well and absorbs the essential oil you have chosen. With this little trick, the fragrance of the chosen oil will be released over the weeks.

5
To finish, you will have to close the container so that the aroma can come out well. The best option is to place a piece of cloth that is not very dense, like a sack (raffia, linen …) that gradually releases the aroma. Place it in the bottle’s opening and secure it with the help of a string or duct tape.

One trick to increase your air freshener’s effectiveness and intensity is to add some aromatic herbs or plants to the mix. Lavender, mint or basil leaves, rose petals … all these options give excellent results. With the jar closed, shake the inner mixture very carefully to not leak out of the container. Finally, you will only have to place your home air freshener where you consider it most necessary.

6
If your air freshener will be in a public place, you can also leave an aesthetically more beautiful bottle open with the mixture inside; Place some typical air freshener sticks in it and let it aromatize the whole place. Also, another option is to make natural air fresheners with baking soda in the form of a spray so that you can spread it throughout a room, cooling it immediately.

In this case, make your air freshener as we have indicated, that is, mixing the bicarbonate and essential oil in a glass container. When you have the mixture ready, do not close the container; Pour into a bottle or spray bottle until full.

7
Remember that the spray bottle you use has to be very clean, so whether it is new or you have used it previously, we recommend you wash it well with water and neutral soap and dry it completely before adding your air freshener mixture with bicarbonate.

8
To transfer the air freshener from the glass bottle to the spray bottle, it is best to use a funnel to do it safely and without wasting a drop.

Close the bottle and … voila! You will already have your home air freshener to give an extra touch of perfume to any room whenever you want.
Do you want to make a homemade baking soda air freshener even more easily? Substitute essential oils for a few drops of your fabric softener and prepare it as we have indicated.

Protect your Home from Christmas Burglars

It is the most wonderful time of the year once again and whilst we are all relaxing and looking forward to fun and merriment at Christmas, there are also people who are looking forward to it for less wholesome reasons – burglars.

Christmas is a favourite time for burglars to operate – it offers a lot of opportunity from the selection of gifts, like games consoles, Farah menswear from EJ Menswear, expensive jewellery and toys in our homes, to the dark evenings, it is particularly important to make sure you look after your home at this time of the year and be more vigilant when protecting it from burglaries.

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One of the best things that you can do is to install a home alarm system. This also works as a great deterrent that will help to prevent burglaries.

Don’t forget your car – never leave gifts and valuables in your car no matter how near your house it is, and if you have a garage use it to store your car in!

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It is also good to secure your garden as this is a popular route for burglars who have less chance of being spotted at the back of the house. High fences that are secure and spiky plants will keep your garden safer from intruders.

If you are going to be away around Christmas, make your home look as if someone is in. Get a neighbour to pop in ad out and also put lights on a timer.

How to deal with a smelly sink

Have you ever been washing your hands or perhaps loading up your sink and had an unpleasant smell rising up from your plughole? Unfortunately we have all been there at one point or another and it is not a nice experience. It is even more embarrassing if it is someone else who notices the aromas rising from your sink.

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There are a few reasons as to why your sink might be starting to smell and most often this is to do with a blockage that means that the water can not flow freely. Stagnant water is one of the worst culprits for creating unbearable smells. It can be incredibly difficult to find out what is causing your drain blockage and so using a Drainage Cleaning such as Wilkinson ENV is a good idea as it allows them to investigate and hopefully solve the problem for you.

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One of the best ways that you can help to prevent horrible odours from coming from your sink is to be mindful of what items you place in them and ensuring that fats, oils and hair do not get flushed down the drains. You can do this by thinking about using a mesh or catcher that is placed over your plughole to prevent food and other items from reaching the plughole. They are relatively easy to use and inexpensive, but they could save you lots of money in the future should they cause a large blockage in your pipes.

Composting in winter

Composting in winter for your Garden

Did you know that the practice of home composting is an activity that we can carry out throughout the year? In addition to producing an excellent natural fertilizer, we are helping to reduce between 40% and 60% of the waste sent to the landfill each day.

However, in winter it is important to take into account some special care to prevent low temperatures from affecting the task. Next, we share several details to consider to prevent the cold from stopping the compost maturation process.

Cut into small pieces

Chopping the materials into small pieces (between 2 and 5cm maximum) will favor the proliferation of microorganisms that participate in the decomposition process. If we have more microorganisms working, it will be easier to maintain the temperature of the compost pile.

Process and/or freeze

Processing and/or freezing food remains, before placing them in the compost bin, are alternatives to facilitate rapid degradation. By incorporating the elements in these states we will be helping nature to save a little time and, in this way, speed up the composting process.

Keep covered

Covering the compost bin is also a good idea. We can do it with thick canvas awnings, nylon blankets, and/or cardboard; in any case, we will be isolating the battery and protecting it from extreme temperatures.

Move the compost bin to a sheltered place

Another option is to move it to a more closed space (such as barbecue areas, laundry rooms, or covered galleries). As long as the space is ventilated and does not complicate the normal movement of the house, it can become the “seasonal location” until the temperatures are more “friendly”. Keep reading Preparing Your Garden for winter

Work with larger compost piles

The larger the compost pile, the better the chances of maintaining its interior temperature. During winter, the outer layers may freeze. However, these will function as an “insulator”, protecting the interior of the mixture where heat will be retained and the process will continue its normal course.

Small irrigations more frequently

By watering constantly (to keep it moist and not soggy!) We will be maximizing the work of the microorganisms. We must treat the compost as just another plant and take care that it does not lose its ideal humidity.

Intervene minimally

It is preferable not to mix or stir the pile too much during extreme winter since, each time we do this, the heat escapes. During the months of extreme cold, it is recommended to exercise a minimum intervention, just to verify that there is the air intake.

By following these tips – and having a little more patience when harvesting! – we can keep our compost bin active throughout the year.

During the low-temperature season, we can estimate between 5 and 7 months for complete maturation of the compost. If we are careful, we can have top quality compost to nourish our soils and plants when spring arrives!

LED ceiling lights

Modern LED Ceiling Lights Ideas: What is their use?

Ceilings are minimalist lighting elements designed for ceiling installation and whose purpose is to project onto any surface below. They are characterized by being extremely versatile, excellent for a multitude of uses throughout the home.

They can provide fill light and work surface lighting, they work well with a combination of other architectural and decorative accessories in layered lighting schemes.

LED ceiling lights

What are the different ceiling variations?

LED ceiling lights are now the norm. They can come as a fixed or directional downlight version. Some are also available with different beam widths that add additional flexibility: narrow, medium, or wide, and in some types the light can be dimmed. Keep reading 3 Simple and Healthy Habits You Can Adopt in 2021

What is the best place to put a ceiling?

They are generally used in bedrooms and bathrooms as a general lighting element. Due to their wide opening angle that can offer enough light to an entire room.

Ceilings are an excellent tool for adding atmosphere and drama to a room, this can be achieved by illuminating the center of a coffee or dining table using a narrow beam to set the focal point. This will provide a focus in the center of the room creating a more intimate setting.

Another good example is the kitchen, where work area lighting is important. Ceilings provide a perfect way to achieve this. As they can direct light specifically to the surface where you do most of the work.

Place them on a kitchen island and on your work surfaces. Alternatively, you can position them so that the light falls on the front of the cabinets so that it directly reflects what is below.

What are the advantages of installing ceiling tiles?

Because they are LED technology products, they consume less energy. It is estimated that consumption is 80% less than a traditional light bulb, which also makes them very durable.

They are also made of very resistant materials and in simple shapes that allow them to be combined with the environment in which they are placed, which makes them ideal for mixing them in any type of decoration.