Powdery mildew on a lilac Famartin How Can I Get Rid Of Powdery Mildew on My Lilacs? "Can you please tell me the best ways to get rid of lilac mildew? Thanks!"—Scott Dealing With Powdery Mildew If your lilac has mildew problems, you are most likely dealing with powdery mildew. Thankfully, this common fungus is not fatal, but there are several natural ways to deal with it. Start by pruning away diseased foliage, and remove 1/3 of the oldest stems annually to open up the plant. It is also important to make sure your lilacs have enough space, so make sure they are not crowded by other plants or s ..read more

The Oraimo spin scrubber Walter Shillington House Cleaning My house cleaning routine is best described as slovenly, and, over time, the accumulated dust has slowly transmuted to dirt and grime. Only my floors, thanks to the efforts of my dutiful robotic vacuum, can be considered respectable. I have no excuse. I’m a lazy man who lives alone and would rather spend his free time playing computer games. Today, I am reviewing an inexpensive motorized scrubber that promises to handle a variety of cleaning tasks quickly and relatively effortlessly. If this is true, I might be able to free up enough ..read more

A crocus blooming in the spring Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash What Is the Best Way to Store By Flower Bulbs? "How do I store used bulbs for future planting? The bulbs are still in the ground at the moment."—Robert Storing Bulbs, Corms, Tubers, and Rhizomes If your winters are too cold (or even if they are really hot) you can dig up your bulbs and store them until the weather is more to the bulb’s liking. In most cases, flowering bulbs can be stored much like the potatoes from your garden. Once the foliage has died back, carefully dig up your bulbs. Leave them in a warm, well-ventilated are ..read more

Can cracked pottery be repaired? Photo by vintageyellow42 via eBay Is There a Way to Fix Cracked Pottery? "I recently acquired a Frankoma water pitcher and six-mug set. We noticed, during the second use, that a few mugs were leaking. Then, after a night of holding water, the handle fell off the pitcher. Is there a way to strengthen old pottery? What recommendations do you have for gluing the handle back on and possibly giving everything a food-grade seal?"—Andrea Cracked Pottery Can Be Repaired The allure of vintage pottery lies not only in its aesthetic charm but also in the stories it carrie ..read more

What product removes wax from furniture? Photo by Darkday, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr How do you remove wax buildup from wood furniture? "I have my grandparents' old dining room furniture. There are no major scratches or damage, but the pieces have a lot of wax build-up. How do I remove the wax, and what would you use? Also, what can I use to make the drawers slide out easier?"—Pam Restore Shine to Old Wood Furniture Years of wax and furniture "polish" buildup can leave lovely wooden furniture looking dull and shabby. But don't chuck your dining set to the curb! The wonderful thing about wood is th ..read more

Getting ready to bring houseplants indoors Photo by Janelle Hiroshige on Unsplash How Do I Bring My Houseplants Indoors Without Bugs? "I put some of my houseplants outdoors for the summer. How do I prepare them to come inside without bugs?"—Kit Controlling Insects on Houseplants Before Bringing Them Indoors When it comes time to bring your houseplants indoors, it is a very good idea to make sure they do not bring bugs inside with them. Some great methods to debug houseplants include soaking the plant in soapy water (see below for which kind of soap to use), hand washing the leaves, blasting bu ..read more

LED lighting offers countless benefits for houseplants.What Is the Best Grow Light for My Houseplants? "I have about 30 houseplants I just brought back in. We have, at best, fair natural light in the cold months. I think I need to use grow lights this year, but it would be a first. To me, plants are mostly just things that don't bloom. I have no idea what type of light I need to use. Some are as short as 6 inches, some are as tall as I am. So what do I need to go for?"—Denise Simple and Effective LED Grow Lights for Houseplants If you are looking to provide supplemental lighting to such a wide ..read more

Peonies are beautiful but can be marred by issues. Photo by Margarita Eliseeva on Unsplash Why Are My Peonies Turning Black? It is late August in northern Michigan. With our wet October, my peonies are turning so black. Is there anything I should be doing? Fungi and Other Issues That Turn Peonies Black It seems like you are dealing with a fungal infection. Thankfully, these issues are rarely fatal the first year, and your plants will probably come back healthy next year with a bit of maintenance. However, several years of infection can weaken and kill your plants, so it is best to nip things i ..read more

A beautiful crown of thorns Photo by Rakib Bin Aziz on Unsplash What Is Wrong With My Crown of Thorns? "My indoor crown of thorns has been suffering in the past year and needs help! I've tried decreasing watering, increasing watering, repotting (still with cacti soil), and feeding with cacti plant food. It sits in a south-facing window. Only use distilled water. Any suggestions?"—Karen Caring for Your Crown of Thorns It is very frustrating when our plants are suffering, especially when we have tried everything, and it seems you have done everything right, but still your plant isn’t thriving. Y ..read more

Caring for your painted-leaf begonia adds a spark of color to any interior. ignartonosbg Rex Begonia Care and Propagation Guide Painted-leaf begonias, also known as Begonia rex, rex begonia, or king begonias, are among the most resilient indoor plants. The beauty of these perennials will amaze growers; they are one of the prettiest houseplants. In an array of colors, such as pink, red, silver, purple, and white, begonias exhibit impressive foliage. The leaves display patterns around their edges, adding fun and decoration indoors. When given optimal living conditions, their wing-shaped leaves c ..read more