Can someone post a recipe for a (preferably organic) drench to pour
through the pots of houseplants that have been outside all summer, to
prevent bringing wildlife into the house?

Would it also be suitable for spraying on the leaves for the same
purpose?

Thanks. vince norris

"vincent p. norris" wrote in message
...
Can someone post a recipe for a (preferably organic) drench to pour
through the pots of houseplants that have been outside all summer, to
prevent bringing wildlife into the house?

Would it also be suitable for spraying on the leaves for the same
purpose?

Thanks. vince norris

For anything living in the leaves, use a strong, fine spray from your garden
hose, being sure to spray from all angles as well as underneath. For
critters living in the soil, soak with a pyrethrin-based product, wait a
day, then flush with fresh water. I can't give you a specific brand name
because I don't do this because I don't use anything like that. Read the
label very carefully - IIRC, pyrethrin will kill fish and/or bees, so watch
where the stuff drains.

One hazard in soaking the soil is that there won't be enough light indoors
for the soil to dry. A plant that'll survive a soaking outdoors may suffer
from the extra moisture indoors.

"vincent p. norris" wrote in message
...
Can someone post a recipe for a (preferably organic) drench to pour
through the pots of houseplants that have been outside all summer, to
prevent bringing wildlife into the house?

Would it also be suitable for spraying on the leaves for the same
purpose?

Thanks. vince norris

I love the logic that, organic = good and chemicals = bad. It's people like
you that can be convinced that dihydrogen monoxide is too dangerous to be
allowed in our food.

There are plenty of things in nature that are incredibly toxic to humans and
the world. Hemlock, snake venom, nicotine, mercury, lead. to name a few.
What could possibly be on a potted plant and it's soil that would be so bad?
A few fungus gnats in the soil? aphids? mealy bugs?

It's not like you're going to accidentally transport a rodent or something
hiding in the pot. Visually inspect the pot, see what's on it, treat
accordingly.


-S

vincent p. norris wrote:
Can someone post a recipe for a (preferably organic) drench to pour
through the pots of houseplants that have been outside all summer, to
prevent bringing wildlife into the house?

Would it also be suitable for spraying on the leaves for the same
purpose?

Thanks. vince norris


Don't sweat it; you're not likely to bring anything bad into the house.
If they are OK outside, they'll be OK inside. We bring our
semi-torpicals in from outside every fall, and haven't had any serious
problems - well, maybe fruit flies are serious, my wife ceratinly thinks
so, but I don't. Besides, they usually come in with the bananas. :-)
Bring the pots in, and watch for insect infestation. Treat accordingly
(NB that pyrethrum is bad stuff, and the artificial pesticides made from
it or mimicking its chemistry are about the same.)

HTH

"Wolf Kirchmeir" wrote in message
.. .
vincent p. norris wrote:
Can someone post a recipe for a (preferably organic) drench to pour
through the pots of houseplants that have been outside all summer, to
prevent bringing wildlife into the house?

Would it also be suitable for spraying on the leaves for the same
purpose?

Thanks. vince norris


Don't sweat it; you're not likely to bring anything bad into the house. If
they are OK outside, they'll be OK inside. We bring our semi-torpicals in
from outside every fall, and haven't had any serious problems - well,
maybe fruit flies are serious, my wife ceratinly thinks so, but I don't.
Besides, they usually come in with the bananas. :-) Bring the pots in, and
watch for insect infestation. Treat accordingly (NB that pyrethrum is bad
stuff, and the artificial pesticides made from it or mimicking its
chemistry are about the same.)

HTH

How do you get rid of the GIANT spiders who have set up housekeeping in and
around the plant? In Indiana I've actually seen spiders you could put a
saddle on and I don't want them in my house. They don't have to *DIE*, they
just need to move. Do you tack an eviction notice to the pot and wait 30
days?

"de Fragile Warrior Sports Supplies" wrote in message
...

"Wolf Kirchmeir" wrote in message
.. .
vincent p. norris wrote:
Can someone post a recipe for a (preferably organic) drench to pour
through the pots of houseplants that have been outside all summer, to
prevent bringing wildlife into the house?

Would it also be suitable for spraying on the leaves for the same
purpose?

Thanks. vince norris


Don't sweat it; you're not likely to bring anything bad into the house.
If they are OK outside, they'll be OK inside. We bring our semi-torpicals
in from outside every fall, and haven't had any serious problems - well,
maybe fruit flies are serious, my wife ceratinly thinks so, but I don't.
Besides, they usually come in with the bananas. :-) Bring the pots in,
and watch for insect infestation. Treat accordingly (NB that pyrethrum is
bad stuff, and the artificial pesticides made from it or mimicking its
chemistry are about the same.)

HTH

How do you get rid of the GIANT spiders who have set up housekeeping in
and around the plant? In Indiana I've actually seen spiders you could put
a saddle on and I don't want them in my house. They don't have to *DIE*,
they just need to move. Do you tack an eviction notice to the pot and
wait 30 days?


Hose, sprayer. End of story.

"vincent p. norris" wrote in message
...
I love the logic that, organic = good and chemicals = bad

I didn't say that; YOU did.

There are plenty of things in nature that are incredibly toxic to humans
and
the world. Hemlock, snake venom, nicotine, mercury, lead. to name a few.

I'm as aware of that as you are; don't be so quick to jump to
conclusions. One toxic substance you failed to mention is bitchy
people.

What could possibly be on a potted plant and it's soil...

As long as we're being critical, learn to punctuate properly.

.... that would be so bad?

A few fungus gnats in the soil? aphids? mealy bugs?

I'd rather not bring them in the house.

"Organic" was my shorthand for something like a liquid made by
steeping garlic or hot peppers in "dihydrogen monoxide" that would
persuade insects to find a home elsewhere, and would not emit noxious
fumes when brought into the house.

vince norris

To eliminate unseen stuff in the soil, you'd want to pour a garlic or pepper
solution through the soil. You might be surprised at how nasty that stuff
can smell a week later when it's failed to dry. I made some of this and put
it in a sprayer back in April. A month later, it had spoiled, and smelled
atrocious. I was afraid to use it on leafy greens for fear it wouldn't wash
off completely.

I love the logic that, organic = good and chemicals = bad

I didn't say that; YOU did.

There are plenty of things in nature that are incredibly toxic to humans and
the world. Hemlock, snake venom, nicotine, mercury, lead. to name a few.

I'm as aware of that as you are; don't be so quick to jump to
conclusions. One toxic substance you failed to mention is bitchy
people.

What could possibly be on a potted plant and it's soil...

As long as we're being critical, learn to punctuate properly.

.... that would be so bad?

A few fungus gnats in the soil? aphids? mealy bugs?

I'd rather not bring them in the house.

"Organic" was my shorthand for something like a liquid made by
steeping garlic or hot peppers in "dihydrogen monoxide" that would
persuade insects to find a home elsewhere, and would not emit noxious
fumes when brought into the house.

vince norris

de Fragile Warrior Sports Supplies wrote:
"Wolf Kirchmeir" wrote in message
.. .

vincent p. norris wrote:

Can someone post a recipe for a (preferably organic) drench to pour
through the pots of houseplants that have been outside all summer, to
prevent bringing wildlife into the house?

Would it also be suitable for spraying on the leaves for the same
purpose?

Thanks. vince norris


Don't sweat it; you're not likely to bring anything bad into the house. If
they are OK outside, they'll be OK inside. We bring our semi-torpicals in
from outside every fall, and haven't had any serious problems - well,
maybe fruit flies are serious, my wife ceratinly thinks so, but I don't.
Besides, they usually come in with the bananas. :-) Bring the pots in, and
watch for insect infestation. Treat accordingly (NB that pyrethrum is bad
stuff, and the artificial pesticides made from it or mimicking its
chemistry are about the same.)

HTH


How do you get rid of the GIANT spiders who have set up housekeeping in and
around the plant? In Indiana I've actually seen spiders you could put a
saddle on and I don't want them in my house. They don't have to *DIE*, they
just need to move. Do you tack an eviction notice to the pot and wait 30
days?




We kill 'em. There are more than enough spiders in the world.

"Wolf Kirchmeir" wrote in message
.. .
de Fragile Warrior Sports Supplies wrote:
"Wolf Kirchmeir" wrote in message
.. .

vincent p. norris wrote:

Can someone post a recipe for a (preferably organic) drench to pour
through the pots of houseplants that have been outside all summer, to
prevent bringing wildlife into the house?

Would it also be suitable for spraying on the leaves for the same
purpose?

Thanks. vince norris


Don't sweat it; you're not likely to bring anything bad into the house.
If they are OK outside, they'll be OK inside. We bring our semi-torpicals
in from outside every fall, and haven't had any serious problems - well,
maybe fruit flies are serious, my wife ceratinly thinks so, but I don't.
Besides, they usually come in with the bananas. :-) Bring the pots in,
and watch for insect infestation. Treat accordingly (NB that pyrethrum is
bad stuff, and the artificial pesticides made from it or mimicking its
chemistry are about the same.)

HTH


How do you get rid of the GIANT spiders who have set up housekeeping in
and around the plant? In Indiana I've actually seen spiders you could
put a saddle on and I don't want them in my house. They don't have to
*DIE*, they just need to move. Do you tack an eviction notice to the pot
and wait 30 days?


We kill 'em. There are more than enough spiders in the world.


They give me the willies. I'd rather not go within 20' of them.

BTW, in reply to a previous post, the spiders here laugh at a hose and
sprayer. LAUGH, I tell you. They just hunker down and wait. Then they
come back out and eat one of your cats just to teach you a lesson.

To eliminate unseen stuff in the soil, you'd want to pour a garlic or pepper
solution through the soil. You might be surprised at how nasty that stuff
can smell a week later when it's failed to dry.

Thanks for your two responses. I'll do the garlic solution a day or
two before bringing the plants in, to allow the soil time to dry out a
bit.

vince norris

"vincent p. norris" wrote in message
...
To eliminate unseen stuff in the soil, you'd want to pour a garlic or
pepper
solution through the soil. You might be surprised at how nasty that stuff
can smell a week later when it's failed to dry.

Thanks for your two responses. I'll do the garlic solution a day or
two before bringing the plants in, to allow the soil time to dry out a
bit.

vince norris

Can I please hire someone with a baseball bat and a good swing to kill the
spider living in my 30 year old Christmas Cactus, please?