The Effects of Sugar on Flowers

January 12th, 2012
    • Once cut, most flowers benefit from a sugar solution in their water. Design Pics/Valueline/Getty Images

      When you buy cut flowers at the grocery or florist, it is likely they have been treated with a flower food that contains sugar. Although flowers in the garden with intact root systems cannot use sugar as a nutrient, cut flowers can take it up through their open stems.

      If you cut your own flowers or buy them at a farmers market, you may want to use sugar in their water. Sugar has several effects on cut flowers.

    Sugar Provides Nutrients

    • Use a teaspoon of sugar for each quart of water. cristal-glass sugar-bowl and white sugar image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com

      Once they're cut and brought inside, flowers can't get their food from the sun. This is because of the low levels of light in most indoor rooms and also because we usually remove most or all of the leaves on cut flowers. The University of Massachusetts Extension office recommends using a teaspoon of sugar for each quart of water used for cut flowers. The optimal amount may vary according to the flower. Gladiolas may require more sugar, while zinnias may require less. Roses and hydrangeas may not thrive at all unless sugar is provided in their water.

    Sugar Benefits

    • Buds will continue to bloom if they are provided with sugar. flower bud image by wang dongmei from Fotolia.com

      For the longest possible vase life, flowers are often cut before they are in full bloom. This limits the unpredictable effects of wind and weather on the exposed leaves of mature flowers. Sugar allows the flower to continue developing once they have been cut.

    Affects of Bacteria

    • Use a few drops of bleach in the water for cut flowers. medicine dropper image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com

      When a flower is cut, bacteria immediately start forming around its stem end, which has become accessible because of the break in the plant's natural protective barrier. According to the University of California (Davis) Department of Horticulture, the stem should be cut again to eliminate the bacteria. Sugar in the water provides encouragement to new bacteria and accelerates their growth. To retard bacterial growth, always use a few drops of chlorine bleach as well as sugar in the water for cut flowers.

How to Rid Your Home of Cockroaches

November 29th, 2011
How to Rid Your Home of Cockroaches

Cockroaches can transmit bacterial diseases and hepatitis virus and have been known to spread dysentery and typhoid fever. Many people are allergic to them.

Difficulty:
Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

  • Growth Regulating Insecticides
  • Insecticides
  • Pesticides
  • Sugars
  • Baking Soda
  • HEPA Vacuums
  • Lidded Metal And Glass Containers
  • Caulks
  • Pipe Insulation
    • 1

      Eliminate sources of food and water. Store food in tightly sealed metal, glass or hard plastic containers. Remove trash from kitchens promptly, and place in containers with tight-fitting lids. Repair any plumbing leaks in or under your home. Place pet water bowls in a pan of soapy water at night.

    • 2

      Vacuum all corners to remove tiny food crumbs. If anyone in the house is allergic to roaches, be sure that your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter.

    • 3

      Prune plants away from vents near your home's foundation where roaches can creep in. Remove piles of debris.

    • 4

      Caulk cracks and crevices wherever possible, both inside and outside.

    • 5

      Check furniture and appliances that have been in storage for egg cases.

    • 6

      Consider insecticide only if you must; cockroaches learn very quickly to avoid fast-acting insecticides such as insecticide spray. If you must use an insecticide indoors, dust a slow-acting one such as boric acid under cupboards and into cracks and corners. Remember that boric acid is permanently ineffective once it becomes damp.

    • 7

      Use baits and sticky traps as effective alternatives to spraying indoors. Add insect-growth regulators to baits to increase their effectiveness. Look for them where insecticides are sold.

Tips & Warnings

  • Tropical in origin, cockroaches require humidity and warmth as well as a food source. They prefer to live in cracks and tight crevices and are nocturnal. Bathrooms and kitchens are favorite haunts.

  • Avoid the use of aerosol foggers. These can make the problem worse by dispersing the cockroaches over a wider area.

Information on the Detox Foods Diet

November 16th, 2011
Information on the Detox Foods Diet

Most detox diets last from five to seven days. Besides limiting your food intake and consuming a variety of nutritional supplements, detox diets may also include a regimen for cleansing the bowel and colon through the use of over-the-counter medications.

  1. Features

    • Detox diets require the elimination of all animal products. meat image by Svetlana Kashkina from Fotolia.com

      Most detox diets require you to eliminate all meat and dairy products buy brand viagra (sildenafil) online with no prescription. This includes eggs and fish, shellfish, cheese, butter and fats. Detox diets also call for the elimination of all sweeteners, including sugar, corn syrup and artificial sweeteners. Alcohol, caffeine and tobacco are also eliminated throughout the detox period.

    Function

    • Raw fruits and vegetables are encouraged on detox diet plans. fruit image by Leonie Pratt from Fotolia.com

      While on a detox diet, foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts and legumes are encouraged. Decaffeinated teas and detox broths made of cooked vegetables are also consumed. Whole-grain products, such as brown or wild rice, oatmeal and buckwheat are eaten throughout the diet. This strict regimen dramatically reduces the amount of calories a person consumes in a day. The addition of 6 to 8 eight-ounce glasses of water every day helps to suppress the appetite.

    Recommendations

    • In addition to dietary recommendations, detox diets often suggest an increase in light exercise. Yoga and stretching exercises are recommended throughout the diet. Nutritional supplements are often used as a part of a detox diet plan. In addition to multivitamin supplements, dandelion root or whey protein is often consumed while on a detox diet. Colon and bowel cleansing routines may consist of enemas or doses of bentonite clay.

    Expert Insight

    • According to the University of Southern California, the premise behind detox diets is contrary to scientific consensus and medical evidence. Roger Clemens, Dr.P.H., adjunct professor of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences at the USC School of Pharmacy, says "Humans have been endowed with extraordinary systems for eliminating waste and regulating body chemistry." He further states that while many people have been persuaded to believe that detox diets are good for them, the truth is that they can be very harmful to overall health.