Test-Houseplants-5 chapters

4. How To Water Houseplants

Second to light, water is the most important resource you provide for houseplants. Many plant-owners err on the side of giving their plants too much water, which leaves them oversaturated and prone to rot.
For this reason, it’s essential to determine how much water each plant variety requires. This lets you meet their needs without exceeding them and causing problems.
So how much should you water? There are lots of variables to pay attention to when deciding. These include the following:
– How much light exposure the plant gets (lots of light dries out the soil faster)
– the room’s relative humidity
– The size of the pot (larger pots hold water longer)
– The type of potting soil
– The time of year (plants require less water in colder weather when growth is slower)
And more!
How Much to Water?
Every plant variety will have different water requirements. Research the variety, and you should get clear guidelines for the best frequency.
As a general rule, tropical plants need frequent watering, along with misting on their leaves. In contrast, cacti and other plants from arid regions can have their soil dry out entirely between watering sessions.
It’s usually a good idea to let the soil dry out between watering sessions. Use your finger to test the moisture level an inch or two into the soil. If it comes out dry, it’s likely time to water again.
Note: If your planting soil stays waterlogged for days after watering, the problem might be the pot. Consider switching to one with better drainage.
Can I water with tap water?
There’s no easy answer to that question. In most cases, tap water is fine. However, sometimes it is softened with salts, which can build up in the soil and cause problems. And, while chlorine isn’t necessarily a concern, it’s usually better to avoid it.
If possible, try to water houseplants with filtered water or rainwater. Consider collecting some in a rain barrel to have on hand.
No matter the water source, you need to pay attention to its temperature. Use room-temperature water as much as possible so the plant isn’t shocked at exposure.

Insect Description-Content Creation

Trends

Insect Description-Content Creation

 
Insect Description – Content Creation
V.1.0.0-20220420
What's this content for?
 
This writing task is to draw the first impression of a specific insect or spider to the audience. Try to narrow the distance between unfamiliar insects and spiders and people, reducing alienation.
 
This section is the first section directly talking about the characters of the insect and spiders, so it is a “first impression” section. Interesting is in the first place, making an impressive and unique impression of the target insect is the key.
 
Daily usage or industrial value is encouraged, which is easy to echo the audiences’ memory of this insect. Reduce entomological description and measurement of insects unless it is characteristic.
Requirement
1. General Requirements:
  • Word Count: Each description should consist of around 50 words.
  • Avoid Formulaic Expression: Try to change the choice of content and expression appropriately, preventing similar content with a similar structure from appearing repeatedly within one working set. Overly formulaic content (>50% content is written in the same form) will be rejected.
  • Avoid simple listing: including but not limited to geographical distribution and habitat. Try to use generalized terms, e. g., we should use “Northeast Asia” instead of “Japan, Korea, Inner Mongolia, and Russian Far East”. A simple listing of more than 3 items (countries, habitats) at one time is NOT ALLOWED.
  • Interesting: Each description should consist of 3 or more facts in different directions. Some facts are considered to be interesting (Goto section 2. what is an interesting fact?), try to include as much as possible.
  • Specific: Try to find the most characteristic facts about insects to build the descriptions. Avoid general information that lacks distinctiveness.
  • Balanced: Do not let any single fact take up too much space in one description.
2. What is an Interesting Fact?
2.1. Facts that are related to our daily lives or importance to ecosystems are considered interesting (Dos):
 
  • Practical uses like food, textiles, dyestuffs, etc.;
  • Symbolic uses in art, music, literature, etc.;
  • Ornamental use, raising as pets or making decorative specimens;
  • Name story;
  • Most …. (world records in any direction)
  • Notable habits for amateurs; (like some butterflies preferred to gather around puddles, larvae of scarabs walk on their backs, etc.)
  • Preferred habitats and host plants, a.k.a. “where can you find them”;
  • Harm to human/pet health, garden plants, crops, pastures, etc.;
  • Importance to the local ecosystem; (pest control, food source for important species, pollinator, etc.)
  • Invasive insects that threaten local ecosystem and biodiversity.
2.2. These facts are considered NOT interesting (Not Suggested):
 
  • Simply mention the place of origin (only in some limited conditions will it be considered as interesting, such as when it is highly invasive and you are chasing its origin; or declare the usage in a native garden, etc.)
  • Morphological description and measurements. (unless it is very uncommon in the plant world, or directly related to its usage.)
2.3. Do not mention these pieces of information (Don'ts)
 
  • Scientific synonym, alternative common name. These names are listed in our system in another section, please DO NOT mention them unless there’s an interesting name story behind it.
  • Taxonomy information is neither interesting to common readers nor can it be wrong (because of the taxonomy system that has changed frequently recently), please DO NOT mention it here.
Special Attentions
 
  • Use common names instead of Latin names whenever possible
  • Italicize any Latin words that appear (e.g., genus names, etc.)
Sample Descriptions
 
Danaus plexippus (monarch butterfly)
 
  • Monarch butterfly is considered to be one of the most familiar butterflies in North America. The name “monarch” is believed to be dedicated to King William III of England, Prince of Orange, for its coloration. The eastern population is known for its annual migration between Northern US and Mexico. To attract Monarch butterflies, “butterfly gardens” are widely built in US homes.

PF-2 CD-5 CD-4

After fruit set，fruits that grow too densely will compete with each other for nutrients. Poorly developed fruits need to be pruned to allow the plant to provide sufficient nutrients to fruit production. Inadequate pruning could lead to the fruit dropping, or an overall failure of the fruit to mature.

After the plant starts dormant, remove all the dead parts off the ground.

If the leaves turn yellow and diseased during the plant growing, it is necessary to prune the yellowed and aged leaves from the bottom, and cut the parts of the leaves that are infected with the bacteria. This can effectively reduce the infection of bacteria. Try not to trim more than 1/4 of the total number of leaves to avoid affecting plant growth.

PF-2
CD-4

After fruit set，fruits that grow too densely will compete with each other for nutrients. Poorly developed fruits need to be pruned to allow the plant to provide sufficient nutrients to fruit production. Inadequate pruning could lead to the fruit dropping, or an overall failure of the fruit to mature.

If the leaves turn yellow and diseased during the plant growing, it is necessary to prune the yellowed and aged leaves from the bottom, and cut the parts of the leaves that are infected with the bacteria. This can effectively reduce the infection of bacteria. Try not to trim more than 1/4 of the total number of leaves to avoid affecting plant growth.

PF-1
CD-4
CD-5

Prune _COMMON_NAME_ after the fruit matures by cutting off the stem and the leaves above the second-largest leaf at the top of each branch. This can stop the plant’s stems and leaves from continuing to grow, reducing upward growth and promoting reproductive growth. Flowers or fruits that grow too densely will compete with each other for nutrients. Poorly developed flowers and small-sized fruits need to be pruned to allow the plant to provide sufficient nutrients to fruit production. Inadequate pruning could lead to the fruit dropping, or an overall failure of the fruit to mature.

If the leaves turn yellow and diseased during the plant growing, it is necessary to prune the yellowed and aged leaves from the bottom, and cut the parts of the leaves that are infected with the bacteria. This can effectively reduce the infection of bacteria. Try not to trim more than 1/4 of the total number of leaves to avoid affecting plant growth.

After the plant starts dormant, remove all the dead parts off the ground.

PF-1
CD-4

Prune _COMMON_NAME_ after the fruit matures by cutting off the stem and the leaves above the second-largest leaf at the top of each branch. This can stop the plant’s stems and leaves from continuing to grow, reducing upward growth and promoting reproductive growth. Flowers or fruits that grow too densely will compete with each other for nutrients. Poorly developed flowers and small-sized fruits need to be pruned to allow the plant to provide sufficient nutrients to fruit production. Inadequate pruning could lead to the fruit dropping, or an overall failure of the fruit to mature.

If the leaves turn yellow and diseased during the plant growing, it is necessary to prune the yellowed and aged leaves from the bottom, and cut the parts of the leaves that are infected with the bacteria. This can effectively reduce the infection of bacteria. Try not to trim more than 1/4 of the total number of leaves to avoid affecting plant growth.