Toxic Summary and Quick Questions

Toxic Summary and Quick Questions – Content Creation

v.2.1.0-20211125

Writing Guide: https://article.picturethisai.com/writing-guide/

What's this content for?

In this writing task, a list of plants that are supposed to be toxic will be given. You are supposed to write a short summary to tell our readers about their harm to humans and generate two questions that people may ask.

We desire a simple and accurate description. In some cases, plants are “partially” toxic even they are wildly eaten. We should arrange our words, neither ignore its toxicity nor cause misunderstanding and panic.

Requirement for Toxic Summary

1. General Requirements:

Word Count: around 100 words. (For Japanese or Korean, 200 characters, for Chinese 160 characters.) It is ok to run slightly longer if all the information is important.
Talk about Information on Toxic to Human Only: General information on this plant and its harm to animals or environments will be presented in other sections, please focus on the toxic side here.
Make sure the Information mentioned is complete: if skin contact with the plant results in only a mild reaction, but ingestion would cause major illness, a summary that included only the mild reaction would be incorrect.

2. Cover the following information (in relative order if applicable):

2.1 In what way are people most likely to be poisoned? (Mandatory, and must be addressed first)

airborne allergy
allergy by contact
mistakenly ingested (confused with other plants)
purposeful ingestion (unless with reasonable intention, this should come last)

2.2 Level of urgency when poisoned (Mandatory)

Will it cause serious illness or death?
Will it cause minor or moderate illness?
Are there conditions/complications likely to make the effects more severe?

2.3 Poisonous parts (Mandatory)

Etc.
Saps?
Leaves?
Whole plant?

2.4 Symptoms of poisoning (Mandatory)

2.5 Which factors may lead to contact? (if applicable)

e.g., it is a common plant found in parks; it’s a popular houseplant; it resembles a popular wild edible, etc.

2.6 Which groups of people are likely to be poisoned? (if applicable)

Children? Seniors?

Special Attentions

Do not give ANY medical treatment advice. (Our app will suggest the users consult a doctor in case of poisoning risk.)
If after thorough research, the plant appears to be non-toxic to humans, please inform us at your earliest convenience.

An Example of Toxic Summary

*【The text inside brackets is just for explanation】

Yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia) 93 words
_COMMON_NAME_ is highly toxic when ingested 【In what way are people most likely to be poisoned】, and has led to several fatalities in children 【Level of urgency when poisoned】. All parts of the plant contain toxic components, however, the fruit and seeds elicit the most severe reaction 【Poisonous parts】. If ingested, _COMMON_NAME_ may cause swelling and irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat, gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea, dizziness, or irregularities in heart rhythm 【Symptoms of poisoning】. Dermatitis and skin blistering can also occur as a result of direct contact made between the plant’s sap and the skin, so ensure that you wear protective equipment if handling this plant 【Factors that lead to contact】.

* (_COMMON_NAME_ = Yellow oleander) its singular common name

Requirement for Quick Questions

1. General Requirements:

1.1. Two questions: two different questions are supposed to be generated in this section. And a quick answer for each question should be attached.

1.2. Focus on Toxic to Human: only mention the problems related to human health.

2. How to…

2.1 You can try searching the plant’s name on google and see in what way people often ask. It is OK to find appropriate questions there, but of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to the existing questions.

2.2 There should be a proper distinction between the two questions.

2.3 Don’t worry that the questions already have answers in the summary. Just find the questions that more people may concern.

2.4 The answers did not have a word count limit. We’d prefer a short and direct answer, with the simplest explanation.

Paste as plain text

3. Some Examples for the Questions:

What part of _COMMON_NAME_ is poisonous? {list poisonous parts}
Why is _COMMON_NAME_ poisonous? {tell the toxin the plant contains}
How dangerous is _COMMON_NAME_? {severity of either ingesting or touching this plant}
Is _COMMON_NAME_ toxic to humans? {yes, severity and syptoms}
Will _COMMON_NAME_ give me a rash? {yes/no, touching, ingesting, or anyway how it gives you a rash}
What are the symptoms of _COMMON_NAME_ poisoning? {list the symptoms}
What are the side effects of ingesting _COMMON_NAME_? {list the symptoms on ingesting}
Can _COMMON_NAME_ poisoning have a fatal outcome? {yes/no, quantity or anything how it could be fatal}

Writing Guide-Content Creation

Writing Guide

Content Creation V.1.1.3-20220822

Update Summary

v 1.1.3 (Aug 22nd, 2022)

Formatting, Seasons/Months, Units rule

V.1.1.2 (Apr 25th, 2022)

Format for the referential links is changed

V.1.1.1 (Apr 18th, 2022)

some new requirements for the correct use of the common name

proposed the standard usage of the units and ranges

V.1.1.0 (Mar 21st, 2022)

placeholders are no longer required to use

V.1.0.6 (Dec 22nd, 2021)

when a reliable link is attached, a sales link for edible information is not mandatory

after state some plant is edible, toxic information should be checked

V.1.0.5 (Dec 10th, 2021)

add a link to “common error types and examples”

V.1.0.4 (Dec 3rd, 2021)

wikipedia.org is no longer considered a reliable source now

Preface

You are selected to create content for a mobile application, which will identify various plants’ and creatures’ snapshots for the users using AI technology. Other than identification, we will provide RELIABLE information about these species.

Collect as much information as possible, and keep the statement rich and reliable. Meanwhile, try to avoid boring statements which will make reading difficult.

In this guide, we have 4 major parts:

How to make your content rich and interesting;
How to make sure the content is reliable;
Formatting, Seasons/Months, Units;
How to avoid political or legal issues;

1. How to Make Your Content Rich and Interesting

Informativity is more important than ornate rhetoric for our content.

Please refer to more credible sources before making conclusions on what to write.
You can search on the websites in your country first to find out some useful local information. Local information is highly recommended.
(If you are not an English writer) Try to find more information on English websites via Google.com or other search engines. Except for some local information, the content of the English-speaking world is often richer and more accurate.
Use straightforward,easy-to-read, yet vivid language, avoiding stereotypical expressions and obscure scientific terms.
When you come across a concept widely accepted in the academic field but hard to understand by average users, (e.g.: “the Red Book of Azerbaijan”), please simply explain that (“an official document about endangered wild plants”).

2. How to Make Sure Your Content is Reliable and Safe

Correct Research

The Scientific Name is the only criterion when searching for information (but please use common name when writing the entry). If there’s any conflict with the common name on our system, just write according to the scientific name. Not only to prevent accidental mistakes but also to facilitate our further review, referential links must be attached. You should list all your referral links in the “Link” box, with a simple explanation of why you site this link in brackets, like:

(toxicity)

http://www…

(edibility)

http://www…

If RFP requires you to “not rely on a single source”, then at least two references from different sources should be attached.

For credibility, check that the info from all sources is consistent. If there’s any conflict, try to believe those pieces of information from academic, educational, governmental, or other official organizations instead of business websites or personal blogs.

Sensitive Expressions

There are some special “sensitive expressions” that require extra attention. The expressions include:

Non-toxic

Edible

These expressions should have a reliable reference link attached.

A “reliable reference” means a website supported by academic communities, or an administrative department runs by the government. These kinds of references are generally considered to be reliable:

Governmental websites [.gov]

University websites [.edu]

National Academy websites [.ac]

Official organizations’ website [.org]

[NOTE: wikipedia.org is not considered a reliable reference]

Research papers or Reviews of scientific journals
Reference books or textbooks recognized by the scientific communities

If you can not find a proper link to support the point (even if it is common sense in some cases), try to avoid talking about it.

For each kind of sensitive expression, there are some extra notes:

Non-toxic: When declaring some plant or creature is non-toxic, you should confirm that the whole organism, instead of some part, is non-toxic. (If you can only confirm some parts, e.g.: the flower and fruit of a plant are non-toxic, just declare “the flower and fruit are non-toxic”).

Edible: Normally, only widely accepted crops, fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms should be described as edible. A sales link from a large local or international commerce website will be sufficient in this case (note: if a reliable link is attached, sales link is no longer mandatory). If a plant is not a widely accepted crop, but is listed as an important local food source, or important for local cullinary culture, it is acceptable to mention this, but only if it is not possible to find other interesting info, and only if a reliable link is provided. Make sure to check the toxic information carefully after stating something is edible. When you find some part or some growth stage of the plant is toxic, please state the toxicity information clearly after introducing its edibility.

E.g.: cashew seeds are widely eaten as a popular nut, but they are surrounded by toxic shells.

Medical/Medicinal
Because there is a risk of misuse/injury, DO NOT talk about any medical or medicinal usage. The only exception to this is:
IF
– you cannot find any other interesting information (if you already have interesting facts and enough word count, there is no need to mention medicinal info)
AND
– it is ONLY a historical usage and not current, e.g. “It was once used as a traditional medicine by local tribes”.

NOTE: When mentioning this historical use, never mention indications, cures, and efficacy of it, e.g. “was once used to reduce severe fever”

3. Formatting, Seasons/Months, Units

Consistency of the common names: Common name should be written in exactly the same way as the name at the top of the page;
If you believe the current common name displayed on the top of the page is not correct, use the placeholder _COMMON_NAME_ instead in sentences, leave comments to declare the suitable common name, and please enter the correction in this document:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vO4wADpXiyJdfwnO4FWJiu0CL_1etZ4zdxapqGraE2U/edit#gid=0
If the common name that should be displayed on the top of the page is blank, use the placeholder _COMMON_NAME_ to represent it. If you happen to know any common names of those species, please leave the names in the comments, and also enter that suggestion in the common name correction doc (above).
Use common name instead of Latin name when writing: common readers would face difficulty in reading Latin words. So if not necessary, please do not use the Latin name.
Italic font: In languages using Roman Characters, we use italic fonts in our system only to highlight the scientific names (only for genus name, species name, and subspecies name. Family names or names of larger units are not Latin words, do not need italic.) and book names. If you would like to highlight some words or quote some sayings, try to use the black font or quotation marks (“”) instead.
Avoid using an exact month: the season is reversed in the Southern Hemisphere, things would be weird if an Australian is taught to sow annual seeds in January. You can use the season to represent, or more precisely, use early/middle/late + season, e.g., Early spring.
Standard usage of the units: Please use inch or meter, ℃ or ℉ as unit and “5 – 10”/“-10 to -5” as range. Our system will detect these numerical values only in standard writing shown above.

4. How to avoid political or legal issues

Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. All content will be checked by the system and reviewed manually.
Negative contents that will cause debating, or content with the intention of politics, pornography, religion or racial discrimination, drugs, etc. are not allowed.

Although Marijuana is legal in some states/nations, as well as some mushrooms, we still decided not to mention them anywhere in our content.

Tobacco and alcohol are not suggested in our content. We can state that tequila is made from blue agave, but we will not introduce how “good” tequila is.

Avoid using brands or trademarks in the content.

Common Error Types and Examples

We have collected some most representative mistakes and arranged them in the following sheet: >Here’s the Link<

Carefully reading and trying to understand these examples will let you know our standards quickly, avoid easy mistakes before writing, and improve efficiency.

This sheet will be updated from time to time.

Plant Description – Review Guide

Request for Proposal

Plant Description – Review Guide

v.2.0.2-20211201

Writing Guide: https://article.picturethisai.com/writing-guide/

What's this content for?

This writing task is to draw the first impression of a specific plant to the audience. Try to narrow the distance between unfamiliar plants and people, reducing alienation.

This section is the first section directly talking about the characters of the plant, so it is a “first impression” section. Interesting is in the first place, making an impressive and unique impression of the target plant is the key.

Daily usage or industrial value is encouraged, which is easy to echo the audiences’ memory of this plant. Reduce botanical description and measurement of the plants unless it is characteristic.

Basic Requirements

1. General

1.1 Word Count: Each description should consist of around 30-60 words. (For Japanese and Korean, around 60-120 characters, for Chinese, around 50-90.)
Reject the entries that did not match the lower limit.

1.2 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.Reject the overly formulaic content (>50% content is written in the same form)

1.3 Avoid simple listing: including but not limited to geographical distribution and habitat. Authors should try to use generalized terms, e. g., use “Northeast Asia” instead of “Japan, Korea, Inner Mongolia, and Russian Far East”.
Reject simple listings of more than 3 items (countries, habitats) at one time.

1.4 Interesting Facts: Each description should consist of 2 or more “interesting facts” (Goto 2. what is an interesting fact?).
Reject the entries that have less than two “interesting facts”.

2. What is an Interesting Fact?

2.1 These facts are considered as interesting (Dos):

Historical use and cultural significance. Connection with local culture is highly recommended

Garden usage and why it is used like this (for garden plants)

Economic value (for crops)

Culinary use (for crops, vegetables, and spices)

Toxicity, invasive, and other harms

Insect/bird attracting (e. g., milkweed is the only food for monarch butterflies’ larvae)

For wildflowers, in which season or special ecosystem you can find them

The name origin: why it is called like this

The similarity to some most common plants and how to distinguish them

Other impressive characteristics that are hard to generalize (In many cases, these pieces of information are most attractive. If you can recall any like this, please add it to the description.)

2.2 These facts are considered as NOT interesting (Not Suggested but OK):

Simply mention the place of origin (it will be considered interesting only in some limited conditions, 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.)

2.2 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 reject it 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 reject any entry containing taxonomy information.

Widely cited “NASA Research” supporting the air-cleaning effects of plants is flawed. The air-cleaning efficiency of all the plants is later proven to be too low to be practical. Using any plant to absorb toxic chemicals in your room is not realistic, so please reject any air-cleaning information.

3. Check the Sensitive Expressions

3.1 Non-toxic

Reject the contents with no supporting link attached.

Reject the contents that their supporting link is not reliable.

Reject the contents if only you can find any information on the internet that claims that it is toxic.

3.2 Edible

Any expression related to eating should be considered as a piece of “Edible information”. Including but not limited to declare one plant can be a source of food, can make a salad, can make tea, work as an ingredient of wine/spirit/beer/cocktail, grown as a crop or a spice, its taste (is sweet, bitter, salty) without declaring it’s toxic. Of course, simply declaring some plant is edible is a piece of “edible information” too.

Reject the contents with no sales link from a large local or international commerce website. Unless it is a daily vegetable/fruit.

Reject the contents that their supporting link pointed to medical or other usages instead of eating.

3.3 Medical

Reject any expressions on indications and efficacy as a medicine.

Reject any medicinal description unless it is historical or has cultural significance. (Note: indications and efficacy are still not allowed in cultural and historical use.)

4. Check the Political or Legal Issues

4.1 Plagiarism: Reject

4.2 Politics, pornography, religion or racial discrimination, drugs, etc.: Reject

4.3 Marijuana, tobacco, etc. any positive description of their usage as an addict: Reject. E.g., Nicotiana tabacum is: a source of cigarettes (nurture, OK), a source of premium Cuban cigars (“premium” has a positive meaning, reject), a great experimental material in molecular biology (positive, but not as an addict, OK).

4.4 Alcohol: writers could state that tequila is made from blue agave, but are Not Allowed to introduce how “good” tequila is.

5. Check the Usage of System Placeholders

If the writer failed to use the placeholders systematically, Reject the workspace.

Special Attentions

Local information in your country is highly recommended

Use common names instead of Latin names whenever possible

Italicize any Latin words (other than placeholders) that appear (e.g., genus names, etc.)

If you believe that the common name of the writing target is wrong (including singular or plural form), please Report it in the link below and we will change it in time.

Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vO4wADpXiyJdfwnO4FWJiu0CL_1etZ4zdxapqGraE2U/edit?usp=sharing

Sample Descriptions

Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)

_COMMON_NAME_ (_LATIN_NAME_) is a fragrant herb that has a scent similar to rosemary 【special character】. It was cultivated since Ancient Greece【History】, and its essential oil is still widely used today 【economical usage, while AVOIDed talking about their indications and efficacy in aromatherapy】. But take care, internally taking either _COMMON_NAME_ or its essential oil is toxic. 【toxicity】

Callistemon citrinus (Crimson bottlebrush)

_COMMON_NAME_ is a shrub commonly found in swamps and near rivers【When and where can you find them】. You can easily recognize this plant by its unique red flowers, shaped like a bottlebrush【special look】, hence it got the name “crimson bottlebrush”【name origin】. The flowers produce sweet nectar which is a source of food for numerous species of birds【wildlife attraction】.

An Introduction to the Tropical Plant International Expo in America

The Tropical Plant International Expo will attract thousands of gardeners to Tampa, FL in early 2022. If you want to attend, use this article to learn all you need to know to make the most out of your visit to the event.

In January of 2022, thousands of gardening enthusiasts will flock to Tampa, Florida, to attend the Tropical Plant International Expo. If you’re interested in this event, let this article serve as your introduction. Read on to learn all you need to know about the expo and what you can expect to take place when you attend.

What is the Tropical Plant International Expo?

The Tropical Plant International Expo is a trade show featuring the latest and greatest trends in tropical plant care. Exhibitors from all around the world will arrive and set up displays to showcase the newest ideas and insights from the tropical plant care industry.

Attendees will not only have the benefit of learning tropical plant care tips from the experts, but they will also gain access to new products that they may have never seen before. In fact, the Tropical Plant International Expo lists finding new products to be the main reason why so many people choose to attend this event.

This year, the Tropical Plant International Expo will take place over three consecutive days in January. From the 19th through the 21st, visitors will have the chance to view informative and exciting exhibits and take part in the many distinct events planned for the expo.

Where Will the Tropical Plant International Expo Take Place?

If you want to attend the Tropical Plant International Expo, then you’ll need to know how to get there. This year, the event will take place in Tampa, Florida, at the Tampa Convention Center.

The Tampa Convention Center is a mid-sized event space located by the waterfront in the beautiful Tampa Bay area. For those who are traveling, getting to the expo once you arrive in Florida should be easy as the convention center is just a 15-minute drive from the Tampa International Airport.

Events and Attractions at the Tropical Plant International Expo

Now that you have some basic information about this event, it is time for you to get an idea of what you can expect to happen once you get there. The next sections will give you a clear introduction to the events and attractions at the Tropical Plant International Expo.

Main Expo Exhibits

The main attraction at the Tropical Plant International Expo is the wide variety of exhibits. Once you arrive at the convention center, you’ll find that there are thousands of individual exhibitors, each of which will have its own table number and location.

This group of exhibitors consists of representatives from various companies operating in the tropical plant industry and a whole host of other tropical plant experts. These exhibitors will be prepared to share their knowledge and help you explore all the excitement related to tropical plants and how to care for them.

If you want to plan your visit in advance, the Tropical Plant International Expo will help you do so. Their website directory will let you search through the thousands of exhibitors who will be present at the event. That way, you can get the most out of your attendance.

Educational Events

Along with the main exhibit space, there will be some additional educational sessions taking place at the Tropical Plant International Expo. What you should know is that while your ticket will grant you access to the main exhibitors, many of the educational sessions come at an additional charge.

Each of these events will also cover different niche topics within the world of tropical plants, and they all take place at specific times. So, if you are interested in these educational sessions, you should decide which ones you want to attend before you head off to Tampa. Here are a few of the top educational sessions that you should think about attending while at the Tropical plant International Expo:

2022 Garden Trends: Crisis to Innovation
Keeping the Edge in Your Interiorscape Designs
Start-Up Businesses – Tropical Foliage Style
Journey of a Plant – Understanding the Timing Cycle of Plant Production and Plant Availability
LEDs in Greenwall Designs

As you can see, there are many compelling topics included in these educational sessions. Thankfully, each one will include an industry expert to guide you through all the helpful information you’ll learn.

What it Costs to Attend the Tropical Plant International Expo

As long as you have a way to get to the event, all you’ll need to get inside is a ticket. Each one costs just $30 and will allow you into the expo for all three days. Those who choose to pre-register will enjoy a discounted ticket price of just $20. With affordable prices like that, there is little standing between you and an exciting visit to the Tropical Plant International Expo.

How to Be an Exhibitor at the Tropical Plant International Expo

The Tropical Plant International Expo is not only an event for attendees. It is also an opportunity for anyone who wants to be an exhibitor as well. Currently, there’s still time to reserve a booth if you are interested in setting up a display at the event. However, not all booths are the same, and you should know which one you want to use before you plan your display. Here are the options you can choose from:

Each of those options comes with different pricing and booth visibility, which you can review on the Tropical Plant International Expo website. There you can find all other important information about membership and the benefits you’ll experience by becoming an exhibitor at the event.

Whether you run a garden center or you sell a product related to tropical plant care, the Tropical plant International Expo will be a fantastic networking and sales event for you. By setting up a booth, you’ll also be doing your part to ensure the expo is a valuable experience for all who attend. After all, the large number of incredible exhibitors is the main reason why so many people are looking forward to the Tropical Plant International Expo.

How to Keep Your Indoor Plants Warm During Winter

It’s essential to keep your indoor plants nice and warm during winter. But even with central heat, this may be harder to achieve than you think. Here are six tips to help keep your plants cozy and warm all winter long.

Keeping your indoor plants warm throughout winter is crucial to their survival and happiness. However, it can be a bit of a challenge to keep your indoor plants warm during the cold winter months. Even with central heating, there are areas in your home that may become colder than your plants can tolerate.

To help you out, this article will not only explain why it is so crucial to keep your plants warm but also provide some tips to keep them cozy throughout the wintertime.

Why Is It Important To Keep Indoor Plants Warm In The Winter?

Many popular houseplants originally come from tropical or sub-tropical regions. This means that they thrive in warm, humid environments and rarely tolerate cold and dry conditions.

The ideal temperature for most indoor plants is around 60°F (16°C) or above. If you have central heat, then most areas of your home probably stay in that temperature range. However, there may be a few rooms and areas that often get colder than that throughout the winter.

If indoor plants are exposed to long periods of cold, they will stop growing and go dormant. While this is not generally a bad thing, it’s usually the first sign that your plants are too cold.

In more severe cases, the leaves on your plants will droop or change color. Many cacti species that are exposed to cold weather will turn brown rather than their normally vibrant green. In extremely cold conditions, your plants may begin to wilt and possibly die.

By now, it should be clear that keeping your plants warm is crucial to their health and longevity. Below are a few tips to keep your plants warm and happy during the cold winter months.

Six Tips For Keeping Indoor Plants Warm In Winter

1. Add A Space Heater

If you have one room in your home that has plenty of light, you can move all your indoor plants to that room and add a space heater to keep it continuously warm.

Make sure that the heater has an internal thermostat that can be programmed to a certain temperature. This helps keep your heating costs down because the heater will only come on when the temperature starts to fall below a certain level.

Ensure that you don’t place the plants too close to the heater, as this could also damage them. Don’t let the warm air blow directly on your plants as most indoor plants cannot either warm or cold draughts.

2. Cover The Cold Window Panes

Glass windows can get pretty cold during the winter. This can greatly affect nearby plants, especially those placed on windowsills.

To protect your plants from this cold, consider installing a special window insulation kit. If you want to save money, you could place bubble wrap over the window panes.

Conversely, if temperatures are mild during the day but drop rapidly at night, ensure that you have window coverings such as curtains or blinds. Close them in the evening as soon as the temperature starts to drop.

3. Consider Installing A Heat Lamp

If you have a spot in your home where you like to display all your plants, you could consider installing a heat lamp. There are many options available that work for a wide variety of plants.

If you can’t find the right one at your local garden center, look for them in a store that sells hydroponic supplies. Heat lamps are commonly used by people who grow vegetables hydroponically all year round.

The added benefit of using heat lamps is that they also provide extra light for your plants to stop them from getting too leggy as well. This is a great feature if your home gets very little light throughout the winter.

4. Use A Heating Mat

Heat mats are commonly used by propagators to help new plants grow roots more quickly by applying heat from below. However, these mats are also perfect for keeping your houseplants warm in winter.

All you need to do is purchase a heating mat that is large enough for all of your houseplants to sit on. Then, turn on the heat but make sure that it’s not too hot. If you’re going to do this, make sure that you keep your plants adequately watered as well as heating the soil will dry it out quicker.

You might also need to increase the humidity around your plants by using a humidifier, placing some bowls of water around your plants, or misting them regularly.

5. Put Your Plants On Top Of The Refrigerator

If the top of your refrigerator gets plenty of light, then this is the perfect spot for your plants during the winter because it tends to stay warm. Just be careful when watering your plants to ensure that the water does not overflow and damage the electrical circuits at the back of the refrigerator.

You can use the top of the freezer as well if you have one, as long as there’s plenty of light.

6. Wrap Your Plants In Bubble Wrap

Believe it or not, putting a layer of bubble wrap around your pots will help to keep your plants much warmer during the coldest winter nights. The bubble wrap adds a layer of insulation around your pots and helps to keep the soil at a much more even temperature.

This is probably one of the cheapest ways to keep your plants that little bit warmer when the temperature starts to plummet. However, it will not work as well as a space heater or heat mat if your plants are placed in a very cold room.

Though keeping your plants warm may be a challenge each winter, the task will be significantly easier if you follow these tips. Even following just one of these suggestions is sure to help your plants stay toasty and warm during the long, cold winter months.

RFP for Plant Common Names Review

Review Guide to Plant Common Name

Update (Feb 28, 2022)

Not all words in common name must be capitalized. See Important Notes – 4 –
Use singular or plural, depending on the task at hand and the language being used. See Important Notes – 5 –
Multiple common names from different regions in the same language can be added. See Tips – 4 –

Overview

We will show users all the names of the given species on the name card and put the most frequent names (Preferred name) first.

An example of a plant name card is shown below. The preferred common name (Golden pothos) is shown at first, then the common name of the genus (Arum), followed by other common names.

We invite two freelancers to fill in the common name of the same species to ensure that more names are found and the correct preferred name is marked. (Instructions for them to supplement Plant Common Names.)

Task requirements

Please refer to the work results of the two people, choose the correct preferred name, and confirm whether to keep all the names.

1. When the name is different, or the popular name setting is different, or the preferred name setting is different, or the content in the memo box is different, two lines of content will appear after a name.

The first line: the work result of the first freelancer.

The second line: the work result of the second freelancer.

You need to check the links to determine whose work result is correct, and tick the box.

2. When the work results of two freelancers are the same, only one line will appear after the same name. You don’t need to do anything.

3. If the first freelancer shown in the figure below did not add a name,

The second freelancer added a new name(e.g.”テンガイバナ (天盖花)”).

You need to check the links of the second freelancer to determine whether to choose the result of the second freelancer.

Attention

1. For Japanese/Korean/Russian, if there is no common name for the target plant species, freelancers are supposed to Phonetically Translate its Latin Name (the gray one inside the brackets)

E.g. Sanicula canadensis → サニキュラ・カナデンシス(Japanese)

2. For other languages, if freelancers can not find any common names of some species, freelancers are supposed to write the Latin name in the box and set it as Preferred. DO NOT make up any name or translate names from another language. All names must be available on the internet.

In this case, freelancers are allowed to use mock links indicating there’s no common name in the target language or give links containing the plant’s Latin name

Important Notes

1. If you can find additional names, please add and provide links.

2. Please use the provided links to determine whether the popular name is correct, whether the name needs to be reserved, etc.

3. For common name tasks, please avoid names that will cause debating, or content with the intention of politics, pornography, religion or racial discrimination, drugs, etc.

4. The format of a common name in most language:

Always capitalize the first letter of every word, except preposition word, like “of”, etc. Other words aren’t usually capitalized.

Except:

In German, Please Capitalize Every First Letter.
In Korean, Arabic and Chinese etc., there are no capital letters.

5. Use singular or plural, depending on the task at hand and the language being used.

When supplementing Common Name for Plant Species, please always use the singular form.

When supplementing Common Name for Plant Genus, please follow the rules below:

Use singular form in these languages: Italian, Polish, Swedish, Dutch, Arabic, Malaysian, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese

Use plural form in these languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Thai. (This applies even for a genus with only one species, eg. Maidenhair trees/Ginkgos – Genus: Ginkgo)

6. The format of a common name in Japanese:

日本名（漢字）

日本名 should be written in 片仮名

If there’s no 漢字 name, ignore this part

Use full-width round brackets

E.g.: アカナラ（赤楢），エゾノリュウキンカ（蝦夷立金花），オールスパイス

Special Attention (very important)

1. All names must find on the internet. If you find any common name did not exist, pls change it and let us know.

Exception: for Japanese/Korean/Russian freelancers, if there is no common name for the target plant species, they are supposed to Phonetically Translate the Plant’s Latin Name)

2. Every name must have a link, even it is not a popular name. The link could be the same if one link shows few names. Authoritative links take precedence.

3. Reject the common name. Please reject directly and do not modify if the common name is not correct. . If you think any writer didn’t do a good job, pls report.

4. Pay attention to the format of common names, such as case problems for rock common names, links. The format needs to be very strict as we may ask for a refund if freelancers didn’t review/edit names in the correct way.

Tips

Wikipedia is a reliable source of common names. Make sure the common names listed on it are collected.

Look for the website of gardening suppliers in your country. Commonly used names are usually listed.

If you are not quite sure about the preferred common name, search for the names in your favorite local search engine, encyclopedia site, online seed store, scientific database, germplasm information systems, local flora, etc.. The common name that with the highest hits is usually the best one.

Multiple common names from different regions in the same language can be added. For example, common names from European/African Portuguese can be used for Brazilian Portuguese as well. Common names from British English can be used for American English.

RFP for Plant Common Names

Request for Proposal

Supplement Plant Common Names

Update (Feb 28, 2022)

Not all words in common name must be capitalized. See Important Notes – 5 –
Use singular or plural, depending on the task at hand and the language being used. See Important Notes – 6 –
Multiple common names from different regions in the same language can be added. See Tips – 4 –

Overview

We will show users all the names of the given species on the name card and put the most frequent names (Preferred name) first.

An example of a plant name card is shown below. The preferred common name (Golden pothos) is shown at first, then the common name of the genus (Arum), followed by other common names.

Task requirements

1. Please supplement all the Plant common names you can find in your language for the target plant species, and provide your references in the memo box.

2. Please delete the names that you cannot verify and write down the reasons in the comments. If some existing common names are highly repeated (e.g.: only with the difference between dashes and spaces), keep one of the most frequently used, and delete the rest.

3. Please mark the most frequently used name as “Preferred name” and provide links. There can only be ONE preferred name.

4. If there are other names that are also popular (second only to Preferred name), please mark them as “Popular name” and provide your references. There can be more than one popular name.

Some species have only one preferred name, while other names are uncommon, so there can also be 0 popular name.

Attention

1. For Japanese/Korean/Russian, if there is no common name for the target plant species, Please Phonetically Translate its Latin Name (the gray one inside the brackets)

E.g. Sanicula canadensis → サニキュラ・カナデンシス(Japanese)

2. For other languages, if you can not find any common names of some species in your language, please write the Latin name in the box and set it as Preferred. DO NOT make up any name or translate names from another language. All names must be available on the internet.

In this case, you can either use a mock reference indicating there’s no common name (such as https://no.common.name) or use a reference link pointing to its scientific name.

Important Notes

1. Need to provide reference for any changes you make, including adding new names, setting names on ‘preferred’ or ‘popular’.

We will reject tasks without references

2. There is only ONE Preferred name.

We will reject tasks that are not marked with a Preferred name or marked with multiple Preferred names

3. The number of popular names can be 0, 1, or multiple.

We will reject the task of marking all remaining names as popular names.

4. All names must have a link, even it is not a popular name. The link could be the same if one link shows few names. Any link is acceptable, and make sure it is your local website and in the local language. Authoritative websites first.

5. The format of a common name in most language:

Always capitalize the first letter of every word, except preposition words, like “of”, etc. Other words aren’t usually capitalized.

Example:

Correct: Lily of the Valley

Error: Lily of the valley

Error: Lily Of The Valley

Except:

In German, Please Capitalize Every First Letter.
In Korean, Arabic and Chinese etc., there are no capital letters.

6. Use singular or plural, depending on the task at hand and the language being used.

When supplementing Common Name for Plant Species, please always use the singular form.

When supplementing Common Name for Plant Genus, please follow the rules below:

Use singular form in these languages: Italian, Polish, Swedish, Dutch, Arabic, Malaysian, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese

Use plural form in these languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Thai. (This applies even for a genus with only one species, eg. Maidenhair trees/Ginkgos – Genus: Ginkgo)

Tips

Wikipedia is a reliable source of common names. Make sure the common names listed on it are collected.

Look for the website of gardening suppliers in your country. Commonly used names are usually listed.

If you are not quite sure about the preferred common name, search for the names in your favorite local search engine, encyclopedia site, online seed store, scientific database, germplasm information systems, local flora, etc.. The common name that with the highest hits is usually the best one.

Multiple common names from different regions in the same language can be added. For example, common names from European/African Portuguese can be used for Brazilian Portuguese as well. Common names from British English can be used for American English.

How to Maintain Your Garden Tools: Cleaning, Sharpening, and Oiling

Maintaining your gardening tools is an essential task that extends their lifespan and makes your gardening tasks much easier. This article will teach you all you need to know about properly cleaning, sharpening, and oiling your gardening tools.

Cleaning, sharpening, and oiling gardening tools are essential tasks that all gardeners must undertake. Maintaining your garden tools properly means that they’re going to last longer and work effectively every time.

This article will teach you all you need to know about maintaining your tools, including what materials are needed as well as step-by-step guides to cleaning, sharpening, and oiling them.

Cleaning Your Garden Tools

Cleaning your tools regularly will not only help your tools last longer but will also benefit your plants. Cleaning is crucial to disinfect your tools so that you’re not spreading bacteria and fungal diseases from diseased plants to healthy ones. A single contaminated tool can cause problems for your entire garden.

Read on to find out how often you should clean your tools as well as how to clean them properly.

How Often You Should Clean Your Tools

Ideally, you should clean your tools after every use to keep them in tip-top shape. However, for most people, that’s just not practical. Therefore, try to set aside some time once every few months or so to give all your tools a really good clean.

Of course, this depends on how often you’re using your tools. Those used more frequently like secateurs and gardening trowels should be cleaned once a month if you’re out gardening every other day. Less used tools can be left for a few months before you give them a thorough clean.

The only exception to this is if you’re using any of your tools to prune away diseased foliage. If this is the case, you should disinfect those tools immediately after use to remove any bacteria or fungal spores.

How To Clean Your Gardening Tools

Here’s a selection of materials you’re going to need to give your tools a good clean.

Garden hose
Some old towels or rags
Dishwashing detergent
Sponge
Isopropyl alcohol or similar disinfectant
Steel wool
Sandpaper (80 to 120 grit is best)
Scrubbing brush
Wire brush

Once you’ve gathered all the materials, follow the below steps to clean your tools thoroughly.

Wash away any dirt and grime from your tools with the garden hose.
Grab the household scrubbing brush and some detergent and scrub away any sap and dirt from the blades of your tools.
Use the garden hose to rinse off the detergent and then dry the tools thoroughly.
Use either sandpaper or steel wool to remove any tough stains or rust spots that remain.
Dilute the disinfectant that you're using in a container of water and soak your tools for around 5 minutes, making sure that the blades are fully immersed.
Take the tools out of the disinfectant and rinse once again with the garden hose.
Wipe the tools completely dry using an old towel or rag.

Sharpening And Oiling Your Garden Tools

Once your tools are completely clean, it’s time to sharpen those that need it. For this, you’re going to need:

The method for sharpening your tools will depend on the type of tool you want to sharpen. Therefore, the method for each group of tools will be discussed separately.

To Sharpen Pruning Tools With Cutting Blades

Use a coarse diamond file to file the edge of each blade until you expose the clean metal. Make sure that you only file in one direction.
You should start at the inside of the blade and work the file toward the blade's edge with a curved motion.
Next, use the fine diamond file and go over the beveled edge and the back of the blade.
Finally, coat the blades lightly with oil.

To Sharpen Lawnmower Blades

Before you remove the blade from your lawnmower, make sure that you disconnect the spark plug. Then, follow these steps:

Hold the blade firmly by putting it in a vice on your workbench.
Using the metal file, sharpen the edge of each blade in the same way that you sharpened the blades on your cutting tools. You only need to sharpen until the blade is as sharp as a butter knife. If you make the blades too sharp, they're going to go blunt too quickly.
Coat the blade with a fine layer of oil as the final step before replacing it on the mower.

Note: You can also use a bench grinder for this job but make sure that you don’t overheat heat the blade because this can make it warp.

To Sharpen The Edges On Your Spades, Shovels, and Trowel

Your digging tools will work much more efficiently if their edges are lightly sharpened. Here’s what to do:

To Sharpen The Tines On Your Rake

The tines or prongs on your rake can also benefit from an occasional sharpening to make them more effective. Use the same method that you used for sharpening your digging tools. However, this time you need to work on each individual tine. You might need to use a small round file for this.

Ultimately, you want to achieve a decent point at the end of each tine. Once you’ve finished sharpening, coat the tines lightly with the lubricant oil.

How To Protect Your Tools From Rust

Unfortunately, cleaning and sharpening your tools won’t necessarily protect them from rust. However, there are a few things you can do to prevent rust and further extend the lifespan of your garden tools.

If you follow these tips to clean and sharpen your garden tools regularly, they are sure to last for many years.

How to Care For a Real Christmas Tree

If you have a real Christmas tree, caring for it properly is crucial. Following these steps—including protecting it on the way home, and keeping it well-watered—helps the tree stay green and healthy, so it looks beautiful through the holiday season.

When spending money on a live Christmas tree for your holiday decor, you want to make sure you care for it properly, to keep it looking good for the entire holiday season. Caring for it in the right way will help reduce dryness and needle loss, keeping your tree healthy and green for a more extended period.

The following steps help to keep a live Christmas tree in the best possible health, so it remains beautiful until all the festivities are finished.

Minimize damage when transporting the tree home.

Getting the tree home unharmed is the first step in taking good care of it. Either transport the tree in an enclosed space of your vehicle or have it wrapped in plastic or netting if you are tying it onto your car. When attaching to the top of a car or placing it in the bed of a pickup, always make sure it is tightly secured. Place the cut end of the trunk facing forward, to minimize wind damage from driving.

Keep the tree protected while outside.

After getting the tree home, if you can’t take it inside immediately, place the base of the trunk in a bucket with some water. Then keep the tree in a sheltered spot like on the porch or in a shed or garage.

Make a clean cut on the trunk.

Before attaching the tree stand, use a handsaw to make a clean cut on the bottom of the trunk, removing one or two inches of wood. Always cut straight across, never on an angle. Do not create a v-shape in the bottom, or drill a hole in it, unless your tree stand has a spike that helps stabilize the tree.

Remove bottom branches off of the trunk.

Using a small handsaw or pruners, cut all of the branches off the bottom 12-inches of the Christmas tree so it fits in the stand. Take caution not to remove any of the bark; the bark is where the tree’s vascular system is, so damaging it reduces the tree’s ability to take in water.

Make sure the tree is stable and straight in the tree stand.

There are very few holiday disasters worse than a tipped-over Christmas tree, so it’s crucial to make sure it’s in the stand securely. If possible, ask someone to help you center the tree in the stand before tightening the eyebolts. Make sure the bolts are firmly pressed against the tree’s trunk, and only bite into the bark as little as is necessary to hold it steady.

Keep the tree well-watered.

Always make sure your real tree is watered with fresh, clean water; tapwater will suffice but distilled water is best. A well-watered living tree has better needle retention and aroma. When first put into the stand, expect a fresh-cut Christmas tree to take in a gallon of water within the first 24 hours, and then approximately a quart each day thereafter.

Allow the tree time to acclimate.

After bringing the tree indoors, give it a few hours or even overnight to adjust to the warmer temperatures before adding decorations. This acclimation lets dry needles fall and lets the branches drop down into their natural place, making it easier to decorate. Cold boughs are also more prone to breaking.

Never place the tree close to a source of heat.

Avoid placement near heat vents, radiators, fireplaces, and space heaters when choosing a spot in your house to set up the Christmas tree. Also, try to minimize the amount of time it spends in direct sunlight. All trees, even well-watered ones, are highly flammable indoors.

Keep the room the tree is in slightly cooler.

If possible, drop the temperature of your living room—or whatever room the tree is set up in—a couple of degrees below normal. A slight drop in the ambient temperature helps reduce moisture loss from the needles, minimizing subsequent needle loss and the overall dryness of the tree.

Only fill the stand with clean water.

When watering your Christmas tree, make sure to use plain tap water or distilled water. There are many commercial preservative products available to buy, but research has shown they don’t significantly improve the health and longevity of a cut Christmas tree. Also, avoid adding aspirin, sugar, or other homemade concoctions to preserve the tree.

Avoid watering your tree with softened water.

If you have a water softener system in your home, either use distilled or bottled water to water the tree, or pull water from the line before it runs through the softener. The water softener adds large amounts of sodium, which will only hurt your Christmas tree; sodium accumulates in the tree’s trunk and blocks water uptake, making the tree dry out and die more quickly.

Never let the water in the stand go dry.

If the water in the tree stand has dropped below the bottom of the trunk, you should pull the tree from the base and, using a hand saw, slice another clean cut on the bottom of the trunk. When the water goes dry, the tree’s sap seals the open “wound” to prevent diseases from getting into the vascular system, but this also makes it so the tree can’t take in more water from that location.

Change the water if it begins to smell.

Sometimes if left to sit for too long, the water in the tree stand begins to smell sour or rancid. Drain as much water from the base as possible and replace it with clean water. Do not add bleach to the water in an attempt to get rid of the smell. To keep the water from smelling bad, frequently water the tree until the water line is only slightly above the cut on the trunk instead of filling the stand as full as possible.

Don’t leave a Christmas tree inside your house for too long.

Once the holidays have passed, remove the lights and decorations and properly dispose of the Christmas tree. The risk of fire increases the longer the tree is left inside your home.

7 Great Ideas to Decorate Your Christmas Tree

If you’re looking for some great ideas on how to decorate your Christmas tree, then look no further. Here are seven great ways you can adorn your tree for the holiday season.

A Christmas tree is the centerpiece of many people’s holiday displays. Much of the fun of setting one up comes from the sense of tradition and good cheer that accompanies the winter holiday season. But another exciting aspect of setting up your holiday décor is finding new and unique ways to decorate your Christmas tree. If you’re looking for some inspiration in that arena, this article will help you out by sharing some of the best Christmas tree decoration ideas.

1. Trust the Classic Look

It’s only right to start this list off by respecting the classics. After all, it is hard to go wrong with the tried and true method of Christmas tree decoration. Although you are probably familiar with what a classic Christmas tree looks like, this section will quickly review the key components anyway. Here are the main decorative features of a classic Christmas tree:

With that simple set of items, you can make a Christmas tree display that most people will recognize and love. But if you want to get a bit more experimental with your decoration, read on for some alternative ideas.

2. Try a Simple Scheme

This Christmas tree decoration idea is at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to the last one. While many love the balanced look of a traditional tree, others prefer a more contemporary look. If you are part of the latter group, you’re best off establishing a simple decorative scheme for your tree.

What some people do when they want to go for a modern look is limit their décor items to a very minimal palette. Such simplicity often creates a striking appearance that you might not expect from a Christmas tree.

When using this decoration idea, you should limit the colors you use in the display as well. Often these trees will hold matching sets of ornaments and lights that fall into a single color family. What others do is vary the color of the tree itself by using artificial trees rather than a typical evergreen Christmas tree.

3. Embrace the Outdoors

Natural elements bring an unparalleled charm to any Christmas tree. What makes such items so appropriate is that they enhance the outdoor feel that the tree itself brings. For that reason, many people choose to decorate their trees using outdoor items such as:

Those items add a rustic feel to your Christmas tree. They are also very easy to find. An easy stroll through your yard or the woods may be enough to find the items you need. Once you do, you can arrange them in the branches of your Christmas tree.

4. Replace Tinsel with Ribbon

In the description of a classic Christmas tree, tinsel was mentioned as one of the primary features. But if you want to deviate from that traditional look, you should try replacing tinsel with ribbon.

It’s easy to wrap a tree with ribbon the same way you would with tinsel or garland. But ribbon has the advantage of allowing you to choose from a wide range of colors and patterns. Once you start using ribbon, you’ll open the door to an entire world of Christmas tree decoration themes.

5. Consider Your Home Décor

There are no specific items that are recommended for this tip. Instead, the focus of this option is to design a Christmas tree that works well with the décor that already exists in your home.

No matter how long you spend planning your tree decoration, it won’t look its best if it clashes with your home’s living spaces. Pay attention to the colors and textures present in your interior design. Then, choose Christmas décor that will work well with what is already there. The end result will be a decorative theme that will complement your entire home.

6. Decorate the Base of Your Tree

Most people focus on the limbs of a Christmas tree while decorating it. However, the floor surrounding your tree is important as well. Take some time to explore the many ways you can make the area around your tree look amazing. When in doubt, a few gifts will work well to fill the gaps below your tree’s lowest limbs.

7. Set Up Your Tree Outside

It was mentioned earlier that you can bring a few outdoor elements indoors to create a naturalistic style for your Christmas tree. This next idea is the opposite of that. Rather than bringing the outdoors in, try bringing your Christmas tree out into your yard.

Setting up your tree outside makes it a more public display for your entire neighborhood to enjoy. It may also give you some ideas on how to make your Christmas tree decoration better than ever before. With the benefit of space that an outdoor setting provides, you’ll have more room to add more decorative items around your tree, thus creating a larger and more impressive holiday visual.

Outside, your tree decoration may get some support from nature as well. What is more authentic than seeing real fallen snow cling to the limbs of your tree? Birds may also visit your tree, which only adds to the appeal.

One of the best ways to create such an outdoor Christmas display is to use a tree that already grows on your property. Evergreen species like pine, spruce, and fir will all work well. The best part is, you won’t need to worry about finding a new tree every season since one will already be available to you.