Home & Garden Retreats Tips & Tricks

Bulbs and Tubers

After your Amaryllis has finished blooming, remove the spent blooms and place the bulb in a pot in a sunny window.   Usually March is a good month to do this.  Water only when dry. In June plant outdoors (leave Amaryllis in the pot) in a sunny location in your garden.

March is the time to plant your Begonia tubers in a pot and place by a window.  Water when dry.  The tubers should sprout within 3 to 4 weeks.  Plant outdoors when threat of frost is over, usually the last week of May. HOMEEnvironmentally friendly cleaning tips Remove salt stains from boots and shoesWet a paper towel with white vinegar and apply to stain area.  Allow to dry, clean area with water and allow to dry.  Polish and spray with a multi protector (made for shoes and boots).

Clean a vase

Remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase; fill with hot water
and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.  Wait twenty minutes and rinse.

Clean a thermos bottle

Fill the bottle with hot water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour  (or longer, if necessary) and rinse.

Unclog a drain

Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the
drain  followed by a cup of  white vinegar. Wait a few minutes,
and then run the hot water. For more tips, check out our website at http://www.hgretreats.com  click on Timely Tips to see more tips that come up in the month they apply to.  Remember, spring is just around the corner, so hang in there!

March 3, 2008