I have tried to use the non-toxic dunk method to rid my plants of ant colonies. Yes, it is impressive to see hunderds of ants fleeing the rising water, but it doesn't work completely. They all flee up my tree/plant, wait there, and hide among the leaves which makes spraying them off an arduous task (and here in GA if its fire ants that could be a painful experience.). I often wind up using rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle on everything after they have climbed up. (This also works great for mealy bugs, scale and spider-mites). I sometimes do resort to the residual acting ant-killer spray on the soil (not on the plant - it damages leaves) - for any ants that had SCUBA gear.

Velleta, There is no best way to water. You experiment a bit and find out what works best for you and your plants. Think of it this way-when you are growing a plant the closer you can emulate a plant's natural growing conditions, the more successful you will be. African Violets in nature get watered from the top when it rains and also from the bottom when they absorb water from the soil. Either one will work. Wicking is not particularly better; I just find it more convenient as I have LOTS of plants. If you are vigilant about watering, you can maintain the even moisture that violets prefer but you can do this with top or bottom watering as well. This is also a good time to debunk the old wives tale about not getting water on the leaves. Violets regularly get wet leaves when they are rained on. What they don't get is COLD water. Most growers, myself included, regularly wash their violets. Just use warmish water and dry away from the sun. Leaves have pores on them (stoma) through which they do a gas exchange. These pores can get clogged from dust, soil and various other things. Just don't let water sit in the crown. I use Marathon for insects-mealies, etc., Phyton 27 for a fungicide-botrytis, etc., Forbid for arachnids-mites, etc., and Avid for thrips. The trick is to find these in small quantities as they are sold in large containers with even larger prices. Forbid I found on E Bay and the rest from Cape Cod Violetry. They were in small quantities but affordable and enough to do many plants. Don't let the list of terror creatures put you off. As I said, I had relatively few problems until I was unable to care for my plants. Just keep your eye on them and they will tell you what they need! And don't apologize for questions!!! As you can probably tell, I love talking plants! :) Linda Here is a link that might be useful: Washing African Violets

I have found newbalance running shoes are lightweight, well ventilated, excellent arch support inserts and their very robust cushioning allow me to be on my feet all day... if they get wet or muddy I just hose them off, take out the inserts and let everything dry overnight in the garage. Don't laugh, but i change from my clean clothes to my garden clothes in the garage, work in the garden, hose off outside, remove all the dirty garden clothes in the garage and change back into the clean clothes before going inside. Just wish I had installed a sink and shower in the garage! I never tried it , but as a boy scout was told eating the tips of blue-tip matches would help keep the bugs away (something about ingesting the sulfur and the subsequent odor via perspiration). Maybe I will look for something like long sleeve surgical scrubs that are lightweight cotton that can be sinched at the wrist or ankles to keep the bugs out and yet still be comfortable in the heat . I have noticed my raised bed garden close to the house has fewer bugs than the garden area further away or closer to the tall grass/woods areas. The raised beds are easier to garden as you don't have to bend down all the way!

I have also managed my fruit fly problem with similar techniques - I do not have drainage holes (nor does my bed get wet enough to need them). and I cover the top of the bin with a fitted crib sheet tied in a knot at the corner to keep it tight, then I put the lid back on. No more flies! Before I put the crib sheet over the bin I put in a jar with some orange juice. Now, no flies at all! Yay! I love my bin!!! :) oh, and I stopped adding banannas to the bin, just in case. I love my worms so much I shred the big pieces for them. :)