I mist with a little neem oil with a drop of soap in water solution every couple of weeks and the leaves stay very clean and shiny. before i discovered neem oil, i used to wipe or wash the leaves with little soap and water. However, with my non-orchid plants i used to get spider mites or aphids in the winter. since using the neem oil, those pests seem to be under control so far. sue

The BEST thing you can do is to alert your neighbors to the horrible things cats do to wildlife. Let them know you have baby bunnies. There are a few good websites with great information you could print off. Some people will listen and some wont. Those that wont need to be told that you will not tolerate cats on your property. Let them know that you intend to capture any trespassers and take them to the pound. Of course none of this is the Cats fault, they are just being cats. I would never really take them to the pound, if they let their cats roam they probably wouldn't pay to get it back and the cat may be put down. Find a cat rescue group in your area. Cats deserve a safe loving home and a warm lap. I will ask a few folks to post those good websites here for you . For now the best thing you can do is stay away from the bunnies so you don't draw attention to them or leave a scent trail.

Christy, I don't have very much experience on this yet, so hopefully one of the experts on here replies :). First of all, did you have a sparrow spooker on the box? It most likely was NOT a sparrow if you did not see any blood or anything, however it is always a good idea to hang one up. Secondly, it may have been a House Wren, if your box is near woods or brush, it's a good possibility. You can try a wren guard next time for that (you may have to relocate the house a little or rotate it some). To eliminate snakes as a possibility, you should put up a large stovepipe wobbling baffle on a slick metal pole. Go to this link for better information and how-to --> http://sialis.org/baffle.htm There are also snake traps described here that you may want to try. Bluebirds often don't nest a second time in a box where an attack occurred. If the Bluebirds don't seem interested in the box anymore, I would take the nest out and either relocate the box or put up another box. I have had bluebirds every year at my house, and I have had several House Wren attacks, but the bluebirds seem to come back year after year. They should continue coming to your yard if you have houses available for them. Good Luck! If you need any more information, check out this website --> http://www.sialis.org/ Ken

I haven't tried STT's reformulated (newer?) cleaning products, but I think they had introduced some that were supposed to be better for this (I love their STT sealer, but wasn't thrilled with the original concentrated cleaning products). I use 7th Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner (spray) on the tub and shower surrounds in our three bathrooms. We use bar soap, and don't have any problems with soap scum. We do wipe down the walls (tile) with a microfiber cloth after showering (instead of a squeegee--couldn't find one I liked, nor was there a good spot to keep it in/on our bathtubs), which cuts down on build-up anyway. For weekly/bi-weekly cleaning-cleaning, I spray the 7th Gen on the tub surrounds, let sit while I wipe down the mirrors, vanity, whatever, and then wipe it off with a microfiber (I usually spray a little on the cloth as well). You can let it dry without wiping, but I didn't like the spots that were left behind on our large format, glossy white wall tile. Also, I'm not crazy about the scent left behind when the 7th Gen is left to dry (especially when it builds-up over time). I still prefer using Lysol Aerosol Bathroom spray for the tubs themselves, the shower pan in the guest bathroom, and the porcelain sinktops. I just find it to work that much better at removing any residual soap scum that might be sticking around (no pun intended! lol), or for obliterating hard water stains.