Ladybugs are worth it if you can keep them around when they are finished feasting. In other words, establishing an insectary for them and other beneficials to "hang out" and reproduce/overwinter/have a food source(nectar) when there's no more "meat"(aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars, etc.) Research IPM(Integrated Pest Management) or head on over to the IPM forum. Corn, sunflowers, daisies, marigolds, poppies, borage, bachelor buttons, cilantro, alfalfa, parsley, allysum, dill, wild carrots(to name a few) are good beneficial attractive plants. You want to encourage the beneficials to overwinter so you're not having to constantly buy them the next year. Lacewings are also very effective on aphids et al As far as your perlite is concerned, you don't want the small stuff -- you want coarse perlite. I get mine from a local nursery.. 5 cf/$16. But Home depot sells it in big bags 2 or 3 cf/$17. Good luck. Kevin This post was edited by woohooman on Sat, Apr 6, 13 at 20:18

Thank you so much for all your very kind comments! "---Are the orange and red pieces peppers? Are they from this year's garden?--" The red is tomato, and the yellow is sweet bell pepper. They are both from my greenhouse. "Forsythia is edible? ---" Oh yes. Great for this pandemic according to folk medicine: "some evidence shows that forsythia may have antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties---" "----Was wondering if that was Forsythia too. Any Chive flowers growing you could add?----" I have flowers from my arugula patch. No chives yet. "----What are the other foods on the plate?---" Tomato and pepper mentioned before. Asparagus, and Okahijiki (or Land Seaweed). sjerin, Thanks. No, I am not professionally anywhere near the food industry other than cooking in my kitchen. I do enjoy exploring the joy of feeding my eyes in addition to my stomach. .dcarch

Popmama, the super chunky mix I use forces me to water 2x a day! The water drains right through but doesn't "stay" long enough to fully wet and saturate all the big chunks. I had tried it thinking it would be better during the summer because I tend to over water my plants, but it's become a pain in the butt. I'm in the process of repotting my plants into something finer, which would hold moisture longer. I also have a lot of my plants in 4" net pots containing this chunky mix. I'm now taking those net pots and placing them inside 6" plastic pots, which will have a finer mix filling the gap around the 4" pot. Your plant probably dried out a little. Maybe add some humidity? A little dome out of a cut soda bottle as a small terrarium? Keep us posted as to how it's doing. Best wishes for you....

Beautiful scene tonight at 1 a.m. north of Chicago. A nearly full moon is reflecting off a sparkling inch-plus of snow. Lurking under that snow is treacherous ICE. I was able to get DH to the hospital at 8:30 yesterday morning before it got fierce here. He's been admitted for treatment of low sodium levels (121 for you medical folks). He's had X-rays and CT scans so far. I hope that staff is allowing him to get up and walk to relieve his severe muscle spasms. "Monoclonus" seems to be the right term for these violent spasms in his thighs that occur as much as every ten seconds when he's lying down and last for hours. This started in September. His primary finally got him admitted, or we'd still be looking at appointments for tests months from now.