Day: November 18, 2021

Amaryllis are easy to grow indoors or outdoors, and they bloom for a long time. This means that you can have beautiful flowers all winter long. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about growing amaryllis. Let’s get right into it.

maryllis are easy to grow in many places

Amaryllis are easy to grow indoors and outdoors. They make great houseplants, but you can also plant them in flower beds or gardens outside.

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Plant the amaryllis bulb anywhere that gets plenty of sun. Amaryllis bulbs prefer soil that is not too moist or dry, so be sure to water them every day if possible. After the amaryllis has finished blooming, deadhead flowers before new buds open for more flower power.

Amaryllis is an easy way to have beautiful flowers all winter long.

They can be planted in pots, flower beds, or gardens.

This plant is perfect if you are looking forward to having some beautiful flowers this winter. When you see a new leaf that is larger than the others- cut off any leaves from above it so that they have room to grow. Once the plant has finished blooming, remove any dead flowers and replace them with fresh soil or potting mix. These plants need a lot of sunlight and should be watered every day if possible.

maryllis need a specific type of soil.

The soil used in planting Amaryllis must contain plenty of nutrients for the plant. You can buy a special potting mix from your local garden center or hardware store. Once planted, it’s easy to learn how to take care of amaryllis and how to make them bloom again after winter. The leaves all show up from one central point on the bulb, similar to other bulbs such as lilies and tulips.

You can use the same soil for this plant, but make sure to break it up with some sand. This will allow the roots to get plenty of air when watered or during rainstorms.

Other plants that are easy to grow in your garden

Planting amaryllis is a wonderful way of having beautiful flowers all winter long, but other plants can be grown in your garden too. Daisies, tulips, and impatiens are easy to grow and do not require much care at all. 

You should also make sure that they get plenty of sunlight during the day so they have enough energy for growth. This means you should place them near a window if possible. Growing plants such as cosmos and morning glories can be done in containers or flower beds outside. They are easy to grow and will provide you with lots of flowers during the summer. 

Growing amaryllis – FAQ

Can you plant amaryllis bulbs in winter?

Yes. Amaryllis grow best if they have enough light, so be sure to give them plenty of daylight each day. This means that you must keep them close to a window.

Do amaryllis need a lot of water?

Amaryllis plants need plenty of light and water to grow well. They should be watered daily when the weather is warm.

How do you plant an amaryllis bulb in soil?

If you want to learn how to plant it in pots or gardens outside, start by putting up a post in the middle of the area where you will place them. Fill this with some pebbles or rocks so that rainwater does not get into their pot. Next, mix some sand into your special potting mix before adding pieces of the soil around the post. Once this is done, carefully remove the bulbs from their packaging and add more soil around the roots. Make sure to water them then.

When planting amaryllis in pots or flower beds outside, you must leave a 5-inch space between each bulb. This will allow enough room for these plants to grow well. If you live in areas where the winters are cold, make sure they get plenty of sunlight during the day so they have enough energy for growth. You can do this by placing them near a window if possible.

How do you fertilize amaryllis?

Be sure to provide plenty of nutrients to your amaryllis plants if you want them to grow well. You can use special flower food or fertilizers for this. Once they are blooming, make sure that you water them thoroughly so that the flowers stay fresh and beautiful.

Image Credit: http://gardenerspath.com

How do you take care of an amaryllis plant indoors?

You should water your amaryllis carefully since it needs plenty of moisture all year long. If kept outside, the soil must be moist at all times, but not wet.

The best way to water the plant is to place it in a sink or bucket of water. You can use a sprayer to thoroughly wet the soil and avoid any unsightly stains. Make sure that you remove any excess water from its leaves immediately since this might cause rot or fungal growth.

If you keep your amaryllis indoors, make sure that there are at least five hours of sunlight each day for them to grow properly. They should be kept as close as possible to a window. This will ensure they have enough time to absorb as much light as possible during the winter months when there is less daylight available outside.

Final thoughts on growing amaryllis

In conclusion, amaryllis makes wonderful plants to have indoors or outdoors. These plants are slightly difficult to grow since they require several hours of sunlight each day, but it is certainly possible with the right care.

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Keeping indoor plants can add a touch of freshness and beauty to your home. Gardening is fun and rewarding, so as keeping pets like cats. But houseplants are toxic to cats, especially the curious ones that like chewing on things. You don’t want your cat to fall sick or get into an unpleasant situation such as vomiting or diarrhea because he ate poisonous plants inside the house. 

This article will help you identify which plants aren’t safe for your cat from houseplants to garden plants including vegetables and herbs. Let’s get started:

1. Snake Plant

The snake plant is a popular houseplant because it’s easy to maintain and requires minimal care. It’s one of the best plants for low light conditions and for improving air quality. While snake plant is non-toxic to humans, it’s toxic to cats and dogs.

Snake plants contain chemical compounds known as saponins, resulting in feline nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if consumed. Don’t hesitate to contact a veterinarian if you suspect your cat has eaten this poisonous plant.

2. Asparagus Fern

Asparagus ferns are evergreen plants that produce long, leafy stems from an underground tuber. They have a bushy appearance and add height to your home décor. Asparagus fern is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep them out of reach.

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If your feline friends rub themselves against asparagus fern frequently, it can cause skin irritation. These plants contain saponins which is a compound that can cause dermatitis, stomach pain, and diarrhea in both dogs and cats.

3. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a succulent plant known for its healing properties, especially for burns and wounds. It also contains an ingredient that can be fatal to cats. All parts of the aloe vera plant are toxic to cats if ingested, so keep them away from your furry friends.

4. Peace Lily

This indoor plant may look beautiful, but it’s highly toxic to cats, so cat owners should skip as much as possible. Peace lilies contain insoluble calcium oxalates, so if your cat consumes this lily, it can cause cats to suffer oral symptoms such as burning, excessive drooling, and difficulty swallowing.

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Instead of peace lilies, you can opt for white orchids, which are non-toxic to pets. Plus, they’re gorgeous and have low maintenance requirements.

5. Easter lily

This year-round favorite can create a lot of issues with furry friends. And it’s not only Easter lily that is extremely toxic. Other lilies such as stargazers, tiger lily, and Asiatic lily can cause acute kidney failure in cats.

No matter how beautiful these flowers look, every part of the lily is toxic to your cat, so avoid these types of lilies if you have cats around your home. It can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, and change in energy level.

6. Jade Plant

Also known as money plants, rubber plants, and lucky plants, jade plants are succulents that are easy to grow and are thought to bring their owner’s good luck and fortune. They have dark green fresh leaves and thick wooden-like stems. Jade plant comes in several varieties, all belonging to the family crassula.

These plants are highly toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. They cause symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, depression, and in coordination if ingested. It’s better to seek veterinary care if you don’t completely understand its toxic component.

7. Sago Palm

Sago palm is a beautiful evergreen plant that grows in tropical and subtropical climates. They can also be grown as houseplants, but they are highly toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if ingested. Sago palm contains cycasin, a toxin that causes vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, convulsions, and coma.

Image credit: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/

These plants can do wonders for indoor air quality. Their unique structure makes them a great talking point and a lovely accent piece. However, with their defense mechanism, they can be highly toxic to your feline friend. Sago palm can cause even liver failure and death if consumed or chewed.

8. Indian Rubber Plant

The Indian rubber plant has very attractive large leaves and is sometimes used as an outdoor plant in USDA zones 10 and 11. It can cause vomiting, stomach irritation, and difficulty breathing if your cat ingests it. The plant sap contains a chemical irritant that causes drooling, oral irritation and vomiting, not to mention that this sap can also cause severe skin irritations in humans.

9. Elephant’s Ear

One of the most poisonous of all houseplants for cats is Elephant’s Ear. This plant has large leaves resembling an elephant ear. It causes intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if ingested by your cat.

It contains insoluble calcium oxalates that can cause kidney failure. Fortunately, you can swap it with a calathea medallion which offers the same tropical vibes and rich green foliage, the same as an elephant’s ear. It’s non-toxic to cats and is a low-maintenance plant that even those without a green thumb can keep healthy.

10. Devil’s Ivy

This is a common houseplant that has seen its fair share of the limelight in pop culture recently. The best part is it doesn’t even need soil or water to grow, as all you have to do is wet the walls on which the stems grow, and the Devil’s Ivy will do the rest.

This plant also goes by several names, including pothos, golden pothos, and taro vine. It contains insoluble calcium oxalates that cause mouth, throat, tongue, and lip irritation. It can also cause intense burning, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

You can swap it with a Chinese money plant of the pilea genus family that is considered non-toxic to cats and offers the same drooping aesthetic as devil’s ivy. Plus, these types of non-toxic plants may also bring good Feng shui into your home.

11. Clivia Miniata

This indoor flowering plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause intense burning and irritation in pets’ mouths, tongues, lips, and throat. This flowering plant contains alkaloids that can cause symptoms ranging from vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, and arrhythmia in both dogs and cats.

12. Ceriman

Also known as the Hurricane plant or Swiss Cheese Plant, the Ceriman is an indoor flowering plant that contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause intense burning and irritation in the mouth, tongue, lips, and throat of pets.

It’s also one of the most popular household plants, thanks to its tropical look. It, however, contains insoluble calcium oxalates making it moderately toxic to cats.

13. Tomato Plants

The tomato plant or the Lycopersicon is a flowering plant with green leaves and red berries containing tomatine. Just like humans, cats can be affected by its toxic alkaloids if ingested in any quantity.

Try to keep your tomato on the patio or in the garden and out of your cat’s reach. And if you have an outdoor kitty, try to grow non-toxic buttercup squash instead.

14. English Ivy

Thanks to its low-light needs and drought resistance, the common English Ivy is a popular choice as a houseplant. However, it contains triterpenoid saponins which are poisonous for cats if any part of the plant is ingested. Make sure to keep your cat away from this plant.

Its gorgeous drapery feature makes it attractive to curious felines, which is extremely dangerous because English Ivy is toxic to cats. When cats chew it, it can cause a range of symptoms, including weakness, vomiting, throat swelling, excessive drooling, dermatitis, rash, and ataxia.

15. Dumb Cane

Dumb cane also belongs to the same group of plants like English Ivy and is just as poisonous. It contains calcium oxalate crystals which cause burning in the mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhea, and respiratory distress. Like other toxic plants for cats, keep this plant away from your pets at all times.

Dumb canes come in different varieties, varying from a couple of feet high to over ten feet tall when grown in the right conditions. When ingested, they are highly toxic to cats, and their sap can be a mild irritant to humans, so keep them away from bare skin. Symptoms of dumb poisoning in cats include vomiting, burning of the mouth, oral irritation, swelling, and severe cases of difficulty swallowing and breathing.

16. Azalea

Azalea plants, both the species we enjoy as ornamental plants and those used commercially, are highly toxic to cats. If your cat eats any part of the plant, it will cause gastrointestinal irritation along with excessive drooling, vomiting, and loss of appetite. In extreme cases, seizures have been reported.

The leaves from this house plant are very popular in Asian cooking, so if your cat has a habit of munching on house plants, it might be an idea to remove the philodendron from your home. The entire plant is poisonous, with all parts containing calcium oxalate crystals that cause intense burning of the mouth and throat, swelling of the tongue, intense thirst, and oral ulcers.

17. Moss Rose

In recent years, Moss rose has become an extremely popular house plant, but it’s always best to check with your local veterinarian before introducing any new plant into your home.

The leaves are considered to be non-toxic; however, the stems and seed pods are highly toxic. If ingested, they can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation accompanied by an intense burning sensation, excessive drooling, and vomiting. Hops are closely related to cannabis, but they contain no mind-altering substances.

This houseplant is incredibly poisonous to cats, so you should avoid it. It can cause tremors, kidney failure, and hypersalivation if your cat chews it. You should seek immediate veterinary treatment immediately if you suspect your cat has chewed it.

18. Amaryllis

If you’re growing Amaryllis at home, you should know that it’s a poisonous plant to cats. The stem and bulb of the Amaryllis are toxic, but only if consumed in large quantities. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, light sensitivity, and changes in heart rate.

Image credit: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/

When your cat nibbles on this houseplant, it can experience stomach pain, excess drooling, tremors, diarrhea, vomiting, and a decrease in appetite. However, you can swap it with orchids which offer an exotic outburst of color and are non-toxic to cats.

FAQs on Common Household Plants Toxic to Cats

What are some of the cat-friendly houseplants?

Common plants that are cat-friendly in your home that will give you peace of mind include various succulents, orchids, ferns, and spider plants.

How do you keep your cats from eating poisonous plants?

The first step to keeping your pets safe is understanding which plants are poisonous. Some houseplants can be made less toxic by cutting back on their food supply, exposure to light or water.

Final Thought on Popular Houseplants that are Toxic to Cats

Before bringing new plants into your home, it’s important to research first on their toxicity levels. Learning about these common houseplants will help you make the right decision in keeping your houseplants safe and healthy while keeping your pets protected from possible poisoning or illness that can occur when they eat or chew on poisonous plants.

Keeping your indoor safe from these poisonous plants to cats is very easy. But for an outdoor kitty, it gets a bit tricky but you can reduce the chances of accidental ingestion by removing the most dangerous plants from your garden and checking if there is any toxic plant in your neighbor’s garden. Make sure your outdoor plants are not harmful to your furry friend.

 

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Electrical wiring in your home is not something to be taken lightly. If you’re planning to move into a new home or upgrade your old house, it’s important that you understand the electrical load capacity of your home. 

Understanding the load capacity will help you plan and manage the distribution of electricity throughout your house. A qualified electrician can help install new or upgraded electrical services if needed. Keep reading to understand how to calculate electrical load capacity for your home:

What Is Electrical Load Capacity?

Electrical load capacity is the total amount of current a wire can handle. A home requires a certain electrical load capacity to power all of its appliances and electrical devices safely. If your household is going through frequent blackouts, you need to add up the wattage on each appliance and device so that they fall below the limit for which your wiring is rated. 

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How do you know if your current electrical service is adequate? The total electrical capacity of electrical service is measured in amperage or amperes. When making significant electrical additions to your home, everything that uses electricity to run should be calculated to find the electrical load. 

The electrical load is measured in wattage or watt/hours. The electrical load capacity is the total amount of electric current your household wiring can handle safely at one time before it presents a hazard. 

The national electrical codes are the basis to ensure that wiring is safe and meets safety requirements for a given location. The code states that individual branch circuits in a modern residence should be at least 40 amps, equivalent to eight standard 15 amp outlets per circuit.

Why is Electrical Load Calculation Important?

Finding the correct electrical load capacity by adding up all of the wattages for appliances and devices is important. Not only will they be affected if you overload your circuit, but so will your safety. By finding the electrical load, you’ll be able to determine whether you need to change your electrical service. It will tell you the power supplied in the home is not enough for your electrical use. 

The electrical service is commonly measured in amps, and you can find the amount provided on your electrical power bill, which states that it is 120 volts, 20 amps. Best licensed electricians recommend dedicating a single circuit to appliances that consume so much energy, such as refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and dishwashers to avoid overload. You can avoid spending money on repairs due to overloading by having basic knowledge in calculating your electric load.

How to Find Electrical Load Capacity

Calculating how much power your home needs is calculating the amperage load of all the various appliances and all the light fixtures. Find the total wattage of all appliances and devices plugged into a circuit breaker box by consulting their labels; look for the number of watts (W) they use.

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Calculating the wattage of a home isn’t an easy task, but there are several items that can be checked if you’re looking to find the amount. Although checking all of your appliances and devices is ideal, oftentimes, it’s impossible or inconvenient to do so, which is why estimations will have to be made based on the average wattage of similar appliances.

If you want to check your home’s electrical load capacity without finding out its wattage, try using a device called an electric load calculation cord available for purchase at hardware stores. If you have an electrician install it, they can then show you how to find your circuit breaker box’s amperage and calculate the wattage of each appliance or device on a circuit. 

Once you know how many amps your load calculation cord reads, multiply it by 120 to find its voltage and then multiply that number by the amperage of each appliance you plan to plug into that circuit. If your total is higher than the circuit’s capacity, you will need to unplug one or more devices before it can safely deliver power where your family needs it. 

The circuit works like how the water flows from a pipe. The water pressure is in volts and the water flow rate is in the amps. The water wheel represents watts which depend on the pressure.  You can use these formulas to calculate individual circuits’ capacity, electrical loads, and the entire electrical service panel.

How to Calculate Your Home’s Electrical Load

Different homes need different amp services, and you can do a little math to figure out what kind of electrical load your house needs. For example, a 60-amp service is inadequate for a modern home, while a 100-amp service is good for a home of less than 3,000 square feet without central air-conditioning and electric heat. 

In that case, a home larger than 2,000 square feet with a central air-conditioning and electric heat may need a 200-amp service. A 100-amp is large enough to power a small to moderate-sized home’s general branch circuit breakers, plus one or two electric appliances, including a water heater and clothes dryer. 

This service may also be sufficient for a home under 2,500 square feet if you’re running your heating appliances on gas. 400-amp service is recommended for large homes with all-electric appliances and heating and cooling equipment. It’s recommended where the expected electric heat load be over 20,000 watts.

How to Add Capacity to Your Electrical Load

Installing a new circuit isn’t that difficult, but ensure your service panel can handle the extra load before you begin. This is because a service panel with too many circuits can be dangerous. Fuse boxes rarely have space for new circuits, so replace the fuse box with a circuit breaker if you have a fuse box and need new service.

If there’s a slot in the breaker box, you can remove an open space or a knockout and install a new breaker and run the cable to it. If there’s no open space, the local electrical codes might allow you to replace a single breaker with a tandem breaker.

Electrical Load Box Sizes

The size of your electrical load box will determine your home electrical capacity. The electrical load boxes come in three categories. These include:

Small Fuse Box (15 amps)

Small load boxes are small enough to fit an electrical panel outside of your home. You can also find this fuse box in older homes where their wiring has not been upgraded. It can supply power to only one 240-volt appliance such as an oven and clothes dryer. 

And since many homes have more than one such appliance, this fuse box is inadequate for a home of 1,200 square feet or more. You can upgrade to a larger size if you plan to add more circuits to your electrical equipment.

Medium-Sized Service Panel (30 amps)

This box is often found in homes that were built before electric dryers and dishwashers become common appliances. This fuse box can supply power for up to three 240-volt appliances such as clothes washers, stoves, and dryers.

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It supplies electricity to the entire home except for lighting circuits which are fed from a separate panel. It’s also the minimum panel amperage required by the national electrical code.

Large Service Panel (100 amps)

This is the box that most homeowners install when adding new circuits or upgrading their electrical systems. This can be fed from either a sub-panel or direct from the main electrical circuit breaker panel. It will supply power to more appliances than any smaller fuse panels, but it’s still limited to 100 amps. 

This type of fuse box might be required in a home that uses large electrical appliances and includes heating and air conditioning equipment. Upgrading to this fuse type can give you more flexibility to use more circuits without worrying about overloading the system.

How to Inspect a Service Panel

It’s always good to be careful when carrying out electrical wiring; kids shouldn’t be around the panel except for adults. Make sure you firmly attach any exposed cable to the wall and clamp it tightly to the knockout holes in the panel.

If you find any hopeless tangle, call in an electrician for an evaluation. Also, call in a professional if you find melted wire insulation, any signs of fire, and extensive rust. Make sure you oversize an electrical service to make future expansion possible.

FAQs on Calculating Electrical Load Capacity for a Home

How do you calculate electrical panel load?

You calculate the total load on the breaker panel by adding the amperage ratings from each circuit breaker then multiply that sum by 120 volts.

re 200 amps enough for a house?

This depends on the size and how many appliances you will be powering. The more lights, outlets, fans, and ovens you plan to use simultaneously, the more electricity your panel will need to supply safely.

What are the maximum amps in a breaker panel?

The electrical service maxes out at 200 amps when the home has both air conditioning and electric heating. Heating capacity can go as high as 250 amps. If you plan to install an electric heating system, contact your local utility company for the maximum amp rating for your specific zone.

Final Thought on Calculating Electrical Load Capacity for a Home

Electrical connections can confuse you sometimes, but it’s not scary or complicated once you know how it works. You need to understand the basics, and you’ll be fine. Always know that overloading your circuits can be hazardous not only to your family but the entire community. 

So, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your electric circuits and learn the basic circulation of electric load capacity. Don’t forget how much such electrical projects cost

 

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