[Eric Vinje]

Liz –

The PowerVeg T5 Fluorescent Grow Light is a brand new light from Hortilux that offers a well-balanced spectrum plus UV light. It was designed to closely mimics natural sunlight, benefitting your plants by:

• Promoting extreme photosynthesis for faster growth
• Creating a stronger root system
• Enabling easy transition from indoor veg to outdoor flowering
• Developing stronger healthier vegetative plants that will produce higher yields and higher quality crops
• Creating faster producing yields, vivid colors, more flowering, and better tasting crops

Happy growing!

[Eric Vinje]

Jan –

I would much rather see you use a fertilizer that is more complete. Sul-Po-Mag is an excellent organic fertilizer, but it only contains potassium. I recommend a dry blend like the Dr. Earth Fruit Tree Fertilizer.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/fruit-tree-fertilizer-organic-9/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Dorothy –

Please call 1-888-349-0605 for quantities and case pricing. Yes, we do carry the Wall O Water Repair Kit.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/wall-o-water-repair-kit/

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Louis –

Using a magnifying glass you will notice small exit holes in each egg where the tiny parasites have emerged.

[Eric Vinje]

Deborah –

Please call 1-888-349-0605 for a quote on Yellow Sticky Traps.

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Allen –

Metal Halide (MH) and High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights require a remote ballast to work. When building your own plant grow light, it’s important to match the ballast with the wattage of the bulb you will be using. You must also match the type of light (MH or HPS) you’re looking for with the ballast. For example, a 400 watt MH bulb will only work with a 400 watt MH ballast (or 400 watt digital ballast).

The cheapest 400w ballast we offer is the Quantum Digital Ballast. However you will also need an BASSP adaptor to match the ballast and lamp cord sockets. I’ve provided links below.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/quantum-ballast/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/plug-adapters/

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Liz –

Yes, Gnat Nix is safe for you and your plants — it is a non-toxic product! I have attached a link to our fungus gnat control page.

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/fungus-gnat-control/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hello from Planet Natural –

Praying Mantis egg cases can take 6-8 weeks of warm temperatures, 65-75 degrees daytime, no lower than 45 degrees at night, to hatch. I show that we shipped on —- and recommend that you give them some more time. It is rare when an egg case does NOT hatch. Please be patient!

To speed up the hatch, we recommend placing egg cases — still in the bag — on top of a refrigerator, or some place that is consistently warm, but not hot. Do not place them on a windowsill as temperatures fluctuate too much.

Note: Tiny praying mantis nymphs will emerge through the narrow slits of the egg case. Unless you can find the small nymphs (1/8 inch), it is impossible to tell if the egg cases have actually hatched — the egg case will NOT change in appearance.

If there’s no sign of the nymphs after 6-8 weeks, please feel free to contact us. Here is a link to our website for more information on praying mantis:https://www.planetnatural.com/product/praying-mantis-egg-cases/.

[Eric Vinje]

Courtney –

I like your approach here and yes, we still have ladybugs and will be getting a fresh batch again in June. To knock down the pest numbers prior to releasing ladybugs I recommend using the Take Down Garden Spray. It is a mix of botanical pyrethrin and canola oil. Pyrethrin will provide a quick knockdown while the canola oil will suffocate any eggs that may be present. The product breaks down in 3-5 days and a couple applications may be necessary.

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/tree-pests/psyllid-control/
https://www.planetnatural.com/using-beneficial-insects/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/take-down-garden-spray/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Buzzman –

This article on Preparing Garden Soil should help.

https://www.planetnatural.com/garden-soil/

Happy growing!

[Eric Vinje]

Julie –

We typically run out of egg cases towards the end of June.

[Eric Vinje]

Tripp –

Please contact customer service at 1-888-349-0605 or helpdesk@planetnatural.com.

[Eric Vinje]

Hello –

Here’s our page on aphid control. While aphids are fairly easy to get rid of you have to remain persistent. They reproduce like quickly!

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/lawn-pests/aphid-control/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hello –

It’s time to switch over to a bloom nutrient. There’s several available to choose from… but if you’re new to this you may want to consider Tiger Bloom. Here’s a couple of links:

https://www.planetnatural.com/product-category/growing-indoors/plant-nutrients/bloom-boosters/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/tiger-bloom-fertilizer/

Happy growing!

[Eric Vinje]

Johnny –

I hope this helps.

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/scale-control/

Good luck!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Del –

It sounds like you’re doing everything right, but are having trouble due to the cooler temperatures! Regardless, I feel certain that we can get your bin heated up. Below I’ve included some tips and techniques that I hope help.

The bacteria that work to break down organic garbage into compost do not do well in freezing temperatures. One thing you can do to offset the cold is to keep your compost pile in a black bin in direct sunlight or you can insulate it using organic materials like hay bales.

Nitrogen: Since most piles are short on nitrogen, not carbon, adding nitrogen will generally help a pile heat up quickly. (If the pile starts smelling like ammonia, you know you’ve gone too far.) Quick fix nitrogen sources include blood meal, organic cotton-seed meal, alfalfa pellets, and manures, especially chicken manure. Sprinkle, don’t dump, one of these here and there in the pile as it accumulates.

Micro-Organisms/ Activators: Since it’s the micro-organisms that do the bulk of the work in an active pile, adding extras will hurry the process along. Dig down a layer or two, and sprinkle some of the dry mix into the damp center of the pile, in several different places. If you put it on top, be sure to water it in as it won’t become active until damp.

Shredders: Smaller pieces provide more surface area for the micro-organisms to attack. If you chop, shred or grind your compostable materials before adding them to the bin you in effect do some of the beasties’ work for them, which saves time. Some people toss the day’s compost into a food processor or grinder; some use a paper-shredder on newsprint and office paper; some use chippers or a machete on twigs and branches; some use a mulching lawn-mower to shred leaves and other compostables.

Oxygen: Turning is the time-honored method of providing oxygen to a pile. It’s also a good idea to turn the contents since it rearranges the decaying material. With a little care, you can move the less decomposed material on the outsides to the middle of the pile to heat up.

If your bin still does not heat up you may want to consider a worm bin or a bokashi system to help break down your organic materials.

https://www.planetnatural.com/composter-connection/indoor-composting/bokashi-composting/
https://www.planetnatural.com/composter-connection/indoor-composting/vermicomposting/

Good luck!

[Eric Vinje]

Laura –

Below are the reel mower weights that you requested.

Scotts Classic – 27 lbs
Economy Mower – 20 lbs
Deluxe Light – 27 lbs
Full Feature Light – 24 lbs

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Leonard –

Apparently, the Brew Kits have been discontinued by the manufacturer. We’ll check with Bountea and see if they are offering a replacement.

[Eric Vinje]

Hope this helps!

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/garden-pests/armyworm-control/

[Eric Vinje]

Paul –

I would prefer to see you place the fertilizer under your mulch. The faster it can get to the plant roots the sooner you will notice the results. If possible, use 1/2 to 3 cups per established plant.

Happy growing!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Maryam –

Raised beds dry out a little faster than your average garden so we usually recommend adding an organic compost to fill at least half of the bed. Compost is heavier than most potting soils and will retain moisture longer — it’s also cheaper than potting soil. Fill the remainder of your bed with a good organic potting soil, preferably one with some organic nutrients already added. I’ve included a few links that should help.

https://www.planetnatural.com/raised-bed-soil/
https://www.planetnatural.com/garden-soil/
https://www.planetnatural.com/compost-sewage/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/organic-garden-compost/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/organic-compost/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/roots-organic-soil/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/happy-frog-potting-soil/

[Eric Vinje]

Julie –

We distribute our own products and offer case and 1/2 case pricing. Please call 1-888-349-0605 for more details.

[Eric Vinje]

Thanks Toni –

It’s always nice to hear from a satisfied customer. Please consider letting Yelp and Google know how you feel.

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Beverly –

Slug-like sawfly larvae feed on leaves and skeletonize them, leaving only a framework of veins. Here’s how to manage them using organic methods.

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/tree-pests/pear-sawfly-control/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hey Kenneth!

When purchasing tomato seeds or starts you should look for varieties that are about 60 days or less to maturity. I’m sure you’re growing season is quite short at 7,500 feet. Row cover, Hotkaps and Wall-O-Waters can help start your season early and extend it into the fall.

Choose an indeterminate variety if you have ample space to trellis and would prefer a vining plant. Choose a determinate variety if you have minimal space or are using containers. Determinate varieties have a bushing growth habit and will be shorter and more compact.

Some varieties we carry in our store that would fit your needs include:

Large Fruit: Ararat Flame, Stupice, Moskvich, Cosmonaut Volkov, Early Girl Hybrid

Small Fruit: Sungold Cherry, Pink Princess Cherry, Black Cherry

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Carol –

It’s tough to find an organic 10-10-10 fertilizer. Probably the best way to achieve this is to double up on one of our 5-5-5 fertilizers. Here’s a couple of links:

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/all-purpose-fertilizer/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/life-all-purpose-fertilizer/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hello –

Direct lawn watering:
Mix 10 teaspoons of product in 5 gallons of water and apply to 1,000 sq ft of lawn. Thoroughly soak turf so as to move the solution to the root system. Avoid excess runoff or leaching.

For best results, apply to damp soil and/or apply in conjunction with a wetting agent. Pre-dampened soil will allow the Actinovate® Lawn and Garden microorganism to work to the root system much more easily. Reapply at maintenance rate every 4–8 weeks.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Deborah –

You could use the two products together for an integrated approach to clothes moth control. DE works on pests that crawl through it by cutting them up — it is composed of one celled shells that are abrasive to the pest. I do not think that the flying wasps will come in contact with it.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Julie –

The following is from the Azamax label:

Repeat spraying if rain occurs within two to three hours of spraying.

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Pam –

Fly parasites will not attack your honeybees. They will only attack the immature pupal stage of filth flies.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/fly-parasites/

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Deborah –

I think you could use the two products together for an integrated approach to clothes moth control. DE works on pests that crawl through it by cutting them up — it is composed of one celled shells that are abrasive to them. I don’t think the wasps will come in contact with it.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Dawn –

Yes, our organic lawn fertilizers are safe for well water. All of them are slow-release and break down over time. They not only feed your lawn but also the earthworms and micro-organisms living in the soil helping to keep it loose and airy and hold more moisture. Organic fertilizers are composed of renewable products such as manures, powdered rocks (such as lime, rock phosphate, and greensand), blood meal, bone meal, wood ash and compost.

[Eric Vinje]

Joni –

Yes, Bt-K will work on Spruce Budworms (mix 2 oz per 3 gallons of water). Apply thoroughly to trees when pests are actively feeding every 3-7 days.

We also have a page on Spruce Budworm Control that can be found here:

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/tree-pests/spruce-budworm-control/.

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Gia –

From your description, I think you’re fine. Go ahead and plant away!

[Eric Vinje]

Hello –

There are more than 5,000 known species of rust on plants. Here’s our guidelines for the treatment and control of this common fungal disease.

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/plant-disease/common-rust/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Tom –

We give several recommendations treatment options for Cedar Apple Rust here

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/plant-disease/cedar-apple-rust/.

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Jean –

First of all, approximately what percent of your lawn is weeds? Experts generally agree that if you’ve got over 50% weeds, fighting them is fighting a losing battle. In this case it’s probably time to kill it off, either the whole thing or one section at a time, and either all at once or over time. What option you choose will depend on what weeds you’ve got, how much of a hurry you’re in, and a number of other factors. For more information, see the 50% solution on our Organic Lawn Care 101 site.

https://www.planetnatural.com/organic-lawn-care-101/growing/#percent-weeds

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Cliff –

The two Maxicrop products really are very similar. We offer the powder so that you don’t have to pay to ship a liquid. With that said, most of our customers order the liquid concentrate.

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Michael –

Cornell has several mixes for different uses. Are you referring to this soil mix? If so Cornell suggests adapting for home use.

Cornell foliage plant mix:
½ bushel sphagnum peat moss
¼ bushel vermiculite, No. 2
¼ bushel perlite (medium fine)
8 tbsp. ground dolomitic lime
2 tbsp. superphosphate (20% powdered)
3 tbsp. 10-10-10 fertilizer
1 tbsp. iron sulfate
1 tbsp. potassium nitrate

Neither one or the other is right or wrong. The amount of lime added will depend heavily upon what you are growing (acid loving plants will need less lime…etc), the soil texture and the pH you are trying to achieve within your media. Making your own mix to fit your personal needs is half the fun!

Happy Spring!

[Eric Vinje]

Hey Judy,

The formulation we have currently is still the old 5-7-3 ratio.

Happy Spring!

[Eric Vinje]

Hillary –

Yes they will. Here’s an article on the topic:

https://www.planetnatural.com/seeds-last/.

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Rafa –

If your exhaust fan is attached to your light, or other heat source, via ducting and blows outside the tent then yes, it will cool the tent. If you are just blowing warm air around the inside of the tent and not exhausting it outside, you will increase air circulation around your plants but not cool the tent.

[Eric Vinje]

Linda –

I would have them ready to go when you start noticing the moths flying around. The moths will lay eggs shortly after they appear and that’s when you want to release the trichogramma wasps.

[Eric Vinje]

Rafa –

A circulating fan won’t do what you are looking for — it will just blow the warm air around. When using the Air-4 you will need to plug either an air conditioner or exhaust fan into the temperature outlet and set the temp you want to maintain. The controller will then turn on — or off — the unit and maintain the temp that you have set.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Jania –

There is an active ingredient in citrus call “limonene” that has the potential to kill your worms if added to your pile in large concentrations. For a small home wormery I would recommend adding citrus peels 1 at a time and wait until it is thoroughly decomposed before adding more.

Good Luck!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Jamie –

​One clone per pot will allow the individual to flourish instead of having to compete for space and nutrients in a small pot.

Happy growing!​

[Eric Vinje]

Britney –

The Grass and Wildflower Mix will work well providing the area between your house and the garage gets enough sun for it to thrive. If not, I’ve provided a link to our Alternative to Grass page.

https://www.planetnatural.com/organic-lawn-care-101/alternatives/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Here you go Dorrie.

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/scale-control/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Jocelin –

Do you know the manufacturer of the compost tumbler? We’ll need that to help.

[Eric Vinje]

Kathy –

Yes they are! However, the Mosquito Bits are formulated with a corncob granule so that they are easier to apply to soil. As a result, they are often used to combat fungus gnats in containers. The Dunks are best suited for use against mosquito larvae in water. I’ve provided links to both products.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/mosquito-dunks/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/mosquito-bits/

Hope it helps!

[Author]

Posts