[Eric Vinje]

Larry –

We often set up shipping programs for our beneficial insects. Please call 1-888-349-0605 and we can get you started!

[Eric Vinje]

Jim –

Please check back next week. We have placed our order for Tanglefoot products and expect to know any day. As soon as we receive confirmation of shipment we will post the products as in-stock.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Susanna –

You can specify when you would like us to ship and we will deliver them then. If not specified, we would set them up to mail on 4/4/2016 — they would arrive a few days later.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Rahul –

Compost can be very tricky, you will likely need to restart the pile as it is missing some important components. The Carbon to Nitrogen ratio is key when building your pile. If you think of Carbon as the brown (newspaper, paper plates, dead leaves and plants) and Nitrogen as the green (plant matter, kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and manure from NON CARNIVOROUS animals or animals that only eat GREENS), it makes things slightly more straight forward. Your C:N or brown:green ration should be 3:1 in your pile. Although these are the main components they are not the only ones, you will also need water and straw. These are the four main elements to the most basic compost pile. Begin with a layer of dead plant matter like corn stalks and other “browns” (you may include the wood in this layer but it should only make up 1/3 of the “brown” layer at a time). This first layer will be the largest so plan accordingly as the layers will decrease in size as you finish building the pile. Next, top the first layer with 1/3 of the amount of manure and other “greens” as the initial “brown” layer. Completely cover these two layers with straw and spray down the pile with a hose. Repeat these three layers until you run out of materials. Once you’ve finished, cover the entire pile in straw and water down once more. You’re pile is now ready to begin breaking down. Stick a compost thermometer in the pile and let it sit for a few days or weeks depending on the weather. Once the thermometer reaches 135 degrees Fahrenheit keep a close eye on it until the pile reaches 150 degrees. This is the point at which pathogens, pest eggs, and weed seeds can be broken down. Allow the pile to sit around 150 degrees for as long as possible, but as soon as it starts nearing 160 degrees turn the pile immediately! DO NOT allow your pile to exceed 170 degrees or the beneficial microbes and nutrients will begin to burn. (If you notice that the pile begins to decrease in temperature before reaching 150 degrees, turn the pile anyways). Keep doing this until your pile turns into a dark crumbly substance with a pleasant earthy smell. At that point it will be ready to use which should take 6 months to a year.

Here are some links to our composting information, books, and thermometers:
https://www.planetnatural.com/composting-101/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/composting-book/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/let-it-rot/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/compost-thermometer/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Joe –

Happy Frog fertilizers are made from natural and organic ingredients. While your dog will likely be okay, they do recommend that you contact a licensed veterinarian just to be safe. Here is a link to their site:

http://foxfarmfertilizer.com/

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Thomas –

Ladybugs can be effective at eliminating mealy bugs however, they may not be the best choice for indoor control. Ladybugs do not like to be too condensed in one area so they would likely disperse throughout your home until the majority of them found their way outside. Instead of Ladybugs, an even better alternative would be our mealybug destroyers. These beetles come in containers of just 100 individuals (as opposed to 2,000 ladybugs) and are much better suited to eradicate your mealybug infestation. It is recommended that you introduce 2 to 5 beetles per plant, so depending on the number of house plants you have, you could either store the remaining beetles in your refrigerator and reapply in one to two weeks and/or release the extras outdoors. For more information check out our mealybug destroyer link:
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/mealybug-destroyer/

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

You can absolutely keep your herbs in plastic container pots. Assuming the herbs are still small, I would recommend 4″ X 4″ X 4″ square nursery pots. These will support your plants until they are larger and strong enough to withstand planting outdoors or transplanting to even larger containers. The larger the pot, the larger your herbs may become. Plastic nursery pots are great for growing herbs because they ensure adequate drainage via the holes in the bottom. You may water your herbs from the bottom by filling water catching saucers with water and waiting until the pots become saturated by wicking the water up throughout the entire container. If there is any excess water in the saucers after an hour or two you may dump any excess out. If you prefer to water from the top, water your herbs until water seeps out of the holes at the bottom of the pots and again, wait an hour or two until dumping that excess water out of the saucers. Basil and parsley prefer to stay moist, but not too wet, and should be watered every three days depending on the temperature and light they are receiving. To determine their moisture level just stick your finger about two inches into the soil and water when it feels dry to slightly moist. As for rosemary, it prefers to dry out more between watering. Water this herb about once a week when soil feels dry, again depending on environmental conditions. Happy gardening!

[Eric Vinje]

Unfortunately we do not carry assassin bugs. Two reasons for this is due to the fact that these bugs are rather illusive and do not like to be near other individuals for fear of becoming easily spotted prey, so selling them in any quantity would just discourage their dispersal upon release. Additionally, and most importantly is the fact that they can, and will bite humans, which is often extremely painful.

[Eric Vinje]

Hello Jon,

We can most likely help your friend with any questions he may have. Although our hydroponic section is geared more towards ebb & flow and well as continuous flow systems, our staff may still assist you in questions you have about setup and nutrients.

Heat is a big factor when doing aeroponics. Some get around this issue by using foggers (technically called fogponics), others have larger water reserves and use the water itself as a heat sink.

Whenever someone is getting into hydroponics, I always recommend growing peppers. They are hardy plants, are not photo dependent for fruit production, and can bounce back well from grower error. Other good options are herbs like basil, lemon balm, mint, or plants that have low profiles.

Please write, or come into our retail store, if you or your friend have any more questions.

[Eric Vinje]

Bill –

Root Pots, Smart Pots or our Premium Plastic Nursery Pots? We’ve got them all!

https://www.planetnatural.com/product-category/organic-gardening/garden-supplies/containers-pots/

Hope to hear back from you.

[Eric Vinje]

Karen –

The following is from the Spray Oil product label:

PEACHES: DELAYED DORMANT–For European Red Spider Mites, scale insects. Use 7 1/2 to 10 Tbs. per gal. of water.

PEARS: DORMANT STAGE–For scale insects, blister mite, leaf roller, psylla (adults) Use 7 1/2 Tbs. per gal of water, apply spray on the 3rd or 4th sunny warm day in early spring before buds break and when psylla flies are swarming on the spurs.

ALL SEASONS® HORTICULTURAL AND DORMANT SPRAY OIL may be used at the DORMANT STAGE (before buds show green tissue), GREEN TIP STAGE (when leaves of blossom buds are bursting and show about 1/8 to 1/4 inch of green color), DELAYED DORMANT STAGE (when the leaves of the blossom buds are out from 1/4 to 1/2 inch), and during the GROWING SEASON.

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Jennifer –

This should help!

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

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Rick –

Scotts Miracle-Gro purchased the Tanglefoot Company early last year. So far, the products are not available and our calls to the company go unanswered. Hopefully, we can get the products in soon… but it’s not looking good!

[Eric Vinje]

Joe –

I’ve provided a link to our mosquito control page with a complete list of earth-friendly remedies.

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

Hope it helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Karina –

Actinovate will control/ suppress rust, black spot and fire blight. If you’re looking for one product to take care of them all… this is it! I’ve included a couple of links that should help.

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/tree-pests/
https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/plant-disease/

Good luck!

[Eric Vinje]

Katharine –

Bt-i, the active ingredient in your mosquito control and our Mosquito Bits, will not kill beneficial nematodes. However, using both together may be a bit of overkill — both attack the fungus gnat larvae that are feeding on the root hairs of your plants. I would recommend adding Yellow Sticky Traps to reduce the number of egg laying adults and some sort of mechanical control — Diatomaceous Earth, Gnat Nix — to reduce activity on the soil surface.

As for one product to kill spider mites, thrips, fungus gnats and whiteflies, I recommend MET52. It comes in a liquid concentrate for foliar applications and a granular for for use in soil. The link below will provide more detail on how to get rid of fungus gnats and the products mentioned here.

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

Good luck!

[Eric Vinje]

Dayna –

Foxfarm’s Happy Frog Tomato and Veggie fertilizer is excellent and would work great as a slow release organic fertilizer for you tomato plants.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

David –

We’re not gonna’ count them… but the label claims that a 2cf bag will fill roughly 23 one gallon pots.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Mark –

Top-dress the container plant with a tablespoon or so of nematodes and water. The nematodes will leach out of the vermiculite carrier and go to work combatting fungus gnat larvae. You may also want to place yellow sticky strips horizontally along the pot and soil surface to catch the egg-laying adults.

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

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Jim –

The ComposTumbler company sold a few years ago. I am not sure if they are offering replacement parts anymore… but will check for you.

[Eric Vinje]

Narda –

We have been waiting on word from the producer for some time. Apparently, they were having trouble with their molds…but that was over a year ago. We will keep checking back with the manufacturer and post the availability online.

Thank you for your interest!

[Eric Vinje]

Klara –

Take a look at these and let us know if you have any questions.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product-category/natural-pest-control/fungicides-plant-disease/

Hope they help!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Mary –

Could it be the Squash Bug?

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

Other pest insects of squash:

Cucumber Beetles
https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/garden-pests/cucumber-beetle-control/

Squash Vine Borers
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/squash-vine-borers/

Stink Bugs
https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/garden-pests/stink-bugs/.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Josh –

Looks like we can get the Swirskii sachets for thrips and whitefly. We’ll look into pricing and add them to the site…

Here you go!

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/swirski-mite/

Good luck!

[Eric Vinje]

Cathy –

Apparently the Spot-X company was purchased and the new owner no longer sells to retailers. They prefer to sell on Amazon only. Wish we could help!

[Eric Vinje]

Hello,

I would start your seeds in February outdoors, as long as the weather is permitting. If it gets pretty cool at night, you may consider moving the pots into a garage or covered area to keep the seedling a little warmer.

Good luck!

[Eric Vinje]

Hello Maria,

Your fish fertilizer will work just fine for most annual herbs. However, if you are growing perennials like lavender or rosemary you may need to supplement the soil. I would recommend Dr. Earth’s Tomato, Vegetable and Herb Fertilizer, which is a balanced fertilizer with additional micronutrients that tend to be depleted in perennial soils.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/tomato-vegetable-herb-fertilizer-organic-5/

Best of luck!

[Eric Vinje]

Hello Cecilia,

Unfortunately trichogramma wasps will not parasitize squash vine borer. There are many insecticides that you can buy to try and eliminate the adults and their eggs, however, they only lay eggs for such a short duration it is hard to be effective.

One method to limit infection is to plant vulnerable plants far apart. Other gardeners cover their squash with shade cloth. This is an effective method, however, cover each plant separately. The cloth may be removed after the danger of infection has passed.

Some gardeners just inspect their plants often looking for the eggs, since window for egg-laying is so short.

Good luck!

http://showerfreshgarden.blogspot.com/2010/05/squash-vine-borer-eggs.html

[Eric Vinje]

Hello Tulay,

When inoculating trees, I mix the inoculate with the soil that will surround the tree. This is usually the soil dug up from the ground and/or any additional soil and compost you may be adding to the mixture. Your goal is to get the inoculate as well dispersed as possible to increase the likelihood of a mutualistic relationship forming in the rhizosphere.

A cubic foot is length x width x height divided by 1728. I make a rough estimate of my hole and add inoculate accordingly.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hello Dara,

1. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you how many feedings there are per bag. Cups are a unit of volume and the bag is measured in mass, those units are not incontrovertible.

​2. 1-2 tbsp (15 to 30ml) per site

3. There is no real need to store in the refrigerator. Fungi produce spores as a reproduction means, and they are TOUGH. They are meant to outlast the bad environmental conditions that eliminated or limited its predecessor.

4. The expiration date is printed on the seal. The bags on our shelves currently are good through 6 October 2018.

Hope this helps.

[Eric Vinje]

Melody –

Unfortunately, Nature’s Intent 7-2-4 fertilizer is not available in smaller bags. You may want to consider Down To Earth’s Bio-Turf, which has similar numbers (8-3-5). Here’s the link:

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/bio-turf-lawn-fertilizer/.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hello dixiechicken_82,

When regarding hybrid seed the results do vary from generation to generation. The tree that you had got the clipping from probably has what is called hybrid vigor, this is when beneficial traits are enhanced as a result of mixing the genetic contributions of its pure breed parents. This is much like how dog mutts of two pure breeds can avoid the diseases common in pure breeds. This enhancement of the genetic traits are the strongest in the first generation. After that first hybrid generation (the plant you have now), the traits and variety of differences between the seeds increases dramatically. So if you were to plant the seeds and have gotten successful germination, it may not have the same traits as the parent. The differences, however, may lead to an even better plant than before, or they may not be as good. Also in some cases when plants are crossed, if they are crossed with a species that is close genetically but not close enough, the offspring may be sterile. This is much like how when a cross between a donkey and a horse the mule offspring can be sterile.

Everet

[Eric Vinje]

Clark –

Our store is fully stocked and bursting at the seams. What is it that you are looking for?

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Tony –

Earth Juice Natural pH Up is made of potassium bicarbonate.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Jeff –

We have 100 gallons of ladybugs that we could sell to you early this spring. For pricing please call 1-888-349-0605. They do not need to be certified organic for use on organic farms.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Fred!

We’ve actually got a whole page of information pertaining to the leafminer life cycle and controlling the little buggers! Check it out here: https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/leafminer-control/

It should be mentioned that mature leafminer larvae overwinter in the soil. By getting them in the ground you are promoting their life cycle to continue. I would suggest the introduction of beneficial predatory insects such as the leafminer parasite (Found here! https://www.planetnatural.com/product/leafminer-parasite-miglyphus/) and perhaps a trap crop-insecticide pairing such as spinach to help lure the leafminers out of the lychee trees. I would suggest using either Azatrol or SNS 203 to injure or kill the adults. Both can be found here!

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/azatrol-ec-insecticide-azadirachtin/

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/sns-203-pesticide/

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[Eric Vinje]

Hey Mark!

Now is a wonderful time! Our beneficial insect orders are placed every Wednesday, if you were to place an order today (before 4pm MST) they would ship out next Tuesday. Beneficial insect orders placed after today and before next Wednesday (2/17) would ship out 2/23 and so on and so forth. Let me know if there are any other questions I can answer!

[Eric Vinje]

We are shipping Spidex now. Please call 1-888-349-0605 for a shipping schedule.

[Eric Vinje]

​Hey Bertha!

I would recommend switching up your watering regime a little bit, watering once every week and a half to two weeks should be more than enough for your aloe plant. Make sure the soil is drying out thoroughly between waterings by sticking your pointer finger into the soil up until the second knuckle. Avoid watering if any moisture is present or can be felt on your finger. To treat the fungus I would recommend GreenCure or a Sulfer based fungicide. Both of which can be found here!
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/green-cure-fungicide/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/sulfur-plant-fungicide/

Good luck and hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hi Pam!

Based upon my research Dyna-gro liquid grow formulation does not contain any sort of myccorhizae. It does however contain many trace elements needed for proper vegetative growth. Based upon the non-organic nature of the derived ingredients, I would not recommend this product to feed and grow your myccorhizae. That being said, I’ve had incredibly success blooming (quick, almost excessive growth periods) myccorhizae by adding blood or blood-based fertilizers to the soil as a topdressing.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/dr-earth-blood-meal/

It should be noted that the exact nutrients your myccorhizae need is gonna vary dramatically depending on the species of myccorhizal fungi you’ve inoculated the soil with. Make sure you are watering solely with distilled or reserve osmosis water as well to avoid harming our fungi friends.

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Jeremy –

We received a shipment of Met52 yesterday.

[Eric Vinje]

Jeannine –

We have a whole page on treating cedar apple rust. Please check it out…

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

… and let us know if you have any questions.

[Eric Vinje]

Jeremy –

They’ve been ordered and should be in early next week.

[Eric Vinje]

Debra –

Aphids overwinter as eggs, while box elder bugs overwinter as adults. Yes, they will return next season. However, there are steps you can take now to control these insect pests using natural, least toxic methods. I have included links below.

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

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Hello –

There is not a natural pre-emergent herbicide that will work on grasses. However, there are several natural weed killers that will work on undesirable plants. All are non-selective — kills grasses and weeds — and work via dehydration. As a result, they do best when applied on hot sunny days. Results are visible within a couple of hours and are safe for use around people, pets, livestock and wildlife. Here’s a couple of links to some of the best available:

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/scythe-herbicide/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/avenger-weed-killer/
https://www.planetnatural.com/product/horticultural-vinegar/

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Diane –

Commercial fluorescent lights such as shop lights, have long been used by indoor gardeners and they will keep plants alive if not healthy and productive. But using the latest generation fluorescent grow lights will result in noticeable improvement. Fluorescents are affordable, use less electricity than high-density lights and are cool to operate.

Advances in spectral display and intensity of fluorescents designed specifically for indoor gardening, such as high output T5 lamps, make them a good choice for the casual indoor gardener. A T5 fluorescent light system will put out almost twice the light as a standard shop light.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product-category/growing-indoors/grow-lights/t5-lighting-fluorescents/

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Joe –

This article will help.

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

[Eric Vinje]

Evelina –

We’ve written an article on growing lovage (link provided below). Please let us know if it helps!

https://www.planetnatural.com/growing-lovage/

[Eric Vinje]

Joe –

Yes you can. Azomite is a natural source of minerals and trace elements that helps improve flavor and weight at harvest time. We recommend using 1 Tbsp per gallon container.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/azomite-44-lb/

Hope this helps!

[Eric Vinje]

Donald –

We offer the Garden Variety Pack. Here’s the link:

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/garden-variety-pack/.

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