This year I have overwintered 12 pepper plants. Well inadvertently I brought in some fungus gnats. Anyone have any experience in dealing with these successfully? Been using neem oil, castile soap and water and spraying frequently, but feel like I'm facing a winless battle. Also put about 1/4 inch of sand on the top of each container. Also been using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. To add more drama to all this I have 3 hydroponic towers down the basement and having problems there too. Hoping someone has been able to get through something like this.

The holidays bring twinkling lights, cozy decorations, and beautiful seasonal plants… but if you share your home with a cat or dog, you know December can also bring one very specific worry: “𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭… 𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐭?” Curious cats love to nibble EVERYTHING. Dogs investigate with their mouths. And some classic holiday plants can be risky for both. Good news: There are plenty of gorgeous, festive, pet-safe plants you can enjoy this season — no stress, no midnight emergency vet visits, no barricading the poinsettia behind the toaster. Let’s make your home both beautiful and safe for your furry family this holiday season. 🌟 𝟏. 𝐏𝐞𝐭-𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 These plants bring holiday beauty without the toxicity concerns. ✔ 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐬 (𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐚) * Completely non-toxic * Easy to grow * Gorgeous winter blooms * Safe even if your cat takes a “taste test” One of the BEST holiday plants for pet households. ✔ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 * Great in holiday arrangements * Thrives indoors * Non-toxic and hardy * Cats often play with the leaves, but it’s harmless ✔ 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭 * Pretty blooms for winter countertops * Safe for cats & dogs * Loves bright, indirect light ✔ 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐚 𝐃𝐨𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 (𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬) * Festive speckled leaves * Safe for pets * A great pop of red or pink for holiday décor ✔ 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 (𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞!) * Smells amazing * Safe for pets * Useful in holiday cooking * Perfect for December aesthetics ✔ 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧 * Beautiful for wreath-style displays * Totally pet-friendly * Appreciates the humidity of busy kitchens ⚠️ 𝟐. 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲… 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥) These aren’t highly toxic, but they can cause mouth irritation, stomach upset, or drooling if chewed. ✦ 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐬 * Not the villain they used to be! * Mildly irritating to mouth & stomach * Safe if displayed out of reach * Best avoided for “chewy” pets ✦ 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 (𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞/𝐟𝐢𝐫) * Needles can irritate tummies * Water in the tree stand can contain bacteria or preservatives

December and January are the toughest months for indoor plants. The days are short, the sun is weak, and even your brightest windows don’t feel as bright as they used to. If your plants seem a little “blah” lately, stretching, leaning, fading, or just looking sleepy, they’re not failing. They’re responding to winter’s low light. The good news? You don’t need a grow-light factory to keep them happy. You just need to understand where the best light still exists inside your home during these dark winter days. Let’s help your plants find their perfect winter spot! ☀️ 𝟏. 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡-𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 In winter, the sun sits lower in the sky, and 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 for indoor plants. 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫: * * Herbs * Succulents * Citrus trees in pots * Jade plants * Rosemary * Geraniums * Lettuce & leafy greens 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬: ✔ Rotate plants weekly ✔ Pull them slightly away from cold glass at night ✔ Watch for sudden midday heat on sunny days South windows are the MVP of winter plant survival. 🌅 𝟐. 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭-𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬: 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 East windows deliver soft, reliable morning sun. Perfect for plants that like bright light but not intense afternoon heat. 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫: * Pothos * Peace lilies * Prayer plants * Peperomias * African violets * Holiday cactus * Orchids 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬: ✔ Great spot for flowering houseplants ✔ Perfect for kitchens or breakfast nooks ✔ Light lasts longer on clear winter mornings than you think 🌤️ 𝟑. 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬: 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 Winter sun from the west is softer than summer, but it can still get warm on bright days. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫: * Aloe * Hoya * Philodendrons * Spider plants * Snake plants 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝: ✘ Placing delicate plants too close ✘ Letting the pot touch cold glass If you have a pet-safe household, west windows are also great for wheatgrass and cat grass! 🌥️ 𝟒. 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡-𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬: 𝐋𝐨𝐰 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 North windows receive the least direct light, but they’re still VERY useful in winter.

Winter is cozy for people, but not always for plants. Heaters turn on, fireplaces crackle, and suddenly the air inside your home feels as dry as a desert — especially in December and January. Indoor plants start showing signs fast: * Crispy leaf tips * Drooping even after watering * Brown edges * Static-y soil * Slower growth More fungus gnat activity (yes, weirdly, dry air + overwatering cycles invite them) If you’ve ever thought, “My plants hate winter,” it’s probably not the cold, it’s the humidity. The good news? You don’t need a fancy humidifier to make your plants happier. Here are easy, cheap ways to bump up humidity and keep your indoor jungle thriving all winter long. 🌬️ 𝟏. 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 (𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞!) Plants release moisture through their leaves called transpiration. When you cluster them together, they create their own little humid bubble. Place humidity-loving plants together like: * Ferns * Calatheas * Peace lilies * Pileas * Herbs * Spider plants 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐓𝐢𝐩: Create one “humidity zone” instead of spreading plants all over the house during winter. 🥤 𝟐. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 (𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨-𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐫) This is one of the easiest and most effective solutions. 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝: * A tray, saucer, or shallow dish * Pebbles or stones * Water 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭: 1. Fill a tray with pebbles. 2. Add water to just below the top of the stones. 3. Set your potted plant on top NOT in the water. 4. As the water evaporates, humidity rises right around the plant. This works especially well for herbs and delicate houseplants. 🚿 𝟑. 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬 Bathrooms and kitchens are humidity hotspots that are perfect for plants that like moisture. Great candidates for these rooms: * Mint * Basil * Spider plants * Ferns * Aloe * Pothos * Philodendrons Just make sure the room has good natural light or a small grow light. 💦 𝟒. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭… 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 (𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐭!) Misting 𝑐𝑎𝑛 help, but only if done right. 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:

When frost settles outside, your gardening days don’t have to end... they just move indoors! A sunny windowsill can become a thriving mini-garden for fresh herbs and leafy greens all winter long. The trick is choosing the right spots in your home so your plants stay happy, healthy, and harvest-ready. ☀️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 Sunlight is the number-one ingredient for indoor growing success. * 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬get the most consistent light all day. Perfect for sun-lovers like basil, thyme, and rosemary. * 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 catch gentle morning light. This is great for leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and arugula. * 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 offer strong afternoon light, ideal for chives and parsley. * 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 tend to be dim in winter. If that’s all you have, supplement with a small LED grow light to keep your plants perky. 💡 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐓𝐢𝐩: A mirror or reflective tray behind your pots can bounce extra sunlight back onto your plants! 🌱 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 & 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 Some herbs are winter champions, thriving in cooler indoor temperatures and lower light. Try these dependable favorites: * 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲: Happy in bright, indirect light; harvest outer leaves first. * 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: Fast regrower that loves cool air and sunlight. * 𝐓𝐡𝐲𝐦𝐞: A hardy, compact herb that thrives in sunny spots. * 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭: Tolerates shade and adds freshness to teas and recipes. * 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐡 & 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐞: Shallow-rooted and quick to sprout — perfect for small pots! * 𝐀𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚: Adds a peppery bite and does well in cooler windows. 🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 Even with sunlight, the wrong indoor conditions can stress plants. * 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐬. They dry plants out fast. * 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝟔𝟎–𝟕𝟎°𝐅. Cooler nights mimic outdoor conditions and encourage steady growth. * 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐲. Place pots on pebble trays with water or mist occasionally — especially when indoor heat is running. 💧 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 Winter air dries out soil faster than you might expect, but overwatering can still sneak up on you.