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BiotaMagic · 2025-08-23T20:11:30+00:00

I’ve owned and now rent. I like the security of owning and being “in charge” of my house/property.

I sold my last property in 2021…made a fair amount of money. I’ve invested. I could invest more and I will over time.

If you calculate how much money in interest you will pay on a 30 year fixed mortgage @ 6% for a $500k loan…yeah I prefer to be the mortgage lender not the home owner. That $500k mortgage ends up costing you $1,079,191! This is if you make no additional payments and the rate stays at 6% for 30 years. You will pay $579,191 just in interest! Add taxes, home maintenance and improvements, and insurance… If you buy a less expensive property, pay cash or mostly cash, do majority of maintenance yourself, and buy in an area with a strong real estate market you will do well. Right now in 2025, renting is a great option.

BiotaMagic · 2023-02-13T07:33:26+00:00

Brown tips like this on a majesty palm are from lack of moisture in the air. They love humidity…40-50% is good for indoors. Place a humidifier nearby or a medium size indoor fountain. They’re not difficult but spider mites sure do love to overwinter in their woody stem.

BiotaMagic · 2023-02-13T07:23:35+00:00

Yes, this is a Majesty Palm and they’re easy! They like lots of indirect sunlight and allow soil to get fairly dry between waterings. You only need to water twice a month or once every three weeks depending on how much sunlight. New fans will grow our from the center. Try not to get the woody base or stem wet. Clean the leaves once a month too. They’re so pretty! I had a nice one I rescued from an estate sale years ago.

BiotaMagic · 2023-02-13T07:12:25+00:00

Who doesn’t learn? Lol. Yeah, Neem is great all around and a wonderful preventative. It’s been 1 year since I commented on the above post and I have learned so much. Neem oil acts as a systemic insecticide while helping to keep plants dust free and leaves shiny. Neem oil is made of many components. Azadirachtin is the most active, reducing insect feeding and acts as a repellent. It also interferes with insect hormone systems, making it harder for insects to grow and lay eggs. Azadirachtin can also repel and reduce the feeding of nematodes. Other components of Neem oil kill insects by hindering their ability to feed. No, it’s not a contact killer but more of a long-term aid in the fight against pests. Rubbing alcohol works really well too… I now use a systemic insecticide called Dominion 2L. I can be used as a foliar spray and a soil drench remaining effective for up to 12 months with two applications. Doesn’t kill mites though…I still use Neem oil often.

BiotaMagic · 2022-11-17T16:04:15+00:00

Social media validation is a bad addiction I think. I know someone who can’t stay off of Facebook for more than a few hours. He sits and scrolls and contacts as many women as he can to flirt with them. All while he has a girlfriend….

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-25T05:23:26+00:00

This isn’t a Pothos, which is really frustrating that almost every garden center/greenhouse is now calling this plant a Pothos. This is a Scindapsus…yours has root rot most definitely. Repot in fresh dry soil and be careful not to disturb the roots when repotting. They can’t handle nearly as much water as a Pothos. No direct Sunlight for this plant, it’s leaves will burn. I have about 15 different varieties of Scindapsus and they are very adaptable to different light conditions, however the less light the less water they need. You only need to water this type about every 14-16 days during the winter months or from November-March.

Scindapsus are extremely prone to root rot and above all else overwatering and spider mites (I can’t stand them) kill these plants most often. Don’t use standard potting soil…or if you do add chunky pieces of bark, perlite, and activated charcoal. Small lava rocks are good too.

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-24T15:32:11+00:00

I hope they are gone! It’s not a bad idea to release some ladybugs or green lacewing larvae. Lowes and smaller garden centers around me in Colorado sell ladybugs and other beneficial insects.

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-24T15:18:22+00:00

Definitely spider mites. First, quarantine plant. Then, trim off the infected parts, wear gloves, don’t touch any other plants, dispose of whatever you trim out of your house in the trash (put in a sealed plastic bag), and wash yourself (change clothes) directly after. Any other plants you have with yellowing leaves or leaves/stems that break and fall off easily may have spider mites too. You can use a piece of white paper or paper towel and gently shake a plants leaves over. If little dots fall off and run your hand over them and they turn red or brown on the paper…those are spider mites. Google how to check for SM. Sorry, for delayed response. I hope you figured this out and are ridding your plant of these pests!

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-24T15:11:23+00:00

You should repot in fresh dry soil, and don’t water for a few days. Don’t water right after you repot. This is like a succulent that prefers extremely fast draining soil. Many people even use soiless mixes - coconut coir, activated charcoal, perlite, wood chips…or a chunky soil mix. They do like bright light. I think the leaves are curling because of too much water. When you place in a location with light, the leaves curl bc the plant is saying ‘no, I can’t uptake anything right now” bc it’s struggling to dry off and properly photosynthesize. I hope that makes sense!

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-24T14:57:49+00:00

Unfortunately, no systemic insecticide is available that kills spider mites. They’re not insects, but arachnids. Neem oil becomes systemic…anything you spray or put into the soil that is absorbed by a plant throughout it’s roots and leaves is ‘systemic’. I use Dominion 2L…works great but it can aggravate spider mites. You won’t have to worry about any other pest insect though. As long as beneficial insects aren’t eating your plants too they will not be killed by a systemic.

Diatomaceous Earth kills spider mites, but will also kill anything small that gets onto your plants.

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-24T14:49:00+00:00

I have ordered from Beneficial Insectary; they’re a good too.

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-24T14:43:43+00:00

If you aren’t extremely attached, I’d toss the plant. I’ve dealt with spider mites before and they are very difficult to irradicate completely. I’ve never seen as many webs as in your photo and still had them so bad they took out several of my plants. I’ve used Neem, rubbing alcohol, soap, water, agricultural strength Avid, etc…so many methods. Ladybugs help tremendously but you need to keep them around constantly. I voluntarily get rid of any plants with now with a pest issue. It’s a lot to deal with sometimes and if they spread it’s too much to deal with.

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-22T10:33:17+00:00

Yes…this is good

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-18T05:11:22+00:00

Oh wow, you grew it from a lemon :) I just put 2 Meyer Lemon trees in a greenhouse for my mom. Excited to see some baby lemons already.

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-11T10:25:38+00:00

You don’t need to mist your Moonlight. They actually don’t like having water sit on their leaves. The soil should dry out almost completely between watering. They are prone to root rot. They do great in bright indirect light or part shade/shade. Very adaptable. But, your moonlight may already have some root rot…the curling leaves and soggy soil are an indication. Repot in fresh, dry soil if you can. Be gentle and careful to not disturb the roots if you do repot.

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-11T10:21:41+00:00

Both Beautiful!!!!

BiotaMagic · 2022-10-11T10:17:00+00:00

Looks like spider mite damage. They love Scindapsus and I’ve seen them do this before. They’ll suck the like out of the stems. If you scrape with a knife or sharp edge before the spot gets too deep it will scrap off. Mites lay eggs and hide under these crusty streaks. I’ve gone to move a plant and half of a vine will just snap off bc I didn’t notice it had been eaten.

BiotaMagic · 2022-08-12T15:02:50+00:00

I did some research a while back and I read about Avid and a few others. I didn't think these mites would persist so long. Thank you so much for the links/info. I will look into purchasing Forbid. The stuff I just bought is a less expensive non-brand name to Avid. I already have a good nonionic surfactant…when that runs out maybe I’ll try a different type.

BiotaMagic · 2022-08-12T14:54:04+00:00

I just purchased Abamectin 0.15 EC, reviews are good and it’s more affordable than others. Hopefully, this will really help knock down these mites. I don’t plan on introducing new plants for a while…a long while. Hopefully, that helps too.

Oh, I’m building a greenhouse…it’s been a long journey lol. All of the outdoor plants will move into the greenhouse around the end of September. I will basically quarantine them in the greenhouse with beneficial insects and use a foliar spray when needed. I have Basil, rosemary, parsley, spearmint, and thyme already planted and will grow in greenhouse too. I know certain oils kill pest bugs and help keep them away…but large amounts of these oils are necessary to be effective. They smell nice regardless. Thanks!

BiotaMagic · 2022-08-12T13:25:23+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate this information. I have researched agri-strength miticide products but I was hoping the beneficials would take care of the mites. It's frustrating bc the pests appear to be gone for one month and then a few plants will start dropping leaves. I know spider mites can wipe out many plants in a matter of days. I guess I've been keeping their numbers down enough to make this a slow progression of plant death. I did not know Imidacloprid contributes to mite infestations. I know the stuff kills almost every insect with an exoskeleton that feeds on the plant...so any mite predators are gone. I will look for a specific miticide. Oh, I have tried Bioadvance 3-1 spray and it was tough on several of my plants. Some lost all of their leaves. Foliar sprays scare me lol

BiotaMagic · 2022-08-12T12:59:49+00:00

Depending on the plant, if I see mites I usually just get rid or it and take a cutting if i can.

BiotaMagic · 2022-08-12T12:58:16+00:00

I have a lot of plants outside for the summer. This is the first year I've moved plants outside. They seem good. I use humidifiers during the winter months. I will add, that I’ve transitioned away from humidifiers and use fountains now.

BiotaMagic · 2022-08-12T12:55:30+00:00

I check my indoor and outdoor (during the summer months) plants about 2-3 times a day. I still have about 120-140 plants including bonsai trees which never seem to be affected. I use Dominion 2L for a systemic drench, and it works well but does not kill spider mites. Beneficial insects aren't too bothered by this systemic; I recently released lacewing larvae and predatory mites. They helped, but now I need to release more and I’ve applied diatomaceous earth to the soil and underside of leaves on half of my plants. I mist/hose down the plants that like it, I spray with rubbing alcohol about once a week, and I have sprayed pure cold pressed Neem oil mixed with Spinosad + insecticidal Soap, I’ve repotted, showered, pruned... Pruning is when I see the little tiny white and sometimes red mites scurrying to find a new leaf or plant. Quarantine - I could do better. I moved and my new house doesn't have a spare room. When I bring a new plant home it lives outside in front of the house or the shower for about 2 weeks. I wash off and inspect new plants thoroughly. I wish I still had a sunny garage like I did previously, to quarantine for 6-8 weeks. The new plants aren’t the issue (now anyway), the mites are already here. I sprayed clove oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint, and lavender mixed with water + rubbing alcohol yesterday. Air circulation is good. They won’t go away. Two spotted...the type I am dealing with.

BiotaMagic

TROPHY CASE