Home & Garden
Home is not only a dwelling with walls and a roof, but home is where the heart is. Our homes and our gardens that we grow and cultivate reflect who we are. In the Home and Garden category, you can ask questions about homeowners' rights and responsibilities, the best plants for your garden, how to do home repairs, and much more.
Asked in Home & Garden, Scattergories and Words Starting with Certain Letters
What are some bathroom items that begin with the letter K?

Items found in a bathroom that begins with K:
If your Name starts with K you could be in there! (or my bath
towels!)
a kid
K-Y Jelly
Kaboodle makeup case
kaboodles
Kaboom
kangaroo toy
Kaolin
Kaopectate
Kaser (an old time term for toilet)
keepsakes
Keratin (fingernails, hair)
Keri Lotion
Kermit the Frog tub toy!
Ketones
Key
Keyhole
Keys, for decoration or to open cabinets.
Khazi (aka toilet)
kid's bathtub toys
kidney stones
kids
Kids toys
Kiehl's lotion
Killer smell
Kilogram scale
Kilt
Kimono
Kindergartners
Kitch
Kitchen sponge
kite
Kite towels
Kit first aid
kitten (at least in mine, spends his time in the tub)
Kiwi shampoo
Kiwi shoepolish
Kleenex
Knees
Knick-knack
knickers
knife
Knit wash cloth
Knobs
Knot
Kohler faucet
Kohler fixtures.
Kohler gold faucet
Kohler products
Kohl make-up
Kohl pencil
kool-aid
kooties
Kotex
Kravat used to hold bandages on or as a sling
kumquat shampoo or soap.
kid's toys
Asked in Home & Garden, Houseplants, Botany or Plant Biology
Can you revive an adiantium fern?

If it is not totally dessicated and dead, what I would do is get
a small bottle (2 oz. or 4 oz.) of a product called superThrive at
a local garden center or nursery . Not expensive, maybe $7. u.s.
for the smaller size. Depending on the size of the fern, put it in
a container/bucket and put enough water in the bucket to cover the
roots and some of the foliage. If necessary, put a weight of some
kind on top of the plant to hold it down in the water. Then put 1/2
teaspoon of superThrive in the water, and mix it thoroughly. (if
you like, you can put the superThrive in the water first, then
apply to the fern). A small amount, a drop or two only, of a dish
soap like Dawn will help the water and the superThrive get into the
plant's leaves and roots.
Let it soak for 24-48 hours, then plant it and keep it in a cool
area, no direct sunlight but bright light. If it is going to
survive, you will see new leaves emerging from the base within a
month or so, perhaps sooner. When you do, carefully cut out all
old, dead leaves down to the base. Depending on the condition of
the fern to begin with, this can be done before the treatment is
applied.
superThrive is a plant medicine-enhancer-invigorator, not a
fertilizer. Do not fertilize this plant or any plant under stress.
Only after it is showing new growth, would I apply a mild (1/2
strength) dose of fertilizer along with another application of
superThrive in the water for the plant, on the leaves and the roots
too.
I have saved many plants, large and small, using this technique.
Good luck! :o)
Asked in Home & Garden, Antiques
What is gilt brass?

Quite simply, brass that has a gold wash over it. Vermiel = gold
over silver.....Ormolu = gold over bronze....dore = gold over
brass. Commonly this was used on drawer pulls, brass feet, and many
other metal accents on furniture, mostly so that the brass would
not have to be polished...the gold always stayed bright and shiney.
This is also a common technique on costume jewelry...thus the brass
will not turn green when it touches your skin....until the gold is
worn off, or polished off. A very common mistake...gilt surfaces
should not be polished....mild soap and water does all the cleaning
required...anything more harsh or abrasive only removes the gilt
finish.
Asked in Home & Garden, Building and Carpentry
How do you replace a ceramic wall mounted toilet paper holder that fell off the wall?

scrape out the old thin set that held it in clean up the area
where it came out and use more thin set to adhere it back into the
space.
*Reads like the answer presumes this is set into the wall. If it
is not, but was instead attached to the wall surface, clean off the
base and use PL Premium to re-attach it to the wall. This will work
even if the wall is tile, but may need some support until the
adhesive dries (packing tape will suffice). If you use Tuck Tape as
I once did, you will have great difficulty removing it from tile.
Regardless of which way it was mounted, ensure that the reason for
it falling off is not due to moisture causing the surface to
deteriorate.
Asked in Home & Garden, Lawn Mowers and Garden Tools
How old is a mcculloch pro-mac 5000 av chainsaw and are they good saws?

I have owned a McCulloch Pro-mac 5000AV since 1996 and it has
served me very well. I have paired this saw with a Husqvarna 55
(purchased in 1997) for significant woodcrew efforts (downing and
cutting dead trees, cutting fallen trees, cutting delivered logs)
over the last 13 years and both have been extremely reliable. Both
saws have significant anti-vibration designs that work quite well.
dwmobrien1@aol.com
Asked in Home & Garden, Holidays and Traditions, Entertainment & Arts
What percentage of people show for a party?

I think it is a matter of your social circle. Obviously, I am
one of those whose guests arrive early and leave early, don't show
or find something better to do. Reading online, it seems like it
may be a matter of the invitation. Online hints include:
Contact them at a good time (like after dinner)
Bring in personal interest during your conversation inviting
them
Give them a role - bring something, guest
Recontact them later if they cannot give you a yes or a no at
that time
In person contact is better than phone
The way you ask them might be: I'm having a party next weekend.
I'd love it if you could come!"
Send the particulars on line or on paper so that they have all
the information they need to get there on time and
party!
Asked in Home & Garden, Compost and Mulch
What is compost for plants?

Compost acts as the natural fertilizer for plant. It also makes
the plant healthy and the plant remains free from the poison of
fertilizers which can contaminate the water and can damage our
digestive system if the fruits or the crop is eaten. Compost can be
made at home out of your vegetable waste, egg shells, coffee, etc.
or you can buy it already prepared from garden shops.
Asked in Home & Garden, Trees, Tree Care, Apples
Can you grow apple trees in the tropics?

Howdy,
Coach Dave here and I work for The Home Depot.
With over 7500 different types of apples you would think there
would be at least one. Unfortunately in true tropical areas this is
very unlikely to happen.
However, there is subtropical types that are mainly for baking.
These are not sweet but they are apples. If you have a a nursery in
the area let them know your looking for subtropical apple trees
like "Williams' Pride" or "Tropical Beauty" however these are very
prone to disease and pest's.
There is a tropical fruit called Custard Apple tree. This is not
really an apple at all but I heard it taste's great.
Most apples tree require 600 to 1000 hours(25-40 days) of chill
time (winter weather) for the tree to properly make apples of any
type of edible fruit.
In conclusion I would recommend trying other fruit like: kiwi,
passion fruit, cherimoya, guava, star fruit, or papaya instead.
I wish you all the best,
Coach Dave