The Different Benefits of Organic Fertilizer for Houseplants

Now that the chilly season has sunk in, it’s time to put even more focus on those plants inside the house. Whether you’ve got a whole garden inside or a few plant babies speckled throughout the home, you have to take proper care of them now. We all want a fully blooming plant, but how exactly do you get that when they’re not getting much sun?

One answer? Fertilizer. You may only think that’s an option for outdoor plants or your grass, but it’s not. In fact, it may be the one thing your indoor plants really need to succeed.

So how do you find the right one? First things first—go for organic. Chemical fertilizers may have their own benefits, but organic is always better when it comes to what’s inside your home. Below, we’ll talk more about the different benefits of organic fertilizer. Check it out!

They Improve the Soil

Ever gotten a plant where the soil just doesn’t feel right? That may result from several factors, but one thing that will help that and your plant is organic fertilizer. Fertilizers help to improve soil texture, boost water retention, and increase crucial bacterial activity within.

And when your soil improves, your plant improves. But how is organic fertilizer different from synthetic fertilizer? Synthetics will deplete soil nutrients, leaving your soil and your plant unproductive.

They Protect the Plant

As we mentioned, a good organic fertilizer will help protect your soil, but it’ll also protect the plant itself. Quite a few synthetic fertilizers may use specific ingredients that cause damage to the roots and leaves of your plant. With organic fertilizer, you’ll hardly ever see that occur.

They’re Easier To Use

Maybe you’ve freaked out about touching synthetic fertilizer—you’re not alone. Sometimes you’re not sure what’s it in, and that’s a pretty scary thought. But you don’t have to worry about that with organic fertilizers.

In fact, these fertilizers are just as easy to use—just shake, spray, or mix it in with your soil—but they don’t come with the unknown ingredient list!

They’re Safe for You

The last benefit of organic fertilizers, but certainly not least, is just how safe they are. Organic indoor plant food is safe for your closed-up house in the colder months, safe to touch, safe for pets, and, best of all, safe for the environment as a whole.

If you’ve been looking for a way to up your “green” game, switching to organic fertilizer for all your safe house plant babies is just what you need!

Signs of Foundation and Structural Damage That You May Find in Your Home

Your home is your most valuable asset and it pays to protect and care for it. To prevent expensive or even irreparable damage, you should watch out for the signs of foundation and structural damage and have them repaired immediately. Concrete foundation slab and pier and beam foundations can both develop very serious issues.

If you notice any of the following signs of foundation and structural damage, your home may need foundation repair.

Cracks in Your Walls, Floor, or Foundation

The most obvious sign of foundation damage are cracks in the foundation, your floor, or your walls. These can be both exterior and interior walls.

It’s normal for a foundation to settle in the first two to three years and develop tiny cracks. However, cracks in the concrete block or brick exterior walls can indicate that your home has experienced an unacceptable level of settling. A ¼” crack in your exterior walls can warrant an inspection from a foundation repair service.

Unusual cracks on interior walls, floors, and ceilings are also of concern. If the foundation of your house has had an extreme amount of settling, cracks can appear almost anywhere in your home.

Foundation Upheaval

While foundation settling is common, foundations can also move upwards. Foundation upheaval can have many causes, including soil expansion and contraction. However, excess moisture in the soil due to heavy rain, floods, or underground plumbing leaks is often the cause. Clay soils are commonly affected by moisture.

Frost and freezing temperatures are another common cause of foundation upheaval. When the water in the soil freezes, its volume increases. This can push upwards, putting pressure on your foundation. Like settling, foundation upheaval can cause cracks in the foundation, walls, floor, and ceiling of your home.

Window and Door Frames Separating From Walls

If you notice that the door and window frames of your home appear to be separating from the walls, that's another sign of foundation damage. Likewise, you may notice that your kitchen countertop and cabinets seem to be pulling away from the walls. You could also notice that the doors in your house are sticking or that cabinet doors hang open.

Sagging Floors

If your floors are no longer level or, even worse, are bowing up or dipping down, you likely have foundation damage. The problem might be barely noticeable now, but it will likely get worse and should be fixed as soon as possible.

While many of these signs can indicate other problems as well, it’s a good idea to have a foundation repair professional inspect your home. Having your foundation fixed as soon as possible is vital for keeping your home safe for both you and your family. It can also help keep repair bills lower than they might otherwise be.

Foundation and structural damage are both serious issues. Know the signs of damage as well as what problems are most likely to affect your home. By watching out for these signs, you can protect your home and your family.

How To Make Your House More Comfortable

As people spend more time inside their homes this year than ever before, creating an inviting, pleasant space has never been more important. If your house isn’t a place that currently makes you feel cozy and relaxed, it’s time to make some changes. These tips on how to make your house more comfortable will help you transform your space into a place you never want to leave. 

Block Out Noise as Much as Possible

Hearing outdoor noises such as the sound of loud traffic or noisy neighbors doesn’t exactly create the most relaxing environment. To make your house a more enjoyable place to spend time, try to block out sound as much as possible.

Effective ways to reduce outside noise in your home include installing acoustic mesh panels, using weather strips to seal door frames, upgrading to double- or triple-paned windows, and fixing any holes or cracks in the walls. Even purchasing a set of thick, noise-blocking curtains can help reduce noise levels in your home.

Don’t Underestimate the Impact of Smell

The way that your house smells has a large impact on your comfort. After all, it’s pretty unpleasant to spend time in a place with stale or unappealing scents lingering in the air. To improve the smell of your home, ensure that there is proper ventilation to help flush out unpleasant odors when they inevitably arise.

Upon doing so, consider investing in a few candles or a diffuser with some pleasant-smelling essential oils. You might find yourself surprised at the large impact that the smell of your space has on your comfort level.

Make Sure You Have Ample Insulation

The temperature of your home has a large impact on your comfort. If one of your rooms is always freezing cold while another is perfectly warm, you likely have poor insulation. To ensure that all the rooms in your house remain at a consistent, comfortable temperature, consider enlisting a professional insulation contractor to inspect your current insulation. If you could use an upgrade, installing an insulation material with a high R-value such as closed-cell spray foam insulation or fiberglass batts will help effectively prevent the flow of heat.

Benefits of Pressure Washing

Pressure Washing is defined as the process of cleaning that uses high-pressure water spray. It has been a  common and known method of removing tough dirt and grime build up on most surfaces. Not only does  pressure washing provides visible cleaning it also increases the appeal of your home.  

Aside from these obvious benefits, here are some benefits of pressure washing that are not talked about  or most are not aware of. 

∙ Pressure washing is an all-in process. Pressure washing is the best method to remove dirt  particles from different surfaces and extend the life of your house entirely. This cleaning  process is known among homeowners because it eliminates any splash or dust from any  surface. Since each surface is different and requires different pressure levels for cleansing, pressure cleaning devices are designed to enable users to control the pressure, speed and  

volume of water. The one cleaning can choose the pressure and volume of water according  to the construction material, surface thickness, amount of dust deposition and strength of  the stain. 

∙ Pressure washing saves time and effort. In comparison to the traditional manual scrubbing and  washing of surfaces, pressure washing is far more time saving and efficient. The high-pressure water  sprayed on surfaces is enough to remove debris from all the gaps and cracks, there is no extra effort  needed.  

∙ Pressure washing is cost effective. Regular cleansing and washing of surfaces increases  the life and do not let unattended moss grow on the surface. Cleaning methods other than  pressure washing includes detergents and potent chemicals, which costs a lot of money and  sometimes adversely affect the construction material. Regular pressure washing can slowly  reduce the stains and keep away unwelcome green moss over the driveway. And contrary to  the popular belief, pressure washing saves more water compared to manual washing because  high pressure water can clear any debris in a short span of time making it far more efficient  and water saving.  

∙ Pressure washing promotes healthy living. Pressure washing may not be directly associated  with healthy living but it has been proven to help fight illness and allergies. Some of the most  common allergies on the planet are from mold and pollen, and your home’s siding and roof are  notorious at pollen catchers. A thorough pressure washing of your roof and siding not only eliminate pollen from your house but also prevents any future pollen from sticking. Pressure washing will also  remove mold and mildew. All the dirt, grime, and mildew that accumulates on your home’s exterior  surfaces can be dangerous. 

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), molds can cause throat irritation, eye  irritation, coughing or wheezing, nasal stuffiness, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People  with chronic lung illnesses and with low immunity, may get serious infections in their lungs  when exposed to mold.  

Reaching your roof and siding to remove these organisms is easier done with the use of a  telescopic spray wand, extending the reach of your pressure washer up to 18 feet. Making  pressure washing the high spots of your house easier and safer.

∙ Pressure washing increases safety. Patios, sidewalks, decks, and especially concrete  around pools can become severely slippery when wet. Other factors like algae, mold, and dirt add to the wetness of these areas and may cause a slip and fall accident. As mentioned  before pressure washing makes your house healthier by helping remove pollen and mold  build up that can cause allergies. Pressure washing is the best way to effectively maintain  your home and can fully eradicate mold, mildew, algae, and dirt that has built up over time  and is now leaving your home, sidewalks, driveway, patios, and decks unsightly. A skilled  pressure washer armed with a Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner can get rid of this problem  quickly. A surface cleaner is a pressure washer attachment that enable to anyone to get cleaning jobs done faster than the usual pressure washer nozzle. Not only it’ll speed up your cleaning but it will even it out too. 

∙ Pressure washing is a preventive maintenance procedure. If you allow the grime to  stay on your surfaces, or the stains to sit for long periods of time, it can result to permanent  damage. Mold damages painted surfaces and concrete coatings like cool concrete if left  unchecked for long periods of time. Making pressure washing a part of your consistent  maintenance routine can take years off of an older home and keep it looking new for years  to come. It’s also the most cost-efficient way to wash your entire exterior. 

Pressure washing is a cost efficient and time saving way to clean your home. It does not only  maintain the beauty and life of your home but it keeps it healthier as well, for your family  and everyone living in it.