Advice for low-maintenance indoor gardening
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By Melinda Myers
just as tough as other pothos. Show off their trailing habit in a hanging basket container on’t let a lack of brightly displayed on a shelf or set upon a pedestal. lit windows stop you from You’ll find a variety of philodendrons for gardening indoors. Include your indoor garden. Brasil has dark green some low-maintenance, heart-shaped leaves with a golden stripe low-light houseplants and down the middle. Brandi, another trailing maintenance strategies to philodendron, has olive green heart-shaped boost your success. leaves with silver splashing. These can be Low-maintenance gardening starts with allowed to trail or trained up onto a trellis. proper plant selection. Match the plant to Golden Goddess has larger chartreuse the growing conditions and your gardening leaves that make a dramatic statement in style. a home or office. When small, it’s great ZZ plant is a favorite low-light, lowfor desks and tabletops but you’ll need to maintenance plant. You’ll see it in hotels transition it to a floor plant as it climbs its and shopping malls where light and care are support, growing up to six feet tall. often limited. Avoid overwatering that can Add a subtle touch of orange with Prince lead to root rot and the plant’s death. of Orange. The new leaves of this shrubby You’ll need to do a bit of searching to philodendron emerge a coppery orange and find a few of the newer ZZ plant varieties. eventually age to green. It grows 24 or more Zenzi is compact with curled leaves while inches tall. Raven has dark purple black foliage that The name says it all. A cast iron plant is contrasts nicely with the green and chartough and tolerant of low-light and benign treuse leaves of nearby plants. neglect. Individual long strappy leaves Peace lily is another popular low-light sprout from the ground to create a mass of plant found in a variety of public places. It greenery. This growth habit has made it a requires moist soil to thrive, making it the popular groundcover in milder climates. perfect plant for those that tend to overwaVariegated varieties with splashed or stripter. ing can be difficult to find but add to its Increase your success by mixing organic beauty. Wild Valley Farms’ wool pellets (wildvalNew varieties of Chinese evergreen have leyfarms.com) into the potting mix. This found their way into many garden centers. sustainable soil additive retains moisture, Their green leaves may have silver highreducing watering by up to 25%. It also lights like those of Calypso, Cecilia, and adds air space, improving the growing Golden Bay. Add a bit of red to your indoor conditions for all indoor plants and helps garden with the Red Gold and Ruby Ray reduce the risk of overwatering. Chinese evergreen. Pothos and philodendron are traditional Low-light indoor plants allow you to add low-light favorites. New cultivars provide a greenery where you once thought it wasn’t fresh look to these indoor beauties. possible. Their added beauty will help lift Neon pothos has vibrant neon green foli- your spirits, reduce stress, and increase foage sure to brighten any spot in your home. cus while improving your indoor air quality. Pearls and Jade has smaller cream and green (Myers has written more than 20 gardenvariegated leaves. It’s slower growing but ing books.)
Tips for keeping you, your family safe while traveling during the pandemic By Jen Beck
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f you find yourself dreaming of beach relaxation, a breezy drive through the mountains, or a road trip out of Nebraska, you’re certainly not alone. People from across the world are ready to hit the trails and take a vacation or simply see something outside the four walls of their home. You’re probably wondering if it’s the right time or if you can safely see the sites. Whether you decide to stick close to home or take an adventure, travel will look different this year, and there are ways to keep you and your family safe. As more and more people receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the message remains the same. Get your vaccine. Hold on to your vaccine record card. You may need it to board a plane in the future, especially if you’re considering an international flight. While there hasn’t been a definitive answer on the requirements of keeping your vaccine card, countries are requiring a test upon arrival and departure from resorts and destinations. If you’ve previously tested positive and are outside of your quarantine, your doctor may have to provide a letter that says you successfully completed isolation and are free to be among the humans. Documentation is key for travel in the near future.
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f you decide to stay overnight in a new place, make sure to look ahead for their mask mandates. Outside Nebraska, requirements can be very different. Masks might need to be worn in the community, whether outside or inside. You may encounter a community that only allows for take-out and dine-in isn’t an option. If you plan excursions, double check the location’s occupancy rate. The last thing you want to do is road trip for eight hours only to find out your favorite place to eat is closed temporarily and the adventure you were on is limited to half capacity. Your mode of travel may change as well. If you choose to fly, airlines may or may not have open middle seats, reduced capacity, and mask requirements. Check before you fly to make sure you can change flights if you feel uncomfortable without a change fee. Many flights offer a free change fee through a certain date or allow cancellation up to weeks before the travel period. If you choose to drive, each rental car organization will have a different standard of cleanliness for their cars. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a reduction in unnecessary travel, you have to decide what’s best for you and your family. If a new baby arrived in the family, and you’ll stop at nothing to get in baby cuddles, make sure you do it safely. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve known to wash our hands and sanitize often as your first defense, and that hasn’t changed. Spending more time preparing and researching before your trip will help prevent headaches, change fees, and hopefully, all the hassle. (Beck is with Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. in Omaha.)
DCHD vaccinations...
--Continued from page 3. residents. The number of doses the state receives each week will increase, more appointments will be available at more sites, and the eligibility requirements will expand. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, who is eligible to receive a vaccination, when, and where, log on to douglascountyhealth.com or call 402444-3400.
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New Horizons
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April 2021
