Happy Plant

“If every home would replace 3 light bulbs, that would be equivalent to taking 3 ½ million cars off the road,” says Environmental Defense’s chief scientist, Bill Chameides. (U.S. News & World Report, 12/25/06)

The initial cost of making the switch from incandescent to CFLs (compact fluorescents) can be from 3 to 10 times the price you usually pay for light bulbs, but in one CFL’s lifetime, you can save over $30 on your electric bill and 2000 times the bulb’s weight in greenhouse gases. If indoor bulbs are switched, the fluorescents put out much less heat than incandescent, reducing energy used for cooling systems and reducing fire hazards as well. CFLs use between one fifth and one third of the power of incandescent equivalents. Lighting accounts for about 9 to 20 percent of a home’s electricity, projecting an estimated 12% savings on the bills.

The CFL’s lifespan can be 8 to 15 times that of the traditional incandescent bulbs, provided that bulb is used for longer periods rather than short bursts. Energy Star recommends leaving them on for at least 15 minute intervals for maximum lifespan, which makes them most energy-efficient in offices and commercial buildings where lights are needed to left on for several hours daily. The Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) is a better choice for closet or bathroom lighting that is frequently turned on and off with little extended use.

Amid all these benefits, they do have a few drawbacks. CFLs can take time to reach full brightness, especially in cold temperatures, making other alternatives a better choice for outdoor and motion-detector lighting. Some CFLs cannot be used upside down or base up, as in a ceiling fan, as this will shorten its life. Much like other fluorescent lights, CFLs may emit a buzzing sound, and their light output diminishes by up to 40% over time.

The real kicker is that fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. CFLs specifically contain about 4 milligrams, which is harmless, unless they are broken.

Special care should be taken not to forcefully twist when screwing them into fixtures, and spent bulbs should always be disposed of properly. If breakage does occur, ventilate and evacuate the room, and shut off central air. Don’t vacuum the area. Sweep pieces with cardboard into sealable container. Use sticky-side of tape to pick up remaining glass and powder. Wipe area clean with damp cloth or paper towel, and put this in the sealed container.

Only 3% of CFL bulbs are properly disposed of or recycled. Many areas have local recycling options. See our section on Recycling Sites for CFLs.

How? You may ask yourself. Here are a few facts and suggestions that are surprisingly simple to accomplish:

Last spring, I finally got the chance to cultivate my first garden. I rent a place by the lake, and my landlord gave me free reign over the modest-sized, empty flowerbed directly in front of my apartment. I immediately saw the artistic potential in this endeavor, and spent weeks dreaming up ideas and planning exactly what I wanted to do with this blank canvas of dirt.

I’m extremely fascinated by astronomy, so I envisioned what I call a”space” theme. Basically, this would entail lots of blue for background color to represent the sky with lots of shapes and colors that would characterize all of the heavenly objects.

I went with freesias throughout the bed not only for their gorgeous blue hue, but also for that”fresh air” scent to grace the entrance of my abode. I backed them up with white elephant ears to be the”clouds” sitting atop the blue horizon. I made a”river” of blue morning glories flow from the edge of the bed and up the walls next to my bedroom window. I planted cypress vines with red, pink, and white star-shaped blooms to mingle with the glories growing up the wall. In between the banks of glories in the bed, I added some purple star-shaped campanulas and asters that looked like little purple moons, and in the very center I placed black hollyhocks to resemble a black hole. In the corner farthest away from my door, I put a bright crimson sunflower surrounded by orange poppies to symbolize the powerful, fiery energy of the sun.

Although it’s only been a few months since I put the seedlings into the ground, my”space” garden is flourishing, and already brightens my day whenever I look at it. I’ve added a couple of things here and there for enhancement, like some bright green sweet potato vine showcasing the entire bed, and I’ve even had some welcome wildflowers join. The only bloom I’ve seen so far from the original seedlings was a solitary red star on the cypress vine, but the waiting is part of the excitement of making a garden. I eagerly inspect the progress of my”babies” whenever I enter or leave my home. My neighbor even said to me jokingly,”You know, they won’t grow while you sit there and watch them.” I can’t help it, though. The ultimate expression of this artistic medium will be on the day my”space” theme becomes a reality with all of the colors and shapes of my vision coming together, much like in a painting, out of my head and onto the canvas for the rest of the world to see.

The Humatec Group developed the Root Zone Feeding Program in the mid-1970′s. Its purpose was to feed the plant at the root. We developed a special organic formula in the form of a tablet to feed the plant and create a live organic zone around the root of the plant.

The organic fertilizer tablets can be specially formulated and customized for each type of food plant, tree, grain, etc. Various plants require more of a particular nutrient like iron or zinc to grow healthier and more efficiently, having greater production of foods that have more nutrients. Customized organic fertilizer is high-tech and addresses the needs of the individual plant at the root.

With Root Zone Feeding the plant receives nutrients immediately and has its very own specialized feeding program. There is no runoff, loss of nutrients, wind erosion, or feeding of weeds as broadcasting does. This program is designed for outdoor and indoor plants, nurseries, tree farms, transplanting, and greenhouses or grow houses. This program is ideal for the African countries where soils are extremely depleted. Customizing the feeding of plants is our latest “top of the line” technology.

We have on-going research with this program for the micro food grow program for Africa and other countries that desperately need to grow their own food.