nettle

Cut off the flower stalks but don't chuck them. They are your best hope. There appears to be a little keiki (orchid plantlet) on one of the stalks and you should try and get it to grow roots as it is your best hope for the orchid to live.

Mines simple: a small desert bowl.

• Super easy way to make fancy steam poached eggs - pour a thin layer of water on the bottom of a pot and place small bowls on top (Coat each bowl with oil beforehand). crack an egg into each bowl, turn on heat and place lid on. Cook until white is firm but yoke runny. Serve on bread with avacado or butter
• place on top of butter to keep fresh
• cookie cutter! (Good for other doughs too)
• mini terrarium for micro greens (if bowl is glass)
• your own unique measuring unit that no-one else will understand
• upside down as a stand for raising other dishes up
• 1 person baking vessel - bake things in it
• scooper
• lid for jar
• pot for herbs

Awesome photo

This is amazing I didn't know they could be coulored like that either. Thought it was coulor swapped first. Beautiful photo

I love micromoths too. we've got a micromoth called Zealandopterix zonodoxa its so cute and even has little mandibles that it can eat with. I love them so much.

Spagnum or some other moss (preferably home grown). if you buy it make sure to get the stuff that is still slightly alive (dried not toasted else it will rot and not work very well.

Most "sustainable" sources aren't all that sustainable, but its my favourite substrate nonetheless, I'm currently trying to grow it myself (not very sucsesfully tho)

My favourite sandwich ingredient would have to be avacado. Though I realise its unobtainable for most people, Im lucky to grow 2 fruiting tree's so get em for free.

fresh baked bread with a drizzle of olive oil. Toped with avacado, homegrown olives tomato and lettuce (and some very old Edam if you feel like it). But don't forget to add some homemade Rocoto chilli sauce somewhere along the way, adding some sweet tropical spice.

Unfortunately avacados are seasonal. We get them for about half the year. For the other half I must sit and wait, patiently biding my time. Waiting for the sun to rise on a day when the avacados will ripen once more.

In my experience the best defence against ants is ants, they are very territorial.

I have had a colony of ants in a little box just inside my window for about 10 years now. They come in and out through a little crack in the window frame. The ants always stay near the window. I can even leave my food out and they won't touch it (though any food placed on the windowsill would quickly be demolished). They seem to be only there for shelter. I respect their home and they respect mine.

However in another room that doesn't have a resident colony I have problems with these pesky little ants that steal any food left out. They are so small they can even go under some lids. Their nest is outside yet they are so much more of a pain.

For you i would say there is no "nipping the colony off at the bud", the ants are already there and properly settled, they probabably would have allready found the food if they were intrested in it, but if they start being a problem and taking food then you can get rid of them.

Otherwise just keep your house boundaries (such as with diatomaceous earth or carnivorous plants or in my case nothing at all), and they will be loyal guards of your porch, defending off annoying ants and many plant pests while improving soil. (Some ants also have symbiotic relationships with certain plants such as Pseudomyrmex ferruginea with Vachellia cornigera. the plants provide food and shelter and the ants defend the plant with their life).

Idk, I love ants. They are an important part of the ecosystem, and we couldn't live without them. A loyal colony is good defence against other pests. And it's nice entertainment watching them form highways carrying food and eggs too and fro. But if they become a nuisance in the house then you do probably need to get rid of them sadly.

Glad to be helpful :)

Bananas do and will loose their bottom leaves as they grow, so no surprises there.

As you probably know the black flaky stuff on the outside is normal sap, not mildew. As far as u can see there is only mildew present where the frond meats the trunk.

As there is only a small amount of mildew and no signs of rot I don't think the mildew caused the leaf falling off (rather just natural growth). If it gets more chronic mildew it may cause issues in the future. We grow our bannanas outside and powdery mildew between old fronds is a given, and not a concern, however indoor plants are a lot more prone to disease so it may be a worry.

P.s. its not powdery mildew (mildew is white/grey). Its probably just some kinda mold that settled in the crack left by the leaf falling off. I would only be concerned if it is present between young fronds or starts rotting the trunk.

I like the way it seems she's quickly escaping the cameras focus and about to duck behind the tree. It captures her elusive charm.

Makes the photo seem more alive. As if saying "in the corner of your eye you see a red flash above you. You look up, only to see a shaking branch suddenly relieved of weight. And far in the distance is the sound of beating wings."

Sorry :( here's a baby fern to hopefully make you happier