Blog - gardenmyths.com

Can Monarchs Smell Milkweed From 2 Miles Away?

Monarch butterflies and milkweed plants share a special bond. Monarchs rely on milkweed to lay their eggs and feed their caterpillars. For gardeners and conservationists wanting to support these beautiful insects, understanding how Monarchs find milkweed is key. A common claim pops up: Can Monarch butterflies smell milkweed from 2 miles away? Let’s explore what science says about this remarkable relationship.

Monarch landing on the pick flower of a milkweed — Monarch landing on Swamp milkweed (*Asclepias incarnata*), source: Depositphotos

Key Takeaways

Monarchs do NOT smell plants 2 miles away.
They use sight and smell to find milkweed 100 – 200 feet away.
Monarchs do use their feet to taste plants once they land.

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Does Rainwater Make Plants Greener?

Many gardeners have noticed that grass is greener and plants look healthier after a good rain. They conclude that rainwater is better for gardens than tap water. Is that really true? Is rainwater better than tap water? Does rainwater make our gardens greener? Let’s open that umbrella and find out. Key Takeaways Are Plants Greener … Read More

Soil Nitrogen Levels After a Rain

Gardeners claim that nitrogen levels in the soil increase after rain. Water floating down through the air picks up nitrogen and deposits it on and near plants. Lighting adds even more nitrogen to the process. They base their conclusion on the perceived greening of the garden after a rain. In agriculture, it is well understood … Read More

How Much Light is Best For Tomato Seedlings?

How much light should tomato seedlings get? If you give them too little, they will become tall, skinny, unhealthy plants, a condition called leggy. If you give them too much the leaves will be damaged. How much is the best amount?

The new science of growing tomato seedlings will surprise you.

12 tomato seedlings with several red tomatoes in front. — Tomatoes and tomato seedlings, source: Depositphotos

Key Takeaways

Tomato seedlings grow best with a PPFD of 250 to 300.
A DLI of 10 to 13 works best.
All plant seedlings need 8 hours of darkness.

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Should You Use Drainage in Your Pots?

It used to be very common to add drainage material, such as rocks, Leca, or clay pot shards in the bottom of pots for added drainage. Then it was claimed that this is a myth and it does not work. But then some new science this year upsets everything by showing drainage material may actually work.

Should a gardener use drainage material? What kind of material works best?

lady's hand putting leca beads into a pot. — Leca being added to the bottom of a pot of succulents, source: Depositphotos

Key Takeaways

Drainage material reduces the water in the soil.
It is best not to use drainage material in most cases, but it can be useful in the right situation.

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Does Gravel in Pots Increase Drainage – The Latest Science

Logic would have you believe that adding gravel or pot shards in the bottom of a pot or container will increase drainage and this has been a common practice for a long time. More recently some gardening experts and scientists have declared this to be a myth, claiming that gravel does not increase drainage when placed in the bottom of a pot. That is the current thinking.

New science has now been published that debunks the claimed myth and concludes that drainage material in the bottom of a pot or container does increase drainage.

Does Gravel in Pots and Containers Increase Drainage? source: North Dakota State University

Key Takeaways

New science shows that drainage material in the bottom of a pot increases drainage.
Highly porous soils are affected more.
Sand at 60 mm worked best.

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10 Bat Myths Busted

Bats have long been shrouded in mystery and misconception. Their nocturnal habits, unique appearance, and association with darkness have fueled numerous myths and superstitions. This article aims to dispel these falsehoods, revealing the true nature of these vital mammals. Learn to appreciate and understand them.

small brown bat sitting on a finger — What a cute little guy, source: Depositphotos

Key Takeaways

Bats are extremely useful in the garden where they eat a lot of insect pests in colder climates and pollinate fruits in warmer climates.
There is very little threat to humans or pets.
It is rare for them to carry rabies.

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Do Bats Control Mosquito Populations?

I am sure you have heard the stories; that a small bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes a night. This idea is so well known that many people have put up bat houses to attract this animal even though most people hate bats. I guess they hate mosquitoes even worse.

It all makes so much sense. Bats fly at night eating insects. Mosquitoes come out at night to hunt us. Why would bats not eat this plentiful food? And then there is the science; scientists studied bats and determined they could eat 1,000 mosquitoes a night.

In this post, I will look at this myth and explain how the myth originated. It is quite rare for me to be able to know how a myth starts, but in this case, it’s fairly clear.

A Myth is Born - Do Bats Eat Mosquitoes — A Myth is Born – Do Bats Eat Mosquitoes, little brown bat, photo by SMBishop

Key Takeaways

The idea that mosquitoes eat 1,000 a night is mostly a myth.
Only some very small bats eat mosquitoes.
Bat houses do not control local mosquito populations.

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What is DLI – the Daily Light Integral

In the good old days, it was easier for gardeners to talk about the artificial light plants required because most gardeners used fluorescent bulbs and most manufacturers produced about the same quality of bulbs. We could easily say that, for example, African violets should be grown 6 inches below a two-bulb fixture, and that would … Read More

Growing Streptocarpus: Watering

Watering may be the hardest part of growing streptocarpus well. Not because they are difficult to water but because there is a lot of confusion and misinformation about their care. The goal of this post is to describe some watering experiments and provide clarity about watering.

5 or 6 flowers in a cluster, purple color with lots of stripes and spots of dark purple and white — Streptocarpus RP Dreamy Night

Key Takeaways

It’s better to keep streptocarpus wet than dry.
Leaves die back if kept too dry
Provided the potting media is porous, regular watering will not harm the plant.

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Repotting Myths Busted

Gardeners make repotting more complicated than it needs to be and in the process, they have created all kinds of myths about the process. It’s time to simplify repotting and bust the myths around it.

empty pot with a root bound plant laying beside it — Does this plant need repotting?, source: Depositphotos

Key Takeaways

Repotting does less damage to plants than you think and they recover quickly
Don’t listen to so-called experts online – learn to understand the plant and let its natural growth habits direct you.
Many of the repotting rules are myths.

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Should Gardeners Use Greensand Fertilizer?

Greensand is an organic fertilizer that has been around for many years but it has never become popular except in certified organic farms. Are gardeners missing out on an important soil amendment and source of potassium? Key Takeaways What is Greensand? Greensand fertilizer is a natural soil amendment derived from ancient marine deposits, primarily composed … Read More