Should Nitrogen Levels be Reduced for Tomatoes, as They Grow?

Here is a quote that was posted in our Facebook Group: “If you give a tomato plant too much nitrogen, it grows lots of green stuff, but not many tomatoes. Apparently, for maximum production, you have to intentionally starve it of nitrogen a little bit to force it into fruit mode. What is the “right” amount of nitrogen and when?”

I have seen this claim before. Too much nitrogen produces too many leaves and little fruit. But is the claim correct? Should gardeners reduce nitrogen levels as the plant starts producing fruit?

Watch the video version of this post: https://youtu.be/IyKjz77edm4

Key Takeaways
  • Garden advice for feeding tomatoes is wrong.
  • Increase nitrogen as the plant grows.

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Is Your Tap Water Suitable For Plants?

I see a lot of online comments from people who feel their tap water isn’t suitable for plants. People are moving towards distilled, RO water, or rainwater instead. Is this necessary? Is your tap water a problem?

The following are some concerns people have.

  • Chlorine
  • Fluoride
  • pH
  • Hardness (high calcium and magnesium) & alkalinity
  • Sodium
  • Water Softener
  • Lead

Tap water is rarely a problem for outdoor gardens growing in real soil, but it can be a problem for houseplants and plants growing in soilless mixes, and that is the focus of this post.

girl filling watering can at the sink
Key Takeaways
  • Chloride is usually not a problem.
  • Hardness and alkalinity can be a problem.
  • Lead is usually not a problem.

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Does Expanded Shale Fix Clay Soil?

Heavy, sticky clay soil is a problem for gardeners who will try anything to make the soil easier to dig. One proposed option is expanded shale.

Does it work? Should you use it?

Watch the YouTube version of this post: https://youtu.be/tBChiT11Ba4

Key Takeaways
  • Expanded shale does make clay more porous.
  • It does not seem to help plants grow.

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Is Wool Good For The Garden?

For millennia, wool has been prized as a textile fiber, valued for its warmth, durability, and moisture-wicking properties. Is it also a great soil amendment and fertilizer in the garden?

Watch the video for this post here: https://youtu.be/nC3h7vkPozY

Key Takeaways
  • Wool is a high-nitrogen organic material.
  • It works much like compost.
  • It does not control slugs.

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Best NPK Fertilizer for Tomatoes

I was working on a new video about growing tomatoes in hot climates and found all kinds of suggestions about the best NPK for tomatoes. Much of that information was wrong. People are just picking numbers out of the air.

What does science say?

Youtube video
Key Takeaways
  • Online suggestions for tomato fertilizers are mostly wrong.
  • Commercial tomato fertilizers are not science-based and use the wrong NPK.
  • The best NPK for tomatoes is 2-1-1.5.

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Providing the Right Humidity for Plants

Humidity is a form of water, and water is critical for plant growth. We can all sense high and low humidity, but what effect do these extremes have on plants? How does a gardener control humidity to help plants grow well?

Let’s clarify the misunderstandings and myths about providing humidity for plants.

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Are Clear Pots Better for Orchids?

I have been growing orchids for over 40 years, and at one point, I grew over 1,000 orchids. Whenever I was asked about the best orchid pot, I responded with the same answer. Any green plastic pot will work just fine. If it had a raised bottom with drainage holes at the bottom rim (azalea pot), to allow better water drainage, that would be better, but any pot will work.

That answer is still correct. We know that because most hobbyists use that kind of pot.

However, there is some new research that suggests a clear pot may be better. Let’s have a look at what the new science says.

The clear pot on the left shows green roots that photosynthesize. The roots on the right are a slivery-white color because they are dry.
Key Takeaways
  • Opaque has been the standard for many years and still works great.
  • New science says there are some benefits from clear pots.

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GMO Food Labeling In The US Is Now Mandatory

GMO food labeling compliance became mandatory starting June 23, 2025, but if you look at the label on processed food in the US, you won’t see a GMO label.

The reason for this is that the FDA has decided to use a different term. The food will be labeled as “Contains a Bioengineered food ingredient”. The word Bioengineered (BE) is replacing the term GMO.

The general public has been asking for GMO labeling on food for many years. After spending many millions of dollars, they now have their wish.

Protests for GMO labeling, Source: Depositphotos
Key Takeaways
  • USA now labels GMO food.
  • GMO is now called “Bioengineered”

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Reality Time – It’s Time!

I’ve been writing about garden myths for about 15 years, and there are still many more that need attention. I have over 300 started posts that could be finished.

However….. I am also interested in a wider range of myths and it is time to widen the scope of my myth busting.

You might have noticed I have started writing about food and food nutrition myths, and even climate change. So far I have dabbled in these but now it’s time to follow this interest more deeply.

I have decided to start a new venture called Reality Time.

Picture of a large clock with an image of Robert Pavlis in front.

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Spider Mites on Your Houseplants

Spider mites are one of the most common and frustrating pests an indoor gardener can encounter. They can be hard to control if you don’t understand the pest and use the right techniques to control it.

Unfortunately, a lot of the information online is wrong, which causes unnecessary frustration and lost plants.

6 small spider mites, each with two black spots on their back
Two-spotted spider mites, source: CSIRO
Key Takeaways
  • Spider mites prefer warm, dry places, like your home in winter.
  • Check plants regularly and quarantine new plants.
  • Control with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.

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The Secret Seed Hormone that Controls Germination

Have you ever wondered why some seeds sprout instantly, while others need weeks of cold stratification, or maybe just refuse to germinate at all? What about when you cut open a ripe tomato and find little sprouts already growing inside? Why does that happen?

Well, the secret behind all this behavior boils down to one powerful chemical compound: Abscisic Acid, or ABA. Think of ABA as the seed’s internal timing mechanism. Today, we’re diving into how this hormone acts as a powerful brake, and crucially, how you can release that brake to get faster, healthier germination.

tomato slice with germinating seeds.
Vivipary in tomatoes, Source:  J. Copes
Key Takeaways
  • The hormone ABA stops seeds from germinating.
  • Various seed pre-treatments reduce ABA levels, allowing germination to happen.

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