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How to Save Money on Your Homeowners Insurance in Florida & Beyond: How to Lower Your Homeowners Premiums & How I Saved Over $1,000
If you are one of many homeowners who felt a near-electric shock when opening your most recent insurance renewal, you are not alone. Insurance rates are skyrocketing, especially in states like Florida where premiums are rising at double and even triple rates. And no, "triple" is not a typo now that exorbitant insurance rate hikes have become the "new normal." Adding fuel to this fire, many homeowners are finding themselves suddenly uninsured after being dropped by their insurer -- often without ever having filed a single claim. Even if you are one of the lucky ones who has not yet been "ghosted" by your carrier, your latest policy renewal might…
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How to Make Beautiful Hanging Flower Baskets Like Disney Using Coconut Coir Liners: 11 Tricks for Amazing Flower Baskets
If you have ever been to Disney, you may have noticed hanging flower baskets that are basically big, gorgeous orbs of flowers with no visible baskets in sight. Full and lush, such bountiful blooms are similar to the stunning flowers that grace balconies in Bavaria. Either way, the look may seem impossible to achieve at home unless you are a professional gardener. Believe it or not, there are simple pro tricks to help you recreate such stunning hanging flower baskets in your own yard. One of which is that underneath those mammoth flowers, there is often a coconut coir fiber liner supporting them. This is just one of the secrets…
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How to Attach A Phalaenopsis Orchid to A Tree
Phalaenopsis orchids are one of the most popular orchids around. Beautiful and tropical, these orchids grow naturally on trees in tropical and semi-tropical places. As epiphytes, Phalaenopsis orchids love living on tree bark in warm climates that mimic their native wild habitat. Just take a look at the photos on this page of lush, thriving orchids with long, robust root tips grabbing onto tree bark, and it is quickly apparent just how much orchids love growing on trees. Would you like to try growing your Phalaenopsis orchid in this rustic, natural style that promotes orchid growth and vitality? If so, keep on reading to learn how easy it is to…
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How Much Cold Can A Phalaenopsis Orchid Tolerate? Orchids & Cold Weather
As an arctic blast prepares to sweep all the way to the Florida Keys, a question on many orchid growers' minds is, "How cold is too cold for my orchid?" Well, it's on the minds of many of my neighbors, most of whom have a Phalaenopsis, Vanda, Cattleya or other orchid growing on trees or in baskets. As a matter of fact, in January, blossoms tumble from branches and baskets brightening each yard with flashes of color each more eye-catching than the next. It's like springtime in winter... that is until a Canadian cold front is forecast to blast frigid artic air our way. Which begs the question, "How cold…
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How To Get Your Phalaenopsis to Bloom in Winter
A blooming Phalaenopsis is a beautiful sight indeed... especially when those first buds appear on your Phalaenopsis in the chill of mid-winter. Of all orchid types, Phalaenopsis is actually one of the easiest orchids to rebloom. There are, however, a number of factors at play when it comes to blooming a Phalaenopsis, or "moth orchid," in winter. Believe it or not, some of these factors are actually within your control. Among these, surprisingly, is the "internal clock" within a Phalaenopsis that lets the orchid know the time has come to prepare to bloom. How exactly can you influence this? Well, read on because if your "Phael" is struggling to rebloom…
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Unique Christmas Gift Ideas 2021: Inspiration For Last Minute Shoppers
While Christmas and the holiday season are about so much more than presents, it is undeniable that many of us express our affection by searching for that one-of-a-kind gift for that special someone. With Christmas 2021 nearly upon us, the clock is beginning to run down on finding that perfect unique gift for all the special people on your list. Feeling your frustration, and to make the quest for the perfect gift that much less stressful, I have compiled a list of some unique Christmas gift ideas for 2021: inspiration for last minute shoppers. Hopefully, something here sparks a last-minute gift idea to surprise and delight those who made your…
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How To Decorate A Room With High Ceilings For Christmas
An icy chill grips the air... frost is on the windshield, and Halloween is over. This can only mean one thing - it's time to decorate for Christmas, of course. Christmas, the holiday season, and the winter solstice are all nearly upon us, so it is definitely time to deck the halls. These days, however, our "halls" often include high, vaulted or cathedral ceilings. While this feature of modern homes makes rooms feel extra large and open, ultra-high ceilings can pose challenges when it comes to holiday decorating. On the bright side, all that extra space provides plenty of canvas to project your greatest Christmas and winter wonderland fantasies. Let's…
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How To Grow Orchids Bare Root Without A Medium Or Pot
If you have an orchid, you are probably aware that most orchids are sold in media in some type of pot. Home gardeners often continue this pot-bound method of growing their orchids until suddenly they notice their orchid struggling. But, what if I told you there is a better way to grow your orchids? A method that mimics an orchid's natural way of growing? A method that avoids many orchid-growing problems, while offering a stunning, wild and rustic way to display your orchids... Well, there is, and this method is called growing your orchids "bare root" without a medium or pots. That's right, under certain conditions, you can grow your…
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October Garden Chores: Essential Fall Tasks In Your Garden To Savor The Season
Spring and summer may be celebrated for their colorful flowers bursting with new life but October is truly a tapestry of vibrancy even as life slows in anticipation of winter darkness. The dropping temperatures in the march toward winter make October one of the most delightful times to be outside, savoring the season, especially as rapid changes take place altering the garden landscape. Low humidity and brisk, fresh air makes otherwise tedious garden tasks of harvesting and clean-up that much more enjoyable. Not to mention, the kaleidoscope of Fall colors that is the changing leaves and vivid Fall flowers. Let's take a look at a few essential October garden "chores"…
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How To Grow Fresh Herbs Indoors This Winter
As the temperatures drop and the breezes turn brisk, it seems the time has come to bid our bountiful summer gardens adieu for now... But, wait... It doesn't have to be this way -- especially when it comes to our herb garden. Why leave your herbs outdoors in the ground to weather the long, cold winter? Most herbs can easily be potted, brought indoors and grown and enjoyed inside all winter long. Yes, you can still enjoy the scent and flavor of many fresh picked "summer" herbs in your dishes even in the dead of winter. So, if you want to enjoy fresh herbs and a sense of "summer" in…