No one likes a rainy day in the summer, but your plants sure do, inside and out!
Well Tropical Storm Barry, or what's left of him, blew in last night. I was thrilled. The soaking rains gave my garden a nice deep drink. I think rain water is much better for our plants than tap water. Sure, there are concerns about acid rain and the like, but our tap water can contain many things that are harmful to our plants such as chlorine, salts, and other chemicals used to purify and soften it. Rainwater is much gentler on our plants and it conserves resources as well! Outside I'm growing tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peppers, and a variety of herbs and flowers, and they all seem particulary happy after a good rain. My houseplants enjoy it too! When a rainstorm is forecast I like to put my plants on the porch and let them get a nice shower. It knocks off all the dust and grime that indoor plants tend to accumulate on their leaves. and leaves them looking glossy and beautiful. You can also place your plants in window sill and let them get their shower this way. I do this in my kitchen which has two large inset windows that are all lined in tile. This allows my houseplants to enjoy the rain without any worries about water damage. Of course I'm talking about gentle summer rains, not tropical downpours or thunderstorms. If that kind of weather is forecast, close your windows and batten down the hatches! :-) You don't want your precious plants to get damaged or blown away!
