| How to Plant Forget Me Not Seeds Posted: 03 Jan 2019 04:00 PM PST Both beautiful and easy to care for, forget-me-nots are a popular flower choice for amateur gardeners. The seeds can be planted either in outdoors in your garden or in indoor pots. Properly cared for forget-me-not seeds will mature into stunning blue, pink, or white flowers. EditMethod 1: Planting Forget-Me-Not Seeds in a Garden - Pick an area that gets 3-6 hours of sunlight per day to start the seeds. Forget-me-nots tend to thrive in partial to dappled shade, so choose an area of your garden to plant them in that doesn't get full sunlight.[1]
- Some forget-me-not species are more hardy than others when it comes to sunlight and grow better with more than 6 hours of sunlight. Take a look at your specific seed variety and look up whether it's partial to full sun or partial shade.[2]
- Test your garden soil for a pH of 5.5-7.5. Forget-me-nots can live anywhere in the 5.5-7.5 pH range.[3] You can use a commercial soil pH tester to get the exact number.
- Water the soil before planting. Forget-me-nots love moisture, so you want to start the seeds out in an already-wet environment. Use a hose or watering can to get the planting bed moist but not soggy.
- Sow your seeds 6-12 inches apart. Once you've prepared the soil, sprinkle your seeds onto the surface. You want them to be at least 6-12 inches apart, especially if you're going to let them reseed naturally. If you're planting forget-me-nots in the fall, they will bloom for you in the spring.[4]
- This might be a good time to plant other spring flowers, like daffodils and tulips. These flowers will rise up above the layer of blue forget-me-nots and add a gorgeous pop of color to your garden. [5]
- Add a few inches of organic mulch for protection. Mulch made of organic material helps mimic the forget-me-not's natural environment.[6] Place of fine mulch or up to of larger material on top of the soil to keep moisture in until the seeds germinate. The mulch will also regulate the seeds' temperature.[7]
EditMethod 2: Potting Forget-Me-Not Seeds Indoors - Select a pot with drainage holes. Whatever pot you decide on, it must have holes on the bottom. While forget-me-nots need proper moisture, you don't want them to drown.[8] A pot with holes will allow water to drain out once it has run all the way through the soil, and prevent pooling around the plant's roots that can lead to mold or fungus.
- Fill the container with light potting mix and water it. Forget-me-nots are not very finicky, so it's fine to use a regular, light soil mixture designed for potted plants.[9] You may also choose to enrich the soil with an organic material, such as compost.[10] Wet the soil afterwards as you would with an outdoor crop.
- Your soil should have a neutral pH somewhere between 5.5-7.5 for forget-me-nots to thrive.[11]
- Plant a couple of seeds per pot. If you're planting multiple seeds in a pot, only put down a few at a time. If you grow more in the same pot, the plants will crowd one another and potentially develop mildew.[12]
- Place the pot in a place with an average temperature of . Whether your plant thrives in sunlight or shade, you want to place it somewhere that is warm but not hot. If you keep the seeds at in this temperature range, they should germinate in 1 to 4 weeks.[13]
- You can rotate the pot regularly to encourage even plant growth.
EditCaring for Forget-Me-Not Plants - Water when the top of soil feel dry to the touch. You never want forget-me-nots to be in totally dry soil. Depending on the climate you live in and how you're growing your plants, this may mean watering more or less than once a week.[14]
- Feed with fertilizer once each spring. In the wild, forget-me-nots survive on moderate to poor soil condition, so you don't want to feed them too often. Apply a slow-release, granular fertilizer to your plants in early spring. Refer to the product instructions for the exact dosage.[15]
- You may not need fertilizer unless your plants aren't growing well or have yellowed, malnourished flowers. If so, fertilize once a month.[16]
- Add of rich, organic mulch to outdoor plants for extra protection. Mulch is a great protective agent for your growing forget-me-nots. It traps the moisture forget-me-nots need in the soil and can keep the plants cool.[17] Keep the mulch away from the base of your plants.[18]
- Wood chips are a popular choice for mulching, but you can also use grass clippings, shredded leaves, compost, or pine straw.[19]
- Mulch placement can also feed earthworms and reduce weeds, both of which will help keep your forget-me-nots thriving.[20]
- Trim dead flowers and stems to encourage growth. Use a pair of hand pruners, a pair of scissors, or your fingers to trim off each spent flowerhead at the base of its stem. If a whole stalk of flowers needs to be removed, cut off the stalk from where it grows at the base.[21] Your forget-me-nots will naturally send out new flowers as long as you deadhead regularly.
- Don't deadhead if you want your forget-me-nots to reseed naturally. Leave the plants if you want them to flower again next year. While they may look a little unsightly during this period, these flowers are dropping seeds to renew their cycle of life.[22]
- Trap or spray away pests as soon as you find them. There are few pests that go after forget-me-nots. Luckily, they are pretty easy to control if you spot them right away.
- Spray water on your plants regularly to control aphids. Once knocked down, an aphid usually won't be able to make it back onto the plant. [23]
- Make a trap for slugs and snails by filling an aluminum pie pan or cat food can with beer. Then, bury the pan or can so the lid is level with the ground. The pests will bypass your plants and head straight for the beer bath. Place one for every of affected plants.[24]
- Holes in your plants might be due to flea beetles. These insects are difficult to get rid of, though they cause little damage. You can vacuum them up for an immediate solution, but make sure to prevent them from coming back next season by laying down mulch, weeding frequently, and keeping your garden clean during and after growing season.[25]
- Remove any plant parts with mildew or spots. If your forget-me-nots have developed fuzzy white mildew or tan spots on their leaves, it's an easy fix. First, snip off any affected parts of the plant with a pair of hand pruners. Then treat your plants with a fungicide, making sure to carefully follow the instructions on the label for safe and proper application.[26]
- Wilted, dying plants with thin, cobweb-like strands around the base have a more serious problem called crown rot. This fungus is fatal, so dig up and get rid of any affected plants and ones nearby to stop the spread.[27]
- Clean your hand pruners thoroughly with disinfectant wipes, rubbing alcohol, or soak them for at least a minute in a 1:5 solution of bleach to water. This will prevent the spread of infection to your healthy plants.[28]
- Forget-me-nots are great garden flowers, but have a reputation for being invasive. They can grow out of control if left unchecked. If you only want them for one season, remove them after they cease to flower. Hoe or pull up your plants, making sure to get all the roots, before they begin to spread too many seeds.[29]
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Spot a Fake Prada Purse Posted: 03 Jan 2019 08:00 AM PST The devil might wear Prada... but is it real? Despite how popular counterfeiting has become, it doesn't take a professional to determine what's real and what's fake when it comes to purses. Whether you're buying a used Prada tote or simply want to know if your favorite blogger's bag is genuine, look at the logo, hardware, fabric, and other accessories. EditInspecting the Logo - Look for the signature curve in the "R" in the Prada logo. This is the most defining characteristic of the Prada logo and the biggest giveaway that a bag is fake.The right leg ot the "R" curves slightly upwards. If the leg is straight like a regular "R," you have a counterfeit bag.[1]
- Find anywhere the word Prada is printed or engraved on the bag to make sure the curved "R" is present in each spot. This includes extras like the dustbag if there is one or the authenticity card.
- Examine the triangle logo for the correct font, spacing, and color. The inverted triangle logo is easily recognizable. Ensure that the letters are evenly spaced on the plaque and that the font matches the font on all other uses of Prada on the rest of the bag. The background color of the plaque will match the color of the bag if it's genuine.[2]
- The plaque should be fastened securely to the front of the bag and not falling off or skewed at all.
- The logo on a real bag will be easily readable, no matter how small the font is.
- While you're checking the font around the bag, check that all words are spelled properly.
- Make sure the logo plaque on the inside matches the interior fabric. For example, if the bag is cream, the plaque will be either the exact same shade of cream or slightly darker. The logo will be ceramic on leather bags and may be leather on non-leather bags. A plastic or fabric tag is a sign of a counterfeit bag.[3]
- The interior logo plaque should also be rectangular, which is different than the exterior triangle plaque.
- A real Prada bag will have a plaque with 4 rounded corners that's securely attached to the bag.
- If there is no interior logo plaque at all, it's not a real Prada bag.
- Check that the interior logo plaque says "Prada Milano Made in Italy". The phrase will be split between 3 lines on the plaque. "Prada" is on the first line, followed by "Milano" on the second line, and then "Made in Italy" on the third line.[4]
- If it says "Milan" instead of "Milano" for example, it's a fake.
- Newer styles of genuine bags might say "Prada" on the first line and "Made in Italy" on the second line instead.
EditChecking the Hardware - Compare all of the hardware to make sure it's either all gold or all silver. Prada only uses high-quality gold and silver for its hardware. They will never mix colors on a bag so check that all of the hardware including zippers, clasps, and feet are all one color. Different colors or finishes mean the bag is fake.[5]
- Open and close the zipper to see if it runs smoothly. On a real Prada bag, the zipper should work easily. There won't be any snags, catches, or broken zipper pieces.[6]
- An exception is if you're buying a used bag where the zipper might have been damaged by the owner. Ask if this is the case.
- Read the zipper brand to see if it's Lampo, Ykk, Riri, Opti, or Ipi. These are the only brands that Prada uses for its bags. Find the brand embossed on the back of the zipper.[7]
- See if all of the hardware says "Prada." On Prada bags, every piece of hardware has the brand name engraved on it. This includes the zippers, buckles, metal feet at the bottom, locks, and any other decorative pieces.[8]
- If any of the hardware is blank, it's not a real bag.
- On the zipper of a real bag, the Prada engraving will be on the front side while the zipper brand will be on the back.
- Not all real Prada bags have metal feet on the bottom of the purse or special accents like locks. Check the Prada catalog online to see if your model is supposed to.[9]
EditExamining the Material - Run your hand over a leather bag to see if it's soft to the touch. Made from real calf leather, Prada leather bags should be supple and smooth. If the leather is stiff or unbending, it's likely a fake.[10]
- Check that the interior fabric is high quality and has the Prada pattern. The interior will either be embossed jacquard nylon fabric or nappa leather. The fabric will have a pattern that alternates a line printed with Prada and a line of rope motif.[11]
- Every other line with the Prada logo will be printed upside down.
- Look for clean stitching along the seams. Real Prada bags should not have stitching that is crooked, uneven, or sloppy. The stitches will be small and sturdy. If they're frayed in any areas, that's a sure sign the bag is a fake.[12]
- On a leather bag, the stitches should match the color of the leather.
- Designer bags almost never have seams that are glued.
EditAnalyzing Additional Pieces - Find a small white tag inside the bag with a number printed on it. Every real Prada bag will have this tiny square tag somewhere in the interior. The number is the purse factory number.[13]
- Check for a white dustbag with the Prada logo printed in black on it. A dustbag is a cloth covering similar to a pillow sham that protects a purse from dirt, sun exposure, and moisture. The font that's on the dustbag will match the font on the Prada bag itself (the logo or the interior fabric font) if it's a real bag. It will also have a drawstring.[14]
- There should be a label stitched in the dustbag that says "Prada" and "100% Cotton Made in Italy".
- Not all Prada bags come with a dustbag. If there isn't one, ask the seller.
- Older purses may have a navy dustbag with Prada printed in gold.[15]
- Examine the authenticity card for the right information and good quality. Each Prada bag comes with a sealed authenticity card that contains the serial number and purse style information. Signs of a forged authenticity card include uneven spacing between the letters and numbers, slanted lines, or low-quality printing.[16]
- The authenticity card should come in a black envelope embossed with the Prada logo. A printed logo signals it's a fake.[17]
- Contact Prada via their website if you want to check that a serial number is valid. Fill out the contact form, making the subject line something like, "Please verify the serial number of my Prada bag." Include the serial number in the body of the email form.[18]
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| How to Make Rice Flour Posted: 03 Jan 2019 12:00 AM PST Whether you're looking for a gluten-free alternative to regular flour or just want to save money, making your own rice flour at home is a simple solution. Use household appliances that you already own, like a blender for bulk grinding or a coffee grinder for making smaller amounts. If you want to make flour more frequently, consider investing in a grain mill, which is specifically for grinding grains. Now that's flour power! EditGrinding Rice Flour in a Blender - Place of rice in your blender at a time. You don't want to clog up the blender by filling it completely with rice. Smaller amounts will let the blade work more efficiently and grind the rice better.[1]
- A good rule of thumb to follow is that of rice yields about of rice flour.[2]
- You can use either white or brown rice, as long as it's raw and uncooked.
- Cover the blender and grind the rice until it's a fine powder consistency. Turn the blender on the highest setting to get the best results. The flour should be smooth and there shouldn't be any large chunks.[3]
- Grinding rice is hard on your blender's blades. If you plan on making a lot of flour, invest in a higher quality blender that's more durable.
- The finer the flour, the better it will work in baking and other recipes.
- Transfer the flour to an airtight container and place the lid tightly on it. Any air that leaks into a container that's not properly sealed can cause the flour to spoil faster. Either a plastic or glass container or jar will work.[4]
- If you use a resealable bag, squeeze out any excess air before you seal the bag.
- Store the flour in the pantry for up to 1 year until you're ready to use it. While flour can keep for a very long time, it tends to get musty or stale after 1 year. Throw it away if you see mold or notice a foul scent.[5]
- To keep track of when the flour needs to be thrown out, use a permanent marker or a sticker label to note the date you should throw it out by. This will be 1 year from the day you made it. If you have different types of flour in your pantry, you may also want to write "rice flour" on the label.
- Keeping the flour in the refrigerator or the freezer will help the flour last longer.
EditMaking Rice Flour with a Coffee Grinder - Clean out any leftover coffee grounds from the grinder if necessary. You don't want coffee-flavored rice flour! Use a scrub brush or small spatula to wipe out grounds from around the blades.[6]
- Never put your fingers near the blades and always unplug the grinder before cleaning it.
- An old paintbrush or toothbrush can also get into hard-to-reach nooks.
- Run of rice through the grinder at a time. The coffee grinder will turn the grains of rice into a smooth powder. It's best to grind the rice in small quantities so it doesn't clog or overwork the coffee grinder.[7]
- If you notice the grinder getting hot, simply unplug it and let it cool down for a few minutes before continuing grinding.
- You may need to run the rice powder through the grinder a second time if it's still coarse after the first run. Grinders that are older or that have worn blades won't process the rice as efficiently.
- Pour the powder into an airtight container, sealing it tightly. As you grind the rice, transfer each batch into a plastic or glass container. Once you're finished grinding, place the lid on the container securely to keep the flour fresh.[8]
- Glass jars with lids or resealable bags will work instead of a container.
- Store the flour in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year. Stick the container in the pantry or a cupboard, for example, until you're ready to use it. If you notice a rancid odor, throw it away.[9]
- If you don't want to forget the flour's "expiration date," use a permanent marker or a sticker label on the container to write down the date you made the flour.
- You can also store the flour in the refrigerator or freezer to keep it fresh for longer.
EditUsing a Grain Mill to Make Rice Flour - Turn the dial to the highest setting, then turn the mill on. On some machines, the highest setting might be labeled as "pastry." Flip the switch to power on the grain mill once you've adjusted the dial.[10]
- The settings on the dial control how coarse or fine the flour will be. A lower setting churns out a grittier powder, for instance.
- Always turn the grinder on prior to adding the rice.
- Pour the rice into the hopper of the mill to grind it. The hopper will automatically grind the rice as it passes through and will deposit the flour in the attached canister. If necessary, use a spoon or other utensil to push the rice towards the center of the hopper to speed up the grinding.[11]
- If the flour isn't as fine as you'd like it to be, run it through the hopper again.
- Turn off the mill after you grind all of the rice. You'll know the grinding process is finished when you hear the mill give off subtle high-pitched sound. Flip the power switch to the off position to stop the mill.[12]
- You can let the mill run for an extra 5 seconds after it's finished just to make sure no stray pieces of rice are lodged inside.
- Remove the canister from the mill and pour the flour into a container. The canister should easily detach from the mill. Once you transfer the rice flour into an airtight container, seal the container tightly by pressing firmly on the lid until it snaps or suctions into place.[13]
- Scrape any excess flour on the sides of canister into the container with a spoon so you don't waste any.
- Resealable bags are a suitable alternative to a container.
- Store the flour in the pantry, fridge, or freezer for up to 1 year. After 1 year, you might notice that the flour loses some of its flavor and smells musty. Throw it away sooner if you see mold.[14]
- Cool, dark spots are best for storing flour. Look for an area that is dry, too.
- Keeping flour in the fridge or freezer is your safest option to prevent it from spoiling faster.
- Label the container or bag with a permanent marker or sticker label if you want to remember when it will expire. Write down the contents of the container ("rice flour") along with the expiration date.
EditThings You'll Need EditBlender Rice Flour - Blender
- Airtight container
- Permanent marker or label (optional)
EditCoffee Grinder Rice Flour - Coffee grinder
- Scrub brush or small spatula
- Airtight container
- Permanent marker or label (optional)
EditGrain Mill Rice Flour - Grain mill
- Airtight container
- Spoon (optional)
- Permanent marker or label (optional)
- Brown rice is more nutritional than white rice.
- A food processor can also be used instead of a blender. Follow the manufacturer's directions for grinding.
- Although it's more expensive and less practical, a grain mill can help you make smoother rice flour at home if you do not like the way your grinder or blender is producing flour.
- Do not use minute rice. You should use raw, uncooked rice.
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