Ask an Expert @ University of Illinois Extension
(This group currently has 11 experts available to answer questions)
Questions asked to this group
Ferret skin and Rosewater
My ferret has been extremely itchy and does not have fleas. Could I use organic rosewater on his skin?
DuPage County IL veterinary Posted 10 days ago
Dairy allergy, ok to eat df yogurt?
With a milk allergy, yougert probiotics, even d.f. ones cause symptoms. Are there other options that provide good gut bacteria?
Adams County IL Posted 25 days ago
New pet
I have just acquired a new curly haired spiderling baby tarantula. I am curious to know if I need to keep it's soil moist daily, and if I should place it's headless food in front of it to eat.
Monroe County IL tarantula Posted 26 days ago
No leaves but roots only
I moved my white bat plant inside bc I live in Chicago. My plant is planted in a container. The top portion of the plant was very green when I moved it in but now it got completely dark.
Cook County IL Posted about 1 month ago
Tools/pocedures needed for producing consistent, high quality hay for horses?
Can you recommend a knowledgeable “hay” person with whom I could talk about what equipment to buy to efficiently produce top quality hay for the equine market? About procedures to implement to produce a very consistent, high quality product? I have switched over 2000 acres to organic certification and want to add 320 acres of alfalfa/grass hay to my rotation. I am experienced in producing IP grains and oilseeds for domestic and international food markets. I have very little experience with forage and hay. Thanks for your attention.
Piatt County IL Posted 2 months ago
Light, sheer curtain colors and Dracenas! THE ANSWER!
An online science experiment designed for little kids gave me the answer: yes, colored sheer or semi-transparent curtains would absorb certain wavelengths from the light spectrum. Plants require full spectrum light to accomplish their little plant tasks efficiently. A blue sheer curtain will absorb all but blue wavelengths, only allowing blue wavelengths through. Thus, what you SEE is a blue curtain! Cool, right? Ok. A black sheer would absorb all wavelengths, and I put 2+2 together and figured that this would be disastrous for any plant let alone my Dracenas.
Now, I admit that I took a leap: the 4th graders used colored cellophane and I am talking semi transparent or sheer curtains. But I figure the principles are the same: colors influence the availability of certain light wavelengths, plants need full spectrum light, so, the color of sheer curtains matters. Did I do right, Doug? Someday, you will let me know.
PS. Doug G. was supposed to answer my question initially, so that explains my "Doug" inclusion.
Cook County Illinois Posted 3 months ago
Light spectrum, color of sheer curtains and Dracenas!
Hi People! I recently got cream colored sheer curtains to filter bright direct sunlight; it's a SE facing window with very intense morning light.
QUESTION: I'd love to purchase the black version and the deep blue version of this sheer curtain but am worried that the colors will limit the necessary light spectrum that the plants need. Am I fussing for nothing or is my concern valid? I'd really appreciate your feedback as there is nothing online that speaks to the color of sheer curtains, their affect on light spectrum, and whether or not it has any positive or negative impact on plants. (I have 2 Dracenas. I'm not worried about the cream colored curtains.) Thanks, People!
Cook County Illinois Posted 4 months ago
Homing device
I caught a spider and moved him about 200 yards away so I wouldn't be bothered by his web and the next thing I know it he's back in the same place is that a homing device that they have. I actually moved him twice and was very surprised that it took a couple days for him to come back to the same place.
Winnebago County Illinois Posted 4 months ago
Pruning
when do u prune the one of the invasive honeysuckle ?
Marion County Illinois Posted 5 months ago
Hicks Yews and possible winter damage
Had a question in regards to some Yews that suffered, what I’m thinking was winter damage. Had a landscaping company plant 45 yews late last October. They were in great shape as they were planted. Once the spring approached you could see quite a few of them with lots of dead brown areas. Was questioning if this was winter damage, or not watering enough in November or the plants being planted too low in the ground (root rot). I waited to see how much the shrubs would recover. They did recover quite a bit and pruned some of the brown dead growth that I knew wouldn’t come back. At this point I’ve got some “inner” truck branches that are bare at the bottom but have growth high up on those branches. So lower sections of some branches are bare and farther up the branch have new growth. Just looks unbalanced. If these plants have a 1yr warranty should I have or request they be replaced? Like to know if the lower section growth will come back. Should I prune some of these lower dead branches or leave them alone for now. How to promote growth in the lower bare section near the bottom.
Cook County Illinois Posted 5 months ago