Costa Farms Share Tips for Growing Orchids for Mother's Day

Miami, FL (PRWEB) May 08, 2015

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and spending for the holiday is on the rise.

A recent survey by the National Retail Federation found that families will spend a record $173 on mom this year. And aside from greeting cards, flowers are the most popular gift. Choose a moth (phalaenopsis) orchid that will flower for months and even years to come.

Orchids are highly coveted ornamental plants. Delicate orchids symbolize a mother’s love, beauty and strength. They look and feel luxurious but are actually very affordable.

“Orchids are the perfect gift for Mother’s Day because they’re so chic and easy to grow,” says Justin Hancock, garden expert at Costa Farms. “These exquisite plants reward with fabulous blooms for months and months.”

Here are Hancock’s tips to grow beautiful moth (phalaenopsis) orchids that will bloom for years and years:

Six Steps to Orchid Success

1. Selection: Pick an orchid with as many buds as you can to prolong the display. “Many homeowners buy the orchid that has the most open flowers, but that’s usually the first one to go out of bloom,” says Hancock.

2. Water: Water once a week or when bark or moss is almost completely dry. Allow orchids to dry out before re-watering and never leave orchids in standing water.

3. Location: Place orchids in a well-lit area, but not in direct sun. Moth orchids grow under trees and get sunburned in direct sunlight. Help orchids to thrive by placing them near east- or west-facing windows. If the plant receives too little light, it will not bloom. The larger the leaves of an orchid variety, the less light it needs.

4. Humidity: Orchids need humidity. Pair orchids with other plants that release moisture as they breathe or sit a humidifier next to the orchid.

5. Temperature: Keep them warm. Moth orchids love temperatures between 70 and 80F and about 10 degrees cooler at night.

6. Feed: Moth orchids bloom once a year, usually in winter when nights are cool. Fertilizing regularly in the spring and summer months will help it to grow, too.

Remind mom that just like her, orchids are more than just a pretty face. They provide oxygen and are great natural air filters that clean indoor air of carbon dioxide and other toxins. Learn more about growing orchids at CostaFarms.com.

About Costa Farms: Costa Farm s is one of the nation’s largest growers of ornamental plants. Founded in 1961 by Jose Costa, Costa Farms is a third-generation, family-owned business that globally stretches over 3,500 acres and employs 4,000 people. Along with thriving indoor and bedding plant divisions, Costa Farms operates merchandising and young-plant production divisions as part of its infrastructure, with operations domestically in South Florida and North and South Carolina, and abroad in the Dominican Republic and Far East.

Costa Farms Share Tips for Growing Orchids for Mother"s Day

Singularity University

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Do you believe the hype? Is solar energy really just 14 years away from meeting 100% of today’s energy needs? Does Tesla’s Powerwall change the …

Singularity University

Easton Utilities plans sustainability complex

EASTON — A greener Easton is planned for the future.

Easton Utilities is in the planning and permitting stage to build a facility that aims to reduce the town’s dependency on purchasing electricity from the power grid.

The rough plans were presented to the Easton Town Council on Monday, May 4, in what Easton Utilities’ Vice President of Operations Geoff Oxnam said is a “very early introduction.”

It is named the Easton Sustainability Complex, a renewable energy micro-grid that is planned for construction at the Easton wastewater treatment facility off Barkers Landing Road.

The facility is going to combine innovative energy technology with Easton’s state-of-the-art wastewater treatment technology, Oxnam said.

“We have already the state’s most environmentally friendly wastewater treatment facility that does a fantastic job keeping pollution out of the Chesapeake Bay,” Oxnam said. “We are planning to bolt onto that a series of renewable energy generation strategies that will help offset the power that we have to buy from the grid and the needs of that facility.”

The first element of the facility will be landfill gas generation, he said. The wastewater treatment facility is located next to the Mid-shore Regional Landfill, which creates methane gas that can be used to make electricity.

“Currently, it’s just being flared into the atmosphere. We’re going to take that gas and make some of the electricity that the wastewater treatment facility needs to run,” Oxnam said.

He said Easton Utilities is also looking add a solar energy array on about 4 acres to help offset some of the facility’s needs.

There are other technologies Easton Utilities could potentially add, though nothing is definite as of yet as it depends on the ongoing analysis of how all these technologies will fit together, Oxnam said. Those other sustainable technologies being considered include battery storage technology — “the size of a shipping container,” Oxnam said — and possibly wind energy.

The benefits of the Easton Sustainability Complex to Easton Utilities customers, as well as the Easton community and the environment are significant, Oxnam said.

There would be a reduction in pollution. Over half the electricity that comes across the grid is generated from coal plants in the region, Oxnam said.

“Anything that we can generate local using renewables means that we don’t have to buy off the grid,” he said. “This has the potential to save our customers money. Instead of buying grid energy when it’s at a high price, we can generate some of our own.”

The Easton Sustainability Complex would also increase Easton’s resilience in the event of a power outage, he said.

It could also support education, Oxnam said, “most specifically to train the workforce of the future in the operation, maintenance, installation of these green energy facilities.”

In Maryland, electric utility companies are required to provide a percentage of their overall energy portfolio from renewable energy sources. If they don’t have those sources, then the companies have to buy renewable energy credits.

Oxnam said the number of renewable energy credits increases each year, and it’s a significant cost to purchase those credits.

“So if we’re generating renewable energy credits ourselves, we offset a portion of that cost, also saving our customers money,” he said.

Oxnam stressed that Easton Utilities is only in the permitting and design stages of the project, but added that it plans to pursue the landfill gas component first — possibly “up, constructed and ready to operate early in 2016” — “and then we’ll follow that with the solar as we look at the others,” although it depends on the permitting process and construction times.

The landfill gas and solar ideas go back a couple years, Oxnam said. The two technologies were previously considered for construction in Easton by the utility company, but it wasn’t economically feasible at the time, he said.

But, the price of materials for solar arrays has been considerably reduced, Oxnam said.

Easton Utilities is pursuing grant funding to help pay for the project.

Follow me on Twitter @jboll_stardem.

Easton Utilities plans sustainability complex

PSC approves Gulf Power's wind project

Gulf Power on Tuesday received unanimous approval from the Florida Public Service Commission on an agreement that will make the utility a leading purchaser of wind generation among Florida utilities.

The project, called Kingfisher Wind, will be built in central Oklahoma, where conditions are favorable for wind energy. The agreement is the first of its kind in the state.

“Kingfisher Wind will help Gulf Power add renewable energy that makes environmental and economic sense,” said Jeff Rogers, external communications manager for Gulf Power. “Smart renewables, like Kingfisher Wind, are cost effective for customers.”

The Kingfisher Wind project is expected to begin commercial operation by the end of the year. A total of 89 of the project’s wind turbines will supply 178 megawatts to Gulf Power, which is enough energy to power approximately 50,700 homes per year.

“The power we get from Kingfisher Wind will represent approximately 5 percent of our projected energy mix,” Rogers said. “Wind power helps diversify the power supply and Kingfisher Wind is projected to provide lower overall energy costs.”

This wind project will be Gulf Power’s fifth renewable energy project following the Perdido Landfill Gas-to-Energy Facility, which has produced more than 100 million kilowatt hours of electricity since 2010, and three solar energy projects that are scheduled to begin construction in February 2016.

Gulf Power announced in January that the utility is partnering with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force to build solar energy farms at three different facilities across Northwest Florida.

The solar energy farms have already been approved by the FPSC and will be constructed at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach (30 megawatts), Holley Field in Navarre (40 megawatts) and Saufley Field in Pensacola (50 megawatts) and are expected to be in service by December 2016.

“Adding alternative energy to our portfolio takes careful planning to ensure we provide our customers with what they want and what they need — cost-effective energy that diversifies our power supply,” said Rogers.

PSC approves Gulf Power"s wind project

Warren Buffett talks with KETV

Warren Buffett and his business partner Charlie Munger took questions from shareholders for more than four hours Saturday. Then, the Oracle of Omaha talked with KETV NewsWatch 7.

Video: Warren Buffett talks with KETV

The annual Q&A session at the CenturyLink Center is the pinnacle of the whole weekend, with shareholders glued to what Warren and Charlie have to say. Some local topics came up, such as wind energy in Iowa and Nebraska.

“I would hope that over time that both wind, solar will replace a lot of coal and gas for that matter. And it will incidentally. But unfortunately the wind doesn’t blow 24 hours a day, and the sun doesn’t shine 24 hours a day,” Buffett told KETV NewsWatch 7’s David Earl.

Earl: “Is it more about a tax credit for you or is it really about green energy?”

Buffett: “Well, it wouldn’t make economic sense without the tax credit, and that’s why there is a tax credit. The government wants to encourage wind energy and nobody would be doing anything, and it takes a subsidy at the present time. Not an overwhelming subsidy, but it takes that subsidy and no one would be developing it without that subsidy, which is why the government does it.”

Earl: “Is it good for those farmers in Iowa with the land?”

6:00 P.M. JEREMY: THE CENTURYLINK CENTER IS FILLED TO CAPACITY. ALL FOR WHAT COULD BE A RECORD-BREAKING CROWD. AT WARREN BUFFETT’ S GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY IN LEADING BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY. WARREN BUFFETT AND HIS PARTNER CHARLIE MUNGER TOOK CREDIT — TOOK QUESTIONS FOR FOUR HOURS. DAVE: THAT ANNUAL Q AND A SESSION IS THE PINNACLE OF THIS WEEKEND HERE AT THE CENTURYLINK CENTER. SHAREHOLDERS ARE GLUED TO WHAT WAR IN — WHAT WAR IN — WHAT WARREN AND CHARLIE HAD TO SAY. I WOULD HOPE THAT OVER TIME WIND AND SOLAR AND COAL AND GAS, THE WIND DOES NOT LOW 24 HOURS A DAY. DAVE: IS IT MORE ABOUT A TAX CREDIT TO YOU OR IS IT MORE ABOUT GREEN ENERGY? IT SENSE WITHOUT THE TAX CREDIT. THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO ENCOURAGE WIND ENERGY. IT TAKES A SUBSIDY AT THE PRESENT TIME. IT IS NOT — NOT AN OVERWHELMING SUBSIDY THAT IT TAKES A SUBSIDY. DAVE: IS IT GOOD FOR THE FARMERS IN IOWA? THE ONES THAT LEASE TO US THINK SO. DAVE: WE HEARD ABOUT AN HUGE THAT WE HEARD ABOUT A HUGE EVENTS THAT — WE HEARD ABOUT A HUGE INVESTMENT THAT MID-AMERICAN MADE. DAVE: THAT AUTHORIZATION AND I WHAT, IS WORTH $900 MILLION. MUCH MORE FOR MY ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH WAR AND — WITH WARREN BUFFETT INCLUDING WHAT HE

Buffett: “Well, the ones that lease to us seem to think so. They get paid very well for it, but some want to do it and some don’t want to do it.”

Earl: “We heard about a huge investment that MidAmerican Energy is making soon. Can you tell us where those wind farms are going to be?”

Buffett: “I don’t know yet. I’m not sure if they’ve been sited yet or not, but they’ve been authorized.”

Earl: “What is the state of the economy here in Omaha?

Buffett: “It is strong. Look at Nebraska’s unemployment rate. This is a very strong economy in Omaha, and I think it will continue that way.”

Buffett points to new construction and investments happening all over the city and many millionaires he’s made in Omaha finding a way to give back to the city they call home.

“The sums have been pretty big in some cases, and a lot of that has been focused on Omaha, and I think that’s terrific,” Buffett said.

This year, he said again the meeting won’t move away from Omaha. And shareholders love making the pilgrimage to hear him share words of wisdom. He is, after all, the Oracle of Omaha.

“I’m not sure where came from, but it has an alliteration to it. But I’m not sure what else,” Buffett said.

During the meeting, Buffett spoke about the impact of new safety standards — for shipping crude oil by train. He said it will make a difference for Berkshire’s BNSF railroad and tanker car business.

See more of the one-on-one interview with Buffett on Sunday at 10.

Warren Buffett talks with KETV

Regular maintenance keeps central air running cool

With outside temperatures finally starting to rise, it won’t be long before we start to think about ways to keep the inside of our home cool.

Like most systems, your home’s central air conditioning system must be periodically inspected and maintained in order to function properly. Though an annual inspection performed by a trained professional is recommended, there are some simple tasks that can be performed by the owner. In either case, you should make sure the power to the unit is turned off before any work is done.

You should remove any leaves, spider webs and other debris from the box of the air conditioner’s exterior unit as well as remove or trim foliage back at least a metre from the unit to ensure proper air flow.

The fins and coils inside the unit need to be kept clean in order for the unit to work at peak efficiency. This can also be done with a garden hose using low pressure. Using high pressure or a pressure washer could damage the fins. Bent fins can be straightened with a tool called a fin comb. The straightening of the fins and any other work on this should be done by a licensed heating and cooling contractor.

Make sure the exterior unit is level as possible and firmly positioned so as not to vibrate or rock which can damage the cooling lines. The larger of the two copper lines going into the home should be covered with an insulating material similar to the foam insulating tubes used to cover water pipes. If the insulation is missing, worn or damaged, it should be replaced.

Add lubricating oil to the motor. Check your owner’s manual for specific instructions.

Although you don’t have to worry about this now, when it comes to covering the exterior units for next winter, some experts say yes while others say no. I suggest you talk to your HVAC technician and follow their advice. Regardless, you should place something over the top of the unit to prevent heavy snow or ice that may fall from the roof and could damage the fan.

In the fall, when turning on the furnace, you should turn off the power to the A/C unit at the electrical panel so that it can’t be turned on by accident in the middle of winter which could cause damage to the unit. Also, I recommend that you delay turning on the unit until outside day time temperatures have been above 18 C for at least three days. Failure to do so may cause possible damage to the compressor.

The interior unit contains air filters designed to remove pollen, dust and other particles that would otherwise circulate indoors. The filter should be replaced on a regular basis. You may need to change the filter more often if home occupants have respiratory problems, you have pets with fur or if dusty conditions are present. 

On most central air systems this is the furnace filter unless it is a standalone system just for cooling. Most filters are typically rectangular in shape and about 50 cm by 40 cm, and about 2.5 cm thick. They slide into the main duct work near the inside fan unit on the cold air return side of the furnace. The filter should be periodically washed or replaced, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions. A dirty air filter will not only degrade indoor air quality, but it will also strain the motor to work harder to move air through it, increasing energy costs and reducing energy efficiency.

The cooling coil in a central air system is in the main duct work just above the furnace. It needs to be cleaned by a licensed HVAC technician and is not something the homeowner should attempt to do. The condensate lines and pump (if installed) at the furnace should also be cleaned and inspected for proper operation. These lines pump drain water away, and if not functioning properly could cause damage to the HVAC system.

The units (exterior and interior) should also be checked for proper gas pressures once a year by a licensed HVAC technician. If the gas pressure is too low or if the gas has leaked out, damage could be caused to the unit. If the unit freezes up and ice forms on the exterior unit it is a good indication the unit is low on gas and needs to be repaired or serviced.

Regular maintenance of your central air conditioner will help keep it in good operating order and increase its efficiency and useful life of the overall system.

Rob Parker is a registered home inspector (RHI) with the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors, and an ASHI certified inspector (ACI) with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Rob can be reached at Thamespec Home Inspection Service (519) 857-7101, by email at thamespec@rogers.com or visit www.thamespec-inspections.com

Regular maintenance keeps central air running cool

Tesla Moves to Make Renewable Energy More Viable

*Photo Credit: Tesla Energy

Imagine a world in which all our energy needs comes from clean, renewable sources. Every building could be covered and powered by solar panels. Transportation could be provided by electric vehicles. Clean and free electricity provided by sun and wind could be used in real time and stored in batteries for later use. Fossil fuels could be regulated to the fuel of last resort. It may not be the stuff of science fiction any longer. If Tesla CEO Elon Musk has his way, this is the future we are headed towards.

Solar and wind energy have long been attractive renewable energy sources. Once the photovoltaic panels and wind turbines are manufactured, they can create many years of electricity with zero harmful emissions and little if any maintenance. In recent years the cost of solar has plummeted, leaving it on par with fossil fuels. The problem however has been in the less than constant ability of renewables to create electricity. Solar cannot produce as much electricity in inclement weather or any at night. Wind is intermittent. Also, unlike more conventional fossil fuel burning power plants, capacity cannot always be increased during peak periods of need.

In order for solar and wind-generated power to be more than energy grid add-ons, they need to have a way to store their energy for use during off-peak or low production periods. Batteries are the best way to store energy during periods of peak production to be used later. However, no major company has offered an easily-scalable battery storage solution to meet these needs – until now. Tesla Motors, maker of the Model S supercar and soon to be launched Model X, announced its Powerwall home electricity storage solution under the Tesla Energy brand this week. There will be two available units of 7 kilowatt-hour and 10kwh capacity offered at $3,000 and $3,500 respectively. They can also be stacked for homeowners who wish to store more energy.

So as not to leave commercial customers out in the dark, Tesla Energy will also offer the Powerpack. This 100 kwh unit is, according to Musk, “infinitely scalable” and can be clustered to meet any project size. Quiet pilot programs have been carried out over the last year with businesses such as Walmart. Tesla Energy claims that other large retailers have signed on as well. This would also make intermittently generated energy such as solar and wind more viable sources to provide reliable electricity 24 hours a day for municipal utilities. Conceivably, it could also be used in conjunction with existing fossil fuel burning power plants, allowing them to operate at a lower, but steadier, production level and storing their nighttime overcapacity for use during daytime peak periods. This could theoretically lower overall emissions from existing plants. If the same utility decided to add renewable power to its grid to meet increased demand at a later date, they could relocate that Tesla-provided energy storage to the new plant.

To provide the batteries for these new products, and future electric vehicles, Tesla has already broken ground on their Gigafactory in Nevada. It is planned to begin production in 2017 and produce as much as 35 gigawatt-hours of electric storage capacity annually by 2020. To put that in perspective, one gigawatt is equivalent to one million kilowatts. Tesla has hinted that this may just one of several gigafactories in its future. It is also worth noting that one of Elon Musk’s other companies is Solar City. Solar City claims to be America’s largest solar provider with more than 6,000 employees. All these companies will work in concert to complement each other and bring clean energy to the masses.

*Disclosure: The author is an alternative energy enthusiast who has no commercial or professional interest or relationship with any of the companies listed in this article.

Tesla Moves to Make Renewable Energy More Viable