Interesting, Ann. I knew there were other allelopathic plants besides the Black Walnut. Funny, there are hundreds of trees of heaven around here that sprout by the dozens, but I have never noticed a lack of weeds around them. I did not read the other article you posted. It was too long for my limited lunch hour. I'll have to get to that later. Thanks for posting. Barbara

The answer is ... It depends, but it is probably safe. The *only* possible concern is whether they are going to be growing in the same soil. If you are going to have the edibles in separate containers, and separate soil, from your nonedibles, then it is absolutely no problem at all. If you are going to grow edibles in the same pots as 'tropical houseplants', then you will want to research more about specific plants, and their characteristics. Keep the food in a separate pot from the pretties, and you don't have to worry at all.

The following is a list of plants suitable for a Moon Garden and was provided by Clare_CA in June 2004. Plants for a Moon Garden Most of these plants have fragrant flowers or fragrant foliage, but some of them are not fragrant but were added for their beauty at night. Abronia fragrans, sand verbena Acacia Farnesiana, Perfume Acacia Acacia Floribunda, Profuse Flowering Acacia Aglaia odorata (Chinese perfume plant, chinese rice flower, Mock Lemon, Family: Meliaceae) Alcea rugosa, Yellow Hollyhock Allamanda Cathartica (Golden Trumpet, Family: Apocynaceae) Allamanda Williamsii (Golden trumpet vine, Family: Apocynaceae) Anemone x hybrida 'Whirlybirds', Japanese anemone Angelonia goyazensis (Angel Mist, Summer Snapdragon, Angel Flower, Family: Scrophulariaceae) Araujia sericofera, Physianthus albens (Bladder flower, Family: Asclepiadaceae) Artabotrys Hexapetalus, A. odoratissimus, A. uncinatus (Ylang Ylang vine, Bhandari vine, Climbing lang-lang, Tail grape, ilang-ilang, Family: Annonaceae) Artemisia, Artemisia schmidtiana, wormwood Beaumontia grandiflora (Easter Lily Vine, Heralds Trumpet, Nepal Trumpet Flower, Family: Apocynaceae) Bouvardia longiflora Brugmansia, (Angels Trumpet, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia americana (Lady of the night, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia australis (Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia floribunda (Morning, Noon and Night, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia gigantea (Lady of the Night, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia grandiflora (Yesterday -Today -Tomorrow, Kiss-me-quick, Royal Purple Brunfelsia, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia jamaicensis (Lady of the Night, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia lactea (Lady of the night, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia manaca (Manaca, Family: Solanaceae) Brunfelsia nitida (, Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade)) Brunfelsia Pilosa (Manaca root, Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade)) Buddleia asiatica Buddleia davidii, Butterfly Bush Calonyction aculeatum, Ipomoea alba (Giant moonflower, Family: Convolvulaceae) Calycanthus Floridus, Sweet Shade Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang, Perfume Tree, Chanel #5 Tree, ilang-ilang, Family: Annonaceae) Cananga odorata var. Fruticosa (Dwarf Ylang-Ylang, Family: Annonaceae) Carex muskingumensis 'Ice Fountains', Palm sedge Carissa carandas (Karanda, Family: Apocynaceae) Carissa macrocarpa, C. grandiflora (Natal Plum, Family: Apocynaceae) Cassia Didymobotrya, C. Siamea (Popcorn Cassia, Peanut Butter Senna, Family: Fabaceae) Cassia odorata, Senna odorata (Southern cassia, Family: Caesalpiniaceae / Fabaceae) Cerbera odollam, C.dilatata (Chiute, Chatthankai, Grey Milkwood, Family: Apocynaceae) Cestrum nocturnum (Night blooming jasmine, Queen of the Night, Night Jessamine, Lady of the Night, Family: Solanaceae) Cheiranthus allionii, Wallflower Chonemorpha fragrans (Frangipani vine, Family: Apocynaceae) Chonemorpha penangensis (Chonemorpha, Family:Apocynaceae) Citrus flowers Clerodendrum bungei (Cashmere (Cashmir) bouquet, Glory Bower, Family: Verbenaceae) Clerodendrum minahasse (Fountain Clerodendrum, Clerodendron, Tube flower, Family: Verbenaceae) Clerodendrum philippinum Schau, C. fragrans pleniflorum, c. chinense (Chinese Glory Bower, Cashmere bouqet, Scent Malli, False Pikake, Glory Tree, Family: Verbenaceae) Clerodendrum trichotomum, C. trichotonum (Harlequin Glory, Family: Verbenaceae) Clusia lanceolata (Copey, Balsam Apple, Pitch Apple, Cerra cipapao apple, Family: Guttiferae (Clusiaceae)) Coccoloba Uvilfera, Sea Grapes Coffea arabica, C. robusta (Coffee, Family: Rubiaceae) Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' Cosmos bipinnatus 'Daydream' Costus speciosa Alba (White Costus, Family: ) Datura inoxia Datura metel Datura metel 'Cornucopea' (Purple Horn-of-Plenty, Jimpson Weed, Devils Weed, Family: Solanaceae) Datura wrightii Dianthus Barbatus, Sweet William Dianthus Caryophyllus, Snow White Carnation Dichondra "Silver Falls" Dombeya wallichii (Dombea, Tropical Hydrangea, Family: Sterculiaceae) Echinacea "White Swan" Epiphyllum Oxypetalum, Night Blooming Cereus Eremurus x Ruiter's hybrids (foxtail lily) Eugenia uniflora, E. michelii (Surinam Cherry, Pitanga, Brazilian Cherry, Family: Myrtaceae) Euphorbia marginata, Snow-on-the-mountain Fagraea Berteriana (Perfume Flower Tree, Pua Keni Keni, Family: Loganiaceae/Gentianaceae) Freesia Galium Odoratum, Sweet Woodruff Gardenia Augusta (Bush Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia brighamii (Native Hawaiian Gardenia Nau, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia Four Seasons (Gardenia Four Seasons, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia Jasminoides (Cape jasmine, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia jasminoides 'White Gem' (White Gem, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia Radicans (Dwarf Gardenia Radicans, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia taitensis Star of Tahiti (Tahiti Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia taitensis Tiare Tahiti (Tahiti Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia thunbergium (white gardenia, forest gardenia, wild gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia Tubifera Kula (Golden Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gardenia Vietnamensis (Vietnamese Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Gauras (G.coccinea, G. lindheimeri, G. parviflora) Gelsemium sempervirens (Yellow jessamine, Carolina Jasmine, Yellow jessamine, Trumpet Flower, Family: Loganiaceae) Genista, Sweet Broom Hedychium coronarium, White Ginger, Garland Lily, Butterfly Ginger (Family: Zingiberaceae) Heliotropium arborescens Alba, white Heliotrope Heliotropium Peruviana, H. arborescens (Turnsole, Cherry Pie, Family: Boraginaceae) Hemerocallis citrina, night-blooming daylily Hesperaloe nocturna, night yucca Hesperis matronalis, Dame's Rocket, Dame's Violet, Mother of the Evening, Sweet Rocket Hesperis Tristis, Night-scented Stock Hosta plantaginea, August Lily, Fragrant Hosta, Liliaceae Lily (Family: Liliaceae) Hymenosporum flavum, Sweetshade Tree Ipomoea alba, Moonflower vine Itea virginica Sprich (Virginia Sweetspire, Little Henry, Family: Grossulariaceae) Ixora fragrans (Fragrant Ixora, Family: Rubiaceae) Ixora sp. (Jungle flame, Needle flower, Family: Rubiaceae) Jasminum Jasminum angulare (South African Jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum azoricum, Jasminum trifoliatum Moench, J. bahiense, J. blandum, J. fluminense, J hildebrandtii, J. holstii (River Jasmine, Scrambling Vine, J. De Trapo, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum dichotomum (Gold Coast Jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum humile, J. grandiflorum (Italian Jasmine, Family: Oleaceae.) Jasminum mesnyi, J. primulinum (Japanese Jasmine, Primrose J., Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum Molle (Jasminum Molle, Indian Jui, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum nitidum, J. magnificum, J. illicifolium (Star Jasmine, Angelwing J., Shining J., Windmill J., Royal J., Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum officinale grandiflorum, J. viminale, J. vulgatum, J. Affine (True jasmine, Common jasmine, French Perfume Jasmine, Poet's jasmine, Catalonian J., Spanish J., Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum parkeri (Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum polyanthum, J. blinii, J. delafieldii (Pink jasmine, Winter Jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum pubescens , J. multiflorum, J. gracillimum (Downy Jasmine, Angel Hair Jasmine, Star Jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum sambac, J. fragrans, J. undulatum, Mogori Sambac, Mogori undulata, Nyctanthes sambac (Arabian Jasmine, J. Grand Duke Of Tuscany, Butt Mograw, Belle of India, Maid of Orleans, Hawaiian Pikake, Sampaguitas, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum stephanense (Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum tortuosum (African Jasmine, Perfume jasmine, Family: Oleaceae) Jasminum volubile, J. simplicifolium (Wax Jasmine, Family: ) Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote', lavender Lobularia maritima 'Pastel Carpet', sweet alyssum Lonicera heckrottii (Honeysuckle, Family: Caprifoliaceae) Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle, Halls honeysuckle, Family: Caprifoliaceae) Magnolia (Family: Magnoliaceae) Mandevilla boliviensis, M. sanderi (Mandevilla Summer Snow, Family: Apocynaceae) Mandevilla Pink Parfeit (Hybrid Mandevilla, Family: Apocynaceae) Manglietia insignis, Red Lotus Tree Matthiola bicornis. Night-scented Stock Matthiola longipetala, Evening-scented stock Melia azedarach (Chinaberry Tree, Indian Lilac, Pride of India, White Cedar, Family: Meliaceae) Michelia champaca (Joy perfume tree, Family: Magnoliaceae) Michelia chapensis Michelia coco, M. Pumila Michelia Figo (Banana Magnolia, Family: Magnoliaceae) Michelia x alba, Magnolia Alba (White champak, Pak-lan, Family: Magnoliaceae) Mirabilis jalapa (Four o'clocks, Family: Nyctaginaceae) Mitriostigma axillare, Gardenia citriodora (African Gardenia, Family: Rubiaceae) Montanoa grandiflora (Tree Daisy, Family: Asteraceae) Murraya exotica Mini (Miniature Orange jasmine, Family: Rutaceae) Murraya paniculata (Orange Jasmine, O. Jessamine, Mock Orange, Lakeview jasmine, Family: Rutaceae) Myrtus, True Myrtle Narcissus Nicotiana alata, Jasmine Tobacco, flowering tobacco Nicotiana sylvestris, Woodland Tobacco Nicotiana x sanderae, Flowering Tobacco Nottingham Catchfly, Night-flowering Catchfly, and White Campion Ochna serrulata, O. multiflora, O. atropurpurea, O.thomasiana (Mickey Mouse Plant, Bird's Eye Bush, small-leaved plane, carnival bush,, Family: Ochnaceae) Oenothera biennis, Evening Primrose Osmanthus fragrans, Olea fragrans, Olea ovalis, Osmanthus longibracteatus, Osmanthus macrocarpus (Tea olive, fragrant olive, sweet olive, kinmokusei in Japan, Family: Oleaceae) Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Gulftide', Holly Osmanthus Passifloras, Passion flowers (P. Belotii, P. Incense, P. Alata "Ruby Glow.") Petunia 'Tidal Wave Silver' Philadelphus, Mock Orange Phlox paniculata, white varieties Plumeria sp., Frangipani, Temple tree (Family: Apocynaceae) Plumeria stenophylla, Frangipani (Family: Apocynaceae) Polianthes tuberosa, Tuberose Pterospermum acerifolium, Dinnerplate tree Quisqualis Indica, Rangoon Creeper, Burma creeper, Chinese honeysuckle, (Family: Combretaceae) Randia formosa, Mussaenda formosa Jacq., Randia mussaenda, Blackberry jam fruit, Jasmin de rosa (Family: Rubiaceae Madder family) Ruellia noctiflora, Night-blooming ruellia, Night-blooming wild petunia Salvia argentea, Silver sage Saponaria officinalis, Soapwart, Bouncing Bet, Fuller's-herb, Lady's-washbowl, Latherwort, Old-maid's-pink Saraca indica, S. asoca, Jonesia asoca (Ashoka Tree, Jonesia Asoka, Gandhapushpa, Sorrowless tree, Family: Caesalpiniaceae) Scabiosa Selenicerus grandiflora, Queen of the Night Senecio cineraria, Dusty Miller Solandra maxima, S. hartwegii, S. selerae, S. grandiflora (Butter Cup, Gold Cup, Chalice Vine, Cup-of-Gold, Trumpet Plant, Family: Solanaceae) Stemmadenia galeottiana (litoralis) (Lechoso, Milky Way tree, Family: Apocynaceae) Stephanotis floribunda (Bridal Bouquet, Family: Asclepiadaceae) Strophanthus Gratus, Climbing oleander, Cream Fruit, Rose allamanda (Family: Apocynaceae) Strophanthus preussii, Poison arrow vine (Family: Apocynaceae) Sweet Autumn Clematis, Clematis terniflora (Family: Ranunculaceae) Syringa vulgaris, lilacs Tabernaemontana Divaricata cv Flore Pleno (Crape Jasmine, Carnation of India, East Indian rosebay, Adam's apple, Nero's crown, coffee rose,, Family: Apocynaceae) Tabernaemontana holstii, Gardenia Nitida, Samoan Gardenia, Samoan name: pua (Family: Apocynaceae) Telosoma cordata, Pakalana vine (Family: Asclepiadaceae) Trachelospermum asiaticum, Asian Jasmine, Yellow star jasmine (Family: Apocynaceae) Trachelospermum Jasminoides, Confederate Jasmine, Star Jasmine (Family: Apocynaceae) Vigna caracalla, Corkscrew flower (Family: Fabaceae) Wisteria floribunda, Japanes Wisteria Wisteria sinensis, Chinese Wisteria Wrightia religiosa, Sacred Buddhist, Wondrous Wrightia (Family: Apocynaceae) Wrightia tinctoria, Snowflake, Milky way, Winter Cherry Tree (Family: Apocynaceae) Yucca filamentosa, Yucca

Is the pH also an issue with organic insecticides like BT, cold-pressed neem oil, insecticidal soap, and spinosad? It definitely is with raw cold-pressed neem oil (best to use) and insecticidal soaps. On the flip side of alkaline hydrolysis is acid hydrolysis, both of which are capable of breaking up large molecules of products with insecticidal properties into smaller molecules with reduced or no insecticidal properties. That's something you'll need to check on for each product. You can probably check it out easily by using the products active ingredient followed by the word hydrolysis. What about watering and fertilizing pH? Do you pH your water or fertilizer before giving it to your plants? No, even though my water pH is slightly above 8.0 at the tap. Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 is an acid forming fertilizer which helps buffer the pH of the water. My strategy for dealing with the high pH is 2-pronged. In winter, I water everything indoors under lights with R/O water which comes out of the filtration system at 6.7 - 6.8 consistently. The water comes out at 0ppm dissolved solids. The slight acidity is due to the dissolved CO2 in the water. If allowed to stand for a day in an open container, the CO2 gasses off and the pH rises slightly to 6.9 - 7.0. Since I'm using an acid forming fertilizer, there are no pH issues. In summer, everything I grow is outdoors, where I water from the hose. I formerly would see some chlorosis attributable to a pH-induced Fe (iron) deficiency. This, I addressed by supplementing with an iron chelate (Sprint 138) formulated specifically for high pH applications. I have noticed no issues I can relate to specific nutrients other than Fe. Have you ever tested the pH of the water or fertilizer after it has run through the substrate? Yes, but I gave that up a very long time ago. Soil solution pH varies widely in containers due to temperature, fertility levels, plant type, watering frequency, ..... . If I was doing it for a living I would have the wherewithal to maintain pH within a narrow and predetermined range most advantageous to the crop. If ever you hear a hobby grower say they are maintaining any given plant at a specific pH, take it with a grain of salt because they are almost certainly pulling your leg. It takes sophisticated equipment and titration products typically injected into the water supply to keep pH from fluctuating outside of narrow parameters. Also, do you use spreader sticker with your insecticide? If I spray plants with leathery and glossy leaves (ficus, e.g.) that cause water to bead up on the foliage, I use insecticidal soap as a surfactant to help with coverage. Al