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• How to Care for a Lemon Tree
• How to Make Edible Slime
• How to Start Swimming

How to Care for a Lemon Tree Posted: 19 Jun 2019 01:00 AM PDT Lemon trees are fairly easy to keep alive, even if you don't live in a warm climate. Establish the best environment for them by learning when to bring those potted trees indoors, and give them ample water so they don't dry out. Once your tree is 2 to 3 years old, you should be able to harvest anywhere from 10 to 30 lemons every year! EditSteps EditCreating the Ideal Environment Keep your tree outdoors if you live in a warm, temperate climate. As long as your nighttime temperatures don't drop below , keep your lemon tree outdoors in a pot. If and when the weather does turn inclement, bring the tree indoors to keep it safe.[1] If you live in an area that experiences at least 8 hours of sunlight daily year-round and that never drops below , you can plant your lemon tree outdoors in the ground. Grow your lemon tree indoors during the colder months. Once temperatures begin dropping and frost starts appearing on the ground, bring your lemon tree indoors to a sunroom, a patio, a greenhouse, or some other room that will still allow it to receive abundant sunlight through a window. Frost will kill a lemon tree, so pay close attention to the weather forecast to ensure you bring it indoors in time.[2] Dwarf lemon trees are a great variety to grow if you'll be bringing your tree indoors. They produce a lot of fruit, but they won't get so big that it would be impossible to move them. At the most, they'll grow to be tall, but you can keep them trimmed back to a smaller size if you want. Maintain an ideal temperature of . During the summer months, it's okay if the trees are in temperatures higher than during the day because they'll experience cooler temperatures at night. If the tree is kept inside, keep an eye on the temperature to make sure it doesn't drop too low or rise too high. Especially during the winter months when the air can be drier, it's important to make sure the tree doesn't get too hot.[3] For especially dry climates, use a humidifier when your tree is indoors to keep the climate at the right level, around 50% humidity. If you live in a climate where your tree can grow outdoors, there's no need to worry about the humidity level. Make sure your tree gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day. Place your lemon tree in a location where it will get direct sunlight. Avoid putting it somewhere where it'll be blocked from the sun by other plants. Depending on the time of year, move the tree around your yard or patio so it gets the maximum exposure possible. If your tree is indoors, you may want to move it from season to season to make sure it's always getting the maximum amount of light possible.[4] If you live in a climate that experiences a lot of cloudy, dark weather, invest in a grow light. You can buy one online or from your local nursery. Keep your tree away from radiators and heat sources. When the lemon tree is inside, make sure it's not next to a heat source, as it could dry out the leaves and the soil. While natural heat and sunlight are good for the tree, excessively dry heat will hurt it.[5] If possible, keep the tree in a room with a ceiling fan or put a standing fan in the room. Circulating air will help keep the tree healthy. Keep the fan on for as many hours a day as you can. EditFertilizing and Watering the Tree Select a well-draining pot that is 25% bigger than the lemon-tree bulb. The bulb consists of the roots and the clumped dirt that is attached to them. If you buy your tree from a nursery, it may already be in an appropriately-sized container—just ask the sales associate to make sure. If you do need to re-pot it, look for a pot for a 2 to 3 year-old tree or a pot for trees older than that.[6] A pot bigger than will be really hard to move around. Use well-draining, composted soil to cover the bulb of the tree. Pick sandy or loamy soil for an option that drains well. Avoid using soil made with clay or that has heavy alkaline levels. Cover the bulbed part of the tree (the roots and the dirt attached to the roots), but stop when you get to the base of the roots.[7] Lemon trees are pretty hardy and can grow in many different types of soil, though the loamy soil is the preferred type. If you want to test the pH level, aim for a reading between 5.5 and 6.5 for optimal growth. If the soil is too acidic, you could add a base like compost or manure to the soil. If the soil isn't acidic enough, add a compound made of powdered limestone. Fertilize the soil surface only so you don't disturb the roots of the tree. Fertilize the tree every 1 to 2 months during the spring and summer and every 2 to 3 months during the fall and winter. Use a citrus-specific fertilizer, and only apply it to the top of the soil; don't mix it in with the rest of the soil.[8] Spring and summer are the active-growing months; fall and winter are the dormant months. Water your lemon tree every 10 to 14 days. Water the tree while slowly counting to 20. Stop once you notice water starting to come out of the bottom of the pot; if after 20 seconds you still don't see water coming out of the pot, continue counting and watering for an additional 10 seconds. If your climate is particularly dry, keep an eye on the soil and the leaves of the tree. If the soil is dry to the touch or if the leaves are drooping, water the tree. During the hottest months, you may need to water it once or twice a week.[9] Keep your tree in a location where it won't be sitting in water. While lemon trees need a lot of water, they also shouldn't be left to sit in water. If the pot is outside, place it somewhere that rainwater will flow away from it rather than to it, like on a garden wall or on the highest point of an incline.[10] If your area is experiencing really heavy rains, you may want to bring your lemon tree indoors or put it under an awning until the rain passes. EditHarvesting and Pruning Pick lemons once they are firm and in size. Pick very green lemons if you prefer a more sour fruit; the yellower it gets, the sweeter it will be. Lemons will continue to ripen even after they've been plucked from the tree.[11] The lemons may still be green when they reach the right size, and this is okay. The size is actually more important than the shade of the fruit. A squishy lemon has been left on the branch too long. Twist the fruit gently until it breaks off of the branch. Grab the lemon firmly in one hand and twist it around on the branch. It should snap off fairly easily. If you prefer, you could also use a clean pair of gardening shears to cut the lemon from the tree.[12] Avoid pulling the lemon off, as this could damage the branch or even detach it completely from the tree. Prune your lemon tree from March to May so it stays healthy. The best time to prune your tree is after most of the lemons have been harvested but before the new buds begin to bloom. Depending on your climate, prune sometime between late winter and early spring.[13] Pruning is essential to keeping the tree healthy and promoting new growth. Use clean shears to trim each new shoot down to half its original length. Cut the branch at a 45-degree angle and never cut it back all the way to the main trunk. Focus on pruning the longest and gangliest of the branches and leave the thicker, more established branches alone. Trim back all low-hanging, downward-facing branches that are reaching toward the soil.[14] Also take time to pluck away dead leaves from the branches and remove fallen ones from the soil whenever you notice them. Keep an eye out for pests to treat any problems that arise. Keeping your lemon tree pruned is a great first step to preventing unwanted pests from making their home in your tree. If you notice spider mites or aphids, use a hose to knock them off of the tree (do this outdoors). If problems persist, or if there are other pests on the plant, you can use an insecticide or horticultural oil to help protect your tree—just make sure to ask a professional and follow instructions so you don't accidentally harm your lemon tree. Some of the more common pests are:[15] Red mites: small, red insects that eat leaves and twigs on citrus plants Spider mites: small, white insects that are more common in cooler climates Citrus mealybugs: Small, flat, oval, and wingless, these creatures are covered with a wax-like substance that looks puffy Citrus whiteflies: small, white, winged insects that appear on the underside of citrus leaves EditTips Start with an already established lemon tree, which you can buy from a nursery. Growing a lemon tree from a seed can take up to 2 to 3 years to start producing fruit, making it a long-term investment. EditThings You'll Need Humidifier (optional) Grow light (optional) Well-draining pot Loamy soil Citrus-specific fertilizer Gardening shears Insecticide or horticultural oil (optional) EditReferences Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

How to Make Edible Slime Posted: 18 Jun 2019 05:00 PM PDT Slime is a great substance for kids to play with, but young children often put it in their mouths. To create a slime that's safe for kids to taste, use common kitchen ingredients. Cook sweetened condensed milk with cornstarch and sugar or microwave gummy bears or mini-marshmallows with oil. Once you have a sticky sweet substance, knead it with a little cornstarch and powdered sugar. You'll have stretchy, edible slime in no time! EditIngredients EditSweetened Condensed Milk Slime 1 tablespoon (12 g) cornstarch 14 ounce (396 g) can of sweetened condensed milk 2 tablespoons (25 g) sugar Food coloring, optional Makes 1 batch of slime EditMarshmallow Slime 1 cup (50 g) mini-marshmallows vegetable or coconut oil 2 tablespoons (16 g) powdered sugar 2 tablespoons (25 g) cornstarch 1 tablespoon (10 g) sprinkles, optional 4 to 5 drops of food coloring, optional Makes 1 batch of slime EditGummy Bear Slime 1 cup (200 g) gummy bears 2 tablespoons (25 g) cornstarch 1 tablespoon (8 g) powdered sugar vegetable or coconut oil Makes 1 batch of slime EditSteps EditCooking Sweetened Condensed Milk Slime Combine the sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and cornstarch. Open a 14 ounce (396 g) can of sweetened condensed milk and spoon it into a small saucepan. Stir in 1 tablespoon (12 g) of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons (25 g) of sugar. Stir and cook the slime for 10 to 15 minutes. Turn the burner to medium-high and stir the slime constantly as it cooks. It should thicken slightly and become stretchy once it's cooked long enough. Keep in mind that the longer you cook the slime, the closer to playdough it will become. Cook it less for a wetter slime. Mix in food coloring if desired. If you want to make your edible slime a fun color, stir in about 10 drops of your choice of food coloring. Mix the food coloring until it's completely distributed through the slime. Cool the slime completely before using it. Turn off the burner and let the slime come to room temperature before you scoop it onto a play surface. The slime may thicken a little as it cools. Refrigerate the slime for up to 5 days. Once you've finished playing with the sweetened condensed milk slime, put it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Store the slime in the refrigerator and use it within 5 days. The slime will begin to toughen and become hard the longer it's stored. EditMicrowaving Marshmallow Slime Put the mini-marshmallows and oil in a bowl. Measure 1 cup (50 g) of mini-marshmallows into a microwave-safe bowl. Pour of vegetable or liquid coconut oil over the marshmallows.[1] Microwave the marshmallows for 10 seconds at a time until they melt. Put the bowl with the oiled marshmallows into the microwave. Heat the marshmallows for 10 seconds and then stir the marshmallows. Keep heating the marshmallows for 10 seconds at a time until the marshmallows are sticky and melted.[2] Use caution when stirring the hot marshmallows. Stir 4 to 5 drops of food coloring into the marshmallows. If you'd like to tint the edible slime a color, add 4 to 5 drops of food coloring to the bowl. Stir the sticky marshmallows until the color is completely mixed in.[3] Add more food coloring if you want a brighter colored slime. Combine the powdered sugar and cornstarch on a plate. Set a large plate on the counter and put 2 tablespoons (16 g) of powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons (25 g) of cornstarch on it. Mix them together with a spoon.[4] Transfer the marshmallows to the plate and mix it. Scoop the marshmallows onto the cornstarch and powdered sugar mixture on the plate. Once the marshmallows are cool enough to touch, use your hands to knead the slime until it's easy to handle.[5] Mix in sprinkles, if desired. If you'd like to make even more colorful slime, mix 1 tablespoon (10 g) of sprinkles into the marshmallow slime.[6] Use and store the marshmallow slime for up 5 days. Play with your edible slime and store it in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator. Use it within 5 days or it will become too hard to play with.[7] EditMaking Gummy Bear Slime Microwave the gummy bears for 30 seconds. Put 1 cup (200 g) of gummy bears into a microwave-safe bowl and heat them for 30 seconds.[8] If you want your slime to be a bright color, use gummy bears that are the same color instead of a variety. Stir and microwave the gummy bears for 10 second intervals. Carefully stir the hot gummy bears and heat them for another 10 seconds if they haven't melted. Continue to stir and heat the gummy bears for 10 second intervals until they're smooth. Stirring will also help the melted gummy bears cool once they've melted. Mix the cornstarch and powdered sugar on a plate. Measure 2 tablespoons (25 g) of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon (8 g) of powdered sugar onto a large plate. Mix them until they're combined and set aside half of the mixture. Pour the melted gummy bears onto the plate and let it cool. Leave the gummy bear mixture until it's cool enough to touch. Mix the gummy mixture into the cornstarch and powdered sugar. Use your hands to knead the gummy bears into the dry ingredients. The slime won't be as sticky once you incorporate the dry ingredients. Knead in the rest of the reserved powdered sugar and cornstarch. Knead of vegetable or coconut oil into the slime. Pour the oil onto the gummy slime and use your hands to mix it in. You should notice the slime become stretchier. Play with the gummy bear slime. As soon as the slime is as gooey as you like, you can play with it. If it starts to harden, stick it in the microwave and heat it for 10 to 30 seconds. Avoid reheating the slime more than once and don't store it because it will harden very quickly. EditTips If you're playing with slime that you've tinted with food coloring, play away from carpet or upholstery. The dye in the slime can stain these surfaces. Use warm soapy water to clean the slime off of your play surface and hands. Children should not cook the slime by themselves. An adult should always supervise. EditWarnings Ask a parent for help when you use the stove or microwave. Always use caution around hot mixtures. EditThings You'll Need EditSweetened Condensed Milk Slime Measuring cups and spoons Spoon Airtight storage container Small saucepan Can opener EditEdible Marshmallow Slime Measuring cups and spoons Spoon Airtight storage container Microwave-safe bowl Microwave Large plate EditGummy Bear Slime Measuring cups and spoons Spoon Microwave-safe bowl Large plate or cutting board EditReferences EditQuick Summary Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

How to Start Swimming Posted: 18 Jun 2019 09:00 AM PDT Swimming is a great way to get fit, lose weight, and tone your muscles. It is best to start your swimming routine slowly and then gradually increase the length and duration of your swims. To keep your routine interesting, try using different strokes and set yourself goals. Before you start swimming, try to get acquainted with the basic etiquette and consider joining a club or getting lessons. If you want to swim , try using the sample swim plan to get you started. Enjoy your swimming journey! EditSteps EditCreating a Swimming Routine Aim to swim 3 - 5 times a week. This amount of training helps to improve your strength and fitness, which allows you to swim further and faster each week. Make sure to take rest days each week, as this allows your body to recover and build muscle mass. This frequency of swimming is great for both weight loss and competitive training.[1] If you find that your muscles are getting really sore, start by swimming 3 times a week and then increase the frequency of your swims once your muscles get used to the routine. Start and finish each work out with a warm up and cool down. This helps to prevent injuries and sore muscles. Try to slowly swim about before you get into your swimming programme and then swim a similar distance after you finish your training. Make sure to swim in a slow, relaxed manner to help gently stretch your muscles.[2] If you are unable to swim when you start out, try swimming or until your fitness increases. These laps are the same as the ones that you complete during your workout; however, they are designed to be swam more slowly. Begin by swimming as far as you can in 20 minutes. This allows you to assess your initial fitness. Record how far you swim in 20 minutes for your first 2 or 3 swims to give you an accurate idea of your starting abilities. If the pool is , multiply the number of laps that you swam by to calculate your distance. Don't be disheartened if you can't swim very far – you will quickly improve![3] Use a stopwatch to time your workouts. If you don't have a stopwatch, use the swim timer on the wall to time your swim. If you can easily swim for 20 minutes swim for 30 minutes instead. Don't worry if you need to rest between laps at first, this is normal! Over time, you will be able to swim longer distances with fewer breaks. Increase your distance by 10% each week. It is best to increase the distance that you swim slowly, as this helps to prevent injuries that occur as a result of over-exertion. This will also help to keep you motivated, as the increased distances shouldn't feel overwhelming. Don't worry about how fast you swim, simply try to increase your distance each week. As you increase the distance of your swims, your workouts will gradually get longer.[4] If you prefer, you can increase the length of your workout by 10% instead. Over time, this will also increase the distance of your swims. Incorporate different strokes into your routine to add variety. If you find freestyle a little monotonous, try adding breaststroke, backstroke, side-stroke, and butterfly into your routine. These will help to make your workouts more interesting and will also help to strengthen different muscles.[5] If you aren't confident at swimming different strokes, try doing a few lengths with just kicking or just using your arms to mix up your routine. Work toward swimming per session. This amount is regarded as a healthy maximum distance for casual swimmers. Once you can swim , try increasing the speed of your swimming to give yourself a new challenge.[6] Triathlon swims are normally long. If you are training for a triathlon, aim to swim at least before the event. EditLearning the Basics Swim in the novice lane until you increase your speed and endurance. Each swimming lane will have a sign in front of it indicating the speed. Swimming in a fast lane if you're just starting out will be frustrating for both you and those who you're swimming with. Start in the novice lane and then move up to the next lane once you find the pace of the novice lane too slow.[7] Some pools call the novice lane the beginner or the guppy lane. Swim up 1 side of the lane and back down the other. If there are multiple people swimming in 1 lane, it is etiquette to swim up 1 side and then back on the other in a circular rotation. This helps to stop collisions in the lanes and makes it safer and easier for people to swim.[8] Swim on the same side of the lane that you would drive on. For example, if you live in America, swim on the right side and if you live in New Zealand, swim on the left side. Join a swimming group to help you keep motivated. This is a great way to meet some like-minded friends and to help keep up your enthusiasm. Ask your local pools if they have a swimming group that meets regularly. Most pools will have both social and competitive groups.[9] If your local community doesn't have a swimming group, consider starting one with some friends. Consider attending a few swimming lessons to improve your technique. If this is your first time swimming or you're recovering from injuries, try taking a few lessons to help you learn the basics and avoid injuries. Swimming lessons range from $20-100 per lesson.[10] Enquire at your local pools about swimming lessons. Start with basic gear, including a bathing suit and goggles. Don't worry about splashing out and spending lots of money on fancy equipment. All you need to get started is a bathing suit, goggles, and a swim cap if you have long hair. Purchase swimming gear from the pools or a sports store.[11] If you get sore ears, try wearing swimming ear plugs to keep the water out of your ears. EditFollowing a Swim Plan Swim 2 slow laps and then catch your breath. This warms up your muscles and helps to prevent your body from feeling sore later. Complete the laps in whatever stroke you wish. Don't worry about trying to swim fast, simply allow your body to warm up.[12] This swimming plan is designed for a pool. If you are swimming in a pool, double the number of laps in this method in order to swim pool. Alternate between 1 fast lap and 1 easy lap of freestyle 5 times. Swim 1 lap as fast as you can and then swim a slow recovery lap. This helps to increase your heart rate and your anaerobic fitness. If possible, try not to have breaks between each set of fast and slow laps.[13] If you need to, take a short break to catch your breath after you've completed 5 sets. Swim 2 laps of just kicking. Push off the wall with your feet and let your arms hang by your side. Kick your feet as hard as you can to propel yourself through the water. This helps to strengthen your leg muscles.[14] Complete 4 laps of different strokes. Try to swim 4 laps without stopping. Use different strokes to help work out different muscles in your body. Experiment with breaststroke, backstroke, and freestyle. Alternate between different strokes to give your muscles a break.[15] For example, swim 1 lap of freestyle, 1 lap of breaststroke, 1 lap of backstroke, and then 1 lap of freestyle. Catch your breath and then swim 2 slow laps. Allow your body to regulate your breathing back to a normal speed. Then, swim 2 laps really slowly to help your body cool down. This helps to prevent injuries and sore muscles.[16] Congratulations, you've swum ! EditTips Don't worry if you find swimming really tiring at first – it'll quickly get easier! EditWarnings Consult with your doctor before starting a swimming programme if you have been unwell recently. EditReferences Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

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