Gardenias typically require an inch of rain in order to thrive, so adhere to that standard whenever watering. Monitor the soil frequently for moisture content, and water thoroughly as the top inch of the soil dries.  Avoid over-watering the soil especially, because if it is kept too wet, the roots will be starved for air. Mulch is made of decayed organic matter, such as leaves, bark, or compost and can be purchased at most gardening stores.  Mulch not only enriches the soil, but it will also keep your soil moist, reduce the growth of weeds, and maintain constant soil temperature. For the best outcome, select a mulch made of wood chips, sawdust, or ground bark. Applying mulch is extremely important since gardenia roots are shallow, making them especially vulnerable to weeds. Biannual fertilizing will promote healthy flower growth in your gardenia.  Be sure that you feed with an acid fertilizer.  The nutrients in this particular fertilizer are formulated for plants that prefer acidic soil.  Applying regular fertilizer may not be sufficient for sustaining your gardenia. Beware of over-fertilizing, as this can lead to damaging salt accumulation. Now that you have taken steps to provide adequate sunlight, soil, and water, you will need to meet the gardenia's humidity requirements.  Spraying with water raises the humidity around the plant, but only temporarily.  Therefore, it must be done daily in order to ensure that the gardenia survives.  Other than spraying, you could plant gardenias in clusters without overcrowding them.  This will create a pocket of humidity.  To increase the humidity even further, you could place a dish of water in the middle of the cluster.  As the water evaporates, it will cover the surrounding gardenias. your gardenias in early spring to shape the bush. Deadhead after flowering to encourage more flowering.  Pruning younger, dormant gardenias will cause more prolific blooming.  The young plant is very resilient and will easily repair lost stems because it is not yet actively growing.  Remove scraggly branches and faded flowers.  Gardenias are woody shrubs, so remove older, woody stems to encourage the growth of new branches. Prune the lowest branches which are in danger of touching the ground.  This can lead to infections.  Don't cut all the leaves off.  Some leaves need to be left so the plant can still produce food for the root system. These insects are especially attracted to gardenias and can impair growth or cause the plant to die.  Mealybugs are grey, segmented pests.  They feed on the sap of the gardenia and leave behind a waxy coating on the plant.  This can result in twig death, impair plant growth, and cause leaves to drop prematurely. Whiteflies are tiny white insects that resemble small gnats. They produce honeydew and the black sooty mold which grows on it.  This mold can cause gardenia leaves to turn yellow and drop prematurely. These solutions will kill both mealybugs and whiteflies and are available in most local gardening stores. If you are facing a large mealybug infestation, smother the gardenia with a good dose of insecticidal soap or horticulture oil.  Two days after the first pass of insecticidal soap, cover the soil judiciously with a helpful fungus called Beauveria bassiana to kill any mealybugs that feed on roots.  Beauveria bassiana is also available in most gardening/home improvement stores. Since gardenias are extremely sensitive to the cold, they will require adequate insulation and protection from harsh winter winds.  Secure a cardboard box large enough to cover the shrub without bending the branches.  Use old blankets, straw, or bubble wrap to insulate the plant while it is under the cardboard box.  Despite your best efforts, the tips of the branches may die and turn black from frost or cold damage.  When this happens, prune the branches a couple of inches below the damage with sharp pruning shears. Alternatively, you could transplant your gardenia to a pot and bring it inside for the winter.  Though your plant will face higher chances of bug infestation, there are steps you can take to better care for your gardenia indoors.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Water gardenias with an inch of water once a week. Apply a 2 inches (5.1 cm) layer of organic mulch to the gardenias. Feed the gardenias with acid fertilizer twice per year. Mist your gardenias daily with a spray bottle. Prune Monitor your gardenias for whiteflies and mealybugs. Coat gardenias with insecticidal soap or horticulture oil in case of infestation. Cover your gardenias with a blanket or cardboard box during winter cold snaps.


People lie for different reasons and it's usually not clear-cut. Though your friend's lying may have hurt you, that may not have been their intention. Think about the underlying goal behind your friend's lie.  What purpose did the lie serve?  Did it get them out of trouble, make them look good in front of others, or prevent someone's feelings from getting hurt? For example, your friend may have told you they weren't seeing anyone, but you later find out they were secretly in a relationship. They may have lied because they weren't ready to introduce their date or weren't sure if the relationship was serious. Your friend may have lied due to extreme pressure or influence from you or someone else. To see if this is the case, look back over your behavior before the lie.  Did you do or say something that influenced the lie? For instance, your best friend lies about seeing your girlfriend with someone else because you just said “Everyone is trying to tear us apart.” They may have lied so they aren't accused of sabotaging your relationship. Before you make up your mind about things, get a second opinion. Talk to a parent, sibling, or another close friend about what happened. Laying out the events to someone else could help you get a different perspective. Say something like, “Hey, Rita, I'm worried that Jen is lying about something. How has she seemed to you lately?” A straightforward confrontation may be the best way to address your best friend’s lying. Stay calm, call out the lie, and ask them to explain themselves. Use “I” statements to cut down on defensiveness.  You might say, “I know you lied to me about having plans this weekend. I heard you on the phone with Sarah. Can you help me understand why you lied?” If you and your friend are in a group, you might pull them aside to confront them privately. Don't let your pal know you’ve caught their scent. Continue the conversation by querying them for more info. Ask clarifying questions that help uncover the truth.  Let's say your friend lies and says, “Yeah, I didn't do anything this weekend, but study.” Don't say, “You're lying!” Go for a more subtle approach, like “Hmph, that’s weird. Josh said he saw you down at the creek on Saturday. He must have been mistaken, huh?” Act as though the lie were funny. Playfully deflect to get your friend to admit the truth.  You might say, “Oh my goodness, I actually think  your nose got bigger just now!” Letting on that you know they’re lying without direct confrontation may ease tension and help you get to the truth. As hard as it may be, sometimes lies aren't worth the effort. If your friend’s lie is minor and not hurting anyone, just overlook it. There's no use creating negative energy between you and your bestie over a little white lie.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Figure out their motive. Reflect on your own actions. Get someone else's input. Be direct. Play dumb and ask for more info. Laugh it off. Ignore it.


for this, you only need one ball. r a good way to do this is wrap the ball, and use the foil at the top to wrap around your finger
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
As above, Buy a ping pong ball. Wrap the ball in tin foil, but leave a chimney from the top, leading to the ball, and have it big enough so you could reach down and touch it with your finger. Pour some match heads into the ball and twist the tin foil. Heat the bottom of the bomb, near the ball until you hear a hiss, and it begins smoking. Get away, the smoke smells bad and will make you smell bad, and it's toxic.