BUSINESS

I am extremely cynical when it comes to overly commercialised celebrations designed to pressure us into spending money. But when I realised that this column would appear on Valentine’s Day, I couldn’t resist the temptation to write about the plant that is perpetually intertwined with romance. Fortunately for me, roses happen to be edible. While technically the entire plant … Read more

The problemPlants like pothos are easy to propagate. But the internet loves anything that resembles a scientific experiment, so now there’s a trend for using candle wax. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The hackPutting a wax “cap” on a cutting is … Read more

I’ve lived in the same corner of London for the best part of 15 years, and increasingly the pavements and parks are layered like onion skins, holding memories of my youth that I don’t realise are there until I return. This week I took my newborn daughter to Peckham in south-east London, to meet a friend … Read more

Name: Dark showering. Age: The name is new; the idea is not. Appearance: Barely visible. What is it? It’s exactly what it sounds like. That’s what I was afraid of. Showering with the light off. That’s it? What’s happened, has the bulb gone again? No, it’s showering with the light off on purpose. Why would … Read more

The problemOnce you tumble down a houseplant rabbit hole online, suddenly everything in your kitchen starts to look like fertiliser. Using oats and Epsom salts sounds wholesome, thrifty; breakfast for you, breakfast for your plants. But does it help? The hackThe idea is that oats break down and enrich the soil, while Epsom salts (magnesium … Read more