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a few properties that are in a floodplain, or have lot lines adjacent to areas that flood. If your home is currently in a flood zone and you have a mortgage, you are likely already paying for this insurance, since lenders require it. If you pay cash for your house, you can choose whether to add a flood insurance policy. However, when you sell, you must disclose that the property is in a floodplain. This might scare away potential buyers due to the added expense, even though the potential for flood damage is extremely low. By visiting the FEMA website https://msc.fema. gov/portal/home, you can enter your address and see what your risk level is. I purchased flood insurance on my current property, even though it’s not in a flood zone. Regardless of your home’s location, you may want to consider adding extra coverage. Arizona weather can be unpredictable. I learned the hard way.
I n the wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helene, the last few months have been disastrous for east coast homeowners, who are recovering from more than $300 billion in damages. According to CBS news, only 5 to 10% of those damages will be covered by insurance. Many of those homeowners are trying to rebuild without any assistance other than what the government and any good Samaritans may offer. In 2017, I found myself in a similar, albeit less dire situation when an investment home I purchased in east Casa Grande flooded during monsoon season. Flood insurance… in the desert? BY DAYV MORGAN
ANY OF US WILL RECEIVE poinsettias or mistletoe at Christmas, but because you live in the Sonoran Desert, you just might Talk about a green Christmas Here’s another festive flora to stage your smooch BY CHERYL PURVIS M receive a Christmas cactus instead. Did you know they are native to the beaches of Brazil? These seasonal succulents live on trees and rocks and like high humidity, unlike our weather. Let me tell you what it’s like to be a thriving Christmas cactus. We are true succulents that can grow branches up to 3 feet long. At the end of those branches will be a flower of pink, red, white or yellow, though most of us have purplish-red flowers — yellow is the rarest color. When you receive me, keep me in the pot I came in. Place me in a spot that will get plenty of light — indirect light is OK, but during my blooming season, I like brighter lights. I like temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees with no drafts, please (we are delicate, you know). Water? Yes, please! I am not like my desert cacti cousins — I like moist soil, not dry. When you check my soil and find it is dry to the touch,
For a week, I couldn’t access the house. There was two feet of water all around it. Once I got into the house, I discovered the extreme heat caused a mold outbreak. All the flooring and cabinets were ruined. Drywall had to be removed four to six feet high. The remaining studs needed treatment to kill the mold. While not directly in a flood plain, the house was near it. The end result was a repair bill of $37,000. Luckily the home was empty, or the total would have been much higher due to damaged furnishings. Today, the same bill would be between $60,000 and $70,000. So, do you need flood insurance on your home? We live in a desert, but flooding is more of a potential than you might think. Surprisingly, about half of the neighborhoods in Maricopa have at least
Dayv Morgan is a Maricopa Realtor and owner of HomeSmart Premier.
480-251-4231 DayvMorgan@gmail.com
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really like crowded roots but be sure there is good drainage, or I could develop that dreaded root rot. I do not like spider mites, mealy bugs, fungus gnats or scale insects. Use houseplant insecticide to get rid of those nasty little things. They make me itch just thinking about them. If you want me to bloom again next Christmas, stop the fertilizer and rotate me for 12 hours of light and darkness starting in October. When in the dark, please be sure the temperature is around 55 degrees. Once I start to show buds at the ends of my branches, I can go back to living in light. I really am looking forward to living and thriving in your home.
it is time for some water. In the heat of your spring and summer, I will need to be watered more often. Be careful not to give me too much water as it can cause root rot and boy do I stink when that happens. I also appreciate a good misting every day. Like you, I need nourishment, so a good indoor liquid plant or cacti fertilizer once a month will keep my inners working (not too rich now). Be sure you keep a regular schedule of watering and fertilizing because I do like consistency. Once I finish blooming, close to springtime, it will be time to repot me. Be sure to use a planter that is bigger than I am, so I can grow a bit. My favorite soil mixture is a combination of sand and peat moss that allows my roots to drain properly, or I could get “constipated.” I
Cheryl Purvis is a Pinal County Master Gardener.
InMaricopa.com | December 2024
December 2024 | InMaricopa.com
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