INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The amount of time it takes for the first shoots to poke through the soil depends on the air and ground temperature. Cooler temperatures may slow the plant's growth. If there's still no sprout after 3 weeks, carefully dig up the bulb to inspect it for rot. Cut off any bad spots, then plant it again. Since elephant ears are tropical plants, they require a lot of moisture. Water the plant as close to the soil as possible underneath the foliage so you avoid getting the leaves wet. It's best if the plant is dry at night to prevent diseases. Never let the plant dry out between watering. This stresses the plant. Drooping leaves signal that the plant needs more water. Elephant Ear plants are heavy feeders and flourish in fertile soil. A slow-release fertilizer keeps your plants fed by gradually releasing nutrients in the soil to promote steady, consistent growth. It also requires less maintenance on your part. Look for a fertilizer that's high in nitrogen. Nitrogen helps the plant produce chlorophyll, which gives the leaves that gorgeous green color. Mix compost matter or manure into the soil for extra nutrients. This will encourage new leaves to grow and keep your garden looking lively. Use garden shears to remove the bad leaves as close to the bulb as possible without cutting the bulb. Wear gloves when you're trimming the leaves if you have sensitive skin. Their are certain compounds in the leaves that can irritate your hands. A lot of brown or yellow leaves are a sign the plant is either not getting the right amount of sunlight or isn't getting enough water.

SUMMARY: Wait 1 to 3 weeks before expecting your first sprout. Water the plant in the morning at the roots to keep the soil moist. Fertilize your plant once a month with a slow-release fertilizer. Trim away faded or browning leaves as needed.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Check to see if the gums around your tooth have become red, swollen, and sensitive. You may notice a gum boil, a pimple-like formation on the gum near the infected tooth and up to the root. You may also be able to see white pus in the sore or around the tooth the pus is actually what causes the pain because it puts pressure on your tooth and gums. When the pus begins to drain, your pain will subside some. Bad breath or a foul taste in your mouth is another give away. This is directly related to the build-up of pus. If your tooth is severely infected, pus may begin to drain from the tooth or from a gum-boil into your mouth. It may happen suddenly, in a rupture of the abscess, and it will taste metallic or sour. It will also smell bad. Avoid swallowing the pus. An infected tooth can change in color from a yellow to a dark brown or grey color. This change is caused by the death of the pulp inside of your tooth, namely a "bruising" from dying blood cells. The dead pulp will emit toxic products, like anything that decays, that will reach up to the surface of your tooth through the porous passageways in your tooth. A tooth infection may well spread to adjoining areas of the body, especially if you have let it go untreated. For example, the infection can affect your jaw, sinuses, or the lymph glands under your jaw or in your neck. These latter may swell, feel tender, or be too painful to touch. While any tooth abscess is serious and needs treatment, please seek medical attention immediately if you have an infection that spreads. Because it is close to vital organs notably your brain such an infection can easily become life-threatening. Your body can react to an infection by raising your internal body temperature, causing you to run a fever. Normal body temperature can range from 97 to 99F (36.1 to 37.2C). A fever is usually a reading over 100.4F (38C). Along with fever, you may also develop chills, headache, or a feeling of nausea. You may feel weak and become dehydrated, so be sure to drink water. Seek medical attention if your fever continues to rise or does not respond to medication, or if you run a temperature of over 103F (39.4C) for several days.
Summary: Look for swelling or discharge of pus. Note any tooth discoloration. Check for swollen neck glands. Beware of fever.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Most dead skin build-up occurs in and around your bed because you spend so much time there. This attracts dust mites and accumulates allergens. You will want to have multiple blankets, sheets and pillowcase covers to switch out with. Wash all blankets, sheets, pillow cases, bed covers and other bedding with detergent in hot water at a minimum of 131F weekly to kill dust mites and remove allergens. High water temperature can kill dust mites better than just using detergent. Also wash curtains. Set your washing machine to its hottest setting. If the water isn't hot enough, check your hot water heater. Most hot water heaters have an adjustable knob to change the maximum temperature. If you can't wash bedding in hot enough temperatures, throw them in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F to kill mites. Afterward, wash and dry the bedding so allergens are removed. You could also dry items in direct sunlight. Use a product that contains essential oils, like eucalyptus, cedar or tea tree oil to add to the wash's effectiveness. Using detergent plus bleach will remove most allergens and a significant amount of dust mites, even in cold or warm water. Items can be washed again to reduce mite levels further. Know that live mites can be transferred from mite-infested items to mite-free items during washing. Hot tumble dry items for an extra half an hour after drying or dry clean items to kill dust mites. This will not get rid of the allergen dust mites produce, however. Vacuum everything that you can, including couches, mattresses, armchairs, floors, mattresses and other places where people frequently sit or lay down on. To trap allergens effectively, your vacuum should have a double-layered microfilter bag or a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This is important because it helps ensure that dust is not recirculated into the air. Vacuuming removes surface dust but can't remove most dust mites and dust mite allergens. Mites are tiny enough to pass through the vacuum cleaner bag. However, vacuuming keeps dust down so these areas aren't as attractive to mites. Get underneath and behind furniture to keep "dust bunnies" from forming. If you have severe allergies, leave the area being vacuumed and let someone else do the work. Stay away from the vacuumed room for about two hours to let everything settle. Keep your vacuum serviced so that it continues to work well. Use a water vacuum to keep mites inside the water container so you can dump the water into your toilet and flush it. You may wish to wear a mask when you vacuum to avoid inhaling allergens. Even if you don't have allergies, it's best to leave the house for about half an hour after vacuuming for the remaining dust and allergens to settle. Steam cleaning dissolves dirt and grime, removes germs from surfaces and kills dust mites. However, the moisture that accumulates in carpet padding from steam cleaning creates an ideal environment for dust mites. Think about using dry cleaning methods instead. Feather dusters and dry cloths will stir up allergens into the air. Use a damp or oiled mop, rag or electrostatic cloths to clean hard surfaces once a week. This will help keep dust and dust mites down. Whether you packed up clothing for a move or it's starting to get cold for winter, wash all these items before using them. Dust mites love to settle into the fibers of unused and unwashed clothing and blankets as they collect dust in storage. Washing them ensures that both mites and allergens are destroyed so you can enjoy your items sneeze-free.

SUMMARY:
Change your bedding regularly. Wash bedding. Vacuum regularly. Steam clean regularly. Damp dust. Wash stored blankets and clothing.