Community #plantaddicts

plantaddicts





@TexanExpat avatar @TexanExpat · 1Y
Is tap water killing your plants ? I used to use tap water my plants. That was before I understood that tap water can be toxic to houseplants. Over time I started seeing leaf burn on my plants and was surprised to learn it was from the tap water. I have a water distiller that is a pain to use and I otherwise fill up water from my parents reverse osmosis. But this can be a hassle. I saw this filter on Amazon. I’m going to buy and I think it will be a big improvement. Tap water may be okay for some plants but the additives can be problematic. Houseplants in native habitats often evolved with rainwater or naturally filtered water, free from additives like fluoride and chlorine. Municipal tap water, on the other hand, often contains these chemicals due to water treatment processes. Fluoride and chlorine toxicity can impact plant health, causing leaf burn and growth issues, particularly in sensitive plants like orchids, carnivorous plants, ferns, bromeliads, and some aroids. The garden hose filter pictured, with KDF and Coconut GAC filters, efficiently reduces chlorine, odors, heavy metals, and sediment, making tap water more suitable for sensitive plants. While it may not remove all fluoride, the filter helps create a healthier water environment, mitigating potential toxicity issues and promoting optimal growth for a variety of houseplants. Attached are some pictures of plants damaged by tap water. Here is a link for the aqua crest water filter for plants https:// #GregGang #CentralTexasGang #SanAntonioGregGang GreggersSupportingGreggers #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddicts #plantdad

@TexanExpat avatar @TexanExpat · 1Y
Your plants as Art I came to houseplants, in part, is an offshoot of art therapy for the treatment of PTSD. I noticed that having pictures of the Dutch golden age floral still life prints elevated my mood. So I thought why not try real plants. I didn’t know it at the time, but there is a lot of science and evidence linking plants and nature with treating various health conditions including mental health. For those of you interested in this aspect of having house plants might, I suggest combining it with artistic expression. I have some progress with respect to this in the photos, I posted where I have vines undulating about the art across my wall. Have you ever heard of this expression art imitating life imitating art? Have you ever considered how cultivation of plants can be an art form? "Art imitating life imitating art" captures the cyclic relationship between artistic expression mirroring reality, and life drawing inspiration from art. The term's origins trace back to the Greek philosopher Aristotle's concept of "mimesis," emphasizing imitation and representation in art. Consider Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night." This masterpiece exemplifies art imitating life through van Gogh's interpretation of the night sky. Life imitates art as this iconic painting has influenced and inspired various forms of expression, from fashion to home decor. The swirling patterns and vivid colors have become synonymous with the romanticized depiction of the night sky, showcasing how classical art can permeate and shape our cultural consciousness in tangible ways. The most iconic example of plants as art form comes from Louis XIV of France. The Gardens of Versailles stand as a pinnacle of artistic expression, where the cultivation of plants is elevated to a classical art form. Crafted in the 17th century, these gardens seamlessly merge geometric precision with the organic beauty of nature. Through meticulously designed parterres, water features, and sculpted greenery, Versailles achieves an aesthetic synthesis of classical principles and horticultural mastery, establishing the cultivation of plants as a grand classical artistry. In my more modest surroundings, I have my monstera weaving its way across my art from art therapy. I like to think the greenery adds a dynamic and organic dimension to the artworks, creating a symbiotic relationship where the natural world reflects and enhances the artistic expressions, completing a captivating loop of influence and inspiration. Are any of you using plants as your pallet ? If you find plants as an art form interesting, take a look at this article about Piet Ouldolf. He is a renowned Dutch garden designer, and has been a transformative figure in the realm of garden design, elevating the use of plants to an art form. His approach, often referred to as "New Perennial" or "Oudolfian" style, emphasizes the careful selection and placement of plants to create dynamic, naturalistic compositions that evolve with the seasons. REVISED I FORGOT LINK https:// . #GregGang #CentralTexasGang #SanAntonioGregGang GreggersSupportingGreggers #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddicts #plantdad #plantsareart

@TexanExpat avatar @TexanExpat · 1Y
Public Service Announcement: Ubiquitous among credible resources and hobbyist blog posts alike is the advice that using a pebble tray can address those crispy leaves on your calathea or help your queen anthurium thrive. I myself have several humidity trays and pebbles of all sorts, including those made from jade. Save your money. Upon reflection it occurred to me that it’s scientifically impossible given the limited amount of water involved. Use a humidifier, instead. Here is how the myth unravels, using a 10 x 10 room and a six” square humidity tray as example. 1. Limited Water Volume, Quantifying the Insufficiency: Our 6" x 6" pebble tray, holding a mere 0.15 gallons (approximately 567 milliliters) of water, is overshadowed by the expansive 10x10 room. To be precise, achieving a substantial increase in humidity requires several gallons of water – a quantifiable amount well beyond the tray's capacity. 2. Hygrometer Measures the Negligible Impact: Even under the hypothetical scenario where the entire 0.15 gallons evaporates instantly, the impact on a common hygrometer would be quantifiably negligible. The tray's water volume categorically falls short of creating a measurable change in room humidity. 3. Quantifying the Short-Lived Impact: For those aiming to sustain a 1% increase in humidity for one hour in a 10x10 room, we're talking about needing several gallons (specifically, more than 2 gallons) of water to meet this goal. This quantifiable requirement surpasses the pebble tray's meager capacity. 4. HVAC as the Quantifiable Final Blow: To bolster our case with precision, the pebble tray's effectiveness is quantifiably hampered by HVAC systems. The forced air from these systems rapidly disperses any moisture, quantifiably diminishing the tray's impact in an ephemeral manner. In conclusion, let's be unequivocal – the quantities matter. Humidity trays, exemplified by our 6" x 6" pebble tray in a 10x10 room, are not just less effective than they seem; they are quantifiably ineffective for significantly and sustainably increasing humidity levels. For those of you wondering if the area around the plant would achieve sufficient increases in humidity as compared to the rest of the room, the answer is no. Not enough to register on a hygrometer considering rate of evaporation and impact of air circulation within the room. However A 1-gallon humidifier can modestly increase humidity around a houseplant, but HVAC systems may disperse moisture rapidly, limiting its impact. Moreover, the effect is temporary, contingent on regular refilling after the water is vaporized. #GregGang #CentralTexasGang #SanAntonioGregGang GreggersSupportingGreggers #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddicts #plantdad