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@TexanExpat avatar @TexanExpat · 6M
The gremlins of the botanical world Are you scared of your house plants? Did you ever see the movie the gremlins back in the 80s? Cute gizmo except don’t feed them after midnight don’t let them get wet or they turn into gremlins and menace society? There’s a botanical counterpart. Just don’t let them out of the pot. Don’t let them out of your sight. Keep them away from your other plants…. In case you think I have a pension for the drama, let me explain: I have a few varieties of this plant because revere it, but I’m also a little nervous about it the same way one might be nervous about having a pet gizmo. Now, looking at the plant it is a site to behold. It doesn’t look like anything ever seen on this planet in fact, it evolved on Madagascar, geographically isolated since…it broke off from the first continent on Earth. Madagascar began its separation from the African landmass around 160 million years ago during the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana. This isolation allowed for the unique evolution of its flora and fauna, leading to a high degree of endemism. Many plant and animal species found in Madagascar are found nowhere else on Earth, showcasing the remarkable diversity and adaptation that occurred in this isolated environment. It might as well be from Outer space — actually that’s exactly what it looks like an alien species. Suffice to say it is exotic and beautiful bizarre and fierce. You might recognize one of the varieties of this plant from the musical little shop of horrors—Audrey 2. Are you beginning to get an idea of why they pick this plant to be the man eating menace from the plant shop ? As I learned about this plant I’ve always found the mother of thousand type plants rather menacing, and sometimes I shy away from its countenance. It’s not that I’m a scaredy-cat, It’s just that I can’t help and behold this plant and see a marauder. It’s best to keep this this mother a safe distance from your other plants because it could very well take over their pot. Your poor Peace Lily won’t standard chance. Kalanchoe delagoensis, a menacing invader from Madagascar, possesses a formidable arsenal of survival tactics. Its rapid growth and prolific reproduction, earning it the name "Mother of Millions," allow it to quickly overtake landscapes. Its unique growth habit, with stems rooting mid-air and leaf-tip plantlets dispersing toxins, ensures its dominance. This aggressive plant's conquest-driven survival strategy makes it a frightening force of nature, much like a relentless Viking horde. Now this plant grows so quickly that I have several pots of it and a couple of them I put over in a corner that doesn’t get much attention. In fact I don’t really think I’ve gone over to that side of the house all summer. I realize it’s now December, they’re pretty resilient. Apparently, it got sunburned. Could it look any more pissed off? Aye: rule # 3: don’t let it get sunburned ! #MyPlantWantsToEatMe #Audrey2 #The3RulesForMoT #MyPlantWantsToBeInternetFamous #optimizedsubstrate #GregGang #CentralTexasGang #SanAntonioGregGang #GreggersSupportingGreggers #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddicts #plantdad




@TexanExpat avatar @TexanExpat · 8M
Finally the list you need to select suitable grow lights. You could spend perhaps dozens of hours in vain trying to select from among a dizzying selection of grow lights and not really understand if you’re getting value for your money. Even if you get lucky, do you know whether your plants would grow better if the grow light were perhaps adjusted two inches closer? Or two inches away? Will they get bleached if it’s too close? Despite all the technical details provided with lights the Rosetta Stone you need is one that tells you, e.g., how much PPFD (more below) will endure optimal growth for a philodendron vs a begonia. I finally found a list that provides the vital information needed to correctly configure grow lights to ensure optimal growth, which I have attached below. Scroll toward bottom for houseplants: Genera Specific PPFD Recommendations – Carnivero. https:// For those of you for which this is Greek here is a more detailed explanation: When selecting grow lights for your plants, one of the most important factors to understand is PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density). This might sound technical, but it's simply a way to measure how much light your plants are actually receiving in a given area. Think of it as the intensity of light hitting your plants' leaves, which directly affects their ability to grow and thrive. You'll see a lot of terms like PPF, lumens, and wattage when shopping for grow lights. These can be confusing, but here’s why PPFD is what really matters: * PPFD tells you how much light your plants are getting in their specific growing area. It’s measured in micromoles per square meter per second (μmol/m²/s). High light plants, like succulents or herbs, need higher PPFD, while low-light plants, like ferns or orchids, require less. * PPF (Photosynthetic Photon Flux) measures how much total light the grow light produces. This sounds useful, but it doesn’t account for how well that light is spread across your plants. A high PPF doesn’t guarantee all your plants are getting enough light. * Lumens measure how bright a light appears to the human eye. The problem? Plants don’t "see" light the way we do. Lumens are irrelevant for plant growth. By using the recommended PPFD range for each plant type (see link), you'll ensure your plants get the right amount of light, maximizing their health and growth without wasting energy. #MyPlantWantsToBeInternetFamous #optimizedsubstrate #GregGang #CentralTexasGang #SanAntonioGregGang #GreggersSupportingGreggers #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddicts #plantdad