Just watered my tree and wanted to share her height—she’s...
Just watered my tree and wanted to share her height—she’s definitely grown since I first got her, and she’s not dead, so I’m considering that a win!
0ft to light, indirect
4” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 week ago
4
@ThePurpleMando when plants (or baby trees) don't get enough sunlight, they can start stretching (or etiolating) trying to reach toward more light. A few signs are big spaces between sets of leaves or a main stem that can't stand up on its own (I see you have it tied to the support stake). At this point, even though it's still young, your mesquite tree should have developed a thicker "trunk" and more dense foliage. It gets both of those when it gets enough light. These guys need full, direct sun. The good news is the leaves themselves look healthy and green. The biggest issue is structural, which you can fix by placing it directly up against the glass of a west or south-facing window. But do it gradually so it doesn't burn. Start with two hours of direct sun the first week, then go up to three hours the next week, and so on.
I'll cut to the chase: mesquite trees don't really work as houseplants. It's very difficult to give them the type of conditions they need to thrive and grow normally. Not necessarily impossible, but difficult. If you don't have a west or south-facing window, either strong grow lights or putting it outside are the two next-best options 💚
I'll cut to the chase: mesquite trees don't really work as houseplants. It's very difficult to give them the type of conditions they need to thrive and grow normally. Not necessarily impossible, but difficult. If you don't have a west or south-facing window, either strong grow lights or putting it outside are the two next-best options 💚
@stephongreg if I were to put it outside for a few hours a day (where I live the temperatures will be getting into 80s and above this week), would that be a good idea? I’ve been advised that since I live in Idaho, permanently moving it outside might be tricky because the weather can be very cold in the winter.