I spent roughly five hours repotting 75% of my plants tod...
I spent roughly five hours repotting 75% of my plants today :,). We are battling rust fungus, aerial blight, mealy bugs, mold, thrip, root rot, gnats, and general plant death/unhappiness. I have learned many things this year. Let me leave a quick list below of the lessons we learned (together- THANK YOU):
1. We always check the roots. I thought we were doing amazing with the roots, and oh. We were not- ROT ROOT! Treat w/ TLC & hydrogen peroxide. Anyways always check the roots :)
2.POT SIZE MATTERS! I mistakenly unsized too many plant (way too upsized) and they all had root rot. To know the correct pot size, measure the roots circumference :).
3. QUARANTINE NEW PLANTS! I mean different room, garage, etc. I learned this the hard way 4..5. Too many times!
Anywho, I still have a lot left to learn!! Please leave a comment below of any advice, lessons & or things you learned this year! I am dying for any additional knowledge of advice :) I love reading yalls comments heheh!
Plant pics (post op, most were pruned for showing signs of disease π) for tax and also evidence incase they donβt make it ππ #RootRot #roots #RootPorn #SpiderPlant #RubberPlant #PlantsSavedMyMentalHealth #PlantGraveyard #PLANTMAFIA
1. We always check the roots. I thought we were doing amazing with the roots, and oh. We were not- ROT ROOT! Treat w/ TLC & hydrogen peroxide. Anyways always check the roots :)
2.POT SIZE MATTERS! I mistakenly unsized too many plant (way too upsized) and they all had root rot. To know the correct pot size, measure the roots circumference :).
3. QUARANTINE NEW PLANTS! I mean different room, garage, etc. I learned this the hard way 4..5. Too many times!
Anywho, I still have a lot left to learn!! Please leave a comment below of any advice, lessons & or things you learned this year! I am dying for any additional knowledge of advice :) I love reading yalls comments heheh!
Plant pics (post op, most were pruned for showing signs of disease π) for tax and also evidence incase they donβt make it ππ #RootRot #roots #RootPorn #SpiderPlant #RubberPlant #PlantsSavedMyMentalHealth #PlantGraveyard #PLANTMAFIA
@TenaciousV absolutely agree on the grow lights
@Sassy-plants YES!!! WE LOVE NEEM OIL :D
@TenaciousV ME TOO! I just made my first soil today!!! Please tell me more about the grow lights! I have a bunch of plants under them π³
@Prentyce i have that exact stand you have. I ended up buying the Barrina T5 lights and used those instead. Plants are thriving now. Its full spectrum so it entices growing. The lights that stand came with just isnt strong enough.
Great wee tips there Prentyce! ππ₯³π₯° We've aaaaaalll been there! And we all share that the sudden "sh*t! this is kinda hard work for a hobby all of a sudden!" Just makes us all want to devour information to fix the issues... I hate reading in Facebook groups new plant parents being told to BIN plants that could be saved just because it takes time and effort... I can't understand those people!
I've rescued quite a few plants from unwilling plant parents (usually through Facebook ironically π) and DEFINITELY rescued more than a few from myself! Hahaha π€£ and there's no better feeling that nursing them back to full health and glory! Next year will be soooo much fun for you now!! That's when my plant hoarde really exploded! π€£π€£ I went from around 25 to 110 in a year lol... And it's GREAT!! I've got two more on order π€£π€£π€£
Best of luck in 2025 Prentyce! I can't wait to see your patients shooting new leaves and bouncing right back to their best with your care! Xx
I've rescued quite a few plants from unwilling plant parents (usually through Facebook ironically π) and DEFINITELY rescued more than a few from myself! Hahaha π€£ and there's no better feeling that nursing them back to full health and glory! Next year will be soooo much fun for you now!! That's when my plant hoarde really exploded! π€£π€£ I went from around 25 to 110 in a year lol... And it's GREAT!! I've got two more on order π€£π€£π€£
Best of luck in 2025 Prentyce! I can't wait to see your patients shooting new leaves and bouncing right back to their best with your care! Xx
@Prentyce you're not a new plant owner without learning a few lessons. My monsteras are testament to that amongst a couple of others R.I.P.
From the Greg plant community: soil mix matters. Pot size makes a difference and don't be afraid to dry them out. I learned a difference between moist and sobbing wet. Purlite is a miracle.
Neems oil is amazing ( I use we the world's neems oil).
I learned that the plants will let you know if you got everything right or not. What different pests are and the three things to check: watering, soil, and lighting.
It's still a learning journey but we'll get there.
From the Greg plant community: soil mix matters. Pot size makes a difference and don't be afraid to dry them out. I learned a difference between moist and sobbing wet. Purlite is a miracle.
Neems oil is amazing ( I use we the world's neems oil).
I learned that the plants will let you know if you got everything right or not. What different pests are and the three things to check: watering, soil, and lighting.
It's still a learning journey but we'll get there.
@TenaciousV THANK YOU SO MUCH! Purchasing right now!! Especially in my little grow tank thing (that is a struggle as well, will post soon & req help LOL)!! Thank you- ordering now!
@JenniB81 YES! Lol I love devouring this information hahaha. Iβm learning SO MUCH (more than I ever did in college π§). This is some serious hard work- the root rot alone was a feat HAAHAHA. But itβs worth it! I canβt wait to see some healthy roots & happy plants around here!
Youβre a genius btw I never thought about Facebook (I used to get & sell everything from there. Even my housing lmao, why not plants!)
I just followed you! 110 plants is not just a plant nation, but a plant ARMY! Congratulations on your beautiful babies! Also- what did you order!! And from where!! (I donβt trust online sales for bugs, pests, so I donβt know where to get them) I canβt wait to learn from you and cheer on your little plant soilders!! :D happy new year!!!
Youβre a genius btw I never thought about Facebook (I used to get & sell everything from there. Even my housing lmao, why not plants!)
I just followed you! 110 plants is not just a plant nation, but a plant ARMY! Congratulations on your beautiful babies! Also- what did you order!! And from where!! (I donβt trust online sales for bugs, pests, so I donβt know where to get them) I canβt wait to learn from you and cheer on your little plant soilders!! :D happy new year!!!
@Prentyce you are welcome. I did purchase a separate one for the top shelves. Thats what the white one is. I put them on an Alexa outlet plug and scheduled them to turn on & off for 12 hours a day. The white one is a BB Solar Smart Plant grow light. It has an app and timer in it. The plants seem to like that one as well.
@RadiantGinseng YES! I have a plant graveyard as well. Some of them just seem to be alive while being buried :,) hahaha! I just ordered a moisture meter (itβs an all in one so ph, humidity, lighting & moisture). I have no idea how to determine soil moisture from touch/sight. My brain canβt understand LOL. And PERLITEEEE! I need to order some for sure (especially for props & soil mixβs). Thank you so much for all the advice & tips. I canβt wait to learn with you in the new year!! :D
@Prentyce
Hi Prentyce!
Welcome to our awesome community! I'm basically a newbie too, having been given a free 3-month subscription by Costa Farms π about 8 months ago.
Everything I've slowly learned and pieced together has been through Greg.
I first came in as a rather hysterical plant mom, not doing anything "correctly" but over the months, tears have pretty much turned into joy.
Am happy to know you and enjoy your post, questions, and answers!
Hang in there kiddo. There may be some trial and error on our plant journey, but the awesomeness of happy, beautiful, thriving plants is so special. They give us so much! Just remember, some might not become so happy, beautiful, or thriving!
For me, it's a huge part of my therapy and they all have become my besties.
Of course, there's been some frustration along the way and I even had to put one bad boy in the corner for being very naughty... π€ͺπ A "time out", so to speak.
Hi Prentyce!
Welcome to our awesome community! I'm basically a newbie too, having been given a free 3-month subscription by Costa Farms π about 8 months ago.
Everything I've slowly learned and pieced together has been through Greg.
I first came in as a rather hysterical plant mom, not doing anything "correctly" but over the months, tears have pretty much turned into joy.
Am happy to know you and enjoy your post, questions, and answers!
Hang in there kiddo. There may be some trial and error on our plant journey, but the awesomeness of happy, beautiful, thriving plants is so special. They give us so much! Just remember, some might not become so happy, beautiful, or thriving!
For me, it's a huge part of my therapy and they all have become my besties.
Of course, there's been some frustration along the way and I even had to put one bad boy in the corner for being very naughty... π€ͺπ A "time out", so to speak.
@Prentyce
Oh...one more thing, actually 2!
Save up and invest in a really good humidifier...only use distilled water and clean it according to the manufacturer's directions...That may be often because you don't want water with bacteria spewing out! We clean ours about once a week and I can really see that it always works a little better every time after doing that. π€
This directly leads to purchasing a distilled water maker. A hint...while cleaning it, use a slash or 2 of vinegar and dish soap in a couple of cups of water. That will take all the nasties out, without having to use a chemical cleaner, which doesn't really clean well and of course isn't healthy.
Unless you use rain water and/or have a clean, deep water well, using tap water may lead to the d word. Plants cannot tolerate the harsh chemicals added to that water.
It kinda surprises me that humans can tolerate it. For myself...I filter my tap water and fingers crossed π€ that helps a little!
Once again, wishing you the best.
You have such a positive, happy outlook.
Enjoy!!!!
Oh...one more thing, actually 2!
Save up and invest in a really good humidifier...only use distilled water and clean it according to the manufacturer's directions...That may be often because you don't want water with bacteria spewing out! We clean ours about once a week and I can really see that it always works a little better every time after doing that. π€
This directly leads to purchasing a distilled water maker. A hint...while cleaning it, use a slash or 2 of vinegar and dish soap in a couple of cups of water. That will take all the nasties out, without having to use a chemical cleaner, which doesn't really clean well and of course isn't healthy.
Unless you use rain water and/or have a clean, deep water well, using tap water may lead to the d word. Plants cannot tolerate the harsh chemicals added to that water.
It kinda surprises me that humans can tolerate it. For myself...I filter my tap water and fingers crossed π€ that helps a little!
Once again, wishing you the best.
You have such a positive, happy outlook.
Enjoy!!!!
@Prentyce I'm in the UK so my "market" is a wee bit different to yours, but there's a UK seller on eBay called PopsFactory... Who I found out, by accident, is actually part of one of the Facebook groups I'm in (the Rare Plant Collective UK) called Rajendra and he's just lovely! And REALLY talented at raising beautiful, rare tropical plants! π
SOOOO.... And I had to cut my budget lastinute when my energy bill arrived for this month π€¦ββοΈπ€£... I have a baby Monstera Kunzo White Monster (he has some beautiful Mints as well but I couldn't afford it!) and an Alo Bambino Pink π©· I desperately wanted the Alo Black Velvet Pink pictured (& a var. P. Red Congo!) but budgetary constraints meant I had to choose because she's basically the same price as the Monsty π«£π NEXT TIME though.... Hahaha π€£
Honestly I could spend a million quid with him and be one HAPPY lassie!! π₯° xxx
SOOOO.... And I had to cut my budget lastinute when my energy bill arrived for this month π€¦ββοΈπ€£... I have a baby Monstera Kunzo White Monster (he has some beautiful Mints as well but I couldn't afford it!) and an Alo Bambino Pink π©· I desperately wanted the Alo Black Velvet Pink pictured (& a var. P. Red Congo!) but budgetary constraints meant I had to choose because she's basically the same price as the Monsty π«£π NEXT TIME though.... Hahaha π€£
Honestly I could spend a million quid with him and be one HAPPY lassie!! π₯° xxx
@CutePolypremum THANK YOU SO MUCH! How INCREDIBLY HELPFUL! And thank you for the warm welcome :) I am so excited to learn in such a supportive and INFORMATIVE place! I love Greg π I was using a 4 year old vics vapor to humidify. With tap water π€π³! All my plants were death and diseased. The hard water and scale buildup was crazy. Iβll be getting some distilled for the humidifier! :D
@Prentyce
Awesome possum!
Awesome possum!
Hi! So glad youβre here. I will add that when in doubt, DONβT water. Lots of plants die from overwatering which is the beginning of a whole slew of problems. I usually wait until my plants look miserable and pissed off (especially my diva calathea) or I lift the pot to see its weight. I also bottom water pretty much everyone and go back around an hour later to dump out any unused water. Finally, I make my own soil mix (except for succulents) and have made it chunkier and chunkier every year. That plus #deathbycinnamon has really helped my roots. For fertilizer I use #HappyHappyHouseplantFood in every watering, except Alocasia who have their own routine (and no fertilizer in the winter). π±βοΈβ€οΈ
@RealSimpleMama @CutePolypremum SEE!! Omg the cinnamon!!!
@RealSimpleMama THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am definitely moving back to bottom watering now!! I think I recall seeing your chunky mix and OMHECK! Are you a freaking soil scientist?? Iβm so stoked to mix up this year because of you!!π€©π I just learned about cinnamon. We cannot wait to see all the beautiful roots and plants!!βΊοΈπ€©