I just got a new strawberry plant and need some advice! ...
1ft to light, direct
8” pot without drainage
Last watered 10 months ago
9
@BuckBotan Your strawberry plant, Nymble, is basically living in a season of Strawberries in Crisis: Apartment Edition she’s got no drainage (aka root rot roulette), is stuck in baby food soil (Miracle Gro Seed Starting Mix is great for sprouts, not queens), and she’s barely catching 2–4 hours of light when she needs a full 6–8-hour sun soaked vacation to even think about fruiting. Right now, she’s trying to thrive in a pot that’s more like a bathtub and a window that’s giving “cloudy day sadness.” To fix it? Give her a drainage hole ASAP, swap in a chunky, well-draining potting mix (think potting soil + perlite + compost), and invest in a grow light unless you plan to carry her from window to window like a Victorian child chasing warmth. With just a few upgrades, she’ll go from houseplant hostage to countertop berry icon faster than you can say “Photosynthesis, please.
I just realized you said indoors which is fine I've actually done it.
They need a lot of light 16 hours for anything fruiting so you will need a grow light.
I agree with @JungleDreamer about the miracle grow. Stay away from that stuff you need something with a lot of aeration. For and example I planted mine in:
1/3 peat moss
1/3 orchid bark
1/3 perlite
So they get a lot of aeration.
Drainage is imperative.
You will need to add a fan. Indoor vegetable need airflow it's not negotiable or else they are prone to fungal infections. I use small 6 inch clip on fans and aim them right at indoor fruits and veggies. It increases airflow to prevent disease and also creates stronger stem to support their fruit.
A NE window won't be enough light you'll need to invest in a grow light and keep it 6 inches above the plant and run it 16 hours.
They need a lot of light 16 hours for anything fruiting so you will need a grow light.
I agree with @JungleDreamer about the miracle grow. Stay away from that stuff you need something with a lot of aeration. For and example I planted mine in:
1/3 peat moss
1/3 orchid bark
1/3 perlite
So they get a lot of aeration.
Drainage is imperative.
You will need to add a fan. Indoor vegetable need airflow it's not negotiable or else they are prone to fungal infections. I use small 6 inch clip on fans and aim them right at indoor fruits and veggies. It increases airflow to prevent disease and also creates stronger stem to support their fruit.
A NE window won't be enough light you'll need to invest in a grow light and keep it 6 inches above the plant and run it 16 hours.
@BuckBotan You can keep her there for now just be very careful with watering. Your soil will hold a lot of water. For now just very lightly water, you don't ever want the soil wet. If you find it feels wet take a tampon and stick it into the soil to absorb the excess water. Then remove it after a few hours.
I know you're a man and might not have any laying around. But they are great for use in plants. I just get mine at the dollar store just to keep on hand for plants.
You got this!
I know you're a man and might not have any laying around. But they are great for use in plants. I just get mine at the dollar store just to keep on hand for plants.
You got this!
@SuperbRaspfern
Will do! Thank you so much honestly, I appreciate it a lot.
Some more information is that the AC in my room is running quite frequently, and I often open the window in the afternoons for airflow!
I also move her to the shower for an hour or two, which has a sky light window(?) Above and the sun is strongest there at noon
And one more question, could I use organic matter like dried leaves to help give more nutrients? I don't have a compost bin unfortunately though
It should be no more than a week that she'll stay like this, hopefully!
And I'm actually a gal! My name is just uncommon for a woman 😊
But I will keep that in mind just in case I overwater her, tysm!
Will do! Thank you so much honestly, I appreciate it a lot.
Some more information is that the AC in my room is running quite frequently, and I often open the window in the afternoons for airflow!
I also move her to the shower for an hour or two, which has a sky light window(?) Above and the sun is strongest there at noon
And one more question, could I use organic matter like dried leaves to help give more nutrients? I don't have a compost bin unfortunately though
It should be no more than a week that she'll stay like this, hopefully!
And I'm actually a gal! My name is just uncommon for a woman 😊
But I will keep that in mind just in case I overwater her, tysm!
Your welcome and yes go ahead and add some died leaves for an organic mulch. That should help quite a bit.
The window open is a great benefit. I'm in CA too I open mine in the mornings to cool off my house. My AC runs ALL day long but still has a hard time keeping up with our heat!
Skylight is great too any way to boost that light is beneficial. 🩷
😂 So, glad you left me know your a woman! Sorry about that! I still have people on here debating what I am. Also a woman! I tend just not to say anything though, I need to get better at correcting people I guess.
The window open is a great benefit. I'm in CA too I open mine in the mornings to cool off my house. My AC runs ALL day long but still has a hard time keeping up with our heat!
Skylight is great too any way to boost that light is beneficial. 🩷
😂 So, glad you left me know your a woman! Sorry about that! I still have people on here debating what I am. Also a woman! I tend just not to say anything though, I need to get better at correcting people I guess.
@SuperbRaspfern
That sounds good, tysm!!
And yeahh, our ac runs too cold sometimes! I have to watch the temperature because it can drop quite a bit in my room if I leave the ac running for too long. It is also is experiencing 'dirty sock syndrome' which smells so gross and worries me about my plants sometimes, though trying to get it taken care of!
And heck yeahh! I'm going to get a grow light at some point soon, as I have a cactus that needs it too!
And it's alright! I understand that my name may confuse people, I definitely don't mind most of the time. And ohhh, that's strange, I had assumed you were a woman, but funny that people keep it a guessing game 😅
I want to keep in contact if possible! Or at least I'll follow you, it'll be nice to have another Californian to talk to about plant related things!
That sounds good, tysm!!
And yeahh, our ac runs too cold sometimes! I have to watch the temperature because it can drop quite a bit in my room if I leave the ac running for too long. It is also is experiencing 'dirty sock syndrome' which smells so gross and worries me about my plants sometimes, though trying to get it taken care of!
And heck yeahh! I'm going to get a grow light at some point soon, as I have a cactus that needs it too!
And it's alright! I understand that my name may confuse people, I definitely don't mind most of the time. And ohhh, that's strange, I had assumed you were a woman, but funny that people keep it a guessing game 😅
I want to keep in contact if possible! Or at least I'll follow you, it'll be nice to have another Californian to talk to about plant related things!
@BuckBotan Absolutely, we'll definitely stay in contact. 🩷 And just reach out anytime, happy to help.