Grow light recommendations?
I have a few but I think only one is actually helpful. It’s a Honeywell full spectrum at 6500k light temp and the others are a clip on from Walmart and a small hanging one from Amazon that my mom gave me. Many of my plants are a bit tall (bird of paradise, Ti, monstera etc.) and a few are still small like philodendron moonlight, lemon lime, Brazil, and some American pitchers, and tropical pitchers. It’s winter here in western NC and I can’t fit all my plants to a different window for sun. Also some reputable places online to buy grow lights please! #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #PropagationStation #PlantTherapy #GrowLights #Philodendron #HawaiianTiPlant #GregPlantShop #GregGang #TropicalPitcherPlant #TropicalPlants #PitcherPlant #BirdOfParadise #Monstera #MonsteraMob #PothosPack #StringOfPearls #DonkeyTail
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Best Answer
@Petite_Eureka
Hi Erika!
I have grow lights from CHIRPY and SANSI.
It's been my experience that both are very good 👍😊.
However, in the future, I will try to buy mostly from CHIRPY, because they have a decent warranty policy and friendly folks who work at their Customer Service department. They try to help with any questions and problems that might arise.
The opposite side is Sansi. I've been battling with the company for weeks trying to get them to replace the automatic timer.
It's been so stressful and they put me through so many hoops that I've given up, even though the grow lights set I bought directly from the company have a 2-year warranty.
Hi Erika!
I have grow lights from CHIRPY and SANSI.
It's been my experience that both are very good 👍😊.
However, in the future, I will try to buy mostly from CHIRPY, because they have a decent warranty policy and friendly folks who work at their Customer Service department. They try to help with any questions and problems that might arise.
The opposite side is Sansi. I've been battling with the company for weeks trying to get them to replace the automatic timer.
It's been so stressful and they put me through so many hoops that I've given up, even though the grow lights set I bought directly from the company have a 2-year warranty.
I use Barina grow lights. Here's the link to it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Barrina-Lights-Indoor-Spectrum-Sunlight/dp/B099PLYWCM/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=3F6PXDUFN1OWZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MrEadCMJ2ShQC79rS-v1QmSlj0SXhFCDc1nGLWnlefAJtaPfeUZSatdqJMp1xixiULqov2nABPi68ZhQYfKzXn4koSkHpTWlnTJLLxPSM4h9gn8wjL2seWlM7xrCYtELQ9nFmtSR_HgaWXO0SVJ-MU0Zic3ut_INwJS6mp4FxZv92ikjG7oAAFTEL6iUAGGmYEV9bgt_dPYj0WG52eFUFw.VESjgpnkAZrElk-nh5DWuSLRHWUJkkGfOJiy8xOKp0c&dib_tag=se&keywords=barrina+grow+light&qid=1732245749&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&sprefix=barrina%2Caps%2C228&sr=8-4
@SimpleSucc I’m glad you mentioned Barina because I was just looking at them. @CutePolypremum I’m glad you mentioned the customer service with Sansi because I was looking at them too. I’d heard good things but I can see your frustration. I’ll put chirpy on the list for me. @Petite_Eureka thanks for asking the question … it’s been on my mind.
@PrizedShadscale
Hi Kerry...
Maybe I am one of very few customers who have had problems with Sani corporation. But...I wouldn't rule them out quite yet! They have a great selection and my plants just love them. @SimpleSucculent
Hi there also Jenny!
The Barina lights are wonderful and quite nice looking when used on furniture which have shelves. I've explored their site a number of times, trying to figure out where to find a space to use them, but alas, no room...my apartment is tiny!
Hi Kerry...
Maybe I am one of very few customers who have had problems with Sani corporation. But...I wouldn't rule them out quite yet! They have a great selection and my plants just love them. @SimpleSucculent
Hi there also Jenny!
The Barina lights are wonderful and quite nice looking when used on furniture which have shelves. I've explored their site a number of times, trying to figure out where to find a space to use them, but alas, no room...my apartment is tiny!
@SimpleSucc I second these! On my second season with them and my cacti and succulents continue to flourish through the Kansas winters.
Hi there, I use Barrina T8 bar lights on my shelves and have tried a whole bunch of different bulb grow lights. My favourite by far are the Grow Gang Piants bulbs. They are made by a company in the UK (https://grow-gang.com/products/pianta-grow-light). i don’t think they post outside the UK but are available on Amazon. They pack a lot of punch and have a beautiful warm white light temperature. I measure the FC using a light meter and these have been most consistent with their specs :)
@Lifeis2short I’ve retaken the measurements a few times (and have a big white spot in my field of vision 😂😂😂) and depending on how I angle the light meter, the readings are between about 4200 to about 8000 FC
I use Sansi bulbs for all of mine... Though I've heard great things about Barrina too! Residue of you have LOTS of plants to service, their T- range lights are perfect!
I've had nothing but great experiences with Sansi tbh. I bought a couple of 2w double headed clip lights earlier in the year and one bulb arrived broken, they sent a new one immediately (next day!) I just covered $5 for shipping. And last week a bulb on my OTHER double header started to dim, again they sent a new bulb (because they're all under a 5 year guarantee! I think it's 5 years... 🤔) which arrived within 36hrs x
I've had nothing but great experiences with Sansi tbh. I bought a couple of 2w double headed clip lights earlier in the year and one bulb arrived broken, they sent a new one immediately (next day!) I just covered $5 for shipping. And last week a bulb on my OTHER double header started to dim, again they sent a new bulb (because they're all under a 5 year guarantee! I think it's 5 years... 🤔) which arrived within 36hrs x
@Petite_Eureka
An early good morning to you! 🌻
No matter what you decide, your plants will love you for it by growing their best.
I appreciate your accolade...thanks Erika!
An early good morning to you! 🌻
No matter what you decide, your plants will love you for it by growing their best.
I appreciate your accolade...thanks Erika!
@WellknownBeans
Hi again!
This is the CHIRPY tall lamp that I have. What's awesome about this lamp is that it comes in sections. We ended up making it shorter to fit on the tv console. I just love this lamp...so dependable...and the kids 🪴 love it too.
Hi again!
This is the CHIRPY tall lamp that I have. What's awesome about this lamp is that it comes in sections. We ended up making it shorter to fit on the tv console. I just love this lamp...so dependable...and the kids 🪴 love it too.
@WellknownBeans
Yikes 😬😳
Back again...As I was bringing back the little guy in the flowered pot to his place, having being watered and sitting on the draining rack in the kitchen sink for hours, he was sad to have been left out of the group photo, and whispered sweet nothings until I agreed to take a photo together with the whole fam.
He perked up immediately after this shot was taken!
The other photo is of the infamous Sansi clan...
Yikes 😬😳
Back again...As I was bringing back the little guy in the flowered pot to his place, having being watered and sitting on the draining rack in the kitchen sink for hours, he was sad to have been left out of the group photo, and whispered sweet nothings until I agreed to take a photo together with the whole fam.
He perked up immediately after this shot was taken!
The other photo is of the infamous Sansi clan...
@Petite_Eureka @CutePolypremum @SimpleSucc I’m going to chime in here because i have spent…I’m not even going to speculate…but it’s been a considerable amount of time wrapping my head around grow lights. I will include a link below that is a good resource for making sense of it all. I have many many grow lights. High end and cheap ones. I see many recommendations for grow lights on here but I’m not convinced they are even grow lights. Take CHIRPY for example, I went to their website and they don’t provide any specs that are relevant to growing plants. They provide irrelevant information such as what color the light is —-warm light vs cool light on the Kelvin scale. I would not be surprised if this was the standard they manufactured the lights under. It’s like buying a car and without knowing what its displacement is, whether it’s combustion or electric, how many horsepower it has, or what its fuel efficiency is. Maybe you will find out that it can’t tow your trailer when you get stuck on an incline, but you would never buy a truck for this purpose without knowing it will meet your needs. The engineers design machines to meet performance specs. Lights are no different. So unless they provide Ppfd or par values one is left to wonder whether they even know what a grow light is. Holding one’s self out as selling specialized equipment without the relevant specs is just incompetence. That said I don’t have these light they might be very good but unless you use a par meter who knows? To fail to provide specs that sophisticated buyer would need still warrants skepticism. Barrinha has only recently been posting the relevant data after so many inquiries on Amazon. I was not surprised that performance was low. They are getting better though. The reality is most manufacturers are like this and until consumer push back it’s not going to get any better. I have spent hours trying to make sense of SANSIs product offerings. They have conflicting specs on the same products. I read one response where they acknowledged this issue and said they were correcting it. This should be easiest part of the business. It’s just incompetence. That said I don’t really care for any of the offerings thus far except for soltech and mother. I bought several SANSI lights for lack of alternatives. Also, keep in mind that grow lights are almost always designed to be used 12” from the top of the canopy. The CHIRPY light I was excited for until I realized the form factor of tall floor lights is simply incongruent with providing photosynthetic light except for the few leaves at the very top of the plant. Soltech are designed to be used farther away. I am buying some Barrinha lights to replace some other lights that basically are useless. The Barrinha do not have good build quality but the price is reflective of Brisbane I need 3’ lights. The best lights are made for cannibis cultivation but they aren’t really suited to our interior living rooms and such. Soltech is the only company that makes them for this purpose. The best lights from the plants perspective are something like the mars hydro or spider farmer that are dimmable and can be adjusted to provide optimal light. Vevor has some quality ones for a good price. If you want to have specific bulbs for a given plant sansi has both good and bad options. If you want apricot recommendations I’m happy to save hou the heart ache and tell you which are going to be both effective and a good value and how to configure them. But to give you an example to look at barinha or sansi and look for the diagrams that have the PPFD factors shown at 1’ , 2’ 3’ away from the might and compare them to the PPFD maps from spider farmer and cross reference that to this wonderful cheat sheet from houseplant journal https://www.houseplantjournal.com/bright-indirect-light-requirements-by-plant/
@CutePolypremum was your problem trying to make sense of specs that conflict each other lol. I doubt they even know what the quality of their own products are. That said for lack of alternatives I held my nose and ordered a couple hundred dollars worth of sansi lights but I will be using my par meter
If you can lower the light to be within a foot from the top of the canopy, whatever photosynthetic light the lamp makes, if any, will reach the plants. I am unaware of any manufacturer except soltech that has designed its lights to be used beyond 1’ from the plants @CutePolypremum
@TexanExpat
An early good morning John!
I always read your posts with fascination. There's so much information and technical knowledge there that it boggles the mind and I appreciate your answers.
It seems that quite a lot of us are not as technical and detailed as you, thus not having such specific knowledge. And, I do have a light meter and will begin to use it...also will check out the link you provided.
Yes, these grow lights corporations are out to make as much money as they can and am sure that more will follow for the same reason, especially as more and more of us ignorant humans buy and collect more and more houseplants. So evolves the world, especially since social media came into play.
Just to share with you, I'm a 78 years young, simple, retired grandmum who grows plants only for the love and joy they bring. What I write to other folks is of
course, my own direct experience and I embrace Greg as a very special place to enjoy!
Having said that, I wish you a swell day 🎇 😗
Thanks for your answers!
An early good morning John!
I always read your posts with fascination. There's so much information and technical knowledge there that it boggles the mind and I appreciate your answers.
It seems that quite a lot of us are not as technical and detailed as you, thus not having such specific knowledge. And, I do have a light meter and will begin to use it...also will check out the link you provided.
Yes, these grow lights corporations are out to make as much money as they can and am sure that more will follow for the same reason, especially as more and more of us ignorant humans buy and collect more and more houseplants. So evolves the world, especially since social media came into play.
Just to share with you, I'm a 78 years young, simple, retired grandmum who grows plants only for the love and joy they bring. What I write to other folks is of
course, my own direct experience and I embrace Greg as a very special place to enjoy!
Having said that, I wish you a swell day 🎇 😗
Thanks for your answers!
@TexanExpat
Hi again!
I went back and read everything that you shared again. The second post you sent me was spot on.
Thanks for recommending the 1 foot rule!
Hi again!
I went back and read everything that you shared again. The second post you sent me was spot on.
Thanks for recommending the 1 foot rule!
@CutePolypremum thank you for your note. I think Greg is such a lovely community. People bring their best behavior and intentions here. I do not have a technical background per se. Im a non practicing lawyer with my undergraduate being in English literature. I had cases that were technology or engineering contracts so I can figure something’s…out eventually. I thought I understood grow lights. I have spent a lot of money on them and convinced my mom to do the same only to find out a few years later they were never configured right. No wonder the trailing plants kept dying lol. I think I did a guide to buying grow lights last Christmas season on here —officiously—lol—and as I think about it now ….back then when I made that post I —I thought I knew what I was talking about but apparently I still did not understand completely. How can this be? I blame the manufacturers. When we as consumers rely on the manufacturers to provide specs that support their claims, such as this light can help you grow your houseplants, and then they give you lumens as the relevant metric—-well no wonder it’s so confusing. They also say “high PPFD,” but it’s not actually it can’t support most houseplants or even succulents and that’s when the light is six inches away from the plant. And then they make these hanging lamps that screw into a light bulb socket like in the ceiling but must be within 6” of the plant ?? I’m not a person who dwells in angry emotions but I spend a lot of time on here and the misinformation being out by these vendors…well it’s making people think they grow succulents based on claims made by SANSI when they can’t. It wastes so much time, resources, people have connections with their plants ? Moreover if people like a given lamp they want to use even it can’t support a high light plant but just tell them. How many conversations have I had about grow lights that wasn’t even founded in reality…and other people? All corporations are out to make a profit I don’t fault capitalism; however I feel that this is not just about making money it’s about all the money spent elsewhere on plants that keep dying …in any event, thank you for sharing that you enjoy my posts. My background has given me a good command of the English and I like to think that if I can explain something to someone and make the information more accessible for them on how to better care for their plants…well my hope is that it will pay dividends for them for as long as they enjoy plants. I like the decorum that people maintain here in Greg I think is collaborative and empowering. Total change of subject here but have you heard of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s’ podcast, wiser than me? I’m a huge fan of hers. Her series VEEP for which she has won more Emmys for this show alone than anybody else has…in any event it is about the woman who shatters the glass ceiling and becomes the first president. I grew up very priveledged and was not aware of what it was like for the other gender…it is a fascinating show, but her podcast kinda does the same thing in that it focuses on hearing the perspectives of people we don’t often hear from, older women. She has had Jane Goodall, Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett….you mentioned you were 78 and as it turns out it’s the wisdom not so much the technical information that has had my interest. Have a great day too?
@WelsomeRhodotus thank you so much! I've got a couple grow lights that aren't putting out nearly enough FC. But when you can only afford cheap, you get what you pay for 🥴 looks like I'ma have to take the plunge and dig deeper into my pockets 🤭
@TexanExpat
Good morning 🌄 John!
Thanks so much for your response.
I don't know how to communicate with you privately and wanted to do so because I didn't want to overwhelm Erika's post.
Really enjoyed what you last wrote and have gained a better and more respectful understanding of what you are saying. A lot of my life has been spent in Journalism and communicating with people all over the world, through writing and public speaking. It's been my experience that the more simple the people are, the more love they have to give. Of course, this is not always the case. Things have changed so much over these past years...
Anyway, that's totally off the track! 😳😂. Just hafta add one more tidbit...I also had English Literature as a major... double major actually, that, and Journalism. Hafta admit that I loved Journalism in those days, much more.
You've put into words what I feel about the grow lights situation. It's sad. I can't think of any other words to describe it...
Thanks so much for turning me onto Julie Louise-Dreyfus's podcast. Looking forward to that and have always admired the other women you mentioned, along with Meryl Streep,and some that I can't remember now. Your respect for older women mists my eyes because in my experience these days, I do receive kindness and respect from some younger folks I meet, and the rolling of eyes and disrespect from others. They're people I don't know...at the grocery store and other public places. It's difficult for anyone usually to understand what it feels like to be old, until they go through it themselves. I also put myself in that category and am learning more everday.
I'm basically blessed to be a mostly friendly and cheerful person and have learned a lot through the years while still continuing to grow.
Here's my confession...am checking my reply for grammer and punctuation knowing that you'll be reading it. Yikes! 😬 😅
You have a swell day too 🤗
Good morning 🌄 John!
Thanks so much for your response.
I don't know how to communicate with you privately and wanted to do so because I didn't want to overwhelm Erika's post.
Really enjoyed what you last wrote and have gained a better and more respectful understanding of what you are saying. A lot of my life has been spent in Journalism and communicating with people all over the world, through writing and public speaking. It's been my experience that the more simple the people are, the more love they have to give. Of course, this is not always the case. Things have changed so much over these past years...
Anyway, that's totally off the track! 😳😂. Just hafta add one more tidbit...I also had English Literature as a major... double major actually, that, and Journalism. Hafta admit that I loved Journalism in those days, much more.
You've put into words what I feel about the grow lights situation. It's sad. I can't think of any other words to describe it...
Thanks so much for turning me onto Julie Louise-Dreyfus's podcast. Looking forward to that and have always admired the other women you mentioned, along with Meryl Streep,and some that I can't remember now. Your respect for older women mists my eyes because in my experience these days, I do receive kindness and respect from some younger folks I meet, and the rolling of eyes and disrespect from others. They're people I don't know...at the grocery store and other public places. It's difficult for anyone usually to understand what it feels like to be old, until they go through it themselves. I also put myself in that category and am learning more everday.
I'm basically blessed to be a mostly friendly and cheerful person and have learned a lot through the years while still continuing to grow.
Here's my confession...am checking my reply for grammer and punctuation knowing that you'll be reading it. Yikes! 😬 😅
You have a swell day too 🤗
@TexanExpat
Oh! One last thing that I'd like to share with you. Hope you don't mind 😬.
My three closest friends are all women and live in the same area as me.
Kimberly is "best friend". She's 36 and helps me with chores every week or so. We can relate to each other so much there's a feeling we've been cloned 🙃.
We met when she began coming to my apartment, more than a year ago.
Patricia, age 71, and I have been fortunate to have been friends for almost 30 years.
We met at a meditation retreat.
Then there's Gayle...a young 88 years.
We connected immediately about 7 months ago and even hugged each other when we first met at our local grocery store.
Last but certainly not least, is the exception -Nadav. He's a very sweet, sensitive fellow. We met the in the latter 1980's, also at a meditation retreat.
He lives more than 3,000 miles away which makes visits impossible these days.
We keep in close touch via cell phone and Instagram.
All of these wonderful people have a light spirit. We listen quietly to each other and communicate back and forth without anger or judgment.We trust each other and can open our hearts comfortably to be able to say anything.
Interesting that three of these friends live deep in the country, enfolded in beautiful, incredible nature.
Patricia is an indoor plant lover as well as a gardener. She has a ton of older plants, which live by large various sunny windows. She doesn't need grow lights and only uses their pure well water for a drink and fertilizer. Patricia basically works 24/7 at home and waters her kiddos once a week. It always amazes me how well they're thriving and how beautiful and healthy they are!
Gayle lives in a passive solar home, built 45 years ago. To reach her, one has to drive up a long private dirt road that ends at her small private dirt driveway. Her home sits on a hill that overlooks valleys, trees, wildlife, and an incredible view of the Catskill mountains, ever-changing sky, night stars, and the most incredible constellation. There's a wrap -around deck on the house so one can experience a 360 degree view. The deck is also great for exercise. She's an incredibly wise, positive, forgiving, and quite spry woman.
Nadav is a gardener and his wife is too. She grows the medicinal herbs section 🌱.
Oh! One last thing that I'd like to share with you. Hope you don't mind 😬.
My three closest friends are all women and live in the same area as me.
Kimberly is "best friend". She's 36 and helps me with chores every week or so. We can relate to each other so much there's a feeling we've been cloned 🙃.
We met when she began coming to my apartment, more than a year ago.
Patricia, age 71, and I have been fortunate to have been friends for almost 30 years.
We met at a meditation retreat.
Then there's Gayle...a young 88 years.
We connected immediately about 7 months ago and even hugged each other when we first met at our local grocery store.
Last but certainly not least, is the exception -Nadav. He's a very sweet, sensitive fellow. We met the in the latter 1980's, also at a meditation retreat.
He lives more than 3,000 miles away which makes visits impossible these days.
We keep in close touch via cell phone and Instagram.
All of these wonderful people have a light spirit. We listen quietly to each other and communicate back and forth without anger or judgment.We trust each other and can open our hearts comfortably to be able to say anything.
Interesting that three of these friends live deep in the country, enfolded in beautiful, incredible nature.
Patricia is an indoor plant lover as well as a gardener. She has a ton of older plants, which live by large various sunny windows. She doesn't need grow lights and only uses their pure well water for a drink and fertilizer. Patricia basically works 24/7 at home and waters her kiddos once a week. It always amazes me how well they're thriving and how beautiful and healthy they are!
Gayle lives in a passive solar home, built 45 years ago. To reach her, one has to drive up a long private dirt road that ends at her small private dirt driveway. Her home sits on a hill that overlooks valleys, trees, wildlife, and an incredible view of the Catskill mountains, ever-changing sky, night stars, and the most incredible constellation. There's a wrap -around deck on the house so one can experience a 360 degree view. The deck is also great for exercise. She's an incredibly wise, positive, forgiving, and quite spry woman.
Nadav is a gardener and his wife is too. She grows the medicinal herbs section 🌱.
It sounds like you have a solid base of human capital around you. That is very special. My life the last few years has been an exercise in character building I guess is a good way to put it. I was doing the lawyer thing in dc living the dream. Then I became chronically ill. As that was running its course I had multiple concurrent discrete traumatic experiences that put me on disability before I was 40. My life had been full of fascinating people working on such matters of consequence—sometimes it felt like much of the worlds best and brightest who still had a soul but no interest in the soulless endeavors of Silicon Valley or Wall Street came to dc to work on public policy or trying to make the business of government innovative and relevant. What I learned from that experience is how much privilege is self perpetuating; privilege begets privelidge. The world I lived in at the time was one that did require a lot of hard work but it was also one that for whatever want we had, we could manifest it. When I became ill this illusion revealed itself naturally I became very isolated from my friends still living their cultivated lifestyles. But learning how much I took for granted; what everyone takes for granted think saved me from ultimately living an unhappy life. How can you know joy if you are a stranger to what sorrow is ? My friends didn’t what going on but they rose to the occasion to keep me alive and nurture back into the light. It was from the me I learned who I was my sense of self and how to love myself. When I moved back to Texas I no longer have the kinds of people in my life here who pay much attention to me or who I am what I’m about beyond a mere abstraction. And so I have to carry my own light, where I am both distant from friends in dc I don’t know how engage them without causing despair; yet they are close to me as well for my identity is vested in them , not here where I am a mere abstraction. I don’t know whether it’s ironic or not ironic that I can be so close to them yet so far away. I’m only 46 though, I know my journey will have its triumphs again some day. I’m very happy you have arranged for yourself a life full of such lovely people.
@CutePolypremum @TexanExpat beautifully written! The detailed imagery sounds amazing. I too live in the mountains and it is amazing beautiful sight to behold. Lately not so much though due to the hurricane 😭 however, nature will recover here and I must remind myself of that. Nearly every time I look out of my windows or when taking my kids to school and seeing all the destruction. For now, my mountains are desolate and I believe that may be why I’ve retreated to the reassuring comfort of my houseplants with more intensity. I’m also ADD, so my tendency for hyper-focusing on things that give me comfort and happiness has skyrocketed. Hence the grow lights. Unfortunately I must also exercise self restraint from over caring for my plants, which can be quite frustrating if they’re not happy. @TexanExpat I’m so sorry you had to go through such a life altering experience. Not that this is remotely close to how you must’ve felt with the addition of being sick, but I do know the feeling of being so close to friends yet so far away. I’ve also experienced living in the city as well as the dorms in college being completely surrounded by peers and some people I knew from my high school yet feeling so alone. I actually think that feeling gets more intense as the population increases rather than if you are in a small community with hardly anyone around. I’m also from a small town and extremely close to my family as my dad is a military vet and I grew up with just my brother and parents being all we had. No other family close by to just pop on over. I can’t imagine living in a place so busy and political as DC. That would be quite intimidating for me. I’m glad you’re finding some peace and inner reflection. What you said about being able to know joy only if you’ve also known despair is spot on.
@TexanExpat
Good morning 🌄
Is there a way to communicate with you, other than on Erika's post? Perhaps via email or DM? Although, I don't know how to DM, but you could walk me through it, if you'd like to?
Thanks John!
Hope that you have a swell day. Your last reply went straight to my heart 🤗
Good morning 🌄
Is there a way to communicate with you, other than on Erika's post? Perhaps via email or DM? Although, I don't know how to DM, but you could walk me through it, if you'd like to?
Thanks John!
Hope that you have a swell day. Your last reply went straight to my heart 🤗
@Petite_Eureka
Also a beautiful good morning to you Erika! ❤️
I was really getting concerned about taking over your post by such long and heartfelt messages going back and forth between @TexanExpat and myself.
Am so happy to read what you wrote to us.
It's very difficult to open up one's heart to another. The beauty of us three is we are doing so, with no judgement and with respect.
One of the greatest blessings, I feel, is to really listen to someone... really listen in empathy. I have a unique friendship with Patricia in that we agree to disagree... that's respect. We often have a totally different outlook on some things and it's all quite peaceful because there's no anger or feeling "it's my way or the highway" We learn from each other.
My mentor, Gayle, is so wise. She says to only love a person and accept them for who they are, especially if they have a 360 degree different lifestyle and viewpoint. The only person who can be changed is ourselves we have to do the work...
My huge stress right now is dealing with my family, which is so materialistic and feel that giving lots of gifts that they personally choose (and that I usually can't use, want, or like) is the only way to celebrate Christmas 🎁.
So, I've decided not to play that game anymore in the future. It's already too late this year 😔😳.
You and I are so much alike about our plants. I also have to restrain myself from over caring, am a bonafide helicopter plant mom, but I still check them thoroughly to see if everything's ok in the early morning. Then, it's on to Greg to see what's happening and what I might learn from others and possibly post or ask a question. This is repeated in the evening. They are all in my living room and so they are everywhere I look. They get a lot of sweet, loving looks, and I also coo to them. I know they don't like to be touched so will do so only when they need care.
When mom goes out for a while, they listen to Classical Music 🎵 🎶.
For me, when a bout of great stress and/or depression comes, I tend to kind of ignore them and it seems like they all give out the vibe: "Don't worry, we're fine. You just take care of yourself, mom". They are probably happy to get a break from me 😅.
It's sad about the hurricane in your beloved mountains but also a blessing that you can take refuge in your plants. 🤗
Thanks so much for sharing what you wrote to @TexanExpat. If I mentioned this before... there's quite a lot of brain fog going around in my head right now. I have a very rare autoimmune disease called Behcets Disease, and that's one of the symptoms... that's my excuse anyway.
If you'd like to chat privately, I would like to also. You'll see John's post where I ask him if he would too, and ask how that's possible.
Sending big hugs 🤗. Joanie
Hope you have a swell weekend. Hang in there!
Also a beautiful good morning to you Erika! ❤️
I was really getting concerned about taking over your post by such long and heartfelt messages going back and forth between @TexanExpat and myself.
Am so happy to read what you wrote to us.
It's very difficult to open up one's heart to another. The beauty of us three is we are doing so, with no judgement and with respect.
One of the greatest blessings, I feel, is to really listen to someone... really listen in empathy. I have a unique friendship with Patricia in that we agree to disagree... that's respect. We often have a totally different outlook on some things and it's all quite peaceful because there's no anger or feeling "it's my way or the highway" We learn from each other.
My mentor, Gayle, is so wise. She says to only love a person and accept them for who they are, especially if they have a 360 degree different lifestyle and viewpoint. The only person who can be changed is ourselves we have to do the work...
My huge stress right now is dealing with my family, which is so materialistic and feel that giving lots of gifts that they personally choose (and that I usually can't use, want, or like) is the only way to celebrate Christmas 🎁.
So, I've decided not to play that game anymore in the future. It's already too late this year 😔😳.
You and I are so much alike about our plants. I also have to restrain myself from over caring, am a bonafide helicopter plant mom, but I still check them thoroughly to see if everything's ok in the early morning. Then, it's on to Greg to see what's happening and what I might learn from others and possibly post or ask a question. This is repeated in the evening. They are all in my living room and so they are everywhere I look. They get a lot of sweet, loving looks, and I also coo to them. I know they don't like to be touched so will do so only when they need care.
When mom goes out for a while, they listen to Classical Music 🎵 🎶.
For me, when a bout of great stress and/or depression comes, I tend to kind of ignore them and it seems like they all give out the vibe: "Don't worry, we're fine. You just take care of yourself, mom". They are probably happy to get a break from me 😅.
It's sad about the hurricane in your beloved mountains but also a blessing that you can take refuge in your plants. 🤗
Thanks so much for sharing what you wrote to @TexanExpat. If I mentioned this before... there's quite a lot of brain fog going around in my head right now. I have a very rare autoimmune disease called Behcets Disease, and that's one of the symptoms... that's my excuse anyway.
If you'd like to chat privately, I would like to also. You'll see John's post where I ask him if he would too, and ask how that's possible.
Sending big hugs 🤗. Joanie
Hope you have a swell weekend. Hang in there!
@CutePolypremum I’d like that! I do the same thing in the mornings! I make my coffee and sip on it while inspecting my plants 🤪 at least when I don’t have to take my son to school. He goes 3 days a week for now as he’s in preschool and my daughter goes with daddy to get dropped off on his way to work. Most times though I’ll make my coffee then get distracted moving plants around a bit to make sure they all get their natural sun and the ones that like more sun either go into my closet with a full spectrum Honeywell light or in front of my window when they get stronger afternoon sun. At night I’ll mist them and the top of their soil if it’s looking dry but not quite time to water. They seem to revel in it although I’ve read night misting in the moonlight can lead to some fungus issues. When we didn’t have power I’d light candles under some terracotta pots after soaking them all day in water then mist the plants to make it more humid and they really seemed to like that. I might have to do that again soon.
@Petite_Eureka
Oh gosh...along with your plants, you have a hubby and 2 cutie patooties!
Hopefully @TexanExpat will walk us through the necessary steps to be able to chat with each other personally. 🤞👍
Oh gosh...along with your plants, you have a hubby and 2 cutie patooties!
Hopefully @TexanExpat will walk us through the necessary steps to be able to chat with each other personally. 🤞👍
@TexanExpat
Yes!!!!
Mine is solomonjoan62@gmail.com
What's yours?
Some folks have told me that it's a good idea to delete a personal email, once it's reached you, so please send yours asap, so then we both can delete.
Looking forward to our chats...
Thanks, John!
Yes!!!!
Mine is solomonjoan62@gmail.com
What's yours?
Some folks have told me that it's a good idea to delete a personal email, once it's reached you, so please send yours asap, so then we both can delete.
Looking forward to our chats...
Thanks, John!