Recently discovered your channel and what a blessing! It is rare and so refreshing to discover someone empirically-based when it comes to house plants. I just purchased your book and the light meter you recommend and signed up for your newsletter, So excited to have the tools to take my house plant patenting to the next level! You and your channel and absolutely STELLAR; thank you!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Man, I love watching your videos. So insightful - thank you for the hard work that you do in researching these topics and compiling all the information in an easy to understand manner. :)
"Succulents are easy" they said. "Succulents are impossible to kill" they said. Then I managed to borderline kill mine in 2 months. I learned the hard way. I ended up kicking all of my succulents outside onto my back porch where they've been growing like weeds ever since. Definitely a light issue. Those cute succulent bowls you see in people's living rooms must be fake cuz I couldn't get mine to live in a similar set up and I have picture windows ffs. Ended up buying a light meter and confirmed it with that living room table only getting around 20-30 FC. *facepalm* But rant aside, I wanted to say thanks. I did a search on light requirements for orchids and found your website. It's been extremely helpful. I really like that your videos are short and to the point as well. I have no chill for long videos but I actually finish yours. lol.
Those cute arrangement are temporary and sellers used them to just oversell the plant ,they are doom to die eventually. Ussually to pack ,not enough light ,not drainage whole and not even the proper soil mix .It is just a marketing strategy .It remind me of the fish in the centerpices .😢
Wow, finally someone explained watering and light properly. Specially for people with not a lot of lights. My apartment is pretty dark. I would follow the instructions on watering my plants and they would still rot. I would wait for the soil to dry and water until the water ran through the pot and they would still die. Thank you for your expertise. So for those of us that don’t have much light, can you recommend a lamp that we can use? Preferably a stand-up lamp. Thank you!
So relieved I finally found your channel! I love learning, learning & just talking about plants.🤣. I've had houseplants & succulents for years! I always use terra cotta for my succys, you are a bold brave & 100% expert to use a plastic pot for succys. Bravo my man, bravo👏.
4 ปีที่แล้ว +1
I have been trying to understand the facts of light. For example, you water the plant, it is in a low lit room and b/c it "says" to water a plant within this amount of time, someone does so w/o checking the soil's moisture. Now the chances of this plant not surviving has increased b/c the plant is receiving too much water and not enough light. What I am learning is that the light allows the soil to dry out quicker, therefore giving the plant what it needs (photosynthesis) because both are working together. The light is basically helping the plant "drink" the water and nutrients from the soil (depending on the light will depend on how fast) and when that happens, the plant is happy and wants more water. Give it less light, give the plant less water no matter what the "rules" are for "when to water the plant." Thanks for your insight, I still have not gotten my light measuring thingy that you use..
Yes - but now I invite you to think of this: would you rather (A) be only allowed to eat 800 calories a day but be allowed to just lie in bed to conserve energy or (B) be forced to walk 8000 steps per day but be allowed to eat as much as you want? Hopefully your answer is (B) - likewise with a plant, the plant would much rather be closer to the window and require more frequent watering than be far from the window but "watered carefully". Always prioritize light.
4 ปีที่แล้ว
@@HousePlantJournal My answer was B b/c I am greedy like that lol and it is the right answer (imo). I realize that my plants that have the correct light regardless of it being a "low, medium, high" light plant, it does the best. I use artificial light b/c I do have too many plants that can be placed at or near the window. I have tried to control plant purchasing only b/c of my light limitations vs my space limitations. Thank you for your insight and response.
Darryl, how did I not know you were on TH-cam as well?!! Glad I stumbled on your channel. Thanks so much for the tips as always, I’m always looking to see how wide the view of the sky my plants get from their perspective. Lately I’ve been struggling with my succulents getting too much direct light and they’re starting to turn red. Any tips?
Unless the colour change isn’t desirable. I recently bought a new gasteria plant and realised my old ones were skinnier and had taken on a dull reddish purple tinge. I was under watering them...I’ve slowly increased the watering frequency and they are now returning to their vibrant green and plumping up. But that could depend on variety...I recently read an article where they light stressed different succulents and documented the results.
During ***INDIRECT LIGHT*** times of the day, the intensity should be above 400 FC; and as stated in the video, a few hours of direct sun would be good. What is more important to note: any succulent grown indoors will eventually grow to a point of looking stretched. At this time, you should cut off the top and replant it into soil while the lower healthy leaves can also be propagated. One should not consider a succulent "thriving" only if it remains a compact rosette forever - that just doesn't happen.
@@HousePlantJournal Thank you so much. As a subscriber to your channel, I have learned a lot about the correct light needed for plants. I have not seen anyone teaching this in detail.
Thank you so much for your video! Where I live my succulents get lots of sun during the summer and they were doing really well. But now that winter is here, it rains almost everyday and is very cloudy. I cut back on the watering but my succulents still aren't getting enough light and I think they are dying. I got a grow lamp a few weeks ago but the plants are still struggling. I'm not sure how to properly position the grow lamp and I don't even know if it's helping. Do you have advise? Thank you!
Thanks so much for uploading to yt!!! I am so relieved I live in a subtropical region with humidity ranging from 50-60% all year. I have most of my plants outside and if one inside is doing badly or has pests I can just put it outside. Despite that the few plants I have inside are right up against my windows. Because of my excellent conditions, do you think I need to invest in a light meter? I haven't bought one.
If you know to put your plants right in front of your windows, then getting a light meter will only give a solid number on the question: "how bright is your indirect light?" Most people with large windows are generally happy with their plants and don't bother thinking about light. For me, I promote having a light meter because I've seen several thousands of questions and figured that "bright indirect light" just needed some objective quantities in order to actually help people.
Recently discovered your channel and what a blessing! It is rare and so refreshing to discover someone empirically-based when it comes to house plants. I just purchased your book and the light meter you recommend and signed up for your newsletter, So excited to have the tools to take my house plant patenting to the next level! You and your channel and absolutely STELLAR; thank you!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Man, I love watching your videos. So insightful - thank you for the hard work that you do in researching these topics and compiling all the information in an easy to understand manner. :)
Thanks! I'm glad you found it helpful and insightful!
"Succulents are easy" they said. "Succulents are impossible to kill" they said. Then I managed to borderline kill mine in 2 months. I learned the hard way. I ended up kicking all of my succulents outside onto my back porch where they've been growing like weeds ever since. Definitely a light issue. Those cute succulent bowls you see in people's living rooms must be fake cuz I couldn't get mine to live in a similar set up and I have picture windows ffs. Ended up buying a light meter and confirmed it with that living room table only getting around 20-30 FC. *facepalm*
But rant aside, I wanted to say thanks. I did a search on light requirements for orchids and found your website. It's been extremely helpful. I really like that your videos are short and to the point as well. I have no chill for long videos but I actually finish yours. lol.
Those cute arrangement are temporary and sellers used them to just oversell the plant ,they are doom to die eventually. Ussually to pack ,not enough light ,not drainage whole and not even the proper soil mix .It is just a marketing strategy .It remind me of the fish in the centerpices .😢
Wow, finally someone explained watering and light properly. Specially for people with not a lot of lights. My apartment is pretty dark. I would follow the instructions on watering my plants and they would still rot. I would wait for the soil to dry and water until the water ran through the pot and they would still die. Thank you for your expertise. So for those of us that don’t have much light, can you recommend a lamp that we can use? Preferably a stand-up lamp. Thank you!
On top of the awesome advice and the passion for plants, you're hilarious!!! I almost sprayed out my water at the word "cave"🤣🤣🤣
Lol - love it! And glad you enjoyed it :)
so true. Soil will not dry as fast and they will etiolate if they don't get enough light.
So relieved I finally found your channel! I love learning, learning & just talking about plants.🤣. I've had houseplants & succulents for years! I always use terra cotta for my succys, you are a bold brave & 100% expert to use a plastic pot for succys. Bravo my man, bravo👏.
I have been trying to understand the facts of light. For example, you water the plant, it is in a low lit room and b/c it "says" to water a plant within this amount of time, someone does so w/o checking the soil's moisture. Now the chances of this plant not surviving has increased b/c the plant is receiving too much water and not enough light. What I am learning is that the light allows the soil to dry out quicker, therefore giving the plant what it needs (photosynthesis) because both are working together. The light is basically helping the plant "drink" the water and nutrients from the soil (depending on the light will depend on how fast) and when that happens, the plant is happy and wants more water. Give it less light, give the plant less water no matter what the "rules" are for "when to water the plant." Thanks for your insight, I still have not gotten my light measuring thingy that you use..
Yes - but now I invite you to think of this: would you rather (A) be only allowed to eat 800 calories a day but be allowed to just lie in bed to conserve energy or (B) be forced to walk 8000 steps per day but be allowed to eat as much as you want? Hopefully your answer is (B) - likewise with a plant, the plant would much rather be closer to the window and require more frequent watering than be far from the window but "watered carefully". Always prioritize light.
@@HousePlantJournal My answer was B b/c I am greedy like that lol and it is the right answer (imo). I realize that my plants that have the correct light regardless of it being a "low, medium, high" light plant, it does the best. I use artificial light b/c I do have too many plants that can be placed at or near the window. I have tried to control plant purchasing only b/c of my light limitations vs my space limitations. Thank you for your insight and response.
Darryl, how did I not know you were on TH-cam as well?!! Glad I stumbled on your channel. Thanks so much for the tips as always, I’m always looking to see how wide the view of the sky my plants get from their perspective. Lately I’ve been struggling with my succulents getting too much direct light and they’re starting to turn red. Any tips?
Just subscribed! Succulents turning red is okay - it happens to them in the wild all the time in the winter when they are a bit sun-stressed.
House Plant Journal Ahh okay I’m glad, that’s good to know! Thanks so much ☺️
Unless the colour change isn’t desirable. I recently bought a new gasteria plant and realised my old ones were skinnier and had taken on a dull reddish purple tinge. I was under watering them...I’ve slowly increased the watering frequency and they are now returning to their vibrant green and plumping up. But that could depend on variety...I recently read an article where they light stressed different succulents and documented the results.
So what is the minimum foot candle no that succulents can "Thrive" in? I enjoy your content. thank you.
During ***INDIRECT LIGHT*** times of the day, the intensity should be above 400 FC; and as stated in the video, a few hours of direct sun would be good. What is more important to note: any succulent grown indoors will eventually grow to a point of looking stretched. At this time, you should cut off the top and replant it into soil while the lower healthy leaves can also be propagated. One should not consider a succulent "thriving" only if it remains a compact rosette forever - that just doesn't happen.
@@HousePlantJournal Thank you so much. As a subscriber to your channel, I have learned a lot about the correct light needed for plants. I have not seen anyone teaching this in detail.
@@butterfly8470 Once you understand light in greater detail, everything else in plant care becomes easy.
Thank you so much for your video! Where I live my succulents get lots of sun during the summer and they were doing really well. But now that winter is here, it rains almost everyday and is very cloudy. I cut back on the watering but my succulents still aren't getting enough light and I think they are dying. I got a grow lamp a few weeks ago but the plants are still struggling. I'm not sure how to properly position the grow lamp and I don't even know if it's helping. Do you have advise? Thank you!
Thanks so much for uploading to yt!!! I am so relieved I live in a subtropical region with humidity ranging from 50-60% all year. I have most of my plants outside and if one inside is doing badly or has pests I can just put it outside. Despite that the few plants I have inside are right up against my windows. Because of my excellent conditions, do you think I need to invest in a light meter? I haven't bought one.
If you know to put your plants right in front of your windows, then getting a light meter will only give a solid number on the question: "how bright is your indirect light?" Most people with large windows are generally happy with their plants and don't bother thinking about light. For me, I promote having a light meter because I've seen several thousands of questions and figured that "bright indirect light" just needed some objective quantities in order to actually help people.
From my own experience taking care of succulents, he is right about the windows. :3
Thanks for the info! :)
Can they be too crowded? I was given a fairy garden type thing for my birthday that is full of succulents but they look so crowded to me.
Given excellent light, succulents can grow just fine even if they look crowded to us.
What about when you’re using a grow light?
You must measure the output of the grow light in order to know if it's close enough.
Do you have experience with growing succulents outdoors say under a porch?
Not really but it's easier to grow them outside with a white sheet to diffuse direct overhead sun.