Can’t agree more about not labeling plants correctly! “Foliage plant” is so maddening for anyone trying to collect and provide plants with what they need.
YES! I have a plant (that was obviously fate to find lol) and it wasn't labeled properly. I had been wanting a red maranta for YEARS and just hadn't gotten one. I was checking out at the grocery store, turned around, and there was my beautiful plant on the "returns" basket. It looked exactly like what I was looking for but before buying I wanted to check and make sure it wasn't some sort of look alike that I didn't know existed. The only label said "angel plant" but I was sure I knew what I was looking at. Luckily, I brought her home anyways and she's doing great! But I thought about someone buying this plant and completely killing it because they weren't finding the right information.....frustrating for sure because I've had this happen numerous times. The labels are often wrong and I had to do my own detective work to find out what I was dealing with.
100% all of this... totally spot on. I've been a planty nerd for almost 30 years, and many well-meaning planty folks advocating all this totally unnecessary steps to plant ownership irks me. You touched on many of my pet peeves, particularly potting as soon as you get it home, fancy mixes, disturbing the roots when you repot, overzealous repotting, and cutting down watering/fertilizer in winter.
I live in Canada and where I am it gets to minus 40. My plants that were closest to the "drafty heaters" tossed out new leaves and grew a ton all winter, I can't imagine how bad that the growth would've been had I slowed watering and stopped fertilization! In summer the humidity was 70 percent indoors, in winter with the humidifer it's around 40 percent. So, I'm watering more and feeding weakly each time. I had two plants die back and they were calathea and one of my alocasia. No clue why the alocasia when the other alocasias have grown and one is now up to my waist! All I know is both could come back so I keep them for now!
But what about when the medium that the greenhouses use is more effective for plants being grown outdoors with higher light and lots of air flow. And then you buy a plant that's in almost straight potting soil, and you move it into a lower light setting. It may not be able to absorb all that water in the soil because it was potted in that for outdoor growing
@@FinalFlameXD Remember, all these special potting mediums on the market now are very new, and houseplants have been grown in far less fancy stuff for over 100 years. So, just water it when it's dried out sufficiently. Don't even add any fert at first. Unless you see substantial issues, just let it be, let it adjust. It is just a good rule of thumb to wait a few months until you disturb a plant, at the very least.
@@MarisaAndChew Yes, I'm in SW Ontario, Canada, and I just water when they go dry, and for most of them, they haven't missed a beat. .My Raven ZZ has 4 new shoots, the reg green one has had 6 over the winter so far. My Alocasia Polly's all have new leaves (I have 4 I put outdoors in the summer in my woodland garden). My Hoya Krimson Princess has gone bonkers all winter. All my Peperomias, Syngoniums, Monstera, Phili's, Pothos, all still bopped along all winter. Only one I can think of are the Snake Plants, and Echeveria, but that's it. Yea, so the whole no water/fert in winter is totally not always a thing.
I use an app on my phone and I scan plants when I go to the store. The app also tells me how to care for the plant so it is more than practical and I love it. Otherwise I'd just look at labels saying "calathea" or "monstera" without telling me which type is it exactly.
I gave my mom a tiny cutting of my monstera. She left it on her porch that receives full sun almost all day. While mine had some fenestrations, hers grew ENORMOUS with beautiful huge fenestrations and perforations in just a few short months over the summer
Speaking of shops not putting labels on plants... In 2019 I bought a small plant labelled "tropical plant" and had no idea what it was for the longest time. It's awfully hard to get results image searching a "tropical plant" with generic looking green leaves 😂 To my enthusiastic surprise, almost a year later, I realized it was a young monstera deliciosa. We had a very touch and go relationship during that time (my beginner plant mom days), but luckily it prevailed and now I have several monstera's thanks to that little mystery tropical plant.
I now have five trees/shrubs since I didn’t know the “gold dust” plant at my corner store is a Japanese laurel, or the cute 6” ficus plant is really a rubber tree and now a third of my height! I feel I’ll need to buy my own home just so I can have room for them all!
Haha, bought a few cacti recently and most of them had written "Cactus mix" on them. There's an app I found to be super helpful I use PlantNet but there should be others.
From the Middle South in the US….I enjoy your sense of humor, English, even store shopping videos with observations and prices.You are informative and good company at a pace I can handle. Keep it up. You just need to know you are appreciated! Oh, I think what you sometimes call a Golden pothos is actually a Neon pothos. Atleast….over here. Thank you. I like you, Mrs. Sheffield and children.
@@SheffieldMadePlants my gardening style is always experimental... mainly water, and then over-water, over care LOL... I did buy a meter in recent years.
Oh my gosh I absolutely love all your videos. You educate us so well. I watch so many over and over. You would actually charge me. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU ❤❤❤
I also use soil and perlite. The plants grow like crazy! I use about 30-50% perlite, and I've never had plants grow this fast before. XD The only issue with too much perlite is that it's very lightweight and bigger/heavier plants can topple.
Oh Sheffield, great info as usual, now I gotta stop wanting to re-pot. Thats my favourite part, ahhh...I just wanna play with them all day like a puppy, but ive been trying to leave them alone. I got close to them earlier today and I heard them whisper, " gooooo away". OK OK just saying hi, im gone, lol
I've also come into conclusion that there is no "too sunny conditions" for houseplants in my country. If the plant has shown signs of too much light it's mostly because of insufficient watering, wrong soil or too small pot. I live in Finland. They are much more likely to suffer from the lack of UV here than too much direct sun light🤷♀
This video was like sweet music to my ears ! Thank you for such sound advice. Everything you advocate I have been doing for years now and my garden looks lush and beautiful. I often grow plants in pots then transplant them into the ground and I, like in this video, make a mould of the pot in the ground then simply slip the plant into the hole. It works a treat, does not disturb the roots and tightly secures the roots into the soil. I have never lost a plant either when planting this way.
@@SheffieldMadePlants I love your channel! I have a collection of potted plants on my verandah and have lost the odd one here and there on my endless journey to unravel the mystery of why they have suddenly died. I have learned so much from you, and now my potted plants are thriving. I am no longer apprehensive about watering too much or too little. I bought a moisture meter and what a difference it makes as I no longer overwater and my plants love it!
Lots of great knowledge here i used to work at a gardencenter(in france) and i 100% agree with everything you said , the watering , the repotting and sunlight exposure are all thing you can experience with yourself. do not be affraid and try things make sure to check on the web first about the plant and then try out what you thought , the care required for a plant doesn't just depend on it's needs written on a spreadsheet it also depends on what happened to it in your care/home or even just what state it is in right now. The more you test the more you'll know and follow some basic steps given on the web or through reliable books and you'll be golden.
II am so glad you made this video. I learned many of these lessons the hard way. Repotting and especially fretting over “low light” conditions. And of course, the potting soil mix. Thanks so much for sharing!!!!
I agree with the not breaking apart roots, I do the same and the plant spreads it's roots out by itself. Haven't lost any since doing this! I can almost hear the plant's sigh of relief ! 😘
Having tried the complicated soil mixes that're on trend, I found them inferior and completely agree with you. My plants thrive best in a simple mix of compost and perlite, too 👏🏻
Thank you for your tips ♥️ I admit to repotting the plants I buy almost immediately. But I have learned over time and only do that if they are very root bound (happens often with baby plants) or if the soil is very soggy or does not drain well. But I have learned that especially plants with delicate roots such as peperomia would like to be kept alone as long as possible. Also your tip on lighting is so good. I have a feeling that everyone defines bright indirect light differently. I once held a hoya in my hand and the little tag said "medium light". Do they want you to fail?
Love the winter tip! I live in Berlin (very cold) so I have the heating on in winter, which dries out my plants quickly so I find I am still watering them pretty often! I only realised this this past winter (rip last winters plants that I left to dry out since I didn’t think they needed water 😢) P.s could you do a spring preparation video? I never know the best tips for how to prepare my plants for the growing season, and can’t find many vids on TH-cam about it. Wishing you a lovely day 🥰
Yes! I live in the exact same climate and I accidentally killed my first jade plant because everyone said to be careful about overwatering and to barely water it during the winter... I was extremely surprised to find it all dry and wrinkly once I wanted to finally water it. I managed to save another one that I bought (and underwatered😅) with it though!
I bought a plant in a Walgreens drug store 20 some odd years ago. It was a stick with leaves on top. I was in love and it was on clearance after Mother’s Day. In a couple of months it lost all its leaves and my husband said get rid of it it’s dead. I didn’t. 20 years later it’s now survived 2 cross country moves and is 6 feet tall. My plumeria has bloomed 6 or so times and the flowers and scent are amazing. I’ve never fertilized it repotted a couple of times but now it’s just too big. I just give it a lot of love,found a place where it loves the light,water once a week and it’s there for me every day. It bloomed last September until about a week ago there are more buds but some are turning black. I’m hoping some will bloom but even when it’s just giant leaves on a stick it still brings me joy. You never know what you are buying when buying a plant in a drugstore!
I totally hear you on not overly heeding the labels on plants. Yesterday, I bought a Neon Pothos (been wanting one for a while, so YAY!!!). The label recommends "low light". As I recall from seeing videos on that particular pothos, it requires way more than "low light" to maintain the bright coloring. Needless to say, I won't be heeding the "low light" recommendation. Oh, and I haven't repotted it. I put it with a few other latest additions to my houseplants in an isolate spot for quarantine. Will give it a few weeks to adjust to our home then see if it even needs repotting. So far, the new plants I've checked recently haven't needed repotting.
I do all the things you do. I make sure my house is bright during the day with all windows open, even my doors open and grow lights. I found out my front window is south facing but we have trees that block the light. And my plants get repotted so I can check the roots when first bought most of the time they are falling over from such small pots not supporting the plant but I do not disturb the roots, I just add around the plant so they are still in original soil as well as new. I do need more perlite to add. But I still get new leaves with slits. I've just started my first composting bin so it's going to take a bit to get good soil from it. But I'll get there. I really enjoy your videos. Some of it I know, but some is new to me. So thank you for the tips.
Àwww yeah they let me have one as long as it's painted pretty so I decorate everything including the bin. But they approved so I'm good lol. I also hand paint most everything.
Love that tip at the end, I'll go watch that video next. Just got 2 new variegated baby rubber plants and I don't think they need much more than the next pot size up. Sooner than I normally would, so I would rather not stress their roots by breaking them up. Thanks for the great tips!
As someone that has broken all the rules in your list I agree with 100% I followed all what people suggested to do and it would kill all my plants. I nearly gave up trying to grow plants until one day I just did the oppisete I stopped messing with the roots after repotting them and guess what?! They didn't die! I stopped watering it so much and guess what?! It didn't die! I didn't repot it right away and guess....yeah you get the picture. All the advice you have given on this video I recommend but don't go changing anything if your plants are happy the way you have been taking care of them. This is only for those that have been struggling. Great video!
Thanks for this video and making things SIMPLE. So true about all the unnecessary and often expensive mixes, tools and what not. Most helpful was to break the rule of no direct sunlight, I'm off to getting my babies (slowly) closer to the sun again
I placed five 2' tall monstera deliciosa directly in front of a huge South facing bay window with no window treatment whatsoever. They have been sitting there for the past 2 years and are all over 5 feet tall now and all the leaves are gorgeous. No yellowing, no blemishes whatsoever.
Hello, I am from India & i watch all your videos and found your tips very helpful for my plants. I have seen many youtuber advised not to keep the rubber plant in direct sunlight as it caused burn leaves. I followed their advice and got my rubber plant with drooping leaves despite of indirect bright light. First I thought It was due to underwatering but I visited the local store when the drooping of leaves persist even after watering thoroughly. The Shopkeeper told me... he always kept the rubber plant outdoor in direct sunlight from the beginning 😅😅😅 that's why my plant is not happy with indirect sunlight. Went back home I replaced the plant at balcony with 6 hours of direct sunlight and now the plant is growing and happy, no more drooping of leaves. 😃
You have helped so much! Even if experience shows I should flout the rules, looking at this as a cooperative endeavor paying attention to what the plant says rules. You've given me the confidence to do that and also bottom water, a big success. Not repotting so much is good too. Thanks!!🌺🌱🌼😁
I find most “general purpose” potting mixes, and the mix plants are grown in, drain too slowly, particularly for dry-loving plants like pothos. And on the moisture-meter thing, one hint I’ve found helpful is to not just read the meter, but read WHEN it registers moisture. There’s a difference between it reading “dry” near the bottom of the pot and reading the dry in the top third but moist below that. Some plants (like pothos) should be watered only when the bottom is dry, others when the top third is dry.
Since i am fairly new plant mum (having plants since about a year now), i stumbled over your videos a few times now, they were allways so helpful and wonderful explained! Time to hit the subscribe button, thanks for your awesome videos! *Edit, grammar
I wonder if this might be a European thing. 🤔 In the US and Canada, most plants sold in big box stores are in nearly pure peat. At the very least, it's potting soil with next to no drainage. If you don't repot them, you'll either end up with a hydrophobic chunk in few months, or it will retain a ton of water and you get rot. And you can't escape this by going to a local nursery, because a lot small nurseries get their plants from similar suppliers to the big box stores. I bought a Silvery Ann Scindapsus from a local nursery the other day. It had been shipped in from Florida and the potting soil was way too dense.
Same! Bought an aglaonema that was suffering with brown and soggy leaves at lowe's, and there was no drainage and soggy soil. Roots were miraculously perfect, but it wasn't healthy for the rest of the plant.
So true. All cacti and succulents I buy are in peat and often need some drying out before repotting. I usually feel like I'm paying to rescue the plants I buy.
@@SheffieldMadePlants Same here in Denmark, I see a lot of plants for sale with decent soil. and some perliite in there as well, even in the cheap stores
Alternatively, I bought a really nice Deliciousa from Costco at the end of 2021. I waited nearly a year to repot it. It was rootbound like crazy, and the soil was PURE peat, but it was perfectly happy. 🤷
Keeping a Jade (crassula ovata) in full, south facing window sun will just likely turn the leaf edges a red tint (that actually looks good) and the leaves a darker green in general. That's what it does to mine anyway. And I grow all my succulents in either 100% pumice (or some other type of rock substrate) or any generic cactus mix with 50% perlite mixed in.
living in Maryland USA my Jade plant is in direct sun all day long. it gets lots of water and the leaf's have that red tip. In Oct I bring it inside and it doesn't get watered till April....great plant
Very informative video! Thank you for confirming some of my hypothesis. I always said what do I know, I'm just a newbie plant parent , I should listen to the labels. In my casein, I need to water my plants regularly in the winter since our climate is cold and the heat is on ( very dry air) ....the soil dries quickly.
You bought Orchids!!!! I just noticed, I'm happy you decided to try it since the last time you talked about them and didn't like them too much! I use miracle grow mixt for cactus and suculent for my cactus and I mix with some bark. It's super cheap here in Canada! It works for me, but I want to try perlite also!
Breaking up the roots before repot was something I did as a beginner plant mom. Nowadays I legit just put it in the bigger pot as is. The plant will be just fine.
I tend to just give them water over winter because our central heating dries them out so fast. And I've never repotted a plant as soon as I get home. I don't see the point. Great video as usual. Thanks
I live in central Canada; we have cold winters and short days, but it's sooooo dry here in the winter that I often find myself needing to water my plants at about the same rate as summer. Spring and Fall are the times I need to water less.
I am forever strapped for a good potting mix, lacking any good gardening store around (perlite being a rare delicacy for some resonXD), and discovered that mixing the cheapest houseplant mix with the cheapest orchid mix seems to go the job perfectly.
After I over-loved 5 BoPs, I've definitely learned to keep them in their soil mix and not break the roots. I just switch pots and tuck it in with new surrounding soil or keep them on their pots, cut more holes for drainage and get a cover pot.
I've bought some lovely plants from my local grocery chain but ugh i agree it's frustrating when they label it "bushy plant" or something stupid. Thankfully Google lens helps out. I also wish more places would label things toxic or non toxic for pets and small children. It's not that hard to add a quick warning on those plant care & watering cards they tend to tie to plants.
You are so lucky that your nurserys have their plants in great soil upon buying. Because that's not the case in Australia. I have seen soil better described as chocolate brownies from buying them. I don't repot straight away but I generally repot within two weeks.
About repotting, I do put new plants in pots of my own but after that I rarely repot a plant. I have them in the same pot for years and years. They do great. In my garden I have a lot of plants and trees in pots and some of them in tiny ones. Some of them are in the same pot without refreshing soil for up to 10 years now. As long as the plant gets what it needs it's oke. I usually repot when there is something wrong with the plant or soil. Or I just want a new pot. This is just my experience, your experience may be differnt.
Agreed, no need for a bunch of fancy expensive ingredients. I use 70% chicken grit for drainage, 20% potting soil for some nutrients and 10% pine bark for aeration. It's cheap and my cacti are very happy.
Thanks! I have some outdoor plants too, a fig and a bay tree that are just a stick with leaves. The nursery said to just repot in a pot slightly bigger not much bigger. I’m wondering if that is true. It may be, but will see. I made my own compost outdoors over the past couple years. I am unsure how to know when it is ready to use though, and I add new stuff on top all the time. I do have some perlite in it, due to having older plants soils I dumped in the mix. I have no idea if there is enough and likely not. I wonder if in WA state USA the garden stores carry just perlite? I do not recall seeing it separately sold.
Mr Sheffield...I bought a plant labeled philodendron brazil. I found an identical plant named Philodendron hederaceum cream splash On the internet.. I run into this often. Also the pothos...solid dark green referred to as Money plant... Could you help with me with this confusion ... different Names for what I believe are the same plant.
I put my begonia rexes in direct sunlight, my desert rose (of course), my ficus trees (when I have them), and my hibiscuses too. They really love it. I just have to be a bit careful in the beginning of summer before they're used to it.
I only repot my plants when I bring them home if I suspect there’s a nursery plug tucked in around the base of the plant that was never removed, it’s usually only in big box plants from large nurseries, that and if it shows signs of rot and overwatering, this is why usually avoid “rescue” plants, they require so much rehabilitation to get them growing again
... please make a video of indoor plant care for people of Middle East climate. Suggest me a pesticide for small white bugs on my pomegranate baby plants. TIA.
Are they aphids? In general, with most pests, I feel you can’t go wrong with neem oil or a couple drops of dish soap in a spray bottle but you must take care to get all sides of leaves and stems. My local gardener, originally from South Africa, told me to make a mix of a full head of mashed garlic per liter of water. Let sit for 4 days, strain and spray. The garlic smell is overwhelming but it works.
I didn't realise that monsteria likes to be root bound I recently repotted my monsteria, I hope for the best if it flourishes. I got it in a 12 inch wide mouth pot. It's new leaf is not turning hard it's been over a week. The leaf is still soft and fresh, looks like the repotting has slowed the growth. But it's a healthy plant I'm sure it' will bounce back in few weeks time
If you don't mind answering a question. I got a lovely plant arrangement from my mom's funeral. It contains a Dieffenbachia, a Heartleaf Philodendron, and an Arrowhead plant. I'm going to have to repot it because the container it is in is not a long term option, would it be better to try to separate the plants into separate pots, or just leave them all together. I have no idea how long they've been growing together, so I don't know how hard it will be to separate them.
The dieffenbachia has slightly different watering needs to the other two but seems a shame to separate them due to the circumstances. Maybe see how it goes. They should be ok
I've heard bright indirect light described as a south-facing window with a sheer curtain across it. I think African violets are an exception to not repotting it quickly. They prefer light, well-draining soil and, in the U.S. at least, are invariably shipped in nearly solid peat. Being susceptible to root rot they'll quickly die if you're not very careful with your watering. Better to repot.
@@SheffieldMadePlants I believe, just my opinion, that the peat-heavy mix is for convenience in shipping (less spillage) and so they don't dry out too fast in the shop.
A would like to insert a caveat to not re-potting when plants first arrive home. It depends on the plant supplier. I've had a few occasions where the plant supplier put plant-plugs with tiny root balls, but large foliage - inside a big pot to match the stems. Unfortunately, whatever material they placed around the plant plug was not biodegradable. I was watering these plants on the same schedule with other plants of a similar pot size. The soil had enough moisture, but the plant was always wilting like it hadn't been watered. When the plant finally died, I took apart the soil and found the plant-plug material had effectively trapped the roots. The soil inside the plant plug had become completely hydrophobic, and roots couldn't grow through to access the moisture. The plant pot fabric was even hydrophobic. So now I won't immediately re-pot, unless the plant starts to decline. This happens quickly, within 2 weeks of bringing them home. The leaves never perk up, like other plants on the same watering schedule. I've had this happen at least 4 times, in the first few years of keeping plants. Each time, the same situation was found, when I took apart the wet soil - a hydrophobic plant plug.
I think regarding lighting each situation is different. My entire apartment is south facing but I have a lot of trees and my bedroom has a balcony. The plants in my living room are happy except for the calatheas, had to pull those back. Plants in my bedroom don't get enough sun. They're living but not flourishing.
Dear lord…..in Southern California, there are thousands of Jade plants that are enormous and are outside up against houses in full on bright sun, let alone a lot of heat!!!!!! people really irk me when it comes to the do’s and don’t about plants. I That being said, I love your videos and your advice, along with watching Planterina . She cracks me up but she is a wonder for the most part when it comes to her plants and the do’s and don’t♥️♥️
About direct sunlight. One factor is the baking of the soil in the pot. I wonder if some plants can take direct light as long as the pot is not being directly heated by the sun. The jade is fine with the pot baking but I try to take care not to leave the pots of non-succulent plants exposed. I put a barrier between the pot and the window. Just experimenting. I know nothing.
Ikea usually gives some Swedish name to its plants, but they mention the botanic name under that as well. I am not sure if they do it all the time at all places though.
I never broke up roots when reporting completely. I just loosen the soil around the bottom and that's it especially with jade plants. The roots find their own way. Zz plant types though just seem to fall apart on their own. I have been breaking some up since i started watching u-tube. Rules are made to be broken eh? !!!Sarah. DEVON.
@@SheffieldMadePlants Then you’ve never lived! Even the best Nurseries don’t have the resources to totally prevent the covert Vine Weevil attack, the hotbed commercial ones that supply Garden Centres don’t care as long as you buy the plant! Nematodes are probably the best cure but a good dousing of VW specific chemicals is quicker! Better safe than sorry, otherwise they will infest every vulnerable plant in your collection and you wont know it until the cherished plant falls over!
I’m glad someone addressed the elephant in the room. I strongly believe that “low light” and “indirect light” requirements for plants are lies. Lol. Every “low light” plant I have, has suffered in low or indirect light. And thrive in my south window where it gets hours of direct sun!
Are Alocasia Zebrina root bound? Or do they like a bigger pot? They are 1 year not repotted (since they were bought) and I was thinking of giving them a bigger pot. 2 parts Perlite and 5 parts Compost? Do you use "real" compost or is this English compost the normal plant soil you buy in garden markets?
@@SheffieldMadePlants much appreciated. So the one example you always show for very root bound plants, that would be too much already? Your English compost is the same very nutrient rich compost I know one can produce in the garden by collecting the organic waste and let it rot? (Sorry, non English speaking and wanted to be sure what kind of compost). Or is it soil mixed with some compost, but labeled compost in the U.K.?
Honestly, I’ve repotted about 15 of my 18 plants mainly because my environment isn’t so great. I have a small grow light but my central heater is on for maybe about 10 hours in the day, and I don’t have any airflow without a fan. So I usually repot in something with more aeration so the soil isn’t sitting in moist soil for too long. Yay or nay?
I guess it depends on what the plant is living in when you get it. If it's fine then leave it. Lots of folks repotting just because they've been told to
A "sunny" spot in your home, which by your account gets sun only 30% of the time, is WAY different than a sunny spot in my Southern California home located near the desert. The dry season here means NO rain between March and Nov. combined with temperatures that are usually in the high 80s to upper 90s with average humidity of less than 35%. It's not unusual for summer temperatures here to stay at over 100 degrees F (38C) for 1-3 weeks straight during summer months. I've killed lots of plants since moving to this area from northern California where, due to almost constant fog and overcast, my plants thrived on a "sunny" windowsill. A sunny spot in my location is a death sentence to any plant that isn't a succulent, therefore, most plants are happiest in bright indirect light. During the summer I have to constantly monitor my plants for water and frequently water twice a day. During the wet sometimes overcast winter months, I water only once every 5-7 days.
Very good tips (as always) thank you 👍🏻 For my potting mix, I usually buy the one called herb mix here in Denmark, I mix in about 20% perlite, a bit of leca pellets, and some crushed egg shells + some used filter coffee grind. Depending on the plant I might add a bit of vermiculite as well I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do, but it seems to work quite well for me. As for the mis/non-labeled plants, I agree 100% I work in a supermarket, and all the plants we have are just labeled as "flower"... Oh, thanks for telling me that this is a flower 😀 When I bought my Monstera Adensonii about half a year ago, it was labeled as an Obliqua on the pot. I knew it wasn't an obliqua because they are insanly rare and sell for a LOT more than 6 pounds My Adensonii isn't rare or special, but It's among my favorites plants
"Old soil is useless and probably full of fungus and other issues" was perhaps my favourite comment. Second favourite was "you have to let the roots breathe before you change the soil". Both are very strong statements with zero arguments or reasoning behind them. It's basically just closing your eyes and giving an in-depth analysis of a person you've never seen before, assuming things with no basis.
Get a uv bug zapper light. Get sticky tape(there are special ones for gnats). There are also bugs you can put in your soil that eat gnat larva. There is also the pinguicula that loves to eat gnats. Drosera can help too. Pitcher plants are a third option.
I really like the pinguicula though they are easy they like wet feet but they can stand a bit of drought. Drosera and pitchers are harder to keep they rot easier if you water too much or go dry if you dont water.
Potting mix. I hate the mixes that contain the water moisture crystals. So many contain it in their mixes. I find whatever mix doesn't have them then mix with perlite. I have never found what I consider a "ready to use" mix. Unless I am doing my immersed aquarium plant bins. Miracle Grow potting soil is good for that. And only for that.
Hi im brand new to llants i just got a calathea elgergrass, peace lily, and areca palm from amazon the palm and calathea have a small amount of browning i have no clue what im doing or what i need to care for these plants so pleased i found u, im currently watching your content to figure out how to care for them but is there anything i need to either know right now! Or buy right now? Ty
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Can’t agree more about not labeling plants correctly! “Foliage plant” is so maddening for anyone trying to collect and provide plants with what they need.
I know right!
YES! I have a plant (that was obviously fate to find lol) and it wasn't labeled properly. I had been wanting a red maranta for YEARS and just hadn't gotten one. I was checking out at the grocery store, turned around, and there was my beautiful plant on the "returns" basket. It looked exactly like what I was looking for but before buying I wanted to check and make sure it wasn't some sort of look alike that I didn't know existed. The only label said "angel plant" but I was sure I knew what I was looking at. Luckily, I brought her home anyways and she's doing great! But I thought about someone buying this plant and completely killing it because they weren't finding the right information.....frustrating for sure because I've had this happen numerous times. The labels are often wrong and I had to do my own detective work to find out what I was dealing with.
I have so many "foliage" lowes doesn't know what it has and there cheap
100% all of this... totally spot on. I've been a planty nerd for almost 30 years, and many well-meaning planty folks advocating all this totally unnecessary steps to plant ownership irks me. You touched on many of my pet peeves, particularly potting as soon as you get it home, fancy mixes, disturbing the roots when you repot, overzealous repotting, and cutting down watering/fertilizer in winter.
Thank you 😊
I live in Canada and where I am it gets to minus 40. My plants that were closest to the "drafty heaters" tossed out new leaves and grew a ton all winter, I can't imagine how bad that the growth would've been had I slowed watering and stopped fertilization! In summer the humidity was 70 percent indoors, in winter with the humidifer it's around 40 percent. So, I'm watering more and feeding weakly each time. I had two plants die back and they were calathea and one of my alocasia. No clue why the alocasia when the other alocasias have grown and one is now up to my waist! All I know is both could come back so I keep them for now!
But what about when the medium that the greenhouses use is more effective for plants being grown outdoors with higher light and lots of air flow. And then you buy a plant that's in almost straight potting soil, and you move it into a lower light setting. It may not be able to absorb all that water in the soil because it was potted in that for outdoor growing
@@FinalFlameXD Remember, all these special potting mediums on the market now are very new, and houseplants have been grown in far less fancy stuff for over 100 years.
So, just water it when it's dried out sufficiently. Don't even add any fert at first. Unless you see substantial issues, just let it be, let it adjust. It is just a good rule of thumb to wait a few months until you disturb a plant, at the very least.
@@MarisaAndChew Yes, I'm in SW Ontario, Canada, and I just water when they go dry, and for most of them, they haven't missed a beat. .My Raven ZZ has 4 new shoots, the reg green one has had 6 over the winter so far. My Alocasia Polly's all have new leaves (I have 4 I put outdoors in the summer in my woodland garden). My Hoya Krimson Princess has gone bonkers all winter. All my Peperomias, Syngoniums, Monstera, Phili's, Pothos, all still bopped along all winter. Only one I can think of are the Snake Plants, and Echeveria, but that's it.
Yea, so the whole no water/fert in winter is totally not always a thing.
I use an app on my phone and I scan plants when I go to the store. The app also tells me how to care for the plant so it is more than practical and I love it. Otherwise I'd just look at labels saying "calathea" or "monstera" without telling me which type is it exactly.
Great stuff 👍
I gave my mom a tiny cutting of my monstera. She left it on her porch that receives full sun almost all day. While mine had some fenestrations, hers grew ENORMOUS with beautiful huge fenestrations and perforations in just a few short months over the summer
Wow
Speaking of shops not putting labels on plants... In 2019 I bought a small plant labelled "tropical plant" and had no idea what it was for the longest time. It's awfully hard to get results image searching a "tropical plant" with generic looking green leaves 😂 To my enthusiastic surprise, almost a year later, I realized it was a young monstera deliciosa. We had a very touch and go relationship during that time (my beginner plant mom days), but luckily it prevailed and now I have several monstera's thanks to that little mystery tropical plant.
Tropical plant haha. Doesn't give a new plant owner a prayer. Glad you found out what it was 😁
I now have five trees/shrubs since I didn’t know the “gold dust” plant at my corner store is a Japanese laurel, or the cute 6” ficus plant is really a rubber tree and now a third of my height! I feel I’ll need to buy my own home just so I can have room for them all!
Yes!! I've ran into this problem as well!!🌿🌵😡
Don't you love those generic "Tropical Foliage" labels? I bought a Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma that was labeled "Micans". 😆
Haha, bought a few cacti recently and most of them had written "Cactus mix" on them. There's an app I found to be super helpful I use PlantNet but there should be others.
I 100% agree with your first point about light. Many houseplants can tolerate morning direct sunlight 🌞
Hey Jeff! Good to see you 😁
From the Middle South in the US….I enjoy your sense of humor, English, even store shopping videos with observations and prices.You are informative and good company at a pace I can handle. Keep it up. You just need to know you are appreciated! Oh, I think what you sometimes call a Golden pothos is actually a Neon pothos. Atleast….over here. Thank you. I like you, Mrs. Sheffield and children.
Thank you so much!
😍 Funny, I never broke up the roots when transplanting... then I heard that you should, was second guessing myself, and now you just reassured me!
You’ve got this ✊
@@SheffieldMadePlants my gardening style is always experimental... mainly water, and then over-water, over care LOL... I did buy a meter in recent years.
Oh my gosh I absolutely love all your videos. You educate us so well. I watch so many over and over. You would actually charge me. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU ❤❤❤
Awesome thank you very much 😁
I also use soil and perlite. The plants grow like crazy! I use about 30-50% perlite, and I've never had plants grow this fast before. XD The only issue with too much perlite is that it's very lightweight and bigger/heavier plants can topple.
Congratulations on 100,000 subscribers!
You'll be there any minute now. 👏👏👏
You’re a ⭐️ thank you
Whenever I have a problem with my plants, I always seek your advice 🌱🤩🌱
Same here. Lots of good tips and advice 🌱🌻🌿
So nice of you 😊
Thanks 🙏
Oh Sheffield, great info as usual, now I gotta stop wanting to re-pot. Thats my favourite part, ahhh...I just wanna play with them all day like a puppy, but ive been trying to leave them alone. I got close to them earlier today and I heard them whisper, " gooooo away". OK OK just saying hi, im gone, lol
😂 that’s funny
7:48
I take it Nigella Christmas is the cookbook you get the most use out of
lol
Oh yeah 😂
I've also come into conclusion that there is no "too sunny conditions" for houseplants in my country. If the plant has shown signs of too much light it's mostly because of insufficient watering, wrong soil or too small pot. I live in Finland. They are much more likely to suffer from the lack of UV here than too much direct sun light🤷♀
I can relate to that with the climate here in Sheffield 😅
Interestingly, the most common tree in Finland is the pine. And it is one of the most sun-loving of all plants. The irony of nature.
This video was like sweet music to my ears ! Thank you for such sound advice. Everything you advocate I have been doing for years now and my garden looks lush and beautiful. I often grow plants in pots then transplant them into the ground and I, like in this video, make a mould of the pot in the ground then simply slip the plant into the hole. It works a treat, does not disturb the roots and tightly secures the roots into the soil. I have never lost a plant either when planting this way.
Great thanks for watching 👍
@@SheffieldMadePlants I love your channel! I have a collection of potted plants on my verandah and have lost the odd one here and there on my endless journey to unravel the mystery of why they have suddenly died. I have learned so much from you, and now my potted plants are thriving. I am no longer apprehensive about watering too much or too little. I bought a moisture meter and what a difference it makes as I no longer overwater and my plants love it!
@@rossmilner6780 moisture meter is a game changer! Glad you've found the videos helpful
Lots of great knowledge here i used to work at a gardencenter(in france) and i 100% agree with everything you said , the watering , the repotting and sunlight exposure are all thing you can experience with yourself. do not be affraid and try things make sure to check on the web first about the plant and then try out what you thought , the care required for a plant doesn't just depend on it's needs written on a spreadsheet it also depends on what happened to it in your care/home or even just what state it is in right now. The more you test the more you'll know and follow some basic steps given on the web or through reliable books and you'll be golden.
Nicely put, thanks
II am so glad you made this video. I learned many of these lessons the hard way. Repotting and especially fretting over “low light” conditions. And of course, the potting soil mix. Thanks so much for sharing!!!!
Glad it was helpful! 😁
I agree with the not breaking apart roots, I do the same and the plant spreads it's roots out by itself. Haven't lost any since doing this! I can almost hear the plant's sigh of relief ! 😘
Exactly! 😁
Having tried the complicated soil mixes that're on trend, I found them inferior and completely agree with you. My plants thrive best in a simple mix of compost and perlite, too 👏🏻
Great stuff 👍
Thank you for your tips ♥️ I admit to repotting the plants I buy almost immediately. But I have learned over time and only do that if they are very root bound (happens often with baby plants) or if the soil is very soggy or does not drain well. But I have learned that especially plants with delicate roots such as peperomia would like to be kept alone as long as possible.
Also your tip on lighting is so good. I have a feeling that everyone defines bright indirect light differently. I once held a hoya in my hand and the little tag said "medium light". Do they want you to fail?
Thank you. A Hoya in medium light won't get many flowers 😬.
Love the winter tip! I live in Berlin (very cold) so I have the heating on in winter, which dries out my plants quickly so I find I am still watering them pretty often! I only realised this this past winter (rip last winters plants that I left to dry out since I didn’t think they needed water 😢)
P.s could you do a spring preparation video? I never know the best tips for how to prepare my plants for the growing season, and can’t find many vids on TH-cam about it.
Wishing you a lovely day 🥰
Done already my friend 😁
9 Essential Tips For Spring You Must NOT Miss! th-cam.com/video/UmEh6TN9nXI/w-d-xo.html
@@SheffieldMadePlants ohh don’t know how I missed that (I have notifications on for your vids!!), watching now 🥰
Yes! I live in the exact same climate and I accidentally killed my first jade plant because everyone said to be careful about overwatering and to barely water it during the winter... I was extremely surprised to find it all dry and wrinkly once I wanted to finally water it. I managed to save another one that I bought (and underwatered😅) with it though!
I bought a plant in a Walgreens drug store 20 some odd years ago. It was a stick with leaves on top. I was in love and it was on clearance after Mother’s Day. In a couple of months it lost all its leaves and my husband said get rid of it it’s dead. I didn’t. 20 years later it’s now survived 2 cross country moves and is 6 feet tall. My plumeria has bloomed 6 or so times and the flowers and scent are amazing. I’ve never fertilized it repotted a couple of times but now it’s just too big. I just give it a lot of love,found a place where it loves the light,water once a week and it’s there for me every day. It bloomed last September until about a week ago there are more buds but some are turning black. I’m hoping some will bloom but even when it’s just giant leaves on a stick it still brings me joy.
You never know what you are buying when buying a plant in a drugstore!
Nice redemption story!
I totally hear you on not overly heeding the labels on plants. Yesterday, I bought a Neon Pothos (been wanting one for a while, so YAY!!!). The label recommends "low light". As I recall from seeing videos on that particular pothos, it requires way more than "low light" to maintain the bright coloring. Needless to say, I won't be heeding the "low light" recommendation. Oh, and I haven't repotted it. I put it with a few other latest additions to my houseplants in an isolate spot for quarantine. Will give it a few weeks to adjust to our home then see if it even needs repotting. So far, the new plants I've checked recently haven't needed repotting.
Spot on 👍 That plant won’t like low light 😬
Thank you. These are good tips . Your videos are always informative. Keep up the good work.
Glad you like them!
I do all the things you do. I make sure my house is bright during the day with all windows open, even my doors open and grow lights. I found out my front window is south facing but we have trees that block the light. And my plants get repotted so I can check the roots when first bought most of the time they are falling over from such small pots not supporting the plant but I do not disturb the roots, I just add around the plant so they are still in original soil as well as new. I do need more perlite to add. But I still get new leaves with slits. I've just started my first composting bin so it's going to take a bit to get good soil from it. But I'll get there. I really enjoy your videos. Some of it I know, but some is new to me. So thank you for the tips.
Excellent, thanks for watching! I'd love a compost bin but I've not got much room for one 😢
Àwww yeah they let me have one as long as it's painted pretty so I decorate everything including the bin. But they approved so I'm good lol. I also hand paint most everything.
Love that tip at the end, I'll go watch that video next. Just got 2 new variegated baby rubber plants and I don't think they need much more than the next pot size up. Sooner than I normally would, so I would rather not stress their roots by breaking them up. Thanks for the great tips!
Great stuff, thanks for watching 😁
As someone that has broken all the rules in your list I agree with 100% I followed all what people suggested to do and it would kill all my plants. I nearly gave up trying to grow plants until one day I just did the oppisete I stopped messing with the roots after repotting them and guess what?! They didn't die! I stopped watering it so much and guess what?! It didn't die! I didn't repot it right away and guess....yeah you get the picture. All the advice you have given on this video I recommend but don't go changing anything if your plants are happy the way you have been taking care of them. This is only for those that have been struggling. Great video!
Great stuff thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks for this video and making things SIMPLE. So true about all the unnecessary and often expensive mixes, tools and what not. Most helpful was to break the rule of no direct sunlight, I'm off to getting my babies (slowly) closer to the sun again
Glad it was helpful!
I placed five 2' tall monstera deliciosa directly in front of a huge South facing bay window with no window treatment whatsoever. They have been sitting there for the past 2 years and are all over 5 feet tall now and all the leaves are gorgeous. No yellowing, no blemishes whatsoever.
Sounds great 👍
Hello, I am from India & i watch all your videos and found your tips very helpful for my plants.
I have seen many youtuber advised not to keep the rubber plant in direct sunlight as it caused burn leaves. I followed their advice and got my rubber plant with drooping leaves despite of indirect bright light. First I thought It was due to underwatering but I visited the local store when the drooping of leaves persist even after watering thoroughly. The Shopkeeper told me... he always kept the rubber plant outdoor in direct sunlight from the beginning 😅😅😅 that's why my plant is not happy with indirect sunlight. Went back home I replaced the plant at balcony with 6 hours of direct sunlight and now the plant is growing and happy, no more drooping of leaves. 😃
If you can get them accustomed to it then it works well 👍
You have helped so much! Even if experience shows I should flout the rules, looking at this as a cooperative endeavor paying attention to what the plant says rules. You've given me the confidence to do that and also bottom water, a big success. Not repotting so much is good too. Thanks!!🌺🌱🌼😁
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching
I find most “general purpose” potting mixes, and the mix plants are grown in, drain too slowly, particularly for dry-loving plants like pothos.
And on the moisture-meter thing, one hint I’ve found helpful is to not just read the meter, but read WHEN it registers moisture. There’s a difference between it reading “dry” near the bottom of the pot and reading the dry in the top third but moist below that. Some plants (like pothos) should be watered only when the bottom is dry, others when the top third is dry.
Oh yeah definitely. I go all the way down because that’s where most of the roots are. The top always dries out quick
Since i am fairly new plant mum (having plants since about a year now), i stumbled over your videos a few times now, they were allways so helpful and wonderful explained!
Time to hit the subscribe button, thanks for your awesome videos!
*Edit, grammar
Wow, thank you!
That moisture meter SAVED my plants 😂💚🪴
👍👍👍
I wonder if this might be a European thing. 🤔 In the US and Canada, most plants sold in big box stores are in nearly pure peat. At the very least, it's potting soil with next to no drainage.
If you don't repot them, you'll either end up with a hydrophobic chunk in few months, or it will retain a ton of water and you get rot.
And you can't escape this by going to a local nursery, because a lot small nurseries get their plants from similar suppliers to the big box stores.
I bought a Silvery Ann Scindapsus from a local nursery the other day. It had been shipped in from Florida and the potting soil was way too dense.
Same! Bought an aglaonema that was suffering with brown and soggy leaves at lowe's, and there was no drainage and soggy soil. Roots were miraculously perfect, but it wasn't healthy for the rest of the plant.
So true. All cacti and succulents I buy are in peat and often need some drying out before repotting. I usually feel like I'm paying to rescue the plants I buy.
That’s probably true. I think we’re phasing out peat in this country so most plants come in pretty decent soil
@@SheffieldMadePlants Same here in Denmark, I see a lot of plants for sale with decent soil. and some perliite in there as well, even in the cheap stores
Alternatively, I bought a really nice Deliciousa from Costco at the end of 2021. I waited nearly a year to repot it. It was rootbound like crazy, and the soil was PURE peat, but it was perfectly happy. 🤷
Keeping a Jade (crassula ovata) in full, south facing window sun will just likely turn the leaf edges a red tint (that actually looks good) and the leaves a darker green in general. That's what it does to mine anyway.
And I grow all my succulents in either 100% pumice (or some other type of rock substrate) or any generic cactus mix with 50% perlite mixed in.
👍👍👍
In super sunny inland San Diego, my house plants live under a pergola outdoors, all year long. 🥰
I’m not jealous 😳
living in Maryland USA my Jade plant is in direct sun all day long. it gets lots of water and the leaf's have that red tip. In Oct I bring it inside and it doesn't get watered till April....great plant
Sounds gorgeous 😁
Very informative video! Thank you for confirming some of my hypothesis. I always said what do I know, I'm just a newbie plant parent , I should listen to the labels.
In my casein, I need to water my plants regularly in the winter since our climate is cold and the heat is on ( very dry air) ....the soil dries quickly.
Glad it was helpful!
You bought Orchids!!!! I just noticed, I'm happy you decided to try it since the last time you talked about them and didn't like them too much!
I use miracle grow mixt for cactus and suculent for my cactus and I mix with some bark. It's super cheap here in Canada! It works for me, but I want to try perlite also!
Yeah I want to make videos on them so I’ve been buying them 😁
So true! Sometimes less care is the best care.
Breaking up the roots before repot was something I did as a beginner plant mom. Nowadays I legit just put it in the bigger pot as is. The plant will be just fine.
👍😁
I tend to just give them water over winter because our central heating dries them out so fast. And I've never repotted a plant as soon as I get home. I don't see the point. Great video as usual. Thanks
Thanks for watching 👍
I live in central Canada; we have cold winters and short days, but it's sooooo dry here in the winter that I often find myself needing to water my plants at about the same rate as summer. Spring and Fall are the times I need to water less.
Ah right I can see that
You blew my mind with the last tip. Since I saw you do that on a past video, it has changed my re-potting life haha!
Great stuff 😁
I am forever strapped for a good potting mix, lacking any good gardening store around (perlite being a rare delicacy for some resonXD), and discovered that mixing the cheapest houseplant mix with the cheapest orchid mix seems to go the job perfectly.
Great tip!
After I over-loved 5 BoPs, I've definitely learned to keep them in their soil mix and not break the roots. I just switch pots and tuck it in with new surrounding soil or keep them on their pots, cut more holes for drainage and get a cover pot.
Great 👍
I've bought some lovely plants from my local grocery chain but ugh i agree it's frustrating when they label it "bushy plant" or something stupid. Thankfully Google lens helps out. I also wish more places would label things toxic or non toxic for pets and small children. It's not that hard to add a quick warning on those plant care & watering cards they tend to tie to plants.
That’s a good point. I’m surprised they don’t do this
I have bought 2 things that you suggested, a water meter and the conditioner for the fish tank. This way I can use my Terri Cota pots.
Great stuff 👍
You are so lucky that your nurserys have their plants in great soil upon buying. Because that's not the case in Australia. I have seen soil better described as chocolate brownies from buying them. I don't repot straight away but I generally repot within two weeks.
That sounds grim!
Delightful as ever. My jade plant 'ET's fingers' hasn't died yet lol
Phew 😁
About repotting, I do put new plants in pots of my own but after that I rarely repot a plant. I have them in the same pot for years and years. They do great. In my garden I have a lot of plants and trees in pots and some of them in tiny ones. Some of them are in the same pot without refreshing soil for up to 10 years now. As long as the plant gets what it needs it's oke. I usually repot when there is something wrong with the plant or soil. Or I just want a new pot. This is just my experience, your experience may be differnt.
Agreed, no need for a bunch of fancy expensive ingredients. I use 70% chicken grit for drainage, 20% potting soil for some nutrients and 10% pine bark for aeration. It's cheap and my cacti are very happy.
Great 👍
Thanks! I have some outdoor plants too, a fig and a bay tree that are just a stick with leaves. The nursery said to just repot in a pot slightly bigger not much bigger. I’m wondering if that is true. It may be, but will see. I made my own compost outdoors over the past couple years. I am unsure how to know when it is ready to use though, and I add new stuff on top all the time. I do have some perlite in it, due to having older plants soils I dumped in the mix. I have no idea if there is enough and likely not. I wonder if in WA state USA the garden stores carry just perlite? I do not recall seeing it separately sold.
I can’t say I know much about composting because I’ve never done it. Epic gardening recently did a video on it
I just subscribed to your channel. You're very informative. Glad I came across one of your videos!
Awesome! Thank you!
I like to check on native habitat as a guide to where to place plants.
👌
Mr Sheffield...I bought a plant labeled philodendron brazil.
I found an identical plant named Philodendron hederaceum cream splash On the internet.. I run into this often.
Also the pothos...solid dark green referred to as Money plant...
Could you help with me with this confusion ... different Names for what I believe are the same plant.
I put my begonia rexes in direct sunlight, my desert rose (of course), my ficus trees (when I have them), and my hibiscuses too. They really love it. I just have to be a bit careful in the beginning of summer before they're used to it.
Sounds great!
I only repot my plants when I bring them home if I suspect there’s a nursery plug tucked in around the base of the plant that was never removed, it’s usually only in big box plants from large nurseries, that and if it shows signs of rot and overwatering, this is why usually avoid “rescue” plants, they require so much rehabilitation to get them growing again
Very true
Such wonderful advice. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
... please make a video of indoor plant care for people of Middle East climate.
Suggest me a pesticide for small white bugs on my pomegranate baby plants. TIA.
Are they aphids? In general, with most pests, I feel you can’t go wrong with neem oil or a couple drops of dish soap in a spray bottle but you must take care to get all sides of leaves and stems. My local gardener, originally from South Africa, told me to make a mix of a full head of mashed garlic per liter of water. Let sit for 4 days, strain and spray. The garlic smell is overwhelming but it works.
Well said 😁
@@sarahrosen4985 thanks dear
Great video. You mentioned compost but what compost would you recommend?
I had the same question?
I just buy all purpose garden compost from my local garden centre. Nothing fancy
Thank you for this video
Great tips as always and I hope you get to 100k!
Thank you very much 👍😁
Common sense! Excellent 👌 thank you ❤️
Glad it was helpful!
I didn't realise that monsteria likes to be root bound
I recently repotted my monsteria, I hope for the best if it flourishes. I got it in a 12 inch wide mouth pot.
It's new leaf is not turning hard it's been over a week. The leaf is still soft and fresh, looks like the repotting has slowed the growth.
But it's a healthy plant I'm sure it' will bounce back in few weeks time
Yeah just needs to adjust probably
Just ordered the meter!!! Tysm!
Hope you like it!
If you don't mind answering a question. I got a lovely plant arrangement from my mom's funeral. It contains a Dieffenbachia, a Heartleaf Philodendron, and an Arrowhead plant. I'm going to have to repot it because the container it is in is not a long term option, would it be better to try to separate the plants into separate pots, or just leave them all together. I have no idea how long they've been growing together, so I don't know how hard it will be to separate them.
The dieffenbachia has slightly different watering needs to the other two but seems a shame to separate them due to the circumstances. Maybe see how it goes. They should be ok
The Monsteras I bought at Ikea had a card in it that said the soil it was in would be good for a year.
I've heard bright indirect light described as a south-facing window with a sheer curtain across it.
I think African violets are an exception to not repotting it quickly. They prefer light, well-draining soil and, in the U.S. at least, are invariably shipped in nearly solid peat. Being susceptible to root rot they'll quickly die if you're not very careful with your watering. Better to repot.
Fair enough. I didn’t realise this was such an issue in the U.S.
@@SheffieldMadePlants I believe, just my opinion, that the peat-heavy mix is for convenience in shipping (less spillage) and so they don't dry out too fast in the shop.
A would like to insert a caveat to not re-potting when plants first arrive home. It depends on the plant supplier. I've had a few occasions where the plant supplier put plant-plugs with tiny root balls, but large foliage - inside a big pot to match the stems. Unfortunately, whatever material they placed around the plant plug was not biodegradable.
I was watering these plants on the same schedule with other plants of a similar pot size. The soil had enough moisture, but the plant was always wilting like it hadn't been watered. When the plant finally died, I took apart the soil and found the plant-plug material had effectively trapped the roots. The soil inside the plant plug had become completely hydrophobic, and roots couldn't grow through to access the moisture. The plant pot fabric was even hydrophobic.
So now I won't immediately re-pot, unless the plant starts to decline. This happens quickly, within 2 weeks of bringing them home. The leaves never perk up, like other plants on the same watering schedule. I've had this happen at least 4 times, in the first few years of keeping plants. Each time, the same situation was found, when I took apart the wet soil - a hydrophobic plant plug.
I hope you’re not using that supplier again 😬
I think regarding lighting each situation is different. My entire apartment is south facing but I have a lot of trees and my bedroom has a balcony. The plants in my living room are happy except for the calatheas, had to pull those back. Plants in my bedroom don't get enough sun. They're living but not flourishing.
Absolutely 👍
Another great video. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Dear lord…..in Southern California, there are thousands of Jade plants that are enormous and are outside up against houses in full on bright sun, let alone a lot of heat!!!!!! people really irk me when it comes to the do’s and don’t about plants. I
That being said, I love your videos and your advice, along with watching Planterina . She cracks me up but she is a wonder for the most part when it comes to her plants and the do’s and don’t♥️♥️
She's got a great collection 👍
@@SheffieldMadePlants ….amen to that lol 🪴🎍
About direct sunlight. One factor is the baking of the soil in the pot. I wonder if some plants can take direct light as long as the pot is not being directly heated by the sun. The jade is fine with the pot baking but I try to take care not to leave the pots of non-succulent plants exposed. I put a barrier between the pot and the window. Just experimenting. I know nothing.
Could be. A layer of mulch on top would help then
Between heat run and grow lights I'm watering as much as in summer.
Ikea usually gives some Swedish name to its plants, but they mention the botanic name under that as well. I am not sure if they do it all the time at all places though.
👍👍
I never broke up roots when reporting completely. I just loosen the soil around the bottom and that's it especially with jade plants. The roots find their own way. Zz plant types though just seem to fall apart on their own. I have been breaking some up since i started watching u-tube. Rules are made to be broken eh? !!!Sarah. DEVON.
Rules sure are there to be broken 😁
8:24 This part made me laugh a lot 🤣🤣
I repot everything! VINE WEEVIL! An endemic pest in lots of nursery grown plants! If you don’t want to repot then dose with vine weevil remedies!
Not sure I've come across this pest...
@@SheffieldMadePlants Then you’ve never lived! Even the best Nurseries don’t have the resources to totally prevent the covert Vine Weevil attack, the hotbed commercial ones that supply Garden Centres don’t care as long as you buy the plant! Nematodes are probably the best cure but a good dousing of VW specific chemicals is quicker! Better safe than sorry, otherwise they will infest every vulnerable plant in your collection and you wont know it until the cherished plant falls over!
Your plants are so beautiful
Thank you 😊
I’m glad someone addressed the elephant in the room. I strongly believe that “low light” and “indirect light” requirements for plants are lies. Lol. Every “low light” plant I have, has suffered in low or indirect light. And thrive in my south window where it gets hours of direct sun!
It's a cheeky way to sell lots of plant I guess 🙄
Are Alocasia Zebrina root bound? Or do they like a bigger pot? They are 1 year not repotted (since they were bought) and I was thinking of giving them a bigger pot. 2 parts Perlite and 5 parts Compost? Do you use "real" compost or is this English compost the normal plant soil you buy in garden markets?
They like it a bit on the snug side. Repot when they are very root bound. That’s the mix I use and yes compost I buy in bags from my garden centre
@@SheffieldMadePlants much appreciated. So the one example you always show for very root bound plants, that would be too much already? Your English compost is the same very nutrient rich compost I know one can produce in the garden by collecting the organic waste and let it rot? (Sorry, non English speaking and wanted to be sure what kind of compost). Or is it soil mixed with some compost, but labeled compost in the U.K.?
Honestly, I’ve repotted about 15 of my 18 plants mainly because my environment isn’t so great. I have a small grow light but my central heater is on for maybe about 10 hours in the day, and I don’t have any airflow without a fan. So I usually repot in something with more aeration so the soil isn’t sitting in moist soil for too long. Yay or nay?
I guess it depends on what the plant is living in when you get it. If it's fine then leave it. Lots of folks repotting just because they've been told to
@@SheffieldMadePlants thank you! You’re my favorite plant tuber btw. Loved your cameo in Lees recent video!
@@LanipwnsNOTHING lovely thank you
I got a moisture meter. Practically all my plants had wet feet. I think I killed my coleus with too much water. I have to start all over from seed
A bright you future ahead now know!
Excellent information as always. Plant stores will hate you for saving customers money.
Thank you 😊
A "sunny" spot in your home, which by your account gets sun only 30% of the time, is WAY different than a sunny spot in my Southern California home located near the desert. The dry season here means NO rain between March and Nov. combined with temperatures that are usually in the high 80s to upper 90s with average humidity of less than 35%. It's not unusual for summer temperatures here to stay at over 100 degrees F (38C) for 1-3 weeks straight during summer months. I've killed lots of plants since moving to this area from northern California where, due to almost constant fog and overcast, my plants thrived on a "sunny" windowsill. A sunny spot in my location is a death sentence to any plant that isn't a succulent, therefore, most plants are happiest in bright indirect light. During the summer I have to constantly monitor my plants for water and frequently water twice a day. During the wet sometimes overcast winter months, I water only once every 5-7 days.
Excellent!
Many thanks!
Very good tips (as always) thank you 👍🏻
For my potting mix, I usually buy the one called herb mix here in Denmark, I mix in about 20% perlite, a bit of leca pellets, and some crushed egg shells + some used filter coffee grind. Depending on the plant I might add a bit of vermiculite as well
I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do, but it seems to work quite well for me.
As for the mis/non-labeled plants, I agree 100%
I work in a supermarket, and all the plants we have are just labeled as "flower"... Oh, thanks for telling me that this is a flower 😀
When I bought my Monstera Adensonii about half a year ago, it was labeled as an Obliqua on the pot. I knew it wasn't an obliqua because they are insanly rare and sell for a LOT more than 6 pounds
My Adensonii isn't rare or special, but It's among my favorites plants
Thanks 👍 Sounds like a good mix and if it’s working then 👌 So annoying when they labels plants in this way. Looks like a worldwide problem 😂
Plantify is amazing for identifying plants
Good shout 👍
"Old soil is useless and probably full of fungus and other issues" was perhaps my favourite comment. Second favourite was "you have to let the roots breathe before you change the soil". Both are very strong statements with zero arguments or reasoning behind them. It's basically just closing your eyes and giving an in-depth analysis of a person you've never seen before, assuming things with no basis.
That first one in particular 🤦♂️
have you ever encountered grubs in your soil ? if yes what you do to get rid of them?
Luckily not 😅. Are they grubs from beetles?
Great as always 👍👍
Thanks 😊
Totally agree with you! 👌🏻
Great 👍
Yes, my plant doesn't need as much water when the humidity drops to 20% during the harsh winter months.
Most of the new plants I find have a gnat issue.
Should I isolate and try to rid of gnats instead of getting fresh soil?
Such a pain to get rid of once they are there. Isolate until you know they have gone
Get a uv bug zapper light. Get sticky tape(there are special ones for gnats). There are also bugs you can put in your soil that eat gnat larva. There is also the pinguicula that loves to eat gnats. Drosera can help too. Pitcher plants are a third option.
I really like the pinguicula though they are easy they like wet feet but they can stand a bit of drought. Drosera and pitchers are harder to keep they rot easier if you water too much or go dry if you dont water.
My gnats are pretty much under control at this point
I also break all the rules and have gorgeous plants 🪴
Nice! 😁
Potting mix. I hate the mixes that contain the water moisture crystals. So many contain it in their mixes. I find whatever mix doesn't have them then mix with perlite. I have never found what I consider a "ready to use" mix. Unless I am doing my immersed aquarium plant bins. Miracle Grow potting soil is good for that. And only for that.
I never buy ready made mixes. Much better to make it yourself
Hi im brand new to llants i just got a calathea elgergrass, peace lily, and areca palm from amazon the palm and calathea have a small amount of browning i have no clue what im doing or what i need to care for these plants so pleased i found u, im currently watching your content to figure out how to care for them but is there anything i need to either know right now! Or buy right now? Ty
For calathea you might consider getting some water conditioner for the tap water. Helps with the browning
@@SheffieldMadePlants ty 😊