In my experience moving a plant around can sometimes do more harm than good. Companion planting plants with the same care requirements is a great space saver. Last but not least PLEASE listen to Drea and don't buy loads of plants at one time, I went from 10 to 150 in a matter of months and boy were there alot of deaths and feelings of guilt and being overwhelmed.
I'm binge watching you and you're fast becoming my favourite plant person. You are so knowledgeable, and you know how to explain things, a born teacher. Thank you. ❤
So nice of you to say💚 I’m fast learning from all of you that apparently I missed my calling as a teacher. Though I think I only would have been able to handle teaching at a college level. My mom was a high school teacher and after the stories I heard, no thank you. Teenagers can be brutal.
I use Google lense, which is free, when I'm out shopping and see a plant. Most are not labeled esp in grocery stores so I search the plant via my camera and can get a bunch of info from Google quite quickly. I don't have bright or direct light so this is very important for me. I will buy overwatered if it's not showing actual damage yet (they get new plants each week) and then I'll place it on a microfiber cloth that ends up quickly wicking away excess moisture. I do have some planted without holes but I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a beginner since I've had houseplants my whole life, BUT even for someone like myself it's very easy to over water and need to do an emergency dry out/repot. I just ordered a moisture meter, mostly for fun, and some of the reviews were hilarious like "I put it on straight water and it says dry, shouldn't it be wet?" Meanwhile, the images and write ups clearly say not to stick directly in water. The instructions also say leave for 10 mins and other reviews composition they poked it in and got no movement. It just made me laugh as I know a moisture meter isn't ideal but maybe some ppl should just buy fake plants 🤷🏼♀️🤣 the learning curve of a moisture meter is far easier than taking care of a living thing 😬 I've been watching a lot of your videos today! It's like listening to a friend 💗
These are such excellent advice. When I was younger I made a lot of plant mistakes. I didn't understand dormancy, and threw certain plants away, not knowing and understanding it. Also indoor vs outdoor care.
I don't know if this is necessary, but thought I would mention it - just in case. Quite a few plants are sensitive to calcium and magnesium salts in hard well water, and filtering your water will not remove them. Water filters are designed more for removing chlorine and fluoride, according to the research I've done and the articles I've read. I only use distilled water for any plants that are sensitive to 'tap' water.
I bought my first plant January 2024. Now i have 7 and im realizing after like 6 months that i didnt understand the importance of drainage holes or that some pots are just meant to be cover pots. I am guilty of a few of these and this video has been super informative
As far as the once a week watering thing goes, I think it originated as a means of trying to make sure people watered their plants a very, very, very long time ago. I have always had house plants, but when I got old enough to join the work force I had trouble remembering to water my plants. That is when I read an article that said to pick a day and water your plants on that day so you don't forget. I chose Sunday because Sunday was less hectic for me. LOL No, I no longer subscribe to that theory. These days I check my plants daily and water whomever needs watered.
While I agree with you on not messing with a plants roots, there are cases that it is necessary. Case in point: I bought a Black Rabbit's Fern online, and immediately repotted him. However, I started noticing that it wasn't very happy. One day I was testing for moisture prior to watering, got the probe in the root ball, and pulled up the entire plant out of the pot. My plant was unhappy because the roots had compacted in the soil to the point that water wasn't getting into them. I repotted again, and gently broke up the root ball. He hasn't recovered, but it is winter here. I'm hoping that, come spring, he will bounce back. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm hopeful.
Thanks for this! Good reminder to fertilize my old plants and research my new ones 😅 and right on with the brown tips, switching to filtered water immediately.
I haven't watched all your videos yet, but another exception I find quite important is that you could repot a new plant if it is in the wrong soil. Sadly, a lot of plants I buy are in very water retentive soil and they are usually very wet. I try to let them dry out a little and then repot them into a better draining soil mix (if necessary for the plant ofc). Would you agree or does that also only stress the plant?
I honestly feel a lot of people are creatures of habit. Two, heard it through the grapevine. Plants get watered as needed and using a moisture meter. Plus depending on the size of the pot, how warm or cool the plants live in.
Can you use a pitcher with a filter in it? If so, do you have to let the water sit in the pitcher before you pour it (through the filter) to water your plants?
You mentioned here that you should wait for the new plant to get accustomed to the new environment and then re-pot but in your another video titled "deadly re-potting mistakes to avoid" you say that re-pot new plant right away. Confusing! Have i understood this correctly?
I say to repot it if absolutely necessary when you first bring it home, meaning it’s in the wrong type of soil, you discover root rot, etc. If it’s in the right type of soil and nothing appears to be wrong with the plant then no you don’t need to report it right away.
I personally have no experience with this so I honestly don’t feel like I can speak with authority on this matter, but I know other plant parents do it and I’ve never personally heard any negative stories from anyone who has done it. Hope this helps💚
I researched can I use aquarium water to water houseplants? The answer is yes. There is beneficial bacteria in aquarium water including potassium, phosphorus n nitrogen, n trace nutrients. You can use aquarium water each time you water. You can still fertilize if you like along with aquarium water but use organic fertilizer only. The plants that you should not use aquarium water are orchids, cacti n succulents. The aquarium water has beneficial nutrients that make for lush plant growth. You can't use water from saltwater aquariums or brackish water, which is half salt n half fresh water. Don't use aquarium water that has chemicals like algae remover, ph adjusters n medicines. Dont use aquarium water from a turtle tank. Turtles carry salmonella. I have been using aquarium water for about six months now and almost all of my houseplants are growing lush even in the winter.
@@cherylvitilio5454 Wow, so much to think about but it all makes sense! Especially the salt water, which it didn’t even dawn on me to question if you had a fresh water or salt water aquarium 🤦♀️ This is why when I don’t have experience with something I just straight up say it, because otherwise I might lead someone astray. Thanks for sharing this💚. Side note, I had fish for awhile as a kid but after one “committed suicide” (jumped out of the tank somehow in the middle of the night) I now have a recurring dream at least once a year that I still own a fish tank that I haven’t touched in decades yet somehow all the fish are alive and it’s like a whole self-sustaining ecosystem has developed, but then everyone starts jumping out of the tank and I’m scrambling around trying to get them all back in before they die 😵💫. Clearly that one fish jumping from the tank has scarred me for life….. and I’m realizing by sharing this I’m probably going to end up having that dream again tonight….
Want to take a walk through our home? We have a good 200 houseplants, but bare in mind they were accumulated over time, not all at once. Two people are taking care of the plants.
In my experience moving a plant around can sometimes do more harm than good. Companion planting plants with the same care requirements is a great space saver. Last but not least PLEASE listen to Drea and don't buy loads of plants at one time, I went from 10 to 150 in a matter of months and boy were there alot of deaths and feelings of guilt and being overwhelmed.
I'm binge watching you and you're fast becoming my favourite plant person. You are so knowledgeable, and you know how to explain things, a born teacher. Thank you. ❤
So nice of you to say💚 I’m fast learning from all of you that apparently I missed my calling as a teacher. Though I think I only would have been able to handle teaching at a college level. My mom was a high school teacher and after the stories I heard, no thank you. Teenagers can be brutal.
@@AlohaPlantLife why I don't and will not have kids! 😁
I use Google lense, which is free, when I'm out shopping and see a plant. Most are not labeled esp in grocery stores so I search the plant via my camera and can get a bunch of info from Google quite quickly. I don't have bright or direct light so this is very important for me. I will buy overwatered if it's not showing actual damage yet (they get new plants each week) and then I'll place it on a microfiber cloth that ends up quickly wicking away excess moisture. I do have some planted without holes but I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a beginner since I've had houseplants my whole life, BUT even for someone like myself it's very easy to over water and need to do an emergency dry out/repot.
I just ordered a moisture meter, mostly for fun, and some of the reviews were hilarious like "I put it on straight water and it says dry, shouldn't it be wet?" Meanwhile, the images and write ups clearly say not to stick directly in water. The instructions also say leave for 10 mins and other reviews composition they poked it in and got no movement. It just made me laugh as I know a moisture meter isn't ideal but maybe some ppl should just buy fake plants 🤷🏼♀️🤣 the learning curve of a moisture meter is far easier than taking care of a living thing 😬
I've been watching a lot of your videos today! It's like listening to a friend 💗
These are such excellent advice. When I was younger I made a lot of plant mistakes. I didn't understand dormancy, and threw certain plants away, not knowing and understanding it. Also indoor vs outdoor care.
Great video. Thanks for all the amazing information ❤
You are so welcome!💚
I don't know if this is necessary, but thought I would mention it - just in case. Quite a few plants are sensitive to calcium and magnesium salts in hard well water, and filtering your water will not remove them. Water filters are designed more for removing chlorine and fluoride, according to the research I've done and the articles I've read. I only use distilled water for any plants that are sensitive to 'tap' water.
I bought my first plant January 2024. Now i have 7 and im realizing after like 6 months that i didnt understand the importance of drainage holes or that some pots are just meant to be cover pots. I am guilty of a few of these and this video has been super informative
Glad I could help💚
As far as the once a week watering thing goes, I think it originated as a means of trying to make sure people watered their plants a very, very, very long time ago. I have always had house plants, but when I got old enough to join the work force I had trouble remembering to water my plants. That is when I read an article that said to pick a day and water your plants on that day so you don't forget. I chose Sunday because Sunday was less hectic for me. LOL No, I no longer subscribe to that theory. These days I check my plants daily and water whomever needs watered.
While I agree with you on not messing with a plants roots, there are cases that it is necessary. Case in point: I bought a Black Rabbit's Fern online, and immediately repotted him. However, I started noticing that it wasn't very happy. One day I was testing for moisture prior to watering, got the probe in the root ball, and pulled up the entire plant out of the pot. My plant was unhappy because the roots had compacted in the soil to the point that water wasn't getting into them. I repotted again, and gently broke up the root ball. He hasn't recovered, but it is winter here. I'm hoping that, come spring, he will bounce back. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm hopeful.
In other videos I mention exceptions such as the exception you mentioned. This is more of a guideline for standard cases.
@@AlohaPlantLife Ok, my bad. I've only discovered you recently, so I haven't had a chance to watch all of your videos. 🥺
@@msscamp100 No worries! I’m actually working on an upcoming video called Breaking My Own My “Rules” where I cover more exceptions to the norm 💚
I water when the soil is dry so far down, normally down to first knuckle on first finger
Thanks for this! Good reminder to fertilize my old plants and research my new ones 😅 and right on with the brown tips, switching to filtered water immediately.
Glad I could help!
I haven't watched all your videos yet, but another exception I find quite important is that you could repot a new plant if it is in the wrong soil. Sadly, a lot of plants I buy are in very water retentive soil and they are usually very wet. I try to let them dry out a little and then repot them into a better draining soil mix (if necessary for the plant ofc). Would you agree or does that also only stress the plant?
I preach this too💚
I honestly feel a lot of people are creatures of habit. Two, heard it through the grapevine. Plants get watered as needed and using a moisture meter. Plus depending on the size of the pot, how warm or cool the plants live in.
Can you use a pitcher with a filter in it? If so, do you have to let the water sit in the pitcher before you pour it (through the filter) to water your plants?
You can definitely use a pitcher with a filter and I don’t think you would need to let it sit first
We've been very fortunate to say using tap water with all our houseplants. Ours is filtered.
You mentioned here that you should wait for the new plant to get accustomed to the new environment and then re-pot but in your another video titled "deadly re-potting mistakes to avoid" you say that re-pot new plant right away. Confusing! Have i understood this correctly?
I say to repot it if absolutely necessary when you first bring it home, meaning it’s in the wrong type of soil, you discover root rot, etc. If it’s in the right type of soil and nothing appears to be wrong with the plant then no you don’t need to report it right away.
I try to get plants that are pet friendly ,which limits me ,but i have pothos and love them
In the UK we buy so many plants in B&M ASDA where they are treated so badly that any home is a better place lol
Cyclamin flowers look like bunny heads to me.
Can I water my plants with fish tank water?
I personally have no experience with this so I honestly don’t feel like I can speak with authority on this matter, but I know other plant parents do it and I’ve never personally heard any negative stories from anyone who has done it. Hope this helps💚
@@AlohaPlantLife Thank you for taking the time to reply. I will let you know in case you are curious.
@@cherylvitilio5454 I’m always curious, so definitely let me know 💚
I researched can I use aquarium water to water houseplants? The answer is yes. There is beneficial bacteria in aquarium water including potassium, phosphorus n nitrogen, n trace nutrients. You can use aquarium water each time you water. You can still fertilize if you like along with aquarium water but use organic fertilizer only. The plants that you should not use aquarium water are orchids, cacti n succulents. The aquarium water has beneficial nutrients that make for lush plant growth. You can't use water from saltwater aquariums or brackish water, which is half salt n half fresh water. Don't use aquarium water that has chemicals like algae remover, ph adjusters n medicines. Dont use aquarium water from a turtle tank. Turtles carry salmonella. I have been using aquarium water for about six months now and almost all of my houseplants are growing lush even in the winter.
@@cherylvitilio5454 Wow, so much to think about but it all makes sense! Especially the salt water, which it didn’t even dawn on me to question if you had a fresh water or salt water aquarium 🤦♀️ This is why when I don’t have experience with something I just straight up say it, because otherwise I might lead someone astray. Thanks for sharing this💚. Side note, I had fish for awhile as a kid but after one “committed suicide” (jumped out of the tank somehow in the middle of the night) I now have a recurring dream at least once a year that I still own a fish tank that I haven’t touched in decades yet somehow all the fish are alive and it’s like a whole self-sustaining ecosystem has developed, but then everyone starts jumping out of the tank and I’m scrambling around trying to get them all back in before they die 😵💫. Clearly that one fish jumping from the tank has scarred me for life….. and I’m realizing by sharing this I’m probably going to end up having that dream again tonight….
Want to take a walk through our home? We have a good 200 houseplants, but bare in mind they were accumulated over time, not all at once. Two people are taking care of the plants.
Are you in my area?
@@AlohaPlantLife
Calgary Alberta 🇨🇦
I treat my prayer plants like the rest of my plants