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hey there, i’m something of an expert when it comes to houseplants,… | Anything about plants | Planta community

Plant Father

hey there, i’m something of an expert when it comes to houseplants, and i just wanted to say i see a lot of half-truths and flat out lies spread on this platform since i started looking around. i really want to encourage everyone to take the time to do individual research and not just believe what some random planta user tells you. it’s also important to keep in mind that what may be true for one person and one plant, is likely not true for another because of the difference in environment and personal habits. good luck out there and happy planting 🌱

9 likes 12 comments

12 comments

  1. Danika

    I actually agree with you in general that there are some passed on rhetoric and general wives tales that get spread around that a lot of people in there hearts believe to be true but aren’t actually effective. I often roll my eyes and laugh when I read some of the habits (like misting for example). But I often don’t say anything because its too much to try and explain. Can you share with us more specifically some of the things you’ve seen to be erroneous? There are also a lot of very well informed members sharing valuable advise and knowledge. And its probably impossible for a new plant parent to know the difference unless they do a lot of research, which I ALWAYS try to recommend everyone do for every issue, to get a cross pool consensus. AND.., sometimes learning things the hard way is the only way to truly learn anything unfortunately, trial and error. 🤷🏻‍♀️

    5 likes
    • Plant Father

      i totally agree on the misting point, i even had someone tell me to spray my crispy goeppertia (calathea) orbifolia when in the post i had mentioned it’s right near a humidifier! i thought it was funny, more in the oh no way than haha way though. moisture meters and sphagnum moss (especially moss poles) are a couple other things that bother me. i have a friend who trusted her moisture meter with her succulents and ended up killing several before asking me what the issue was. i always recommend a bamboo chopstick or your finger over a moisture meter. as for sphagnum moss it’s mostly just an environmental concern, peat bogs are an incredibly vital carbon sink that is rapidly being destroyed by the gardening industries. also on your last point, i only got this good at keeping houseplants by killing many. probably 20 or so have lost their lives at my hands, especially when i was younger

      3 likes
    • brittany

      Someone please tell me about the misting. 👀

      2 likes
    • Danika

      Yes! I too have kinda roll eyed the moisture meter comments. They are cheap and unreliable, and although a good way to learn for a few weeks when starting out with a brand new meter, they quickly start to give false readings. And yeah I hear you about sphagnum moss. That a great controversial subject I’ve done DEEP dives into researching that one, with varying conflicting results, since alternatives are just as bad in other environmental ways, so a bit of a toss up. 🤷🏻‍♀️ As for the misting (and why i generally don’t say anything), too many words and science stuff to put simply, which is why we are saying research! But here, if you really want to understand it (and in a fun way), watch this you-tube video:

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      1 like
  2. Stonehawk

    Call out the false advice. I plant outdoors only and yes the environment is different for everyone so I search the plant type. The issue it’s having. Read through results and then give advice. Always double check your advice. And make sure to say “I think”this will help”. We should try to help each other out. A friendly community is the only way this app will work. My experience? I grow 500 outdoor plants a season)

    5 likes
  3. William

    I’d recommend researching the Dunning Kroger Effect for anyone feeling down about their knowledge/abilities in general or the opposite sorry this may seem random but self proclaiming yourself an expert reminded me of it

    3 likes
    • Plant Father

      kinda rude to imply i’m not knowledgeable just because i said i’m “something of an expert.” it was the simplest way to communicate that i know more than the average houseplant owner, i’ve spent years researching and caring for a variety of different houseplants, i’m very passionate about them and i do my best to continue to research and learn. i’m sorry you assumed any of this was in bad faith or cocky, i’m simply full of information and looking to help the more gullible members of our little community.

      2 likes
    • Planta member

      I honestly took your initial post as arrogant and rude 🤷🏽‍♀️ that might not have been your intentions but it’s obvious many people took it that way. Happy planting.

      4 likes
    • William

      Yeah no I took your first post as a bit cocky and kinda saying you know better then all or most on this app which may be true. I was not trying to say that you are dumb just that you may be overestimating yourself but you seem knowledgeable and it’s kind of you to worn more gullible people

      2 likes
  4. LAMcC

    I think you have to use some common sense as well in everything you do. I will say that the Planta app isn’t completely right either. There are plants that it says are too hot for this time of year and things that are not getting enough light. You have to find what works best for the plant in trial and error. Moving it around to see what works for your environment. Plants that planta tell me shouldn’t be outside are thriving better outside than inside. Tender plants are well protected from direct sun and have double their size since moved outdoors. All 190 of my houseplants move outdoors after threat of frost is gone. And it’s been 100 degrees here everyday and high humidity and my plants are thriving. So even the app telling you things doesn’t mean you should believe it. People have to have the common sense to research further.

    2 likes
    • Plant Father

      many people don’t, i’m simply trying to offer a helpful reminder. i agree with you on the inaccuracies of this app though, i am tired of it suggesting i mist my plants.

      1 like
    • LAMcC

      Yeah, some plants you just don’t mist!

      0 likes