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Hi plant friends! I could use some encouragement this morning. This… | Anything about plants | Planta-community

Robin

Hi plant friends! I could use some encouragement this morning. This week I discovered two formerly thriving plants have spider mites - my string of pearls is one of them 😭 I’m so sad because she was doing so well. One of my African violets is struggling, and I just saw that my Hoya compacta has wrinkled leaves and dropped some. I’m treating them and trying not to panic, so I’m not looking for advice there. But this is bringing up the old stories like I kill plants, I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t deserve plants. So I’d be grateful if y’all would share how you overcome plant challenges and allllll the feelings. Sharing a pic of the gorgeous new leaf on my billietiae to encourage myself 😂

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15 reacties

  1. Alyssa

    Aww it’s okay Robin. 💚 Everyone deals with their fair share of pests and struggles and overcoming problems. Doesn’t mean you can’t grow plants or have plants, the only people who have a black thumb are those who don’t keep trying and don’t want to or don’t have time to learn. All plants aren’t meant for our indoor setting and we just have to find those that like the environment we can give them. I remember I bought a big beautiful pearls and jade pothos about 7 months ago, potted it up in a beautiful pot and saucer that were connected. Thought everything was all fine and dandy, until I realized the drainage hole was completely glazed shut, it was almost too late for the plant as root rot had totally set in. I took as many cuttings as I could, dunked them in hydrogen peroxide and water and propped in fresh water. I had five to start with and one by one they each succumbed to the root rot that must’ve spread up to their nodes. I was only left with one cutting and I babied that sucker like my life depended on it lol. It went from two leaves to three before I potted it up again and now it’s small but mighty and pushing out a fourth leaf. I know it’ll take a few years and a few cuttings to make it as big and beautiful as it was before, but I like looking at that little resilient green friend and seeing how far we’ve come together 💚🪴🌱

    8 likes
    • Robin

      Thank you for sharing this, Alyssa. I’d love to see a pic of your resilient green friend 🌱

      2 likes
    • Alyssa

      Of course! Pests and problems are just a part of nature, some trees and bushes in my neighborhood had spider mites pretty bad but Mother Nature took care of them and they’re back to thriving now. Sure! Here he is, I love how each leaf is different than the last. 💚

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      6 likes
    • Robin

      He’s gorgeous! Thank you!

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  2. Sonja

    Congratulations on the new leaf!! Aren't they such a blessing!! You're doing a great job loving him!!

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  3. Cherrybergher

    Sorry to hear how you are feeling. When I have these same doubts I often find that cleaning my plant room/area from top to bottom helps. When I am done and it looks so nice I feel much better about it. Also I try to look at it from the point of view that having a plant issue or killing a plant only furthers my knowledge to be more successful next time. You can’t become an expert at dealing with spider mites without having a plant with spider mites. You got this :)

    5 likes
    • Robin

      Thank you! I love the idea of cleaning the plant space, and every experience does bring learning 💛

      1 like
  4. Nunyabzwx

    "You don't deserve plants"?!! Aww please don't think that way. Yes you do deserve what you love. Even if we kill them. When things like that happen its just a learning process. Its the best way to learn something is to experience it. We are our worst critics. Remember we ALL go through these things. You are not alone sweetie ❤️. This to shall pass. Hang in there, It'll all be ok!!

    2 likes
    • Robin

      I love the reminder that it’s all learning! Thank you for the encouragement 💛

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  5. Hayley

    I used to think very similar things; "I love plants but I always kill them so I don't deserve the nice things that bring me joy" But you know what I've learned? I DO deserve nice things and so do you! No one knows what they're doing when they first start any hobby or new adventure in life and that's totally okay. You can do all the research in the world, but until you get that real, hands on experience, you'll always have a gap in your practical knowledge. And there's nothing wrong with that! As long as you keep trying your best, you have nothing to be upset about. How can you learn if you never try? What I've found works best when I'm experiencing negative thoughts and/or emotions (about plants or anything else) is to listen to myself. It's hard when your brain is telling you that you're the worst person ever, but let your brain speak. Let your brain get all that negativity out. And then you can come in and say "okay. I hear you. But here's all the reasons that I'm a strong person and you are wrong." When I first started to process this way, I liked to write all the bad brain thoughts down, bullet point style. Then I could go back and argue each negative thought. "I have a black thumb" becomes "I'm trying my hardest to care for my plants and I'm learning as I go and that's all that anyone can do." And don't forget to question that negativity! "I don't deserve plants" okay, but why? Because your plants have pests? Everyone deals with pests. The best gardeners in the world aren't immune to bugs. Does that mean they don't deserve plants either? No. It means everyone who loves and appreciates plants should be allowed to have the happiness of living with plants.

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    • Robin

      I love this! Working on it now. Thank you ☺️

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    • Alyssa

      That’s such good advice Hayley, even just for life, made me tear up thinking of how to apply that to some negative insecure thoughts that creep up for me sometimes. So nice to hear positive words and ways to help. 💚🙏🏼

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    • Hayley

      So glad I could help you both! 😊

      2 likes
  6. Elina

    I’ve had success with Flying Skull for spider mites! It took quarantine, diligence, and a very watchful eye to save my plants though. It’s def not guaranteed.

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    • Robin

      Thanks for sharing your experience, Elina!

      0 likes