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I would love some product recommendations if you have a moment, TIA!… | Anything about plants | Planta-Community

Courtney (newbie)

I would love some product recommendations if you have a moment, TIA! Budget-friendly is ideal, but I don’t want to spend money on something that doesn’t work 1. Grow lights: I’m in a second level apartment with most of the windows shaded by trees so most of my plants need supplemental light. But they are all spread out, so I’m looking for multiple small lights rather than a few large lights. 2. Moisture meter: all my plants are very young and so I don’t like sticking my finger down and disturbing the young roots to check moisture levels. I’ve been using toothpicks, but I tend to stick them in, intending to coming back in 5 minutes and then forgetting about them completely. I’m just looking for something quick and reliable. 3. Water filter: I don’t have good access to free rain water, but several of my plants are revolting against tap water. I’ve looked online and it doesn’t seem like leaving the tap water out overnight will satisfy my spider plant and triostar. I’m wondering if a water filter (like a Britta) will be good enough, or if there is something specific for plants, or if I’m better off just buying gallons of distilled water? Thanks for reading! Sad Plant picture is for pity 😅

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24 Kommentare

  1. Phil

    I like these Sansi clip on plant lights. I probably have about a dozen and use them frequently. I suggest the 10w. The 5w may not be bright enough for some plants. There are generic brands with a lower price but have never found any as bright as the Sansi even if they claim the same wattage.

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    • Courtney (newbie)

      I was looking at these! I’m glad to know I was going in the right direction. Is there any reason to go higher than 10W?

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    • Phil

      That is the brightest they have. I don’t think any company sells brighter than these Sansi. Unless you change light type. You can look for a tabletop light, or a floodlight. Just depends on what you need. Sansi will replace any light for free if defective. I had one that the clip broke, they sent me a replacement.

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    • sarahinthemeantime

      I use the sansi bulbs and just put them in lamps I’m not really using, and you can usually find perfectly fine lamps (just maybe not cute) at goodwill/thrift stores/garage sales/set out in the alley 😂 the bulbs aren’t exactly cheap, but they are excellent, and if you can make the rest of it cheap/free it balances out!

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  2. Phil

    Moisture meters? They are pretty much the same unless you go really low on the price. But should be able to get one for under $12. Water? You are right about the old idea of letting water sit out overnight. It doesn’t work. But I have an RO system in the house and always use that. Others will help with that though because this problem comes up a lot.

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  3. TabbyTai

    I use a distiller I got on Amazon and I like it. I use it for all of my sensitive plants and have had a lot fewer brown tips since I started.

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    • Courtney (newbie)

      I hadn’t thought of this option, thank you! Does it get rid of the fluoride and chloramine?

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    • SJ

      It does, I have one of these, too, and it’s great for water to put in humidifiers as well so there’s no buildup. Pretty easy to clean. The fan on the top makes some noise but just regular amount of fan really. I use quite a few of the panel/puck lights stuck under my shelves and they work pretty well!

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    • TabbyTai

      I haven’t tested the resulting water but it definitely removes a lot of gunk based on what is left over inside the drum after it runs.

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  4. Hayley

    1. DOMMIA are pretty good; I've got a couple sets that I've been using a few years. I've recently been using a couple Sansi bulbs in my ceiling fan and my plants are doing well, but I can't speak to the longevity. 2. Moisture meters aren't reliable. See attached photo. 3. I have a PUR faucet filter and it's been great for all my plants.

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    • Courtney (newbie)

      Wow thank you! I was definitely about to put the lives of my plants in the hands of a moisture meter 😅

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    • Phil

      Hayley is exactly right about the moisture meters. They are a tool to help decide on whether a plant needs moisture or not. You need to consider how the plants looks and weight of pot, type of soil, etc. They are especially unreliable used in high grit succulent/cactus soil. They “help” you decide, but are not the only input you need. It takes time and experience.

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  5. Random Strands

    I’m a Temu and AliExpress girl so I get full spectrum clip lights floor lamps and all sorts from those two. My plants are doing great. I’m in a basement and light is something I fight for. You don’t have to go expensive to get great lighting. I mean you could but, long as it says full spectrum you should be ok. Mine are working great. I love to save a buck.

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  6. Plantingsherry

    I really prefer these two armed lights to the single plant light you see in my photos. They are both cheaper lights that come from Amazon. I just feel like the long armed lights give a more natural light to more plants and nobody’s gotten burned under those lights and a few of my succulent type plants have been burned under the little round lights. I have these moisture indicator sticks in every plant and I feel like they are very accurate for me. When they turn white, I stick my fingers in to double check and sometimes I give them an extra day to dry out, but they are so much better than sticking my fingers in 50 plants every day to see if they’re dried out. But I can also tell by the weight of the pot. I prefer these moisture indicator sticks. You can get five for about $22 I think on Amazon. I just use water filter through a Britta pitcher filter and most of my plants are doing just fine. The ones that aren’t doing fine I’m not at all convinced that the filtered water is the problem. I also use a chunky soil recipe, which is 1/2 potting soil, a small amount of charcoal for Plants, the rest equal amounts of perlite and orchid bark. I use it for every plant. Everything‘s doing so much better now that the roots aren’t suffocating, but they still (some more than others) suffer when I transplant them. Especially the first transplant when they come home from the store is hard on them because they’re stuck in a muddy soil and being continuously watered so the roots are often rotten and some need to be pulled away and I do traumatize them quite a bit when they first get here. My spider plants not doing that well either and I think it’s because in the beginning he didn’t have chunky soil and he’s still recovering from some root rot. I also give them fertilizer as directed and root hormone, especially when they are first transplanted or if i suspect a little root rot. Good luck!🍀

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  7. NattieB55

    You can also use a chopstick or a knitting needle to check moisture. If your plant needs to be 25% dry before watering, put the stick down to the point. Don’t water if it’s wet or has soil stuck to it when you remove it. Like checking a cake to see if it’s done. I find this method to be the most reliable and the stick size is small enough that it doesn’t usually bother the roots.

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    • Courtney (newbie)

      A wooden or metal chopstick? And can you use the same one over and over?

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    • NattieB55

      I find the wooden ones work best. And, yes, I have used the same one for years!

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  8. Phil

    I have bought many off brands but usually go back to Sansi or Barrina, but have four of this one that I like a lot. I use it on a couple monsteras to encourage growing up and not sideways to the window. It’s frustrating looking at the back of a beautiful monstera. Second pic is my favorite light for my succulents. I have 8 of these. They are super bright. I have about 140 succulents and have tried many grow lights. Pic is just a small part of my collection.

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  9. Stefanie Cooper

    Use a chopstick instead of a moisture meter. If the dirt sticks, it’s still wet. As far as conditioner I buy mine on Amazon. Water conditioner for plants. I use Barrina lights. They make light bulbs. You can switch out of your lamps.

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    • Courtney (newbie)

      Thank you!! What water conditioner do you like? I’ve never heard of that

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    • Josie's Jungle

      Check out fish tank water conditioners like API. If it's good for fishes to swim in it, your plants should like it. I've used it for my sensitive plants and i don't get brown tips unless I forget to water my plants for an extended period of time... 😊

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    • Stefanie Cooper

      It’s just called water conditioner for plants literally. Search for it on Amazon

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    • Stefanie Cooper

      It makes tap water safe

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  10. sarahinthemeantime

    A Britta will probably not help your plants much, and a Pur faucet filter probably won’t do much more, but might be better than nothing. Anything from Aquasana will be great. We have a filter on our shower head to soften the water (also great investment for your hair/skin!) and I used to use water from that for my more sensitive plants. We now have the under-sink reverse osmosis system from Aquasana and it’s absolutely worth the investment (and it’s probably not as huge an investment as you’d think, just wait for a sale).

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