hey guys! i’ve just recently gotten back into plants and i’m looking for some advice! i have an aloe plant, a spider plant, a dracaena and a money tree. they’re all on the smaller side and definitely babies! does anyone have advice on how to care for them? i know the app gives advice on how to take care of them but i’m wondering if anyone has some tips and tricks or even something the app wouldn’t tell me that would help. thank you in advance!
Avoid Miracle Grow’s soil. Pretty much anything of than their brand soil will do the trick, but Miracle Grow’s soil is not well-draining, especially for more succulent plants that need to completely dry out between waterings. I swear by Espoma’s Organic Soil Mixes because they have a lot of different pre-made mixes to choose from like Miracle Grow, but they’re much better quality and usually the same price or less than their brand.
3 Me gusta Another tip I like to give is to use bamboo/barbecue skewers to test if the soil is dry enough to water rather than investing in a moisture meter. If the skewer comes out clean and dry, with nothing sticking to it, it should be safe to water. If the soil sticks to it, wait at least 2 days, then test again. If you want a more long/lasting alternative to wooden skewers, there’s metal skewers at grocery stores and online too. Just be sure to stick the skewer all the way into the bottom of the soil when testing it to get an accurate read of how moist or dry the soil is.
2 Me gustaA plastic chopstick works really well too!
1 me gusta do you have any opinions on fertilizer? should i use liquid or sticks? what brand is better?
0 Me gustaI don’t know what your base knowledge is, but imo the two big things to think about if you’re getting back into plants is light and watering. I think all of those plants can do ok in low light (multiple feet away from a window) but love as much light as you can give them. This simplified infograph can help with understanding light and placement if you’re not sure.
Adrian above’s tips on soil and watering are great too. Just remember the denser the soil the longer it will hold moisture and the less you will need to water. I tend to lean more on the chunkier soil side because it won’t hold a lot of water and lets air to get to the roots so they can breathe. If the soil stays wet too long or is always moist it could drown the roots and cause root rot. When you do need to water, completely soak the pot and let the extra drain out the bottom. The term overwatering doesn’t mean giving the plant Too much water when you water, but rather watering too Often. Soak it, let the extra drain out, leave it alone until it dries out like Adrian said above.
2 Me gustaSorry forgot to attach the pic the first time
1 me gusta your tips and that diagram are very helpful! thank you so much!! do you have any opinions on fertilizer? should i use liquid or sticks? what brand is better?
0 Me gustaYou’re welcome! As for fertilizer it kind of depends on the plant and personal preference. You can get super technical or keep it simple. Maybe look up your specific plants online and see if they’re any rec’s, but I personally use water soluble fertilizers. The inside two have worked really well for me for all my plants, the outside two are more niche and less necessary (silica for highly variegated plants and the mycorrhizae to supplement root health).
