One of my rules is no more duplicate plants. It’s okay to throw cuttings away when pruning. I don’t need 10 of the same plant. Also, it’s okay to not buy that big beautiful plant at the store if I have a smaller one at home…it’ll be big and lush soon enough.
I keep props, but I also run a local swap group. Those little props of common plants are *perfect* freebies to welcome new folks to the group, and make sure no one leaves an event empty-handed. If I didnt have that excuse...idk if Id put energy into them.
This is great. Plant parenthood can be a slippery slope to being overwhelmed so it’s important to normalize prioritizing your own mental health and comfort over plants.
This is in no way bragging I'm just shocked that I have never had a single pest (minus fungus knats) in the 3 years of me collecting. I have around 90 plants. I inspect all the leaves with each watering to make sure. I use LECA instead of soil so maybe that helps. I count my blessings. I'm sure one day I will get on but some how I have dodged pest.
Love the advice in this video!! I'm super new to plants (I have 6- including two random tiny cacti I somehow kept alive through college) and as much as I'd love to turn my home into a jungle overnight, I know I need some rules to build a collection I can properly care for and appreciate!
Fangirling over plants I’ve only seen online before is SUCH a thing 😂 I’ve found that leaving my purse/wallet in the car helps control the impulse buys when visiting the nurseries, that way if I see that 🪴 that I really like and HAVE to have, I at least have the walk back to the car to (re)consider the purchase Agreed on zone watering. The majority of my plants are actually in the same room since my apt only has one good, large window. But I set everyone up in “zones” on the shelves, so for instance my extra thirsty water loving plants are right at eye level when I sit on the couch; my pothos’ are all together, entry level philodendron all together - with the canary in the coal mines being the smallest pots (when they start to droop I know everyone can use a little 💦 sip) etc etc.
Love love love all of these rules. I’m about 5 years into collecting houseplants and it’s taken so much time, accountability, & patience to set ground rules with myself. My collection is at the point where I need to be very strict with what I bring into my home. Wishlist only with very little room for impulse buys😂. I’ve also learned to just THROW THEM AWAY! It used to make me feel terrible but, like you, I’ve learned that it’s so much less stress on everyone to just let go
I’m sitting at 30 plants right now and I’m content just completed my common Pothos collection and I’m obsessed they are my favorite another piece of advice is don’t take advice from people who don’t do any research on plant related things just because they heard it somewhere does not always make something true.
And dont let anyone tell you what you like! Ive been collecting seriously for a few years. At first I bought rare stuff just because it was rare. But...i didn't love them and caring for them can be stressful. Two of my "plain" pothos are two of my absolute favorite plants. I have a stunning snow queen, and a super lush golden. Theyre easy, hardy, and look beautiful all the time. Dont let anyone tell you theyre less special just because theyre common!
I love that you addressed the watering “schedule” thing. It’s definitely less overwhelming for me to spend a little time every day or two watering instead of one day watering for hours🙌🏻 also, small collections are so nice too💕
You can also donate plants to schools or teachers’ classrooms if it’s healthy. Girl! I hate when the leaves of different plants touch! Lol. Mostly for pests but also so each plant gets it’s own space and highlight spot.
Not all my plants need watered on the same day. The last plant that I bought was my first (and probably only) Anthurium. I saw an Anthurium Luxurians at my local plant shop for $18. I drolled over it for three weeks until I finally bought it. This is the only plant in my 121 current plant collection that I have named. And while I don't feel quite as attached to some of my plants, I want every one of them.
Great advice! I especially like the tip about really making sure you want the plant, seeing it in person if possible and going back after a few minutes or so if needed. Sometimes if I'm afraid it will be gone, I take it around the shop with me and look at other stuff. By the time I am finished looking at other plants, I usually know if I want that one in my hands or not. I have put several back this way.
Like you, the majority of my plants are in one space. And I "zone" mine by plant type. I have my hoya area, syngonium, scindapsus/pothos/hanging philodendron, large upright philodendron, maranta and mounted ferns... Doing this has really helped me. But I almost 100% use a moisture meter, but usually if one syngonium needs water, they all need water!
Hi, Becca🖐🏽 I'm with you about my plants "not" touching! I have a Ctenanthe Setosa with scales! Having a rough time getting rid of them...ugh! Using Capt Jack's Neem oil. Also, I keep up on my watering by plant types... like Scindapsis, Geoppertia, or cacti. That seems to help a lot. Thanks, I enjoy your videos!
I have five ficus elastica. They stay inside from November to May. I water them when the mix get pretty dry. About every month. They are doing really well this way. When I put them outside they ate in full sun 🌞 they get few burnt leafs 🍃 which drop but they replace them fast with new ones. When outside I don't water them except maybe if there is no rain for more than a month. The fact we get very humid air in the summer may contribute to their survival with very little watering. We had very humid November this year.
For sure! I don’t say it in every video but I encourage people to compost plants they don’t want anymore. Not everyone can compost, though, so it’s hard to make a blanket statement
@@BeccaDeLaPlants oh yes that a good point too but! but I actually meant the resources (and transportation) that went into the plant. Like no matter what the monetary cost, a lot of work went into producing and delivering the plant, so disposing shouldn't be taken lightly just because the plant was "cheap". I noticed in your plant funeral video too, you express the same sentiment when you talk about rebuying , etc.
I know you advocate for no guilt when plants arent making you unhappy and I get that. Its just that plants have become so popular and almost another disposable item. I think a lot of plant parents don't get that a lot of resources went in...
Almost my entire collection has had spider mites for a few months now and it really burnt me out on plants. At one point I just wanted to toss them all out in the snow! But I’m trying a new strategy for dealing with spider mites. I’ve put all my plants in plastic storage boxes with lids and am treating them in the boxes. Spider mites hate humidity and can’t really lay eggs etc in that kind of environment and it seems to be working! One of the boxes with all my baby alocasia have been free from pests for a couple of weeks now. My collection isn’t huge and luckily most of them are quite small, so putting them in boxes hasn’t been a massive chore 😊 for the record, we don’t have effective treatments for spider mites in my country, so all we have is neem oil
Google “liqui dirt spider mites” his video is thorough in explaining every ingredient he puts in his home made mix and how it works and even demonstrated it working in action. Neem oil alone is not enough for these suckers and you will find out why in his video. Also his treatment is a one and done type of deal with one other application a week later while I had to apply neem oil a ridiculous amount just to have them coming back! The ingredients are pretty easily accessible and hopefully available where you live.
I only have 35ish plants and I love watering them all in the same day even though they're on 2 levels of my home. I check all of them and if they don't quite need water yet I'll check again a few days later.
I just got to 45 plants in my collection and I’m about to scale back bc I genuinely can’t take care of all of them. It was hard to learn especially w that maximalist philosophy you mention about the community
Oh no..don't just toss your plants. Try putting them at the end of the curb on trash day with a sign to freely take them and give them a new home. There are many people out there that have green thumbs and love a challenge of nurturing them back to health. I did this once and a lady brought the plant back after a couple of years of caring and pleasantly shared with me her secrets on success. My old plant became a beautiful plant again and I was so happy that the lady had more plant experience and patience than me to revive it back to health. It brought a smile to my face :)) I do agree with most of your rules though. I feel that there are a lot of plant addictions among the plant tubers right now and they are spending a fortune on exotic rare plants and some are being taken to the cleaners......very sad! Plant addiction is a thing just like all addictions it needs to be treated before it consumes their life and their family. I love plants but I don't buy another plant unless one dies.....that is the only reason for buying one. But there are people out there that they have to have the latest greatest rarest plant out there and be first in line......not good! I could go on and on so I will end this. I buy plants just like I buy anything for me........do I really need it OR is it a want?? That is the question at the end of the day.
I’m all for passing plants along to other people, but to my knowledge, Becca pretty much lives in the middle of nowhere-there isn’t anybody around to pick up plants off the curb, lol. Also, what about during winter, when they’ll freeze? Or if they’re riddled with pests? I wouldn’t want to burden a new plant parent with a spider mite infestation off the bat!
sproutswithjoy.....Even though, Becca lives in the country......there are other means on getting plants passed down to caring people. There are friends, relatives and all her subscribers to her wonderful channel that may want them. And for those such people I would certainly be upfront and honest with them if it suffers from pests or whatever. As to my curbside, when you put free to take it is all on the person to make a choice and evaluate the plant to make a decision.on whether they want it or not. It is kind of buying a clearance houseplant at Home Depot.......it's your choice just yours and nobody is making you purchase it.....just sayin. Sometimes, when you bring a clearance plant home, and give it love, cleaning, nutrition and good light.......it thrives and it is very happy in their new environment. Say, if some subscriber wants a plant in the winter then Becca charges them with a heating pack & shipping costs just like most plants are being shipped to many people right now. It can be worked out if you want it. If it has spider mites it should be disclosed before selling it.
@@jackiewhitney5031 You should avoid lecturing people like this. It’s an inconvenience, clutter and a stressor to keep things or plants waiting for people to claim the, to ship them etc. It’s up to each person how they choose to deal with their own property and I’m sure Becca tries to give them away when possible, but doesn’t feel bad about throwing them away if she has to. You shouldn’t feel the need to make her, or anyone else, feel bad about it. You sound very condescending here.
Thanks so much Becca for your great plant advice, I agree with your thoughts. I don't water all of my plants the same day they are all on their own schedule. I try not to over water my plants. And I have to say that the one pest that I really hate are those stupid mealy bugs, I have a few of my Hoya that got those dang bugs and I have been working on getting them healed and so far they are getting there, this is the first time I have had them and I really don't like them. I hope that you had a good Christmas and I also wish you a Happy New Year. Sending love and hugs, bless you and your wonderful family, bye! 👋🤟💞💚💜🤎🪴🍁❄☃🎄✨🎁🎀
