It’s tempting to think a houseplant will “grow into” a big pot, saving you the hassle of repotting again next year. In practice, an oversized container is one of the most common reasons houseplants decline, and it has nothing to do with root space being a bad thing in theory. The problem is what happens…
Waterlogging is the number one cause of death for houseplants — ahead of pests or lack of light. Good drainage is therefore not an optional extra, but an absolute must. But what exactly does drainage do, which material works best, and are there situations where you can skip it? What Drainage Does A drainage layer…
Photo: Serigalakampus (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Ianaré Sévi (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Hbrosche (CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) All-purpose potting soil works fine for many plants — but far from all of them. If you want to create optimal conditions, reach for a specialized substrate. The right soil is half the…
Photo: This image is created by user B. Schoenmakers at Waarneming.nl, a source of nature observations in t (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: This image is created by user B. Schoenmakers at Waarneming.nl, a source of nature observations in t (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: This image is created by user B. Schoenmakers…
Photo: Aleksey Gnilenkov from Moscow, Russia (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: division, CSIRO (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Aleksey Gnilenkov from Moscow, Russia (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons) Spider mites are almost impossible to see with the naked eye — but the damage they cause is impossible to miss. They multiply explosively, especially…
Photo: Norbert Nagel, Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Bioletti, Frederic T. (Frederic Theodore), 1865-1939 (No restrictions, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Norbert Nagel, Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons) A white coating on your houseplant’s leaves that looks like powdered sugar is actually a fungal infection. Mildew comes in two forms with different…
Photo: D-Kuru (CC BY-SA 3.0 at, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Tero Keski-Valkama (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Tero Keski-Valkama (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Scale insects and their fuzzy relatives, mealybugs, are among the most stubborn pests on houseplants. They cling motionless to stems and leaves, suck plant sap, and excrete sticky honeydew. If you…
Root rot is the silent killer among plant diseases. Above ground, the plant shows vague symptoms — while below, in the pot, the roots are dying off. Anyone who knows the warning signs and acts quickly can save many plants that seem beyond saving. How to Recognize Root Rot The tricky part: symptoms above the…
Most houseplants come to us as cuttings, divisions, or tissue-culture starts, so growing one from seed is a less common but rewarding path — you get to watch the entire life cycle unfold, and seeds are an inexpensive way to try species that are hard to find as established plants. Seed Depth and Sowing Basics…
Photo: Ddra5202 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: peganum from Small Dole, England (CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons) Photo: Jeremyida002 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons) Division is the simplest form of propagation there is: rather than coaxing a cutting to grow new roots, you’re separating a plant that has already made multiple, independent root-and-shoot units…
