PLNTSlive - community Q&A (17-01-2022)

After hosting our very first PLNTS Live event on Instagram at the 28th of October, we were sure to come back with a second edition! And what better moment could we choose than Blue Monday?! We made it our mission to make Blue Monday a Green Monday, full of positive vibes! And we think we have succeeded!

During our first event plantfluencers Sas and Thijmen talked you through their plant care routines. We noticed that there were a lot of really good questions asked by the community but there was just too little time to answer them all… Therefor we decided to make this livestream all about you and your plant related questions! A true PLNTScommunity Q&A, hosted by plantfluencer Roos from @plantwithroos.

Missed our livestream?

On Monday, the 17th of January, we hosted our second livestream to turn Blue Monday into Green Monday! We had an amazing evening and together with Roos we’ve answered all your plant related questions. In case you’ve missed it, you can watch it below:

Unanswered questions and answers

We were so happy that our PLNTScommunity asked so many questions in our chat during the livestream. Of course we wanted to answer all of them and that’s why we have listed the unanswered questions with answers below. Still got a plant question? Ask your question in the support widget on our website or you can save it for the next livestream. Our plant experts are happy to help!

Can you use living moss instead of sphagnum moss?

What kind of moss you should use depends on your main goal. Sphagnum moss improves the structure of potting soil and makes sure that the soil will be less likely to dry out. Also, sphagnum moss is super flexible, which makes it perfect to make your own (hanging) basket, kokedama or moss stick. Living moss is an ideal substrate to use in terrariums or for orchids and cuttings. The living moss is moist and airy, so the roots of your plant will grow extra fast.

What kind of potting soil do you use?

The needs of the plant determine which potting soil is best to choose. The soil structure and nutrients are super important. To get healthy, strong plants, the potting soil must meet the special needs of the plant. For example, in addition to a good soil structure, certain nutrients and lime are also needed, in order for the plant to grow and develop. We hope the following information will help you find the perfect mix for your green friend.

How to keep your begonia’s leaves from drying out?

Begonia’s like consistent moisture. When not watered properly, it can get brown and dry leaf edges. Besides the bad sight, it’s also sad to see your plant this way! The most common reason for brown leaves is that your Begonia is dry. To fix your problem, you should check your watering, humidity and plant location!

Watering

A great way to water your Begonia is to give it a good soak by bottom watering. Place your plant in your sink without the pot. Fill your sink with a little bit of water and allow your plant to soak up some water through the drainage hole for at least 30 minutes. After soaking, put your fingers in the soil at least 2-3 centimeters. If the water has reached the top, you’re fine! If not, water your Begonia from the top or use a water sprayer. After that, allow your plant to rest while it drains thoroughly.

Humidity

Begonia’s like a higher humidity. Try to increase the humidity in the room using a humidifier. You can also spray mist your plants, most of them love that! Please, do check out if your particular Begonia likes to be sprayed.

Plant location

Did you know that plants can also get sunburns? Is your Begonia standing in front of a sunny window? Chances are that the direct light is causing the leaves to burn! Make sure to place your Begonia in a spot with indirect light.

How do you save plants that have root rot?

A mistake that unfortunately many plant lovers make is that they water their plants too much. This way, it is possible that your plant will suffer from root rot. Luckily, your plant can be saved! Follow three simple steps and then give your plant a little rest.

Step 1. Loosening the plant

Take your plant out of its pot and carefully remove as much soil as possible from the roots. You can shake the plant a little to make the soil come loose. The roots are fragile and delicate: be careful! It is no problem if you do not get rid of all the soil. As long as you can see the roots. Throw away the soil in which your plant stood immediately. Soon your plant will have delicious, fresh soil!

Step 2. Cutting the roots

Is your plant completely out of the soil? Then check carefully whether the roots are damaged. You can tell by the color and strength. Healthy roots are white and firm, while rotten roots will be a bit mushy and brown. Carefully remove all the unhealthy roots. To do this, use a clean and sharp knife so you don't transfer bacteria to the healthy roots.

Step 3. Cut plant in half

This step sounds a little exciting, but it makes super sense! Because you have probably cut away quite a few roots the ratio between the plant and the number of roots is not quite right anymore. Therefore, after you have removed all the unhealthy roots you can cut off part of the plant. Again use a sharp and clean knife. Then put the plant back in fresh potting soil and give the plant some time to recover.

I have a Micans with nodes but no leaves, is it possible to propagate them as well? If yes, how?

This particular method of propagation is called node propagation. A node is the thicker part of the plant stem where new growth appears. This can be stems, leaves or roots. When you want to propagate a plant, you always have to make sure the plant is healthy and your propagation tools are clean. If that is the case, you are ready to propagate!

Start by finding a node. You will at least need one node, but two is always better to increase the chances of them rooting well. Make sure that you make a sharp cut, your plant will recover from this faster. We suggest placing your cutting in a pot of sphagnum and spray them with a water sprayer. The process takes a bit of time, but if you are really patient you will see a perfect result!

Can I trim Alocasia roots?

Trimming the roots of your Alocasia is possible. Plants that receive good care will grow, and sometimes fast! If you prefer to maintain the current size of your plant, it is wise to trim the roots. Take your plant out of its pot and repot into the same one using fresh soil. This way your plant will stay happy!

How to save a Calathea? The leaves are crispy and brown

Calathea’s can be a bit picky. A common reason that the leaves of your Calathea are brown or/and crispy could be due to your tap water! Tap water contains all kinds of chemical substances, which we as humans are not affected by. Unfortunately, your plants can be! A smart way to filter your water is to put it in an open vase or watering can overnight before using it. Other tips to fix your Calathea’s brown leaves is to increase humidity and keep the soil consistently moist!

How do I know my grow lights are good enough?

If you are using grow lights, they should provide the proper spectrum of light for photosynthesis. We’re not turning this into a Biology lesson, but as you might know photosynthesis is the key to plant growth! Before you are getting your plants a grow light, make sure to check out the provided colour spectrum. Lights that provide a full spectrum are the ideal choice for your growing space.

If my plant is actively growing in winter (using grow lights) can I fertilise them?

The answer is yes! If you can tell that your plant is actively growing underneath your grow light it can be fertilised, even though it’s winter!