house plants

I got the Alocasia Silver Dragon

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Finally we have it. I had ordered it about two weeks ago. And then due to the snow, I was unable to pick it up because the nursery it was at wasn’t open. But after a quick drive, and talk to the nice lady who helped me choose the best one, it’s home.

Silver Dragon Alocasia – Plant Dummy

I asked the lady at the nursery which one she recommended out of probably 50 different ones. I am not particularly experienced with any Alocasia. Which in hind site, I probably should have been better prepared for what she had said.

The lady mentioned that even though this was slightly smaller than the rest of the other Alocasias. It was one that she would pick because of the amount of leaves, and the fresh growth. Which is the lighter green leaf. Another portion looks like it is growing in as well, which is something I am excited to see.

The lady did mention that I really need to keep the humidity up, and suggested a glass tube that would be able to go around the container. Think the beauty and the beast rose. She mentioned a place to pick it up, but I have yet to get it. For now, it lives in the bathroom.

Once I read up on this Alocasia, I may release a post about what I found is good types of care for this plant. I know the basics I think now. And in all honestly, from what I can tell it seems similar to orchid care. Medium shaded light, they like humidity, like even a little more than some orchids I believe. And then they also like air flow for their root system and to be in soil that is able to drain properly, to prevent the roots from sitting in water, and getting root rot.

However that is mainly off the top of my head from the conversation I made, and about 1 or 2 googles to make sure I was not killing it at a certain point. A much deeper delve into what the Alocasia needs to prosper is much needed.

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Thank you for reading this short post about my day,

I have something in the works, hopefully for this week. I just want to make sure it is up to my standards,

-Plant Dummy

How to get your beautiful orchid to bloom more often.

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By – Plant Dummy

You know how frustrating it is when you cant seem to get your orchid to bloom? Or when you think that you are not really sure what you are doing wrong? I have been there, felt that way many of times. It’s not fun, so I wanted to tell you you what works for me.

There aren’t many things that feel as good as when you see your orchid opening up and you get the beautiful bloom that happens about once a year for about six to ten weeks. So I hope that what I have to say can help you at least a little bit in some way.

Photo by jean huysmans on Unsplash

Have you ever had issues getting your moth orchid to bloom? Or perhaps you are asking yourself if there is a way to get my orchid to potentially bloom a little more often. Now my opinion is that there is a bit of knowledge and for the plants sake, luck to be involved to have longer and potentially more frequent blooms.

If you want to entice your moth orchid to bloom, or bloom more often you are going to have to create an environment that allows for it. This means having your orchid in an optimal setting in order to maximize the potential for blooming.

Picking the right pot for your orchid

Picking the right pot is a very important part of having an orchid. Some people choose to not have a pot, and root them on pieces of wood. However for most people, you would be picking a nice pot.

The best pot for an orchid is mainly going to consist of it being able to get rid of excess water. Standing water for the orchid root system is really bad. It can lead to root rot, which can be hard to notice until later stages if the majority of roots are under sight lines. If you are looking for orchid specific containers they will normally have many holes, sometimes even on the sides. The holes allow for that drainage as well as air flow.

You can also use the holes in the sides to do root checkups to make sure they aren’t experiencing any root rot.

I personally really like a glazed pot that have designs for the holes. A shiny earthy look is something that really pops with the bloom of an orchid for me. Another type I like is a terracotta type holder, but you do have to make sure that it drains enough because a lot of regular terracotta doesn’t have holes in the sides from what I have seen.

How to choose good lighting for your orchid

A good consistent spot is going to be crucial for a moth orchid to be happy, and healthy. Moth orchids prefer indirect light as opposed to direct light. Direct light can be too much for the moth orchid and create burns on the leaves.

Photo by Maria Orlova on Pexels.com

Not enough light can also prevent the orchid from blooming, or slow blooming down. So you will want to find a good balance and adjust slightly here and there to get it perfect. Light green leaves will be a decent key to knowing if your plant is happy or not. Yellowing leaves in spots is a sign that it may be getting burned.

What Humidity and temperature does my orchid need?

When you wake up it’s cold outside, your house is a little bit colder than normal. Do ever just want to stay wrapped up in your blanket? Well that can be similar to how your orchid may feel when exposed to the wrong humidity and temperature.

The winter generally has less humidity because it is cold

For the temperature you will want to keep the area around 70 during the day and around 60 at night (55 is about as low as they will want to go). Too cold of temperatures, and constant temperatures over 90 can definitely stress the orchid out. Drastic changes in the temperature beyond like 20 degrees can also stress the plant out as well. It would not really know what is going on or how to react.

As far as humidity goes, orchids like it to be from 40%-70% humidity. This gives you some options, I honestly prefer orchids to be where there is no question of humidity, and that would be the bathroom for me. Particularly because I have a skylight that gives them plenty of indirect sunlight. If you don’t have room in your bathroom, or just don’t want them inside your bathroom, you have some options.

Tip: Air circulation is good for your plants and you. It gives you both fresh air, and gets rid of the old air. Just make sure it isn’t hurricane force wind, because that won’t be great.

One option may be a good option for you is to get a clay pot that has a humidity tray built. Or if you don’t want to transplant your orchid, you can get this humidity tray. It’s subtle, looks sleek and would go with most pots, and it’s pretty affordable.

Click here to see this tray on Amazon

Another option is a humidifier, this is for more of setting in rooms where the humidity would generally be lower but you want your plants there. This can be good if you have some plants that like higher humidity, not just orchids. These are also nice if your nose tends to get dry during the winter when you sleep, but that’s really just a bonus.

Click here to see this humidifier out on Amazon.

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Watering your orchid

Another crucial part of having a healthy orchid is making sure it is watered correctly. I like misting the roots. Using a mister for watering the roots allows for you to spray the roots with less risk on having water spray into the crown. At least this is something that works for us.

You also really want to avoid getting standing water on the leaves, as well as avoiding water getting into the crown (where the leaves kind of create a cup looking area). Water standing on leaves can lead to damage, or infection on the plant.

If you are interested in a mister you can check this one out on Amazon which comes in different colors. These are low cost but tend to last if you use care. They look a lot better than a plastic spray bottle in my opinion. The nozzle is elongated allowing for you to get the mist where you want it.

Click here to buy the mister on Amazon

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Tip: Overwatering is more dangerous to your orchid than underwatering. I think of it like adding salt to a dish. You can always add more salt, but if you add too much salt at the beginning the dish is ruined.

Choosing proper soil and fertilizer for your orchid

Choices, choices, choices. There are almost too many choices when it comes to choosing a medium for an orchid. You will want to avoid just random potting soil. Various brands produce specific orchid potting mix.

Usually these mixes contain some variance of bark size, which will allow for easy draining of the water. It might also contain some moss or pearlite as well.

At my house, we have I think 7 orchids off the top of my head. Currently we are using the “Miracle-Gro; Orchid Potting Mix Course Blend”. We haven’t noticed any issues as far as stagnant water or root rot with it. They also give a pretty helpful reminder on the back of the bag. It is also really affordable.

As far as fertilizer or “plant food” my girlfriend and I have been using “Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes” and I haven’t noticed any negative effects. I really like it because like the potting mix, it reminds you when you should be using it. Both of these are pretty affordable.

If you want an Orchid potting mix, and fertilizer without having to make it yourself. Check the “Plant Care Bundle” out on Amazon. Look at some reviews and see if it’s for you. Like I said, this is what we are currently using, and I can’t complain yet.

Click here to see the “Plant Care Bundle” on Amazon

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

I really hope that this article can help you become more confident on your green thumb abilities. Most of this is trial and error. Figuring out how your plants react to things and reading the situation. You will be able to figure out what your plant needs in no time.

If you have any questions or if I got something wrong please let me know.

As always, thank you for reading

-Plant Dummy

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References and Citations:

Light, the key to successful blooming. (2016, March 27). Retrieved February 18, 2021, from https://www.aos.org/orchids/additional-resources/light-the-key-to-successful-blooming.aspx

Old Farmer’s Almanac. (n.d.). Orchids. Retrieved February 18, 2021, from https://www.almanac.com/plant/orchids

Best Plants to Keep in the Bathroom

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By – Plant Dummy

Have you ever felt groggy and irritated in the morning? I am taking a wild guess and saying the answer is most likely yes. What if there were things that you could implement in your life that not only looks good, but has a function as well.

I wanted to put together a list of plants that aren’t terrible to take care of that also help with something in the bathroom that has to do with either convenience, or functionality to you. I actually ask myself quite often if my plants are happy and in the best place. So I hope that this can help you in your decision making. This is my list of plants that should be in your bathroom.

Air plants

Photo by Michael Walter on Unsplash

Whatever you decide to stick your air plant to, most likely it will be happy. If it looks a little dry, maybe give it a little drink of water by dipping, or misting it. These cheap almost impossible to kill in a bathroom plants are perfect if you want to add a little bit of flavor to the room. They are really nice because they don’t need soil to survive which gives you a ton of options.

I really like the natural look on some natural wood, or maybe a cool decorative item that needs a top piece. Whether you need a tiny piece or a couple of bigger pieces, you can’t go wrong.

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

I personally really want to get the Spanish moss for my bathroom and have it mounted on a small piece of wood. I have to keep my eye out for what I need.

Monstera Delicioco

Photo by chris panas on Unsplash

Considering that the Monstera is native to Central America, warmer humid places should be alright for the Monstera to thrive in.

These plants like indirect sunlight, and a pot that allows for drainage. They generally tend to love the extra humidity compared to the rest of the house. Quite a bit of indirect sunlight is preferred for them, so if you have a skylight or window, they can get indirect light from, that would be ideal.

They can grow pretty big, as you can tell in the picture. So for me they are an eye catcher for sure. Give a smaller one some time and it will be on it’s way to looking like a proper Monstera.

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Bonus: Eucalyptus

Photo by Heather Mount on Unsplash

Okay, okay I know that this technically isn’t a houseplant that you typically would grow indoors. Most people think of big trees, but hear me out okay? I didn’t know this until recently. People tend to put eucalyptus branches, or leaves hanging from the behind of the showerhead. The mist and the scent from the eucalyptus helps with congestion and overall feeling. I think it is beneficial to most and would look nice to all.

There are some smaller eucalyptus bushes that people sell online at different vendors. I am not sure on how often you would be able to trim it to hang fresh pieces in the shower.

I love the smell of eucalyptus. It has a minty, fresh scent with a bit of honey. Usually people associate the smell with a relaxing feeling, and being able to breathe better.

How do you know when to get new eucalyptus? It is suggested to get new ones once the scent weakens and you no longer feel the benefits.

If you aren’t sure where to get your hands on some really good quality and nice priced eucalyptus branches. I would suggest to check out BotanticaFleur on Etsy They have over 2000 almost all 5-star reviews, and are just about to hit 20,000 sales overall. This is not a sponsored link. I want to make that clear, I just think that they have a good quality product that people are really loving. They are a good price, and they will look perfect hanging in your bathroom. I am endorsing it because I think the product is good to have!

English Ivy

English Ivy – Plant Dummy

I love a lot of different kinds of Ivy. English Ivy which I may be biased for right now is a great choice for the bathroom.

It looks great hanging, and loves the humidity. You could even string it along something if you wanted to give more of a climbing look to it. Like maybe if it were on the shower wall wanting to climb up, or over.

One thing that I recommend with English Ivy is making sure it stays controlled, and personally for me, inside. Once English Ivy starts growing outside, it can be very hard to stop.

That is my only fair warning when it comes to this plant. It is a gift because it is so hard to kill. Especially in preferred environments but from my own personal experience it can be very hard to get rid of unmaintained Ivy outside.

English Ivy likes a pot that can drain. To be watered thoroughly, and for it’s soil to dry to about a little bit past your first knuckle. They like temperatures around 60 degrees, a little bit cooler or warmer is okay for them as well. Another nice thing about English ivy is that propagating is pretty easy, and you have a decent amount of options to choose from with tip, or the stem trimmings.

Keep an eye out for spider mites, a lot of times when you bring an ivy home from the store. It could have some spider mites, just be prepared. It isn’t a huge deal check this out if you want some pointers on how to deal with pests.

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Phalaenopsis orchid (Moth orchid)

Photo by Nicodemus Roger on Unsplash

The moth orchid is beautiful with other plants, or stand alone. Originating from humid climates makes having it in the bathroom a no brainer. They bloom normally once a year, but even when they aren’t bloomed they look elegant. There are a bunch of ways you can root them, whether it is in a pot that drains well, or rooted on a piece of wood. It really depends on what kind of look you want to go for.

Moth orchids don’t require too much light which is typically nice for a bathroom. They enjoy shaded light. You can mist the root system to water it, which is what we do at my house. I like the misting method because it lessens the risk of getting water into the crown (where the leaves join in the middle). Don’t let the roots sit in water because that will lead to root rot.

It is important to pick out the right type of pot for your orchid. Just make sure that it is able to drain properly. Or you could even avoid the whole pot thing and mount it on a piece of wood. However, that can be a bit more tedious and in my opinion harder to make look nice.

You can check out other common orchid issues here if you are curious to learn more.

Boston Fern

Photo by Lisa Moyneur on Unsplash

Let me ask you. Where do you normally see ferns? If you don’t know, the answer would be typically in the woods and in humid areas. Ferns in general typically thrive in humid conditions. This makes them a wonderful plant to have added to your bathroom collection.

Boston ferns in particular like really humid places, and shaded indirect light. Think of a forest floor with a bit of light peaking through the canopy. This indirect light supplemented with some mist on the leaves because of the humidity in the bathroom makes the ferns happy.

Make sure your Boston ferns soil is consistently damp. I remember my fern started yellowing and it was most likely because a lack of humidity, or not enough water. Ferns don’t look good when they are starting to yellow, they look sad. Make sure they get enough water.

Similar to ivy, because there is a lot of surface area to these plants. You have to keep an eye out for pests. These pests can be tricky to see sometimes such as spider mites because they are so small. Make sure you know how to spot and treat these pests properly. I really tried to take my time with that article so I hope it can help you.

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Thanks for reading:

If I there are any plants that you think should have had an honorable mention, let me know down below. I would love to hear your ideas of what plants go best in the bathroom!

I only want to suggest things that I like myself, or think would be nice to have.

Thank you again for reading,

Plant Dummy

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Easy Care Succulents That Look Great.

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*Disclaimer – I may get a small commission from affiliate links in this post. I want to recommend things that I think are beneficial and worth getting, adding to the post quality.

Honestly, I think that there are a lot of cool succulents that you can get in the store, garden shop, or your local Facebook plant dealer. They shouldn’t be too hard to take care of, but I wanted to show my favorites and perhaps suggested ones that I would look out for.

The Hens and Chicks succulent:

Hens and Chicks – Plant Dummy
Referral link for succulents box
Check out the variety!

I wanted to use this picture because I thought it would showcase the prettiness of the succulent, but also demonstrate the heartiness and fight the plant has. This was taken today from the side of my house. Yes I know I need to weed, but its been winter and cold.

However I forgot this had even existed to be completely fair as I had a couple growing last year, and thought I accidentally killed it when I cleared the area. There is another pup next to a different one, but that didn’t look as pretty because I think some bugs got into it. I may have to get that pup and bring it inside soon.

Hens and Chickens grow alright in bad soils and horrible conditions. This is because they normally grow in mountain climates. However, they will do best and have a preferred temperature of around 70 degrees. Which is around what most people keep their indoor areas at.

Zebra Haworthia

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Zebra Hawathia – Plant Dummy

The Zebra succulent is a pretty common succulent to get in a pack from the store. They may be common, but they look really beautiful and striking when they get wider.

These guys are a bit more particular than the Hens and Chicken, as they don’t seem to do as well in the cold. However unless you are keeping the house below freezing you should be fine. When looking for a spot for this succulent, you should look for a place where it can get some indirect sun.

if you keep your house hotter, you will need to water them more often. But still they don’t require too much water.

You will want to wait until the soil is pretty dry, because Zebra plants won’t do good if you over water them. If you under water the Zebra plant it will usually make the leaves look kind of saggy. You also will want to soak the soil all the way through, then wait until it feels dry again before watering. Don’t worry if it isn’t growing enough for your liking. These take a lot of time to gain some growth.

Echeveria Succulent

Echeveria – Plant Dummy

There are so many different types of this plant it will have you amazed (150 types). There is a hue of color that would make anyone happy. That is probably one of the reasons they are so popular.

You will want to have the Echeveria in a pot that will allow for drainage, as you will want to avoid having moisture stick around for too long, because they are desert plants. This is good for you though because if you plan on keeping them inside, like the other ones. I would assume they would be warm enough.

The Echeveria plants are also slower growing plants. You can’t expect them to grow over night, or even over the month much. Patience is key for succulents. As long as you aren’t killing them, you are doing something right. Watering succulents properly is one of the more important things in keeping them growing healthy. for the Echeveria you will want to make sure that you keep from over watering. You can do this by letting the soil get dry before you water again, allowing for the roots to have a break, remember these are used to desert like conditions.

Bonus to the Echeveria: is that like a lot of other succulents. They produce pups, which you can propagate. This is like getting a bonus for doing a good job.

Burro’s tail

Photo by María Álvares de Carvalho

I have a Burro’s tail, and it wouldn’t be plant dummy if there wasn’t a nice looking plant that can be in a basket and hang.

Burro’s tail, Donkey tail, or Sedum Morganianum. Whatever you prefer to call it, is pretty darn easy to grow. It also looks wonderful spilling over the pot/ basket it is being held in.

These things are pretty hard to kill, so as long as you are keeping a decent eye on when to water it, and being careful to just focus on watering the soil in a pot that allows for drainage. You should do alright. You will however want to be careful when you move the plant. The leaves are going to want to come off easily. Just try to avoid it. I personally think that losing at least one is most likely inevitable unless you are sliding it.

Aloe Vera

Photo by Jude Smart on Unsplash

Look, Aloe has made it once again as a strong contender in the plant world. I don’t pick it for just no reason though. For me I think that I choose Aloe because of the factors that it is pretty hard to kill, looks pretty, and has uses for skin, as well as eating if prepared properly.

My sister and I were talking the other day, and she was wondering how she was killing her Aloe plant. She wrote it off as just being a dead plant. In the next few weeks, it started showing signs of life and was once again happy to be back as well. They are pretty amazing plants.

You will want to pick a pot that allows drainage so the soil can dry out and give it the feeling of it’s natural habitat. Indirect sunlight is preferred for the Aloe Vera. Indoor temps that are comfortable to humans are going to be comfortable to the Aloe as well. Just try to keep it above 55, and below 80 degrees. When you water, make sure that you get the soil watered. Then allow for the soil to dry out before watering again. For succulents you really want to avoid root rot, and by allowing for the soil to dry, you are taking a precaution.

If you are unsure of what kind of succulent you should get. You can get a sample pack. They are generally pretty cheap, and normally have some easy to care for succulents inside of them. If you want to browse a cool place that has a pretty big variety of sample packs and you live in the U.S you can check out SucculentsBox.com

The succulents are placed at a pretty good price as well. Similar to what I would pay at a store, but I get a bigger option which is really refreshing. Below is my referral link, so if you want to just check it out I think you would like the variety too. They are really cool.

Referral link to Succulents Box
Plant Dummy Referral

Another nice thing about SucculentsBox.com is their policy for quality. If your plant gets really damaged or there is something really wrong with it they cover a lot of issues from root rot to visible damage to pots/planters even infestations. That was something that I was curious about when I first read up on this company because I wasn’t sure how they would offer it, because obviously there can be issues when it comes to shipping a plant.

Bonus tip: Okay this really isn’t a bonus tip, I just wanted to mention again how important it is to get your watering down for succulents. Don’t drop water in the middle of your succulent, or else you are going to get some issues. Don’t use the pot as a bucket for water, let it drain and get dry. Avoid root rot by allowing the soil to dry out.

Thank you for reading the article, it means a lot. If there is anything that should be updated please let me know. I really do try to get accurate information and useful information. – Plant Dummy

Citations:

(n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/burros-tail/burros-tail-care.htm

Old Farmer’s Almanac. (n.d.). Aloe Vera. Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://www.almanac.com/plant/aloe-vera

Common Indoor Plant Pests -How to Identify, and Eliminate

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*Disclaimer – I may get a small commission from affiliate links in this post. I want to recommend things that I think are beneficial and worth getting, adding to the post quality.

There are a lot of different things that can hurt your plants. Pests being one of them. Being aware of those things will benefit you in the long run. This is a list of the more common pests that you may encounter with having indoor plants.

I hope that this article helps you identify, and potentially save you some trouble in the future. I really don’t like pests, I personally find them gross. So I hope for your sake you don’t run into them anytime soon.

Spider mites:

“Taro (Colocasia esculenta): Aphids and spider mites” by Plant pests and diseases is marked with CC0 1.0

Personally I have had spider mites once before, and they are no fun to deal with. If you have one that exists, then there are probably 10 more that you aren’t aware of. Especially if you start seeing webbing in more than just one spot.

How to spot them: You will usually notice them by either having small little strands of silky web, or tiny little spots on the top part of the leaves because a bugs gotta eat. They look like little specks and on close inspection they kind of look like a slight brown/reddish with 8 legs hanging out on their web.

Once you start seeing more of their webbing then you know there most likely is more than just a couple of them. Also for the sake of your other plants, keep some distance so that they aren’t able to spread to other ones as they try to exchange plants to one that won’t be treated with whatever you decide.

Getting rid of Spider mites: I personally tried putting the plants that were infected outside during the summer and at day time. I don’t know why I did that, but I heard from someone that they can leave and be outside. It seemed like that worked for a minute, but that could also just be coincidence. However what did actually work pretty effectively was the combination of soap water misted on the leaves (it is recommended to use insecticidal soap, or a neem oil extract) and sitting outside.

Neem oil can be a longer term solution for spider mites and some other plant pests. You can check organic neem oil out on Amazon, it is a good price and should last a very long time.

For stronger plants, some may recommend that you can spray the plant with just plain water at first. I would also consider this before reaching for the chemicals, sit the plant outside after on a nice day, and see what that may do to help your issue.

Note: Just make sure that if you are misting your plants, that your plant is okay to be misted with whatever you are putting on it. You don’t want to accidentally stress your plant more than it already will be.

Soft scale insects:

“Ants tending a colony of soft scales on a leaf in a landscape” by Plant pests and diseases is marked with CC0 1.0

What soft scale insects do: If you look closely, there will be little bumps around the middle of the leaf/ stems of the plant because that’s where the nutrients for them are most abundant. Those bumps are small little soft scale insects. They basically eat the life out of plants because… Well obviously they have to eat to live.

Identifying them: The soft scale insects which vary in colors create little brown spots, or generally discolored spots. These spots seem to be a little bigger than the spider mite spots because they are a bit bigger.

There are soft, and hard scale insects. However the ones that are going to be more of an issue for indoor plants is going to be the soft scaled critters. Unless you are taking your plant outside, and it has a chance to pick one up out there, you probably won’t have to deal with them.

Getting rid of soft scale infection: when you find yourself infected with these annoying creatures. You will want to get your plant away from the other plants to prevent spreading. Then you may want to try the similar approach to the spider mites. Water, and rinsing the plant off if you are able to (considering the plant type) to get the majority of these suckers, no pun intended… Off of your plant. After that, you may want to scrape off any of the ones you can see away from your plant.

Another approach if you must, and they just aren’t going away naturally would be to step it up a bit. This would of course be using indoors insecticidal soap. You want to make sure that this would be the appropriate action depending on your plant. Making sure that the type of insecticide won’t be too harmful to your plant. If worse comes to worse, you may lose your plant, and I don’t want that, but sometimes they are too far gone, so just make sure you are giving your plants the attention they deserve.

Mealybugs (yes it’s one word):

“Croton: Mealybugs” by Plant pests and diseases is marked with CC0 1.0

Mealybugs are another type of scale insect, however this one seems to be talked about in a league of it’s own, and from what I can tell has a slightly different way of identifying, as well as a slight way in difference that you may want to treat it.

How do you identify a mealybug? Well first off this bug has a weird wax that seems like a powder on its body generally. This weird wax can almost look like little strands of white fiber on your plants leaves. They generally are found hanging out on the underside of the plant leaf as well.

Just like the rest of these pests, they like eating the plant. That is why they are there, so you can probably count on there being some marks of them feeding. Whether it be little spots, yellowing or death of a leaf at first.

Getting rid of Mealybugs: there is an interesting method of treating these pests can be using a cotton swab and some alcohol on the infestation by dabbing it on. No not your favorite whiskey, you will want to use some rubbing alcohol, this will help with smaller problems. For bigger problems we will want to do like what we did for the other types of soft scale, and use some insecticidal soap, or maybe some neem oil to see if that works.

Again, I would like for you to read if you have to use that type of soap because the wrong one can potentially give harm to your plant.

Aphids:

“Eggplant (Solanum melongenae): Aphids” by Plant pests and diseases is marked with CC0 1.0

In my opinion aphids are one of the least ugly pests on this list, however they are equally as annoying. But good thing for you is that they are easily identifiable as well as pretty easy to kill.

Identifying Aphids: Aphids have fat bodies, and skinny heads. They like to crawl around on the plant grazing upon its juiciness.

They are generally greenish in color, however they can have a white tint to them as well. However some Aphids are able to fly, so don’t be surprised if you see a pair of wings. Aphids can grow on the droppings that the Aphids leave behind which is what some people tend to see as the first introduction to the Aphid infestation.

Fun fact: Aphid droppings are called honeydew, because it is sweet. Sometimes it will even attract some ants to come by and eat it.

How to deal with Aphid invaders: Making sure you are paying attention to your plants is a common theme here. Once you notice them you have to make a judgement call of how bad it is. If there are only a few, you may be able to use neem oil or an insecticide soap. 

But for people who want to try something natural, you could look into using a water vinegar spray. I personally never have had the issue of Aphids, but I have seen in different areas where it can be suggested. Make sure your plant can handle that though, as vinegar can be strong.

General notes: I understand you can’t be watching your plants all the time, but if you keep at least somewhat of an eye out this will help with reducing the pain you may have in the future. Either from an infestation, or maybe just general issues with your plant. I know that when I had issues with my plants, it has been because I either neglected them for too long, or didn’t keep enough of an eye on them to see who was moving in on them. I just noticed that preventative care is better than reactive care, and it tends to be a lot easier.

And as always, if you believe there is something that needs to be changed, please let me know. I am more than willing to look into it and improve the article. I don’t want to spread any false ideas, thank you for reading.

Reference/supplemental information gathered:

Scale insects – indoor plants. (n.d.). Retrieved February 08, 2021, from https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/scale-insects-indoor-plants#:~:text=Heavily%20infested%20plants%20should%20be,for%20use%20on%20indoor%20plants.

Scott, O., Scott, J., & Williamson, J. (2018, August 08). Common houseplant insects & related pests. Retrieved February 08, 2021, from https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/common-houseplant-insects-related-pests/

Mealybugs – indoor plants. (n.d.). Retrieved February 08, 2021, from https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/mealybugs-indoor-plants

Aphids. (n.d.). Retrieved February 08, 2021, from https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef103#:~:text=Aphids%20are%20soft%2Dbodied%20insects,undersides%20of%20tender%20terminal%20growth.&text=Saliva%20injected%20into%20plants%20by,a%20few%20aphids%20are%20present.

Who is Plant Dummy?

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I want give some sort of insight of who I am as a person. I understand that most people want to feel some sort of connection, or relation of who someone is behind the screen, to get a feel whether they like them or not.

Currently I am a full time college student studying business. I am a senior, who is very excited to work get further into the workforce (fingers crossed). I want to continue to build my skills when it comes to creativity, writing, and design. Creating something that is completely mine, being able to see where I started and how to improve upon it will help my editorial skills, as well as decision skills on what I think people may want or need to learn as I learn it myself.

I thought of creating of a blog a while back (at least couple of years ago) but never really deciding to take the plunge. It honestly was/is scary to me. Like what if I did it wrong, or people didn’t like me. Deciding that in my mind there was never going to be a better opportunity to do it then right now is what got me to go forward. Putting something out there that is mine, that I think would be interesting and useful for other people was the only think my mind should have been focusing on rather than the fear of failing something I never attempted.

Creating something that is unique is important to me. Having something have my personality as well as voice means a lot to me. There lot of different blogs that I see that come across as all knowing, or they are the keepers of what is right in the plant world. Plus I just like plants! Here’s one one of our (what I believe to be) White Nerve plants. Featuring a Burro’s tail peaking out in the back.

White Nerve Plant – PlantDummy

It is important to me to get information that is accurate across to the reader, however I won’t pretend like I solely know the exact truths and ways. Doing my due diligence on finding sources that are legitimate is one of my main goals.

A lot of people churn and burn blog posts to get the maximum volume. I really want to try to avoid that unless there is a part in a blog that I think needs a particular spotlight. I want to focus on quality rather than rehashing old ideas.

I realized that that I just need to do it if I think it, and just go for it. I obviously am not perfect, but I would regret not doing something like this, and building upon my skills, and knowledge that I am able to spread while learning myself. This blog may adopt things here and there that I think will add to the quality. Who knows, I may even add certain extra types of things that I enjoy writing about. Maybe even include my opinion on certain things, or just my process of how the blog is going, or what I plan to be working on in the future.

I will be back and write updates like this because I think people may want to see the me evolve and my thought process on things. Even if it is just a couple people, I think it would be good for me to be able to just have a voice for someone who may want to listen.

Thank you for reading, and as always. If you have any suggestions or things that you want to hear about please let me know. I really do take your considerations into play when I decide what I am going to write about.

Best air purifying plants for the home!

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There are a lot of plants out there, most of them convert Co2 into o2. However some do it better than others, as well as filter out potentially harmful chemicals that can build up in the air

Aloe Vera:

Photo by Kaitlyn Rigg on Unsplash

This was a tough one, but I think that I have to choose the Aloe Vera plant because of its overall usefulness, pricing, and because it is easy to grow. 

Aloe Vera generally isn’t that expensive. You are able to  eat them if you prepare them properly (make sure your Aloe Vera plant is actually an Aloe Vera and not another type of Aloe). Another amazing thing that you are probably aware of is that you can even soothe your skin with Aloe Vera.

Aloe Vera plants tend to start off smaller, so having a couple of them may be more beneficial as far as removing toxic chemicals from the air. They help with replacing Co2 and help remove benzene from the air.

Devils Ivy – AKA Golden Pothos:

“Misted Golden Pothos” by eggrole is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Not to be confused with the Devils Lettuce, these plants are beautiful. They can grow huge up to 8 feet long! You don’t have to worry about it getting too big and taking over your house either, you can trim the vines when they get out of hand.

Devil’s Ivy isn’t too terrible to care for either, many types of conditions are okay for them to live in. It helps purify the air of some chemicals such as Carbon monoxide benzene, formaldehyde, toluene and a few more.

This is a plant that if you have pets you need to be careful, as it is toxic to them. So definitely keep it out of reach of them.

Boston Fern:

“Boston Fern” by bfishadow is licensed under CC BY 2.0

I love ferns, they look beautiful on stands, hanging, or in the corner. Heck they look good almost anywhere you put them. Ferns in general are pretty great at reducing pollutants in the air.

According to the NASA research study in 1989 found that Ferns were one of the best at getting rid of those harmful chemicals. I would assume that there may be some people who are skeptical of the study and the effectiveness in the room. However, I personally don’t think it would hurt by having some in your room, and would like to think that it at least has some basis in helping with air quality. I can’t say for certain, but I know I love ferns and they make me happier.

NASA also had another mention of fern which is the Queen fern, and ferns in general have quite a bit of surface area. I would assume that a lot of them would be alright and have some similar qualities, but I can’t confirm or deny that part. I just love ferns and want to justify you getting some.

Dracaena reflexa:

“Dracena/ Pleomele (Dracaena reflexa). Madagascar native” by mauro halpern is licensed under CC BY 2.0

This is a beautiful plant, you have probably seen the many different types of Dracaena’s before. However NASA mentions that the Dacaena Reflexa is one of the better ones for removing harmful things from the air. Keep them out of reach of pets, especially cats who like to nibble on plants because they can be toxic.

A fun fact is that the Dracaena is part of the pineapple family!

Rubber Plant:

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

The rubber plant or rubber tree, or even rubber fig plant… regardless of what you name it does it’s job. I love this plant, because of the thick beautiful leaves that drape around it. Not to mention that it does a heck of a job helping with the air quality. This is because of its large surface area from the leaves, which love to take in carbon dioxide and make quality oxygen for us to breathe in.

Be careful if you have pets because this plant can be toxic to animals.

Spider Plants:

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

Spider plants I feel will always have a special place in most situations in the home. They just look too good not to. In the case of air purifying, they also do a pretty good job. They give you fresh oxygen, while helping to get rid of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene.

They are hard to kill, cheap to own, and look good. So that is why the Spider plant makes a return on as one of my favorites. I still think that ferns are more so a favorite, but spider plants are making their way up the ladder!

As a general note:

I do want people to be cautious of what plants they have in their homes and always do your own research before putting a plant into your home. There are places available to you to search for different types of plants to see if it may be potentially harmful to your type of pet.

References and Citations:

Wolverson, C. B., Johnson, A., & Bounds, K. (1989, September 15). NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS). Retrieved December 20, 2020, from https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930073077

Riley, E. (2018, September 18). The best air-purifying plants. Retrieved February 06, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/air-purifying-plants#:~:text=Golden%20pothos%20(Epipremnum%20aureum),purifiers%20for%20removing%20common%20toxins.

Smyth, D. (2020, November 25). Information about rubber plants & cleaning the air. Retrieved February 06, 2021, from https://homeguides.sfgate.com/information-rubber-plants-cleaning-air-83674.html

Common orchid issues and what to do about them.

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Photo by Nicodemus Roger on Unsplash

Maybe you just got an orchid, or perhaps you have some issues that you are just experiencing with your orchid, this is common with orchids as they can be very temperamental with certain things. At a certain point something is most likely going to happen. There is no need to worry just yet. So don’t go thinking you aren’t a horrible plant owner and give up now. Being aware of symptoms, ways that you can improve/fix it will make you stress less, and your orchid a lot happier. 

 Here are a few things that could be important to know, as they are some of the more common possibilities of different issues your orchid could face. We want you to be able to have a healthy beautiful orchid like you want.

Common issues with orchids:

Root rot: Does your plant have a soft discolored (brown/blackish) root that just looks out of place? You could also be seeing some yellowing of the plant that doesn’t really look too normal. 

This means that your orchid could be exposed to too much standing water. Removing the rotted root and making sure the orchid roots aren’t sitting in standing water anymore should help this, make sure that you have a draining pot if you decide to put it in a pot leave it in a pot.

Steps in treating root rot:

  • Remove the infected roots, you can simply cut them with clean scissors.
  • Use a spray bottle with the normal 3% hydrogen peroxide that you get in the store.
  • Repot in new orchid potting soil in a drainable pot.

Purplish/yellow hue to the leaves?

Orchids are shade loving plants. So much as I thought that all plants loved all light. This is not the case. 

Your plant may naturally have a purple hue, but if your purplish yellow hue leaves could mean too much sun if it increases. If your plant looks like it might have a natural purple hue but you aren’t sure, just keep an eye on it.

They do make things called a shade house or glass house, which you can buy or even make yourself if you are the DIY type.

However not enough light can cause the orchid to have darker than normal leaves. Finding the balance that your orchid needs may take a little time, so don’t get too frustrated. Orchids generally like at least 6 hours of shaded light a day.

If your orchid gets sunburnt, which looks discolored soft or thin in a certain spot. You may want to remove that area carefully and apply a cinnamon paste to the area you cut removed to prevent infection.

Fungus and bacteria issues:

These can be spotted (no pun intended) by spots, whether it be on the flowers themselves, or the leaves. A bacterial infection can also be caused by standing water which will cause the leaf to sink in where the water was standing. It may also stink a bit.

Too high of humidity and overwatering can lead to fungus and bacterial issues. It is also good to know that the Phalaenopsis orchid/moth orchid (the kind generally sold in stores) are most comfortable around 40-60% humidity but can do a little lower if they have to. However, a lot of orchids can enjoy bathrooms, as there is usually a decent amount of humidity, and indirect sunlight. just make sure the room can get some circulation.

Phalaenopsis Orchid – Moth Orchid Photo by Jessica Knowlden on Unsplash

 A lot of  orchids prefer to have the range of humidity around 40-70%  This is why having circulation and not being too humid in a room can be good for the plant (although in my experience that seems relatively hard to do).

Steps to help fix Fungus and bacterial issues:

  • You should cut the area that is sick carefully with clean equipment.
  • Make a paste out of water and cinnamon applying to the area you cut.
  • For the leaves, using common 3% hydrogen peroxide, you can prevent rot/ fungus spread by spraying on the leaves. Hydrogen peroxide is a cheap and effective solution, especially for leaf rot because you don’t want it to spread.
  • For the roots, use a pinch of cinnamon and spread it over the root system.
  • Make sure the room the orchids are in has proper air circulation or use a fan if you have to, creating a gentle draft in the room.

I personally really like the solutions of Hydrogen peroxide and cinnamon because it is a safe, as well as natural way to treat these issues. Not to mention this solution is most likely a cheaper alternative to chemical solutions.

Thank you for taking your time to check this article out, if you have any suggestions or what you might want to be researched or talked about. Check out my contact page!

Citations and informational resources:

Growing Orchids in the Home. (2016, March 09). Retrieved from https://www.aos.org/orchids/additional-resources/orchids-indoors.aspx

Says:, N., 24, A., Says:, A., Says:, A., 22, A., Says:, C., . . . Name. (2020, June 09). 4 Quick Steps to Increase Humidity and Add Airflow for Orchids. Retrieved December 08, 2020, from https://orchidbliss.com/easy-ways-to-increase-humidity/

H. (2018, May 08). Orchid Health: Fungus. Retrieved December 08, 2020, from https://myfirstorchid.com/2016/08/12/what-is-that-stuff-growing-on-my-orchid/