Plant care

How to take care of a snake plant

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Photo by Noyo Plantes on Unsplash

You know how you keep seeing snake plants also known as Sansevieria everywhere now a days? It’s impressive how popular the snake plant in particular has gotten. Let me be the first to tell you, there is a reason for this.

A lot of it has to do with the pandemic. However I personally think that the main reason would because of how easy and forgiving they are to grow. Plus you can buy them in a lot of different places. The snake plant that I have at my house I don’t think that I really have done anything to it in a long time. Which reminds me that I have a little guy to take out of the small planter it’s in and propagate it.

The part that is lighter green, and a bit shorter is about a two months of new growth.

Pot for the snake plant

Make sure that you have a pot that allows for easy draining. You want to avoid root rot, and you can always water more if needed. It’s hard to reverse root rot because of standing water. Unglazed terracotta likes to suck moisture a bit more than glazed.

A lot of people recommend unglazed terracotta because it can help take excess water out of the soil. That combined with a drain hole is most likely going to be safe with the proper soil as well.

Click to buy this Greenaholics Terracotta Pot on Amazon

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Temperature range for snake plants

The typical temperature range for a snake plant is nice because it is a normal temperature range for most peoples homes. At around 60-80 degrees (F) you will see your snake plant happy.

Soil for the snake plant

One thing that was surprising to me was that the snake plant is a succulent. For fertilizing, I would recommend following the instructions per whatever brand you choose. There will be slight variations that work for one, and maybe not for the other.

Snake Plant Fertilizer – $9.99 on Amazon

This means that you can use the succulent and cactus soil blends. This is the The Succulent Cult store’s mix. When I have to change soils in the upcoming months with my snake plant I most likely will use this one. They have great reviews and a pretty decent price.

Click here to buy The Succulent Cult Store’s Organic Succulent & Cactus Soil Mix on Amazon

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

Light for the snake plant

You may be asking what kind of light is best for my snake plant. Usually the snake plant prefers lower levels of shaded light. They can handle higher light levels though and be fine. We keep ours in the kitchen where there are plenty of shaded windows, and it has been very happy there.

Snake Plant – Plant Dummy

Watering a snake plant

Underwatering is going to hurt the snake plant compared to over watering. Overwatering is also going to be a harder issue to solve than underwatering.

You will want to have the snake plants soil be almost dried out. You can stick a portion of your finger into the soil to check up to a couple inches at most. If the soil feels moist, it may be too soon. The amount of time between watering will also be determined on the temperature.

Issues for snake plants

Root rot I believe would be one of the most common issues one would face when it comes to the plant. Next up, would be the potential after bringing it home especially is pests. Since there are a lot of places for the little pests to hide, you should keep your eye out. And getting too cold can be another issue for your plant once it goes a bit under 55 degrees.

Toxicity Note: Please keep your snake plant out of the reach of your pets. They can cause your pet to feel sick.

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If I missed anything or got something wrong please let me know.

Thank you again for reading,

-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.

8 indoor plants that are low maintenance for and Non-toxic to cats and dogs.

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Keeping your pets safe from toxic plants is an important thing to do. However, how would you know what plants also look really beautiful and are non toxic? Luckily for you, I took the time out of my day to come up with a quick list. These 8 plants, are Non-toxic to dogs/cats, they look amazing, and a bonus… They are relatively easy to care for.

1.Phalaenopsis orchid:

Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com

AKA the moth orchid. This is a wonderful beautiful option to have in your home, not only because it is safe for your pets, it is also very beautiful.. You won’t have to worry about your small fur friend getting sick because of it. However that might not stop your pet from being mean to the plant. I must suggest putting the plant in an area where your pet can’t knock it over, or chew on it damaging the plant.

2. Blushing bromeliad:

“St. Petersburg – Sunken Gardens – Red Bromiliad Flower” by jared422_80 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

I really like this plant, it is a beautiful plant that belongs to the pineapple family, loves bright light and humidity. When it is finished blooming you can repot the pups (little starters that grow from the bottom of the mother plant) if you wish to propagate more of these beautiful plants. Blushing bromeliads usually produces more than 1 pup, so if you enjoy the plant you can easily have multiples. These plants can range in size greatly, but can be 2 inches – 1 foot tall and up to two feet wide.

3. Air plants (Tillandsia)

Photo by Paul Cuoco on Unsplash

Air plants or Tillandsia plants can be fun, as they don’t need to be rooted to anything. You can glue them to basically whatever you want that you think looks appealing. They are simple, cheap and easy to take care of. I think this would be a good first plant for a child, because of the above reasons, and they are really hard to kill. You do want to make sure that your pet won’t try to eat them though because they could be a choking hazard. You can see air plants in the store, like Lowes, or even Target. You don’t water your air plant like a normal plant, you dip it in some water to satisfy its thirst.

4. Burro’s Tail AKA Donkey’s tail AKA Sedum Morganianum

Photo by María Álvares de Carvalho on Unsplash

Burro’s tail is another unique plant that I love the look of. But be careful, if you move it too much the little leaves will fall off with almost no warning. The plant looks beautiful once it starts draping over the pot it sits in. From my experience are relatively easy to take care of, not requiring much, so they are a pretty decent option for newer plant owners as well. Just keep in mind to make sure your pet can’t knock it around though because it will lose some of the little leaves. I don’t think it losing some of the leaves will hurt it much. Mine has always recovered.

5. Spider plant:

Photo by Lucian Alexe on Unsplash

This plant won’t grow legs and crawl away we promise. They look beautiful hanging, or on the ground, or perhaps an end table. Spider plants are also incredibly easy and forgiving plant. Being able to take an array of neglect. However if you want them to really like living with you, they like well draining soil first and foremost, as well as bright non directed light. If you have a skylight, or perhaps a frosted window this may be a nice option to hang one somewhere as they look wonderful hanging in a macramé holder. The spider plant won’t hurt your wonderful pet, however it may steal some attention away from them, and could get an upset stomach.

6. Bamboo (Bambusoidaea)

Photo by Elton Sipp on Unsplash

You cant really go wrong with bamboo… It is so easy to grow, it lasts forever as well as looks fantastic on a shelf, table or wherever your heart desires. Bamboo is non-toxic to dogs, cats, and even horses as far as the ASPCA is concerned. Something interesting about bamboo is how strong and resilient it is. In fact bamboo is 2-3 times stronger than timber. It’s tensile strength is also stronger than steel. Allow this plant to drain, as well as having plenty of light. Clean the container here and there to prevent unwanted algae.

7. Boston Fern

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

I love ferns, they just look good. Whether its in a corner, or hanging, I love them. Ferns are relatively easy to care for, just make sure the soil is damp. They love humidity, they also like a cool place with indirect light. Think of a forest floor, not too much sun, where it’s nice, cool, and damp. If the fern turns a bit yellowish, it is a good sign to increase the humidity near your plant. Another reason that I like ferns so much is because they generally have pretty decent air cleansing qualities.

The Boston fern is no danger to your cat or dog. However from my experience, my cat loves to nibble on it.

8. Basil:

Photo by おにぎり on Unsplash

I decided to add basil to the list because they are generally nice to have around the house. Especially to have some in the kitchen when you forgot to buy some from the store. They aren’t hard to grow, but sometimes they can be picky, luckily they aren’t an arm and a leg to acquire if something goes wrong. The basil plant will also be of no harm to your dog or cat.

If you suspect your pet has ingested a plant that is toxic, please call a local vet. Or if you aren’t sure, you can call the ASPCA hotline 24/7 by calling (888) 426-4435. As per their website there is a $75 fee. You can also see lists of toxic and non toxic plants on their website.

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plantsb

The citations and places I sourced some of my information is linked below:

Mizuno, H., Nell, Keshav, Adrienne, Denise, Johnny, . . . Common Houseplants: Details on Indoor Plants that are Low-Maintenance says:. (2020, December 02). Bromeliad care: How to grow this beauty indoors. Retrieved February 05, 2021, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/bromeliad-care/

Neoregelia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 05, 2021, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/neoregelia/#:~:text=They%20are%20compact%20plants%20from,when%20getting%20ready%20to%20bloom.

And thank you to the ASPCA

If any of the information that I wrote is inaccurate, please let me know.

Thank you for reading!

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/