2024 plant favorites ♡ | Looking back on 2024 + planty plans for 2025 🪴

[@erinestrawberry3209]

I've never felt the urge to leave a comment to help somebody so much as I do right now. I am a long time Hoya grower. Every 6 months for treating flat mites will not cut it, for one thing In my opinion that's the worst way to treat it it's very hard to get that stuff off the leaves again. The easiest thing you could do is get yourself some propagation box you know some bins. And spray them down like every 3 days. For like a week and a half and then come back a week later. I have found that if you are thinking you have it to make cuttings and just soak them in a bath in the sink that's the only way to get in those nook and crannies or you will be fighting it 4 years. I have lost some beautiful cuttings and plants that I'm pretty sure came to me with flat mites. If you think it has flat mites. Filling up your sink and putting soap and alcohol and peroxide is the best treatment. I've seen Betsy begonia do this too. I have done where you spray it every few days and seen people's collections with the white stuff all over it you can't even enjoy your collection. I personally would rather reroot ahoya in really kick the flat mites. The reason why every 6 months would not work is you get a round of eggs they come back. If you do the sink soak method I like to use Dr bronner's quite a bit of alcohol peroxide essential oil. If you take it up and pot it up after it spends some time swish it around in that water if I think the plant for sure has the mit leave it in there for a soak. Then I make a similar mixture in a spray bottle and in a few days take that freshly potted plant and spray it again. It's worth the effort you don't have to use stinky sprays. I've been using my homemade spray for years and pretty much don't deal with bugs at all. I fill a water bottle to almost the top leaving just a little less than a quarter put a couple pumps of soap essential oils that work well against pests and usually they smell great too alcohol and peroxide. A great way to do this is have a bin in front of you take the plant off the shelf spray all the stems all the leaves on each side put it back on the shelf then do the next one The spray and the water will get caught in the bin. It is quick and easy then you don't want to leave the lights on it cuz you don't want to burn your plant. Once you do the initial dunk and spray it 3 days later spray it again another 3 days later after that you just need to spray once a month or as needed. You won't get fungal you won't get pretty much any bug. I have actually never had mealy bugs and the decade I've been doing this because my spray has alcohol in it I have prevented ever dealing with that. If I get a new plant I keep it in my bathroom and spray it every 3 days and after a week and a half if there's no problem I will add it to the collection sometimes I keep a shelf just for new plants so that I can spray it again that next week. This might sound like a lot of work in the beginning but once you do this process and you never allow any new plants in your home without using the spray you only need to spray all your plants in spring and in fall as long as you treat the new ones just like I said. It's a treatment of preventative and if you switch up your essential oils clove and tea tree are great ones so is lemon and peppermint. If you switch up the oils no plants will ever get used to it if you know what I mean. I hope this helps I also hope it helps anybody reading in the comments. My favorite thing to collect is Hoya's once you do the dipping treatment in the spray as long as your diligent with your new stuff coming in you shouldn't have to worry about flat mites or really any bugs ever again.

[@leaveswithles]

Omg thank you so much for taking time to leave such a detailed comment- both for myself and others! This is making me want to do the soak first and then spray it down with sulfur. I also hate the way it looks and would definitely prefer an alternative for ongoing preventative treatment so I truly appreciate your recommendation!!! 😊🫶🏻🫶🏻

[@theeclecticgent502]

This is one reason I have not been buying plants since like October. I have plants that are struggling to stay afloat and I'm continuing to bring more on and then it's just a cycle that I can't focus on one issue at a time because I'm constantly bringing new things in . I'm using this time to focus on what I have and get those happy and healthy get pest under control and purge anything not providing joy or helping me mentally.

[@leaveswithles]

Yessss! Absolutely feel the same way!!!

[@LeafyConversations]

You are not alone!

[@meredithdavis5167]

I just got my Anthurium sp Morona today! They sent a Philodendron lupinum free and they're pretty groovy looking too! 💚

[@leaveswithles]

Yayyy!! So happy someone else is out there loving them- they’re so interesting and literally the cutest seedling I’ve ever seen!!! 😊😊

[@sonyad.5942]

I’m watching in chunks on housework breaks! I need to cut back on plant buying, especially Lowe’s clearance plants, but I got a couple of hanging baskets in great condition on clearance in mid-October. One was a lemon-lime maranta. I’ve struggled with small ones in the past, but this large one is growing like crazy! I’m amazed every time I look at it and see more leaves coming out!

[@leaveswithles]

The clearance rack always gets me!!! I feel guilty walking by and not rescuing anyone 😆😅

[@PlantedinPlatinum]

Loved your rant girlie!! And your new plants 😍 That Raphidophora has my entire heart 😆🌿😌✨🫶

[@leaveswithles]

Thank youuuuu Natasha!!!! 🫶🏻😊

[@lisaaguirre3756]

Hi! Watching in installments - but had to say, very relatable and I love all your choices. And now snowdrift is on my radar and doesn’t need to be!😅 The thrill of the hunt is definitely real and gets us in over our heads. I haven’t succumbed to the super rare, but do have some plants I probably knew would be nothing but trouble instead of joy. Trying to kick that habit this year! Thanks for shouting out Pam on Full of Foliage - she’s a favorite of mine, too! (And completely responsible for every Hoya I have.😮) 👏🏻💚🪴

[@leaveswithles]

Yes thrill of the hunt is exactly it! Once it’s acquired it’s not as interesting 🤦🏼‍♀️ This is the year of appreciation for what we have cultivated!!! 😆💚🪴

[@lovesyorkies3395]

Never thought that first Anthurium would have stray leaves like that! 🥰

[@leaveswithles]

It’s a cutie!!! 😄

[@Planted386]

We’re on the same page it seems on a lot of things. I started downsizing this year and minimizing my buys this year and plan to continue to just stick to my wishlist this year. It was sooooooo refreshing. I totally understand the “collector” mindset tho. I went CRAZY in 22 with buying plants. Like totally off the rails. I call it cultivating a collection these days which has served me and the plants I have really well. It’s also hard when you make content to find the balance. My plan is to do some trading with other Planty people. It’s so fun to have something from someone else’s beloved collection and likewise. I also just bought sulfur and plan to begin treating all of my plants within the next two weeks. I ended up with the Sevin dust so we shall seeeee!! Excellent video. Your black velvet is absolutely amazing my friend. Just wow! 🤩

[@leaveswithles]

I got the same sulfur!!! Hopefully it’ll work well for both of us 😅 Absolutely have been downsizing as well- it’s so crazy how when you start letting stuff go it’s like yeah I didn’t even like that plant WHY DID I HAVE IT FOR SO LONGGGG! I’m definitely in “cultivation” mode as well now that I’ve gotten things more under control bc I wanna keep it that way! We’ll for sure have to coordinate a trade in the warmer months after I ensure all flat mites have been evicted 😆🤗

[@Planted386]

@ yessssss. I’ll do the same. I mixed the batch already so it’s just a matter of going In!

[@LeafyConversations]

Good luck Shannon!

[@fraga0718]

That Cactus❤❤❤ I want lol !! Great video

[@leaveswithles]

Thank you so much!! I’ve seen some orchid cactus in Lowe’s here and there and they are pretty reasonable online too! 😊🫶🏻

[@Planted386]

Ohhh yes philo snowdrift is on my list too. They are so pretty. I haven’t been gravitating to philos as much but she’s a cutieeeee. I haven’t unalived all my alos too. I have two left lol. There struggling in the bathroom. It’s the spider mites for me. I just can’t be bothered anymore. If there are any Hoyas I have that you don’t I would be happy to do a trade when the weather gets better 💚

[@leaveswithles]

Alocasia struggle bus over here 😩 Yes! I’m about to do this sulfur treatment so hopefully they’ll get it together and start growing so I can propagate again 🤬

[@kelsey9384]

Awww your doggie, girl I have the same issue. It’s like OCD I have to go get a plant no matter what! Great video!! ❤

[@leaveswithles]

Yes!!! We need help 😅😆🫶🏻

[@kelsey9384]

@ 😆😆😆 I told Fern in a comment… I don’t think we could all be minimalists haha! Love your videos so much!

[@leaveswithles]

Right!! 😆 Thank youuuuu so happy you’re here 😊💚

[@phiehehe]

i really like when your videos are this long!! it helps me relax (uni is really stressing me out, i have so much to do 🥲)and also i can totally relate to you killing many alocasias 🥲 after i came back from my vacation in italy in august half of my plants were dead (wether of drought or pests) and the other half was so close to dying because it was really hot in germany while i was away, so my motiviation went downhill pretty quickly but now i want to focus on keeping my collection pest free and not keeping anything that doesnt bring me joy !! hopefully in 2025 all your plants will be growing lots and lots and keep on amazing me🌟

[@leaveswithles]

Well I’m so happy I can help you chill! I know how stressful school is, I’m on my (hopefully) last year myself and balancing everything else can be really difficult. It won’t be forever though!! Absolutely agree with not keeping anything else that doesn’t bring joy - I literally felt SO much better after clearing out all these plants I’ve been holding on to that I don’t even like!!! Don’t feel bad about losing plants, just think of it as a fresh start and providing yourself with space for other plants in the future 😉🤗

[@vicky3792]

I love full of foilage too. Pam is great but so are you.

[@leaveswithles]

Thank you so much that’s so sweet 🥹 💚

[@Plantlifewithnina]

Hello from PR!! All my Begonias are in terrarium and doing well. Could be the humidity aspect. ✨🙋🏼‍♀️💚🪴

[@leaveswithles]

I think it is definitely having an impact. I had them in one of my Akerbar mini green houses at one point and hated it for some reason, but they seem to really like the humidifier so hopefully things will start looking up 😅💚

[@alishascott-rogers3801]

Loving your channel look forward to watching more of your vidoes❤

[@leaveswithles]

Thank you so so much!!!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻

[@Planted386]

Hey girly happy new year!! Can’t wait to watch. I’ve really been enjoying these videos. I’ll watch while I’m cleaning the thrift store 😊 I finally made it to 1k subbies!! I’m in the club now!!

[@leaveswithles]

Omg Shannon!!!! Congrats!!! You so deserve it I absolutely love your videos + how sweet and genuine you are!! Can’t wait to get some time to catch up on my KZbin plant girlies!! Happy new year!! 🤗💚

[@Planted386]

@ thank you so much!! Same, it’s been so busy and I’m so ready to chill and catch up!

[@marevercammen200]

I have almost all of my plants in cheap self made self watering planters with a wick in pon and perlite mix. It's especially The solution for your alocasia and begonia troubles. You can fertilize when you have the energy. I have large reservoirs that last 3-4 weeks. Plant care has never been zo hands off.

[@leaveswithles]

LOVE this idea. Definitely something to add to the try list!! I want to experiment with some different things this year and anything that makes my life easier is a win!! 😆

[@horrorbadger712]

Happy New Year. I really enjoy your content. I frequently use it in the background as a way to body double my own chores...and add to the plant wishlist. I got into the hobby hard core this year. Of course this means I bought too many plants. So many of them were cuttings and mystery boxes so most of it is still small. 3 years from now is going to be a whole different ball game. When I first started watching videos I couldn't understand how people owned and cared for so many plants! Where is the time??? Then I started seeing all the videos of burn out and constant infestations that couldn't be stamped out and realized the influencers don't have the time either. I hope your mindful collection cultivation goes well in the new year. I think of how hard it is for me so it must be much harder for a creator. I see the videos of hauls and collection tours do all the views, so it seems like a big challenge to cut down on those and still catch the algorithm. Looking forward to doing more chores with you in the new year. 😂

[@leaveswithles]

Thank you so much!! I think we all go through these different phases of collection and downsizing- my goal is just to get to a happy medium where I can enjoy getting new plants in a manageable way that keeps me in a place where I can keep a handle on things. It’s definitely difficult to manage at times and I can already feel a big difference from downsizing. I’m really looking forward to spending more time growing what I have really well and seeing the progress over the upcoming year. So happy to have you here to follow the journey 😊💚🪴

[@laurapoore6451]

i am with you I don’t have as many plans as you have, but I have quite a few plus I have 125 orchids. I’m not sure how many house plant I love my orchids and my house plants. I do not need anymore and I’m trying not to get anymore. I would love to see how you do your sulfur treatment because I’ve been thinking about doing my Hoyas that way too just wasn’t quite sure how to do it

[@leaveswithles]

I’m really trying to keep the orchid frenzy under control because that’s one that’s hard to ignore!! I’m going to try to record the sulfur treatment- hopefully the stuff will be here soon but I am definitely not looking forward to it 😆😅

[@maryn299]

I'm right there with you on purchasing new plants. I have around 130 right now and I am managing pretty well. I need to just appreciate what I have. You talked about Alocasias in no drain pots. Why not do pon or a homemade version of it. I made my own and have had great success! My cuprea is going crazy with 5 amazing leaves that are incredible looking! I'd love to show you a picture.

[@leaveswithles]

I actually ordered some leca + pon for my no drainage set up so that’s something else I can definitely give a shot!! 🤗