AVOID THESE MISTAKES - growing aroids indoors

[@stegleryo]

Overwatering and using generic potting mix was my first mistake! Fungus gnats galore! Clear pots, chunky mix, and fertilizing has been the biggest game changer. Now onto buying good quality grow lights and moss poles. Thank you for all the hard work you are putting into your videos. By far has been the most help for me!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you :)

[@krig850s]

How do you fertilise your plants?

[@stegleryo]

@@krig850s I use foliage focus.

[@lalitaoonthonpan4455]

😊

[@lalitaoonthonpan4455]

​@p0sydneyplantguy

[@tjcuillier7024]

I have around 65 plants spread throughout 8 rooms on 3 floors. Since I have forgotten which were or were not watered, I finally added all my plants onto a spreadsheet. I just pencil in when I watered, fertilize, thoroughly clean top/bottom of leaves, etc and it helps me track the trend of approximately how long between watering each plant can wait. I still watch for signs of drooping or other needs, but I typically allow my spreadsheet to be my indicator of when to 'check' on each plant. Some need to be checked every 3-4 days and others as seldom as 1-2 times a month. It has relieved me of so much stress and allows me to enjoy them more than worrying about them.

[@zainajenkins]

I also made a spreadsheet similar to yours but even that became too tedious for me. I since tested out a few different watering reminder apps and like Vera the most. I just inputted the watering and fertilizing schedule for each plant that I already had from the spreadsheet.

[@apvlee5890]

Started with this approach last year since I wanted to experiment with different plant genus. With all the data, now I also have a fair idea of its requirements in different weather conditions and what not to worry about

[@shanelpaige2152]

I just use the planta app to help me keep track of my plant care. I don't follow the app's recommendations for watering though because they will cause you to overwater if you're not experienced enough to know the signs when your plant needs watering

[@stephenlangton6711]

Oh my God… That’s a lot of energy for something that could be fairly simple… Just checking if the top layer is dry…😂

[@tjcuillier7024]

@@stephenlangton6711 nope, I've lost plants that way. Not work at all, just look at the list 2 times a week to see if any need to be checked. Easy & haven't lost a plant since.

[@ConnieP92]

I used to 'hover' over my plants CONSTANTLY and was slowly killing them with too much love. Now I 'neglect' them a little more.

[@katrinadoiron1075]

Me too, you just love them soooo much can't leave them alone.

[@nunyabizness9104]

Guilty also😞

[@cozyjackie]

My biggest mistake by far... Not quarantining new plants. I have gone through the pest Olympics for my laziness 😭

[@graceluke_]

THIS!!! If I would've just taken the time.. and set them *aside*.. sigh

[@Nylahtimone]

Thisss! Except my grandmother is the one who never quarantines her plants then puts them near mine😭. Surprisingly, they never transfer to my pots but of course it still scares me😂.

[@lwayne9281]

I remember that explanation of making sure your plant can "see the sky". It made a big impression on me as well, and I now use that advice while placing every plant in my apt.

[@beaucorbillard381]

It's encouraging to see that someone like yourself who has amazing plants went through learning from mistakes. I'm seeing a huge difference from using your formula for a soil mixture. Thank you for taking time to make these videos and share your knowledge.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you :)

[@TroyMANator2]

Best plant channel on YOUTube. You’re a master at what you do. By sharing so humbly, you become the expert.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you :)

[@elizabethfuhr5527]

I stalk my plants, armed with a coffee in my mug in the morning, and when I get home from work at night. 😂😂😂😂

[@tonya2973]

Me toooo! Im a helicopter parent. If they give me a new leaf I yell for my husband and make him admire my plants too. (He doesn’t care) 😅

[@aoifej9589]

I do the same! I thought there was something wrong with me. As soon as I’m up in the morning I have an espresso in one hand while I go around poking soil. Repeat when I get home from work. It annoys the hell out of my cat who doesn’t understand this competition for attention😂

[@stephenlangton6711]

It’s amazing how many people who love plants let them sit in the saucer filled with water, rather than emptying the saucer… of course you want to protect furniture, etc.… I deal with it by keeping a set of sponges that I use just for my plants… I let the sponges soak any excess water, and then take them out… really helps…

[@sydneyplantguy]

Nice trick :)

[@SSaaNNddYY77]

Very good explanation of soil needs for aroids! Especially the air pockets they love. I've had plants since I was 12. Won't say how many decades that's been lol!!! Today, people have the advantage of vast info here on KZbin and the web. I learned from trial and error and am still learning. Love this hobby!

[@JustJ0nathan]

I just made my own mix - equal parts orchid bark, perlite, and peat moss. I’m a lazy plant owner. I don’t want to water as frequently. 😆

[@Nylahtimone]

This is so me lol😂

[@tim_meister]

I think one thing you should have mentioned is that you don't need to change everything about your care all at once because then you don't know what worked and what didn't. Experiment and see how it effects the plants over time. Also don't buy plants that you are not willing to lose the money from until you are more experienced.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Very true :)

[@SparkleInMoonlight]

Pest eradication: yeah, you are so right. As I started, I eradicated spider mites, fungus gnats appear exceptionally rarely, but thrips - my nightmare. I have been spraying all my plants weekly, they are in good shape, growing well, but still I see minor thrips damage on leaves when I look at it through the sun (although I never see any living thrips anymore) even after months and months of weekly sprayings with different pesticides and watering with pesticides. It seems impossible to eradicate thrips completely. Growing the wrong plants: I´d also add that sometimes it´s just that particular plant - e.g. I have lemon lime maranta growing fast, big and blooming and beside it is red maranta and doesn´t do that great - althought light, watering, humidity, pon and everything is exactly the same. I saw this several times with the same specimen (even same age and size) living in two pots beside each other.

[@humbleservant9313]

Good advice! I went from 2 plants to 60 + in a dark studio (Oregon) apt since lock downs. I even killed a Pothos. A fiddle leaf fig was a poor choice. 27 grow bulbs in various pendants and medusa lamps later😂...they are all happy including Fiddy. The abundance of grow bulbs also keeps unwanted visitors from staying very long..😂😊.😎

[@karlareyes4688]

This is awesome 😅

[@jordanwharton5286]

Thanks Jan! I love your videos, I will admit, I did the "wrap an existing plant around a moss-pole" thing :/. It's okay, only lost one vine (Monstera Adonsonaii) but it really wasn't doing well before so I'm hoping it will benefit (at least the new shoots) anyway! I built mine according to your earlier moss-pole videos and also swapped over to your recommended aeroid mix and it's really making a difference for my new plants and some older ones that weren't growing very well. Thank you again and great work on the videos and the plants! Love it!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks for watching :)

[@KrautkreationsbyKarina]

The most impactful lesson for me learned this growing season was: let cuttings callus over before putting wax on them 😅 I rotted all my monstera chunks that were meant to be a little experiment, over the course of 3 to 10 days. And actually, this also remains the first and last time I ever got wax involved into plant propagation. Lol Love your videos, Jan! Thank you for keeping me enjoyable company while tending to my plants 🙏🤗

[@sydneyplantguy]

I have never used wax when propagating & never had any issues :) just letting them callus over should be more than enough :)

[@Neverloosefaith]

My biggest mistake was putting plants in pots that were too big. I wanted them to have enough room to grow, but it caused too much wetness the plants could not absorb… Thanks so much for these great videos! I’m learning a lot!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Haply growing :)

[@AsiyaAsiyaAsiya]

I always marvel at how chunky your mix is! I actually had to add some worm castings and stuff to mine to make it not dry out in one day! I wonder if it depends on our home environments. You mentioned how humid it is at yours. Here in Sweden with super short days and cold temperatures outside, things dry out like crazy because of the radiators. I have humidifiers, but they can only do so much. I now suspect it's about our different environments! Also I have some plants in clay pots and some in plastic. I just realise I will make the plastic pots mix way chunkier when I next repot them!

[@JoeyLam-gy5tl]

Wait, your Plowmanii matured that much and put out that HUGE leaf in the last three months? That's incredible!

[@sydneyplantguy]

I know !! I was very surprised myself

[@AlexK-xe9dr]

Lightning is so important! I was killing a lot of air plants and wondering where I was going wrong, turns out air plants do like a lot of light

[@melanieklarofficial]

My sad mistake today: I put my sansiveria on the front porch to get some sun without checking the weather and without checking on it. It completely FRIED!! The leaves were so hot when I discovered it that they were too hot to touch!! I had to cut most of the leaves off.😭😭

[@thatchicksavage3165]

I'm so glad I found your Channel!! Love your energy, your accent and of course.. your gorgeous plants!!!😍🥰 I love how thorough you are and you're so organized with your videos. Short, simple and always on point! Thank you for taking the time to educate us.. xoxo💜🌺

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you:)

[@asirus]

I'm a new HerbiFriend (ex-herbicide) and your videos are both informative and inspiring, thank you!! 🌱

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :)

[@zeniam166]

Jan, your videos are so helpful and inspirational! You are a delight to watch and there's something very relaxing about your videos. I will be trying out my first ever moss pole with something similar to a grow vertical system later this week. I did a lot of research on the best pole but your plants speak for themselves and I was sold on a moss pole. When you're free- do please update us on the grow vertical system that you filled with coco chunks a few months ago. Would love to see the progress. All the best from India

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you :) will definitely do an update but the plants need to grow a bit first :)

[@hedgewitch59]

Wisdom as always. I've been doing things your way for a month now and I'm seeing results already. Keep your methods coming Jan. Thank you. 😊🙏

[@sydneyplantguy]

Nice to hear :) happy growing & thanks :)

[@katiefruits3366]

Anyone else who thought it good to block the drainage hole with a rock? My plant addiction began with succulents when I was only twelve, my dad always had me do this when I was repotting. I have since lost so many plants to root rot and once I stopped blocking the hole my plants have been so much happier. My biggest tip is to use a mesh like what screen doors are made of and use a small pice of it in place of the rock to keep the soil in and let the water flow freely.

[@joshmichaels269]

"All the plants in the world" lmao I can totally relate to that... Another great video for people wanting to keep their plants in ideal conditions, great job 👊

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@ildikojones7073]

Very informative and helpful, like always. Thank you, Jan. Now that I’ve put many of my plants on moss poles, and I’m using your aroid mix, I am still in the “unsure and anxious”phase; I don’t feel confident that I can accurately tell if the mix is dry or not. The moss poles seem to dry out quite quickly, in a few days. Anyway… still learning how to care for my beautiful plants. Pests… 😩 It’s an ongoing battle. Thus far I have not lost the war! Thank you again for the great clip.

[@mr.detley8723]

I just make sure the mosspole is moist. I stick to Jan's specifications (pot size, amount of spaghnum moss, aroidmix, etc.). Since I've only been using the method for about 3 months, I still check the pot from time to time. But there have never been any problems.

[@clearwaterbeachhomesearchm5957]

I’m so glad you showed the jacklyn. I just grew one from corm.

[@shanelpaige2152]

Hey Jan! I made my poles 90cm and 6cm diameter with loosely stuffed moss pole (high quality moss as well), but I find that I still need to water them every two days. I water them thoroughly like you do with the fiji bottle upside down. They are all in a chunky aroid mix and the water drains to the bottom of the pot after about 20 minutes from watering from the top of the pole. My plants are still juvenile so I get that the top is drying out way faster because the plant is at the bottom. But IDK how I can keep this up, watering every two days. For context I am in the NJ, USA area so we get cold dry winters and hot dry summers. All my plants that are on a pole sit directly behind a 6 liter humidifier. I need HELP! LOL

[@sydneyplantguy]

U might want to pack a little more moss in your poles but ultimately if they are in a dry environment they will dry out quickly. You could cover one side with a plastic sheet (like the grow vertical poles I sometimes use) to reduce the surface area which will make it dry iut slower :)

[@helenastutzmann2638]

Amazing and informative video, the first minute and six seconds are particularly great!

[@heidijohnson-hills5250]

Thank you for this video! So helpful! I think I may have over packed my moss pole. Oh well you learn as you go I guess 😊

[@amelise]

Thanks for sharing this Jan it's a great list for people starting out. 100% my greatest mistake when I started my indoor plant journey was thinking that a bag of stuff marketed as indoor potting mix is the ideal medium to grow indoor plants in. It really is just a bag of disappointment with fungus gnats in it.

[@sydneyplantguy]

haha well said !! Cheers :)

[@betsymaltby6788]

I wish I found your channel earlier. Have been binge watching some of your past videos; I am slowly replacing my coco coir poles (no purpose I realize now) with the DIY moss poles for my Monstera, Philodendron & Syngonium. Can't wait to see the results over the next few months.

[@amandacastle3474]

Great video. Ive been a plant parent for years as well and your video is very helpful.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :)

[@mikeyrivera-x6r]

started off with succulents about 2 and a half years ago. i just now got my first anthurium, with it being the docblock michelle. it’s my 65th plant and i plan on growing dark leaf anthuriums from now on

[@caramazzola2399]

Cool channel! Great advice. Your findings are definitely consistent with my own experience learning through my own mistakes. I appreciate your expertise, looking forward to watching your archive.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Awesome, thank you!:)

[@lin7374]

holy shit, I thought my plowmanii was big but yours is HUGE. Can't wait to see how big I can get mine to grow!

[@RollingInTheClouds]

From Sydney too and a beginner! With the type of weather we have I really want to know how we navigate through the weather and still have a thriving collection of tropical plants!

[@sydneyplantguy]

We're pretty lucky with the weather :) I grow a bunch of my plants outdoors year around.

[@haksookim9255]

Thank you, i learn from you about plant growing and following your method to make my plant like yours. ^^. Honestly your youtube channel is helpful Thanks. sydneyguy From south korea.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you :)

[@single_use_planet_]

Using too big of a pot, most of my plants got root rot despite me loosening the soil all the time, the pots were way too large, the layer of soil I was told to put at the bottom of my pot compacted and stayed wet, while I was sticking my finger as deep as I could thinking the substrate was dry, I since then have started using much smaller pots and putting the plants in the pot wothout a bottom layer of soil, since I bottom water I don't see a problem yet for the roots to be at the bottom.

[@paulineplunket121]

Very, very, very informative, educational. Thanks.

[@bkcreative2]

I may be wrong, but I thought root rot was primarily a fungal issue. This is important as the treatment for bacterial and fungal pathogens are different.

[@roselyncenaspa-alisbo7569]

Wow you have many pricy plants sir ! I' m your new friend and i am also a plant lover ! Thats why i enjoy watching your video sir ..

[@vicstee482]

Really interesting. Especially the last point! But where was gorgeous brad?!!!

[@GEOMETRICINK]

I’ve been growing plants for maybe 20 years and I still freak out when I see a thrip. They are the worst. I’m actually relieved if a plant has spider mites…they are easy peasy…a gaggle of thrips…nope! I wipe those suckers out immediately!

[@jmfly]

Some great pointers in there! 🌱

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :)

[@loreleimaid]

I would love to see what you could do with orchids in that chunky mix and with regular feedings. I have a lust for every plant and so therefore I have WAY too many to give them each the specialized care they need, but I admire your discipline immensely. You could put the orchids in the pot with the vines and it would give you a bit of bling there at the base.

[@maxleong91]

i wished this video came up to my feed earlier! a things i learnt throughout my plant-parent journey, 1. airflow: should not tuck a plant at the corner of the kitchen near a wall, it's near death. leaves get yellow and all. i put them back next to my window, it's thriving and giving me new babies every now and then (i bought that plant for that kitchen tho... not that kitchen spot is filled with other stuffs haha) 2. bright indirect sun: i really thought it mean if the sun is not direct = indirect sun. i read somewhere where, we should look upwards from the plant's POV and see if we should see the sky, if yes, that goods and add on the sheer curtain, that would make "bright indirect sun" 3. moss poll: my very first plant was a monstera. have 0 knowledge and just let it grow wanting the "bushy" feel... itchy hands kept turning left and right and now it's all over the place 🤦🏻‍♂ having a baby monstera thai constellation now, i will make sure to give it a nice straight pole once it has settled down (just bought back few days ago, i'll let it be familiar with the environment first 4. overwatering: it's so true that the soil from nursery are all so compact and heavy. luckily i realise fast that my monstera isn't really growing (i'm from Malaysia, so it's summer year long). decided to repot and change to aroid soil. oh dear! the roots are starting to rot a little!

[@karlareyes4688]

I'm a fairly new plant parent 😊 ive always love plants but never had the green thumb needed to keep the alive at the least 😅 I have a pothos that's been with me for a while now. Hes gone through neglect so many times and he's still there, growing and i even leaned to propagate it and his babies are doing really good. So hes given me the confidence to get more plants and now i have about 6 😊 I think my biggest mistake has been thinking that full sun plants could withstand south Texas scorching sun 😢 nothing survives here in Laredo with our hellish hot weather 😅 so now i always provide shade even to full sun plants 😊

[@sydneyplantguy]

It's a learning curve :) enjoy the process & happy growing !:)

[@SGScaper]

The true get changer for me to avoid over / under watering was using pon ( semi hydro medium) in a self watering pot. Life is so so much simpler. But I also learned not all plants do will in pon. They prefer ordinary soil.

[@americandingo6715]

I find the very inconsistent weather in New England makes it more difficult to figure out watering needs. It can be humid for days on end then dry as heck for 4 days in a row. This winter has had more humidity that helped but finally got dry this past wk. So being able to pay attention to what needs to be watered is tough.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Same here… weather has been VERY inconsistent. That’s why u can’t stick to a regular watering frequency and always have to adjust. Keeps us on our toes :)

[@dowblackburn9498]

I do over watering and over fertilized, your plants are absolutely perfectly healthy looking I would love to have mine looking like that, ty for sharing ❤️ 😊

[@user-gd3oi2ue6k]

Excellent video with a ton of useful knowledge! Thank you for sharing! 😊

[@sydneyplantguy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@zoeygould6093]

I thought I was using a chunky potting mix, but I've realized it's probably not chunky enough so I'm going to decrease the amount of coco coir and add coco chips or more bark.

[@carolstuff]

Thanks for sharing! Info will help me as a new plant parent.

[@aquaman461]

Just 1 of my mistakes was growing alocasia in too big of a pot and getting root rot.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Good one !! :)

[@syzygy_ai]

You have such a nice cat. Mine would make it her mission to eat any leaf she could reach. I have to keep all my plants up on a shelf.

[@maryschaefer9371]

Hi Sydney Plant Guy would you consider showing or doing a tour of your prop station or new young plant area? Thanks

[@charliebrown9188]

I pretty much agree with all you say, the one that I empathise with the most was the wrong/right plants for me: I live in the UK, my previous home was great for growing begonias rex, my new home is not so suitable, I spent a lot of money in the last 2 years by trying to grow begonias and I've decided I'm not going to force it anymore as I can grow other wonderful plants instead, just different colours and textures. Aroids are my thing here in my new home of 2 years now, including prayer plants - ctenathes, calatheas, maranthas..., sansevierias... and a whole rage of wonderful plants. Alocasias tend to go a bit yuck due to the low levels of light, so I'm trying this year with letting them hibernate a bit - this is a new experience for me. I have said in the past to people that say a particular plant is too hard to keep/care for: its not the plant, its either you or your home - but as no one likes to be blamed for something.... so I'm glad you spoke about this. For pest control I use Neem oil, there are plenty of recipies out there, I stopped buying chemicals. Thanks for a great vid, and loved your lush, large foliage 👍👍

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks for sharing your experiences :)

[@lorrainetroughton4778]

Great video Jan. In your medium you use coco chips, can you tell me where you get these from and how do you buy them…ie in a compressed block or loosely. Thank you 🙏🙏

[@sydneyplantguy]

I get them loose from Growing Grounds (@growinggrounds on insta)

[@lorrainetroughton4778]

Aaah ok thank you. I will see if I can source them locally in Adelaide. Thank you for responding🙏🙏

[@mychellederosin]

I have mine in store bought soil. Can you give a list of items in your mix?

[@anermila6325]

When Jan speaks about plants, I really listen carefully.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :)

[@norasuarezg]

I think fighting pest are part of the whole experience! It's a new challenge and it keeps you interested in another angle of the plants. A don't love them but I feel so good when they don't kill my plants and are eradicated for that event. It part of the fun! 😋 Love your videos and explanations! Hello from Mexico city.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :)

[@ashleyjamieson8628]

Great video !!! I'm shore we're all guilty of most of these at some point. Mine is the rush to pot up once I see roots. If anything, plants teach us patience!! Thanks for all the vids!! Plant love from Nova Scotia Canada!! 💚

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you :) this hobby is definitely a marathon, not a sprint

[@svengutjahr]

this guide video is just fantastic! Thanks! XOXO from Berlin!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :)

[@Altobellodobermans]

Not familiar with the stones you use. I’m in Ontario Canada can we use any type of small stones? Also your pots are not as large as what I use should I use smaller pots? I’ve are 20 to 30 inches wide.

[@mr.detley8723]

Hallo Jan, mein größter Fehler am Anfang: zu große Töpfe. Dadurch hab ich das Gießen nicht in den Griff bekommen. Wollte auch mal nen richtig buschigen Pothos haben. Ca. 15 Stecklinge in einem 20 cm Topf. Nach einem halben Jahr kein einziges neues Blatt, aber der Pott mit Wurzeln zugewachsen!🤣 Ausserdem auf KZbinr zu hören die sagen " Die Erde fast komplett austrocknen lassen"😀 Aber Fehler sind dafür da, gemacht zu werden!.

[@monalischen1746]

Meinst du der Topf war einfach zu groß?

[@mr.detley8723]

@@monalischen1746 Ja, ich denke die Stecklinge wollten zuerst gute Wurzeln etablieren. Da genug Platz war haben sie es wohl ein bisschen übertrieben.🤣 Es mag noch andere Gründe gegeben haben, aber als ich sie in kleinere Töpfe gepflanzt habe, ist das Blattwachstum regelrecht explodiert. Seitdem versuche ich die Topfgrösse den Pflanzen anzupassen. Erleichtert auch das Gießen und Düngen. LG

[@monalischen1746]

@@mr.detley8723 Okay, ich habe nämlich gerade auch einen ähnlichen Fall und vielleicht sollte ich mal nach den Wurzeln schauen 😊

[@Mastiffmom1574]

I have an open concept office / living room where all my plants are. I have celijg fans running on medium all the time and I have 4 humidifiers running to keep the humidity around 60-65%. I'm in Michigan so I have many grow lights too. Do you think a ceiling fan will provide enough air flow? Thank you! Love your channel and the info...And you plants are GORGEOUS!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Yes it should :) u just want air to circulate, it doesn’t need to be strong :)

[@jennyeskridge3656]

Thank you for this video. Very informative. I subscribed to your channel!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :)

[@KathyGallagher01]

G’day Jan, superb tutorial as always thank you. Question for you, when you say 6cm how wide is the actual wire laying flat please?

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :) approx 18cm

[@KathyGallagher01]

@@sydneyplantguy thank you your a star ⭐️

[@How2shine]

@@sydneyplantguy Thank you 👍

[@Grrrnthumb]

My mistake was horticultural charcoal. The old books all said "It sweetens the soil". That sounded great and I loved the coarse texture and adsorption qualities. I didn't understand that "sweeten the soil" meant exactly "raises the pH". Doh. It was great in the old mixes with mostly peat to help counteract that super low pH, but not applicable in modern mixes with little or no peat. The effect wasn't bad enough to directly notice the difference, but I eventually learned right.

[@Sami-tk4dd]

Dang it. I just planted a rooted cutting in a mix with horticulture charcoal 😭

[@Grrrnthumb]

@@Sami-tk4dd Most mixes don't use enough of it to make much of a difference. But it at least does tell us that the maker of the soil is going more on myth and not so much on understanding what each component of the mix actually does. If you have some of it leftover, might want to pH test it just for fun (it's probably fine).

[@Sami-tk4dd]

@@Grrrnthumb I mix my own and added a bit extra :( I'll get a soil tester kit

[@Grrrnthumb]

​@@Sami-tk4dd Well if you're mixing your own then it will be great to get a pH tester to help dial it in. From now on, every ingredient must have a clear purpose. Your alkaline ingredients present a unique opportunity to add calcium while balancing against acidic ingredients. That is why I prefer to use lime instead of charcoal to bring pH back up if it is too low. Charcoal adds potassium, but that comes easily from fertilizer, whereas the calcium you can get from lime does not easily come from a one-part fertilizer. So I choose lime instead of charcoal for pH-up, plus I like to use acidic ingredients like Canadian peat so I have more need of pH-up and thereby more opportunity to add calcium.

[@s7929]

Where d you get soil if not from the store? I am constantly fighting gnats

[@sundipmittal]

Please advise the potting mix & ratio of each ingrediant that you make for money plants, pothos & monsteria.

[@ScarlettJones96]

What size moss pack do you buy that fits in 6 poles? Do you cut off excess wire that is no longer a square shape? (Half open)

[@gwenntastic7143]

You absolutely can grow queen anthuriums in low humidity (50%) though, you just have to buy them small and get them used to your environment. Then they will put up big leave too! =)

[@sydneyplantguy]

Good to know :)

[@Playstationmmm]

Not at my house 😢

[@beselsqueletonman]

holy cannoli that Jacklyn is superb!

[@H2SeanP]

All great reminder, even for experienced growers!

[@IslandfriendsOz]

I came across your channel when searching for an alternative for my variegated pothos which I saved from death from my parents home. I remember it always being there and I'm 50 something now. My father used to care for it but when he passed it got neglected & was almost dead when I bought it home. Repotted it and used the existing piece of tree bark (about 90cm tall) to support it but now it's flourishing and I'm wrapping it around and around. Wanted to see if I could find a way to train it taller rather than pruning but your mistake #10 has made me realise the nodes probably wouldn't attach to a moss pole. So is the best option to cut it right back and have it start again on the pole?

[@Chaos3183]

I always repot my plants after a few months... the new store medium is usually just coco and that is great for moisture but terrible at home. plus some times the plants now have this wrapping around the base of the plant.. which can cause rot. I let them get comfy and then plan to get them out... I also see a lot of plants that are really many new cuttings with no roots on them or barely any roots and you think your good but the plants die quickly because your thinking its mature but it is not and needs a moist soil to focus on root growth.

[@mettevunsjensen4094]

Do you know, if there are any climbing velvety philodendrons?

[@pattydavis7275]

Hi, please let me know where you purchase your clear pots. I live in the US. Clear pots are now where unless you buy Orchid pots, the largest they have is a10' but only 7 inch high. I am using Molly's aroid mix.

[@sydneyplantguy]

I buy them locally at Bunnings. Sorry, no idea where u could get them outside of Australia

[@JustJ0nathan]

I’ve come back to this video to update on the status of my homemade chunky soil mix. My aroids developed a severe nitrogen deficiency from the alkalinity of the soil. Peat moss is acidic, which I had no idea. And most plants prefer a soil on the acidic end in order to properly absorb nutrients. I tried a 30-10-10 fertilizer with sulphur to add some acidity to the substrate, but I eventually just gave my plants a new soil mix that was much more peat moss heavy. I probably should have given the fertilizer more time to do its thing, but I was too scared my plants would die before that. Any advice about fertilizing plants in this chunky soil was absent and needed to be mentioned. If you’re using a chunky soil mix like in this video, make sure you are adding a slightly acidic fertilizer regularly, or your plants will become stunted.

[@JarlBerry]

HEY! Great content, awesome videos! Question for you; I watched your Oxalis video and it left me with an obsession to obtain. Well yesterday I ascertained the extraordinarily rare specimen. I have two in 150cm pots. I want to keep them in a wide but short cylindrical planter for dining table centre piece. Can you advise on soil conditions/light/ federalising. How deep roots go etc?? Thank you!!!!

[@nathantaaron]

I think a big reason the mistakes in potting medium can be attributed to is the misconception that roots grow primarily vertically. Many diagrams of plants/trees even display this myth, like the roots are a mirror image of the stem growing towards the sky. The reality is that in nature the vast majority of root systems are in the top 6" or so in the soil; they need oxygen and organic matter, neither of which exist in deeper layers. Even plants in prairies, the most densely speciated plant systems in the world, keep their roots near the surface. When roots get that "rootbound" look when they curl around the inside of the pot, they are most definitely just looking for oxygen (unless the pot is mostly roots, then it's definitely rootbount lol).

[@sydneyplantguy]

Very good point :)

[@chaitukonathala432]

Hi, amazing tips. Can you please share a video or link how to change store bought plant to home made aroid mix. ( wash off all soil / peat moss) wat to do if the roots are small or the plant is still in tissue culture plug ????

[@letXeqX]

Agreed, this would be great to learn.

[@melanieklarofficial]

Ok so I’m confused about airflow. What is the difference between airflow and “a draft?” Everyone says keep your plants away from a draft but then they say to put in a fan or open a window. What??? So is it ok if the leaves flutter a bit from the swamp cooler? Is a gentle breeze from an open window good or bad? What is the difference between airflow and a draft?

[@sydneyplantguy]

Airflow means the air is circulating. A draft would usually be heavier & colder :) all plants are exposed to wind in nature so they are all okay with airflow but some don’t link a strong cold draft :)

[@3SiameseCats]

5:09 learned this the hard way 😩 lost a good amount of plants I had just bought but at least I learned that lesson then

[@o.t.plantslover199]

Thanks Jan for sharing...

[@landidecruz522]

I have made every single mistake on your list except moss poles...I am now putting my Glorios on a pole and kinda stressed out doing it. My 1 struggling plant currently is my Calathea Yellow Fusion...doesn't help living in Cape Town, South Africa where currently the air is dry and hot. Most of my plants are in an indoor greenhouse but I still struggle with certain plants. Thanks for an amazing channel and all your tips!!!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :)

[@samanthaunboxed1070]

Hello and thank you for your channel you are an inspiration....I was wondering what is the plant on YOUR left ...the black and green golden dragon looking one...its beautiful!!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :) thats alocasia ‘jacklyn’

[@samanthaunboxed1070]

@@sydneyplantguy it's beautiful you have amazing talent

[@marcarusaviles9020]

wow, I really love and appreciate you videos because you actually explain yourself extremely well!! Do you recommend to water Philos by immersion? I normally water all my plants that way

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you :) i always water from the top, helps aerating the mix :)

[@satyajitmondal2461]

Lots of love from india...

[@nellyaguilar7295]

querido sydney no entiendo ingles sin embargo me encanta ver tus videos

[@bodie3690]

my biggest mistake was buying plants online from some facebook store called the jungle collective during the lockdown without first inspecting the plant. I was sent a plant which was suffering from some kind of bacterial or fungal blight, which i knew nothing about, and in my ignorance i would mist my new plants as they loved a bit of humidity, and in doing so unknowingly spread the blight to almost every single plant in my house (upwards of about 70 plants) i lost almost everything. since then i never buy plants from facebook and i have stopped misting all together, as it doesnt do much anyway, and it just spreads disease

[@williamzondersen]

Cool Program.

[@jimcurley5529]

Do you have a link to your recommended soil mixes for aeroids?

[@sydneyplantguy]

I make my own aroid mix as per my tutorial on my channel :)

[@GEOMETRICINK]

“Airflow is important for your health. I pretty much have my windows open at all times.” Me sitting in my living room during a northern Michigan snowstorm 🥺

[@sydneyplantguy]

Well, maybe opt for a fan instead :P

[@Black_Jack_AOS]

Well I'm from Europe xD I have to say, I have a very big Waro in my living room and it does perfectly well. Humidity varies from 45 to 75% during the year and temperatures from 13 to about 30°C. For lighting I don't actually have any besides it being behind a large window (west sided), so if its rainy they get a lot less light (specially now during winter, we just had a month of rain). Obviously this means it has a dormency period from October to March where it doesn't grow so I don't fertilize either. I also have grown some outdoors during spring to autumn and these parameters vary even more. For light they get direct 2/3 hours of the first sun in the morning and full bright shade after that. As for temperatures they can go from 15 to 40°C day/night and humidity from, well I have no idea honestly. But I do shower them 2/3 times a day during the hotter days so I believe it varies from 40 to 70/80%. I've had over 20 Warocqueanum now, pluss cuttings and I've only lost 1 (my first one, due to unexperience). So I'd say they are a very hardy plant, I've never had them over 80% humidity, and had them in tents, in living rooms and outdoors. None the less this isn't to go against what you said because 99% of them time I totally agree with everything you say and I really love your channel and started doing moss poles because of you ;D

[@sydneyplantguy]

Good to know :)

[@Plantcave]

Would you say you think moss poles can add more humidity in the air or not really?

[@sydneyplantguy]

Of course :)