Busting 10 Houseplant Myths in 10 Minutes

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

These 3 hacks change EVERYTHING 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6m5YZWwnJhnsLM

[@priapulida]

hey thank you for the content! I like the conciseness. what is the first plant in this video? (edit: Croton maybe? what kind?)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@priapulida yep a Croton 👍

[@tigq1430]

If my plants are in a bigger pot than size, should I re pot?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@tigq1430 if they look like they are struggling then maybe. If they look fine then just leave it 👍

[@Grape_Fever]

We put rocks in the bottom of the pot to keep from losing soil through the hole. It works well for this although you can buy filters.

[@sarahrosen4985]

I'm OK with trying to get the number of plants in my apartment into the thousands to improve the air quality. ;-)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

😂

[@white_isnt_a_race2338]

Or get a smaller apartment

[@zhmw]

LOL! I have so many plants on my kitchen counter there's no place to prepare food. Oh well, I prefer gardening to cooking anyways.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@zhmw 😂

[@ryguy8054]

Same. Someday I'll have a house so full of plants you'd think you're in some wacky jungle

[@s.hakken539]

THANK YOU for mentioning the air purification. It's really a pet peeve of mine. I read the original study years ago and from what I can remember it was pretty underwhelming. I think they couldn't even determine if the 'purifying effect' was due to the plant itself or due to the soil

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Exactly!

[@cielrobinson]

I have a mug from one of my dad's clients in the 90's with some blurb about how nasa says plants clean the air. Irks me every time I use the thing.

[@Unkn0wn1133]

I had about 50 orchids in my bedroom growing in water and clay balls, the air did smell clean and freah in there but cant scientifically say it was cleaner.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@cielrobinson 😂

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@Unkn0wn1133 it made you feel good anyway 👍

[@francesc1331]

I began indoor gardening in the 70's and regularly heard about using crocking in the bottom of pots. Also, never heard of watering in the saucer. Have always had an abundance of plants and they've adapted and flourished. Although, I must admit, if a new arrival doesn't appreciate its care, I re-home it. I guess I have a different system but all the parts seem to work out together. I have several Calatheas, one with lots of brown and I'll have to ponder whether to buy it distilled water. I really appreciate your site. Lots to think about.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@gaiaelizabeth9319]

my snake plant that I've had for a few years blessed me with flowers this Fall! :) I read that snake plants flowering is fairly uncommon, so I was pretty proud of it, especially since I left the poor thing outside for a few days on its first winter and it got some pretty bad frost damage. also, I recently turned my extra bathroom into a plant room. I've got a heater in the bedroom next to it so the bathroom will be warm without being heated directly and making the air too dry or hitting any particular plant with direct heat, four full spectrum grow lights on the ceiling, a humidifier, and one of those reptile heat/ humidity moniters. Lights are on for about 8 hours a day (reccomended general time for the types of plants in there) The room has finally been at a stable 60% humidity and 71-75 degrees for several days in a row. I'm growing some acorn squash in there right now (I don't have a yard)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That plant room sounds great and a flowering snake plant 😮

[@Ace-1525]

Can't wait until I can do something similar with our one closet~ That sounds heavenly!

[@iansabrewolfe]

People keep saying getting snakes to flower is really hard, but other than my fernwoods, all of mine do it at least once every couple summers. As long as the plant hasn't been repotted recently and is getting plenty of light, all it seems to take to trigger them is hotter temps and stretching out the time between waterings. It doesn't even seem to matter whether they are kept indoors or outdoors.

[@circe...]

I'm very new to planting, like 1 month, so all these myths were unknown, but i'm glad to learn the right way to avoid these mistakes. I did collect a gallon of rain water last week, so i think i'm on the right track 😊😊

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@karenjones3088]

I totally used to put stones in the bottom of my pots, and in trays underneath! Luckily I have stopped doing this, and am going to work towards using the nursery pots with drainage holes so I can water from the bottom. Thanks for your tips!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff thanks Karen

[@christinak9587]

I just recently started bottom watering and my plants seem happier. I usually set a timer for 10-15 minutes (tip from a planty peep) because I have accidentally killed plants by leaving them to bottom water for hours while I go out LOL.

[@comradegarrett1202]

I like ceramic pots with holes in the bottom because they're a little nicer looking, and for desert plants terracotta can really help the roots breathe

[@glow1815]

Same here I stopped doing that. I see with rocks on the bottom of the pots my plants doesn't live the roots gets rotten and Untimely they died.

[@themadsamplist]

12 times yes! Great video. When I tell people about the gravel usually they stare at me in disbelieve. It is even true for clay granuals. You can better mix them through the soil if you want to use them. And when your plant needs repotting you don't always have to go for a bigger pot. You can prune the roots and put it back in the same pot. Always prune the plant too when you do a root pruning.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Well said, thank you 👍

[@zhmw]

I keep forgetting to mist my plants, but now I know, it's better to forget about misting plants. Appreciate all these 'busting the myths 'about how to care for houseplants.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yep don’t bother👍 thanks for watching

[@iansabrewolfe]

For the plants that love the humidity, I've had really good results using the tiny little ultrasonic humidifiers you see all over online marketed as 'essential oil diffusers' to create localized humid zones for them. They are pretty inexpensive at ~$20US and are small enough to tuck in among a group of plants pretty unobtrusively. The only real downsides I've found is that they do have to be refilled more or less daily and require cleaning every week or two, so they do add a bit of work. Also, being cheap, they can be prone to poor quality control, so make sure you can easily return/exchange it if you get a dud. That said, the ones I have are still chugging along 4 years later and the nerve and prayer plants have never been happier.

[@CaptainDCap]

The one about the pebble tray humidification is true, but the tray is still beneficial. If you use an empty tray, it will take more water to overflow it, thus allowing you to overwater it more. A tray of pebbles is also more aesthetically pleasing, and certain types of rock can leech beneficial nutrients into the water for your plants to consume.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yeah there's no harm and there may be some other benefits. I guess I was just saying it's not really adding humidity like it's supposed to 😁

[@tamaranaszer9113]

@@SheffieldMadePlants it also depends on the plant... I use it for all my begos, so that their soil doesn't dry out that fast and they definitely like it better then being watered more often Great video anyway!:)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@tamaranaszer9113 👍👍

[@sparkyheberling6115]

Re electric humidifiers: An ultrasonic humidifier will drop "dust" on everything, including the leaves. It wipes off easily, but is still another task to add to your already full day. (Does anybody know if the sound of ultrasonic humidifiers bothers pets?) An evaporative humidifier will not drop dust on your plants, but it is not nearly as effective at humidifying. It depends on the temperature and humidity level in the ambient air. Really old humidifiers used heating elements to create steam. They add a lot of humidity-but they use a lot of electricity.

[@GingerPlease]

I like pebble trays underneath plants, because it can catch and overflow water and it's helpful for people who are forgetful so that plant isn't sitting in excess water, or for really large plants where it's hard to maneuver to drain the excess water in the drainage dish. I know the humidity effects are miniscule though, but I do recommend it for beginners when I'm working at the garden center, and explain it like above. And the only plants I mist daily (especially in winter) are air plants- since they dont have soil (though I also soak them every couple weeks). I even learned in my horticulture studies that misting doesn't do much for terrestrial and most epiphytic plants. If someone really wants to increase humidity, adding a humidifier or using a terrarium or cloche are the best ways.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

All very true. I’ve not got any air plants. Need to try them

[@CeliaG9999]

For some reason I can’t keep air plants alive, gave up on them they are too expensive. I did read up on them and followed directions 🤷‍♀️

[@mdw908]

@@CeliaG9999 I can't either. Not sure why though I'm in Southern California. Maybe it's too dry? I do love succulents and luckily I'm in the perfect climate for them.

[@butterchicken83]

This video was perfectly timed: I was wondering how I should set up a barrel of water to sit and declorinate for a day, and then get channeled into a hosepipe. Nope, I'm just going to let the plants figure out how they'd prefer to deal with it the way they've figured stuff out since the dawn of time.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@Chris-op7yt]

good advice, thanks. for most situations i've now stopped potting up plants directly into good pots. instead i find a plastic pot (that has usual drainage holes) that will fit into a decorative pot without holes. if the decorative pot has a hole, i seal it. This way i can water and flush indoor plants in sink or even outside, without lugging sometimes heavy decorative pots. I install suitable feet on decorative pots so they dont scratch floor/shelves/table. After watering and draining so they're not dripping anymore, I put them back into decorative pots. This also prevents expensive decorative pots deteriorating from salts in fertilizer and water.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That works 👍

[@ingrida1121]

Great video. One thing about leaving the the water overnight. I do it often but not for these reasons. It helps me to make sure the the water I use for the watering is same temperature as the soil and does not shock the roots of the plant

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Fair enough. I tend to water straight from the tap. Saves all the faff 😁

[@ingrida1121]

@@SheffieldMadePlants I do that sometimes too, but I also find if I have the can ready with water I am less likely to be too lazy to start to water the plants. 🤣

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@ingrida1121 hehe

[@elvetrovfan]

Interestingly enough he didn't mention the tempreture of the water. I try to use tepid water for the reason you stated.

[@reallysweethedgehog]

What about using boiled water? Is it helpful?

[@NataschaYT]

The tip about letting your plants sit snug in the pot or only up-pot 1-2 sizes is such a good tip and would’ve saved me so many plants in the past 😅. Hope beginners see your videos too! ❤

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I hope so too! Thanks for watching 😁

[@louisemiazek7055]

I have enjoyed you videos tremendously. Finally the truth has come out about misting, does more harm to your plants with no benefits but reducing some dust of the leaves if you over mist and it drips of the leaves and on to your floor. Better to give them a shower instead. No wet carpet. I have a house full of indoor plants and my husband gets hayfever and as soon as he goes out side his nose just runs and runs but when he's inside it stops and I put it down to the cleaner air. So I'm sorry but I do disagree with you there . Plus the plants help eliminate the smell of my husband smoking as I don't smoke and my visitors are shocked that they carn't smell the dirty cigarettes or my cats kitty litter smell. Also One very important note is that the plants have a marvellous charming effect on children. I found this out when we moved and for the first time we moved all my plants first and my kids just would not settle and drove me crazy till we moved into the new house and back to the plants. Also for the first time I need air fresheners to help my house smell better and I never have had to use air fresheners before or after as my plants do a better job. Just to give you a tip that house plants grow better if they are a little pot bound. Especially the Syngoniums and Philodendrons as I only repot mine once every 3 to 5 years and they grow summer and winter and they don't seem to stagnant like the plants I repot yearly. Plus I use tomato stands to wrap the runners around as that way light gets through to the back of the plant you just have to make sure the runner gets rooted every so often as there is no middle poll for roots to attach to. I would post you a photo of one of my plants so you could see what I mean but KZbin does not give me that opportunity... Anyway sorry for the super long message but I thought you might be interested as I have managed Nursery's or Garden Centres for many years and my thumbs are definitely green. Anyway keep posting as I love your posts.....

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@louisemiazek7055 thanks Louise. I wish my kids were calm with all the plants in my home! I agree about plants seemingly growing better when a little snug in their pot.

[@louisemiazek7055]

@@SheffieldMadePlants I bet if you removed all your plants from the house you would see what I mean as I didn't notice till they where not there. If someone had told me this I would have thought the way you do but it's also got to do with the natural color green as blue and green are both very calming colors...

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@louisemiazek7055 maybe I should try that 🤔 Take me an age though 😂

[@sparkyheberling6115]

4:36 "Pulling your hair out in the process, like me." LOL! I love your deadpan jokes.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

😂 thanks!

[@manupbritain5232]

I have to question myth number 3. Although discerpating chemicals is not so backed allowing your water to come up to room temperature is beneficial for indoor plants as it reduces the chance of cold shock impacting your plant. I have recently acquired my first ficus and misting it, I have heard more people for than against for this species. I think we need to look at 'tropical' plants in the same way as tropical fish keepers. We are dealing with plants from across the world so you need to understand the climate that they come from. To flourish they need a space just like home which not all of us can provide. There are huge differences between Afica, South America, Asia and Australia yet if you follow the general 'rules' for 'houseplants' for everything you have very few plants will still be going in 12 months time. KZbin and channels such as yours are amazing for sharing knowledge. Thanks for another great video.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That’s fine if you want to bring it to room temp. Lots of folks do it to cleanse the water though. Completely agree. Knowing their climate leads to success

[@wilhelminaulry4663]

You are great. Please keep on helping us take care of our plants. Thank you for what you do

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you, I will 😁

[@Alex-ru3ut]

I have a zz plant in my windowless basement, and I have to trim it constantly because it just grows SO fast. It's not even under a grow light like most of my plants are. It's just in a corner of my kitchen. I think zz plants might be my soulmates (soulplants?)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Soulplants hehe

[@Blue_Azure101]

They don’t like too much sunlight

[@jannertfol]

I fill my watering can with water and let it stand overnight, but not to remove additives, but simply to allow it to achieve 'room temperature' so the water doesn't shock the plants.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

No harm is that 😁

[@trippyhippy2110]

@@SheffieldMadePlants I will say I have evidence that one wasn't a myth, being into aquatics as much as I am, I can tell you it's a fact that Chlorine and Chloramine will for sure gas off the surface of the water if you leave it for 24-48 hours. That's what we all do for fish in the industry if we don't have enough money for stress coat in big setups (Ponds, 300+ gallons, etc.). Even in the pool industry they warn that if there's not enough fresh air in an indoor setup then you can get adverse effects from the process of Chlorine and Chloramine gassing off.

[@scalare70]

After seeing one of your videos i bought a 'water-measurer ' and oh my god !! I had a real kick in my waterbucket - so to speak! 💦💦 I water TOO much!! The soil seams dry on top but below the surface it is wet'n wild 😆 I think i have saved at least 5-6 of my green plants by using the soil-measurer in the space of a short periode! So, thank you for that tip/advice!! I am happy and so are my precious plants 🌿🌿🤩

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff, glad you’re finding it useful. Soil sure can be deceptive

[@tammibolender3785]

I have to water my plants more often in the winter. The way the heat works in my house it makes the house very dry, and the areas where several of my plants are get pretty warm and extremely dry.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Makes sense to do that if your house is warm and dry

[@AttackGoose]

A good humidifier in that room should help - I use one in my plant room even though I have a whole house humidifier to give a boost to that specific room.

[@jennamarie2481]

So helpful!! Relatively new to plants, been trying to learn for about a year now and you definitely touched on a few topics that I've been seeing a lot of back and forth on and it was confusing me. Your logic makes sense to me. Thank you!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad it was helpful!

[@laurap239]

Love your video, and just subscribed. Concise and to the point. I am guilty of following 2 of these myths - putting gravel under the layer of soil when I plant (promise I'll stop doing that) and waiting a day before watering with tap water. This however I do so the water has time to get to room temperature.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great and welcome! No harm in letting it come to temp. I find my plants don't really mind the water straight from the tap.

[@thesmirkinggrape]

I got a Guzmania Francesca as a gift from Kew gardens 2 day ago and the first two myths in your video were the first two care instructions on the tag after light conditions. Big lols

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Oops 😬

[@aspirativemusicproduction2135]

I live next to water. My succulents can survive from November to April without any watering. I am running a chance to give them root rot if I water them so unless I see them shrivel I don't water. Rarely they even shrivel unless they are directly next to the window. When they are in shade they don't shrivel. They just sit there and do nothing until I take them out in spring.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Sounds like a good system 👍

[@kathy7545]

It would be really great if you could do an experiment to demonstrate that adding a layer of gravil or clay balls at the bottom of the pot doesn't help draining ! This one is really difficult to debunk I find 😅 This video is really helpful btw, thank you !

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Nice suggestion thanks. Just need to find a way to actually do that. I'm no scientist believe me 😂

[@kathy7545]

@@SheffieldMadePlants Hahah, emmm let's see... 3 transparents nursing pots with same soil, one with gravel, one with clay and one with nothing,, and measuring with moist meter every couple of hours ? 🤔🤓(Btw, I just removed the clay balls from my sansevieria pots 😅)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@kathy7545 👍👍

[@Nobodyreallyatall]

@@SheffieldMadePlants I fail to understand why gravel is "bad" though I agree often totally unnecessary. Does something insect or disease grow in the spaces at the bottom? If you overwater it allows excess water to drain out which is the original purpose. Depends on the pot. Avoid bad pots. I see that you add water to the bottom of pots, that leaves the bottom of the soil soggy also.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@Nobodyreallyatall the problem is that water only transfers from soil to rocks when the soil is fully saturated. It doesn't pool until the soil is soaked through so it defeats the purpose. You're much better just having a pot with drainage holes

[@missj9908]

Very useful tips Mr Sheffield especially your tip about not spraying the plants or putting pebbles in the bottom of the pot. 😀

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad it was helpful!

[@karmicmoon41]

I have my water sit out overnight before using it because I want it room temp before pouring onto my plants, even though I try to regulate the temp while I'm pouring, it's always either too hot or too cold so I leave it out. Actually I fill up a large jug and leave it by the plants to refill the watering container.

[@Broken_robot1986]

Learned so much from your channel. My plants thank you. I'm understanding better the different reactions I'm seeing and couldn't really explain.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad to help

[@SwatejK]

Another tip that I have learnt from watching your videos is that Grouping plants together helps them. There was one lonely plant placed in a well lit area but did not show growth when I put it along with other plants the growth shot up. Humidity was the issue 😄

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Nice! 😁

[@Hanna.Vergara]

since i follow you my plants are doing so much better, and this one helps me a lot, i strugle with my succulents so much BTW my mostera is growing a new leaf!!!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@sazji]

Excellent video! I deal with some of these so frequently that I feel like a broken record. I try to do it diplomatically. 😅 The gravel in the bottom of the pot one was actually debunked over a century ago, but still persists, and some people actually get upset when you discourage it. I just tell folks that after two or three waterings, you'll just have wet dirt with rocks in it. Also funny to think that people might be afraid of a plant in their room, but have no trouble sleeping next to another human being, who used a LOT more oxygen than a peace lily. I do recommend however that people defer a more generous repotting till spring, when plants are growing more vigorously. And for the same reason that we water succulents much less in winter, most plants do transpire a lot faster in warm bright weather than during our gray Seattle winter gloom and very short days.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you! Folks are defensive about the rocks one for some reason

[@sazji]

@@SheffieldMadePlants I still remember old Thalassa Cruso going on about her "properly crocked pots!" 😀

[@jannertfol]

I don't do the stand the plant on a wet pebble tray thing. HOWEVER, as some of my best light sources are window sills with radiators underneath, I've devised a different way of dealing with the humidity issue. I put these plants in normal plastic pots with holes in the bottom, put them in a pot cover with no drainage holes, and THEN I set that cover pot in a larger bowl. I put a few inches of just plain water in the bowl, and behold....that works a treat. I saved two stromanthes which were suffering from lack of humidity by setting their hole-less plant covers in one of those cheap plastic aquarium things you can get as 'pet carriers.' I keep about an inch of water in the carrier. The difference this has made to my stromanthe is stunning. No more browned leaves, or curled ones that don't open up, etc. I can keep the soil damp but not wet, which is what they like, while keeping the humidity very high around them ...without humidifiying the house, which would cause unwanted dampness issues. They are growing like mad now. One of the best things about this method of providing humidity is that any algae, etc, can easily be cleaned off the inside of the bowls or aquarium container. I do this every so often, and the environment stays clean.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That’s an interesting idea. I’m going to test it and see how it does. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@robertduley5446]

The dry humor is excellent🤣

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Why thank you sir 😁

[@Caseyd1966]

I have a HUGE almost floor to ceiling south facing window in my living room. Even succulents found it too hot/bright, so I have strictly cactus (in clay pots) there now. In the summer, I have to water at least once/week - sometimes 2x -as they dry right out. In the winter I can go for a little longer - sometimes two weeks without watering if it has been very overcast most days. My cacti have thrived in this spot for over 5 years.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yep you’re right it is dependent on your actual circumstance 👍

[@sharonswa]

I'm impressed. Usually cacti won't flower if you give them water year round.

[@fredamariebrown4727]

Thank you Mr. Sheffield!!

[@fredamariebrown4727]

Hey, I just bought a moisture tray and pebbles!!!

[@MmeO]

Ming Aralia love a daily misting in addition to being well watered and having a humidifier in the winter in dry climates like Northern CA.

[@bones5785]

I place a tray of pebbles with water on top of a heating mat with a timer. It speeds up evaporation as well as warming the environment. The other technique I use is placing sphagnum moss around the top of the vase and spraying it with water when it dries. During watering day I include BTK in wetting the moss to prevent fungal gnats.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

How/where do you get BTK? Is it in powder?

[@bones5785]

It's available at garden or hardware stores in Canada. I get the liquid form.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@bones5785 I’ve never seen it in the UK. I don’t think folks know about it here

[@MayYourGodGoWithYou]

Great video, you have a new subscriber. I do add gravel to the base of my pots outside but that is more because we get strong winds and the stones make the pot much heavier meaning they don't blow over. I was always taught that you should mix smaller gravel in with the soil itself to ensure good drainage - or sand which works just as well - and this always worked for my father. He had lots of pots in the back paved area growing fushias, bizzie lizzies and geraniums as well as larger beds - on a concrete base - with trees in them. He always mixed gravel in with the soil to ensure that the pots could drain [they did too, sometimes annoyingly fast in the summer] especially in winter when it rained a lot and his plants always thrived. it's something I try to do myself and generally my pot plants thrive as well, the odd failure usually because the plant was a gift and totally unsuited to my living conditions [normally needing warm temperatures and while I have heating I happily let the temperatures drop heavily in the winter, especially at night when it go down to single figures, many plants don't like this].

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great and welcome! Yes you're right adding something like perlite or pumice or even sand to soil helps with drainage. The issue is with large stones or gravel at the bottom that isn't mixed in, which prevents water draining properly.

[@pawanjeet5632]

I like your videos very much.There is so much valuable information you share in your videos.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊 Glad you like them!

[@billwatkins1041]

got me on a couple of these, I will amend my ways :)

[@lindamarsh6711]

I live in Southern Alberta Canada which is considered desert like. The air is very dry. Molds are never a problem. Rarely get mites. There are a few plants that I mist and they do better for it. I think it depends very much on the humidity you live with. Here it is extremely dry. 🇨🇦👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Good shout 👍

[@cynthiagilbreth1352]

Same with me. I live in Northwest Colorado and the indoor air rarely gats over 40%, so the plants love the misting. I use the fine sprayers, and the leaves dry quickly. I’ve never had a mold problem.

[@stiaininbeglan3844]

I just want to say that, having seen what happens to a fish tank that is exposed to chlorine, letting tap water sit to off-gas DOES work. I lost half my fish stock when I mis-judged the amount of dechlorinator and under-dosed, but now I do top-ups using plain old tap water that has just been sitting in an open jug to off-gas for a few days and have ZERO problems. And I'm not talking about top-ups of such small volume that it probably wouldn't matter anyway. I have a large aquarium and do top-ups of several inches of water. 3 or 4 8-liter jugs at a time. If the water didn't off-gas that chlorine, I would ABSOLUTELY have problems.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@miumiu9434]

I thought that was interesting too, considering I was setting tap water out for drinking for me and the plants. After some research, I found my water provider is now using chloramine which doesn't evaporate. Maybe your provider still uses chlorine.

[@kathyl9222]

5:38 This is done a lot in terrariums because they often have no drainage, also used in mason jar gardening.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Isn’t that the decorative element rather than drainage?

[@kathyl9222]

@@SheffieldMadePlants The gravel layer is usually called the drainage layer, often combined with a false bottom and charcoal. Some terrariums have it purely decorative but if you look around tutorials for bioactive terrariums it is often for the purpose of drainage.

[@theagg]

When it comes to cacti (and most other 'chunky' succulents) the best watering regime is basically water when dry or every 2-3 weeks. Then, when it comes to winter, stop watering altogether, usually from mid October to end of March, leaving them dry for that entire period. Which minimises the chances of rot during the lower light levels during that time of the year. As when a cacti develops rot, it's not pleasant ! The epiphytic cacti are treated differently, as they tend to come from more humid, rainforest like environments.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

For sure

[@andyandbee]

I love your videos! Thanks for posting. This is great while eating my breakfast before I do my planty chores 💚🌱💚

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You are so welcome!

[@ildikojones7073]

Of all these, I am “guilty” of one: I do fill two four gallon and six one gallon watering cans, plus six one gallon water bottles and let them sit until it’s time to water. I’ve always let the water sit. This way I always have room temperature water and it won’t “shock” the roots by being too cold - apparently another myth I bought into 😊! Thank you for the post. I enjoy them.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks 😊. No harm in doing it. I find it a bit of faff and would immediately run out of water

[@miav785]

I do this but there are two reasons. In the winter time, the water coming out of the tap can be extremely cold and even I find it too cold. So I just let it sit until it isn't as cold. The other reason is I will fill it up at night so that while I am waiting on my water for tea in the morning, I can check plants and water if needed as part of my morning routine before leaving for work.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@miav785 nice little routine

[@ildikojones7073]

@@miav785 What a lovely way to start your day! Mine is somewhat similar; I go into my “plant room” - where the majority of my plants are and make sure all the lights are on. I tell them “Good morning, my beautiful beauties!” and do a quick look around. Then I’ll do the same in the other room, and then I’ll make my coffee. I love starting my day in this peaceful way; god knows, the workday can get hectic and stressful.

[@gildedpeahen876]

A morning beverage and watering routine is key🖤🗝️

[@ChristopherJohnsonArtist]

The snake plants I've had prefer full sun to partial shade. It also annoys me how people post videos saying they are low-light plants when I've found that to not be the case. in fact once a roommate moved one that was very healthy from by a window to the opposite wall and when I noticed later that week it was noticeably unhappy.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yeah all plants like bright light, particularly the snake plant!

[@mitcht1324]

The tip about not repotting plants into pots that are too large is true for the most part, mostly do to the issue of accidental overwatering and with slower-growing species. If watered properly, the plant will eventually fill in that space after a while but aesthetically, it would look silly to have a tiny plant in a huge pot lol. I put a handful of Spiderplant offsets into a large pot and by the end of the year, the fast-growing plants dominated the pot Also, pebbles beneath soil is beneficial in a terrarium setting. I have a glass terrarium and I use the pebble layer as a fail safe if I poured too much water in. Instead of saturating the soil, access water collects in the bottom and I know not to water again until the water in the pebble layer has wicked up into the soil and the soil has started to dry again. Overall, fantastic video!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@ruthmeow4262]

I do use gravel in the bottom of some pots. Not for drainage, but to either weigh down the pots (my top heavy ones or ones that I bring outside that might get blown over during a stiff wind) or to fill in space of a deep pot. I do monthly misting of plants, when I do my soil leach to rinse off dust. Or if I am trying to grow an ivy. I have found misting keeps the spider mites away, but if I miss a misting or two, hello spider mites.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yeah misting does keep spider mites at bay. They like a dry environment. But then hello fungus gnats?

[@ruthmeow4262]

@@SheffieldMadePlants Cinnamon and the occasional watering with a peroxide/water mix.

[@AlvinKazu]

2:00 I cannot speak exactly on your type of plants, or "indoor plants," but I've noticed that when direct sowing in my outdoor grow bags, compared to using a small nursery cup, that the plants seem to grow bigger and faster. I use "Smartpots" The ones outside are 30 and 45 gallon. Also, There is a lot of literature about "Foliar feeding" plants and that being beneficial for plants, but your comments about lack of air circulation is important and probably the issue with many plants. I've been spraying my leaves lately and it has increased the humidity in my room for quite awhile and then it will drop down. I have fans and ventilation in my grow area so circulation isn't an issue for me. I started doing the spraying lately but I'm not sure if it's an issue or not.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yeah lack of air circulation is a problem for when the leaves get consistently wet

[@SparkleInMoonlight]

Awesome video. I still meet people that believe these ridiculous myths (even sellers in plant shops).

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@letshaveago2201]

LMAO! Great vid Richard thank you. I use to comment on you tube content when i saw the "cleaner air" rubbish ive given up now as you can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink! Ive come to realize that my plants have to adapt to my home not my home to my plants, sure i do my best but driving myself mad to mimic nature takes the shine off the plants. This year i intend to take stock try not to buy any new plants and focus on what i have. please keep up the good work and all the very best to you and yours.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks mate glad to see a comment from you again 😁

[@pgmetcalf]

I let tap water stand overnight, but this is done to bring the water up to room temperature. Sadly, living in a high rise flat, I don't have access to rainwater

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Ah that's a shame

[@tigq1430]

Do you have a balcony? Or a coworker who would collect water for...say...a coffee?

[@99xara99]

I do let my water sit in the can before using it on my plants, but not because of chlorine which there isn't any in our tap water, but because of lime which I think settles onto the bottom of the can if you let it stand. Is that also a myth? Also what's the plant on minute 9:05 ?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That’s a peperomia Angulata

[@cheriecourville9430]

I use a water filter system and yes I let it sit over night but to keep the water at room temp. I use the Cold water to fill it up. And with it being winter I let it at least not be cold so they don't go into shock from the cold. I do not mist them or keep pebble water near them. I do have a nice humidifier near the more tropical ones and grow lights everywhere. I am having trouble with my Persian shield but it seems nothing makes it happy. Idk what I'm doing wrong. Any tips? I'm about to give up on it's crispy leaves and no growth and lack of color.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Sorry I've not had the plant before. Sounds like you've got a good setup so might just be one of those plants.

[@jessemerriman460]

First off, I want to say thanks for all the great content, I've watched a few of your videos and it's all very insightful stuff. One suggestion I might make, and I hope it doesn't come off as a complaint, is to get the mic closer, or maybe try a different mic? I don't know if it's just me but I find myself turning the volume all the way up just to follow along, only to get blasted when an ad comes on. Otherwise, like I've said, great content and an excellent contribution to the community - thanks! 😄

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you. I switched editing software around this time and still getting used to how it processes videos. Slowly getting a handle on it 😁

[@borami22]

The “catching up up planterina“ always cracks me up!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Long way to go 😁

[@jeannekoh9544]

Thank you! Great summary of how to take care of house plants

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jeannekoh9544]

Yes it was!

[@--Paws--]

I only put gravel at the bottom of containers not so water can drip down but so the pot the plant is in is elevated higher. I don't put gravel inside that pot the plant is in just the container. I use a mesh or screen instead to keep everything from escaping the holes however.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yep nothing wrong with that 😁 The mesh at the bottom is a great idea

[@rhondamariewright]

This is one of the best houseplant tip videos. ❤

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Wow, thank you!

[@louannhuber2651]

Hey! I learned the pebble /evaporation tip from you. 😂🤣😂

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

No way! When? I don't remember ever saying that 😅

[@staceyrose5821]

Everyone recommends pebble humidity trays lol. I stopped because I got grossed out by the slimy stuff when changing out the water. Yuck!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@staceyrose5821 this is true 😅

[@Gkrissy]

You may have heard planterina mention it because I got it from her.

[@hokeypokeypots]

I found out early on in my houseplant collecting that overwatering is a big 'no no'...and have had very good luck with my plants by not doing this. The only time I use rocks in the bottom of a container...not in the actual pot the plant is growing in...is to give some weight to top-heavy plants like sanseveria and euphorbia. But they don't get a lot of water, so no chance of root rot. Can't lift them to drain the water out of the container 'cuz they're too big. Instead of letting water sit out in containers to bring it up to room temperature in winter, I just add some hot water from the tap into the cold...until it feels comfortable to my hand. Plants don't seem to mind. 😄

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That's a sensible idea with the hot water and sounds much easier!

[@hokeypokeypots]

@@SheffieldMadePlants It is, since I don't water.all of my plants on a weekly schedule. Some plants need more water than others, so I just check them every few days to see which ones actually need water. I also don't fuss about getting specialized soil mixtures. I buy a 4 cu ft bale of ProMix, a bale of peat moss and a large bag of pine bark mini nuggets from my local garden center as needed. For more moisture-loving plants, I add some peat moss. For plants that need less moisture-retentive soil, I add some mini-nuggets...and sandy soil that I can get on my property. Saves me a bundle of money by not buying small bags of specialized soil mix.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@hokeypokeypots sounds perfect 👍

[@CK-solutions]

I do think a humidifier is the best option, for all the reasons you explained for increasing humidity, but also because you don't have wet floors from spritzing and it's generally tidier. However, I wouldn't go so far as to suggest it has no benefit if you live in a dry climate. The issue with bacterial problems developing, really comes from lack of air-flow. If your plants get enough space, then spritzing won't grow harmful bacteria. Personally though, I think grouping plants close together, helps maintain humidity better. So that should be why you give up spritzing. Grouping plants together, is more effective and your plants really love being together.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks. What is the benefit of spritzing? It does nothing to increase air humidity.

[@jasc608]

What about pebbles in your decorative pot but under a nursery pot? I do this as some of my pots are hard to reach and it means some water can pool at the bottom. I also have found that roots start growing into the bottom and it just drinks as is needed - a bit like semi semi hydro. Is there any benefit to this or am I wasting my time like I have misting my plants all these years…?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

It’s probably not doing any harm but I’m not sure I see a real benefit tbh

[@selmas2u]

thank you so much. I feel better now . Got a question for you. since I don't have any distilled water. what can i do. Can I use boiled cooled water??? help me. ps can I use clay pebbles? and how do I use them. thanks

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Boiled water doesn’t really help. What about filtered water or can you collect rain water? You can use leca. I’ve not tried it myself so can’t really give much advice

[@firozapatel9811]

Great video and awesome explanation,thanks brother xx

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamessparkman6604]

@@SheffieldMadePlants In my educated opinion house plants do indeed help as long as nobody smokes and what’s more trimming the plants will help the outdoor plants compost so in a way plants do indeed keep the air clean though not the way humans do

[@YSLRD]

Busting the air purifying myth earned you a subscriber.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Welcome 😁

[@brentfredrick]

I like all of your myth busting except the final one. There is a lot of angles one could debate about repotting in winter, but I always advise against it unless there is a dire need for intervention. The reason being that up-potting will drastically change water retention in soil requiring a change of watering care. Many people are overwatering in winter as it is, so avoid the repotting in winter to prevent exaggerating the problem. Additionally root pruning or root damage from the repotting can add to this problem.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I dunno I think plants are pretty robust

[@dawnt6791]

I use the same water treatment for my houseplants that I use for aquariums - a dechlorinator that also neutralizes chloramine. I've noticed a marked improvement in the health of all of my plants. I also avoid using water that's too hot or cold, try to get it fairly close to room temperature. That's something I've done for years, though.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I need me some of that!

[@dawnt6791]

@@SheffieldMadePlants I use the Fritz Complete full spectrum water conditioner. I had in on hand anyway because I'm an aquarium hobbyist (planted tanks!) and noticed that my houseplants responded extremely well when I gave them water directly from my tanks compared to those I gave tap water to. Decided to try just treating their tap water like I do for my aquariums. Worked like a charm. Plant health improved dramatically. When you consider that chlorine is put in tap water to kill bacteria and that soil contains good types of bacteria that are needed for healthy plants, it actually makes sense. I wish I'd made that connection years ago, but better late than never.

[@NickInRealLife]

@@dawnt6791 Thank you so much for sharing this, friend! I will now be using my 40 gallon tank to water all of my plants and not need to worry about collecting rainwater/distilling water ever again 😁

[@dawnt6791]

@@NickInRealLife It truly is a perfect use for the tank water when doing water changes. Plants LOVE it!

[@wingedcoyote]

Thumbnail spooked me because I just added gravel to some plant dishes, but I just think it looks nice, no illusions about creating humidity

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Fair enough 😁

[@RobynPacey]

Re: the chlorine myth: I often water my plants with the water I take out of my aquarium during a water change. I use a dechlorinator in my tanks, and both the aquatic plants and my terrestrial ones seem fine with it. Would it be worth using a dechlorinator specifically for fussier plants?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I've started using water conditioner and so far so good 👍

[@WhatIsMisophonia]

Finally, someone busting the whole 'tray of water' myth. People are severely underestimating how slowly water evaporates. I have multiple aquariums in my bedroom, and I can tell you that upon measuring, humidity just above the water's surface is roughly the same as in the rest of the room, even though it may be around 40 percent or so. I have some aquatic plants that are amphibious and might like to grow above the surface, but they need really high humidity, and I can only get them to grow above water via a fog over the surface of the water by an ultrasonic mist maker. I hate when people just parrot the ideas of other people in their articles, as if they themselves are now experts when they haven't even measured the results.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@mdw908]

Great video! Thanks for all these tips. I'm glad to know my laziness at not repotting my houseplants from the nursery pots isn't harming them (I just set them in a pretty ceramic pot). One advantage to keeping them in the nursery pots is that it's easy for me to tell if they need water by just lifting them up--if they're too light they probably need a drink. Just subscribed and will be watching your other videos.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching

[@sophieisabelle3762]

The succulent advice isn’t quite right…although it’s definitely a step up on the advice to barely water! Succulents need watering deeply, as in literally soaked in a bucket of water until all the soil is soaked through, then not watered again until the soil is bone dry and the plant starts to look a bit wrinkly and the leaves feel slightly soft. Bit of fertiliser half strength every other watering and they’ll do great. During winter they shouldn’t really be watered at all unless they’re desperate, or unless they are under powerful grow lights that replicate their summer conditions. If you want them to flower, you need to let them go dormant over winter by stopping watering, and they’ll flower really well in the spring. I haven’t watered most of mine since late September. If you water during winter the plants will stretch, and instead of a nice compact plant you’ll end up with a leggy one. Some will do this even under grow lights. The main thing with succulents are ensuring they have a really gritty soil mix - 1/3 each compost, horticultural grit, and perlite - so they can dry out quickly after watering. Commercial cactus soil is never good enough, it’s too organic and that leads to rot. The other thing people get wrong is light - they need much more light than they get in the average home. Even a bright window ledge is going to be pushing it. Ideally the plants need to be outdoors, at least the the spring and summer. They can come in during the autumn and winter, but will need grow lights unless they’re in a south facing window. Some hardier varieties can stay out in all but the coldest temperatures, but need to be kept bone dry or they will rot. I still lose the odd plants - out of hundreds - in winter, but learning to just let them be has resulted in much healthier plants, better flowering, and faster growth in the spring.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks Sophie. I agree with all that sound advice 👍 Waiting till the leaves are a bit wrinkly is key as long as you don’t leave it too long!

[@Lyokoheros-KLPXTV]

I have a question about lighting... You said about plants needing sunlight... but what about artificial light? I mean is keeping plant in a room, when I often have light turned on (often also aftet it's already dark... especially when days are shorter) harmful or beneficial to the plant or it doesn't matter? How about other source of less natural artificial light like TV or computer screen - do their lights benefit or harm the plant (so having a potted plant or a sprouting plant on the desk beside my computer, when the light from it's monitor shines on the plant (not exaclty directly thought) whenever it is on do any good or any bad to a plant?). I meam if I would have to geuss I would say it is itself good, as it's still light but it is not as good as solar light. So maybe a bit beneficial, but not a big deal really... but that's just my guess.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Standard lights and lights from computers etc won’t really have any effect on the plant. You can get grow bulbs that have the right spectrum of light and are strong enough to have an effect on the plant.

[@marchm-p9485]

I actually use a couple pebble trays in my ikea greenhouse cabinet. I suspect they don’t have a HUGE affect, but because it’s such a small space I do think it raises the humidity a little. Honestly I’m quite curious now so I might have to try removing them and see if/how much the humidity drops.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Would be a good experiment with a humidity meter

[@MacGod]

Thanks for another really helpful video, there's a few of these that I was doing. I did have one question, though, related to the "pebbles under the soil for drainage" myth. I have two irregularly-shaped planters (the Umbra Trigg wall models), and they absolutely will not fit any nursery pot. So I have killed a few plants due to soggy roots. What's my best bet with these? Sand/perlite in the bottom? One of those bottom-watering bulbs? Or just water more sparingly and use the moisture meter to be sure it's dried out properly before watering? Any help much appreciated!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I wouldn't put anything at the bottom. Only thing you can do is watch your watering and monitor with the moisture meter like you say. That's what i do for pots without drainage holes.

[@MacGod]

@@SheffieldMadePlants brill, will do, thanks! I’m hoping my heart leaf philodendron (which grew relatively well in one of them but is struggling at the moment) will survive until spring and then I can use your tips to propagate it and plant it in the other!

[@Stettafire]

I've always said. Water + warm = humidity. Water + cold = mold. Here in the UK where it's relatively cold these "humidity" tricks that come out of the US just don't work for us. For California they might be fine, but not here!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Interesting point 🤔

[@Heckleuchte24]

whats the plant at 8:46?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Green syngonium

[@Heckleuchte24]

@@SheffieldMadePlants ty!:)

[@muffemod]

Gravel makes the pots more bottom heavy which is helpful in windy areas.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Can't argue with that 😁

[@theNeeblr]

Could you use aquarium water conditioner to treat your tap water, does that remove the chemicals?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yes I've started using that myself

[@hangin-in-thereawesome4245]

I had one plant that was sitting on rocks as soon as your video was over I threw all the rocks out.

[@waktukaksugeng9540]

Thank very much sir for your tips for indoor plants

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Most welcome

[@kristiteti2964]

Great video! So are you saying plants that need moderate to high humidity will eventually get used to their low humidity environment and we don't need to do anything?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

They'll have a better chance with consistent humidity, even if it is lower than they normally want

[@kristiteti2964]

@@SheffieldMadePlants So no need to invest in a humidifier--great! WIll brown tips due to lack of humidity eventually go away?

[@mikec3820]

leaving water sit a day does let clorine evap. but cloriamine and the ph buffer do not evap. you need a rv/in line hose filter at least.its a old pro trick from the legacy growers

[@matz4k]

I let my water sit to adjust the temperature. The tap is like 8°C in the winter, so I always have a some room temperature water :)

[@dydysnake1845]

Yup, exactly why i do that as well 🤷‍♂️

[@andrewroberts7281]

Great advise thank you… I have learned so much since I found your channel. I have a wide variety of plants in my home, however I have had to relocate some to my place of work because although I live them, my wife doesn’t … any suggestions on how to enthuse her and get her into plants would be greatly appreciated…

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I have the same issue 😅 Maybe get her a plant for a present so that she has to look after it and then she might get the bug

[@colecook834]

Ive been checking the soil once a week this winter and found the soil damp for over a month after one watering

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yeah it’s takes much longer 👍

[@varsity.1]

Tap water, my spider plants seem to be doin great as they've gotten huge. The only time you can get the chlorine out I guess is dechlor or tap water conditioner... but that's for fish tanks and are seemingly only beneficial for fully aquatic plants.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I’ve started using that actually

[@varsity.1]

Oh snap! Maybe I should try it out lol

[@patriciawolanski3458]

Um…. I’m guilty of a few of these. Thank you for the education.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching

[@DLlama]

3:06 or you can buy something called "water conditioner" that's sold for aquariums. API makes a good one for cheap. Just a little bit of this solution gets the chlorine out of the water "instantly", or so it says. My tap water burns my plants, but the fish are fine and my cats seem to prefer drinking the conditioned water too. So if I don't have bottled water (rain is no good bc I live in a very dirty city) I use the water conditioner.... and set out water over night too. But that's mostly to give the conditioner time to work.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yes! I’ve just bought this after lots of folks told me about it. Features in a future video

[@icbroozer]

I water all of my plants with the water from my fish tanks, it seems to help a lot.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@icbroozer 👍👍👍

[@daleandrews3552]

I saw that Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) starting at 0:38. I curr,ently have 4 in "hiberation" on this day of Jan. 7, 2023. When I bought them a few months ago, they were without leaves. They were - and still are - around 8" in length. It's interesting that here in Louisiana we are around 50-60 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and due to all the warm weather we've had recently, they're already starting to "leaf out", and we're over 2 months before the official start of spring on March 21! I think they must be confused, almost certainly. Anyone have any idea? If so, feel free to respond. 🤔

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That was a ficus ginseng in the clip. Looks very similar but not a succulent, which I think yours is?

[@raggedyannred]

Should we avoid spraying plant poles to add moisture since the leaves and stems will get wet when spraying the pole?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I think that’s fine for the roots to find their home

[@donaldauguston9740]

I do not keep plants in the room where I sleep because of the potential for mold in the soil. I'm quite allergic to mold. Is my concern valid? Thank you. Donald

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Depends what kind of mould you're allergic to. If it's black mould then im not sure if its an issue on plants

[@Thi-Nguyen]

I use stones in the bottom of my pots to keep the soil from escaping out the bottom. But I always use pots with drainage holes, so there’s no stagnant water issue.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That works! I use a stone to stop the dirt too

[@sparkyheberling6115]

I put a coffee filter over the drainage holes to retain the soil. Eventually the filter breaks down, but by that time the roots have grown in enough to stabilize the soil ball. Of course, a coffee filter costs a few cents and is not as "green" an option as a pebble from your garden. I confess to sometimes putting a *used* coffee filter over the drainage holes with no ill effects.

[@madeonearth3429]

as an indoor plant expert i agree with every point!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you very much! What do you do?

[@madeonearth3429]

@@SheffieldMadePlants i mostly produce philondendron clones and varieties but i also take care of someones devils lettuce ;)

[@kathrynlundgren7618]

I see improvements in my houseplants from using pebble trays.