🌿 plant chores 🌿 diatomaceous earth for pests, rare plant repots, improving plant shelf, & more!

[@BoojiePanda]

Hi Fern! I'm so glad that you found the window privacy film useful, and I hope others will as well!

[@wildfern]

Omg thank you so much for such a great idea!! 🫶🌱

[@lisaanglim9588]

It’s such a great idea

[@wandashaw3551]

Hi Fern, I absolutely love repotting videos. They inspire me to keep up on my own. And i would like to see you decorate for fall and maybe do some fall themed pots for your beautiful plants. ❤

[@lisaanglim9588]

Love the glasses, they are cute. I love plant chore videos.

[@wildfern]

Thank you!! 😊

[@kateo5846]

Plant chores are my favorite videos!!! I learn so much and the vibes are so relaxing! Thanks Fern!! 🌿💕

[@wildfern]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching 🌿🙌

[@angelamainini3060]

Please do spooky reports! My favorite time of year! You have to do what works for you, but, even if they're later in the year, that's acceptable! Love your content so much!

[@Anthuriumaesthetic]

Here’s an idea Fern - you could film your spooky repot early and then post during Fall?🥰

[@lucasbrady585]

The editing on your videos has gotten so much better over the past few years! Keep up the great work fr 💪

[@LavenderDaisies]

I use diatomaceous earth on my plants outside all of the time. It works great on outside plants. But since it’s safe around pets, it makes it a super good choice for me. My husband was just watching this with me and said hey, we need to find out diatomaceous earth in the garage and you can try that! He thinks it works great! Glad you brought it up so we can try it.

[@OrdinaryPlantGirl]

I have used DE on my plants. I mix it in my soil and I use an old makeup brush and dust it on my plant leaves and petioles.

[@lauratejeda8188]

Hey FERN! Great video, as usual! YES, I LOVE Repotting Videos too! It's the Splendid JOY of Surprise and Investigation. It's new looks and new life (from the mix to the pots)! 💓🌵🪴 I personally would appreciate one video that goes over all your planty supplies (so I don't have to dig around and try to remember where you mentioned something I "need"). 😅 More Importantly, an whole video dedicated to the pests you encounter (I've never heard of thrips for example). Thanks for keeping it PLANTY! 🎉

[@kateliddlebroberg239]

A spooky themed tour of the all the plants with dark leaves in your collection would be fun around Halloween! 🎃 👻 🖤

[@lleo9703]

I sprinkle DE into my soil mix blends in the bins. I do not have pests. Even fungus gnats are gone now. I think it is worth it and will continue to do this as preventative for most pests.

[@jessicarose1651]

im totally trying this!!!

[@cynthiagrossman569]

OMG! This is the best idea! Thank you

[@vlong7112]

Yay!! Fern keeping me company on my lunch break 🫰🏽💚

[@wildfern]

🥰🥰🥰

[@mrscurtis0801]

Yay! You do something great for my mental health ❤

[@wildfern]

So glad to hear that 🥹🫶

[@Wildplantgirl]

I spit out my drink and screamed YESSSSS when i saw there was a new video 😂😂❤❤❤

[@AdahliaBiPunk]

Fern, just a tip, sulfur comes off easily with alcohol wipes. I actually use alcohol wipes as a pest treatment as well. I've done this with orchids, philodendrons, even calatheas with no issues. I don't even rinse them off afterwards, just wipe em down clean and leave em. I only do this at night tho, so the leaves have time to fully dry before being exposed to light, just to prevent any possible burning. When I order my fragrant Phalaenopsis they almost always arrive stained with sulfur. Cleaning them with alcohol wipes works perfectly without much effort! 🥰🥰

[@dianesheehan8225]

Love your new glasses, I just got the same ones. I just realized I could cut out grid on my traditional moss poles to make propagation and chop and extend easier. I switched to front buckle and swore when the cheap ones were used up it would be front buckle only. But cutting up the grid and removing much of the plastic makes it work just as well.

[@amandapetkov6591]

I love them too! Do you know the brand and name? I need a new pair

[@emmyb05]

Same need new glasses and these are supa cute

[@amandapetkov6591]

Glasses info, pretty plz?

[@veronikgiroux5870]

Love your look with your glasses 👌🏽

[@chelsearuzesky2834]

Loved these chores! And cute specs🤓

[@carolstuff]

Love your chores vids, esp potting/repotting. Thanks for sharing Fern!

[@nancyrock477]

This video was timed perfectly! I have been researching DE and thinking about ordering some. Your info helped me get it done. Love your content, Fern.

[@AbbeyCorwin]

I’ve recently gotten into watching plant content on KZbin and I’m so happy I found you! Your videos are my favorite and I love your personality! Definitely feel like I’m just hanging out with my plant bestie when I watch your videos!

[@Mayla.and.plants]

girl! I love Your glasses! both :) suits You so stunning and cozy :)

[@badplantsofkim]

My favorite kind of video 🥰✨ Loved it as usual !!

[@wildfern]

yay thank you so much for watching :)

[@juliaersan856]

I really liked the doll head if you have another idea of repurposing something/ crafty pot idea

[@saramarie9455]

💚💚💚such a perfect video for my Friday coming home from work, youre the best Fern💚💚

[@sandyallinson2455]

Love all your videos. Repots are all wonderful.

[@lisaanglim9588]

I love blueland laundry tabs and the toilet tabs. They are amazing.

[@wildfern]

They’re the best! Glad you like them too 😊

[@rhiannonjones3805]

I am in love with your shirt!! 😍 Is that your merch? Also, yes❤, I think we all enjoy plant repot videos!!

[@dianal3827]

Quick tip for repots: hydrogen peroxide. You can get the 3% at the pharmacy and then add a spray cap to the bottle. Spray the roots of the plant and the new pot to kill pests, bacteria, alge, and mold spores. It's more commonly used by the orchid growers community. However, it works great for any plant as a prevention. Once the fizzle stops, you're left with just water, so you don't need to wash it off.

[@allthelittlerebornshansen5448]

I love your glasses they look nice on you

[@wildfern]

Thank you so much 😊

[@allthelittlerebornshansen5448]

@@wildfern yw

[@amandapetkov6591]

​@@wildfernyou know the name of them and designer? I love them too and need a new pair

[@amandapetkov6591]

​@@wildfernwhere are they from? I LOVE them... and need some new ones

[@dcbacher789]

I can’t believe summer is basically over already. It flew by. I started a mini garden this year and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to expanding it next year. I would like more updates on your lettuce grow and the maintenance of it. I want to do some indoor gardening for the winter.

[@psycheready6958]

I use DE! Whenever I have a plant infested with anything where it's bad enough to chop it, I take the cuttings and literally BURY them in dry DE! It's overkill but it's cheap so I'm fine with it. If it's a succulent or hoya I will leave it under the DE for a couple days while it calluses. The other thing I've done is for a plant thats infested with fungus gnats, I put a thick layer of it on top of the soil (works best when soil is dry or mostly dry) and leave it for about two weeks without watering the plant. It works like a charm!

[@lauratejeda8188]

@@psycheready6958 could you spell it out please?

[@lindacornett8944]

Another great, informative video. Love them all!!!

[@andreamhorvath]

Oh no! I love Spooky Repot! I totally understand not wanting to stress out over something that’s supposed to be fun and creative. In the past though you did one in December? Maybe? With the candy cane pot. Would you be open to doing another one like that later in the season? Maybe not all 3 or 4 that you usually do, just one maybe?

[@sylviawood6089]

Hi Fern, I watch your videos from Texas. You are awesome and very informative and your plants are stunning ❤👏

[@lisaanglim9588]

It looks so good. Can’t wait to see how well the serpens does.

[@RubyLyzard]

Oh no!! No spooky repot!! 😱😭 please don't do it if it's too much stress but honestly I would watch spooky repot anytime!! Early or late, Xmas, new year Easter.. whenever.. 😂 also I was wondering if you're still planning to re-start your merch?? I've been dying for one of your crystal ball planty shirts 😍 Hope you're doing well 😊

[@chicago4961]

Hey fern!! Thank you so much for the plant advice, it really helped! My maharani is thriving!!💕💕

[@wildfern]

I’m so glad to hear that!! 🙌

[@luckystarbaby_]

Hey Fern, hope all is well within your life. This summer has been wild with my mental health, felt the burn out for sure.

[@shawnacoon]

I'm getting the hang of identifying what my plants need! Also working on my first Ikea greenhouse

[@plantymom]

Fall is my absolute favorite season! Please do some kind of fall related video for us 🙏🏼

[@lindaedwards4632]

Love repotting videos 😀🇨🇦

[@heatherstephens9295]

Since I started using DE last summer, I have had absolutely no pest pressures since then. It’s fabulous - 100% recommend 👍

[@heatherstephens9295]

@@nunyabiz36 I’ve only applied it dry but it’s good to know about the wet mix. I will try doing the leaves that way but I think I will keep it dry for the potting mix. It’s also good to sprinkle around the roots if you are repotting to ward off root mealy bugs. I’m so sure alot of these insects also lay eggs in the potting mix & not just the leaves. I’m sure you won’t regret trying it out 🙂

[@txblondie924]

I'm in the US and all my Molly's comes in shiny bags. I love it too. Thanks for telling us about it!

[@wildfern]

glad to hear you like it too!! 🪴

[@amandapetkov6591]

Please, please still do spooky repot, even if its early!! Its my favorite! I look forward to it all year! Pretty please, still do it!

[@oczuchmurnosc]

Hi Fern! I understand your issue with pests. I currently also have a first big outbreak :( but I want to suggest you to use electro-fumigator, I have a BROS it does not smell awful. I turn in on and close the window and the door. It works great, also for those annoying small flying bugs. I had issue for a looong time with them and this have fixed it! I think I will turn electro fumigator on from time to time just to keep pest away.

[@Anthuriumaesthetic]

I still loveeeee repot videos

[@marshaharwood8883]

LOL so funny “ what is this thing called?” you are so hilarious just love your videos.❤

[@kylaosburn9041]

girly idk what you did new to your hair (maybe the face framing strands??) but you look stunningggggg. thank you, as usual, for the motivation and for not gatekeeping your treatment.

[@wildfern]

omg thank youuuu 🥺 shag cut has been growing out but I've been trimming the bang area myself haha

[@adriac21]

Summer has been busy but like u said busy not busy. Organizing my bedroom and looking where to place my plants.

[@wildfern]

that sounds like a great summer to me :) love organizing and rearranging. thanks for watching x

[@esperanzagarces3856]

Hi Fern! Love your videos. Keep them coming. I have to try the DE solution. I've tried spreading it on dry soil and it worked wonderfully. ☺

[@BLANKU2]

With the window cling idea there is so many faux stained glass window clings I've seen you could go in so many directions with this.

[@alexandraprytkova387]

I'm a new subscriber. Moved in with my fiance, started my own plants collection and thus... here I am. The summer is almost done here in Siberia, I need to start looking into grow light ASAP. My plants collection is tiny so far, at least compared to yours, but I am a beginner so splurging into more seemed unwise. My biggest splurge was Begonia Melanobulata (my 6 y.o. convinced me into that one, and I am so scared it will croak on me I actually invested into a florarium right after buying it - the florarium being a tarantula enclosure someone was selling online). My fave is my Monstera Peru. It's just so... cute. Also my Alocasia Nebula gets me with her starry petioles. I am earning a lot from your videos, even if the stuff I can get access too is very different, living all the way here in Russia.

[@lilymeowington9395]

I just put some of that privacy stuff on a couple of the windows on my front door! ( we have blinds on that door window BUT if you know what it’s like having a crazy big dog… she ruined the bottom half of the blinds so they can’t stay down or they look super trashy. So I did the bottom row of windows rainbow privacy plastic and it’s so pretty. I love it!

[@PetraEmmy]

I have used all of aarons Bios products and will only use them because they are safe and actually work

[@artsakoula6505]

Thanks for the Letterboxd app rec!

[@lisaanglim9588]

I really like September. The weather is still warm with cool nights and only occasional rain. Plus it’s my birth month 😅

[@AlyssaCarter-m1i]

I’ve heard a lot great things about blue land. I think I might have to give it a try!

[@stephaniecross1133]

Hi, you can also use a fine powder spray bottle, the type they use for putting glitter on nails, means you don’t have to wait for them to dry x

[@CherylannTurner-pr5bl]

Way to go, got so much done! Your nails are gorgeous!

[@wildfern]

Thank you very much 🥹🥰

[@antiochkennels]

So for the DE... have you thought about a hand duster. It sould produce more cogerage on the plants. I also believe it would cause less spots on the leaves. It will produce a fine dust and no water spots. I would take the plants outaide to do this. My grandmother used to use a hand duster with her garden plants. It seems to work well. Just a thought

[@robbinstephensyork8864]

I have a spray bottled with water in which I added about 10 to 12 drops of peppermint oil.....about twice a month I just go around and spritz my plants and the area surrou ding them with a good mist....spider mites stay away...and it's seems as though none of the other bugs like that scent either.....✌️💜💋

[@emmasandberg2968]

Omg just said to my bf how i was waiting for you to post!!🥰🥰

[@wildfern]

Omg perfect 🙌😊

[@kayla7602]

I have a thrip infestation and it wasn't until I started spraying DE just like you did that I have stopped noticing damage. I have found a couple more on a DE leaf but the were not alive anymore! And 1 live one on a new leaf that wasn't covered. I got rid of it and sprayed new leaf. Its the first sign of hope I have since losing like 40 plants to thrips! Only been 2ish weeks but Im so hopeful!

[@KelGB0]

I've never used DE for plants, but I did work in a pet store and we sold it for flea and tick prevention. It will kill anything with an exoskeleton, but we were advised that once its wet, its done and needs reapplied, so I'm not sure if it will work or not for plants ... especially if mixed with water.

[@wildfern]

"DE will not kill bugs while it's wet, but once it dries out it will retain its bug-killing properties." - diatomaceousearth.com

[@marblestrife3370]

I love d-earth! I just use an old makeup brush and pat it on dry! And it makes it so there’s no blotches!

[@wildfern]

so glad it works well for you too!! 🙌

[@halynnbass9759]

My summer has been great, but plants are growing faster than I have space for! 😅 Other than that, my husband and I have been going on walks playing Pokémon Go in the heat of Texas 🥵 but it's been a good time. So glad to see your Jacklyn doing better! After starting mine over, it's put out 2 new leaves and holding up without a cloche.

[@wildfern]

I feel you on the space issue hahah. Glad to hear you've been having a good summer & managing to brave the Texas heat 🔥 thanks for watching 🫶

[@moiraslater8526]

The oil helps the DE to hold onto the leaves. You should look up making your own "white oil" which is great for most pests and cheap and easy to make!! I use DE very carefully as it does destroy good garden bugs too...and I love my Lady Bug Army!! Most bugs you can just hit with Isopropryl alcohol!!

[@JasonPesterContracting]

Another great video. The only complaint I have they're just seems to be a lack of the giggling.

[@hilltopgemini9200]

K, we need more Fern singing T Swift!! ♥️

[@cucar8363]

How do you apply the diatomaceous earth powder? Straight in the soil or diluted in water and sprayed?

[@nicoledraper5780]

I started using DE in my veg garden (carefully and thoughtfully because of pollinators and good bugs). I used an old foot powder bottle because it created puffs. .. and then began using it on my houseplants. Sometimes I dip a blush brush into the powder, tap off the excess, and then tap the brush over my leaves and stems to sprinkle a good layer on them. The bottom of the leaves are more difficult to get on certain plants with this method, so I may try spraying those plants.

[@mzwtch]

You can also cut maranta back to the soil line and it'll regrow. That might get rid of the spider mites...I did something similar once with a money tree as a hail Mary and it completed eliminated the mites!

[@jaccclarke]

Yes! They grow back so easily. I had to cut my variegated maranta back to the soil line due to thrips. And then I coated the soil with DE.

[@joyellacuna4541]

Do spooky repot during Christmas again!! 😍

[@sanjeedatazrinshutrishna3449]

Hi Fern, what nail polish are you wearing? Love the video as always ❤

[@authenticplantress470]

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is most effective as a pesticide when it is dry because its primary mechanism of action is to physically damage the exoskeletons of insects, causing them to dehydrate and die. When DE is diluted with water and sprayed on plants, it can still be effective, but only after the water evaporates and the DE dries out. It is good to go the route of diluting with water to ensure you get even coverage and in all the nooks and crannies but ai prefer to use it dry as I am not quite sure how effective it is after it has been wet and then dries. Also when using DE, we have to ease up on the use of humidifiers until we are satisfied with treatment. I always swore by using DE as a pesticide, but when I ran out, I actually forgot to replenish and start using again. I have recently bought some food grade DE as a colon cleanse for myself so may use some of that when spring creeps in, in the southern Hemisphere

[@regi985]

So glad you mentioned the ratio for DE, I think I used WAY TOO much, no wonder my spray bottle clogged up :D gonna give it another try. I used it to kill thrips and I think it works pretty well, I just had problems applying, so will give your ratio a go. I´m surprised you mentioned scale, they don´t really move around much so I wondered if it will kill them. I have a few plant´s with scale so will try that as well.

[@wildfern]

good luck with this ratio, I hope it works better for you :) & scale are listed as an insect it treats on the package, seems to be working for me so far as I haven't seen anymore scale on the Cebu blue yay 🙌

[@angieau1586]

I have had positive results with diatomaceous earth but I have a little puffer thing and spray it dry.

[@butzel19]

I tried it, same DE ratio like you. BUT my sprayers are all clogging and then stop working, even if I shake it constantly :( I wonder if your DE is somehow different, maybe finer? I was so exited to use it 😥 I´m batteling thrips on and off for 1 year, I wanted to cover them all with this solution for a few weeks (also cause I will be gone for a week soon). Keep checking them regularly. Then wash it off and maybe reapply on my problem plants for another month, or even only apply it on the back and have it there at all times. This way there would still be some treatment left but the plant doesn´t look bad. I gonna by new sprayers and give it one more try.

[@thejadedragon5535]

I've used diatomaceous earth on about five plants now. Reapplied to a couple. Can't tell if it works yet or not.

[@sagewillowLisa]

FERN!! Where did you get that handheld vacuum cleaner? ❤❤❤❤❤

[@sidneylange4612]

What kind of soil mix do you keep your philodendrons in?? The gloriosum is so stunning 🩷

[@paulanoakes5358]

I had a flea infestation really bad so I got DE (the food grade one) which is safe if you have pets or children. It was a pain to apply to my rugs and furniture but it works. I may try using it on my plants as I have thrips besides spraying with a diy mix and secret elements soil tonic.

[@KatieQueen7038]

I love DE!

[@croftyjungle]

Thank you for the information on DE. I'm curious about it, have you tried it compared to the predatory mites? Kneippel or however you spell their name is quite expensive!

[@andreatrawick4685]

Hi Fern, I love watching your channel. I’m always so excited when you have a new video. Do you use de for thrips? Right now I’m currently battling them.

[@sharondriver2445]

I have used DE in my soil mix too

[@bettesimpson1614]

It's the complainer again this time you didn't have music yay I so enjoyed it from beginning to end except for a little bit of music but that was okay. I'm going to try Dionysus Earth because I have mealies and I have thrip and it's really no matter what I do I can't seem to control it. So thank you for the tip have a good one hugs

[@brittarogan2476]

Hi fern! Wondering if you could answer a question for me. I can't find the info. The question is about sulphur treatments. I did one treatment on a couple hoyas I want to do a second treatment , is it okay to use the sulphur that I mixed with water 2 weeks ago? Can it store mixed with water for that long? Great video ! love the way the film looks on the shelf :) Thanx so much

[@wildfern]

hey! I'm not an expert, but I think that you have to mix it up fresh every time. hard to find any clear info on that so I would just err on the side of caution. good luck and thank you very much for watching :)

[@taterbugg917]

Hi Fern! I love your videos, your energy is so contagious 🥰 out of curiosity would you mind sharing where you got your shelving? I'm looking to upgrade my set up because my cat keeps getting into my plants so I need something high up off the ground.

[@wildfern]

Thank you so much :) my big plant shelf is the VITTSJO line from IKEA. I have 3 sizes of them pushed together. Hope that helps!

[@sheilabroad8192]

Can the plant still breath with that spray on it? Especially the underside? Lining my glass shelving is on my to do list too. Looks great ❤

[@clairemurphy9265]

Video idea - what plants would you have in your spooky library office

[@stephaniek.heng888]

I put DE in the bottom of my cover pots and I've found dead centipedes at the bottom the following week (ew) but at least I know it's working~!

[@Jane.of.the.jungle]

Hi fern I thought I would let you know the DE should work on your mealies. I used it but dry on my hoya that has had mealies and currently I have no sign of any more. From what I googled this will rip them to shreds basically .

[@authenticplantress470]

Diatomaceous earth (DE) can be effective against flat mites. How DE Works Against Mites: Physical Damage: DE is composed of tiny, sharp particles that abrade the exoskeletons of mites, causing them to dehydrate and die. Contact: For DE to be effective, it must come into direct contact with the mites. Application Tips: Dry Application: Dust a fine layer of DE directly onto the plants, particularly on the undersides of leaves and around the stems where mites are commonly found. Wet Application: Mix DE with water and spray it onto the plants. As previously mentioned, DE will only be effective once the water evaporates and the DE dries out. Reapplication: Regularly reapply DE, especially after rain or watering, ( applicable to outdoor plants) as moisture can reduce its effectiveness

[@lisaanglim9588]

Omg that sounds like a huge thing you had to move. Does it come prefilled with water, or is it one you put soil in and it’s prefilled with soil

[@themillennial_mama]

I love DE! I have never put it on the leaves tho! Are you just applying the powder directly to the leaves!?

[@lisaanglim9588]

Your nails look beautiful. What mail strengthener are you using? I want to try one and yours seems to have worked on your nails. Mine just seem to split and crack.

[@Sunberriyu]

Hi Fern! I am currently in the midst of thrips hell and I wanted to use diatomous earth but I cannot find a way to apply it >< I first bought a powder applicator but it clogged after 2s. I tried to dilute it in water to spray it but it also clogged the spray. It may be because the one I bought is larger diameters (i think over 20 microns) so I wanted to know what yours is, because it seems to be sprayable? The website you linked does not show any products for me. Love yours videos xx

[@wildfern]

Oh nooo, that is so frustrating :( I’m sorry to hear of your thrips struggles! That’s the worst. I couldn’t find any info for the microns of the Bios one. A couple of ideas for you - I saw someone post on reddit about dipping their hands (can wear gloves if you want) into the DE and then just clapping above them to disperse the powder. If you do this I suggest you wear a mask so that you’re not inhaling it! Or if you still want to try the water sprayer route, is it possible to use a little less DE so that it’s more diluted? Then maybe it won’t clog. Or maybe a different spray bottle? Mine actually stopped spraying yesterday too but then it started working again 🤞 Anyways hope that helps & good luck! 🌿