Forest floor potting mix

[@endoneswa]

Finally, a guy who is fearless of airpockets. Beautiful mix. I would love to run my hand through it for no reason. Terimakasih.

[@onlyplants]

Haha it feels great on the hand!

[@limakumlapongen]

God has blessed people like you who would take care and love His creations, the plants. It is amazing how you keep and take care of all kinds of plants both rare + common ones.

[@onlyplants]

Thank you 🙏🏽😀 that is very kind of you.

[@rsmith6909]

I have been waiting for a video like this. You are a gifted teacher. I love how you explain things. Much love from USA

[@onlyplants]

Thank you so much 😌😌

[@ProximaCentauri88]

Hi Sean! Just bought some calatheas and other prayer plants so I went straight to your channel for plant care and learned about this forest floor potting mix. This morning, my brother removed the leaves, dried up fruits, and twigs littered on top of the roof and I took some for my calatheas. Thanks a lot!

[@onlyplants]

Yaye. Be careful some of them may contain fungus/rot. Perhaps treat that newfound media with fungicide or neem oil which has good anti-microbial properties

[@ProximaCentauri88]

@@onlyplants Thanks! Can I use thieves oil to treat the mix? I find people using it to shoo away fungus from their plants.

[@MrMikey787878]

You are quickly becoming my very favorite youtube source for plant advice, but in general, I love your content and knowledge of plants and plant growth tips. I was just telling my gf today, I want to travel to Indonesia just to see the nurseries you've visited!! Thanks for all your help and awesome content. CHEERS

[@MrMikey787878]

Also, quick question...Do you think I could sub out the dried bamboo with Coco chips? And Burnt rice hull or carbonized rice hull is very hard to find. Can I substitute biochar for the same effect?

[@onlyplants]

Yeapp biochar have similar effects. Dried bamboo can be substituted with more perlite.

[@thegrowingspirit]

I love learning about potting mixes, especially yours but there’s something about watching you dig your hand in the soil that gives me goosebumps 🥰

[@adelesaaddesouza6780]

Excellent video Sean! Great content! Finally someone really understands what a Begonia, Calathea, Peperomia, Piper, Episcia (and others) soil mix is about, what they have in common, and shows it! 🙌 Your channel is a complete horticultural course! Bravo!

[@onlyplants]

Thank you so much 😌😌 have so much more to learn, uncover, and share!

[@bryantherocker]

@@onlyplants That potting mix is so pretty in clay pots :)

[@lindseym.8074]

Thank you for this video Sean! I just bought 3 new calatheas and they were all in what looks like just pure peat moss. They were taking about 3-4 weeks to dry out to the point they needed watering again (and I live in San Diego near the coast so my plants get a lot of light and humidity 60-90%). So I knew I needed to change something because they must have been suffocating. I saw some other suggestions that calatheas like very aerated soil so I put mine in ~ 50% potting mix, 25% perlite and 25% orchid bark mix in terra cotta pots, and over the last week, they seem to be growing faster than they were before. As a general rule, to me it seems like for plants that need a lot of moisture, they may also need a good balance of aeration as well. Maybe that's a big reason why people think calatheas are so difficult to care for because they're often sold in the completely wrong mix!

[@onlyplants]

Correct, aeration is the key with 99% of our houseplants especially calatheas. 25% bark and 25% perlite looks good!

[@MountainsnVallies]

Do you water once a week with this potting mix? My humidity in the house is usually around 50% I love watching these videos and seeing all the plants with water on the leaves 🥰

[@lindseym.8074]

@@MountainsnVallies Yes! I'm watering about once a week. I've discovered that the grey-brown terra cotta dries out a little more slowly than the red terra cotta, at least in my area. I use the grey-brown terra cotta in medium-high light. All five of my calatheas are still growing fast with little to no leaf crisping, even when I wait a little too long to water them.

[@MountainsnVallies]

@@lindseym.8074 thank you for your response! I have some brown terra cotta pots 😊👌

[@plants.cornell2098]

Don't know why, maybe I'm too lazy to write it, but I always watching this video again and again if I wanna mixing the jungle floor mix. I really love you recipe.

[@onlyplants]

Thank youu haha

[@triciaroy]

Your calatheas are gorgeous!

[@uwuket]

I haven't clicked on a plant video faster 😅😅😅 I sincerely love how I always learn something new with every video, from someone who genuinely experiences everything first hand. Thank you, Sean!!!

[@onlyplants]

Whoaaa thank you so much for that statement!

[@uwuket]

@@onlyplants Appreciate you so muuuch! 😅🙌🙌🙌 Please don't forget us when you reach 100k-1M subscribers! Haha!

[@Januarywitch]

I'm so glad that I found your channel!

[@onlyplants]

Welcome to the channel! 🙌🏻

[@sneem3987]

Thank you so much for this video! It's super interesting, even though I cannot get half of the things you use. I'm so glad that you are really aware of poaching too. It's very important to get the word out about poaching.

[@onlyplants]

A video on poaching is coming in April and its epic 😀

[@cherylyeo25]

Yahoo! 1st viewer. Definitely am going to try ... to make my own version of forest potting mix! I tried (based on your recipe) potting mix from previous video - what a lifesaver as finally 1. I found better potting mix suited for SEAsia. 2. My plants are much happier (less plant abuse and more understanding on my own plants - what works / what doesnt...) 3. its so fun / therapeutic to mix my own pot mix :) :) :) m struggling with begonia soooo am totally going to try the forest mix. I CANT WAIT FOR AROIDS of cos!!!! given my huge collection of this family :) ;) ;P so THANK THANK THANK U!!!!! :)

[@onlyplants]

Welcome Cheryl. Being successful plant parents makes us confident people and our spaces beautiful. Readying us for something bigger!

[@maria_nakajima]

cherylyeo25 - I know, right? Excellently suited for us SEAsia peeps!

[@Propqueen]

I LOVE playing in the soil I make. It’s so relaxing. I was enjoying watching you also 😂

[@onlyplants]

Thank youuu 🙈

[@ShyDog827]

Thank you Sean for this new info . I can definitely see the difference in the plants grown in the forest floor mix. I had given up on buying tropical plants because they all died time after time. General potting soil is just to dense for them .

[@onlyplants]

Yeah some plants really need airy potting mix, as they rot too easily

[@reyhosein2533]

Sean I got so relaxed just watching you play with the jungle potting mix in that container, looks like fun, I'm gonna make sum, i got bamboo where I live, and then try it with a mocoyana calathea, so excited !!😁😁

[@tanushreesaha2872]

U are the best plant KZbinr who explains so well... love your videos. ❤❤

[@onlyplants]

Thank youu 😌🙏🏽

[@carloisabelo3514]

Calatheas definitely love this airy soil mix! My Calatheas in this medium are significantly doing better than others in general purpose mix. Looks like I will have some repotting to do now that your video has validated my observation.

[@onlyplants]

They like humidity around the roots but never soggy wet and never let it dry out too much. This only works in tropical climate with defent humidity though

[@vandanad3786]

Thank u so much for explaining the soil n ingredients u r using... I fed up of listening brand names in most of the vedios while searching for soil mix..... Gardner mostly used terms like cacti soil regular soil mix bla bla bla... Loved ur plants.... Love from India.

[@onlyplants]

Thank you. Hope all is well in India 💖

[@therootofallthings]

Thank you so much Sean!!! This is very helpful, now that I’m adopting more plants to the family! Thank you!!!

[@onlyplants]

I have been buying over 50 calatheas since I found this to work. Haha its a bad habit!

[@Kris_BloomingPlants]

Episcias! They are difficult to find in the U.S., maybe see them once a year at one or two nurseries. Your experiments with propagation and soil mixes are so helpful. Thank you!

[@onlyplants]

Interesting... we cant find african violets here in Indonesia! (They are closely related to episcias)

[@manishachahel3862]

Thank you! This video was very informative. Your plants look so happy and healthy.

[@iamcivisor]

Love this video. Thank you Sean! This is so informative. I’ll try this...

[@onlyplants]

Good luck 😌🙏🏽

[@iamcivisor]

@@onlyplants thank you. I wanna try out of what’s available in my area here in the Philippines 🇵🇭

[@markeah714]

Hi shun im thankful for you because I have learned a lot from you how to propagate and to maintain the beauty of my plants ....😊😊😊😊

[@onlyplants]

Yayyy Im so happy to hear that

[@EyesAreJade]

Im so glad to have found your channel! Helped me in so many ways! Really inspiring and so fun to watch! 🥰🙏

[@onlyplants]

Thank youuuu. Welcome to the channel 🙌🏻

[@vermillionj1]

Oh wow! Yes ur begonias really do like ur potting mix. I will try n make my own using orchid bark , sand , and worm castings. Maybe my strawberry begonia will start growing faster😃. Thanks Shawn, another great video.

[@onlyplants]

Thank you. Strawberry begonias are one that dont grow in my home. I cant figure out why yet 😅

[@vermillionj1]

@@onlyplants oh I really believe you will figure that begonia out☺️. I can see you needing out until you succeed 😊

[@fayegallosa3369]

I have a begonia that is about to die and I immedietly change the soil after watching this 😊

[@onlyplants]

Awwww yes I killed lots of begonias before I found this potting mix. If the begonia does die off dont throw away the pot. It should come back most of the time if you give it 2-3 months

[@mamamaster4630]

Thank you Sean! Now I have the courage to take calathea in my care 😍

[@onlyplants]

Good luck! 😌

[@capricorn3113]

I've been looking for caletheas soil mix as my caletheas were drying out as summer comes, I'm glad you made this video. They did well during winter but don't know why the leaves dry out as summer comes.

[@onlyplants]

Plants take in water differently through the seasons, also plant size matters too. If you have more leaves and roots the plant will drink up more 😀

[@capricorn3113]

I am only beginner in taking care of plants as i have just started, i am learning from you alot. I'm glad you were there to guide me😊. 👍👍👍

[@licakoroi3010]

Beautiful Begonia leaf, thank you for this coz I too have killed so many Begonias and Calatheas in this short while. Almost gave up completely on Calatheas but am giving it another go, so far so good. Looking forward to your uploads on calathea and begonia maculata care.

[@onlyplants]

Yeapp maculata will be next month ish ya!

[@greaceyu3183]

Thank You Sean ... 😘

[@onlyplants]

😀

[@medygunawan1318]

Thank you for your videos.. I really enjoy them all, very informative, you are very knowledgeable n very good a teacher. Can I substitute the dried bamboos with dried eucalyptus leaves or broken/crushed eucalyptus tree barks? Or even with wood chips that are used here where a I live as mulch?

[@onlyplants]

I have a feeling you can, since eucalyptus has anti-microbial properties like bamboo does. But I havent put this theory to the test.

[@mitalipandey7870]

Hi Sean ur video on jungle floor potting mix was wonderful......I m in a transferable job...currently shifted to a semi arid state.....all my tropical collection died but for one...calathea.....I'll try repotting it in d potting mix u suggested maybe it will thrive better

[@onlyplants]

Awww I hope you are happy and comfortable with your new job and living. Good luck with the calathea 😌

[@waverine]

newbie here just became a plant lover and loves philos and monsteras! very very informative and love the way u explain everything also helps that you are in same climate as me! (SG) cant wait for your videos on other mixes so i can try it on my own!

[@onlyplants]

Thank you. Aroid potting mix video will be up tonight and general will be next Friday 😌

[@waverine]

@@onlyplants great! can work on the aroid mix this weekend! 🌱🌿☘️🍀😬

[@suzannealden]

`Sean, of the hundreds of plant KZbinrs I watch, you are my favorite! I’m here in the USA. Can I purchase your soil? I tried to find the individual ingredients to make my own but can’t locate burnt rice hulls, dried twigs or dried bamboo on line . .

[@onlyplants]

Hello, unfortunately we cannot ship potting mix overseas due to foreign organic matters present. Actually a lot of people from the states have great success with coco peat and 50% perlite. You can add a bit of worm casting and activated charcoal for nutrient and to minimize rot...

[@laurelb4193]

@@onlyplants ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️Thank you so much for this info! 🌈💕

[@rachaelnugent]

Watching this in cold wet England makes me miss living (and planting) in tropical Australia!!!

[@mtownz6215]

I'm collecting fallen leaves right now. #fallseason

[@adriantomo5688]

make sure there are no pests on the leaves

[@Kat-pd9eh]

I wonder if pine straw would work as a good substitute for the fern roots, for those of us in the southern US. I’m in Florida and have pretty high humidity but I use closer to your aroid mix. I am going to try something like this the next time I pot up my begonias and peperomias:) It’s so fun to tweak the potting mixture to fit the plants needs. Love your content!

[@onlyplants]

Good luck 😀 the theory should be the same regardless of material, I just happen to have these ingredients near me.

[@teachandplant]

I know that my country had it's own beautiful plants (I'm from Japan), but you are making me want to stay in Indonesia for my whole life 😂

[@onlyplants]

Awwwww you can visit Indonesia sometime after covid! I miss Japan too its so beautiful where you are.

[@Sophia1991sd]

thank you for your great videos. I have a lot of rice hull at home but I don't know how to make burnt rice hull. put it in a pan on stove or inside microwave or it should burn directly in fire?

[@onlyplants]

I have a feeling the burnt rice hulls were burnt in open flame. I saw a video on this once on youtube.

[@adhidhant7411]

Masalah yg sama dg aku. Terlau suka nyiram, dan akhirnya daun calathea kecoklatan. Dan sy juga memakai media yg sama dg ini. Dan menyelamatkan calatea ku hehehhe

[@onlyplants]

Yayeee thanks for sharing this story!

[@Zhuntress]

I am in the process of killing my calathea right now and this video makes a lot of sense. I’ve been watching western videos on how to care for calatheas but the weather condition totally makes a huge impact on how to care for them for sure. I should change my calatheas soil soon because i followed your general purpose soil for my mix 🥺

[@onlyplants]

Ooo I killed many calatheas in my general purpose potting mix in my early days 🥺

[@freelark1572]

Hi 🙋 Beautiful Video🍀🍃🌿🌱 Thanks 💚

[@onlyplants]

Thank you 🤤

[@kimtobey3085]

Your videos are the best!😊💚🌱

[@onlyplants]

Thank you Kim 😌

[@leanawong6744]

Sean, tree fern fiber is now sustainably sourced ! I know this video is older but I wanted to let you know 😌

[@onlyplants]

Interesting! Would love it if you can share more info (source) so I can learn and share it. Please do DM my instagram @bo.tan.ist . Thank you❤️

[@nickrodriguez7985]

You’re the best man, keep up your great content

[@onlyplants]

Thanks Nick 🙏🏽😌

[@youwhatmate93]

Omg thank you Sean for the recommendation! I need to fix the soil for my Calathea Ornata ASAP!

[@1tock77]

Thank u for this video

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@alonglongkumer2964]

Great content man!

[@onlyplants]

Thank youu

[@bonnieligon4291]

Can you use the hulls from thistle bird seed. Our finch eat the seed and then drop the hull, lots of it?

[@onlyplants]

I’m not so sure… as long as they are sterile and dont contain bacteria or fungi it should work great 😀

[@chloeclark9182]

Hi Sean, I am learning so much from this mini series as I want to make my own potting mixes in the future, so thank you so much for the wealth of knowledge! I understand that the General Potting Mix is good for retaining moisture for plants that like to be on the damper side, whilst the Aroid Mix is beneficial for fast drainage for plants that thrive in drier conditions, but I am a little confused about this Forest Floor mix! From what I understand it’s focusing on better aeration to prevent funguses, but how do I know which of my plants would prefer this? Thank you for your help and such wonderful videos to watch 😁

[@onlyplants]

Generally plants that live on jungle floors such as calatheas, begonias, alocasias etc... 😀 as it replicates their natural environment

[@gemmamanojo6310]

Thank you so much

[@dyanalayng5507]

Hi, Sean. I'm in Canada, & used cut up pieces of old grapevine in place of twigs & that seems to work. Fun curliques on the grapevine pieces! The earthworm castings and coir peat are not common but findable. Any suggestions on the bamboo ?

[@onlyplants]

Not sure about the bamboo… but larger perlite seem to add lots of aeration 😀

[@gladstonepm]

Very usefull. Thanks! Is this forest floor potting mix good for bromeliads?

[@onlyplants]

Nope, for bromeliads I would go with aroid potting mix. Most bromeliads are actually epiphytes and live on trees

[@trewti]

Can't wait for the Episcia videos. I have a full 4" pot of the chocolate soldier. It's beautiful and growing well, but I don't know much about their care. Can't wait for it to trail it's gorgeous. Can you give alternatives for soil mixes in the U.S.? Info on how to properly store mixes would be helpful as well. Ty🌿💚

[@onlyplants]

Hello I believe perlite is your only options. I hear people put 50% perlite in their calathea mix there. Hope this helps!

[@kimneo1251]

Hi Sean! I am new into plants. Appreciated your sharing. Some questions to ask: 1.Instead of burnt rice husk, can I used dried rice husk? 2. I just got caladiums. Could u kindly advise me whether to use the aroid or the jungle floor mix. Thanks in advance.

[@onlyplants]

Hello for caladium jungle floor would be best. If you give them direct sunlight or full sun do not let the soil dry out too much. Dried rice husk does not contain carbonized material and will not prevent rot and bacteria. Instead a better alternative may be horticultural charcoal 😀

[@tisatisu5752]

Like your video very much, so much knowledge gain.. keep it up mate 👍👍 Please discuss about creating humidity environment... Jakarta is very hot nowadays..

[@onlyplants]

Jakarta is around 80% humidity outside and maybe around 50% humidity in AC room. Already quite high humidity I think 😌

[@deleonjohnclarenceg.5601]

actually i liked begonias but the price in the Philippines was 20 dollars well I'm broke just watching it makes me want to buy them i want to collect it my collection was Maculatta and Martin's mystery

[@louiejbarrocamo4579]

sir your amazing to sharing your vlog very interesting to plant and for now i apply to may calathea and begonia 😊

[@daraking3823]

I'm in love with this potting mix for calathea and aglonema especially how can I get some to buy your results is soo amazing.

[@Seema_Garg]

Can we take wood scrapping in place of bamboo leaves?

[@onlyplants]

Wooh that depends… bamboo is anti microbial, but I have a feeling some woods arent. They can attract undesirable termites, mold, and bacteria.

[@Sophia1991sd]

my other question is that I live in west Asia.the humidity is very low here(around 30%). I keep my Calatheas in apartment and water them once or twice a week(right now they are in a half peat moss, half chunky perlite mix+some worm castings).they always have burnt tips,they sometimes grow new leaves but I see that they're struggling.I'm going to move them into something like your forest floor mix but in a plastic pot with lots of drainage holes.would you water them daily if you were me?(low humidity, inside apartment,forest soil, plastic pot)

[@onlyplants]

I would water them lightly daily. See if you can give them a bit of airflow with a fan or open window they really thrive in it.

[@JeffMoak]

Great video! I have a quick question, you mentioned dried bamboo as an ingredient, are these dried bamboo leaves, shredded bamboo stems? I'm curious what to substitute for this material as I don't think I can find it in Canada. Thanks.

[@onlyplants]

Ooo Im not sure what part of the bamboo... but over there in the west a lot of people have success with 50% peat 50% perlite. The idea is to create very lose and airy soil that is humid but never compact or wet.

[@JeffMoak]

@@onlyplants thanks, I wanted to try and duplicate the light, larger pieces that the bamboo created. 50/50 is a very easy mix for us to do over here. I'll probably substitute the peat (sphagnum moss) for coco coir. Maybe a little shredded mulch instead of the larger chunky mulch.

[@yuniekesadrak8156]

I have some begonias that I bought recently, and I am so in love with them. Since I bought them, they do thrive and give new leaves in their old potting mix from the seller. I am afraid thou in repotting them, but I wanted to 😅 its because the potting mix seems to be so heavy now. Do you have any tips for me? Plese help.. Owww...btw sy tinggal di Makassar, Sul-sel, salam kenal ya mas Sean ☺

[@onlyplants]

If the plant is happy no need to rush to repot yet. Maybe cut back on watering if you are afraid current mix is too heavy with water. If impossible to cut down watering (such as in my case) then repot them with airier fast draining mix

[@yuniekesadrak8156]

@@onlyplants thanks so much for the tips 😊

[@justinsebastian4878]

🌱 Great video 💚 much awaited topic video and explained very well👍🏼. Thank u so much 💐. U mentioned dry bamboo, u mean leaf or the bamboo sheath ??

[@onlyplants]

I have a feeling leaves.

[@andrescastillo07]

I live in Costa Rica where the humidity is always around 70-99% too, and I had the same problem with my calatheas, because the soil was wet for too long! But I have a question, do you repot your plants to this forest floor soil mix right away? I just bought a calathea medallion and its in a bad soil (retains a lot of water and doesn't have good aeration), so I'm tempted to change the soil... but I'm afraid it is to soon to do that? Also the plant is so beautiful at the moment but I'm afraid of root rot because the soil is extremely wet right now. I hope this makes sense!

[@onlyplants]

Its never too soon to repot. Plants will suffer if they are in incorrect medium. My calatheas immediately perked up in my media.

[@andrescastillo07]

​@@onlyplants I listened to you and I repotted my calathea today! It was the best decision because the soil where it was potted in, was pure wet mud :S and it was full of red worms! Thank you for your advice

[@idontknowok5632]

What type of calathea is that on the far left at 7:08 ? I have one but I haven’t ID’d it yet

[@onlyplants]

Is it a ctenanthe burle marxii?

[@idontknowok5632]

It died after a stray cat digged it’s soil and I lately just noticed lol

[@christinamarie5141]

Hi Sean! L❤️VE your videos! What would you suggest for ingredients/ratios in the US for 40-50% humidity...?

[@onlyplants]

The easiest would be 50% perlite 50% peat (coco or sphagnum peat moss). I would also fertilize lightly... maybe amend with small bits of horticultural charcoal if you can get your hands on some.

[@thegirl828]

Sean, can apply to anthurium crystallinum?

[@onlyplants]

Yep but I find anthuriums like more gripping action so I give mine aroid potting mix and top dress with sphagnum moss. They like humidity around the roots, but never too wet ya...

[@thegirl828]

@@onlyplants thanks your useful info Sean

[@lulu486]

I just love calathea’s, but they just hate me 😂 I have one rattle snake calathea right know, which is thriving. I have around 60-70 plants in my room ( I still live with my parents) with big south facing windows. All my plants are thriving, but I think the calatheas just don’t like the sunlight in my room, since there is no real way to avoid direct sunlight. I just bought white curtains, so hopefully that will block any direct light in the summer!

[@onlyplants]

See if you can place them behind taller plants. They really thrive in low light

[@Sophia1991sd]

excuse me for asking too many questions 🙈 my last question is that I thought Aglonemas are Aroids too. isn't the Aroid mix better for them?

[@onlyplants]

Yep aglaonemas are aroids but they grow on forest floors in nature. The aroid potting mix is actually more for epiphytic plants like orchids and hoyas too. 😀

[@joedwards4268]

Hi Sean, really enjoy watching your videos, I was wondering if using mulched up palm tree fronds instead of the bamboo would work as well for the jungle floor mix also I have a lots of trees around can I use the twigs from trees, old leaves from my plants like fern fronds, instead of worm poo can I use chicken poo and I cant get the rice hulls so I assume charcoal will be ok instead, sorry for long post but I'm really intrested in your potting mixes I live in Australia.

[@onlyplants]

Hello, charcoal works great too. I would avoid chicken poo where possible because it may contain salmonella. Dried bits from other plants should work too as long as they are not harboring pests/fungi/bacteria. I guess make sure they are thoroughly dry.

[@faizfitri3553]

Sean .. can i use normal soil with chicken manure as my forest floor instead of worm casting

[@onlyplants]

You can but manure may have bacteria that harm us. If In not wrong its salmonella? So be careful. But also chicken manure may rot the plant more because its not as stable. Worm casting has been stabilized over many months of composting making their organic material less harmful and easier to be absorbed.

[@rsobi134_]

mantap kak, tinggal dimana kak?

[@onlyplants]

Saya di BSd

[@rsobi134_]

Ada tanaman bibit yg dijual di online shop ga kak ?@@onlyplants

[@christinekobzeff]

Loved this video! Thank you Sean! I’ve been curious what the ideal jungle floor mix would be for Calatheas. After seeing this I feel more confident about experimenting with mine and trying some airier mixes. I know you’re in the tropics (I’m in the desert) but seeing your Calatheas in terra cotta really makes me want to try it out too. It sounds risky, doesn’t it? Calathea + Terra cotta + Desert = ? 😂 But hey let’s see what happens. If don’t try I’ll never know.👌

[@onlyplants]

Haha just dont let it dry out too much! Remember the key is constant humidity around the roots. If the potting mix is too compact or retain moisture for too long it will crisp up too.

[@nadeeyaakira]

You can use plastic pot & use terra cotta as the cover.

[@jaskaur5127]

Loved this video. Seriously I'm so jealous of all your calatheas. Wow they look amazing. I so want to go out and collect dry leaves to make my mix since I cant order from you, but its the raining season now. I was wondering can I use other dry leaves cos I don't have bamboo. What about dry pandan , mango or serai leaves?

[@onlyplants]

Im not sure about using dried leaves as I have no experience... but a lot of people have success using 50% coco peat and 50% perlite. It does kind of the same thing of allowing air into the roots

[@beadmewell2605]

Have a question about acacia leaves, is it okay to use this in the potting mix for variegated plants? Some says its high in nitrogen. TYIA

[@onlyplants]

Im not familiar with the acacia leaves. But some say variegated plants should not get too much nitrogen

[@NesNesnes]

So if i use forest mix for a while now hut not sure when i should water my olants again. I water them because I feel I should. I haven't found a rule yet. As with other soil additives, I'm trying to dip my finger into the soil and figure it out, but I can't find the exact time to water it, do you have any suggestions for this?

[@onlyplants]

I water my forest floor plants lightly everyday. Keeping the soil loose and airy by watering gently. They can retain a lot of water if they get compacted and plants really can suffer. I fluff it with a toothpick if it ever gets compacted. The idea is to keep the media lightly moist but airy at the same time… hope Im making sense 😅

[@AtinyElring]

I have an alocasia x amazonica rhizome. Is coco coir, pumice, garden soil mix, and worm castings good enough? That is all I have.

[@onlyplants]

I would find perlite too, or increase amount of pumice used. They like it airy!

[@jennywong9848]

Hi Sean, may i know any substitute for dried bamboo? thanks

[@onlyplants]

I would use bark or charcoal (for orchid) or more perlite simply

[@jennywong9848]

Thanks 😊

[@natalierodriguez-ema334]

I'm excited to try this potting mix!! But I have a question, is it too late to repot my plants since we're heading into winter here in the US? I don't think my calatheas love the soil they're in even though they are doing fine. I provide them with the right humidity and water with distilled water but I know they don't like their roots to be messed with. Should I just leave them be or should I repot?

[@onlyplants]

If I were you I would repot. If they are unhappy they will decline and completely die off. Mine did not seem to be stressed with repotting since I did them en masse 3-4 months ago.

[@maryannchong6970]

Good video, Sean. The dried bamboo are bamboo leaves, right? Can we use any type of tree twigs ? Also, can we use normal charcoal? Thanks.

[@onlyplants]

Yeap bamboo leaves. Im not sure about other twigs... I have a feeling should be ok because thats what forest floor is made of in nature. Theres horticultural charcoal used for growing orchids I would say stick to that one

[@soggyfries3299]

Hello, me again. I love composting videos and such. Will you do a composting and applying to your plants video? Or do do you just buy them?

[@onlyplants]

Hello I want to look into composting sometime in the future! 😌

[@yadikay]

Has anyone been able to find the soil components? And where

[@ezclean7022]

i live in florida, usa. can i just go take dirt from the woods??? looks similar to me lol

[@onlyplants]

They have bacteria and fungi if not treated first. I would imagine you can use it if you know how to treat them 😀

[@UtukushiDAE2007]

I see those yakults in the background. Did u have a vlogg thats about them?

[@onlyplants]

The propagates you mean? Dont have a video on them 😅

[@mondraymondo]

Orchid terracotta pots? Mmm I gotta try that! My orchids have graduated onto tree branch so i have plenty of pots now. They do have large side holes... do you use mosquito wiring or anything to keep the soil inside?

[@onlyplants]

Because the potting mix is larger particles none of them actually leave the pot when I water the plant 😌

[@Tanubasar]

My Plant Guru 😊🙏🏼

[@onlyplants]

🤓🤓

[@allendrew6409]

Do you think we could use wood shavings instead of dried bamboo?

[@onlyplants]

Im not really sure... worth putting it to the test?

[@allendrew6409]

Imma try with my less expensive plants. Haha let you know. Thanks

[@glinstongonsalves9349]

Does your Jungle mix or aroid mix contain some part of cocopeat

[@onlyplants]

Nope only the general potting mix contains coco peat

[@jocarellano]

Could I use dried guava leaves instead of bamboo leaves?

[@onlyplants]

As long as its pest/fungus free should be ok 😀 dried leaves are used in mulch for traditional gardening

[@jocarellano]

@@onlyplants Thanks! Noticed my neighbors have some bamboos in their garden. They’re more than happy to give me the dried leaves they sweep up everyday. Will try this mix for my calatheas. Mine are always struggling. They always have new leaves. After 2 or 3 leaves, they’ll stop and then give new stems. The old stems sill then die.

[@qhaleef9757]

Is this suitable for all alocasia?

[@onlyplants]

As far as I know, yes. But there may be some species that like chunkier mix or a more dense mix. I have yet to discover those.

[@Top5_Pilipinas]

i keep avoiding my calatheas to have dry soil last year because I keep watching vloggers from the US saying calatheas don't like to dry out but you know what, there was a time that i was so busy and cant water my plants (mostly prayer plants) 2 to 3x a week, but turned out they lived longer haha. now i don't apply the advice of western vloggers anymore because their humidity, climate, temp is not the same as ours here in southeast Asia. I'm out here in Manila.

[@onlyplants]

Calatheas rot easily in our climate 😅

[@Top5_Pilipinas]

@@onlyplants facts! I only watch southeast Asian plant channels now if I want care tips.

[@fharyana]

Sean.. where you buy dry bamboo, perlite, worm cast, etc? I live in Jakarta. I want all the material you used in this video. Thank you

[@onlyplants]

Hello you can find them in tokopedia or most plant media shop. Graha raya have a good store... and also @primafloraverrical . In tokopedia the key words are “pupuk cacing”, “humus bambu”

[@fharyana]

Thank you for being so informative 🙏🏼

[@jake6681]

Wow you’re so lucky to have that Indonesia weather. I live in the north where it snows all the time and there’s practically no sunlight, so it’s hard for me to grow super healthy plants all year long

[@onlyplants]

Hello, try setting up a plant shelf with lighting and increase humidity with pebble trays. A good science hack is so much fun too!

[@mayac2266]

The jungle floor ingredients are hard to find in amazon or local nursery 😂 I just use aroid mix for all plants. Hope they will do well

[@onlyplants]

It should be better than regular potting mix 😀

[@shaban5986]

I have been killing Calethia s ...I stay in the middle East... whenever I buy Calethia in the nursery...it is always in complete Coco peat...Coco peat is very much compact...I feel removing the Coco peat and repotting in jungle mix would stop from killing ...do you have any other suggestions

[@onlyplants]

You can also mix coco peat with perlite. Half half. 😌

[@shaban5986]

@@onlyplants thank you..

[@milical.d.1855]

Hello, ;) i am trying to make this jungle floor mix, can i use pine mulch insted od dried bamboo? I cant find dried bamboo in my town and cant find burnt rice, what can i use insted? And trying to find worm castings xD haha... Need help :)

[@onlyplants]

I have a feeling you can but you may have to treat them so they are fungus and bacteria free. I have a feeling baking them in the sun is the most common way to do it.

[@milical.d.1855]

Thank you! Love your videos

[@mayolmichaellorenze.6918]

Is it alright if I substitute dried acacia leaves for the dried bamboo?

[@onlyplants]

I hear those are great substrates but I know next to nothing about them 😅 give it a try and let us know 🙌🏻