Houseplant Mistakes I've Made (recently)

[@desiree5974]

I use nursery pots then use terracotta pots as a cover. Does that make sense? Plastic pot inside the terracotta.

[@BeccaDeLaPlants]

Yes!! I think this is what I’m going to do for the plant wall - much easier than trying to seal all of the pots 😂

[@yougrowgail]

Me too!

[@CaitlinSewsSometimes]

I do too! Cute look, less watering

[@creativespirits4105]

Same. Came here to say this. But if you like terracotta for the look using them as cache pots just makes sense!

[@emmyb05]

Cache pot FTW!

[@PlantedInRI]

I, too, love terra cotta and use the same pot clips that you do. My solution was to put some plants in plastic pots and to use the terra cotta pots as cover pots. I use plastic orchid pots for most of my ceropegia and rhipsalis, since they're epiphytes, and drop them into terra cotta pots for the weight, stability, and appearance. There are lots of plastic pots that will easily fit into a terra cotta pot, you can even re-use old nursery pots, and you get the best of both.

[@t.k.-s.4212]

First off, big props to you for uploading so consistently post-partum and with a newborn. (Also totally okay if you don't). I was wondering if you would film an update of your plant wall? Things that worked out well with it and things you'd like to change.

[@katherinestanton8131]

My lesson learned is to use clear plastic pots in a cover pot. Way easier to see what’s going on with the roots!

[@kylieemorrison7824]

I love using perlite to propagate i do a clear cup / mason jar and keep a little water resavour in the bottom and what i love is u really dont have to get all the perlite off the roots to when u go to repot the plant

[@traceykusser368]

I also love terra cotta pots and I used to over water my plants so that made sense. After years of having plants, the fungus gnats invaded. 🤬 I have since switched to bottom watering and when I repot plants, I put them in plastic nursery pots or self-watering pots and place those in cover pots. I also started hanging a lot of vining plants because I’ve run out of surface and floor space; not to mention how heavy terra cotta is and it’s hard to gauge if the plant needs watering by the weight of it if it’s in terra cotta. I’m lucky enough to have the time to watch my plants like a hawk now that I’m a grandma but I remember many dead plants when I was a young mom because the children were my main priority, of course. You can always replace a plant but you can’t buy back time. Do what you have to do to make it easier on yourself and allow yourself that option guilt free. ❤

[@rachelburns9640]

The hardest mistake to break has been changing one thing at a time for a plant in need. Say a plant is yellowing-the urge to unpot it, check the roots, change the substrate, water it, do a pest a treatment, and cutoff all the leaves all at once obviously sounds bad, but when you're stressing out about a plant (especially an expensive/sentimental/rare plant) can make you nervous and want to try everything. The real down side is that then you don't really now which one of those solutions helped the plant, or was the cause for its demise. I think I struggled with this way more during the big plant boom of the pandemic, I was really helicopter parent all of my plants. Now that I have many more things occupying my time, I will take note of an issue I'm seeing, try one intervention at a time to see what can be solved. If the issue can't be solved and I lose the plant, then I am more at peace to know that I tried everything and did my best, but there was just something that was out of my hands!

[@Darenim]

About glazing the terracotta pots: I paint pots with acrylic paint and seal them with acrylic spray paint (at least three layers) and I see no negative effects on my plants so far. I’m about one year in, they hold up well. I have also painted saucers, they hold up less well. The paint of the pot tends to stick to the saucer and the saucers paint ends up chipping eventually.

[@TheC3.]

I use terracotta pots as outer pots, and I put the plastic pots inside.

[@kara1028]

I pot most of my plants in plastic and then use ceramic or terracotta pots as decorative. It's also a lot easier to tell when the plants need water because the plastic is flexible. I give em a squeeze and if the soil is crunchy it's time to water them :)

[@graceaxisa4213]

I use a waterproof sealant on the inside of terracotta pots before I mosaic the outside. I have kept plants in these, both indoors and outdoors, for years with great success.

[@torquess454]

I’ve just starting my collection this spring, I’ve got probably 20 little plants still needing more attention, you got me there! I appreciate these vids so much! Thanks!!

[@gabrielleluoma1883]

Great advice Becca❤

[@marsf4883]

Def trying not to have too many small plants. Like 90% never make it to a bigger pot 😅.

[@valerieclark5695]

Great video. I have had plants off and on since the eighties, mostly on, and have now learned to buy a two inch pot sized plant as rarely as possible. Also a stan for terra cotta, I have some of my plants in plastic pots that I slip inside regular terra cotta, so I don't have to look at those #@!%*!!! green nursery pots that detract from a decent decor.

[@lindaleef]

That was going to be my suggestion: just use the terra cotta like a cover pot for plastic.

[@DaughterNature17]

I've found a couple sizes of terracotta fit nursey pots nicely.

[@IrminaBasak]

It is nice to see you again :) Thank you for the next video, have a good day

[@raeannrees9706]

I am also a big fan of terra cotta pots. My favorite plants (snake plants) are getting bigger and I am getting older. It"'s nearly impossible to move some of them. I'm starting to put them in plastic pots and using the terra cotta as cover pots. So far, so good!

[@lesliehughes9382]

Came here to suggest this. Use terra cotta to hang them, but treat the terra cotta as a cover pot. Lift out the plant in its nursery pot for watering, then put it back in its terra cotta on the wall. I agree, Becca - that terra cotta is such a vibe! I love it, but not all my plants do.

[@od.vandeveer]

Why not use plastic nursery pots inside the terracotta ? Then you can keep your terracotta pots with the benefits of plastic or glazed pots

[@apextroll]

I started with terracotta pots and realized they suck the water and caused my plants to dry out too quickly. Now I use them for over watered plants and plants that like to dry out and not have wet feet. This allows me to water on the same schedule as the others. Also I use large terracotta pots with non fickle plants (over or under watered) so to increase the humidity in winter months. Like spider and snake plant.

[@caroline3907]

The small plants thing is so real, ive been collecting plants for 4 years and am just now wanting to get rid of all my small plants and only have large ones

[@graceluke_]

Wait I loveee this video concept! Thank you for sharing 😁

[@spyduhgirl]

Great video Becca

[@user-hi5rk7eg2g]

Awesome video, love your little plant talks videos :) I'm on the other hand, with small plants, when I started collecting plants, I wanted only big ones. I wanted to have full pots from the beginning, and I was so impatient, even thinking of propagating to make a full lush pot of plants myself xD. But now, my house is full of greenery, and space for new plants is very limited. Also, I guess my appetite was satisfied, so now I find small plants bring me joy, like two-leaf hoyas, and watching them grow leaf by leaf. 💚

[@wandashaw3551]

Hi Becca, I have some of my plants in terra cotta pots, but I first pot them in clear plastic orchid pots and use the clay pot as a cache pot once the plants are in the plastic orchid pot!! Just a thought for you.

[@LeaMarieBruce]

Staying on top of watering has been so hard for me this year! I'm ready for a little cooler weather to give me a break!

[@Brittany_B]

Things that I've learned...this summer I almost lost a few plants that were under watered and then got root rot when they were watered because the roots had dried up too much between waterings...so make sure you're checking and adjusting waterings along with seasonal/temp changes. Also, my plants in my house and the conditions that I have, actually seem to dry out faster in the winter...at least towards the beginning of winter. My assumption is that the air in my house gets quite dry and as the sun gets a little lower and the leaves drop from the trees that usually filter the light that probably also contributes to them using their water up faster. All that said, don't make assumptions about watering based on the seasons. Pay attention to all factors in your individual environment.

[@CocoNichole]

Thanks for the video! I have heard that propagating in perlite works really well and the roots come out stronger than water roots. Apparently that makes it easier to transfer to soil compared to a water prop. I’m trying it out right now with some of my hoya and jungle cacti. Baby plants can be so annoying! 😂😂 I had too many at the beginning of my plant journey as well.

[@planethouseplant]

I’m also an underwater with a penchant for terracotta- they’re so cheap and I love the way they look. I wish they were more nursery pot-shaped 😭😭😭 I also swore off hanging plants, because I will not get them down often enough. I love baby plants though - I keep them on my coffee table and always have a dish ready to bottom water. They can only move on when they can go a week without water!

[@1101naomi]

What is that ‘tree’ like plant behind your right shoulder in a light colored terracotta pot?

[@lisamiddleton2638]

Yes please let us know! 😊

[@BeccaDeLaPlants]

It’s a thaumatophyllum spruceanum :) I have it tethered together to look like that, otherwise the leaves go everywhere haha

[@1101naomi]

@@BeccaDeLaPlants ohhhhh. Lol. I have one of these and didn’t even recognize it. I like what you did though. Very cute.

[@bethb7973]

Hi! Very relevant video! Props to you for balancing work and family. It's definitely a challenge, but sometimes work helps you keep sane :) The advice to avoid small plants definitely resonates with me! I've started using terra cotta chalk paint on my glazed pots to keep a more cohesive look. The chalk paint texture is very similar to terra cotta, and the paint is pretty forgiving!

[@anneflores1697]

Hi, i guess mine is afraid of repotting my plants until when i decided its already too late and i've lost a lots of plants bec of this anyway thanks for a learning video regards❤

[@kuhriynuh]

terra cotta is too difficult to stay on top of watering 😰 my recent mistake was watering a succulent too soon after repotting 🙃

[@christelarmstrong9598]

Thanks for sharing

[@avaf1084]

Why not seal the oitside of the terracotta pot. That way the plant is not affected at all.

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@chuck4714]

I agree bigger plants are way easier!!

[@janetmccalder5541]

I cannot grow a spider plant for love nor money .. just can’t get the watering right at all

[@solarwinds-]

I grow cacti, so send your terra cotta to ME!

[@AngieRichmond]

💙

[@Kikimalikki]

Where do you get your terra cotta pots? I bought the hooks for them but not sure which pots will work so it doesn’t fall off :)

[@BeccaDeLaPlants]

I usually just get them from big box stores :) I’d suggest bringing in a hook when you shop just to make sure it’ll fit. Sometimes the lip can be too skinny 😪

[@solarwinds-]

I learned the hard way NOT to buy babies. I have a Devil's Tongue baby and she burns EASILY AND needs a lot of attention. Her older brothers grow wild in the desert but they are big beach ball size plants. Babies are delicate.

[@mirianmgtt]

🪴

[@pudik2008]

Hi Becca. I also have and love lots of terracotta pot,I bought a Terracotta sealer,big tin to use with a paint brush. ( sorry I can’t recommend the brand as I’m in Australia) the way it works is,th pots soak up the sealer,you do several coats whilst all othe terracotta to breathe still,so it doesn’t just sit on top of the surface I have noticed a huge difference to the drying out quick problem. Unfortunately it’s best to do it with new clean planters. I learned the same lesson. Now I just use them for succulents and cacti. GreatVid. 🪴🪴❤️