I Left My Plants + Now They're Dying 😥 Houseplant Struggles and REHAB Plans

[@ReeRuns]

In a weird and very selfish way, I am actually so comforted to see this. I am fairly new to houseplants, and have really been struggling to keep my plants happy as I get to know them. I think I'm starting to learn that there is no such thing as 'instant gratification' with this hobby, and that I really need to take my time and pay attention to them in order to get to know what they like or dislike. I have several plants that I've really been stressing about this week. It's very calming and idk..centering? Maybe? to see how someone with your experience responds to issues like this. Ty!

[@courtneyhansen3032]

I love that you post the good and bad, so often I compare myself to people on social media. It's good to know that you can be real and show all parts of plant care no matter how experienced you are.

[@silviap4478]

I had a plant caretaker while I was away a few weeks ago. He had a very long and very detailed instruction sheet and I colour coded the plants. It went very well, I only lost my strawberry because it was unexpectedly hot. The rest of the plants were thriving and my orchid even bloomed ❤

[@AnthuriumQueen]

You must be feeling so overwhelmed! I don’t know if this will make you feel any better.. but I sprayed pesticide on my large beautiful monstera (in the middle of the day, stupid, I know 😵) and I completely burnt the original leaves and the new emerging leaf 😓 Unfortunately sh*t happens in the plant hobby - I hope yours have a speedy recovery!!! ❤

[@worldgonemad1977]

I put all my plants into the windowless bathroom, water them just before I leave and shut the door. It seems to work but my house doesn’t get hot. (Edit: I’m not suggesting that you try and cram all yours into a small bathroom Claire) Sounds like your flat needs an a/c unit or a live-in plant nanny lol. I would say that circulating warm air with a fan is desiccating the plant leaves

[@iamwoman1986]

My plant drama consists of me being impatient and unfurling leaves before they’re ready

[@tynatheunicorn]

Sorry for your plants :( I know you've been struggling and would like to make you a few suggestions, please take it kindly and if they it feel unwanted, just skip my comment. Firstly, get a plant sitter. I'm sure you can find someone lovely that can come and water your plants like every second/third/fourth day. Secondly, I've had very dry spring, for some reason there was like 30% humidity (as oppossed to usual 50%) and with enough light, my plants acclimated well and were just alright so don't worry about it too much, I know some of your plants are not doing that well (like your white princess) but I think it's a light issue. Thirdly, I would think of repotting into a different substrate either pon like you've been doing or less chunky soil mix. Their roots won't suffocate in a denser mix, I would try swapping part of the perlite (and other finer amendements) for bigger pieces like zeolite, seramis or orchid bark that are porous and also hold moisture inside (not lecca, it leads moisture only on its surface). Beside orchid bark, they're reusable if you boil them which is nice. To conclude, I hope your plants will do well in summer and hopefully all will work out :)

[@haitch04]

It's not all sweetness and light or a bed of roses. Thank you for showing us what can go wrong in a short space of time and saying what we can do to avoid these pitfalls. Love your vids and hope you manage to save the majority of plants that are suffering. Thanks for sharing.

[@larrycahoon8465]

It is hard to believe that anything other than heat was the problem - especially considering what happened to the Hoya Crissum Queen. Two suggestions - put a thermometer up with your hanging plants that will remember the high temperature to see how hot it gets. You also might mount a small fan/fans in place of one or more of the hanging baskets to get some better air circulation up where you have the hanging plants to try to cool that area of your flat down a bit.

[@michaelkerley452]

So sorry hun, I know it is going to feel daunting when you get back from the second away. We are all in your corner and know you will have things in hand when you get back. Just know we are cheering you on.❤

[@cate7777]

Have you thought of possibly getting a plant sitter or maybe have trusted friend come water your plants when you're away?

[@carolstuff]

Sorry your plants suffered during your vacation. It’s unfortunate you’re going to leave again before they’re healthy. Hopefully, they’ll surprise you & perk up for your return. Thanks for sharing Claire!

[@simplifygardening]

It's such a shame when this happens Claire but the good thing about most plants is they can bounce back even if its just from cuttings

[@JohnnyWin]

Don't be sad about your rehabs. They're gonna grow back stronger than before. I know it. 🥰

[@jmacd98]

Get some clear large storage tubs with a layer of damp moss or perlite, or even a damp towel, and stick the smaller plants in them, put it in a bright area, out of direct sunlight and they will not dry out. I did this a couple of months ago when I was awayfor two weeks and not only were the plants incredibly healthy, they were growing like weeds!! 😊

[@caylahclark9372]

The heat is destroying my plants too 🥲 But it’s comforting knowing I’m not struggling alone lol

[@thecozyplantco]

Coming back from vacation and seeing those poor plants must have been hard 😢 but hang in there. I'm sure most of them will manage to make a come back. Cling wraping everything sounds like a great idea. Definitely will be trying that myself trick as well 🤓

[@sherryporsch9349]

Hey Clair, if you wrap your Regal stem in sphagnum moss it will do much better an grow roots into that moss if you keep it moist. I left for 4 days was suppose to be 6 days. Glad I came home early a lot of my plants wouldn’t have made it 6 days. Good luck with rehab of your sad plants. 💚

[@natrodsjo8324]

Definitely think a pot extension filled with moss will help both root the stem and promote quicker growth - on those I’ve used that method new growth points also pop out. It would also allow you to at a later date chop the stem and gain another plant.

[@finefoliage]

Awww thanks for sharing but sad to see so many casualties! Hope you had a nice time away though!

[@candib24.9]

Hi Claire, i know it’s daunting to return from holiday and find that some plants haven’t coped well but rest assure we’re here for the troubleshooting🙌. What has worked brilliantly for me in the past is enclosing my smaller plants into prop boxes so the humidity keeps them hydrated, similarly to using the clear wrap for larger plants. Also for all my anthuriums, to maintain hydration and also encourage leaf growth i cover the exposed stem and top of the soil in moss and this has made all the difference. Will DM u some pics. Cheers, looking fwd to your next vid.

[@cecile436]

I just came back from 8 days at my parents, first heat wave since I started having many plants. I lost 2 of them. One of them had a big water reserve, it drank all of it and dried out, so... It was anyway a plant that always had some struggle at my place (hence why I ended up putting it in pon with water reserve so I wouldn't have to water it every day) The other one is the baby Jacklyn I bought not even 2 weeks before leaving, so it wasn't even used to my conditions and it seems to be quite a diva anyway. For the rest, the alocasias were pretty thirsty, but after a good drink, they went back to normal, and only one of my calatheas seemed to suffer from the heat (it's further away from the humidifier and probably gets a bit more light than the 6 others I have, I guess that's why) but after a good drink, it reopened its leaves (it lost a few old ones in the process, but it's still quite big). My head cutting of monstera variegata, which I potted one week before leaving, gave me its first new leaf since I got it and seems pretty happy. For the rest, it seems like they dealt with everything super good without me (with a neighbour coming in to fill my humidifier every 2 days) So I feel very lucky. I have a film on the bottom part of my windows in the living room to make the sun less harsh on the plants, and I covered the middle window with a blanket to avoid that the place gets too too warm. I live in the fifth floor, no easy access from outside, so I also left 4 windows tilted. That probably helped. (On the whole facade wall, the upper half is only made of windows, morning and early afternoon sun) Good luck rehabing your plants.

[@zanetawioleta1267]

Try placing bowls and buckets of water around your room for the duration of your vacation. It may help to increase the local humidity a little bit. Plus bowls of water and strings routed to the pots. It's a bit of a hassle to prepare for the trip, but less plants to save. I leave new seedlings for the holiday period in moss or water and close them in large plastic containers. It really helped a lot. Good luck 😊

[@pjuk]

When getting air conditioning have to make sure you get one marked exactly air conditioning otherwise they are just crappy coolers that don't actually chill with a refrigerant process. You'll know they are property aircon cos they'll have a pipe to put out a window to expel the hot air. I got my small one for about 250 don't really go much cheaper Hope that helps Claire.

[@emilymajeski]

I got a baby variegated Frydek in the mail and it looked perfect but then lost both leaves within a few days, put out a new leaf, and promptly lost that too. It’s now a tiny pure white stem and I’m really hoping the summer air works it’s magic. I’m keeping it watered and praying it does something.

[@jathziafarro3265]

Not the white princess 😭😭😭 I have a mini collection of princesses because of how gorgeous yours was! Devastated and hope the underlying issues arent too terrible!

[@LuckyGirl1333]

I hope that you get an air con sorted out not just for your plants but for you as well. If the cabinet in your living room is getting so hot might it be better just to leave its doors open while you're away?

[@eunoiaplanter]

Pretty much the opposite problem to you - it's winter in South Africa and my plants are COLD! I'm really struggling to keep them warm and the season has only just started 🙈

[@botanyandboard]

Omgsh I had chopped some of my Alocasia macrorrhizos stems back on some of the older leaves and I too didn't wear gloves and my hands did the EXACT same thing! It was awful! I just kept washing them repeatedly and no relief! So thank you for warning others, it was not fun! 😆

[@laceyerickson1262]

We need more videos. ❤

[@hannamcgowin8934]

I've been so looking forward to this video and was REALLY hoping you could come back to happy plants. But I have some that need some rehab so I really appreciate the honesty and advice in this video (and all of your videos honestly).

[@heatherstephens9295]

So stressful for you. When I lived in London my bedroom was an attic bedroom. My goodness it was like an oven, seriously,. So I know what your plants went through, and I even had the velox windows open 24/7 🥵

[@bradmeetsworld]

I would love to see a video update with how your rehab plans are going. I'm sure you have what it takes to rehab your plants!

[@jarrostrijkert9444]

I feel you! I had nightshifts and i don’t keep up with my plants that much when i have nightshifts. My small greenhouse with my baby plants (some of them quite special to me) got so hot, also like 37 degrees. Most of them finally had some new growth that is now done for. Working hard to help them recover. It hurt to see them like that after 1 day. I wish you and your plants all the best, hope they recover to the best of their abilities 🪴

[@velvetindigo7]

Im not in UK, but some people here (USA) have been buying oscillating tower fans and freezing the filters and using that to cool the area.

[@tdillonaniawhitaker1200]

The struggle is real....heat is a killer . 😪

[@markford7532]

Just discovered your channel,its a lovely place to visit.

[@msladyjune3285]

Your white princess is gorgeous. All those shades of green💚.

[@larab5214]

This is kind of a funny thought to have while watching this--But first, I am very sorry for the state of things you had to discover when you returned, but I kept thinking " I guess I finally discovered the silver lining of being American and not getting much vacation time from work.". Lol. I don't think I've been gone for more than 3 days in a row for several years. Lol. So, on that note, lol, I am always much more attached to the plants I overcame struggle.with, and while it takes time, they do eventually look the same or even better! So. Chin up! You e got work ahead, but we all know you can do it!

[@zahranourofficial]

You will always have a good friend in me who will always cherish you. I wish you a good day, friend.

[@victoriafalkenthal444]

I don’t understand why you couldn’t tack up a sheet over your windows or take all of them way back from the windows. ?

[@The_Black_Truth]

I Purchased A Small Variegated Monstera Lechleriana Online At The End Of May. The Price Was NOT So LITTLE To ME For One Plant!!! IT Has Been The WORST Of Times For ME For Quite Some Time...BUT I Had To Deal With Even MORE!!! MY LITTLE PLANT NEWBIE...SUFFERED...AND I TRIED To Bring HIM Back To LIFE...BUT I'm AFRAID That's NOT Going To Happen!!! I'm AFRAID To Go To My Window Area Right NOW And FACE MY FAILURE!!! LOSING PLANTS Does Hit ME Very HARD...No Matter The Price...SO I CAN DEFINITELY FEEL Y💚UR PLANTY PAIN!!!

[@dianewilson3769]

Hopefully when you come home this time it will be less eventful, it's heart breaking when that happens.❤💚

[@Lady0342]

I was impulsive and put all my succulents outside on a whim without acclimating them… my ruby necklace died from the bottom, burnt a bunch of my echeverias and wilted some string of things… live and learn.

[@smarterbythemile]

😢😢😢

[@ervicito77]

I'm so sorry! 😭 Hopefully you'll be able to save a number of them. 🥹

[@amh0013]

You’re the best plant momma ever, but it’s all ups and downs! I audibly gasped at your Krimson Queen, I love mine so much but just cannot get her to do things for me this year. But I knew immediately that you had cuttings in the prop box. I’m struggling (pre stress it’s fine) with my Clarinervium because one leaf is yellowing, I look her over every day asking WHHHYYY. But I’ll figure it out

[@chrislynch1011]

Hi Claire, I've recently come across your channel and I'm really enjoying your 'real life' videos. I feel very sad watching how your poor plants have endured your absence 😢. Do you know how to set up wicking for multiple plants? Like your pon set up but a large container of water with multiple wicks to multiple plants. Also, the Sydney Plant Guy is obsessed (in a good way) with growing mature plants on moss poles, - I don't have any plants on moss poles but I love watching this guy - maybe his technique could save your gorgeous white princess?

[@FanofFrogs]

I didnt realize you had a peperomia sarcophylla, it’s one of my biggest wishlist plants. I have a maculosa but I want a BIG sarcophylla

[@tarantellalarouge7632]

I have noticed that I struggle much more with my plants in summer than in winter, I don't know if it is coming from me, maybe I don't look and care for them because I am going out more often, or if the plants doesn't like the warmth and dry summer and those drastic climatic changes and repetitive heat waves ? but my two babies philodendrons, verrucosum and narrow tiger tooth, almost died, and also my maranta is completely curled and almost dying ! I have to give an special award 💚💚💚to my Hoya retusa, who is always beautiful and never bothers me, he looks like a green firework, he is suspended to the south window and never demanding but not boring ! I recommend this plant .....

[@reneebarnes1611]

Man, sorry about that! Ive had problem's with some of mine this year too! Have to get better at watering when its so hot out!! I get distracted by outside gardening!! On a side note, where did you get your little hanging basket/ macrame hangers?? So cute!! I need to find something like them!!

[@damian55552]

Sorry see whats happened omg yea i hope your back up running still big help understand mys plants 😅

[@glen4075]

Can you do an update on your pepperonis, thanks Claire. Oh bless,❤🪴

[@Anni-Leni]

I'm sorry if you mentioned it already but how long have you been away for holiday?

[@smarterbythemile]

I seriously don’t understand how Brits live without AC. I would melt. I cant stand being hot.❤

[@jaavis1781]

It feels a bit weird to give this video a thumbs up. Consider it a hug instead 💚🌱

[@carolinelittleboy2297]

Well I did the most stupidest thing and I’m fuming with myself!!! I put my houseplants outside to give them some sun and then had an emergency so didn’t get them back indoors until the following day and I think they have been burnt 🥵 Any tips to try and bring them back to life 😞 Thanks

[@Serepin]

My Peperomia are also perishing in this heat. Even watering regularly doesn't seem to be working...

[@markeverest7830]

With animal & plant responsibilities, the last time I went on holiday was 2001.

[@Jen_Eve_Loves]

Claire - when you’re going away you could leave lots of large buckets/boxes of water about your flat As much and as many as possible. It’ll keep the humidity up and stop as much dry heat. Also leave the windows open if you can especially the sky lights

[@wolfyrevmemes1212]

I’m not sure if you mentioned how long you were away? The last time I went away for a week I watered everything right before I left and came home to a bunch of sad looking plants. It wasn’t a normal response as some don’t even need that much water. I have a theory they missed us being home and our energy. I think your plants missed you and also could have used a little more water while away. But the extreme reactions must have been missing your bubbly energy❤

[@Yoliplanting]

Overwhelming heat is so dangerous not just to plants but to you. I hope you get an air conditioner to at least help during some hours.

[@Toastycat838]

I would love the pink princess if you were selling her x

[@hellandbackbaby3442]

can u tell me where u get the benefical bugs from that u use?:( been looking for it for a while now

[@RonaldPeelen]

Hallo Claite, I,m a great fan o f your videos. 10 years ago I made this sculptute without knowing you at all I think it's a look alike if you are closing your eyes.

[@RonaldPeelen]

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[@justanotherfaceinthecrowd]

My flat hits over 30 everyday without AC on … 50p an hour tho😮

[@Tarmantarmant]

Nice

[@sprinkledbeanies760]

Great to see the good the bad and the dead 💀⚰️lol I'm sure u can bring them back to top form if not always another plant swap😂😂😂

[@RonaldPeelen]

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