What Type of Plant Parent are you? And how does that impact plant care?

[@951000jerome]

at this point Brad has just accepted that you talk loudly to yourself most of the day

[@pudik2008]

Brad to Yan, "why is he waving his arms around,when he could be petting me"😂😂😂

[@LeafyConversations]

😂😂😂

[@MaxineShaw_84]

​@@pudik2008 Read your comment right at 20:44 🤭🤭 Too cute lol

[@erinestes7598]

Clearly he is constantly having long soliloquies full of praise and admiration for Brad.

[@robinferdinandsen7122]

hahaha i was thinking the same thing during this video 😂

[@samanthascott712]

I almost didn’t watch this one because i have 40 years experience with houseplants, but I’m glad i did. You are very insightful. Growing anything: plants, pets, kids, crops, livestock, orchards is so complex. Simple and complex at the same time. That’s really hard to explain to someone. You did a very nice job

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you so much !! Wasn't sure if this video added any value so glad you found it insightful:)

[@sylviagutierrez7676]

For me it has change over the past few years, i used to be constantly caring ,watering ,cleaning etc .all my plants ,but i learned to relax, care and let them be,i dont over water anymore, I dont check humidity , I dont use a humidifier, I do make sure i open windows everyday, Give them enough natural and artificial ligth, I check for pest all the time, In winter i use heaters , Love all my plants, But i do also do art and craft nearly everyday that is my passion .... So really i went from a helicopter parent to a more understanding of my plants needs and how to keep them happy /healthy without stressing like i use to. And i give plants as presents to my family and friends all the time ,from all my propagations that i constantly have growing. AND dont have any pets at present but i love your Brad😺💙 One more thing when i see that my neighbours are placing the wrong plant in their burning or freezing balcony i suffer 😢, In general want the plants to look the best possi le ,combined with art and planting art , Can not have any yellow leaves on a plant , This was a long comment omg...... A great video till today thanks to you, i never stop to think what 🌿parent i am ...so yes it was helpful.. 💚🌵🍀🌿💚

[@sydneyplantguy]

I think as we get 'better' at this hobby, it's easier to be less helicoptery hehe :)

[@yland6003]

I’m an Orchid parent! I have a knack for growing Vandaceous orchids. My Vandas grow from a hanging in baskets without potting medium. They rely on Florida humidity and daily misting and bright light. Since their roots don’t absorb nutrients from a pot, it’s my responsibility to provide all necessary nutrients when I water.

[@rodadelossantos6194]

I've realized I'm essentially a #2 thrive-on-neglect plant parent. However, I don't mind automation and supplementing my conditions especially light!

[@JosephSahakian]

This video was really nice. I'm def a helicopter/decorator. I got into this hobby almost a year ago and I was a little fixated. But watching this made me realize it is a hobby after all and I should have more fun experimenting with the plants. If they die, they die, I can always get another one, but now I know what doesn't work with that plant.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks :)

[@parttimeninja5521]

I absolutely loved soaking up all the plant info and loved the bonus entertainment of a chubby, cuddly kitty stealing the spotlight! Cuddles for Bradley 💚 your plant collection

[@sydneyplantguy]

CHUBBY?! You meant muscular, right ? :P

[@pudik2008]

@@sydneyplantguy 🙀😂😂😂

[@parttimeninja5521]

@@sydneyplantguy Everything I’m not looking for in a man, I love in my pets: short legs, wrinkles, a round belly, love handles ... This probably explains my own dog, Button the English Bulldog. So, dont worry Bradley -> you are perfect, coming from me, chubby is a huge compliment! 💞

[@phattierolls]

Ah, I see a very familiar and gorgeous cat; I must sit down and admire them. 😊

[@sydneyplantguy]

He loves the attention :P

[@gaddaitherage8204]

You really broach on subjects that’s really different from other creators and really makes people assess their hobby. Thinking of my own approach, I’m definitely the helicopter. I shower them twice a week, I have several moss poles (damn you for getting me into them!!!), and use nutrient solutions every watering. However, because I am very busy w work and other interests, I control the time commitment with these solutions: - limit my collection to about 20 plants. Especially now many are growing quite large. - Make most of them hydroponic or semi-hydro to take the guess work out of their watering needs. That way I focus more on maintaining the moss poles and showering the plants. - Choose simple plants like monstera deliciosa, monstera adonsonii, various pothos, spider plants, and the easier anthuriums. The only “expensive”’plants I have are the Thai Constellation and Albo. My goal for this hobby is to grow them in ways that pushes them, like getting them very large, or having them super lush, or having my spider plant produce as many hanging babies as possible. Many visitors who casually dabble into plants are amazed at how large and healthy the plants are. Thank you again for being a mentor to many of us.

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you so much :) Really appreciate it !

[@Kellieurquhart]

I am definitely a new helicopter plant parent. I love to wander around my collection touching and seeing what new things have happened since I looked last. I did jump in pretty quickly with things like moss poles but I'm also willing to put in the time for their needs, as well as adjusting my environment for them. I'm always in trouble for being tempted to over water, which mostly comes from a fear of underwatering. I'm lucky to have someone more experienced close by to keep an eye on my collection, who tries to rein in my helicopter tendencies and correct any damage I've caused. Thanks for another great video :)

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks for watching :)

[@bailemos]

You forgot the emotionally unstable plant parent, helicoptering and neglecting depending on the moon phase. 😄 Now, that's a tricky one!

[@AnnisGarden]

Exactly 😂

[@bailemos]

@@AnnisGarden we're a challenge 🤣

[@Yambataller]

A handful

[@candied.crabapples]

You’re very lucky that Bradley lets you keep plants in his home 😅

[@LeafyConversations]

Same Jan I don’t want self watering planters for that purpose. It’s my job and I want to do it. It’s a hobby very enjoyable and relaxing. I also like to share through my videos to give back what I learn to others. I do struggle with patients on waiting for them to grow. 😂 Helicopter parent here ❤

[@ericaeschenbacher4921]

I definitely have been a combination of all types ( except trendy colector) of plant parent over my current growing journey. Thanks to SPG I feel confident in caring for my plant babies. 😻

[@sydneyplantguy]

Happy growing :)

[@PhotoKLU]

Thank you for sharing. I am a combination. I am a collector, and I do the research to grow the plant in its best conditions. I love to do the research and the challenge of growing these plants. I love variegated plants, especially albos. White and green look amazing together, and it requires a bit more care to keep the plants looking their best. The white parts don't feed the plant! Also, I love the esthetics of variegated plants with beautiful green leafy plants. The contrast is stunning! I think that I'm a helicopter plant parent for the health of my plants and always looking for pests (etc.). When it comes to watering, I do use self-watering pots, but do know the water requirements for each of my plants. I enjoy to process of watering and caring for each one. I admit I'm a bit of a drought waterer though. . .

[@Yambataller]

Im definitely the helicopter ‘hardcore’ collector/decorator kind, that usually spends more money in conditions and arranging the place than in plants as well. My space looks really bright and it makes me crazy in winter to have all these bright lights on during the day, but plants need it so I just do it. Sometimes I think about selling them all but they look so good at night when the bright lights go off 👌 I will need a bigger and brighter place sometime in the future if I want to keep on having all these plants. Definitely a jungle/plant store here. Lots of big alocasias and moss poles. I’ve even got two green walls. Will invest in vertical lights soon but I can’t get rid of the ones in the ceiling because I’ve got high poles covering most of the walls. It’s madness. I sold a big splendid to an Australian couple the other day and the woman said: oh wow, I thought we were going to a ‘normal’ house. I didn’t expect this 😂 They were very sweet :)

[@karencameron2805]

Thank you Jan, I love all your content. Always so much to learn and think about. I am on the decorator path. I think I always have been. I love having the green outdoors...indoors. I love how it makes the house feel and me feel. :) Thanks for all you do!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks for watching :)

[@M077Y]

I love this video SOO much,however as veterinary nurse, I gotta say-people PLEASE do not let toxic plants in your house. Or/and hopefully have a Bradley that doesn't GAF about plants. Much love to all, sorry to be a negative nancy!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Suppose u gotta know your little fur baby before you make that decision :) I have seen loooots of people with plants & pets and never heard of issues but depends on their personality :)

[@msch4726]

it was very interesting to watch this video, cause i just like you talking videos) Actually, I was a helicopter type plant parent, but almost 2 years have passed, and you learned me to be patient, to give my plants more time, to give me more time, to be more acceptable. Also from you i lernt the base! I lernt how to understand my plants I have found a plant job consider myself to be a “grower” I like growing plants because I like see them growing, as long as i’m interested in their patterns of growth, i really like them, despite they don’t suit my esthetics for example I am both a helicopter and neglecting and designer😅

[@sydneyplantguy]

$220 is a steal compared to some of the plant prices floating around online !

[@lyndatalmage4276]

I'm listening, I am, but my eyes are drawn to that magnificent lux sitting next to you and I'm turning green with envy 😆 and then there's Brad 😍so I think I'm 35%collector, 25%decorator, 25%helicopter,15% neglect. 110% learner, and always adapting. I also get sucked into different species rabbit holes quite easily, first it was philo' (success), then begonia's (mostly fail) then syngoniums (success) caladiums (fail) ferns (fail) alocasia and colocasia (success) now anthuriums (so far so good) this was a great video, and I love your passionate rantings, so keep them coming ☺🦦

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you :)

[@moiraslater8526]

I do a little bit of everything with all types of plants, have had a love of plant growth since I was a little girl so have been growing for 50ish years both in pots and in my gardens. I think the main principle to thriving plants is finding a spot they like and then improving their soil to suit their needs. My garden evolves constantly as trees get bigger and areas of shade and natural cover grow in size allowing for different under plantings. I have a very low water need front garden where I just took the principle of improving the soil a little bit everytime I planted something new in it and chose low water plants. I have a hard sheltered long open verandah where most of my tropicals grow. The other side of my house is filled with veggie beds. My back yard is still a work in progress as the soil was very depleted, but am just about to build a greenhouse to extend my sunroom where my diva plants live. My chickens have their own fenced orchard and pen. And then beyond that I have what I call no man's land where I am slowly planting drought tolerant natives to encourage the bugs and birds. With no water source they get a bucket full every now and then while they are small and establishing. (I have a half acre block). I have four large compost bins and 3 very active worm farms so create most my own soil improvers and microbes. I use slow release fertilisers on my large potted plants and gt focus foliage on my smaller divas and indoor plants. I make an aroid mix similar to yours but use more pumice than perlite and add a lot of worm castings and tree fern fibre. I find if you look after the soil the plants will do the rest. I'm a travelling nurse so away from home a lot and I live inland in WA so bloody hot and dry so I use over sized pots by most growers standards and trays under my thirstier plants. I thoroughly soak everything before I go away and then hope for the best. It works for me...then I come home and start watering again. I don't do much else but prune occasionally. Only thing I do that is a bit extra is I run some IV fluid bags for my moss poles when I work away in summer!! And this year I am setting up a mister system along my veranda as much for me as for my plants!!

[@robinferdinandsen7122]

this was such a good video. i love how you view plants as a hobby. i always leave you video feeling good about doing my plant hobby thing my way 💚 also i thought i was one type of plant parent, neglect/display combo and by the end of the video i realized i'm something else. i love growing plants to nurture nature. i don't give them the optimal artificial enviroment(growlights) but i have put frosted foil on my tearrasse door so they get bright indirect light all day even tho it means i can't see outside. i also let them face it so i see the backside. however i love going over there and turning them around to enjoy how they thrive and then leave them to face the light again. it's like a little reveal show every time. i love having a bunch of different plants and learning how to make them happy and the rare ones i have make me so happy every time they give me a new leaf and i get to see how the vaerigation turned out on that one. so even tho i didn't see myself as one i guess i'm(acording to your describtions) a mix of helecopterparent and collector, but with a good dash of just "i-want-nature-inside-nut". thanks again for another great video and plantrant. it's what we're here for 💚

[@sydneyplantguy]

That is so nice to hear :) glad my videos can help u enjoy this beautiful hobby to the fullest :)

[@robinferdinandsen7122]

@sydneyplantguy very much. I love how you know who you are as a plantparent and owns it. Especially your thoughts on not wanting to spend big money on something that could die tomorrow. And when you can grow them so big and lush they look expensive. Your mandula changed the way i look at pothos 😆

[@SteveNoblin]

Thank you! What an eye opener

[@sydneyplantguy]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@bigmama1202]

This was such a good video idea! Thanks Jan

[@sydneyplantguy]

Glad you liked it :)

[@laurieramkeesoon]

Perfect video. Thanks for the information ❤

[@MarcoPolo-vb1sw]

What we really want to know is how do you feed, water and care for Bradley? What conditions does he thrive in? 😂

[@sydneyplantguy]

He thrives in an low-effort environment 😅😅

[@pudik2008]

It took me a while not to buy plants that I loved and they not fitting into my conditions/care etc…. Yes I use grow lights to substitute light but living in a dry hot environment I don’t have a humidifier or enclosed cabinets,as it doesn’t suit my care routine,so I lost a lot of plants at the beginning. Now I have learned from content creators to buy plants that fit what I’m able to give them. I love seeing planty KZbinrs where they have all these aroids inside and seeing white fluffy snow through the windows. Salute them. Meanwhile I’m grateful I don’t need to grow cacti and succulents indoors as they grow outdoors all year round. Great information Jan. Kisses to Brad. 💚💚🌿🐈🪴 Natalie SA

[@sydneyplantguy]

That's such an important lesson to learn :)

[@demidron.]

I have Houseplant Journal's light meter. (I actually pre-ordered it about a year before it was ever even made and one day my building management was like "We've been holding onto your package for a month!" and I had no idea what it could be. 🤣) I mostly just find it really interesting and I love taking it into forests and botanic gardens and seeing what is growing with what light. Of course light varies, but it's just really handy to know that, for example, the little spot next to my front gate, which gets light from an interior courtyard in the building gets less than 1000 lux, 100 footcandles in the brightest part of the day, so it's not worth putting a plant there. I could totally fill the space with an Epipremnum that would just tolerate it and I might eventually, but it's more or less an overflow area for a plant that I think will tolerate it. It's also just a fun toy to play with. It's really interesting to see how variable lighting is: some overcast days give my plants more light because the whole sky is scattering light, and others are super dark. The morning and the afternoon look about the same to me, but the morning is much brighter for my plants on my balcony.

[@sydneyplantguy]

makes sense :) defs would be fun to play around. I'm just hesitant to give people a 'number' that they are then trying to match, when that 'number' is gonna change for myself all the time. Hope that makes sense :)

[@cruzyli]

I was the smart one buying soooo many alocasias after 1 success (and one dead but we dont talk about that one). So now i suddenly have about 5 big and 20 baby alocasias going into winter in Norway and maybe a move.. Crossing all the fingers that i still have any left when spring comes 😅

[@sydneyplantguy]

keep in mind - they like to go dormant, so don't get it confused with being dead hehe :)

[@kristimcswain4439]

I check on my plants almost everyday…I’m a “collector/decorator/helicopter”plant mom. I enjoy doing “planty” things. I have a one rule though,If I give the plant every it needs, the right light including grow lights, water, fertilizer, humidity,soil medium (my own mixes) pest control, ect, and it still is not reaching its full potential……To the trash bin it goes. My plants are (mostly)aesthetically pleasing and bring me joy, when they stop doing this to the trash they go….Kisses Mr. Brad🐈❤️❤️❤️

[@sydneyplantguy]

Sounds just like me :)

[@thoatrancox7272]

💐💐💐 Bendigo/ Victoria is watching! Thanks for sharing!

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@Omnysim]

I'm a neglectfull decorator. 75 plants now. No mosspoles so far. Because well... they will dry to a crisp and be of no use. Still wouldn't want to trade my plants for anything. I do supplement light, but hide it a bit. And everything is on a timer. I think it looks amazing. But I am buyous (or however you write that word). Another great video Jan! Nice way to include the viewer and make us think a bit. 😊

[@sydneyplantguy]

Thank you:)

[@robynfisher4455]

Very good advice thanks Jan. I think I've been through several of these stages. Thanks to your practical advice, I've settled for what my environment, budget and time allows. Now wouldn't it be great if they would now just stop where they're at, and not need chopping & propping and going back to where we started!

[@sydneyplantguy]

but wouldn't that also be kinda boring ?! :P

[@alexharris7103]

Canadian here, and our weather is weird. Our summer can almost be ideal for growing tropical plants. 22*-30* through the summer with 70-90% humidity. My monsteras thrived outside. It's just the winter that is the challenge. Not too many aroids will survive -30 hahaha. That being said, Canada's weather is incredibly variable based on location.

[@sydneyplantguy]

It's a huge place ... like Australia :)

[@painterlynne]

I’m definitely a helicopter plant mom- I’ve rotted so many roots!

[@samanthascott712]

Omg, I’m a decorator. I had no idea. 😂 I also like to grow things from small plants because i can replace money with skill.

[@sydneyplantguy]

skill over money anytime !!!

[@heatherstephens9295]

👏👏👏 I’m definitely alot more chilled these days. I still feel a bit upset if I loose one but if I feel like it was my fault & I really liked it I’ll buy another one. Ones I struggle with I just don’t bother with them anymore ie most of the Alocasias 😂😂

[@sydneyplantguy]

great to hear :)

[@Plantdaddytips]

Sounds familiar

[@shmpooch]

15:18 lol! I am absolutely a helicopter parent! I use a chunky mix so no problem with over watering but I absolutely can have cacti or succulents they hate me and die immediately but I have giant happy aroids

[@KayBX]

I’m definitely all of them well not the beginner anymore. Nor a helicopter parent either … but I am trying to fight back the urge of being a hard core collector again. I do really much love my variegated Plants though, I recently bought my most expensive plant and it was a black velvet variegated $220 😅. Trying not to spend as much LOL

[@mnj640]

That's a very hard urge to fight Kay😂

[@mobmakeitsmall]

I’ve recently flip flopped from neglectful plant parent to helicopter parent and it’s a struggle. All my new high maintenance plants are thriving but my old plants (zz, a huge succulent collection, snake plants) are either being over watered or neglected to the point of drying out because I pass over them with the watering can too many times in a row! I may need to rethink things, maybe group all the please neglect me plants together?

[@sydneyplantguy]

yes maybe have different zones for them to make your life easier. I have all my high-maintenance ones in the office for example :)

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

I'm the kind of plant parent that dotes on them endlessly when they are babies and then get bored with them when they grow up so I'm not looking at them every single day to see what they are doing.

[@mystiat]

I have no ideal what type of plant patent i am but i think im an Helikopter but i also use many different Mediums and also selfwatering Pots by a few plants 😅

[@sydneyplantguy]

We are all a combination of them all I reckon :)

[@tim_meister]

From this video, I'm getting that you really don't like snake plants 😂 (I agree)

[@JosephSahakian]

Haha, honestly, there are interesting varieties of snake plants. They look pretty good in the right settings.

[@sydneyplantguy]

I saw this snake plant used in a nice outdoor set-up the other day & that changed my mind a little bit ... but indoors .... in a pot .... MEH !

[@laurieramkeesoon]

Helicopter 🚁 plant 🪴 parent here 🇨🇦

[@wisconsinaquatics]

Viewer jungle update? 😅 I've got some insane growth from my cebu blue and global green 💚

[@sydneyplantguy]

Soon :) keep an eye on the community tab :)

[@alinazar7998]

I have 40-80% humidity

[@Wubblyt]

Helicopter waterer+repotter (not sprayer/duster😅)/decorator I do have a small growtent to rehab plants if needed (and grow just a few high maintenance plants that I once purchased and quite enjoy growing), its in the laundry room though, not on display 🪴