What I wish I knew as a beginner plant parent 🤔💭 - PART 1

This is part 1 of a longer list of things I wish I'd done as a plant parent from the beginning! I talk about some "rules" that are heavily circulated in the plant community that I used to believe or follow, but along the way I've learned to adapt these rules to fit plant care in my conditions, and I can honestly say that my plants have never been healthier ❤️‍🔥
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Instagram: @youdontevengrowhere bit.ly/3sR2K7Y
Shop my favourite plant products (affiliate links): amzn.to/32Sb4cC
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Music courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

[@SANDRA-ni3wi]

Talking about salt build up and flushing, I have found that if you do not heavily furtilise, the first 1,5 to 2 years this poses no issue, atleast for me, it didn’t .However in the longer run, you will eventually get salts accummulating on top of the medium and this will cause your plant to deteriorate in the longer term. So be mindful of this. You will eventually have to get rid of these salts.

[@stephaniebuzzella1]

Aghhh Huxley melts my heart 😂 I love his freakin snorts

[@SANDRA-ni3wi]

I have been growing orchids (and a lot of my other plants) in no drainage pots for more than 10 years now, and I agree, if you keep an eye on the amount af water you give your plants, there is no reason your plants will die. I use Seramis or Pon as a substrate, this provides more air than soil and keeps pests at bay. My rule of thumb is to water about 1/3 of the content that the pot can hold. So a 1L pot gets about 300 to 350ml of water. And no I do not measure that out, I actually got quite good at guessing when my plants have had enough. Lots of years of experience 😅 For my orchids though I have recently been going back to using a nursery pot in a cache pot, thus making it easier to flush the pots. But I water in the same way, leaving that bottom layer of water to be absorbed by the plants over time. 😊

[@pedrox7434]

✨you're glowing girl✨ huxley is such an handsome boi 🥲

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Awwww thank you Pedro 💔

[@lleo9703]

I used to collect glass to display tillandsias to sell to fundraise for parrot sanctuary organisation. Had left over pots after moving away from big cities. Friend suggested i try glass art as hobby (I’m disabled) so bought some paints and decorated some of the pots. At same time learning about PON and decided to use the glass pots and DIY PON as a plant experiment. WOW! Such root growth! I’m experimenting with certain species at a time, but Hoya work well, and philodendrons so far. Enjoying yours and Charmain’s channels to learn more about planting in glass. Would like to know more about this White Night? Knight? Additive. Thanks for all your information. To those telling people that no drainage holes planting is wrong, well. Eff em! Do what you want in your own home with your own plants.

[@oliviamcveigh900]

Huxley scared the shit out of me at 28:45 😂

[@Aquamarine.Aubrey]

I never knew that no drainage potting was a thing until I started watching you and Charmaine. I love it! Especially for plants that want humidity or to stay moist. My blue oil fern is living its best life because of the 2 of you!

[@deeb2000]

Wow! Missed this! I lost so many plants, namely hoyas, wasting money on orchid mix, soil, peat, sphagnum moss, coco husk and so on. They also encouraged pests. Finally decided to go to dollar tree, get clear glass pots, leca, and purified, not distilled, water from Target (large .98). My hoyas are doing the best ever in my 4+ years of growing them! I add a little fertilizer. And the best thing less to no pest issues. Now, I wouldn't put down those who prefer those soil substrates because it works for them. Any website on plants encourages to water till it comes out drainage holes but remember that way of watering is old school - that's what we always knew. These tips above come from the best and top growers as well, not just plant youtubers. When it comes to misting, if you have your plants near a radiator or sunny window, it does help, albeit short term. Plants are like children, individual need, trial and error. Dee, New York

[@atlas3191]

When i first started my plant journey, i had plants in no drainage and in clear glass. Those plants almost never got root rot. And here i am a year or so later, getting root rot with soil and drainage holes... I think i might have to switch back. I only changed because i heard that no drainage was really bad for plants. Im also an underwaterer too. This video and part 2 have been extremely helpful and eye opening. Im definitely going to look into this more.

[@hollygolytlee]

came to you via Charmain and you are really good. This is my 5th video of yours and I really love your content.

[@gabehmuah]

I feel like no drainage was my “ah HAH!” Moment. I never thought I’d become a imports collector or want to invest so much money for plants (bc they cld die) but i tried layering moss on leca just bc i was tired of my moss drying out when propagating and leca alone never worked for me. Leca let me have a reservoir to keep water from touching my moss but the moss stayed moist. This made me so confident, when a Anth. Crys rehab popped up on marketplace I bought it and after a week with it in my fave set up it gave me a giant new leaf. Now I cant stop collecting and almost all my plants are now in no drainage and clear pots. Cali is very dry in my area and I feel no drainage is just the best for my environment to keep my rainforest plants happy. Keep educating ppl and reminding ppl this is a hobby and ppl are allowed to experiment with their hobbies 💚

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Definitely do what works for you! What works for some guy in Florida definitely won’t always work for us 😆

[@lyndapknox3481]

Hi Alice! Your info was spot on! Watering, soil chunkiness... I couldn't stop laughing. I was one of those ppl it needs to be chunkier!😂😂 Thank you so much for this vid!!! The plant community needs to chill, and not give you a hard time 💚 it's trial and error. Take care Alice😊🪴

[@youdontevengrowhere]

😂😂😂 thank you Lynda!

[@spoochymcgoo1616]

Closed, no-drain glass vessels teach us so much about our plants and roots. Who knew that a sansevieria roots come down to the reservoir to take more water? Very few people do unless they use no drain clear vessels.

[@krlgssll]

😅 thank you!!!! You answered all my concerns 🪴🫶🏼💓

[@JAZMINALOWE]

Thanks for making this video ☺️. I’m going to send this to everyone who complains about the way I CHOOSE to grow MY plants 🙃.

[@FlowerPower1000]

Great piece of info!!! I am really looking forward to your video on mineral build-up and bacteria when you reach your answers 😊❤️

[@lizmarie6989]

You guys have helped step up my plant collecting so much with no drainage potting. The leca reservoir has helped so much with my thirsty plants and Pon and perlite mixes have helped me rehab some finicky alocasia as well. Keep the tips coming🥰🙌

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Yay I’m so glad to hear!

[@ArthurGrey.]

Thank you for talking about the chunky aroid soil thing! Also one thing that is just straight up wrong is the whole "X, Y and Z plants can thrive in a closet with no light!". It seems to be coming back around lately. I can't go on any social media without seeing people recommending Epipremnum aureum or snake plants because they "thrive without light".

[@aspirativemusicproduction2135]

Pine bark is cheaper. I use cedar bark too. I mix bark and Miracle-Gro. More bark and less Miracle-Gro. Bark alone dries out too much but mixed with Miracle-Gro gro there is more water retention. In my case I water about 2 times per month. It all depends on how fast the medium dries out. I don't have to make it complicated. Some fertilizer and that's all.

[@flowergirllove21]

Very true! I agree that you have to know what works for you! Especially when it comes to soil. I feel like some people get really argumentative about all these things. Like, just because you don’t agree with it. Doesn’t mean it’s wrong. 🤦‍♀️ Thank you for sharing your experience too!! ❤️

[@ant_in_your_plant2413]

My favorite video of yours so far! I started growing a lot of my expensive aroids in no drainage out of necessity because I wanted to be able to see the roots and for almost all of them they are thriving. Totally a lot of misunderstanding around this issue and it’s annoying to see.

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Thank you so much!!! I was a little nervous to publish it haha

[@stephaniebuzzella1]

It's so hard to give advice 😂 nothing I thought in the beginning is the same now 😅

[@Dee97]

Dollarama carries vessels just like that for $4! I have a couple and use for leca.

[@filmphreak247]

I'm a relatively new plant parent and found this video really informative. I'm currently testing my first no drainage pot using Pon with an Alocasia Sanderiana and it's absolutely loving it! Your videos are always super helpful and not bias towards using one method over another. Keep up the excellent content. All the very best ❤️

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Thank you so much Steve ❤️❤️

[@sprinkledbeanies760]

Great information thank you just started growing in closed transparent vessels so far so good love to see roots growing happily and love pon and lecca so thanks again for your help 👍❤️

[@lilyofthevalley54]

Tysm for sharing your experience. I have grown/killed/🙄😕houseplants for 45+years. I am just getting into pon. I find it so interesting and I am excited to learn more about it.

[@danaghostlaw3322]

❤ I love no drainage and I have used it for several years! I did just switch to clear vessels so I can see the root growth because that makes sense! 💚🌱🌿🌴

[@Nadiasaurus]

New subscriber here!Been binging your videos lol I can tell you know some plant science because you use words like stomata! I appreciate your comments on non-drainage pots, its SO true. Whenever someone asks me how often to water I am like "IT DEPENDS", don't go based on a schedule, look and observe your plants! :)

[@debragiannetti9755]

Love this video!!! Smart and informative

[@laurend4035]

Great video!! Now I really want to learn more about foliar feeding!

[@anjandlife]

I love this video. Even after owning plants for almost 2 years which feels crazy to even say. This was very helpful!

[@janebrewer9326]

Thank you for the video! I wish I knew about foliar feeding. Especially for Hoya and jungle cacti. It’s a game changer.

[@amandaramos8533]

This was a great video! Thank you! Definitely would have loved this at the beginning of my houseplant journey. Hope it reaches many 💚

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Thank you Amanda ❤️❤️

[@Yoliplanting]

Excellent video and clear explanation Alice. Your plants are gorgeous. People dealing in absolutes generally get upset. This is a journey of lifestyles and growing conditions.

[@martinaharrisondefault5027]

@youdontevengrowhere can you please let me know how you deal with algae build up so you cant see well to water or not, or root health. Plus algae takes the nutrients out. The obvious thing is to take the plant out the pit and clean thr pot. But then again I can imagine the roots are well and truly in the pots, I cant imagine you do this because it may be difficult to get the plant out and get iy back in. What is your process?

[@neesyg.3294]

Loved this!!!! Great content

[@amalia2669]

At the moment I drill holes in every single planter I buy just because I’m confidentish in my soil mix but if I had clear planters I’d be more comfortable wo holes so I can see what’s going on. Also I propagate in glass so it can’t be that different.

[@neesyg.3294]

Loved this!!!! Great content 😍

[@kellym9315]

Thank you for this truly informative video!!! I am in a wheelchair and I just happened to notice one day that I could feel more moisture when I was over a pebble tray. After that, I was a pebble tray believer. But then I used some really high quality mix and repotted my begonias, one of which was still getting brown and crunchy on a pebble tray. But after I repotted in a well draining spongy mix and started watering more, the brown leaves are a thing of the past and there is increased growth, too. Now I can’t be bothered to use a pebble tray on my begonias !

[@par3433]

Also you’re so wonderful hope you’re well xoxo 😘

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Your face is wonderful

[@almonick6417]

Very good vid. Very new and interesting content. Thank u

[@the_foliage_wall]

Hello, thank you so much for putting this out there 👌👍

[@kimberlyskinner8177]

Love this video 🥰 Thank youuuu!! Huxley is a doll😍🤩! That perfect white line between his eyes is impossible to look away from 😍. I LOVE Philodendron!!! Like crazy nuts LOVE! 🙃. I have never witnessed one die until recently. I was sent a Painted Lady and a Fuzzy Petiole for my birthday,4 months ago and both are doing poorly. 😢. Granted, with the season change, care changes. They came as young plants, so I adjust and hope🤞. I hope that you will be discussing your fertilization and foliar spray types. Thank you again!!!!!🤩😍🤩😍💓

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Awww! Huxley and I say THANK YOU!

[@martinaharrisondefault5027]

@youdontevengrowhere hello, did you find anything on if and which bacteria reduces salt build up or anything along those lines for pots with no drainage?

[@ArthurGrey.]

36:29 I don't know if you used "bros" intentionally here, but from my experience it has almost ALWAYS been the AMAB planty people who would tell me I was doing something wrong and insult me for the way I care for my plants. Even now I'll post a photo of a happy, thriving plant just to appreciate it and at least one Dude Bro™ will come in to "eDuCaTe" me. I'll be doing everything right for my plants in conditions they know absolutely nothing of and yet they still feel like they know everything. Drives me absolutely bonkers.

[@franceswilson4605]

Excellent. Great info. Thankyou.

[@unholeyplanting11]

I've got my alocasia .....wentii (I think that's it) in no drainage and soil and it LOVES IT. I've got 10 leaves currently all bigger than my hand 👏

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Alocasias definitely seem to love it!

[@stephaniebuzzella1]

Are you still having such a hard time finding glass vessels? I've found a ton recently 🥳

[@marsf4883]

Thanks for the video! Do you grow your hoyas in no drainage as well? Good to know that there are options out there. I have been collecting plants for two years now, and am still learning as I go. Haha liked when you said, “Bros.” Great word lol. Can’t wait for part 2!

[@youdontevengrowhere]

I do grow lots of Hoyas in no drainage!

[@MzOreoCookie13]

Plant Bros are the worst! This video makes me feel good about loving potting up in glass with no drainage. Also, makes me wanna try pon and leca even more. Love your eyeliner btw!

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Thank you so much!!

[@heljothegr8]

Get a bottle cutter and go to a glass recycling bin, you will have all the clear vessels you want. ❤️

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Ngl I’ve had one of them cutters in my cart for a while 🤣

[@Oohkamitama]

I guess what makes me unsure about trying out no drainage potting is the algae that usually forms around the walls. 😩 I’ve been lucky so far that my alocasia loves the soil it is in right now so it’s been growing new leaves and giving birth to new life.

[@nailbeauty.byjess]

Algae doesn’t harm your plants, it’s mostly just unattractive. So I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

[@Yoliplanting]

Cover the pots with cachet pots. One person that does is the Leca Queen Nora. Look her up. Also Fern of Wildfern avoids algea by covering her glass or plastic vessels.

[@lisaanglim9588]

I know this is off topic but I have I have the same brand of humidifier and the only way to get it to come on is to turn the heater that is nearest it on. When it gets hot enough then the humidifier turns on. But since it’s so warm out now I don’t want to turn the heat on. What do you do to get it to run other times.

[@youdontevengrowhere]

I’ve never actually had an issue with that humidifier not turning on in cooler temps! It sounds like a defect - have you reached out to the manufacturer?

[@chantecampbell2207]

How do you avoid algae in the clear pots?

[@Yoliplanting]

Place it on a cachet pot or cover with a sock. I do the pots.

[@youdontevengrowhere]

I don’t get algae in clear vessels that don’t get bright light, but overall it doesn’t really bother me as it won’t really harm the plant! I’ve also heard that it increases oxygen to the roots

[@TangoR3D]

“pushing chunkiness on other people” lolol

[@youdontevengrowhere]

Bahahahahha

[@almonick6417]

How come in clean vessel the roots are not all over and getting out of the vessell. And when do u decide to repot it? Thanks

[@youdontevengrowhere]

With the Thai the roots are starting to crawl out the top of the pot - usually I repot when I notice the plant growth slows down, or if the substrate can’t stay hydrated for long enough between watering

[@MaribethSamson27]

I love your videos😊. But I have a question, would no drainage pot be ok with plants grown outside? I see most no drainage pots with plants grown inside the house. Thanks! 😊

[@flowergirllove21]

They can, the only issue that could arise is if you deal with a lot of rain! Because you couldn’t control the watering.

[@MaribethSamson27]

Your right, I will have to place them under the lanai roof to protect them from the rain. Thank you for responding back :))

[@Rheashields]

💚💚💚

[@par3433]

Hi Alice how is there no algae in your pots?! Asking for a friend. Jk the friend is me I’m asking for me

[@youdontevengrowhere]

That Thai just doesn’t get that much light 🤣

[@JamCanGurl]

I recently saw something on IG about not putting your nursery pots in ceramic because it will kill your plants. 🙄. People are reaching. Common sense will tell you not to just water and leave water sitting at the bottom. I’m trying no drainage and I like it so far.

[@jungleflowerscanada5384]

I laugh at all these tips on Instagram and KZbin, I have a lot of plants in pots with no drainage holes, I also don't use the chunkiest soil mix. I tell viewers on my channel that I do this and not to necessarily do as I do 🤪. I have my Thai in a no drainage pot and I've had it for 4 years and never had root rot.

[@michelleyu]

i do not have the skill of watering

[@youdontevengrowhere]

No you do not

[@peggymalabuyoc9150]

Interesting video. When I read or hear plant advice I weigh it out and balance it with “best practices.” The challenge for a new plant person is that, “they don’t know what they don’t know.” Experience and some decent research helps on our plant journeys. It was the same for me many years ago. BTW I’m still learning and open to new methods of plant care! 😊. 👌🪴🥰