Frazzled Plant Mom

Kerri - 30 - This is not one of those "plant guru" blogs. I'm still learning a lot of the ins and outs of raising houseplants. However, I do manage to keep most of my plants alive, so I can probably answer some plant-related questions. Other blogs include an-absurdist-comedy and cart-o-fancy

[hiveswap]

I hope none of you disappear in the coming days. Seriously don't do anything that can't be undone.

[hiveswap]

I know i'm just a random person you follow online but I mean it. People (all kinds of marginalised people too!) Have survived all types of horrible times and managed to find happiness eventually. If for no one else, survive for them. And also, try to survive because the people making you despair don't want you to live. Don't give this to them. Don't give your life. The best thing you can do is cling to it with everything you've got. Lay in bed for a day if you have to. but please promise you won't hurt yourself.

[hiveswap]

Take screen breaks, (now more than ever!!) Meet up, Call your friends, call your family if you're on good terms. Spend time with pets. Text your favourite mutual you never speak to if you've got no one irl. Hell, log on a minecraft server if nothing else. Or rewatch your favourite show.

Make sure you eat enough and sleep enough, and take the meds and vitamins that you need. Don't believe anything you think if you're hungry and tired and have been scrolling too long.

Get a therapy appointment if you think you need it.

You can absolutely not take any shortcuts when it comes to your wellbeing right now.

[leafygreenthings]

So, it’s been a hot minute since I posted anything on here, but I just wanted to say…

I GOT MY ORCHIDS TO BLOOM!!!

It’s actually way easier than I thought. I just put them on the porch in the summer and they respond to the natural change in lighting over the course of the year. Unfortunately, one of them keeps getting attached by my cats, so it’s putting all its energy into regrowing leaves.

[vampire-connoisseur]

TIP:

This holiday season, if you know someone who likes house plants,

DON'T

get them a houseplant. DO NOT.

instead, get them a NICE, MEDIUM-LARGE, AESTHETIC, BOTTOM-DRAINING, INDOOR

POT.

that is what they want. that is what they dream of. ok? thats what will be most useful and appreciated. in fact, if you can, get them a CUTE MATCHING SET. OF POTS!!!! NOT PLANTS, POTS!!!!!!!!

they may be more excited initially about the plant. that is true. but a pot is a gift that they will go home and use to upsize one of their already beloved houseplants, and every time they look at it they will remember how much they appreciate you.

HOUSEPLANT:

- they already have so many

- needs to be watered

- takes up window space

- comes in a pot thats already too small, needs to be upsized, costing money

- can die

AESTHETIC POT

- lets them care for an existing plant they own

- they will be grateful every time they see it in their home

- does not take up window space not already occupied by a plant

- can be wrapped without dying or spilling dirt everywhere

[nobrashfestivity]

Barbara Dietzsch A Branch of Gooseberries and Dragonfly, 1725

[leafygreenthings]

Wow, have I been neglecting this blog or what?

To be honest, I had to downsize a lot of my indoor plant collection due to getting a cat and being too busy to keep up with them all. However, I do want to get back into blogging, because plants are still a strong interest of mine.

Thank you to everyone who’s stuck it out while I’ve been away!

[leafygreenthings]

[leafygreenthings]

Some pictures of a new terrarium I started with sphagnum moss, as well as an update picture of my three year old terrarium. I think, after fiddling with the layout a little, as well as adding some more moss, I’m finally happy with how it looks.

[leafygreenthings]

My attempt to make spore prints from some random mushrooms I found while walking.

[leafygreenthings]

Hi, quick question. Do you know if the hard shell on a pumpkin can be used to enhance soil as compost or even mulch? I'm scrambling to find more aeration and drainage for my homemade soil mix and want to avoid using coconut coir. So far, I've used rice husk and pistachio shells.

I’ve always used orchid bark, peanut shells, and basically any coarser leftovers from trimming my plants for aeration. My personal favorite is the orchid bark, but I don’t see why you couldn’t use pumpkin. I’d imagine that it would break down a bit quicker than bark, so it might eventually compact.

That being said, I’ve never tried it before, so I’m going to invite others to weigh in. Perhaps someone else will have more expertise on this issue than I do.

[leafygreenthings]

Found some pretty nice oyster mushrooms on an old stump in front of my apartment. I was alerted to them by some old men who had gathered in front of the yard. I went over to see what the hype was about and noticed that they were picking the mushrooms off the stump. Upon closer inspection, I found they were indeed oysters. I’m quite happy about this find since my morel hunting this spring only turned up two small mushrooms.

[gardeninghub]

I’m 5’9 here for reference by eggers06

[leafygreenthings]

THAT! Is a MASSIVE agave.

[leafygreenthings]

Managed to keep this terrarium alive for three years now. Yay :)

[an-absurdist-comedy]

Some pictures from my time in the woods today. I’ve been trying (and failing) to find morels this spring. So far, all I’ve been able to scrounge up was a single false morel, some orange peel fungus, some nondescript little brown mushrooms and some cool looking polypores.

[leafygreenthings]

Somehow, a snail materialized in my watercress tank and is now happily munching its way through my plants :/

[an-absurdist-comedy]

I picked some more watercress to replenish what the snail ate, and on it was...another snail. I need to start checking my stuff before I drag it into the house.

[leafygreenthings]

Somehow, a snail materialized in my watercress tank and is now happily munching its way through my plants :/

[leafygreenthings]

Trimmed and repotted.

[leafygreenthings]

I think I’m going to order a small fish tank for water plants. My watercress isn’t looking too hot in its current conditions, probably because I don’t have anything to keep the water aerated and moving.