Hey there Reader
So… I need to confess something that made me feel both proud and slightly unwell.
I had this gorgeous Philodendron verrucosum. Stunning plant. Big personality. Also… not exactly pretty anymore. It had that look of a plant that’s trying to stay alive, but visually? It was giving “I have been through some things.”
So I just HAD to save it.
So I propagated... I chopped up the big mother plant, and I swear, the new props came in like they had something to prove. Big healthy juvenile leaves, fast growth, that fresh clean look. It was so satisfying. Like, embarrassingly satisfying. I was standing there staring at them like a proud fur-parent who won’t shut up about their puppy (dont worry - im that person too! 😂).
And I ended up with a HEAP of them ready to sell, and I was so excited because they were gorgeous I KNEW these would click with plant collectors..
And then
I found spider mites on one.
And OMG the dramatic wails that came out of my body for a full 78 seconds?… honestly. Proper GIPHY-making moment for SURE...
Because now it’s not just “oh no, spider mites.” It’s weeks of treatment and close monitoring so it doesn’t spread. It’s checking leaves like a detective. It’s isolating plants. It’s the kind of annoying that makes you regret ever having eyeballs.
And it was such a good reminder, especially for plant shopping.
Because as Im sure you know, most pest problems are not obvious at first. They’re tiny. They’re easy to miss when you’re standing there in the nursery having that full adrenaline moment of “I HAVE TO HAVE THIS PLANT.”
So yeah. Learn from my chaos.
Or at least I hope this is a good reminder to take the extra 30 seconds. Look properly. Your future self will be sooo grateful. ☺️
🪴 Quick troubleshoot
You bring home a plant that looked great in store, but it struggles almost immediately and never really settles in. In a lot of cases, the issue was already hiding below the surface. Plants can look perfectly healthy up top while the roots underneath are tightly packed, damaged, or starting to rot.
The fix? Get a little nosy before you buy and be PROUD of doing so! 💪 Pick the pot up, tip it gently if you can, use your phone torch to peek through the drainage holes, and if the plant is small enough, gently slide it out of the nursery pot a little for a quick look at the roots! Firm, pale roots are what you want. Mushy or dark roots are a sign to walk away.
✅ This week’s tiny challenge
Do this on your next plant shop...
Before buying, count how many leaves look genuinely healthy. If it’s only one or two doing the heavy lifting, keep browsing. Easy Tip!
🌿 Plant Spotlight. A note from the shelf...
Soft leaves. Velvety smooth texture. Trails instead of shouting...
I’m a Philodendron micans, and I’m one of those plants that just gets better the longer you live with me. My leaves deepen in colour as I grow, I drape beautifully over shelves, and I don’t need constant attention to look good.
I’m happy in bright, indirect light, tolerant if things aren’t perfect, and I grow in a way that feels rewarding without being overwhelming. If you like plants that quietly upgrade a space and make it feel warmer and more relaxed, I’m very good at that..
Tell me.. If you’ve got a plant that quietly won you over, hit reply and tell me about it. 🥰
🎥 This Week on YouTube
The One Watering Rule You're Probably Getting Wrong
This one isn’t about schedules or “water every X days”.
It’s about why watering so often feels confusing in the first place, and the one rule that would’ve saved me a lot of second guessing early on.
If watering has ever felt weird, inconsistent, or like you’re somehow always getting it wrong, this one’s for you.
