Tag: Plants

Easy Ways to Identify a Mystery Plant

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Happy National Houseplant Appreciation Day! If you received a plant from a friend or from a plant swap but aren’t sure what it is, check out these handy ways to identify it:

Use your phone’s camera

Did you know both iPhones and Androids have a built-in plant identifier??

On Android:

  • Open the Google Lens app
  • Take a new picture of the plant and tap the plant and Google will pull up the info it can find!
  • OR: use an existing picture by tapping the library button in the lower left and follow the remaining steps above

On iPhone:

  • Take a picture of said plant
  • In the photos app, select the picture
  • Tap the “info” button at the bottom of the screen
  • Tap the icon on the image and Apple will pull up the info it can find!

Search specific plant features

Try Googling specific features of your plant. Does it have special colors, unique leaf shapes, or colorful flowers? You can also look at how new leaves grow or if the plant is a vine or stands upright.

Ask Reddit

If all else fails (or honestly if you’re just too lazy to try other methods) ask Reddit! You’ll usually get an answer in a few minutes. Here’s the thread I’ve previously used to identify plants.

Fall Plant Care Tips

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I know we don’t want to start talking about the “W” season yet, but it’s time to start thinking about it for your plants sake! Here are a few tips for how to ensure your plants make it through the cold season:

Stop fertilizing

Plants need an off season just like sports teams do! During the fall and winter, stop fertilizing your plants to give them a few months to focus on existing growth.

Decrease your watering schedule

With less sun and lower temps, your plants will likely need less water. I always recommend a moisture meter (this is the one I have) so you know exactly when your plants need water and don’t need to play the guessing game.

Continue leaf care

Don’t forget to dust leaves and check for pests! Getting rid of dust will ensure the leaves are able to soak up all the available sun. While you’re cleaning, keep an eye out for pests to avoid them spreading to nearby plants.

Increase humidity

Here in Minnesota, the air has gotten so dry that I’ve gotten static shocks from plant leaves! To add moisture back, add a humidifier or group plants together.

Wait to repot

Wait until spring to repot any new or existing plants. Since plants aren’t actively growing during the colder season, they’ll have a harder time adapting to a new home.

As needed:

Adjust plant locations

When the cold air hits and the heat turns on, make sure that your plants aren’t above a heat vent or near drafty windows!

Use grow lights

If you want to give your plants a little boost, give them a grow light or two! I have two of these lights and my plants love them.

@laurenkortbein

Time to start thinking about moving those outside plants indoors! 🥶#greenscreen #winteriscoming #outsideplants #plantcare #fyp #houseplants #houseplantsoftiktok

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How (& Why) to Bottom Water Your Plants

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I originally heard of bottom watering when a plant themed Instagram account I follow posted a joke on their story about “butt chugging” their plants. I thought it was hilarious, but as soon as I learned how easy it was and how great it is for the plants, I was hooked! Read on to find out how to bottom water your plants and why it’s so beneficial for them.

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Spring Plant Care Tips

laurenkortbein1 Comment

It’s the first day of spring (as long as you’re reading this on March 20th), and with spring comes…happy plants! Here are some tips to get your plants ready for the changing weather and growing season:

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Which Popular Plant Works Best for You?

laurenkortbein1 Comment

If you want a new houseplant, but aren’t sure what to get, check out this decision tree! And if you want more information about how to care for these plants, click here for a link to basic plant care.

Becoming a Plant Person over Quarantine

laurenkortbein1 Comment

When quarantine started, I had one plant: a fiddle leaf fig. I had seen occasional pictures of it on Instagram and Pinterest, and thought it would look cute in our apartment. Fast forward one year and here I am today, with 10 plants 11 plants (I bought another while writing this post)! While I originally bought my first plant because it looked cute, I’ve done a ton of research over the past few months and have become that annoying plant person that points out the name of each plant in the restaurant (sorry Tony).

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