An Unpopular Opinion

This particular blog is for beginners - those new to the hobby or that have not had success with plants in the past.  I want to share with you a little secret - and one that is not popular with many "plant people".

Use an app.  Yep, there's an app for that!  Now, I do need to explain my opinion - but hear me out.  I have over 70 personal plants.  Not my store inventory.  My personal "plant babies".  I use an app called Planta.  There's a free version.  I use it so I don't "forget" anyone when it comes to watering.  However, there are conditions to using an app that make the difference between success and failure.

"Plant people" will tell you that you cannot water on a schedule.  And that is absolutely true!  You cannot just dump water in your plants every 5 or 7 days (more on proper watering in my next blog).  Because every plant has different watering needs.  Watering needs also CHANGE, in the same plant, in the same house.  They change with growth, soil, pot size, lighting, season...the list goes on.

However, if you use an app, like Planta, correctly - and then add a dose of common sense, it can really help newbies to the plant hobby.

So, let's talk about using this app - or another - correctly.  Let me tell you what I LIKE about the Planta app.  It's going to ask you to add your plant.  If you know what it's called, you can just search for the name.  It is also going to go through several questions, like those things I mentioned above.  What pot size is your plant in?  What size is the plant itself?  What type of soil is it in?  How close is it to a window?  Is it close to A/C or heat vents?  

When you've answered all of those questions, it will come up with a care schedule for you.  It will also tell you if you've missed any questions and will tell you if the plant is placed where it's not getting enough light.  Now, here's where the common sense comes in.  Ready?

If Planta or another app tells you that it's watering day, and you go to your plant to water it, and the plant is BONE dry (and it isn't a plant that wants to be) ...well, you need to go in and CHANGE the watering schedule.  If it says water every 9 days, maybe you need to change it to 6, and see how that does.  Conversely, if the plant is still moist when you go to water it, the app has the option to "snooze for 2 days" and will remind you again to water in 2 days.  If it's still QUITE wet, you have the option to "skip until next time".  Plants do tend to need more water in spring and summer than they do in the winter - unless of course you are using grow lights - then all bets are off!

You will also need to adjust for things like growth of the plant and up-potting.  When you go from a tiny little 4 inch plant in a nursery pot to a medium plant that's got tons of new growth, you need to UPDATE the plant in your app.  (Go to plant, then to settings in Planta)

I'm not saying that you can completely rely on an app.  However, if you are like me, and have plants all over the house, it's easy to forget some.  You don't want to let your plants wilt before you water them.  If that happens too often, you are inviting disease and pests.

So, give this a try if you are new, or struggling.  The apps have a great deal of good information and can be quite useful.  You just have to use a little common sense.

If you need help with the Planta app, I'm happy to help you set it up.  Just don't ask me about the paid features - I don't use them!

 

 

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