c/botany-lovers

Just realized my old aquarium pump fixed my seedling damping-off problem

After losing a whole flat of petunias to that white fungus, I ran the pump's air stone in a bucket of chamomile tea for 24 hours and misted the soil with it, which stopped the spread completely.

Picking between a grow light for my fiddle leaf fig or moving it across the room

My fiddle leaf fig, Frank, was getting leggy in my Portland apartment with its low light. I had to choose between buying a $45 Sansi grow bulb or moving Frank to the only other spot, right by a drafty door. I went with the bulb and after about 4 weeks, I'm seeing two new leaves. Anyone have a favorite grow light brand for big indoor plants?

My plant ID app keeps calling basil mint, and it's driving me nuts.

In my experience, this happens more with indoor herbs. Any tips for better ID tools?

I was wrong about coffee grounds for years

Now I skip them because they mess with soil too much.

How team plant checks at the greenhouse changed my tune

I was dead set on managing my section without help from coworkers. After we began daily group inspections, I noticed fewer sick plants and less repeat work. Now I get why sharing the load makes sense.

Spider mites hit my indoor garden. Neem oil or predator bugs? I chose neem and fixed it, but wanna hear what you all think.

My basil plants always wilt before I can use them for cooking

I love adding fresh basil to my homemade pizzas and pastas. So I decided to grow some on my balcony in pots. I used good potting soil and planted seeds from a packet. They sprouted nicely, but after a few weeks, the leaves start to droop and turn brown. I water them when the soil feels dry, and they get plenty of morning sun. I've tried moving them to different spots, but same thing happens. Is it too much water or not enough? Maybe the pots are too small? I'd appreciate any advice from fellow plant lovers who cook with their herbs.

Showerthought: Trading plants with strangers can wreck your yard

I picked up a fast growing weed from a community swap that took over. Always find out what a plant is and how it grows before you bring it home.

A bee on my basil made me rethink cutting off the flowers

I always thought letting herbs flower made them taste bad. But one summer, a bee kept visiting the blooms on my basil plant. The basil seemed happier and kept growing strong. Now I leave the flowers on for the pollinators (and the plant's health).

Why I'm going back to books for plant identification

I see so many people praising plant ID apps, but I think they cause more problems than they solve. Last month, I scanned a shrub in my garden and the app labeled it as invasive, so I started digging it up. Turns out it was a native species that just looked similar in the photo. Now I have a hole in my yard for no reason. These apps often get confused by leaf shape or flower color in different light. I've followed their watering advice and ended up drowning a succulent that needed dry soil. My old botany book has clear drawings and descriptions that never let me down. It might be slower, but I trust it way more. Maybe apps are fine for quick guesses, but for real plant love, they just don't cut it.

My coworker keeps calling succulents cacti and it drives me nuts

I've corrected them three times this week. How do you deal with wrong plant info at work?

Just learned how to prune my roses without harming them

The right cuts really do encourage more blooms.

My mail carrier and I started trading plants after a quick garden chat

I was trimming my rose bushes last week. My mail carrier saw them and stopped to say hello. She told me she grows herbs in pots on her balcony. I gave her a few rose cuttings to try at home. She brought me some basil and mint plants the next day. Now we swap plants and tips all the time. It's fun how a love for plants can make new friends.

Giving my plants a boost with leftover coffee grounds

I started using old coffee grounds in my garden. It's a good way to recycle and help plants grow. Coffee grounds add nitrogen to the soil, which plants need. My roses bloomed more after I mixed in grounds. Just sprinkle them around the base, no need to buy plant food. It saves cash and cuts down on trash. Do you use kitchen scraps for your plants too?