Rooted Plant Shop

09/11/2026

09/10/2026

I prefer keeping plants in clear nursery pots and using ceramic pots as decorative cover pots. Roots can grow tightly against ceramic walls. With porous ceramic, fine roots can even attach to the surface. If you need to access the root system later, removing those roots can cause unnecessary damage. Clear nursery pots let you see root development and watch how moisture is moving through the soil. They can also help you catch root problems earlier. If something needs attention, you have easy access to the entire root system without unnecessarily tearing it apart.

09/10/2026

Start with the environment. When variegated leaves start browning, humidity gets blamed quickly and then we start looking for something to add to fix it. Before reaching for silica or another product, look at the basics. Does the plant have enough usable light to produce the energy it needs and use the water you’re giving it? Are you watering because the root zone is actually ready, or because the top two inches are dry or it’s your normal watering day? Variegated tissue has less chlorophyll and can be less forgiving when the plant is stressed, so problems with light, water use, and root health can show up there quickly. Extremely low humidity can contribute to drying, but it shouldn’t automatically be blamed for every brown section of variegation. Start with the environment before looking for something to add.

09/10/2026

Tissue culture- open acclimation. Pink poly mint, and Monstera devil. They had about 36 hours under a dome.

Photos are from 9/9

09/09/2026

Phalaenopsis orchids, the orchids you find in grocery and big-box stores. Their thick roots are adapted to having plenty of airflow around them, which is why a loose orchid bark mix and good drainage are so important. I use loose sphagnum moss, and soak them. Give them good usable light from an east-facing window or appropriate placement near a south or west-facing window, or use a 5000K–6500K grow light about 10–14 inches above the canopy. Instead of watering on a schedule, watch the roots. Silvery roots are a good signal that they’re drying and ready for water, while green roots are hydrated. Water thoroughly, allow everything to drain, and keep water from sitting in the crown.

09/09/2026

A perfectly placed grow light won’t provide adequate daily light if it’s only on for a few hours, and leaving lights on constantly doesn’t give plants the normal dark period their biological processes depend on. A timer gives your plants a consistent light and dark cycle every day, removes the guesswork, and keeps their light environment consistent even when your schedule isn’t.

09/09/2026

Universal plant care codes can give you a general starting point, but they shouldn’t be used as a universal language for plant signals. Yellowing, drooping, curling, browning, wrinkling, or leaf loss can mean very different things depending on the plant.

Each plant has a different structure, root system, way of storing and using water, growth habit, and response to stress. This is really where They Are Talking to You was born. Plants are giving us information all the time, but we have to learn the language of the plant in front of us instead of trying to make every plant speak the same universal language.

09/08/2026

The Mystery Plant Subscription is meant to be a more hands-on way to build your collection. You choose your plant size, then we communicate about the direction of light you have, where the plant will be growing, what you already own, and anything else that will help me choose the right plant for your space. I’m not just grabbing a random plant and putting it in a box. I want to understand your environment, avoid duplicates, and choose something that makes sense for the light and space you can provide. It still has the fun of getting a surprise each month, but there’s thought and communication behind what I choose for you.

09/08/2026

Pest Guide covers this: Predatory mites are TINY, but don’t underestimate how much work these little bugs can do in your plant collection. I especially love having them on Alocasias and other plants that are prone to spider mites because they’re constantly moving through the foliage looking for pests, including places we may never notice until there’s already damage. There are different predatory mites for different pests, so knowing what you’re releasing and what you’re trying to control is important.
Beneficial bugs have a lifecycle too, and this is something you really need to pay attention to when you’re using them as part of your pest regimen. I keep track of when I release mine so I know when I’m getting close to the end of their cycle and don’t leave my plants without protection. While I’m waiting for my next shipment to arrive, I bring 70% isopropyl alcohol back into my routine and spray the plants to help cover that gap. Once the new beneficials arrive, the alcohol stops and the bugs take over again. It’s a cycle, and staying consistent with that cycle is how I use beneficials to help protect a large collection.

09/07/2026

Last call for Buy One, Get One 30% Off. Purchase anything in the shop and you’ll also receive the Fungus Gnat Guide FREE. Learn why they keep coming back, why the products aren’t fixing the problem, and how to actually break the cycle.