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Cleveland Plant Doctor

simple plant care for homes and small businesses

10/29/2026

I have no idea why this is controversial…

Firstly, larger pots are more expensive and more soil is more expensive… so off the rip, my advice will save you money.

Putting rocks and other bs in the bottom of your pot just creates a breeding ground for bacteria, fungus and mold… that’s not what you want in your potted plants.

Also, rocks in the bottom of a pot create a perched water table. Look it up and learn about it.

The hack is so simple - it’s just using a pot that’s the right size for your roots and nothing more.

I’m dying on this hill!

10/29/2026

Check the comments for the link to this fancy schmancy fillable, moss support!

I’m not affiliated with this company - I won’t get a commission - this is not an ad… I’m just here, helping ya out :)

10/28/2026

Winter is coming and your houseplants needs are going to change! Here’s a few things you can do now to prepare for the colder months!

What are some of the things you do for your houseplants that’s different in the summer vs the winter?

10/27/2026

Variegated fiddle leaf figs are beautiful, expensive, and a little more work than the all green version. So when I found one for a really good price that was in ROUGH shape, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to experiment!

I chopped it up, propagated the cuttings in water, and now it’s time to pot them up and see what happens.

The biggest thing to understand about a variegated Ficus lyrata is that the white and cream portions of its leaves contain little to no chlorophyll. That means there’s less green tissue available to photosynthesize and produce the energy the plant needs to grow.

Because of that, variegated fiddle leaf figs tend to grow more slowly and can be a little less forgiving when their growing conditions aren’t right. They need plenty of bright light, consistent care, and patience while they grow.

And when you’re paying a premium for a variegated houseplant, I think it’s worth understanding what you’re getting into before bringing one home!

Personally, I love experimenting with plants, so finding this cheap, busted plant seemed like a fun challenge to share. But spending a ton of money on a plant that could easily fail isn’t something I’d recommend.

Will this cutting grow into beautiful variegated fiddle leaf fig tree??

I have no idea…

Will I share whatever happens along the way?? You know it!!

10/25/2026

Your desert cactus is built for a drought - in its natural habitat it would get one, but in your home, you need to hack it!

In nature, many desert cacti experience seasonal periods of very little rainfall. And when we grow them as houseplants, we need to account for their winter rest period instead of watering them the same way we do all summer.

Give your cactus a good, thorough watering in October, allowing the excess water to drain completely. Then, let it rest through the winter with little to no water until spring, when the days get longer, sunlight increases, and the plant starts actively growing again.

Many desert cacti slow down or go dormant during the cooler, darker months. If you continue watering them like you do in summer, the soil can stay wet for too long, increasing the risk of root rot.

Keep your cactus in a bright spot, make sure it has excellent drainage, and resist the urge to water it just because you’re watering all your other houseplants.

Keep in mind, euphorbia are not cacti! Some species look almost identical to desert cacti, but they belong to a completely different plant family. Their winter watering needs depend on the species and growing conditions. For many common indoor euphorbia, you should reduce watering in winter but still check the soil and water when it has dried out and the plant needs it. Don’t automatically leave every euphorbia completely dry all winter.

Knowing what kind of plant you have makes a huge difference in getting winter plant care right.

Save this for your fall cactus care routine, and remember: less light means less growth, and less growth often means less water - especially for cacti!

10/25/2026

🚨 Brock was LOST YESTERDAY in Shaker Heights, OH 44122 near Corner of Chagrin Blvd and Glencairn Rd on the south side.
Please spread the word for this lost dog by sharing this post.

💬 Owner's Message: "Yesterday was our first day moving into our new home in Shaker Heights. Brock is a sweet but skittish little guy who was very afraid of all the changes. It’s my fault for being distracted and he managed to find a weak point in our fence and got out into the neighborhood. He was last seen running into the backyard of a home on the south corner of Chagrin Blvd and Glencairn Rd at about 6:30 last night (23 Oct). We notified the Shaker Heights Police who said they will call us if they receive a report. Please contact them if you see him so we can continue to narrow the search area. Please be safe Brock."

🐾 Description: "Black 12 lb chihuahua mix with a white chest and paws and some tan on his legs. He was wearing a blue collar with his name tag that has the phone numbers of his owners."

🔗 For more info or to contact Brock's owner, click here: https://www.pawboost.com/p/73549106

📣 Lost or found a pet? Report it to PawBoost here: https://www.pawboost.com/l/rpl

⚠️ WARNING: Please be cautious of users offering ‘pet tracking services’ in comments. We recommend only working with local shelters and verified organizations. Never send money to unknown services.

10/23/2026

Years ago I moved all my plants from nursery pots into pottery - after working in a local plant shop, that’s how they did things and I thought they knew best… I immediately noticed my plants weren’t growing as quickly and they didn’t seem as healthy.

Over the next couple years I transferred everyone back into nursery pots and the change in their growth was tremendous!

Since then I’ve started doing this for all my clients and they have seen the same difference!

Pottery is beautiful and I love it!! Potting into nursery pots and slipping that pot into your beautiful pottery is the best of both worlds!

And you’ll never have to break a pot to save a plant or damage a plant to save a pot!

Trust me on this one - I got you!!

10/22/2026

Just here to yap with ya! My propagation junk drawers need attention… too bad I just put them back in water and will probably continue to ignore them 😬

10/21/2026

Propagating Pilea is like breeding bunnies. They really don’t need much help. They’ll do just fine on their own!

But there’s something about experimenting with plant propagation and watching those tiny Pilea babies appear that brings me LIFE.

I can’t tell you how many people told me this was unnecessary when I posted the original video. And sure, they’re not wrong. Pilea peperomioides are pretty good at producing their own offsets, which you can separate and grow into new plants without much effort.

But where is the whimsy in only doing what’s necessary?!

Experimenting with plant care is the whole point! It’s trying things to see what works and what doesn’t. It’s discovering something new, learning along the way, and most importantly, HAVING FUN.

Plant care is one of the greatest joys in my life, and little experiments like this are a huge part of why I love it so much.

So go propagate that Pilea. Try something unnecessary. See what happens. Make a mess. Get curious.

As far as we know, you only get to do this whole life thing once. You might as well have some fun with your houseplants along the way.

10/20/2026

Monstera deliciosa grows sideways all the time, and if you’ve never owned one, you probably don’t understand the true nature of this monstrous plant!

Without the right care and support, monsteras can quickly get out of hand with gnarly stems, sprawling growth, and aerial roots going absolutely everywhere.

But once you understand what a monstera actually needs, caring for one gets a whole lot easier.

Monsteras are often sold with several plants in one pot. That’s not your fault, but it will become your problem! These plants get BIG, and when multiple plants start growing, competing for light, and searching for something to climb, things can get unmanageable pretty quickly.

My recommendation? One Monstera per pot, two at most.

As your monstera grows, avoid constantly rotating it. Let the leaves orient themselves toward the light, and give the plant the support it naturally wants as it climbs.

With each section of stem that’s developed enough to support itself, secure the plant to a moss pole or coir pole. In nature, monstera deliciosa climbs trees using its aerial roots, so giving it something to climb helps support that natural growth habit.

Once you understand how to support a climbing monstera, it can become a gorgeous, easy to manage statement plant instead of a tangled mess taking over your bathtub.

Your monstera isn’t necessarily growing badly. It might just need a little direction.

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