FedEx Rescheduled The Mystery Plant Delivery
Late yesterday the tracking number said FedEx rescheduled the mystery plant delivery until today before 7 p.m.
Silly as it may sound, I worried about my plant out there alone in its solitary box waiting for Fed Ex to bring it safely home.
I guess in most ways that count we are mothers to all living things if we choose to be. And I choose to say that I’m a mother to this plant out in some shipping facility wondering where it is ultimately headed. (Yes, I’m taking a certain degree of poetic license here).
The four Rooted “siblings” are acclimating well. I’d left them together for awhile, then found bright spots to place them in the kitchen and my office. I don’t know where the mystery plant will land.
I have ordered several things from Amazon to begin my replanting procedure. (Sounds like surgery, doesn’t it?)
What I’ve Ordered To Repot The Plants:
Potting soil, first off. But instead of broken crockery placed in the bottom of the pot, I’ve decided to try another medium. I’ve decided to try clay pebbles instead.
This will improve drainage and keep the roots from sitting in too much moisture. Leca pebbles create air gaps in the plant pot that allow roots to breathe.
Mixing Leca with soil is safe and will not harm flowers or plants. Clay Pebbles can improve mineral absorption and guarantee healthier and faster plant growth. The pebbles will help keep the soil moist, supply oxygen to the roots, and lower the weight of the pot in general.
The clay balls will start to soak up the water at the bottom of the pot while keeping the roots away from the water.
To that end, I ordered plastic pots that are only an inch larger than the grower pots the plants were sent in.
Pairing The Plant Size More To The Pot Size:
In the past I didn’t pay that much attention to the size of the pot I was repotting house plants in. But this time around I’m doing things differently.
When you repot into a much larger container, the roots are surrounded by soil and can’t pull the water from it fast enough. This leaves it wet too long and drowns the roots.
A smaller amount of soil dries out more quickly and allows more oxygen to reach the roots, which they need to survive.
These particular plastic pots weren’t completely plain, had some detail to them, and were a good price.
I had thought I’d try using ceramic pots to give the house plants a bit more glam. But I’m afraid they might be too heavy once planted for me to haul around.
As others have mentioned doing in the comments, I am going to try watering from the bottom. So I chose planters that have a decent sized saucer to add water to.
In the past, I’ve often ended up with fungus gnats, which drove me and poor Ivy nearly crazy. So I’m going to do all that I can so that doesn’t happen.
When poor little mystery plants arrives, I’ll let you know and take photos to introduce it to the flock. Hopefully it won’t be traumatized by the long journey to get here.
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Brenda be sure to check if the plants you are getting are safe for cats, I believe ivy including pothos ivy is toxic to cats. there are several others on the list from the ASPCA. That said they are beautiful!
Not quite sure how bottom watering will work out if using clay pebbles. Isn’t the purpose of them to absorb excess water so the roots don’t get soggy? The water would have to get soaked up by them first, but then would they continue to absorb more so water gets up to the soil and roots? I love the pots you ordered and I can’t it to see what your mystery plant is.
Yay! I finally started getting emails from you again! Thank you😊
I don’t know that I did anything. If you stop getting them again, just email me.
Brenda, you have brought the plant monster in me again.. Love their quick descriptions and ways to filter what you’re looking for. Got a ginormous prayer plant headed my way!
Yea! Let me know when it gets to you!
I’m intrigued about this rooted plant place. The plants you got are gorgeous. I recently just started bottom watering. It seems to work well. I’ve been reading about the clay pebbles. I’ll be curious to know what you think about them.
I’ll sure let you know!
I absolutely love the color of the plant pots you’ve chosen. They have just enough color to be interesting but are sort of a bit muted as well. I think gardening in this manner will be a fun new hobby for you to explore. I’d love to have houseplants but living in 2 different places throughout the year prohibits any live plants as I’m not there to care for them.
Lucky to have two places; unlucky not to be able to have house plants!
That was supposed to say gnats lol..
I still cannot believe how beautiful these plants are…I am one of the bottom water people..I have not had any fungus ants since.. I put water in a mixing bowl and sit the plant right in it..it sucks the water up and works great. Amazing how happy plants can make us…this company would love a great review from you💕
The planting pots you selected are very pretty, I love the colors. Sometimes U find I’ve over-water but didn’t realize I was doing it, especially if the top inch of soil feels dry. A couple times a month I will poke a long pick (like a long toothpick used for lighter weight kabobs) around the soil in my potted plants to open up “air” holes, but probably anything long and narrow to make tiny holes in the soil would work. From the description of the packaging method used by the company you ordered your plants from, I think the mystery plant will arrive in good shape when FedEx delivers it to you, but fingers crossed, just in case.
I always worry the plant will starve for lack of water.
You have certainly done your research. Can’t wait to see what they look like around the house when they’ve been replanted. Should be very pretty and a lot of fun for you. Now you will be a master gardener for both inside and outside plants!
Yeah, I hope so!
Nice to see that you’re enjoying your new plants. Can’t wait to ‘meet’ the newest member of the “flock”.
It STILL has not arrived! And my Walmart groceries never got to me. Said they couldn’t find me. UGH!