Hi! I really really want to keep plants in my dorm room, but unfortunately I have the opposite of a green thumb. I have a bloody red thumb. I have destroyed more than a few cactuses (not succulents, but cactus cactuses) and other plants, but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I feel like I'm overwatering, and soon enough it seems like I'm underwatering. So, my question is, how much do I water cactuses? What else do I need to do to take care of them? Is there another kind of houseplant I can water daily/weekly that might be easier? It's hard for me to keep up with infrequent habits, but I really want to have a plant in my room. I've tried looking this stuff up but all the information seems to conflict and I get confused. Thank you!
How about a Peace Lily? I have one and it needs very little care. It 'tells' you when it needs watering by drooping its leaves so you shouldn't have to worry about under or over watering. As long as it's in a big enough pot with decent soil and positioned properly it should be easy to look after. Here's a link about caring for them: https://www.proplants.com/guide/peace-lily-care-guide
Hi @nyan_poptart welcome to GS and nice to have you with us mate How about a prayer plant..i had one years ago and they love indoors plus they flower nice with proper care..my mom got no where with it or my sister and it was re-homed with me as they bush lovely and in to the 2nd year it flowered...sitting on my bedroom window. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/prayer-plant/maranta-prayer-plant-peacock-plant.htm
Hi & welcome! There is probably not enough light inside for most cacti unless you have a large, unobstructed south- or west-facing window. Some of the most stalwart houseplants are Sansevieria (snake plant,) Epipremnum (Pothos,) heart-leaf Philodendron vine, dragon trees (Dracaena marginata,) Chinese evergreens (Aglaonema,) various Peperomias, although having this list does no good if your local stores do not have them, unless you were wanting to order plants online. Check what is available in stores, and get a a couple that you enjoy looking at. Soon, the Schlumbergera truncata (holiday cacti) plants will be in stores. They are actually rainforest jungle epiphytes, not true cacti, and much more amenable to indoor conditions than true cacti, with the bonus of annual blooms.
I brought 3 cactus plants early this year being sold as original cactus in flower after potting them to find out they'd glued false flowers on just to sell them and they still died on me ...I won't be trying that root again. Flower heads removed.
Those are real flowers, but did not come from the cactus. They're Helichrysum/Xerochrysum. They can continue to open & close for months in response to fluctuations in humidity. "They" have been doing that for at least 40 years, that I've seen.
I didn't know that mate after doing them and putting my spec's on that's when I witnessed the glue and they came away easily but what I can't understand is why sell them making the buyer think that's the flower the cactus does and thanks for that bit of extra info on the flower
My pleasure Glued flowers must produce decent sales because I've been seeing those for a very long time. This is the best article I've seen about it: https://cactiguide.com/article/?article=article14.php
Great link @purpleinopp me and my hubby thought they was false flowers because of them feeling like hard paper..thanks for the link and it just goes to show what shops will do for sales
They DO feel like paper! One common name is strawflower. They are part of a group prized for long-lasting blooms called everlasting. There is a whole "thing" about dried flowers & dried flower arranging. I think sticking them on cacti is another way to try to appreciate them, not intended to fool people. At least I like to think so, I don't think about trying to profit nefariously. It's maybe a tradition of some type where invented. https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2003/6-27-2003/everlast.html https://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/flowerart/driedflowers/list-of-dried-flowers https://www.thymegarden.com/everlastings
We're on about dried flowers but where we lived before I had to large purple pampas grasses but the leaves was thick and razor sharp...the elderly neighbour used to watch me trim them back and cut the flower stems when they was finished but the purple was a beautiful colour and the one year she asked me when you cut the heads do you mind me having them as I have large vases either side my fire and she used to put them in afterwards I suppose certain dried out flowers can look quite lovely in the home..i never really thought of it before always brought false ones.
Why not try a plain old ivy plant ! That is almost everyones starter plant ! Once rooted you can water lightly every two weeks and it will be fine !! If you know someone that has one just take a couple of cuttings and root them in water,,then transfer to a pot ! Keep moist until you see active growth then every two weeks and it will grow like crazy in a sunny window ! Grows slower in moderate light !
Hi! Drimiopsis maculata is almost impossible to kill. Beaucarnea (Nolina) lives with me almost autonomously. I don't even remember when I watered this last time!
Mart this Ivy started off as small shoots around this conifer and keeps going strong mate through heat and wet weather, it's over taking the conifer and a lot larger than the pic now.
I know this thread is a little old but I found what helped for me not to over water plants was to research what soil type is recommended for the plant. I also put my plants in clay pots (breathe better) with drainage holes. I waited until the soil dries out and then soaked the dirt in the sink until the water ran through the drain hole being careful not to wet the plant. If you are not sure when the soil is dry put your finger down in the dirt, if still not sure buy a moisture meter and leave it in the plant. You can also get a lamp and put a grow light in to give your plant the sunlight it needs. I find room temperature, light, dirt and plant type predict how often to water instead of saying water every third week etc. I find I forget to water so I buy water retaining plants that forgive me
