Love that syringe brush! For others who are looking for them, I found them on Amazon under “touch-up paint pen”. The only tip I can think of is using suction cup soap shelves for plants. They’re meant for the shower to hold bar soap and I get the kind that are just metal bars. They only hold small plants but I love them on my kitchen window (reminds me to water the smol ones) and I also use them in my terrarium for carnivorous plants - the fungus gnats can reach them but the isopods can’t.
All my plants are in my epiphyte mix, even my calatheas. Well, except my Adiantum radianum (maidenhair fern), which was lifted out of its nursery pot and plunked on a layer of perlite in a bigger nursery pot. It's my fastest growing plant. If my plants were in any other potting medium, they'd all be dead due to overwatering. I cannot keep from playing with my plants, and feel empty when they don't need my attention. The obvious answer is of course getting more plants, but I need to invest in more grow lights and furniture for those plants, first. Loved this, Memo! Edit: there are mean comments on your videos?!🤯
Thanks for sharing your experience! Your epiphyte mix sounds amazing. Investing in more grow lights and furniture will definitely help. 😊 As for the mean comments, unfortunately, it happens, but the positivity from people like you makes it all worth it! 🌿✨
They are really good for plants, our bedroom faces our driveway with a massive pine tree shading that side of the house so I use these strips and some lights from aliexpress and my plants are thriving ❤ 100% recommend especially for low energy consumption solutions
@hannahschechter1018 if you are handy at rewiring things aswell you can extend the cables for the ali express ones to run to the othe side of the room, which is what I have done with some speaker cable so its all powered by one plug with a remote 😆
The refillable brush pen! You hadn't even finished the saying 'mealy bugs' before I was opening up amazon and had them ordered before the end of the video. I have been using a handheld 'microscope', q-tips, and rubbing alcohol to try and rid some of my orchids of mealy bugs. I am so excited to sit down for an afternoon and start 'painting' my plants. BTW "coin microscopes" are my current favorite toy, relatively cheap (around $30) and no more questions about what that tiny thing on my plant is.
Do you have a favourite model of the coin microscope? I used one before but it didn´t work well, so I returned it - but it was because of the particular model, I think, not because of a coin microscope as such.
Thank you so much for this video ❤ Oh my god, I literally put some velcro in my shopping cart this morning but forgot to order. And now I see your video. It came at just the right moment 😂 Also I love the LED strips. I don't know, everytime I looked up information about light for plants it was "not under XY lux/Watt/..." and I felt so stressed by this. It took me such a long time to decide on a light. So I love that you keep it simple and say "Yes, it could be more. But it still works" and little is better than none, right? Also it's so much more convenient than drilling holes into your shelf to attach a big light. I love your channel. Thank you for all your work ❤
Plant ties: I've had mealies sit in butterfly clips - which I stopped using because they killed my Hoya vines. But yes, I do take the velcro off when I preventatively shower my plants. The other material I use (preferred) is twine. But I crochet it into a wider band. It makes the twine more stretchy and doesn't "cut" into the stem. [Note to self: soak velcro in pesticide after showering the plants.] My mixes have loads of aeration. But I amend it with 40% tree fern bark. Holds moisture beautifully. This is for most Anthurium, Philodendron, and Monstera in my collection. Oh, and Syngonium. Plus Great White for health roots and all that. Growlights aren't sexy? Ha, you've never seen mine. LOL - And no, not Mother, not Sansi.
Wow, Tanya, your methods are impressive! Crocheted twine sounds perfect for gentle support. And I’d love to see your grow lights setup-sounds like you’ve got it all figured out! 😂🌿✨
@@Houseplantygoodnesshaha! I guess that lies in the eye la of the beholder. I like them. And I hacked the IKEA floating shelves for it, too. Will tag ya in an IG post later.
I haven’t done this myself (I generally use twine), but it occurs to me that a decent alternative to plant Velcro would be scrap fabric, especially of the cotton variety. Everyone has old tshirts or something. Strips of t-shirt fabric (preferably in colors that wouldn’t stand out too much) would be gentle, cheap, abundant, and permeable, so that mealies and other pests wouldn’t be safe from pest treatments inside.
We use cotton fabric scraps (old sheets/clothing ripped into strips. Usually) to help straighten young trees in our fruit tree orchard. Works wonders. It does begin to disintegrate after the first year or two. But the tree is usually growing as it should by that point.
Cool tips - esp. the Velcro, I would never think that they hide behind it. Thanks to you, I started using the Soil Ninja´s mixes - they are simply awesome. My plants love it and grow much better than ever before. The refill pen is such a brilliant idea! Fun shirt by the way 🙂
I was thinking about using the brush for mealies just as you said it! Love that! I would love to tell you about a tool I use. It is a product called WayAround. It uses Near Field Communication Technology and a free app on your phone. I enter all the information I have researched about a plant ie. soil, water, light requirements, when it was last watered or fertilized, where I bought it, when it was last repotted etc. This information is stored in the cloud and is available on a small tag that you put into each plant. The tags are inexpensive. I can easily keep data on each plant. I then use a spreadsheet of all my plants with a macro that shows when each plant needs to be watered based on my data. This saves me from having to check each plant every week. I always check before I water and if it doesn’t need watering, it goes on a late list so none of my plants are forgotten. I hope this makes sense!
I loved your tips. i use a fine paint brush and dip it in the alcohol to remove the mealies as well and it works like a charm. Thank you for all your cool tips!!
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing, keep them coming! I love the soil tip, like I kind of already know to use chunky mix for aroids (self mixed) but I am a chronic overwaterer so your tip made me realise I can actually make it chunkier and its not going to hurt the plants! 💚
Anyone else facepalming themselves over their Velcro mealie farms? I feel so DUH!!!!! I always suggest wick watering pots. I even have Nepenthes set up that way. 💚
Thanks for the great videos. I’m wondering when I use rooting hormone on plants that have developed small roots after I plant it and I always water. Does that not defeat the purpose with the rooting hormone then just get washed away thanks.
Actually I never let a cutting dry but I use a sterilised knife, don’t touch the open part at all and then put it into water. I don’t remember the last time anything has rotten in an open glass of water.
It's not just mealies that hide in the velcro. I've found that Thrips like to hide in there, too. I still use it a lot, but I regularly remove it and clean it in Hydrogen Peroxide and water, dry it off and put back. Also, that Soil Ninja Anthurium mix is the best. I buy that, the Philodendron mix, and the chunky Pon mix. I find mixing the Anthurium and Philodendron soils together is great for the slightly thirstier plants. The really thirsty ones go in the chunky pon in self-watering pots. That really is all I need for my plants. For rooting plants, I use charcoal if they're going into Soil or moss and Clonex Gel for water or pon. I will even add a drop of the gel into the water vessel itself. I will use Ceylon Cinnamon for chonks that are more susceptible to rot, and also on any open wounds or fungal issues. I don't know what I'm doing differently, but I have 2 pink princesses and neither one ever gets stuck leaves. My biggest problem is getting the leaves to size up 🤷♀️🤔💚🪴
Love that syringe brush! For others who are looking for them, I found them on Amazon under “touch-up paint pen”.
The only tip I can think of is using suction cup soap shelves for plants. They’re meant for the shower to hold bar soap and I get the kind that are just metal bars. They only hold small plants but I love them on my kitchen window (reminds me to water the smol ones) and I also use them in my terrarium for carnivorous plants - the fungus gnats can reach them but the isopods can’t.
Thanks, Mandy! The suction cup soap shelves are a brilliant idea! I'll have to try that. 🌿✨
You might get more options if you search for water brush or aqua brush. That's what they are actually called. Artist here.
That last one- the brush with alcohol in the barrel- genius. Love it, gets in all the grooves. Mealies be gone! 🌿
All my plants are in my epiphyte mix, even my calatheas. Well, except my Adiantum radianum (maidenhair fern), which was lifted out of its nursery pot and plunked on a layer of perlite in a bigger nursery pot. It's my fastest growing plant. If my plants were in any other potting medium, they'd all be dead due to overwatering. I cannot keep from playing with my plants, and feel empty when they don't need my attention. The obvious answer is of course getting more plants, but I need to invest in more grow lights and furniture for those plants, first.
Loved this, Memo!
Edit: there are mean comments on your videos?!🤯
Thanks for sharing your experience! Your epiphyte mix sounds amazing. Investing in more grow lights and furniture will definitely help. 😊 As for the mean comments, unfortunately, it happens, but the positivity from people like you makes it all worth it! 🌿✨
I never thought about mealies in the plant Velcro 😮 The bottle brush idea is neat too 😀🇨🇦
Right?! The Velcro trick surprised me too! The bottle brush is super handy. Thanks for watching Linda! 🌿
I read you can use yarn to tie plants. It's soft, stretchy and won't harm the stems.
Yarn is a great alternative! Soft and stretchy, perfect for delicate stems. Thanks for the tip! 🌿😊
I'm shocked that those LED strips are decent for plant growth. But I trust you! What a game changer. Thanks so much Memo. Love your content!
They are really good for plants, our bedroom faces our driveway with a massive pine tree shading that side of the house so I use these strips and some lights from aliexpress and my plants are thriving ❤ 100% recommend especially for low energy consumption solutions
@@Kira-kg4kl could I trouble you for a link? So sorry to ask😚
@hannahschechter1018 if you are handy at rewiring things aswell you can extend the cables for the ali express ones to run to the othe side of the room, which is what I have done with some speaker cable so its all powered by one plug with a remote 😆
The refillable brush pen! You hadn't even finished the saying 'mealy bugs' before I was opening up amazon and had them ordered before the end of the video. I have been using a handheld 'microscope', q-tips, and rubbing alcohol to try and rid some of my orchids of mealy bugs. I am so excited to sit down for an afternoon and start 'painting' my plants. BTW "coin microscopes" are my current favorite toy, relatively cheap (around $30) and no more questions about what that tiny thing on my plant is.
Do you have a favourite model of the coin microscope? I used one before but it didn´t work well, so I returned it - but it was because of the particular model, I think, not because of a coin microscope as such.
So glad you found the brush pen useful! Coin microscopes are fantastic for plant inspection. Happy painting! 🌿🧐
Thank you so much for this video ❤ Oh my god, I literally put some velcro in my shopping cart this morning but forgot to order. And now I see your video. It came at just the right moment 😂
Also I love the LED strips. I don't know, everytime I looked up information about light for plants it was "not under XY lux/Watt/..." and I felt so stressed by this. It took me such a long time to decide on a light. So I love that you keep it simple and say "Yes, it could be more. But it still works" and little is better than none, right? Also it's so much more convenient than drilling holes into your shelf to attach a big light.
I love your channel. Thank you for all your work ❤
Perfect timing with the Velcro! 😂 I'm so glad the LED strip tip was helpful. Keeping plant care simple is key. Thank you for the love and support! 🌿💡❤
The last 2 I’ve not tried, but will soon. Thanks for sharing Memo!
You're welcome! Let me know how they work for you! 🌿✨
Plant ties: I've had mealies sit in butterfly clips - which I stopped using because they killed my Hoya vines. But yes, I do take the velcro off when I preventatively shower my plants. The other material I use (preferred) is twine. But I crochet it into a wider band. It makes the twine more stretchy and doesn't "cut" into the stem. [Note to self: soak velcro in pesticide after showering the plants.]
My mixes have loads of aeration. But I amend it with 40% tree fern bark. Holds moisture beautifully. This is for most Anthurium, Philodendron, and Monstera in my collection. Oh, and Syngonium. Plus Great White for health roots and all that.
Growlights aren't sexy? Ha, you've never seen mine. LOL - And no, not Mother, not Sansi.
Wow, Tanya, your methods are impressive! Crocheted twine sounds perfect for gentle support. And I’d love to see your grow lights setup-sounds like you’ve got it all figured out! 😂🌿✨
@@Houseplantygoodnesshaha! I guess that lies in the eye la of the beholder. I like them. And I hacked the IKEA floating shelves for it, too. Will tag ya in an IG post later.
I haven’t done this myself (I generally use twine), but it occurs to me that a decent alternative to plant Velcro would be scrap fabric, especially of the cotton variety. Everyone has old tshirts or something. Strips of t-shirt fabric (preferably in colors that wouldn’t stand out too much) would be gentle, cheap, abundant, and permeable, so that mealies and other pests wouldn’t be safe from pest treatments inside.
Great idea, Becky! Scrap fabric is a fantastic alternative-gentle and eco-friendly. Thanks for sharing! 🌿😊
We use cotton fabric scraps (old sheets/clothing ripped into strips. Usually) to help straighten young trees in our fruit tree orchard. Works wonders. It does begin to disintegrate after the first year or two. But the tree is usually growing as it should by that point.
Fantastic vídeo from beginning to end! Simply one of the best videos of all times, ever!!!
Wow, thank you so much, Maria! That means a lot to me. So happy you enjoyed it! 🌿✨
"I am looking at you, pink princess." 😂 i have the same issue with my white wizard.😅
What about the old timey plant ties? I know they aren’t the best looking option but it will stretch as the stem grows which is awesome.
Old-timey plant ties are definitely an option! They’re great for growth. Thanks for sharing! 🌿😊
Cool tips - esp. the Velcro, I would never think that they hide behind it.
Thanks to you, I started using the Soil Ninja´s mixes - they are simply awesome. My plants love it and grow much better than ever before.
The refill pen is such a brilliant idea!
Fun shirt by the way 🙂
Thank you! The Velcro tip is a game-changer, right? I'm so glad Soil Ninja's mixes are working out for you. And thanks for the shirt compliment! 🌱👕😊
Ooo good tip to check behind the Velcro
Thanks, Claire! It’s definitely a sneaky spot for pests. 🌿😊
I was thinking about using the brush for mealies just as you said it! Love that! I would love to tell you about a tool I use. It is a product called WayAround. It uses Near Field Communication Technology and a free app on your phone. I enter all the information I have researched about a plant ie. soil, water, light requirements, when it was last watered or fertilized, where I bought it, when it was last repotted etc. This information is stored in the cloud and is available on a small tag that you put into each plant. The tags are inexpensive. I can easily keep data on each plant. I then use a spreadsheet of all my plants with a macro that shows when each plant needs to be watered based on my data. This saves me from having to check each plant every week. I always check before I water and if it doesn’t need watering, it goes on a late list so none of my plants are forgotten. I hope this makes sense!
Another fun video, Memo 😀
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it Dave! 😊🌿 Also major congrats on 1K subs 🎊🙌👏🎉
I loved your tips. i use a fine paint brush and dip it in the alcohol to remove the mealies as well and it works like a charm. Thank you for all your cool tips!!
Thank you, Morweena! A fine paintbrush with alcohol is such a precise method. Glad you enjoyed the tips! 🌿😊
I cut my green Velcro tape in 1/2. It works just as well, is less visible and I get twice the amount.
Great tip, Caroline! Cutting it in half is so smart. Thanks for sharing! 🌿😊
Oooooooh the brush-tip is wonderfull! Will be getting one of those 😁
Love the tips! Thanks for the heads up on the Velcro tape
You're welcome! Glad you liked the tips. 😊🌿
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing, keep them coming! I love the soil tip, like I kind of already know to use chunky mix for aroids (self mixed) but I am a chronic overwaterer so your tip made me realise I can actually make it chunkier and its not going to hurt the plants! 💚
Thank you! I'm glad you found the soil tip helpful. Making it chunkier will definitely help with overwatering. Keep those plants thriving! 💚🌿
What a fun video!
Thanks so much! 😊 Glad you enjoyed it! 🌿✨
I so enjoy your videos I wish soil ninja shipped to the us 😊
Thanks so much for the kind words! I hope they start shipping to the US soon. 🌱😊
This is brilliant!❤
Thank you, Erika! So glad you found it helpful! ❤🌿
I have some of those waterbrushes, and mealybugs. I'll try that one, thanks
You're welcome! Hope it helps with the mealybugs. 🌱😊
Great video 😊. I have scale now!😮
Thanks! Oh no, scale can be tricky. Hope you manage to get rid of them soon! 🌱😊
Those black shelving units you have in the background...are they the ones from Argos? They're half price atm lol I'm totally getting one!
Yep good eye they are, I have had them for years, so so useful
Anyone else facepalming themselves over their Velcro mealie farms? I feel so DUH!!!!! I always suggest wick watering pots. I even have Nepenthes set up that way. 💚
Under velcro mealie farms can be tricky and so annoying when found, trust me! Wick watering pots are a great solution. Thanks for sharing! 💚🌿
Thanks for the great videos. I’m wondering when I use rooting hormone on plants that have developed small roots after I plant it and I always water. Does that not defeat the purpose with the rooting hormone then just get washed away thanks.
Good question! Watering right after can wash away some hormone, but a light misting is usually enough to help the roots without washing it away. 🌿😊
Actually I never let a cutting dry but I use a sterilised knife, don’t touch the open part at all and then put it into water. I don’t remember the last time anything has rotten in an open glass of water.
That’s a great method! Sterilizing the knife and not touching the cut part is key. Thanks for sharing your technique! 🌿😊
I never let cuttings dry either and I prop them in soil.
It's not just mealies that hide in the velcro. I've found that Thrips like to hide in there, too. I still use it a lot, but I regularly remove it and clean it in Hydrogen Peroxide and water, dry it off and put back. Also, that Soil Ninja Anthurium mix is the best. I buy that, the Philodendron mix, and the chunky Pon mix. I find mixing the Anthurium and Philodendron soils together is great for the slightly thirstier plants. The really thirsty ones go in the chunky pon in self-watering pots. That really is all I need for my plants. For rooting plants, I use charcoal if they're going into Soil or moss and Clonex Gel for water or pon. I will even add a drop of the gel into the water vessel itself. I will use Ceylon Cinnamon for chonks that are more susceptible to rot, and also on any open wounds or fungal issues. I don't know what I'm doing differently, but I have 2 pink princesses and neither one ever gets stuck leaves. My biggest problem is getting the leaves to size up 🤷♀️🤔💚🪴