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MYTH: "Removing a dying leaf as soon as it starts MYTH: "Removing a dying leaf as soon as it starts yellowing saves energy for the plant" - There's actually a process happening when the oldest leaf on the plant turns yellow - the plant is breaking down cells so it can salvage some nutrients.  These nutrients are classified as 'mobile' nutrients because they can be moved from older leaves to newer leaves - most notably, nitrogen. - So if you want to do what's best for the plant, you should wait until the salvaging process is complete - for Monstera (and many other Aroids), the leaf will come off easily when it's ready - But if you find that the yellowing leaf detracts from the overall aesthetic, then removing it right away isn't going to be a big deal to the plant - but just remember it's for YOUR benefit, not the plant's - #houseplantjournal #monsteradeliciosa #Monstera #plantwisdom #yellowingleaf
There's a saying: "you can't improve what you can' There's a saying: "you can't improve what you can't measure" - while I knew that I wanted to provide as much light as possible to get my Monstera Burle-Marx Flame to put up more leaves (and thus, getting those nice fenestrations quicker), I wasn't just going to put it under a grow light and call it a day. - I needed to accurately assess how much light the plant was receiving under a grow light.  Soltech generously provided me with their latest grow light: the Apsect Gen2, with 19% more PPF than their previous 40W light but only consuming 36W. - BTW, get 15% off from Soltech when you use the code: DARRYLASP2 - Total light received by a plant is called the Daily Light Integral (DLI) - and it's easy to calculate with a grow light because the strength is constant (once you've measured it) and you control the duration.  I've set up my Burle-Marx Flame to get roughly 1000 FC (measured at the top leaf), which, for white LED, works out to about 180 µmol/s/m². - Converting this to an hourly rate: 180 x 60 x 60 = 648,000 µmol/h - Converting µmol to mol: 648,000 / 1,000,000 = 0.648 mol/h - Multiplying by 12 hours a day: 0.648 x 12 = 7.776 mol/day - So my Monstera Burle-Marx Flame is getting about 7.8 mol/day under the Apsect Gen2 grow light in this setup.  Calculating the DLI is not always necessary – simply stating that the plant gets 1000 FC x 12 hours a day from a white LED light would suffice (strength, duration, context). - Compared to the first generation Apsect, I’m able to put the Gen2 light slightly farther away and still achieve 1000 FC but also at a lower power consumption.  Alternatively, I can use the Gen2 light’s dimmer function to setup the lamp closer to the plant but reducing the brightness down to 1000 FC.  Either way, the Aspect Gen2 has great improvements that are worth the upgrade! - For my full review of the Apsect Gen2 grow light, hit the link in my profile @houseplantjournal
Normal leaf loss: the oldest leaf on my Monstera h Normal leaf loss: the oldest leaf on my Monstera has decided to retire. It has been contributing to photosynthesis for 2 years and 7 months and helped to fuel the growth of 8 new leaves in its time. - #houseplantjournal #monsteradeliciosa #Monstera #monsteramonday #houseplants #plantcare #thanksforphotosynthesis
My Tillandsia xerographica was looking a little bi My Tillandsia xerographica was looking a little bit crispy after a winter under a weak grow light (200 FC x 24 hours). I just try to keep it alive until spring so it can go outside - While I wait for the last frost to pass, I decided to give her a nice place to hang. - Clean up: as long as the rest of the plant is growing new leaves, I'm completely fine with removing older dead leaves. They can be pulled off easily (cue satisfying crunchy leaf sounds). Some of the tips were also crispy so I cut them off - for aesthetic purposes, if you cut on a sharp angle, the cuts are less noticeable. - I was given this lovely metal plant hanger from @mad_plantist - I knew it would make the perfect air plant perch for my xerographica! - Now we wait until the warmer months arrive so the real growing can begin
Can't believe he's already 1! - #houseplantjournal Can't believe he's already 1! - #houseplantjournal
March 19: the anniversary of my books 📚🌿 - ➟ Upcoming talks/book signing events: March 26: Peterborough Horticultural Society March 29: Beeton Garden Club April 9: Scarborough Garden Club April 22: Roselands Horticultural Society April 26: @vandulafarms (Vancouver, BC) - ✔️ Thanks to all who came to previous talks this year! Acton Garden Club Stouffville Garden Club Newcastle Garden Club @mulhalls (Omaha, NE) Georgina Public Library @homesteadgardens (Davidsonville, MD) Swansea Garden Club @awaytogarden
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