Plant Care Tips From The Gothic Greenhouse

We're not all born with green thumbs, but the below info will help you keep your pants green and thriving:

Watering

You can drown much more quickly than you can die of thirst, and so can plants! Most plant deaths are caused by overwatering rather than underwatering.  To avoid drowning your plants follow the below suggestions:

• Pots with drainage: when watering plants, you don't just want to drizzle a slight bit of water on the top, you want to drench the entire pot, so that all of the roots have access to the water.  Then, like a house guest who is overstaying their welcome, you want that water to leave. Be sure you leave the door open by choosing a well draining pot, expecting water to drain all the way through, and putting a dish under it if you want to avoid the last few drips!
• Bottom watering: plants in dirt especially appreciate this method, and it's fascinating to watch! Choose a container deep enough to cover at least a couple inches of your plant pot. Fill this container with water, leaving room for displacement, and then gently set your plant pot into it. You can leave the plant there for 30 to 40 minutes, but you will see the plant soak up water from the bottom of the plant pot almost immediately, and it is amazing how much some plants "drink!"
• Add elements to your substrate to help with drainage and aeration: from lava rocks lighting the bottom to a layer of leca, and even adding perlite or orchid bark to your soil, all of these things will help your soil let water drain. The upside to perlite leca and lava rocks is that they will hold on to moisture as well, helping your plant stay moist a bit longer if you tend to be forgetful.
• Self watering: this is a method of watering where the plant pot does the work. You choose a double layered pot with a reservoir on the bottom. The inner container needs to have drainage holes.  You can find two containers that fit together or buy a self-watering pot that's pre-made. There's usually a fill line to indicate how much water you should leave. Sometimes there will be a thick piece of rope to wick water from the reservoir up into the dirt. As long as you keep water in the reservoir, your plant should remain happy!
• Finally, you can avoid worrying about over-watering if you choose a semi hydroponic method of growth. In this method you choose a semi Hydroponics substrate like pon or leca and you will be leaving a couple of inches of water on the bottom of the container. I prefer clear containers so I can see where that water is at all times! This method does necessitate the use of semi hydroponic growth chemicals, to replace the nutrients your plant is not getting from dirt.

Water roots vs soil roots: 

With all the above talk about not over-watering you may be wondering how we can propagate plants in just water.  This is because water roots are different from soil roots!

Water roots grow to be able to obtain carbon dioxide from the water. It's important that the water has available air-obtained either through a fish tank aerator or frequent water changes.  Soil roots don't have this ability and are overwhelmed and drowned when submerged. Water roots are able to obtain air from aerated soil, but they may prefer you keep things more moist than usual while they adjust. This is why it's much more common to move a propagated plant into soil and far less common to move a potted plant into solely water. Semi-hydroponic growth allows the roots access to both water and air.

Know what your plant needs

Does your plant prefer a humid tropical environment, or does it prefer to be watered less often? Can it withstand direct light or somewhere with a little more shade? 

All plants need some amount of light and water but beyond that there needs can be vastly different! Learn about your individual plant and see what the best way to take care of it is. Make sure you choose plants with needs you can meet: if you don't have good direct lighting in your house you shouldn't choose a plant that needs bright light. 

Gothic Garden Plants:

When is your season?

First, check your hardiness zone: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

Using my location of Houston as an example, I am in zone 9b.

Next, see when you should plant each of your food crops. Remember, is good to stagger planting the same crop throughout the planting season, so your harvest can be prolonged. Here's an example of zone 9 planting from Urban Farmer:

 

Houseplant Care:

Below I have listed some information for the plants I sale direct on my website, I will add more in time and will be adding more categories based on care so you can choose easily pick plans whose needs you can meet.

Syngonium Albo (Syngonium podophyllum)

Syngonium Albo, commonly known as the White Arrowhead Vine, is a vining plant that thrives in bright, indirect light. It prefers its soil to remain slightly damp but should not be waterlogged, so allow the top of the soil to dry out before watering again. This plant enjoys a humid environment, making it ideal for a terrarium or plant cabinet. Its variegated white and green leaves are a stunning addition to any indoor space.

Monstera adansonii (Monstera adansonii)

Monstera adansonii, also known as the Swiss Cheese Plant, is a vining species that grows best in bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light levels. It prefers its substrate to dry out between waterings, so ensure the soil is well-draining. This plant enjoys a humid environment and will thrive in a terrarium or plant cabinet where the air moisture is higher, encouraging its distinctive fenestrated leaves to grow.

Angel Wing Begonia (Begonia coccinea)

Angel Wing Begonia is a bushy, compact plant that thrives in bright, indirect light. It prefers its soil to stay consistently moist but not soggy, so regular watering is necessary. This plant also enjoys humidity, making it a good candidate for a terrarium or a humid room. The angel-wing shaped leaves with blood red undersides and bright flowers make it a striking addition to your plant collection.

Piper Crocatum (Piper crocatum)

Piper Crocatum, is a vining plant with pointed heart shaped leaves and bright pink veining. It prefers bright, indirect light. It likes its soil to stay moist but not waterlogged, so be sure to allow the top layer to dry out between waterings. It thrives in higher humidity, making it a good choice for a terrarium or humid indoor environment. Its velvety maroon underside is a delightful touch for those that love their greenery to have a darker side.

Alocasia Polly (Alocasia x amazonica)

Alocasia Polly, often called the African Mask Plant, is an upright, bushy plant with large, glossy, arrow-shaped leaves. The Polly cultivar is bred to stay smaller than the original plant. It prefers bright, indirect light, as direct sunlight can scorch its leaves. The soil should be kept evenly moist, but it prefers to dry out slightly between waterings. This plant thrives in a humid environment, making it ideal for a plant cabinet or terrarium. The striking contrast of its dark green leaves with white veins makes it a standout feature in any home, and the deep purple undersides are a delightful surprise to those who love darker touches in their greenery.

Macgravia (Macgravia spp.)

Macgravia is a lesser-known vining plant that typically thrives in bright, indirect light, although it may tolerate lower light levels. It prefers its substrate to be kept consistently moist but not soggy. Macgravia enjoys higher humidity, so it will do well in a humid environment such as a terrarium or plant cabinet. Its delicate vines and small, glossy leaves make it a unique addition to your plant collection.

String of Frogs (Ficus pumila 'Quercifolia')

Ficus pumila 'Quercifolia, commonly known as String of Frogs, is a vining plant that thrives in bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light conditions as well. It prefers its soil to remain consistently moist but well-drained; it does not like to dry out completely between waterings. This plant enjoys a humid environment, making it a great choice for a terrarium or a humid room. Its small, lobed leaves like miniature ivy resemble tiny squatting frogs, which make this a unique and charming addition to your plant collection. 

Syngonium Batik (Syngonium podophyllum ‘batik’), also known as the Batik Arrowhead Vine, is a vining plant with strikingly variegated leaves. It thrives in bright, indirect light, though it can tolerate lower light levels, which might cause the variegation to be less pronounced. This plant prefers its soil to remain lightly moist but not soggy, so it's best to let the top layer of soil dry out between waterings. It enjoys moderate to high humidity, so a terrarium or humid environment will help it thrive. The beautiful, marbled leaves make it a standout in any collection.