I just received 2 bags of Miracle Grow peat moss Either I joined that testing for plants or someone was very generous. it came from Memphis

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐬 𝐒𝐨 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 (𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥) If you read yesterday’s post about winter roots, this one will feel very familiar. February is where well-intentioned gardeners accidentally get into trouble, not because they’re careless, but because they’re attentive. And sometimes… attentive looks like too much water. 💧 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲 By now, roots are starting to wake up, but they’re still moving slowly. That means: * Plants absorb water at a crawl * Soil stays wet much longer * Cooler temps reduce evaporation * Low light slows growth above the soil So even if you’re watering less than summer, it can still be too much. 🌱 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐬 𝐒𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 Overwatering doesn’t always look dramatic at first. Watch for: * Leaves turning yellow before wilting * Soil that stays damp for days * A musty or sour soil smell * Drooping that doesn’t improve after watering When roots can’t breathe, the plant struggles, even if the leaves look thirsty. 🚫 𝐖𝐡𝐲 “𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞” 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 That little splash “just to be safe” adds up fast in winter. Roots need oxygen as much as moisture. Constantly wet soil fills air pockets and that’s when rot starts. In February, less frequent but deeper watering is safer than small, frequent sips. 🌿 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰 Try this simple winter-friendly approach: * Check soil below the surface (1–2 inches down) * Water only when it’s dry at that depth * Empty saucers—never let pots sit in water * Let plants dry slightly more than you think Your plant would rather wait a day… than drown. 🌼 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 If winter roots are cautious, your watering should be too. Holding back now sets the stage for healthier growth when spring truly arrives 🌱

(𝐵𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑎𝑡… 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘.) If winter has you feeling like your garden life is on “pause,” microgreens are the quickest way to get that 𝐈 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝! dopamine hit—right from a windowsill or a little shelf. We’re talking 7–14 days from seed to harvest for many varieties. No big pots, no outdoor temps, no drama. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲)? Microgreens are baby greens harvested when they’re small—usually after they sprout their first true leaves. They’re: * fast * space-friendly * easy for beginners * and honestly… kind of addictive 😄 You can grow them in a shallow tray indoors with minimal gear. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐩 (𝐍𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝) 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝: * A shallow tray/container (even a takeout tray works) * Potting mix or seed-starting mix (or a microgreen grow mat) * Microgreen seeds * A spray bottle (or gentle watering method) * Light: a sunny window or a basic grow light 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 “𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐧” 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬: * Radish (fast + reliable) * Broccoli (easy + mild) * Mustard (quick + zippy) * Pea shoots (chunkier, super satisfying) * Sunflower (nutty, sturdy, fun) If you’re brand new, start with radish or broccoli. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩-𝐛𝐲-𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩: 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐲 (𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧) 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲 Add about 1–1.5 inches of moist potting/seed mix. Level it gently—no need to pack it down. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 Microgreens are grown close together. Sprinkle evenly like you’re salting food (but more than you think). 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 Gently press them into the surface so they make good contact with the moist mix. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭 + 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 (𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐜𝐤”) Mist well, then cover the tray (another tray on top, a clear lid, or plastic wrap with a few holes). This helps keep moisture consistent and speeds germination. Check daily so it doesn’t dry out. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟓: 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭 Once you see sprouts popping up, remove the cover and give them light. * Window light works if it’s bright

I got this sweet little planter the opening is around 3.5 inches. What plant would make cute "hair"?

If January felt long, gray, and a little exhausting… you’re not alone. And guess what? Your plants felt it too. Short days. Low light. Dry indoor air. Temperature swings. January is not a growth month...it’s a survival month. So if your plants are still standing? 👏👏👏 Standing ovation, please. 🌱 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐬 𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐧 (𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐟 𝐈𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠) January success doesn’t look like: * Big growth spurts * Tons of new leaves * Overflowing harvests January success looks like: * Green leaves instead of crispy ones * No surprise pest explosions * Roots staying healthy underground * You remembering to water most of the time 😉 If your plant didn’t die, melt, rot, or dramatically collapse… 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐧. 🌿 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞 Not sure if your plants are “happy enough”? Look for these quiet wins: * Leaves are holding steady (even if growth is slow) * Color is consistent (no sudden yellowing or mushiness) * Soil is drying more slowly—but evenly * New growth buds are forming, even if tiny Winter plants are 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, not failing. 🪴 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 February is sneaky. It still feels like winter, but plants are already: * Responding to slightly longer daylight * Waking up their root systems * Preparing for spring growth behind the scenes By surviving January, your plants earned the chance to thrive later. 💚 𝐀 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐭 (𝐍𝐨 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝) Instead of doing 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠, try this simple reset: * Wipe dusty leaves so plants can absorb light better * Check light placement as the sun angle changes * Resist overwatering (this is where February trouble starts) * Hold off on heavy fertilizing—they’re not ready yet Think support, not pressure. 🌼 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 If you showed up for your plants, even imperfectly through January, You’re doing this right. So go ahead: * Admire that still-green leaf * Celebrate that one tiny new sprout * Give yourself some credit Because surviving January is no small thing for you or your plants 🌱💚