If a few of your plants look a little… tired… That doesn’t mean they’re done. Some plants are incredible at bouncing back once light increases and watering adjusts. They may look rough in February, but give them a few weeks, and they surprise you. 🌿 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 These are your “don’t give up yet” plants: 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬 * Can lose leaves and still rebound * New growth appears quickly once light improves 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐲 * Dramatic droopers * Often push strong new leaves in early spring 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 * Tolerates dry air surprisingly well * Sends fresh shoots once days lengthen 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐧 * Slow in winter, steady in spring * Pruning encourages bushier recovery 🌱 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 Look for: * Tiny growth buds * Firmer stems * Slower yellowing * Soil drying slightly faster Recovery starts before you see major change. 💚 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 * Improve light gradually * Trim damaged leaves * Adjust watering (not more—smarter) * Be patient for 2–4 weeks Most winter stress isn’t permanent. 🌼 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐔𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 Plants that look rough right now often surprise you the most. Stay steady. Stay calm. Spring rewards consistency 🌱 Which plant are you hoping makes a comeback this spring? Drop its name below and we’ll cheer it on 👇

Today is National Sticker Day, and I have to admit… stickers are one of those little joys that never really stop being fun. The only difference as adults is we don’t put them on our homework anymore. We put them on our garden journals, water bottles, seed bins, potting totes, laptop lids, and planter tags. 😄 So let’s use this fun little holiday for something bigger: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐏𝐆𝐒 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛? Not “random stickers”… but container-gardener stickers that feel like us. A small, low-cost way to support the community… and a fun way to keep gardening motivation visible all month long. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 Stickers aren’t just cute. They’re weirdly useful: 𝟏) 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐧 If you use a planner, notebook, or calendar, stickers can turn “I should plan my garden” into “Ooooh, let me open my garden book.” 𝟐) 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐧𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 When you see “Water Wednesday” or “Seed Starting Mode” on your tote or shelf, it’s a gentle reminder—without feeling like a chore. 𝟑) 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 + 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 This is the big one. Stickers can be little “badges” that say: “I’m a container gardener. This is my happy place.” 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 If we did a monthly sticker club, it could rotate themes like: 🌱 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 * “Grow Big in Small Spaces” * “Deck Pots Count as Gardening” * “Potting Bench Therapy” * “I Brake for Garden Centers” * “More Pots Please” 🌿 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛 & 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 * “Tiny Harvest Club” * “Microgreens for the Win” * “Snip • Rinse • Eat” * “Herb Garden Energy” 🪴 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐨𝐤 * “Humidity Squad” * “Low Light Legend” * “Leaf Wipe Champion” * “Prop Queen / Prop King” 🐛 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 & 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 (𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬) * “Fungus Gnat Survivor” * “Spider Mites, Not Today” * “I Came, I Saw, I Quarantined” * “Root Rot Rehab” 🌸 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧 * “Spring Seed Starter” * “Summer Patio Jungle” * “Fall Container Reset” * “Winter Grow Light Glow” 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞

If you’ve ever thought, “I just checked this plant. How are there pests again?!” You’re not imagining things. Most indoor pests don’t hang out where we casually glance. They hide in places we rarely think to look especially in winter. 🌿 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 Winter pests are sneaky because: * Plant growth is slower, so damage shows gradually * Leaves aren’t dropping dramatically * Pests tuck themselves into protected spots By the time you see obvious signs, they’ve often settled in comfortably. 🐛 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬 Here’s where pests love to hide and where a quick check can make all the difference. 🍃 𝟏. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 This is pest central. Spider mites, aphids, and scale often live here because: * It’s sheltered * It’s rarely disturbed * Sap flow is strong 👉 𝐓𝐢𝐩: Flip a few leaves every week. not every leaf, just a sample. 🌱 𝟐. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐟 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 Anywhere a leaf meets a stem is prime real estate. Mealybugs especially love these spots because: * They’re hidden * Cottony residue blends in * Treatments often miss them 👉 𝐓𝐢𝐩: Look closely where leaves branch out. 🪴 𝟑. 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 (𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐬) Scale insects often look like: * Small bumps * Scabs * Texture changes They’re easy to mistake for part of the plant. 👉 𝐓𝐢𝐩: Run your finger lightly along the stem, if it feels bumpy, look closer. 🌸 𝟒. 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 & 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐬 Tender new growth attracts pests first. Why? * Soft tissue * Easy access to sap * Less resistance 👉 𝐓𝐢𝐩: Always inspect new leaves before celebrating them. 💧 𝟓. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 Not all pests live on leaves. Fungus gnats and larvae hide: * In constantly damp soil * Just below the surface 👉 𝐓𝐢𝐩: If you see gnats flying, check watering habits first. 🚫 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 Most of us: * Look from above * Focus on the biggest leaves * Assume pests would be obvious But winter pests survive by staying subtle. 🛡️ 𝐀 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 (𝟓 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬) Once a week, pick one or two plants and:

(𝐴 𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑠) You don’t need harsh sprays, constant inspections, or panic scrolling to keep pests under control in winter. What you need is a simple prevention rhythm. One that works with winter conditions, not against them. This checklist takes 5–10 minutes a week and can save you months of frustration later. 🌿 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 You don’t need to do everything every day. Just pick a couple plants each week and run through this list. ✔️ 𝟏. 𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 Pests love the undersides. * Check 3–5 leaves per plant * Look for stippling, webbing, or residue * Focus on older leaves and new growth ✔️ 𝟐. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐟 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 Anywhere leaves meet stems is a favorite hiding spot. * Look for cottony clumps (mealybugs) * Feel for bumps along stems (scale) * Use good light and don’t rush ✔️ 𝟑. 𝐖𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐟𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 Dust blocks light and gives pests cover. * Use a damp cloth or soft paper towel * Support the leaf from underneath * Skip sprays, plain water works fine 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬: Plants photosynthesize better immediately. ✔️ 𝟒. 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 Not all pests live on leaves. * Let soil dry slightly between waterings * Look for gnats hovering near pots * Avoid letting water sit in saucers Drier soil = fewer fungus gnat problems. ✔️ 𝟓. 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 Crowding helps pests spread. * Separate plants slightly * Rotate positions occasionally * Quarantine any new or struggling plant Even a few inches of space helps. ✔️ 𝟔. 𝐀𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 😄) Yes, it matters that much in winter. * Check soil below the surface * Water less often than your instincts suggest Remember: slow roots = slow water use 🚫 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨 Skip these unless there’s a real problem: * Preventive chemical sprays * Fertilizing “just in case” * Daily inspections * Panic repotting Prevention works best when it’s boring and consistent. 🌼 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐦, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬 Winter pests thrive on stress- yours and the plant’s.

If it feels unfair that pests show up just when plants are already struggling… You’re not wrong. Winter is actually prime time for certain pests, especially indoors. Not because plants are weak, but because conditions are quietly in the pests’ favor. 🌱 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐬 𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 Winter creates the perfect storm for pests: * Warm indoor temperatures * Dry air from heating systems * Crowded plants grouped together * Slower-growing plants that can’t recover quickly While plants slow down… 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭. 🐜 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬 These pests thrive when we least expect them: 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 * Love dry air * Cause stippling, yellowing, fine webbing * Often appear suddenly 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐛𝐮𝐠𝐬 * Hide in leaf joints and stems * Look like tiny cottony clumps * Spread easily between plants 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 * Appear as bumps on stems or leaves * Often mistaken for part of the plant * Drain sap quietly over time 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐬 𝐆𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐬 * Thrive in consistently damp soil * Usually a watering issue, not a soil problem 👀 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐨 𝐔𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 Winter pests are sneaky because: * Growth is already slow, so damage blends in * Leaves aren’t dropping dramatically * We assume problems are “just winter stuff” By the time pests are obvious, they’ve often been there a while. 🚫 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 Resist the urge to: * Panic and spray everything immediately * Overwater to “help the plant recover” * Fertilize to push growth * Ignore it and hope it resolves itself None of these fix the root issue and some make it worse. 🛡️ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 (𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲) Start simple and consistent: * Isolate the plant if possible * Wipe leaves (especially undersides) * Increase humidity slightly for spider mites * Let soil dry more to discourage gnats * Inspect weekly, not daily Consistency beats harsh treatments every time. 🌼 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 Pests don’t mean you’re doing something wrong. They mean you’re growing plants in real-life conditions.