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 🌱💚

If you’ve ever thought, “I barely watered… how is this plant still unhappy?”. Welcome to winter plant care. Overwatering in winter is sneaky because it’s not always about watering too much at once. It’s often about watering too often for winter conditions, even when you’re being careful. Let’s break down why it happens and how to fix it without turning plant care into a full-time job. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝟏) 𝐋𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 = 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 = 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 Plants drink water to fuel growth. In winter, light levels drop, growth slows, and plants use less water. So the same watering schedule that worked in summer becomes too much in January. 𝟐) 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦) Soil near windows can stay cooler, especially at night. Cooler soil dries slower, and roots take up water slower. Result: soil stays moist longer… and roots sit in it. 𝟑) 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 Indoor heat dries the air, so you assume plants need more water. But dry air usually calls for humidity help (grouping plants, pebble trays, humidifier), not more soil moisture. 𝟒) 𝐁𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 + 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐧 = “𝐰𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫” In winter, large containers can hold moisture for a long time. If the plant isn’t actively growing, that’s a recipe for soggy roots. 𝟓) “𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠” 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭 Many of us do the “little sip” method in winter—watering small amounts often. The problem is: this keeps the top damp while the bottom stays wet, and roots never get oxygen. 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞) * Yellow leaves (especially lower ones) * Drooping that doesn’t improve after watering * Mushy stems or soft leaf bases * Soil that smells musty * Fungus gnats hanging around * Pot feels heavy days later Important: drooping can look like thirst, but it can also be roots struggling. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤) 𝟏) 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 “𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫” Before watering, do one of these: * stick your finger 1–2 inches down

I have a dieffenbachia That I purchased at a Marianos grocery store. It is about I would say three feet tall and growing and I see new leaves shooting up. I would greatly appreciate any advise you can give me to keep her happy. She is in a self watering pot, 10". Thanks

(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 cannot wait till end of April to start refreshing my soil and starting my seeds indoors. i love planting tending and watching my veg. herbs and bulbs grow. I'm also looking forward to sharing ideas and practices that work. sometimes my garden becomes a hit or miss so having others to talk to would be great. also looking forward to beautiful weather so i can sit out and get my vitamin d sunlight. keep safe and warm.