Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

DIY Houseplant First Aid Kit

Oct 17, 2023

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Caring for houseplants often means dealing with pests, diseases, or cultural issues at some point. Having a houseplant first aid kit prepared allows you to quickly treat problems and nurse your plants back to health. In this episode, our favorite horticulturist Leslie Halleck shares must-have items to include in your DIY houseplant first aid kit so you can effectively treat plant problems as soon as they pop up!

In this episode, we learn:

[00:17] What is a Houseplant First Aid Kit?
[09:46] What is horticultural oil, when is it used, and how does it differ from neem oil?
[12:57] Neem vs neem oil
[15:03] How to brighten up your home and keep your houseplants happy all year with high-quality grow lights
[17:28] DIY houseplant first aid kit essentials: Fungus Gnats Death Drop and neem oil!
[19:44] Is neem oil safe as a leaf shine for plants, or does it potentially harm them by clogging stomata or pores?
[22:58] Why should you include fungicide/bio-insecticide in your first aid kit for houseplants?
[25:52] Does fungicide reverse leaf damage?
[27:46] Sanitizing vs sterilizing (plus products you should use while pruning)
[28:48] What is insecticidal soap?
[30:18] What are systemics, why do they work, and when should they be used? (heavier chemical)
[32:18] Where can you find the best houseplants with scientific care guides and color-coded collections?
[34:15] Where can you find high-quality organic fertilizers and potting mixes?
[40:50] How do hydrogen peroxide and BT work in dealing with houseplant pests?
[41:43] What is a "drench" in systemic pesticide application?
[44:16] Why should you have rooting hormone in your first aid kit?
[45:19] Best tools/gears for your first aid kid!
[45:20] What are sticky traps? (monitoring tool)
[47:07] Rubber gloves Leslie recommends!
[50:15] Why should you use separate snippers/tweezers/pruners for gardening tasks?
[51:57] Folding potting mat!
[53:58] Hygrometers/glass domes
[57:31] Grow lights
[01:00:19] PAR Meter (for professionals)
[01:03:36] Maria’s favorite—magnifying glass!
[01:16:17] Moisture meter
[01:08:49] Check out Leslie’s books!

Mentioned in our conversation:

For a complete list of houseplant first aid kit must-haves,

Check out the amazon storefront with links to many of the products discussed today

Grab the Fungus Gnat Death Drops and/or neem oil at happyhappyhouseplant.com and get 10% off with code GROWINGJOY at checkout!

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

Ensure your plants are getting enough light indoors! Soltech Solutions makes the grow lights you’ve heard me talk about for years: whether you are looking for a pendant light, track lighting, or a simple bulb to screw into any standard light fixture, Soltech has got you covered. They offer quality products with great customer service, free shipping, and a 5-year warranty. Keep the sun shining and the plants green inside your home with Soltech Solutions.

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code "bloom15".

Fungus Gnats Death Drops by Happy Happy Houseplant

Can't seem to get rid of fungus gnats? Happy Happy Houseplant knows how annoying it is to see fungus gnats take over your plants, so they created Fungus Gnat Death Drops! Backed by science, tested by their founder Mandi, and loved by their customers. Keep fungus gnats at bay with this microbial insecticide with the active ingredient BTI or Bacillus thuringiensis which kills fungus gnat larvae. Another product to love is Happy Happy Houseplant's Neem Oil kit which comes with a stylish glass bottle, and pre-emulsified Neem concentrate, so you don’t have to mess around with mixing it yourself. No separating or added ingredients!

Grab the Fungus Gnat Death Drops and/or neem oil at happyhappyhouseplant.com and get 10% off with code GROWINGJOY at checkout!

Proven Winners

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully and healthy plants. Meet my new favorite houseplant grower: Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. With only the best plant genetics grown in a state-of-the-art, European greenhouse, you will not be disappointed in the variety and quality of your favorite plants from Proven Winner’s leafjoy™. This company has taken the guesswork out of plant shopping with plant tags that include scientific names and care guides, as well as color-coded collections for the different areas of your home that you want plants in!

Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

Espoma Organic

Make sure your plants are all set for the new season! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar powered plant, zero waste manufacturing and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

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