Almost lost 40 houseplants after a single weekend at the Mountain View Expo

I went to the big botany expo in Mountain View two months ago and left my plants with a friend who said they knew what they were doing. Came back Sunday night and found half my collection sitting in standing water with yellow leaves already curling under. My Monstera had roots that were literally black and mushy, not just a little off. I had to emergency repot 18 plants that night using a bag of perlite I stole from a neighbor's garage. The friend was just trying to help but had no clue about drainage or that you shouldn't water on a schedule. I'm still rehabbing a string of pearls that lost 90 percent of its beads. Has anyone else had a plant disaster from trusting someone else with care while you were away?

2 comments

2 Comments

paulhernandez25d ago

Read somewhere that rice water can actually help root rot, believe it or not.

claire_hayes3525d ago

This whole situation could have been avoided with one simple thing that nobody talks about: a written care sheet. Not just a verbal "water them every few days" but actual instructions taped to the pot. Most people think they remember, but once you leave, things get mixed up. Your friend probably felt bad and was trying their best, but overwatering comes from a good heart. My own sister drowned three of my succulents once because she thought they looked "thirsty" even though the soil was still wet. Maybe next time, leave a note that says "do not water unless the top two inches are bone dry" and circle the date on a calendar. It sounds silly, but it saves a lot of heartache.