After Arrival Q&A

Our preferred method of providing higher humidity in ambient conditions is putting your plant(s) in a propagation bin. This can be any confined container where the plant is still able to receive light from a source outside of the bin. Although we use large plastic storage bins, you can also use repurposed food containers, plastic cups taped together, or covered glass vessels (cups, vases, aquariums, etc.).

If you have invested in a grow tent or greenhouse cabinet, these can be a great way to increase the humidity for your plants.

Alternatively, you may also use a humidifier to increase the ambient humidity for your home. For convenience, we connect our humidifiers to smart plugs so that we are able to schedule the hours we want them to run and only need to remember to refill the reservoir.

To successfully acclimate from high humidity conditions to lower ambient conditions, you want to gradually decrease the humidity the plant is receiving over time. For example:

You receive your new plant in the mail and want to provide it with high humidity before acclimating to your ambient conditions of 50% humidity. You do not have a propagation bin and do not want to start one at this time. You opt to use two plastic cups taped together to form a dome and place your new plant in bright indirect light to give it some time to adjust to your home. After a week, the plant looks healthy and is not drooping or yellowing significantly. There is a new leaf starting to emerge and you can see some new root growth on the outside of the cup, so you feel like it is strong enough to begin the transition to your ambient conditions.

• The first week we recommend to only drop the humidity a small amount. If we are using two cups taped together, you can start by removing the tape from one side of the cup and placing it between the rims to form a very thin crack which will allow for additional airflow. If you are growing in a propagation bin, you can unclasp the lid and slide it back a small amount to form a thin crack.

• During the first week you will carefully monitor the plant to ensure there are no signs of stress such as crisping leaves, wilting, discoloration, etc.

• If there are clear signs that the plant is going downhill, reseal the vessel to increase the humidity again. Wait for the plant to establish a stronger root system and allow some time for it to recover before you try again.

• If the plant shows no sign of stress and continues to grow, the next week you may increase the gap between the cups/ lid to allow more airflow.

• By the third week, if there are no signs of stress, your plant is likely fully acclimated to your ambient conditions. Good job!

 

IMPORTANT

Please understand that your process will be dependent on the response from the plant. Some plants are more resilient than others and may need less time to acclimate to environmental changes. You do not want to further disturb a plant that is still recovering from the stress of shipping by drastically lowering its humidity or changing its substrate. We typically maintain very high humidity and wait to repot until we see the plant has active foliage and root growth.

We do NOT recommend transitioning sprouts/ seedlings to ambient conditions. When they are sprout/ seedling size they are working on establishing their root systems and need the additional moisture in the air to remain hydrated. Once their root system is established and healthy, and their leaves are beginning to size up, you may carefully begin transitioning them to your ambient conditions.

Seeds should not be removed from sealed humidity enclosures under any circumstances.

Most growers (ourselves included) will recommend bright indirect light for the majority of indoor houseplants. This means you want to place your plant where it receives sunlight from a close window or door, but is not directly in its rays. If there is a direct line of sight from the sun to the plant with no disruption, such as a curtain or awning, this is bright DIRECT light. If you are using grow lights, keep some distance between the plant's foliage and bulb to prevent burning. It is important to pay attention to the plant for signs that you may need to adjust its lighting.

Signs your plant may need more light:

• Very slow growth
• Elongated petioles or etiolated growth from the plant reaching for a brighter light source
• Less pronounced variegation or browning of variegated areas
• Misshapen or mutated leaves
• Leaves that are gradually getting smaller
• Soil that is staying moist for too long

Signs your plant may need less light:

• Chlorotic or bleached leaves
• Leaves that are crispy or burnt that are close to the light source
• Leaves that are turning downward or away from the light source
• Less vibrant coloration

 

IMPORTANT

Plants can vary drastically from specimen to specimen and from environment to environment. There are rarely any absolutes when it comes to growing plants; so while these may be indicators – it is up to you to gently experiment to determine how to best provide for your specific plant.

The best substrate is one that you are comfortable with. Every grower has a preferred substrate for different genera, so stick to what you know and feel will be the best option for your plant. Most plants can be grown in a variety of ways successfully, but it is important to wait to change the substrate until the plant is settled in and can handle the transition.

You can begin fertilizing immediately; however, we recommend using a diluted strength initially to ensure the plant does not react negatively. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for appropriate measurements.

Don’t worry, we’ve all been there! We are here to get you back on track and restore that confidence to get you growing like a champ. If you have any questions or concerns, just click on the ‘Contact’ tab or send us an email at info@shadowandspathe.com and we will get back to you ASAP!