All my plants die after they start growing and I don’t know why. I’ve tried controlling every factor that I can although without a thermometer, higrometer, pH measuring etc. I even have a shitty microscope that I try to analyse the sick parts, but I can’t find any reliable resources on how to actually interpret what I’m seeing. I want to know how to use this kind of data so that I can raise my plants right.

Where can I learn about this? I mean diagnosing problems, monitoring variables, finding solutions to each situation etc. google obviously sucks and gives nothing of substance

I will say that I recently got a new substrate, maybe the old one was the problem. But then there’s my mother-in-law, who raises beautiful lavenders and all that using the exact same soil I’m getting shitty results with. I’m literally not doing anything different to her, so maybe it’s the water? I really don’t know.

Edit: in fact, the lush lavender 🪻 she is currently flexing is a piece of the one my partner bought. Same plant, same soil.

Edit 2: also, the roots always look alright when I dig their cadavers to analyze. No parasites, insects, obvious fungi etc in any part of any plant so far.

  • BigWeed [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    3·
    4 days ago

    It’s hard to kill a plant that has good drainage. Terracotta pots (if in containers) and well draining soil that goes deep enough. Plastic and concrete pots are killers for the occasional gardener.

    You can measure ph cheaply by boiling red cabbage and using the juice as it’s a sensitive ph indicator in the plant range. I use it a lot b/c commercial ph meters suck sometimes.

    If you’re worried about salt or whatever bad nutrients, just flush it with water and then add a very light nutrient solution (1/4th strength of a 20/20/20 or whatever).

    For water, any filtering is better than none. But that usually advice for people who want perfect plants.

    • TheSovietOnion [none/use name]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
      2·
      4 days ago

      Thanks a lot for the tips. After you guys, I’m thinking the drainage is a huge factor at play here. Also the plastic containers 🥹.

      I’ll absolutely do the cabbage test now, funny that I was right now on my way to look for cheap pH strips 😸