After successfully keeping an orchid alive for a year, last year I decided to give owning plants another try. Every week I diligently checked their leaves and soil, misted them with water, and monitored the humidity and temperature. I event joined a Reddit community about plants for advice!
All was going well until it was time for me to go on a vacation where I’d be away for longer than the plants usually go between waterings. Reddit suggested popping them in the sink on a soaking wet towel, so the roots could pull up water as they needed.
Still, I was nervous.
“Plants are resilient so I think you’ll be good. And when you return home, with a little water I’m sure they’ll thrive again,” Debbie Cartledge told me. I wanted to believe her, but I struggled.
Then it was time. I said goodbye to my plants (all tucked in the sink), locked the front door, and went on vacation.
And you know what? When I returned just over a week later my plants were alive! And they had new growth! Over the coming weeks I watched my orchid – which usually only offered 2-3 buds at a time – grow seven buds. Four have already blossomed, with a fifth in the process. The leaves on my swiss cheese monstera have never looked healthier. And I’ve now added a spider plant cutting, my newest addition.
I learned three things from this experience:
- Sometimes a little space allows us to grow.
- Redditors are really helpful.
- Never doubt Debbie C.
Please feel welcome to swipe through these images of my mini indoor garden over the past year. I hope they bring you a little bit of peace and joy!
Call me Katie 