7 Tools You Need To Up Your Plant Care
Plant expert Mike Sagun shares his favorite things for optimal plant care and learning.
1. The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Guide "Hands down my go to book for all things plants and gardening. This book was created by scholars, masters, horticulturists, and experts in gardening. If horticulture was a religion, this is its bible."
2. MAXSEA All-Purpose Plant Food "Wondering how to get your plants green, lush, & strong? Well, start with light & water -- then feed it appropriately. I've been using MAXSEA for years. Start with a balance solution, like this one, and when you build up the courage to nerd out on #plantlife, start learning which of your plants want different ratios of nutrients."
3. Undrhill Gulp Pro Syringe Water Removal "Watering your plants thoroughly and slowly so that every millimeter of soil sucks up water is important. This helps flush out toxins and keep your roots healthy. Inevitably, you will find your pot sitting in a pool of water. Allow it to sit too long and your plant will soak those toxins back up. Empty your tray. Some people use an old rag. Some people lift their pots. I use a giant syringe. Some of my pots are heavy and low to the ground, and picking them up after every watering is exhausting -- I save my lifting for the gym."
4. Original Power Wax Canvas Waist Work Apron "This garden toolbelt is functional, strong, and has style. Why not look and feel good while repotting that Anthurium Clarinervium or taking cuttings from your dahlias?"
5. Garden Pump Pressure Sprayer "A spray bottle works, but I live in an indoor jungle -- and a spray bottle isn't efficient for misting. Most indoor plants are tropical or sub-tropical -- which means they need humidity. I live in the high deserts of Mexico and it is often so dry that I don't sweat when it's hot. Because it's so dry, my plants love 1 or 2 mistings a day. Be careful if you have wood floors and drywall -- water damage is real and costly."
6. Pruning Shears "Having different sizes is essential. Your ficus lyrata doesn't want to be trimmed with pruners you use for your adiantum aka maidenhair fern."
7. Square Foot Gardening: Grow Vegetables Anywhere "My husband and I just started growing our own food. We are currently growing dozens of cold weather veggies like lettuce, kale, beets, turnips, carrots, and radishes. Square Foot Gardening is a brilliant technique to maximize the growing space you have with the largest harvest you can get."
