robin_roberts84•25d agoProlific Poster

Watched my favorite fern slowly die after I repotted it wrong

I spent $35 on this fancy potting mix last spring for my Boston fern, thinking it would help. Turns out ferns hate that kind of soil, too much drainage and it dried out in like 2 days. Lost the whole plant by August, and my grandma in Seattle just shook her head when I told her. Anyone else ever throw money at a plant fix that totally backfired?

3 comments

3 Comments

alex_johnson25d agoTop Commenter

Oh gosh, that's a tough way to learn about potting mix. I did something similar with an expensive "orchid blend" that was basically just bark chunks, and my poor peace lily nearly keeled over from drying out too fast. Sometimes the fancy stuff just isn't what the plant actually needs.

emery_young1325d ago

2 years ago I bought a $50 moisture meter for my fiddle leaf fig. Thought I was being smart. Turns out the meter was just guessing. I overwatered for 3 months because it always read "dry." Plant dropped every leaf by Christmas. Now I just stick my finger in the dirt. Works way better. Simple is usually better with plants especially ferns.

cooper.phoenix19d ago

Oh man, that meter was basically a TRAITOR. Sounds like it was more interested in gaslighting you than actually helping that plant. Finger test forever, cheap and honest.