The Houseplant Coach

It’s time for member questions! Today we’re talking leaf length hypotheses, auxins, repotting with existing wicks, V’s Mix soil, peperomia yellowing, and more!

This is a two-parter! First we’re talking grow lights for cacti, then we go into the most-often-asked question: how often should you water your plant?

Here’s another episode on hoyas - and another episode on learning to look at specifics rather than making generalizations. The human urge to generalize is STRONG, but it only actually saves us time when it’s relevant, and in this case it’s far less helpful than we think!

Here are some tips to give your plants their best summer yet :)

Have you ever purchased a plant with one of those cutesy tags that gives you literally ZERO useful information? If so, you know what I’m talking about. The main takeaway from this episode: the first thing to do when you bring a plant home is to actually know what it is!

We’ve all seen a beautiful prop box - but do we have to use perlite or sphagnum? What else is an option? Or do we need a prop box at all? Learn more in this episode :)

In this second part, we dig into the different types of variegation, understanding why it occurs and how to encourage more of it!

Here’s part one on our full breakdown of variegation! This one gets into terminology and has a few related tangents - part 2 coming soon!

For the first half of the episode, check out the previous one - got cut off mid recording :) This one covers the nutrient deficit we often assume is a good idea for houseplants during the winter, and why that assumption doesn’t fit with their evolution in the tropics.

This one is a two-parter because my audio cut out halfway through :) This answers the “should we fertilize in winter” question with a more elegant solution, and also speaks to covering all the bases and giving your plants the ability to be more self-sustaining :)

Do you have an overgrown jungle in your house? It’s time to plan the annual crazy haircut-and-propagate project! More info in the episode :)

Has an internet jerk ever told you to give up on houseplants because you clearly suck at the hobby? Well, after 30 years with my own plants and 12+ years in the industry, apparently it’s time for me to quit. Or it would be if I listened to advice from some rando. So here’s me telling you not to quit - even after you killed the third philo brandi and swear you’ll never try again. Even after your wh...

Cabbage water pH testing and grain-urine pregnancy tests today, folks! WTF, you ask? ME TOO. 🤣

In this episode we go into all things nitrogen: the overall function within plants (it’s everywhere!), plus symptoms of deficiency and toxicity. Plus: announcing the monthly OHP gift card giveaway! Share your product recommendation or a helpful podcast or social post from Of Happy Plants on social media (either to your profile or in a plant group - whoever would find it useful!) to enter to win a...

Okay folks, PLEASE keep in mind that both the words “watering” and “schedule” should be held EXTREMELY loosely! In this episode we cover watering, light, the myth of the slow-growing hoya, and more! Find the Hungry Plant System, V’s Mix, and B*tches Love Hoyas soil at https://ohhappyplants.shop

Here’s one for the outdoor gardeners - a study on mitigating allelopathic chemical release with biochar remediation! Study will be added to resources in the OHP Member Community :)

Today’s plant chat is about plant care variables, specifically how to determine if someone’s prescriptive advice is actual fact or if it’s based on insufficient information. Unless advice is based on repeat instances of a plant’s behavior (like blooming, wilting, etc) with many plants of that particular species, all variables are accounted for, AND the result is repeatable (i.e. you can make any p...

Today I ran across someone feeling hopeless and helpless - feeling that their small impact wasn’t enough. We ALL can move the needle if each of us keeps up the work. So it was time for a chat about herbs that can help us keep our heads up. As always, check with your doctor (and pharmacist!) for advice and interactions before using any herb. If you want to skip straight to the herbs, go to the 33.5...

Two-parter this time! We’re talking about how to recognize good advice as well as a thorough examination of a Christmas cactus’ drought issue and how to remedy it. Also, 40% off sale on DrySoil gallons through 1/1/2026, because I’m turning 40 this week! :)

This was one of the hardest plants to care for during my time in interiorscape, and a lot of the dead ones were due to shipping issues! Learn more about the cuetlaxochitl (aka poinsettia) here! Also, free gifts with every order through December 2025! Https://ohhappyplants.shop

Have you ever potted a plant up in a super chunky mix and watched it go downhill? It may be the wrong substrate for your watering style! But here’s how to prevent that :) Also, holiday freebies are going into every box from Oh Happy Plants through the end of December (2025)! Get your plant care on at https://ohhappyplants.shop

Ever import super expensive plants, only to have them rot? Here are some tips! Tip #1: take a deep breath. None of this is urgent :)

I got some questions about bringing potted evergreens indoors in terms of issues with breaking winter dormancy, so I did some more research and is still encourage you to get one - if only as an experiment! Also, sale on now - free $49 bag of V’s Mix with every $200 spent at https://ohhappyplants.shop ! Sale ends 12/7/25

Explore variegation with me! We’re talking types, colors, flavors (well, maybe not that one!), and causes of variegation :) Plus, check out the sale - for every $40 spent at https://OhHappyPlants.shop , get a FREE quart of Tropical Climber soil!

I’ve heard a lot of folks say they choose an artificial tree so they wouldn’t be cutting down a live one. Let’s dig into the sustainability of the whole thing before we make a choice this year :)