This is a really important video! I feel the same way. Quality over quantity. Grow intentionally, reuse when applicable and grow that dang thing to the best of its capability. Keep it simple. Don’t feel bad about throwing out every little prop or a plant that no longer makes you happy! It’s just a vegetable in the end… you wouldn’t feel bad about throwing away an old potato or piece of broccoli, would you?! It’s a plant. It’s supposed to make you happy and relaxed. Find what you like and use what works… I pretty much only use dawn dish soap and water for pests and infestations, and we’re thriving over here 💚
I am 81 and have always had a few plants but never nurtured them just watered when wilted. 3 years ago I decided to get a few plants and really care for them. I created a “Plant Log” in a little notebook, gave each plant its own page with chart for when I watered and fertilized, where each was located and notes about growth, or repotting or problems. I don’t have any hard to grow plants, only easy care. If a plant has problems I toss it. No hesitation or regrets. I put a big X on that page and move on. I only have the amount of plants that can be part of my decor. At this time I have 30 and that is the perfect amount. I only have one small prop rooting in water for my daughter. It’s interesting to go back through my log and see the many X’s and read the problems they gave me. Donna
Ohhh Donna, I love the notebook idea! Plus then you always have that reminder of what didn’t work out so maybe it’s easier to not give those plants a second go 😁
I went through a depression in late 2021 and had a collection of over 300 plants but about 85% of them died from the neglect during that time since I was really low. But the ones that survived have proved themselves to be really hardy and I love them today. I've very slowly added some plants to my collection since then. I don't think I'll let myself get more than 100 plants again no matter how much space I have for them. I enjoy having time for my other hobbies!
This. I'm at the 70ish capacity, and I've been doing not so well recently and it's affecting my plants. Definitely might need to cull the herd a little 😬
I also have depression and something that having plants has done for me is that they tell me when I'm starting to get way off track. I only purchase plants that show rapid signs of obvious neglect. When I'm droopy, so are my leaves. This motivates me to get up and care for them. This little bit of activity tends to boost my mood just enough to force me out of my cave. Just some thoughts. Sending good vibes your way friend. ((Hugs))❤
The same thing happened to my collection of over 250 plants after a cervical spinal cord injury that led to A long recovery and disabilities and a bout of depression. I’m kicking myself for losing some rare aroids I had grown from tiny baby cuttings into lush mature forms for years, but I have about 60 that survived and are extra hardy, and I’ve been doing my best to nurture them back to optimal health. I recently got two new plants for the first time in years, I doubt I’ll ever expand my collection To that size again, surprisingly I’m still enjoying it. It’s a good litmus test for where my mental state is with my current amount of plants. I hope you’re in a better place now. ❤
I didn't expect this video to be so heartwarming. I'm so happy for you! I started watching your videos before you had the boys, and lived in your last house. You had SO MANY plants. I'm glad you've found a balance that makes you happy. And quit doubting us watching your videos. After all these years I claim you as a friend and would listen to you talk about paint drying. 🤣
My motto (for my plant collection) has always been "thrive or die!" My husband got really sick a few years ago and told me recently that he just kept hearing "thrive or die!" in his head and got a little worried. Poor baby! He's thriving, thank God! 😂
FINALLY!! A plant person who is REAL! This is my first time seeing your channel after searching relentlessly for weeks for real and informative plant content. Thank you!!!
You're so real for talking about the connection between mental health struggles and hoarding plants. I'm glad you're doing better these days Harli! You're an inspiration
i couldn't agree more! i was well over 200 plants and always looking for more. i started dreading plant chores;needless to say, my collection suffered. now i have a manageable 50ish and we're all much happier! thanks for a great video. and remember, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. that goes for everything, not just plants! 😊
So I became interested in plants after watching you, Nick, Planterina and a few others during the pandemic. I honestly wondered how you all kept up with all of them. Anyway I had a baby and stopped watching plant content until maybe March of this year. Ive returned to find that most plant collectors are downsizing. Glad you found ⚖️
I’m 33 and I just recently moved this was an awakening moment about my plant addiction. This is an addiction not a hobby. Hobbies are liberating and this felt like a job…keeping up with so many plants and now i’m down to my prize plants ❤ doing a lot better!
@HarliG I cannot stress ENOUGH how IMPORTANT this content is! I love the fact you are being so brutally honest and it’s something we need more of. Maybe this resonates so well because I’m in the exact same place in my plant journey. We should stop normalizing being “addicted” to plants and going broke over them. It’s not healthy or sustainable and I just love the fact of your boldness to share such an important message that goes against popular opinion! You go sis!❤️❤️❤️🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🎉🎉🎉
The main thing I changed was to give each of my plants their own space to shine. Currently I’m working mostly on styling each plant with the right pots, and also buying the correct nutrients.
Thx for this. I think every plant grower on social media should be honest about the difficulty of growing indoor plants. It’s one things to grow them out of a passion for the process and beauty and it’s another thing to just want plants around your house for the greenery. Most of us want no hassle greenery around the house. Too many other things going on in our lives.
Beginner plant parent here and I’m so glad I found this channel. I’m never going to be a plantfluencer with hundreds of healthy plants in my perfect home, so finding people who really give an aura of realness about their plant hobbies is so valuable to me. Thank you!
Ive been into tropicals for 30 years (even went to school for horticulture), used to manage a greenhouse, worked as a route sales rep for tropical plants (before internet) and I can tell you its totally normal to have ebs and flow for the hobby. In the 90's I was huge into propagating. Then when I had my first child in 2000, if a plant propagated too easily (mother on thousands, for example) I couldnt get rid of it fast enough. It was a burden. After moving several times and another baby, I was down from probably about 100 houseplants to 2 or 3. Then I got into orchids (which were always too expensive to even think about in my 20's and 30's) because the internet made them afforable and available. When Covid happened and the plant boom happened, I was like a kid in the candy store!! Expensive things became cheap, new varieties unavailable before, new cultivars! I havent worked in the tropical industry for about 25 years, but with so much available, I watched my plants go from about 10 foliage tropicals plus about 25 or 30 orchids (so about 35 total) balloon to about 225-ish in total. I do worry about the "rare" collector and what that does to natural populations (and wonder where some of those rare over seas orders were collected) and honestly, I find the "plant haul" mentality a little nauseating at times... But I am in love with tropicals, i love caring for them and watching them grow, and am devastated when they get too large for my house... But its a healthy hobby and Im so glad you found your current balance. (And as your kids get older, you may find your balance shifts again one way or the other... That is what is nice-- it can adjust to your lifestyle)
I went to UA-cam to distract myself from the urge to buy more pots and plants I realistically have no space for, and stumbled on your video in my recommendations. Just what I needed to see tonight, haha! Subscribed, I like your vibe 👍
Thank you, Harli. This is what I needed, a great video ❤. I'm 68 years old, and I have been following you for years ❤❤. I'm at a place where I need to let go of some plants 🪴, I just don't have the space, time, and energy. Some people don't realize that. Thank you again 💓
I will be 80 this year and I started with plants when I was 20 , I know long time , right now I live in a high rise and have a bel any I have about 40 , plants and get the stink eye from my girl but its what make me happy love it 😍😍😍😍😍😍
I get it. I'm elderly and these plants are like children which means it gives us a sense of purpose ...a reason to get up in the morning and be loving and caring to them. You aren't as lonely with them :))
This speaks to me on each point you made! A cautionary story that made me acknowledge where I was heading -Overwhelm. My spider sense was saying I need to focus on what I have (I want allll of the Hoyas 🙄) I only have so much space and lighting. I need to work with what I have and be grateful.
Harly this is such a great video and I am so happy for you! I am an og- watched your content since the beginning but I will admit I did feel the stress and overwhelm the past couple years. I am SO happy UA-cam brought me back to your content so I could see the growth and evolution. I really agree with so many of these points.... and as such am really not in the plant community like I used to be because the overconsumption was crazy and it became hard to take care of. I got married last year and planned a big wedding and as part of it I wanted cut flowers as part of my wedding so I was outside gardening a lot. Probably like 20-30% of my collection died, which was sad but also necessary. And frankly the ones that survived are a lot more hardy than they were before. There is such a thing as excess and it's really necessary to take a good hard look within to realize what's bringing joy and what just isn't. I'm so proud of you for making these necessary changes and so glad that you're spreading this message to the rest of the plant community 🪴
The hardest part of having hundreds of plants is watering them all. I’ve invested in self-watering pots and as plants need repotting, I switch them over. I still put them in pretty cover pots, baskets, or crocks; etc. Winter is hard on my plants so I wait until spring to decide if I’m sticking with the tried and true or try something new. Great video! ❤️🪴
I feel like now that my plant collection is starting to be pretty substantial, I constantly have issues with plants. There's always a couple that aren't thriving and I have to remind myself that I'm not a failure at taking care of plants, it's bound to happen that not all are thriving when you have almost 100 plants
It definitely took me some time to find the balance I needed with my collection, FOR SURE! I still don’t say no to myself if I encounter a plant that I love and want to try in my collection, but my biggest behavior change is that I am not actively shopping the online plant suppliers regularly like I used to. I have been doing some home improvement and redesigning my space a bit, which helped me establish my limits with plants and learn how to recognize (for me) how much is too much. I learned that I like having plants incorporated into my home environment design, not plants making up the ENTIRETY of my home environment design. It took a long time for me to shift my mindset and find the balance I was comfortable with. And my house doesn’t feel any less devoid of plants! 😂
I recently did this exact thing. I also became really overwhelmed with everything in my life and I downsized more than half of my plant collection and supplies. I am so much happier, my plants are so much happier. I couldn't keep up when I had an issue and I couldn't find peace until I had a refresh. Happy you feel the same way!
Thank you so much for this!! I wondered if I was the only person feeling this. I have 2 year old twins and have missed out on so much with them due to my obsession with my plants. For the last several months, I've been learning to let go and focus on the things that really matter to me, which alleviates a little stress and brings back the peace and fun I once had with this hobby. Thank you for sharing your real and brutally honest truth . I needed to hear this today. Much love ❤
I really respect your viewpoint and being able to realize what’s really going on with these quick dopamine releases that are being sold to us at every click on the internet!! It’s really more rewarding to focus on what I already have and make it the best it can be. Totally here for all this!!
I'm happy you found a balance in your life with plants. I started my plant journey in January 2019, and I got crazy purchasing plants, and then a lot of changes have happened in my life since then. I'm finding my balance in my life rn with my plants. I enjoy them more than before(stressed). Keep up the plant content. Your plant videos are always informative and interesting to watch, and I love watching them. 🤗👍🪴💚
Thank you for this video. Very much needed. Sometimes we just have to say i have reached my limit. I love plants but i dont have the space or time for as many as i would like to have. Maybe one day.
Me and my plant collection are definitely growing up from a few years ago. Originally, I would buy anything and everything. Now, I’m focusing more of Nepenthes and other carnivorous plants. I also wanted to have an indoor jungle, but now I feel as though a houseplant jungle is way too overwhelming. I still have a long way to go, but hopefully I can become better both with my plants and with my money eventually.
Great video! I got up to abut 80 plants in a 1 bedroom apartment and am currently trying to cull the collection. It can be very challenging to get over the guilt of getting rid of some plants. Great reminder to check in and evaluate if they truly spark joy! 😊
I loved this vlog Harley🫶. I’ve been watching you for years but I dont comment. I’m so happy that you are striking the right balance between you and your plant journey. It’s ok to change and evolve that’s life. I will always continue to watch your content. And I always watch your mom Stef, she’s the sweetest.
I guess I'm a bit different from you and most who watch your channel, but a plant lover nonetheless. I have been gardening for over 30 years and am a master gardener (or I was, I should say). I also live in a northern state and I think that is why I paid much more attention to outdoor planting than indoor. I absolutely LOVE watching a seed turn into something beautiful and/or fruitful! There's nothing like the smell of tomato plants in the summer, or sprawling, giant pumpkin and squash vines reaching across the yard. And flowers so beautiful they take your breath away. All of this of course led to learning how to can all of my homegrown goodness, so spring through fall was an ultra busy time for me. I looked forward to the "rest" of winter. I am disabled now and unable to garden outside anymore save for a few patio pots. I have always had houseplants, but never too many. I like a few here and there to add life to a room. I feel I can really enjoy them more and dedicate myself to making sure they thrive instead of just surviving. I have downsized recently as I am moving soon to the south. I only have 3 plants left. A madagascar dragon tree, a jade, and a wavy fern. I may sell the tree as I'm nervous about it getting damaged in the move. I'm praying for lots of light in my new apartment as there are more light loving plants I'd like to try w/o the need for grow lights. Thank you for the video. It was wonderful. 😊
I started my plant journey about a year ago and I have amassed quite the collection in such a short amount of time. I will admit that this was mostly me filling a void. I'm at a point now where I want to throw away over half of the plants I got because it's getting a bit much to manage. I have also learned what kind of plants I want to keep growing. I'm working on selling the plants I don't want anymore and buying things for the plants I decide to keep such as decorative pots and more grow lights
This was a really great vid Harli! It resonated alot. I hit “hoarder stage” 2022 after more than a decade in the hobby, the panoramic really sent it into overdrive with the FOMO as the hobby exploded on social media. My husband and I moved to mexico for a year and a half so i had to sell off my entire collection and boy was it butter sweet. Now that were back and staying with my i laws while we find a place, ive gotten 2 former plants of mine back from a friend and i had to chop em up and reroot them. Its been really satisfying to watch them regrow and its had my thinking about how im wanting to approach my plant hobby this go around. Ive decided to only buy fully established plants and no cuttings, cos cuttings were my downfall last time. Im also only shopping from my wishlist, no more “oh i dont have that one!”. Essentially, my goal this time is to be more intentional with what i purchase and only buying plants i absolutely love. Well see how 2024 goes lol
I call it refining my collection. I’m a hoe for variegation and hybrids, so I made room for what I really want to grow. I posted on Facebook that I was having a giveaway, and I had a crowd.
I had a cut back in my collection because of moves. The only positive things to come from it. The plants I have now are happy! Grow lights are a must in the winter here in Ohio
I’ve gone through a cycle with many of my hobbies, not just plants, where I go through an intense intro phase. Where I get kind of obsessed and buy too much just because I’m excited and I want to try everything. But over time, I started to figure out what plants I really enjoy keeping and that frantic energy wears off. I definitely went through a phase where I wanted to propagate EVERYTHING. Again, I just wanted to TRY all the things…now I’ve sorta got that out of my system and I only prop when I really want something.
You bring it into perspective and I always question if I need another plant. But yes questions to ask myself when considering to buy another. Love the video and makes it easier when I get overwhelmed with how they are and how I struggle.
It's nice to see people stopping the overconsumption and overcrowding of plants. It was starting to come across as hoarding for the sake of content. I mean, if you can manage a crazy amount, fair play! But, for me i cut down my collection of 75 to 25 over the last couple of years, and have settled for mostly low maintenance plants, mostly crassula ovata for bonsai style, some cacti, a hoya, a monstera, ponytail palm, ficus, and snake plant. It's a perfect low stress collection for family life with young kids. It's just so much more rewarding having a few select star of the show plants that you nurtured!
So glad I came across this video. I'm looking at my collection and feeling like I'm in a good spot. The last thing I want to do is make my new hobby a headache and overwhelm myself. I have 16ish plants right now, which is a lot considering a year ago I only had 2. I find myself constantly troubleshooting and considering new products. This can become an expensive hobby so quickly! I'm gonna just do my thing with the plants I have the rest of the year and see where I end up. Thank you, definitely gonna follow ❤
I've started really going into my plant care and buying more plants and you've really been super helpful. When it comes to organizing plant care, watering, soil preference, where to place a plant, pest control,... You have made my whole approach to plants much more comfortable and confident. And honestly there's not one of your yt vids that doesn't make me laugh really hard even if I'm having a shiet day. I love you Harli, and deeply relate to the love you feel towards your plants. I'm so glad everytime I see a new video uploaded.🩷💛I hope we can meet one day, and I can give you a bunch of cuttings🤗
Two years ago we found our dream house. And my husband made this historical speech : - You can have as many plants as you wish. But the house WILL NEVER LOOK LIKE a) jungle, b)nursery, c)floral shop. It has to look elegant and cohesive. We have a big collection since 1997. In 2023 I spent my hobby-budget on plant stands and pottery. In 2024 I am thinking about to get a second fish tank. My plants were happy with Liqui-dirt for several years and then changed their taste to Espoma or water from my aquarium. About buying new plants? Sometimes. If some respectful collector will pronounce a plant "unstable" or "impossible to grow as a house plant", I like to have a challenge. I got rid of a grow tent about 6 years ago. Now I have many plants in individual terrariums aka oversized glass vases. Best places to buy those are Ross, Home Goods and At home. Best wishes to you and your family.
Such a refreshing video Harli, thank you for verbalising what a lot of us are probably wanting to hear! I certainly have gleaned a lot from this and can definitely say that I have been feeling it too. Why did i get sucked into all the gimmicky stuff??? Now mine are just sitting, unused, collecting dust 😔 I guess I can gift them to friends who want them and will use them. I think today you have been the voice of reason for a lot if us. Thank you! 🙏🏼👏🏼🫶
I recently had the very same epiphany. I am over my propagation addiction also. I can actually prune my huge Jade plant and resist the temptation to propagate every tiny piece. I have enough! I no longer feel obligated to participate in every plant purge in my local group. I no longer feel the urge to conquer every species. I grow what I grow well. It's been very freeing. No, it wasn't easy, but I feel much better. I'm very glad to hear somebody gets it. Thank you.
I have been steady at the number of plants I have since I moved I haven't really gotten any more and they're all as healthy as can be none of them look scraggly or dead and it's just the right amount to keep up with I'm in love!
HELLO Harli G. I started watching your channel during covid till now. you kept me sane when everything was getting stressful. i watched your channel to destress. thank you.
I had almost 80 plants in college and honestly became obsessed with them. I totally get where you’re coming from. I moved a lot, a lot of plants died and I became tired of plant maintenance. I also realized I would buy plants if they were “popular” without thinking if I actually wanted it. My smaller collection of about 20 plants is getting more attention now and my love of plants feels so refreshed.
Omg its like your reading my mind!! I need to do this asap im over my head now that i went back to work i cant keep up. I loved it when i had the time but now its to much and not enough time. I just need to find people to sell them to, or even just give them away. I love them but its just to much. Thank you for sharing, i love watching yours and your moms videos. I have been here since the beginning and i feel like your all family.
I needed to hear this. I’ve been in a plant funk. I definitely need to get rid of clutter plants and start focusing on the ones that I really love. Thanks for the encouragement. We care what you have to say .😘
10:34 I can relate to this! I am so glad that I’m not the only one who doesn’t like my plants touching each other cause ended up overlooking my smaller plants lol
I hear you 100%. I downsized my collection from 200 plants to about 100. Mainly selling off my rare/uncommon plants. I took a year and half break from buying houseplants and focused on my outdoor yard planting. I basically had a blank canvas in my yard, so it’s been fun learning about outdoor plant varieties.
This was a great video. I've recently down-sized from 70 plants to about 45 plants. I definitely get what you mean about finding time for more hobbies. This is my favorite video on your channel!
I have come to learn and apply all of the things you mentioned too Harli. I look back and think “why did I ever even buy that plant??” This felt like a counseling session 😅
Oh I love this so much. I’ve also come to learn a lot of this - the hard way. I’m trying to reduce my collection a bit too now. Really focusing on the plants that make me really happy 😊 thank you for sharing this. Especially the over consumption part 🙌🏼
Thank you for this video! I found myself getting there with the constant buying….. I need this or that plant. I converted my formal living room into a plant room, filled it and that has now spilled over to my dining room. I’m an empty nester now and though I’ve always had plants, I’m becoming obsessed. I realize that. I really needed this wake up call. I’ll be making changes. I now have 64 plants in my home. I usually had about 15 or so. I also never had pests and now I started getting spider mites and more fungus gnats. Time for a reset. I’m going to gift a few and rethink my options. Thanks again!
I'm currently trying to downsize my collection too but I keep running into the problem that I have so many plants that I want to keep because I want to see them big and mature and they're not there yet so I keep them till they grow more. I was also so shocked by how easy Anthurium actually were for me so I'm focusing more on those because they have a huge impact in my space with every new leaf but it's only a single plant
I love this video! I was definitely heading this direction with my collection, but you've outlined exactly what I should be doing! Thanks! Keep these videos coming!
I’ve been collecting since 2019 and now I have a different approach like you as well. I down sized soooo much since then and it’s been so much better for my sanity. lol. I rarely buy plants now except for Hoyas if I come across a wish list plant online but also depends on the price too. No more than $45-50 is my limit. I have no worries about throwing away a plant or even cuttings as well. It’s so much more enjoyable now with the plants I actually enjoy taking care of.
Literally so happy to see a video from you! I love the no longer going to constantly be buying. I’m on that journey as well! I’ve been keeping plants for 3 years now and I know what plants I love and which ones I don’t. I love that I can go to a plant shop and appreciate a plant but not have to bring it home. Or stop myself and say “do I really want this or do I just want that dopamine hit I’m gonna get if I purchase this”😅 anyway, you’re amazing. Love all your videos, you are my favorite UA-camr! Also something fun, we got more baby chicks yesterday and I’m excited to try growing them sprouts like you do!! Thank you for putting out videos. I am a mom of 3 young kids and it’s refreshing to see someone in the same boat as me with all the kids, all the plants, all the chickens 😅
I have ADHD and I think that really helps me when it comes to my plant hobby. Some of us have a thing where we get overwhelmed and we will just throw things away and plants were no exception. I give away plants with no care of payment or profit, I’ll also throw away a sick plant opposed to drowning myself with trying. It keeps the hobby fun❤
Omg i remember those thtousands of propagations. you had a video uploaded with those propagation boxes XD definitely was fun for me too but once they grow up, you'd have no space, or they remain small and delicate for so long which means you eventually lose interest.. but yeah, everybody grows out of that crazy plant-person stage and eventually take a slower approach after a while.
What’s crazy is this sounds EXACTLY like where I’m at without the years of realization. I am starting to have a few doubts about my consumption, not really product wise but plant wise. Maybe this will save me some heartache! Appreciate the honesty 💖
It's amazing how a couple of little times help put things in perspective! I'm so glad you were able to put balance back into your life and make time and space for other interests. This video us right on time and helpful for me, since I am on a similar journey vis-a-vis my plants. Thanks so much! 💖🤗🌿🌱💖💕😄
I love this! I also stopped buying. The consumption was a me problem, but the poor quality of plants was a grower problem. I hit a point where I purchased some plants online, from a box store and from a plant shop and all had poor roots or root rot. So that ended that and I saving so much money! I stopped growing what I trimmed from plants. I used to cut back a plant and toss the cuttings into the lawn bin. I’m doing that again and it feels great. One less think to take care of. The space between plants helps the plants I have stand out more. I went from 262 to 200 by donating them to students at my hubby’s school. We did a mock plant swap and they loved it and I loved it cuz it was like lifting a weight off my shoulders!
Really quality content, thanks for sharing and being so transparent about your plant journey! I've been very inspired by you recently to keep my collection more minimal and have my supplies more organized so I don't forget about anything I already own and I know where everything is at when I need it
Yes! I've did this process twice. Once in my old home and now. The release is very therapeutic. I happy for you!. I've been following you since the beginning and you're one of thw very few that I actually continue to follow ❤💚💯
You’re the plant UA-cam OG imo 🌿 I got into plants shortly after you started your channel and have been along for the ride ever since, and like your content the best out of all the plant channels out there. Have learned soooo much from you!
I appreciated this video so much!! Thank you for being transparent and honest with us, i think i needed to hear that you’re making these changes as well😅 Keep it up! Your videos bring me joy:)
Also, one thing that has helped me IMMENSELY with plant buying is leaving my local plant purge groups. I cannot tell you how hard that was at first but it has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. I live probably an hour away from you so I’m sure you know what plant group I’m talking about 😅 (Utah Plant Purge and Sell)
I agree with you on how IG is going lately with plant products and glorifying overconsumption. Thanks for sharing this. I feel we have to be different and another voice in this hobby.
I still buy plants (not nearly as often as I used to), I want plants that I don't have to fuss over so I still have time for my other hobbies. About 4 years ago I converted most of my plants to self-watering and it's a game-changer. I use a very chunky substrate and the plants love it. I was surprised at how much water they will drink. No more root rot from crap watering habits and no more gnats. I fill up a rubber, 30-gallon trash bin on wheels with water and can have over 100 plants watered in less than an hour. Some may only need their reservoir filled every 2 weeks.
I love that alocasia thing u said, i have one alocasia and every third leave is ugly that I am thinking about if its worth keeping it. But the roots look good so I'm goving it a try. Another thing I identify with is the propagation thing. Currently, I'm throwing out more and more plants and think about keeping propagations at all. A thing that you didnt mention is clay pots, but I feel like the smaller the clay pot the more problems it gives me. I love the looks of it and I tried to not have plastic pots for ecological reasons, but at this point the frustrations is not worth forcing every plant into clay pottery...
Thank you for this video Harli! It's a good reminder of things to do and not do. I had a huge downsizing of my collection after I started running a bread delivery route with my fiance and it was so overwhelming in the first year, a lot of my plants didn't make it through being neglected and I ended up with thrips to boot. Almost done with the second year and it's been more manageable, we have it down pretty good and I have time again, I don't need as many plants as I had, and I'm just focusing on the ones that I really enjoy. I have a whole bunch in my bathroom that I am considering tossing, it's the QT area but I think I've about had it with them.
I so agree with everything😀i am at 30 plants and only plan to get about 5 or 6 more and that's it! I lost a spider plant, but it had a 3rd strike and when I get a peace lily, it will be a 3rd time, we will see.I love ❤all your plant knowledge, it has helped me for sure.thanks for that😀
love your videos Harli. This video is really inspiring to me right now. I have about 120 plants. I plan on adding one or maybe two plant shelf's (maybe a shelf and a cabinet) in my upstairs living room, I really hope I can resist the urge to stuff it full of plants, but have them spaced out a little bit. right now all my plants are quite pushed together, so even with a big additional shelf I can probably fill it up nicely without buying anything new, but give the plants some room to breath and grow.
You brought up a lot of good points that I think a lot of houseplant lovers (such as myself) have gone through in the learning journey. Thank you for talking about it. One thing I have had to accept is that each type of plant has a whole combination of conditions it needs to thrive (or even just grow) and some of those conditions I can change but some of them I cannot or just cannot put in the time and/or money to change. So I only keep the plants that do well in the conditions I am realistically able to give them, and try not to feel bad about plants I get rid of because they just are not working for me.
I am finally at a place with my gorgeous collection where I am happy and all my plants are so happy too. I feel like I’ve cracked the code on most planty issues where everyone can just relax now and enjoy life. Love where I’m at today glad you are to Harli I’ve been watching you since day 1 you’re still top 5 💚💚
Sorry for the blurry second half of the video. I didn’t notice during filming 🥲 & this was already my 2nd time recording this one 😂
I didn't even notice bc your'e literally the best
Didn’t notice lol
This is a really important video! I feel the same way. Quality over quantity. Grow intentionally, reuse when applicable and grow that dang thing to the best of its capability. Keep it simple. Don’t feel bad about throwing out every little prop or a plant that no longer makes you happy! It’s just a vegetable in the end… you wouldn’t feel bad about throwing away an old potato or piece of broccoli, would you?! It’s a plant. It’s supposed to make you happy and relaxed. Find what you like and use what works… I pretty much only use dawn dish soap and water for pests and infestations, and we’re thriving over here 💚
I am 81 and have always had a few plants but never nurtured them just watered when wilted. 3 years ago I decided to get a few plants and really care for them. I created a “Plant Log” in a little notebook, gave each plant its own page with chart for when I watered and fertilized, where each was located and notes about growth, or repotting or problems. I don’t have any hard to grow plants, only easy care. If a plant has problems I toss it. No hesitation or regrets. I put a big X on that page and move on. I only have the amount of plants that can be part of my decor. At this time I have 30 and that is the perfect amount. I only have one small prop rooting in water for my daughter. It’s interesting to go back through my log and see the many X’s and read the problems they gave me. Donna
Omg I love you Donna ❤ you sound like a wonderful lady
I will also quickly toss in the bin if it's not working out lol. This is supposed to be fun and relaxing.
Ohhh Donna, I love the notebook idea! Plus then you always have that reminder of what didn’t work out so maybe it’s easier to not give those plants a second go 😁
This is how i want to grow old. Love you donna! ❤
Donna what a fabulous idea, much love to you!
I went through a depression in late 2021 and had a collection of over 300 plants but about 85% of them died from the neglect during that time since I was really low. But the ones that survived have proved themselves to be really hardy and I love them today. I've very slowly added some plants to my collection since then. I don't think I'll let myself get more than 100 plants again no matter how much space I have for them. I enjoy having time for my other hobbies!
This. I'm at the 70ish capacity, and I've been doing not so well recently and it's affecting my plants. Definitely might need to cull the herd a little 😬
I also have depression and something that having plants has done for me is that they tell me when I'm starting to get way off track. I only purchase plants that show rapid signs of obvious neglect. When I'm droopy, so are my leaves. This motivates me to get up and care for them. This little bit of activity tends to boost my mood just enough to force me out of my cave.
Just some thoughts.
Sending good vibes your way friend. ((Hugs))❤
The same thing happened to my collection of over 250 plants after a cervical spinal cord injury that led to A long recovery and disabilities and a bout of depression. I’m kicking myself for losing some rare aroids I had grown from tiny baby cuttings into lush mature forms for years, but I have about 60 that survived and are extra hardy, and I’ve been doing my best to nurture them back to optimal health. I recently got two new plants for the first time in years, I doubt I’ll ever expand my collection To that size again, surprisingly I’m still enjoying it. It’s a good litmus test for where my mental state is with my current amount of plants. I hope you’re in a better place now. ❤
I didn't expect this video to be so heartwarming. I'm so happy for you! I started watching your videos before you had the boys, and lived in your last house. You had SO MANY plants. I'm glad you've found a balance that makes you happy. And quit doubting us watching your videos. After all these years I claim you as a friend and would listen to you talk about paint drying. 🤣
Haha I appreciate that thank you ❤
My motto (for my plant collection) has always been "thrive or die!"
My husband got really sick a few years ago and told me recently that he just kept hearing "thrive or die!" in his head and got a little worried. Poor baby! He's thriving, thank God! 😂
this got a laugh out of me! what motivation for your husband 😂 hope he's doing well now!
FINALLY!! A plant person who is REAL! This is my first time seeing your channel after searching relentlessly for weeks for real and informative plant content. Thank you!!!
You're so real for talking about the connection between mental health struggles and hoarding plants. I'm glad you're doing better these days Harli! You're an inspiration
I appreciate the honesty in any hobby that started in love and went through an arc of self-discovery
i couldn't agree more! i was well over 200 plants and always looking for more. i started dreading plant chores;needless to say, my collection suffered. now i have a manageable 50ish and we're all much happier! thanks for a great video. and remember, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. that goes for everything, not just plants! 😊
I'll likely never have more than 10. I want ones that are manageable and fun for me.
Lesson learned: less is more.
Oh and there IS a such thing as too many plants. 😅
So I became interested in plants after watching you, Nick, Planterina and a few others during the pandemic. I honestly wondered how you all kept up with all of them. Anyway I had a baby and stopped watching plant content until maybe March of this year. Ive returned to find that most plant collectors are downsizing. Glad you found ⚖️
I’m 33 and I just recently moved this was an awakening moment about my plant addiction. This is an addiction not a hobby. Hobbies are liberating and this felt like a job…keeping up with so many plants and now i’m down to my prize plants ❤ doing a lot better!
@HarliG I cannot stress ENOUGH how IMPORTANT this content is! I love the fact you are being so brutally honest and it’s something we need more of. Maybe this resonates so well because I’m in the exact same place in my plant journey. We should stop normalizing being “addicted” to plants and going broke over them. It’s not healthy or sustainable and I just love the fact of your boldness to share such an important message that goes against popular opinion! You go sis!❤️❤️❤️🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🎉🎉🎉
The main thing I changed was to give each of my plants their own space to shine.
Currently I’m working mostly on styling each plant with the right pots, and also buying the correct nutrients.
Lol my repotting tends to look like a planty fashion show. "Oooof yeah that is sooo not your color" 😂
Thx for this. I think every plant grower on social media should be honest about the difficulty of growing indoor plants. It’s one things to grow them out of a passion for the process and beauty and it’s another thing to just want plants around your house for the greenery. Most of us want no hassle greenery around the house. Too many other things going on in our lives.
💯 to all of this, but I’m struggling to let go of plants to reduce the collection because I feel attached and responsible for their wellbeing.
Beginner plant parent here and I’m so glad I found this channel. I’m never going to be a plantfluencer with hundreds of healthy plants in my perfect home, so finding people who really give an aura of realness about their plant hobbies is so valuable to me. Thank you!
Harli, I have gone from 348 to 256 plants this year. You and I are often on the same page. I always enjoy your content. Thanks for staying with it!
Ive been into tropicals for 30 years (even went to school for horticulture), used to manage a greenhouse, worked as a route sales rep for tropical plants (before internet) and I can tell you its totally normal to have ebs and flow for the hobby. In the 90's I was huge into propagating. Then when I had my first child in 2000, if a plant propagated too easily (mother on thousands, for example) I couldnt get rid of it fast enough. It was a burden. After moving several times and another baby, I was down from probably about 100 houseplants to 2 or 3. Then I got into orchids (which were always too expensive to even think about in my 20's and 30's) because the internet made them afforable and available. When Covid happened and the plant boom happened, I was like a kid in the candy store!! Expensive things became cheap, new varieties unavailable before, new cultivars! I havent worked in the tropical industry for about 25 years, but with so much available, I watched my plants go from about 10 foliage tropicals plus about 25 or 30 orchids (so about 35 total) balloon to about 225-ish in total. I do worry about the "rare" collector and what that does to natural populations (and wonder where some of those rare over seas orders were collected) and honestly, I find the "plant haul" mentality a little nauseating at times... But I am in love with tropicals, i love caring for them and watching them grow, and am devastated when they get too large for my house... But its a healthy hobby and Im so glad you found your current balance. (And as your kids get older, you may find your balance shifts again one way or the other... That is what is nice-- it can adjust to your lifestyle)
This was such a good video. It's like you were speaking to my soul saying, Girl, you do NOT need anymore plants. And I don't 🤣
Super helpful for those of us feeling overwhelmed and trying to get a game plan together to get it in check! 😊
I really loved when you asked the plant if it likes you. That little monologue was really entertaining.
I went to UA-cam to distract myself from the urge to buy more pots and plants I realistically have no space for, and stumbled on your video in my recommendations. Just what I needed to see tonight, haha! Subscribed, I like your vibe 👍
Thank you, Harli. This is what I needed, a great video ❤. I'm 68 years old, and I have been following you for years ❤❤. I'm at a place where I need to let go of some plants 🪴, I just don't have the space, time, and energy. Some people don't realize that. Thank you again 💓
I'm 68 and did this over the winter also. 😊
I will be 80 this year and I started with plants when I was 20 , I know long time , right now I live in a high rise and have a bel any I have about 40 , plants and get the stink eye from my girl but its what make me happy love it 😍😍😍😍😍😍
I get it. I'm elderly and these plants are like children which means it gives us a sense of purpose ...a reason to get up in the morning and be loving and caring to them. You aren't as lonely with them :))
This speaks to me on each point you made! A cautionary story that made me acknowledge where I was heading -Overwhelm. My spider sense was saying I need to focus on what I have (I want allll of the Hoyas 🙄) I only have so much space and lighting. I need to work with what I have and be grateful.
I’m trying to reduce my collection too, and I’m feeling SO MUCH BETTER!!! Less stress all the way! Love your videos ❤❤❤
Harly this is such a great video and I am so happy for you! I am an og- watched your content since the beginning but I will admit I did feel the stress and overwhelm the past couple years. I am SO happy UA-cam brought me back to your content so I could see the growth and evolution. I really agree with so many of these points.... and as such am really not in the plant community like I used to be because the overconsumption was crazy and it became hard to take care of.
I got married last year and planned a big wedding and as part of it I wanted cut flowers as part of my wedding so I was outside gardening a lot. Probably like 20-30% of my collection died, which was sad but also necessary. And frankly the ones that survived are a lot more hardy than they were before. There is such a thing as excess and it's really necessary to take a good hard look within to realize what's bringing joy and what just isn't. I'm so proud of you for making these necessary changes and so glad that you're spreading this message to the rest of the plant community 🪴
The hardest part of having hundreds of plants is watering them all. I’ve invested in self-watering pots and as plants need repotting, I switch them over. I still put them in pretty cover pots, baskets, or crocks; etc. Winter is hard on my plants so I wait until spring to decide if I’m sticking with the tried and true or try something new. Great video! ❤️🪴
I feel like now that my plant collection is starting to be pretty substantial, I constantly have issues with plants. There's always a couple that aren't thriving and I have to remind myself that I'm not a failure at taking care of plants, it's bound to happen that not all are thriving when you have almost 100 plants
It definitely took me some time to find the balance I needed with my collection, FOR SURE! I still don’t say no to myself if I encounter a plant that I love and want to try in my collection, but my biggest behavior change is that I am not actively shopping the online plant suppliers regularly like I used to. I have been doing some home improvement and redesigning my space a bit, which helped me establish my limits with plants and learn how to recognize (for me) how much is too much. I learned that I like having plants incorporated into my home environment design, not plants making up the ENTIRETY of my home environment design. It took a long time for me to shift my mindset and find the balance I was comfortable with. And my house doesn’t feel any less devoid of plants! 😂
I recently did this exact thing. I also became really overwhelmed with everything in my life and I downsized more than half of my plant collection and supplies. I am so much happier, my plants are so much happier. I couldn't keep up when I had an issue and I couldn't find peace until I had a refresh. Happy you feel the same way!
Thank you so much for this!! I wondered if I was the only person feeling this. I have 2 year old twins and have missed out on so much with them due to my obsession with my plants. For the last several months, I've been learning to let go and focus on the things that really matter to me, which alleviates a little stress and brings back the peace and fun I once had with this hobby. Thank you for sharing your real and brutally honest truth . I needed to hear this today. Much love ❤
I really respect your viewpoint and being able to realize what’s really going on with these quick dopamine releases that are being sold to us at every click on the internet!! It’s really more rewarding to focus on what I already have and make it the best it can be. Totally here for all this!!
I'm happy you found a balance in your life with plants. I started my plant journey in January 2019, and I got crazy purchasing plants, and then a lot of changes have happened in my life since then. I'm finding my balance in my life rn with my plants. I enjoy them more than before(stressed). Keep up the plant content. Your plant videos are always informative and interesting to watch, and I love watching them. 🤗👍🪴💚
Thank you for this video. Very much needed. Sometimes we just have to say i have reached my limit. I love plants but i dont have the space or time for as many as i would like to have. Maybe one day.
Can't help leaving a comment. 14:36 I loooove this dramatic insert. Hahahahah...! I'm going to do the same for my next plant purge.
Me and my plant collection are definitely growing up from a few years ago. Originally, I would buy anything and everything. Now, I’m focusing more of Nepenthes and other carnivorous plants. I also wanted to have an indoor jungle, but now I feel as though a houseplant jungle is way too overwhelming. I still have a long way to go, but hopefully I can become better both with my plants and with my money eventually.
Great video! I got up to abut 80 plants in a 1 bedroom apartment and am currently trying to cull the collection. It can be very challenging to get over the guilt of getting rid of some plants. Great reminder to check in and evaluate if they truly spark joy! 😊
Not only are you informative and entertaining, but most importantly RELATABLE! ❤️
I loved this vlog Harley🫶. I’ve been watching you for years but I dont comment. I’m so happy that you are striking the right balance between you and your plant journey. It’s ok to change and evolve that’s life. I will always continue to watch your content. And I always watch your mom Stef, she’s the sweetest.
I guess I'm a bit different from you and most who watch your channel, but a plant lover nonetheless. I have been gardening for over 30 years and am a master gardener (or I was, I should say). I also live in a northern state and I think that is why I paid much more attention to outdoor planting than indoor. I absolutely LOVE watching a seed turn into something beautiful and/or fruitful! There's nothing like the smell of tomato plants in the summer, or sprawling, giant pumpkin and squash vines reaching across the yard. And flowers so beautiful they take your breath away. All of this of course led to learning how to can all of my homegrown goodness, so spring through fall was an ultra busy time for me. I looked forward to the "rest" of winter. I am disabled now and unable to garden outside anymore save for a few patio pots. I have always had houseplants, but never too many. I like a few here and there to add life to a room. I feel I can really enjoy them more and dedicate myself to making sure they thrive instead of just surviving. I have downsized recently as I am moving soon to the south. I only have 3 plants left. A madagascar dragon tree, a jade, and a wavy fern. I may sell the tree as I'm nervous about it getting damaged in the move. I'm praying for lots of light in my new apartment as there are more light loving plants I'd like to try w/o the need for grow lights. Thank you for the video. It was wonderful. 😊
I started my plant journey about a year ago and I have amassed quite the collection in such a short amount of time. I will admit that this was mostly me filling a void. I'm at a point now where I want to throw away over half of the plants I got because it's getting a bit much to manage. I have also learned what kind of plants I want to keep growing. I'm working on selling the plants I don't want anymore and buying things for the plants I decide to keep such as decorative pots and more grow lights
It's definately a learning curve.
This was a really great vid Harli! It resonated alot. I hit “hoarder stage” 2022 after more than a decade in the hobby, the panoramic really sent it into overdrive with the FOMO as the hobby exploded on social media. My husband and I moved to mexico for a year and a half so i had to sell off my entire collection and boy was it butter sweet. Now that were back and staying with my i laws while we find a place, ive gotten 2 former plants of mine back from a friend and i had to chop em up and reroot them. Its been really satisfying to watch them regrow and its had my thinking about how im wanting to approach my plant hobby this go around. Ive decided to only buy fully established plants and no cuttings, cos cuttings were my downfall last time. Im also only shopping from my wishlist, no more “oh i dont have that one!”. Essentially, my goal this time is to be more intentional with what i purchase and only buying plants i absolutely love. Well see how 2024 goes lol
I call it refining my collection. I’m a hoe for variegation and hybrids, so I made room for what I really want to grow. I posted on Facebook that I was having a giveaway, and I had a crowd.
I had a cut back in my collection because of moves. The only positive things to come from it. The plants I have now are happy! Grow lights are a must in the winter here in Ohio
I’ve gone through a cycle with many of my hobbies, not just plants, where I go through an intense intro phase. Where I get kind of obsessed and buy too much just because I’m excited and I want to try everything. But over time, I started to figure out what plants I really enjoy keeping and that frantic energy wears off.
I definitely went through a phase where I wanted to propagate EVERYTHING. Again, I just wanted to TRY all the things…now I’ve sorta got that out of my system and I only prop when I really want something.
Am a new plant parent & new subscriber. Cannot express how much i genuinely appreciate this video & your content in general. Thank you!!!
This video is so good. I was feeling so overwhelmed and felt that I needed everything that plant people advertised. Thanks for this Harley.
You bring it into perspective and I always question if I need another plant. But yes questions to ask myself when considering to buy another. Love the video and makes it easier when I get overwhelmed with how they are and how I struggle.
It's nice to see people stopping the overconsumption and overcrowding of plants. It was starting to come across as hoarding for the sake of content. I mean, if you can manage a crazy amount, fair play! But, for me i cut down my collection of 75 to 25 over the last couple of years, and have settled for mostly low maintenance plants, mostly crassula ovata for bonsai style, some cacti, a hoya, a monstera, ponytail palm, ficus, and snake plant. It's a perfect low stress collection for family life with young kids. It's just so much more rewarding having a few select star of the show plants that you nurtured!
So glad I came across this video. I'm looking at my collection and feeling like I'm in a good spot. The last thing I want to do is make my new hobby a headache and overwhelm myself. I have 16ish plants right now, which is a lot considering a year ago I only had 2. I find myself constantly troubleshooting and considering new products. This can become an expensive hobby so quickly! I'm gonna just do my thing with the plants I have the rest of the year and see where I end up. Thank you, definitely gonna follow ❤
I've started really going into my plant care and buying more plants and you've really been super helpful. When it comes to organizing plant care, watering, soil preference, where to place a plant, pest control,... You have made my whole approach to plants much more comfortable and confident. And honestly there's not one of your yt vids that doesn't make me laugh really hard even if I'm having a shiet day. I love you Harli, and deeply relate to the love you feel towards your plants. I'm so glad everytime I see a new video uploaded.🩷💛I hope we can meet one day, and I can give you a bunch of cuttings🤗
Two years ago we found our dream house. And my husband made this historical speech :
- You can have as many plants as you wish. But the house WILL NEVER LOOK LIKE a) jungle, b)nursery, c)floral shop. It has to look elegant and cohesive.
We have a big collection since 1997.
In 2023 I spent my hobby-budget on plant stands and pottery.
In 2024 I am thinking about to get a second fish tank. My plants were happy with Liqui-dirt for several years and then changed their taste to Espoma or water from my aquarium.
About buying new plants? Sometimes. If some respectful collector will pronounce a plant "unstable" or "impossible to grow as a house plant", I like to have a challenge.
I got rid of a grow tent about 6 years ago. Now I have many plants in individual terrariums aka oversized glass vases. Best places to buy those are Ross, Home Goods and At home.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Such a refreshing video Harli, thank you for verbalising what a lot of us are probably wanting to hear! I certainly have gleaned a lot from this and can definitely say that I have been feeling it too. Why did i get sucked into all the gimmicky stuff??? Now mine are just sitting, unused, collecting dust 😔 I guess I can gift them to friends who want them and will use them. I think today you have been the voice of reason for a lot if us. Thank you! 🙏🏼👏🏼🫶
so glad to hear this....its so easy to get involved with the buy, buy, buy process
I needed this lol. I watched this and it made me rethink about me and my plant hobby. Thank you Harli for making this video! I really appreciate it!
I recently had the very same epiphany. I am over my propagation addiction also. I can actually prune my huge Jade plant and resist the temptation to propagate every tiny piece. I have enough! I no longer feel obligated to participate in every plant purge in my local group. I no longer feel the urge to conquer every species. I grow what I grow well. It's been very freeing. No, it wasn't easy, but I feel much better. I'm very glad to hear somebody gets it. Thank you.
I also am focusing on my plant collection, I have not bought a plant so far this year & don’t plan on it. Mainly because I don’t have space.
I have been steady at the number of plants I have since I moved I haven't really gotten any more and they're all as healthy as can be none of them look scraggly or dead and it's just the right amount to keep up with I'm in love!
HELLO Harli G. I started watching your channel during covid till now. you kept me sane when everything was getting stressful. i watched your channel to destress. thank you.
I had almost 80 plants in college and honestly became obsessed with them.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I moved a lot, a lot of plants died and I became tired of plant maintenance. I also realized I would buy plants if they were “popular” without thinking if I actually wanted it.
My smaller collection of about 20 plants is getting more attention now and my love of plants feels so refreshed.
Omg its like your reading my mind!! I need to do this asap im over my head now that i went back to work i cant keep up. I loved it when i had the time but now its to much and not enough time. I just need to find people to sell them to, or even just give them away. I love them but its just to much. Thank you for sharing, i love watching yours and your moms videos. I have been here since the beginning and i feel like your all family.
I needed to hear this. I’ve been in a plant funk. I definitely need to get rid of clutter plants and start focusing on the ones that I really love. Thanks for the encouragement.
We care what you have to say .😘
10:34 I can relate to this! I am so glad that I’m not the only one who doesn’t like my plants touching each other cause ended up overlooking my smaller plants lol
Some very important points you made hali. Im so glad that you have reached this point in your plant journey. It’s so refreshing to hear.
I hear you 100%. I downsized my collection from 200 plants to about 100. Mainly selling off my rare/uncommon plants. I took a year and half break from buying houseplants and focused on my outdoor yard planting. I basically had a blank canvas in my yard, so it’s been fun learning about outdoor plant varieties.
This was a great video. I've recently down-sized from 70 plants to about 45 plants. I definitely get what you mean about finding time for more hobbies. This is my favorite video on your channel!
I have come to learn and apply all of the things you mentioned too Harli. I look back and think “why did I ever even buy that plant??” This felt like a counseling session 😅
I feel the same about buying plants. I’m happy with what I have and enjoying taking care of them more.
Oh I love this so much. I’ve also come to learn a lot of this - the hard way. I’m trying to reduce my collection a bit too now. Really focusing on the plants that make me really happy 😊 thank you for sharing this. Especially the over consumption part 🙌🏼
well said! this is for all collectors of things! especially crystals.
Thank you for this video!
I found myself getting there with the constant buying….. I need this or that plant. I converted my formal living room into a plant room, filled it and that has now spilled over to my dining room. I’m an empty nester now and though I’ve always had plants, I’m becoming obsessed. I realize that. I really needed this wake up call. I’ll be making changes. I now have 64 plants in my home. I usually had about 15 or so. I also never had pests and now I started getting spider mites and more fungus gnats.
Time for a reset. I’m going to gift a few and rethink my options.
Thanks again!
I'm currently trying to downsize my collection too but I keep running into the problem that I have so many plants that I want to keep because I want to see them big and mature and they're not there yet so I keep them till they grow more. I was also so shocked by how easy Anthurium actually were for me so I'm focusing more on those because they have a huge impact in my space with every new leaf but it's only a single plant
I love this video! I was definitely heading this direction with my collection, but you've outlined exactly what I should be doing! Thanks! Keep these videos coming!
I’ve been collecting since 2019 and now I have a different approach like you as well. I down sized soooo much since then and it’s been so much better for my sanity. lol. I rarely buy plants now except for Hoyas if I come across a wish list plant online but also depends on the price too. No more than $45-50 is my limit. I have no worries about throwing away a plant or even cuttings as well. It’s so much more enjoyable now with the plants I actually enjoy taking care of.
Literally so happy to see a video from you!
I love the no longer going to constantly be buying. I’m on that journey as well! I’ve been keeping plants for 3 years now and I know what plants I love and which ones I don’t. I love that I can go to a plant shop and appreciate a plant but not have to bring it home. Or stop myself and say “do I really want this or do I just want that dopamine hit I’m gonna get if I purchase this”😅 anyway, you’re amazing. Love all your videos, you are my favorite UA-camr! Also something fun, we got more baby chicks yesterday and I’m excited to try growing them sprouts like you do!! Thank you for putting out videos. I am a mom of 3 young kids and it’s refreshing to see someone in the same boat as me with all the kids, all the plants, all the chickens 😅
I have ADHD and I think that really helps me when it comes to my plant hobby. Some of us have a thing where we get overwhelmed and we will just throw things away and plants were no exception. I give away plants with no care of payment or profit, I’ll also throw away a sick plant opposed to drowning myself with trying. It keeps the hobby fun❤
Omg i remember those thtousands of propagations. you had a video uploaded with those propagation boxes XD definitely was fun for me too but once they grow up, you'd have no space, or they remain small and delicate for so long which means you eventually lose interest.. but yeah, everybody grows out of that crazy plant-person stage and eventually take a slower approach after a while.
What’s crazy is this sounds EXACTLY like where I’m at without the years of realization. I am starting to have a few doubts about my consumption, not really product wise but plant wise.
Maybe this will save me some heartache! Appreciate the honesty 💖
It's amazing how a couple of little times help put things in perspective! I'm so glad you were able to put balance back into your life and make time and space for other interests. This video us right on time and helpful for me, since I am on a similar journey vis-a-vis my plants. Thanks so much! 💖🤗🌿🌱💖💕😄
I love this! I also stopped buying. The consumption was a me problem, but the poor quality of plants was a grower problem. I hit a point where I purchased some plants online, from a box store and from a plant shop and all had poor roots or root rot. So that ended that and I saving so much money!
I stopped growing what I trimmed from plants. I used to cut back a plant and toss the cuttings into the lawn bin. I’m doing that again and it feels great. One less think to take care of.
The space between plants helps the plants I have stand out more. I went from 262 to 200 by donating them to students at my hubby’s school. We did a mock plant swap and they loved it and I loved it cuz it was like lifting a weight off my shoulders!
Really quality content, thanks for sharing and being so transparent about your plant journey! I've been very inspired by you recently to keep my collection more minimal and have my supplies more organized so I don't forget about anything I already own and I know where everything is at when I need it
This philosophy can be applied to almost anything in life. The sooner one realizes it, the truly happier we are. ☺️
Yes! I've did this process twice. Once in my old home and now. The release is very therapeutic. I happy for you!. I've been following you since the beginning and you're one of thw very few that I actually continue to follow ❤💚💯
I loved this video! I can definitely relate. Thanks for being so honest and real! I love your perspective and wisdom! 🪴❤️
You’re the plant UA-cam OG imo 🌿 I got into plants shortly after you started your channel and have been along for the ride ever since, and like your content the best out of all the plant channels out there. Have learned soooo much from you!
I would enjoy seeing more of your life the chickens the kids your adventures thanks for the video😊
I appreciated this video so much!! Thank you for being transparent and honest with us, i think i needed to hear that you’re making these changes as well😅 Keep it up! Your videos bring me joy:)
Also, one thing that has helped me IMMENSELY with plant buying is leaving my local plant purge groups. I cannot tell you how hard that was at first but it has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. I live probably an hour away from you so I’m sure you know what plant group I’m talking about 😅 (Utah Plant Purge and Sell)
I agree with you on how IG is going lately with plant products and glorifying overconsumption. Thanks for sharing this. I feel we have to be different and another voice in this hobby.
I still buy plants (not nearly as often as I used to), I want plants that I don't have to fuss over so I still have time for my other hobbies.
About 4 years ago I converted most of my plants to self-watering and it's a game-changer. I use a very chunky substrate and the plants love it. I was surprised at how much water they will drink. No more root rot from crap watering habits and no more gnats.
I fill up a rubber, 30-gallon trash bin on wheels with water and can have over 100 plants watered in less than an hour. Some may only need their reservoir filled every 2 weeks.
I love that alocasia thing u said, i have one alocasia and every third leave is ugly that I am thinking about if its worth keeping it. But the roots look good so I'm goving it a try. Another thing I identify with is the propagation thing. Currently, I'm throwing out more and more plants and think about keeping propagations at all. A thing that you didnt mention is clay pots, but I feel like the smaller the clay pot the more problems it gives me. I love the looks of it and I tried to not have plastic pots for ecological reasons, but at this point the frustrations is not worth forcing every plant into clay pottery...
I need to do it too. You have motivated me to say goodbye to my doubles, triples of the same plant.
I've been potting doubles together. That helps a lot!
Also if a plant is looking very sad I don't panic... let it go! It'll be okay I will survive.
I joined a local plant group and we have plant swaps. It's a great way to part with those excess or tempermental plants.
Absolutely a win/win.@@maryperry5910
Thank you for this video Harli! It's a good reminder of things to do and not do.
I had a huge downsizing of my collection after I started running a bread delivery route with my fiance and it was so overwhelming in the first year, a lot of my plants didn't make it through being neglected and I ended up with thrips to boot. Almost done with the second year and it's been more manageable, we have it down pretty good and I have time again, I don't need as many plants as I had, and I'm just focusing on the ones that I really enjoy. I have a whole bunch in my bathroom that I am considering tossing, it's the QT area but I think I've about had it with them.
I so agree with everything😀i am at 30 plants and only plan to get about 5 or 6 more and that's it! I lost a spider plant, but it had a 3rd strike and when I get a peace lily, it will be a 3rd time, we will see.I love ❤all your plant knowledge, it has helped me for sure.thanks for that😀
love your videos Harli.
This video is really inspiring to me right now.
I have about 120 plants. I plan on adding one or maybe two plant shelf's (maybe a shelf and a cabinet) in my upstairs living room, I really hope I can resist the urge to stuff it full of plants, but have them spaced out a little bit. right now all my plants are quite pushed together, so even with a big additional shelf I can probably fill it up nicely without buying anything new, but give the plants some room to breath and grow.
I look forward to your videos! Just finished 12hr shift at a hospital and it made me so happy to find a new one from you this morning. 🤗 Thank you!
You brought up a lot of good points that I think a lot of houseplant lovers (such as myself) have gone through in the learning journey. Thank you for talking about it.
One thing I have had to accept is that each type of plant has a whole combination of conditions it needs to thrive (or even just grow) and some of those conditions I can change but some of them I cannot or just cannot put in the time and/or money to change. So I only keep the plants that do well in the conditions I am realistically able to give them, and try not to feel bad about plants I get rid of because they just are not working for me.
I have learned so much from your amazing channel!! Great content!! A wonderful personality. Thankyou Harli 🙏 😊
I am finally at a place with my gorgeous collection where I am happy and all my plants are so happy too. I feel like I’ve cracked the code on most planty issues where everyone can just relax now and enjoy life. Love where I’m at today glad you are to Harli I’ve been watching you since day 1 you’re still top 5 💚💚