Juncus effusus spiralis Care

In this video I cover care of the unusual and fun Juncus effusus spiralis, a plant which grows in boggy marshes.
One VERY important tip I have for this plant is that you should NEVER water it from the top. I exclusively bottom water my Juncus effusus spiralis by adding water daily to the cache pot botton to make sure it is always sitting in a bit of water. Another tip I have is to give this plant plenty of light, which it really craves.

[@tonyabrown39]

I just bought one. Thanks for the tips!

[@StaceyNaito]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@monica11760]

Thanks for this helpful video. I have had mine for about 2 years and it doesn't look anything like yours. Since it likes water, and sits in water in nature, I assumed it would like to be in a pot with no drainage holes and kept very wet (and watering from the top). I will make a set up like you have and hope it starts improving.

[@StaceyNaito]

I would advise AGAINST watering from the top. I would have the plant in a nursery pot with drainage which sits in a cache pot. The cache pot should have some pebbles in it. You should always have water sitting in the cache pot, about 1/2-1 inch of standing water. This is what I do, and I have never even once watered from the top.

[@monica11760]

@@StaceyNaito shortly after I wrote to you the first time, I had put my plant outside so it could get more sun (thinking that was part of the issue). I think it had one or two little spirals at that time. In addition, I sat it another pot with pebbles like you suggested. In a very short time the two little spirals turned in to about a 3" section of spirals, so I know it is much happeir now. Thank you so much.

[@clintonbrown8037]

I'm on my 3rd Juncus in 2 yrs and I still seem to be failing with this beautiful plant. It's sat on stones/water, in a 35cm vase and is currently about 70cm (max height) but still getting too many brown fones

[@caseyhardison4320]

Thank you so much for this video!
I too purchased this plant in March 2021, (actually a few of them), although I opted to place mine outdoors in a new flower bed rather than keep them inside like yours; much of this information was relative. I am now seeking clarification on whether or not to remove the now brown last year's growth, or to wait to see if the spirals are just dormant, not dead? Any insight for your newest subscriber?

[@StaceyNaito]

I remove the brown stems which seems to serve the plant well

[@creolelady182]

roots are coming out from the bottom- is it time to transfer to another container?

[@StaceyNaito]

If there are a lot of roots and it looks like there is very little soil (you can check by lifting plant out of pot and looking at root system), then yes, it needs repotting.

[@blancducolletisabelle7596]

Thank you for these great tips. I just bought one 2 days ago.
I hope it will hold because I am oriented northwest but in a Mediterranean climate (south of France) where I can leave it outside.
Question:
Can I leave it in full sun from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in summer (with water at the bottom of the pot)
OR
is it better that I put a veil between it and the sun?

[@StaceyNaito]

As far as I know it loves full sun, so that short exposure to full sun each day will be fine...just make sure it is always sitting in water in its cache pot

[@blancducolletisabelle7596]

@@StaceyNaito OK, Thank you

[@hannahmelton9376]

Can I use fish gravel instead of pebbles? I have an unopened bag of it

[@StaceyNaito]

Yes, you can use that for plants

[@zeewhy1471]

Ma’am, what are the soil mixture for this plant ? Please reply.

[@StaceyNaito]

Peat moss based soil, such as African Violet mix

[@rivassweet]

So you are keeping it indoors or outdoors?

[@StaceyNaito]

Indoors only.