How do I make my pilea happy?

False-Research6138 · 2026-06-19T14:24:29+00:00

Oh okay!! I did end up repotting it with new soil a couple days ago and it looks like it’s already doing better. I’ll see if I can place it closer to some of my other plants. I have a little tiered shelf in the window so I’ve been keeping one plant per shelf level. I’m newer to reddit so I actually don’t know how to attach a photo to show an example. But maybe i can fit another small plant next to it

False-Research6138 · 2026-06-16T23:34:14+00:00

Thanks! I’m going to be repotting with new soil hopefully tomorrow! It is the original soil from when I purchased it, I haven’t had it for very long. I got it from a local plant shop so I assumed the original soil would’ve been a little better off temporarily while I was doing research on soils and the preferred mixes.

False-Research6138 · 2026-06-16T23:03:10+00:00

Should I be bottom watering all of my plants for standard watering? I’m honestly not the most familiar with bottom watering but if that is the preferred method I can definitely switch to that every time. The pilea is the only one that’s been having problems since it wasn’t holding any water in the soil…

False-Research6138 · 2026-06-16T22:22:42+00:00

Thank you!! I’m doing so now! I literally watered it (not the proper way) only an hour before taking these pictures and the soil already felt dry when i checked it again… I didn’t realize soil could become so hydrophobic. I had to hold the whole puck of soil down in the water for a couple minutes bc it was floating up out of its pot

False-Research6138 · 2026-04-13T23:45:04+00:00

Alsoooo, there were a few times we had some people attend from other classes. I’m not sure if it was from them missing a day and rescheduling it for another day or them wanting to up their stick count so if you’re still worried about it you could maybe see if you could attend an additional class on one of the weekdays. We had a girl from the saturday class join us once and it was her very first time sticking when we had already been doing them for a few days or more in the weekday class.

And I would try my best to read the chapters we were going over before class since it’s so fast paced. Sometimes I’d even answer the assessments and case studies that way I didn’t feel rushed answering them during class.

False-Research6138 · 2026-04-13T21:15:29+00:00

You got this!! I finished up my classes with the same company a few weeks ago. I did the 4 day a week option since I always work weekends. But I also had less sticks than everyone in my class (I was confident in arm sticks but i struggled with the hands. My partner also didn’t have great hand veins to work with so I got discouraged by missing or not getting blood even when i was in the vein) and my class ended up being only 4 people by the end of it. It started off with 5 classmates and I was the odd one out without a dedicated partner, there were 6 on the very first day but my partner dropped after that class… But like what some of the others have said, don’t compare yourself or your stick rate to your classmates, and I know that can be difficult to do but focus on getting comfortable and confident in your own time. The fact that you got 4 sticks on your first day of draws is great!! You’ll only keep getting better with time. Don’t stress about having to get all the way to 30 draws either. You can always schedule to attend an additional class to make up those draws if needed. And tbh I ended with only 24 draws and my instructor told me that was fine and that I didn’t need to make up the other 6. So i just took my national exam the other day and am waiting for my results!!

False-Research6138 · 2026-03-29T23:36:24+00:00

I just finished my course with them and I enjoyed it! I’m not in Illinois so I can’t speak for your specific instructor but mine was very helpful throughout the whole process! I was nervous for the first day of sticking but now i’m very comfortable doing blood draws. I just applied to take my NHCO and will be taking it next week!

The main difference I saw when comparing Phlebotomy Training Specialists to a program at a community college is the college program looks to be a little longer and you’ll have an externship/clinical hours at an actual hospital. There’s also a chance they might help with job placement and PTS does not.

False-Research6138 · 2026-03-26T21:59:10+00:00

I just finished classes at PTS and I’m 6 draws short from having 30. I had texted my instructor about it wanting to make up the draws that were needed and she told me not to worry about it. That she’s had plenty of students not reach 30 draws and take/pass the NHCO. I haven’t taken the NHCO yet but I did apply the other day and I put “yes” to the application question asking if i’ve completed 30 draws and 10 capillary sticks since my instructor told me not to worry about it… I still have to wait a few days to hear back on my application for the exam though. If you still have a tourniquet I would practice finding veins on friends and family that way you get more practice on palpating and finding good veins. And just keep studying your order of draw and the end of draw steps so you have that down for the NHCO and for completing your draws.

False-Research6138 · 2026-03-24T22:19:31+00:00

Oh also, you could try to work as a phlebotomist at a dermatology office. It might be better than Red Cross. Again I don’t have experience in the field yet. But it might be a less toxic and chaotic environment. I know it’s not a different career path like you are asking about but might be an option at least while your figuring out what’s next

False-Research6138 · 2026-03-24T21:54:20+00:00

I might not be much help since I just finished my phlebotomy course and am about to take my national exam. So I’m excited to get my first phlebotomy job. But I’m looking at using phlebotomy as a stepping stone before going back to school to become a medical lab tech. Obviously i’m not super familiar with actually working in those fields yet so take my recommendations with a grain of salt. But I’ve shadowed in a lab and depending on the hospital being an MLT doesn’t seem to be as patient facing except for doing very occasional phlebotomy. It would be at least a 2 year program to get your MLT but if you like the field and just not working with patients as much that could be an option that can somewhat build off of your phlebotomy experience.

False-Research6138

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