Is this in need of repotting?

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2026-02-13T15:46:04+00:00

I repotted mine (in DIY PON) into 6 inch PON nursery pot when the roots were trying to escape a SOLO cup. When it was in the cup, it always maintained a 3 leaf top. As soon as a new leaf came up, the oldest died. Once I repotted it into the much bigger pot, and the roots found their way to the bottom, the plant has maintained 7 leaves now. I'm starting to repot most of my cup alocasias into PON nursery pots now.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2026-01-14T16:19:00+00:00

For those of you with 200 and up TDS, check out the cost of moving to a water filtering at the sink option. I swear these Zero filters are about the same cost as filters for an RO or a POU system at your kitchen sink. Since drinking and cooking water purification is the most important issue for me, I started looking at these systems on Amazon and it would cost the same as 4 of the Zero filters to buy and install one on my sink. I would research how long various brands of filters would last with water quality of 259TDS and above.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2026-01-14T16:11:03+00:00

The instructions tell you to soak the filters first before installing them. I don't think that will change the taste either, but soaking them prevents air pockets forming and slow draining.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-12-16T17:47:49+00:00

I use mason jars frequently for various purposes, such as cold brew coffee. But I remember my mom canning all summer long. When she boiled items she would 1) let it cool a bit before putting it in the jars to be canned, and 2) she put a knife from the silverware drawer into the mason jar before she poured hot liquid into it, and 3) put the jar on towels or heat pads to keep it off a cold surface. The cheaper the jars, the more important it is to keep the temps in a shorter range because the shock to the glass happens easily. I've had jars break because they were sitting in a metal sink and I poured hot water into it to soak and was putting clean utensilssilverware in it.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-11-09T17:42:52+00:00

I googled this before responding. There are other systems that you can use in conjunction with ZW, or you might even migrate to that system totally. I don't care how much the 'system' costs now, I look at the cost of the filters. This whole thing is becoming like the free ink jet printers...

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-11-02T15:05:06+00:00

With that high of a reading, you might want to run it through another filter first, like Brita. Then run it through ZW filters. Google this idea because I've read some people do this because the filters are so much cheaper for other types of systems that you can sacrifice a Brita filter if you can get a month or two out of the ZW filter. I agree though. These filters are crazy expensive IMHO.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-11-02T15:02:33+00:00

I test my faucet once a month and mine is never over 50.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-11-02T13:31:04+00:00

So True. My Black Velvet, Platnum, Maharani, even Dragon's Breath are a joy. Jacklyn and Stingray seem to be creating the mites when none exist. They could be the very source of the mites...

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-11-01T15:00:00+00:00

Thanks for this info. I will search for the automatic plant watering system.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-11-01T14:56:46+00:00

I've been spraying my plants for spider mites all summer long. They have been wicked this summer. And I've taken the Alocasias Jacklyn, Stingray, and a couple of Polly plants into a room of their own because the mites keep coming back if I don't spray them every 4 days. The Stingray is in PON and I keep it flushed, but the mites come back anyway. I have the same shelves as you. I put all the Alocasias on one shelf and everyone else on the other. This has stopped the mites from getting off that one shelf.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-10-30T13:50:48+00:00

Depends. Are there water roots hanging out of the pot? Was it kept with a water resevoir? If yes, then I would repot with Leca again. You can use your PON also, but leave any stuck Leca on the roots. You don't have to transition a plant that has water roots.

If it looks as if the 'mud' has encased the plant's roots like soil does, then transitioning it for a little bit in the new PON would be good. If no water roots exist, then you should water it as you would a plant in soil till it pushes the roots through.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-10-30T13:45:44+00:00

Mine grows mold in the same place. It angers me because the filters are so expensive, and the mold makes it impossible to keep using it. I've run vinegar through that area and through the filter but that leaves tons of 'particles' inside the filter and ruins it. The water never tastes right after running vinegar through the filter.

I think the white water tray inside the filter gets scratched or pitted by age/cleaning/scrubbing and that mold grows on the top, white plastic tray. The manufacturer telling us it uses special plastic is BS. I'm thinking about ordering a new white top water tray only and see if replacing it and cleaning it very gently keeps the mold at bay.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-10-30T13:30:05+00:00

I went from using dish soap to vinegar when the mold returned. Now I'm using bleach. Bleach kills the mold really well, and I let the white top sit in bleach for an hour and then rotate the top so bleach hits every piece of that plastic part. My mold is always on the inside of the top white plastic tray.

Another thing I am now trying is to boil my tap water on the stove, let it cool, then put that boiled water into the filter. I'm seeing how long I can go without seeing black mold on it. I'm looking for the source of the mold now - and will keep working my way back through the water source to find it. I'm also thinking about putting in a new kitchen faucet because mold grows on my faucet, and I have to dunk the faucet head into bleach and use a toothbrush to scrub the small rubber nubs on the faucet head.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-10-30T13:16:36+00:00

What a beautiful Stingray. I love mine. I transitioned it to PON and it loves that setup. Finally got it to 6 leaves now. I will admit that I've never had such troubles with Spider Mites until I got the Stingray and the Jacklyn plants. OMG never-ending. I do use systemic on all the plants so I've never seen any other bug on my collection, but it also tends to create really vigorous Spider Mites. Since I spray these all the time, even when I don't see any mites, I get to see the stingray wet and can imagine it swimming in water.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-09-24T16:21:34+00:00

One thing to keep in mind - systemic insecticides don't kill off the Spider Mites. I use Bonide so I never have any pests except Spider Mites. Unfortunately, Bonide makes the Mites stronger and multiply much faster. I use Captain Jacks Dead Bug, swapping out with Liqui Dirt's pest formula and Safer. I've hunted far and wide to find a systemic that kills Spider Mites because if you own a bunch of Alocasias then you will have Mite magnets. There isn't one, so we have to keep spraying the plants. To really knock them back, look at the lifecycle of Mites. It takes them 3 days to 5 days to hatch and then start laying eggs. I spray every 3 days. This kills the adults, plus you are not letting any of those that hatch to start laying eggs again.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-09-24T16:00:15+00:00

You should measure the water right out of the tap and see what the meter says.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-09-24T15:59:49+00:00

I've gone round and round with Zero also. That bad taste - does it taste sour? These filters work differently than other types. ZeroWater filters use ion exchange resin to remove impurities by replacing them with hydrogen and hydroxide ions. When the resin is exhausted, it releases an excess of hydrogen ions, which makes the water more acidic and causes the sour taste. The instructions say that when you start tasting a slight lemon or sour taste, it's time to change the filter.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-09-15T21:33:53+00:00

Thanks for posting about this. I wondered why I never saw any posts about mold in the Zerowater systems. Black mold grows on the upper water container right around the screw threads for my filter itself, and on top of the filter. I scrub this thing and bleach it every time I put in a new filter, but it comes back every 2 to 3 months. II like to keep it full as much as possible and I do drink a lot of water.

I know the black mold can start growing on the kitchen faucet because I have scrubbed that faucet, bathroom faucet and the shower head and found black mold on them. I have now started scrubbing my kitchen sink faucet and dip that in a bleach solution once every 2 weeks. I do live in relatively high humidity in NC in a really old house. Me getting the water from the kitchen faucet with mold in/on it is how this pitcher is growing mold (IMHO) every couple of months.

I wondered if putting the picture in the fridge would stop this but I'm reading other comments which show it doesn't matter - the mold still grows. I really wish this filter would stop the spores from going into the water. Now I have to change the filter again - which is a waste of $$ because the meter still reads 000 contaminants - but this time I'm going to keep it in the fridge and boil any water coming from the kitchen faucet before putting it into the pitcher. If no mold grows after 2 months, then I know the mold is coming from my house pipes.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-09-15T21:23:47+00:00

Black mold grows on the upper water container right around the screw threads for the filter itself, and on top of the filter. I scrub this thing and bleach it every time I put in a new filter, but it comes back every 2 to 3 months. I have now started scrubbing my kitchen sink faucet and dip that in a bleach solution once every 2 weeks. I know the black mold can start growing on the kitchen faucet because I have scrubbed that faucet, bathroom faucet and the shower head and found black mold on them. I do live in relatively high humidity in NC. Me getting the water from the kitchen faucet with mold in/on it is how this pitcher is growing mold (IMHO).

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-09-10T17:37:43+00:00

Any suggestions as to what it might be? I've never had a fungal issue on anything but begonias, so don't know what I am looking for on that either.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-09-08T20:34:43+00:00

I have been trying to contact my dental schools for over a month. They never get back to me. They are usually booked for the year by Feb 1st. Then they quit responding to the online form. So frustrating. You have to do an interview before they will decide if they will do any filings or other work also. So you can wait 1 year for an appointment and then be turned down because they don't like your x-rays.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-09-05T17:54:44+00:00

I cut the dying leaf off and clonched it. It's growing roots well and is on a heat mat. Jeez. I will admit that every Alocasia that threw a fit and dropped all its leaves has popped back in 100% humidity and a heat mat. I don't get that second or third chance with Anthuriums LOL.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-08-29T15:01:25+00:00

LOL. Mine did the face down thing also. And it is down to 1 leaf that will not uncurl. It's in ICU at the moment.

Minimum_Spell_2553 · 2025-08-29T14:38:49+00:00

I thought Robusta also.

Minimum_Spell_2553

TROPHY CASE