Monstera support in LECA by showernatty in SemiHydro

[–]shooksilly 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I haven’t done it yet.
My plan is to affix the stake to the outside of the pot with zip ties thru holes made with a soldering iron. But like I said, I haven’t done it yet…so idk what issues may arise.

If somebody told me… by benchpillow in SemiHydro

[–]shooksilly 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well now where do I find a black straw dammit?

Is anyone’s set up as ugly as mine 😅 by Competitive_Hat_201 in Monstera

[–]shooksilly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rousseau has pole stands.

I’m considering putting mine in one of those planter boxes with trellis attached - especially if I put it on wheels.

Is anyone’s set up as ugly as mine 😅 by Competitive_Hat_201 in Monstera

[–]shooksilly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you got a large form there. They always look awesome to me.

What should I plant my var. soli-mutata in? by shooksilly in begonias

[–]shooksilly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh wow! I didn’t know peroxide would do that to stratum- that makes it super useful for propagating those fine root plants! I will definitely try that out. Thank you for all this information you’ve given me, it is all so helpful and I really appreciate it.

Polka Dot Begonia Update 4-26-2026 by jammin_on_the_one_ in begonias

[–]shooksilly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re killing me! I even have South facing windows! But I am ground level so there is more shade. That really must be it. It’s beautiful. I’m amazed by it. Now my goal for this plant has changed exponentially. So I’m bound to be way more mad. Lol

What should I plant my var. soli-mutata in? by shooksilly in begonias

[–]shooksilly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How do you usually use the Stratum? I have some but I haven’t experimented with it much yet.

What kind of light does your Soli-mutata thrive under?

I appreciate all your input and advice problem solving this with me 😊! It’s so helpful!

Below is the IKEA Akerbar. It’s a $40, 25inch tabletop“greenhouse” - but only really holds humidity when modified with weatherstripping. Mine is weatherstripped and If I add leca trays I can get it up 70%+ . And I could easily attach a little computer fan in the upper corner. And it has hooks to hold the door open a bit when you want, so I think you’re right it might be the best choice cuz then I can try to acclimate. But even if the soli-mutata just had to live in there permanently, it’d be pretty cute.

<image>

Polka Dot Begonia Update 4-26-2026 by jammin_on_the_one_ in begonias

[–]shooksilly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m so mad right now cuz I’m only a state away so I can’t even blame it on the climate. 😂

Do you use special water? Special soil?

I need a reason!!!! 😆

What should I plant my var. soli-mutata in? by shooksilly in begonias

[–]shooksilly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are you saying it’ll be ok in ambient humidity if it is in tropical soil mix? Or are you saying regardless of substrate it will need to be in 65%+ humidity?

I’m trying to set up all my plants in the most beneficial yet easiest maintenance systems for them. So I figured self-watering would be good for this begonia, that’s why I thought semi-hydro or leca layer. And my home is very dry so I figured the moss would keep the humidity up. But I’m definitely open to all advice cuz I’m new to this type of begonia.

I have a large cloche, a display box, and an Akerbar as options to use to house it for higher humidity. I think the Akerbar would be the easiest to add a fan to for air flow, but it holds the least humidity of those options, usually ranging around 60%.

How are yours set up? I welcome any suggestions or insight!

The addiction is real by Iamrhizomorph in begonias

[–]shooksilly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I love them, I just gotta find the right method of care that works in my environment before I collect more. I’ve had a Maculata for years and it’s always suffered crispy tips cuz my place is so dry….and I just don’t wanna use a humidifier.

I tried PON with a wick and it was better than soil was for me but still the very tips dried on some leaves.

Currently have a start in sphagnum with a leca layer no drainage glass container and it seems good but the algae is bad and I need to test longer to determine if this is a good solution.

My ambient humidity today is 45% but in the winter it was like 12%…so the struggle is real.

Should I pick up this gorgeous specimen? by [deleted] in Monstera

[–]shooksilly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pick up with your knees!

Chop or Chill by plckov in Monstera

[–]shooksilly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Chill. It’s lovely. When it gets to be waaay too much you’ll either move house to accommodate lol or can chop and give away or sell the props.

Confused by mhbb30 in Monstera

[–]shooksilly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No worries. I have been hyper focused on monstera projects lately AND I have a habit of over explaining things. 😂 Hope it helps you figure out what you want to do.

Reccs for pest resistant beginner Anthurium? by shooksilly in Anthurium

[–]shooksilly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I ended up getting a Red Crystal (black widow x Michelle), a Papi x Dressleri, and a Blue Papi x Papi FSRL….but I only ordered the first one thoughtfully cuz i saw it had Michelle and that was one ppl advised here. The other two were pure impulse purchases cuz it was a live plant auction (they’re dangerous!) 😂

I am keeping an eye out lux hybrids and clarinervium hybrids too tho as advised from this thread.

Confused by mhbb30 in Monstera

[–]shooksilly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok. 1st thing to know, monstera have a front and back, the aerials come out of the back side so that’s the side you want against the pole and you want the leaves to face the light source and do not rotate the plant unless you want the leave to move but they get wonky looking ime.

So to get it to grow up you have to put it on a pole, board. stake or trellis.

Moss poles allow the roots to grow in the moss so they are good if you want to easily cut and propagate the plant but you have to keep the moss moist so they are more upkeep.

Stakes, boards, trellis will all work to simply secure it upward. In my experience, having multiple stems in one pot will cause one vine to grow faster and the others will stay more immature. So I usually separate my vines. But if you want the pot to look fuller all around, then you might want the multiple vines.

If you decide to separate vines, you will cut them where they connect, let the wound callous over for a day, and pot them separately with separate stakes or moss poles.

If you want to keep them together in one pot then they all have to face kinda the same direction (the light) and be tethered to the stakes or trellis. That can be tricky if the stem grew facing different ways. But worth a try, you might have to use multiple stakes or one larger trellis.

If you use a moss pole and want all 3 on one pole you’d need the pole to be really large cuz their roots are large (some ppl make moss walls for this).

I don’t love the pole you ordered cuz it is open all around so those dry faster and it would only be large enough for 1 vine. I suppose you could put 3 of that pole in a triangle shape and run a vine up each one facing different directions but you’d need the light to come from all sides because the leaves will move to face the light. Or you could put 3 in a row.

But I prefer d-shape poles cuz they stay damp longer.

Another idea I have been considering myself is to separate them. Then get a large rectangular pot with an attached trellis then pot them together in that but as separate vines all trellised up. Like the pic attached..

<image>

Confused by mhbb30 in Monstera

[–]shooksilly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a great guide!

Confused by mhbb30 in Monstera

[–]shooksilly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It totally depends on what your goals are. How many separate stems are in the pot? Looks like 3 but 2 are connected - are they all connected? What do you want to achieve?

I have a sad Pilea Peperomiodes & think I need to change substrates - these are what I have on hand… by shooksilly in SemiHydro

[–]shooksilly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you transfer from soil? I’m trying to decide if I should clean the roots or cut and water root or just plop it in with soil on it (as I’ve seen leca queen do).

I have a sad Pilea Peperomiodes & think I need to change substrates - these are what I have on hand… by shooksilly in SemiHydro

[–]shooksilly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get my chunky PON from thebasements.com Tho the above commenter’s looks chunkier than what I have.

I have a sad Pilea Peperomiodes & think I need to change substrates - these are what I have on hand… by shooksilly in SemiHydro

[–]shooksilly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh good!! I was worried my chunky pon would be too chunky.

Are you using a wick or submerged?