FAQ
Do your plants already come planted in decorative containers?
Lafs Beauty plants will come in a grower pot. If you order a decorative container, you can slip the grower pot into the decorative pot without replanting it for at least a year. It is not necessary to replant it as soon as you get it. We don’t recommend replanting for at least six months to a year to let it acclimate to its new environment.
Why do some leaves on my new plant have light green leaves?
The lighter green leaves are new leaflets that have recently sprouted. The chlorophyll pigments are still in development and tend to be a lighter color. You’ll notice the leaves aren’t as thick either. As they mature, this will change, and the leaf will get thicker and darker.
What do the numbers on my fertilizer mean?
The numbers on your fertilizer indicate what and how much nutrients it has in the formula. The first number is for Nitrogen (N). It will promote strong, healthy foliage and good overall growth. The second or middle number is for Phosphorus (P). It will encourage good rooting and will enable strong, healthy growth. The last number is Potassium (K) is essential for fruit and flowering development. To remember this set of numbers easiest, memorize the mnemonic, “Up, Down, All Around!”
What is this black paste on my Aralia Ming and Fabian Stump? Do I remove it?
The black paste on the ends of stumps is a healing paste often used for a branch’s cut. There is no need to remove it.
What do the light requirements mean?
Each plant has its own set of requirements for light needs. If your plant requires bright indirect lighting, the best place would be a southern exposure window for 6-8 hours per day of sunlight close to the window. Medium-light would require the same amount of light but not as intense. It would sit back further from the window in a southern exposure or up closer in an eastern or western window for 4-6 hours per day. Low light plants can thrive in the back or sides of a room with no direct sun and limited sunlight. They can also be supplemented with artificial grow lights too.
Should I replant my plant when I get it?
When you first receive your plant, let it rest and get acclimated to its new environment for a season. Wait until the following spring to transplant it into a new container after travel stress is over. When the roots are escaping out of the drainage holes or seeing it needing water more often is a good sign it’s time to transplant your plant into a wider container.
Should I remove the top packing off the soil on my plant?
If your plant was packed with coconut coir covering the soil, please remove it with the packing so your plant’s roots can breathe and water can penetrate to the soil. There is a decorative layer of Spanish moss on the top of the soil as a mulch. You may leave that or remove it as you desire.
Why does my plant stink?
If you smell a rotten odor around your plant, lift the plant out of the container and examine the root ball. If the roots are wet, dark brown, or black, it’s due to overwatering. Remove the plant and throw it away.
How do I know if I’ve watered my plants enough or too much?
To better understand whether your plants need water, purchase a moisture meter to insert into the soil down to the root area. The reading will tell you if it’s on the wet, semi-moist, or dry side. Water, when your plant, requires moisture according to your plant care card.
Why do my plants lose their leaves on the bottom?
Sometimes losing its leaves on the bottom is a natural occurrence as it cycles through its life, and then other leaves sprout and take over the photosynthesis. If it’s not getting enough bright, indirect light, it may drop off, too.
Other times, a sudden drop of a majority of the leaves can mean that the plant has undergone an environmental change, perhaps due to repotting or a being placed in a new position in your home. Some plants don’t like to be moved and protest by dropping their leaves. Wait several weeks, and during the growing season, water as needed and keep it on a regular fertilization routine. New leaves will sprout.
How do I water a hanging plant?
To water your hanging plant, first remove it from your hanger and take it to the sink. Use water that is tepid in temperature.
Use filtered, bottled, or tap water sitting 24 hours to release the chemicals and water enough to discharge out of the drainage holes (flush watering). Once the water is fully drained from the grower or internal pot, place it into the cache or decorative hanging pot.