Plant Rehabilitation Guide
The general concept for plant rehab involves removing all unhealthy roots to allow the plant to establish its new root system. Here are the tools you'll need and steps to follow:
Tools:
- Pruning shears (scissors)
- Rubber gloves
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
Unboxing:
For Plants Packed with Moss:
- Carefully unpack the package and remove as much moss as possible (remaining moss on the root may cause root rot).
- Be gentle with the delicate root tips to avoid further damage.
- Note: The packing material, including moss, is temporary and not the original growing media of our plants. Please do not keep the plant in the moss.
For Plants in Stratum (black small particles like caviar):
- Keep the plant in the cup with stratum until enough roots grow out.
- There will be two cups packed together, with the inner cup having drain holes around the bottom.
- You can keep this setting and water the stratum when it almost dries out, or remove the outer cup and place the inner cup in a small water container like a saucer.
Root Care:
- For dry-out roots, carefully remove the outer layer.
- For black and mushy roots, cut off all rotten parts until no black shows up. Wash the roots with a mixture of half water and half 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Leaf Care:
- Yellowing and burning leaves are common shipping stress. Leave yellowed leaves until they dry out completely, then peel them off.
- For burning leaves, wait until the burning stops before cutting off the affected parts.
Repotting:
- Place the plant roots (only the roots, not the bottom part of the stem) into pure water for 6 to 12 hours.
- After hydrating the roots, check for any remaining dry-out or rotten parts. Repot using our recommended potting mix and water thoroughly.
Observation:
- The first three weeks after arrival are crucial for plant rehab. Monitor the plant for any signs of further stress. With an ideal growing environment, it will recover and start new growth soon.
Additional Tips for Specific Plants:
Monstera Thai Constellations:
- These are prone to root rot during shipment or even after.
- If you receive a plant with more rotten roots than healthy ones, clean the roots carefully and wash them with a mixture of half 3% hydrogen peroxide and half water. Place the plant in water until new roots grow out, checking daily for any signs of root rot.
Alocasia:
- They may lose all leaves after shipment, but as long as the roots are healthy, the plant will recover. Repot it and give it time to grow new leaves.