Trying Plant Hacks: Cat Litter?

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I regularly see people sharing tips and hacks online or in books about using random everyday objects for your houseplants or garden. One of these happens to be...cat litter.

Seriously. Plain, unscented clay cat litter is recommended by some books and such as a cheap way to boost drainage and aeration in potting soil. Sort of like a replacement for perlite. I have also heard some sources suggesting the idea of using used cat litter as a fertilizer, but that's a whole other thing.

Anyway, I actually decided to give cat litter a try. The verdict.

No, I so do not recommend it. 

The price isn't bad. I can get a 5lb bag from Walmart or Family Dollar for less than $2. When mixed with my usual potting soil, it goes a long way. And it seems to work sort of okay mixed with cactus mix for my succulents, but there have been issues. 

First off, it's heavy especially when wet. If you need to weigh down a pot I guess it's okay, but typically you want your potting soil to be light and airy to better oxygenate the roots.

Secondly, it makes the soil hard. Like difficult to shove a moisture meter or stake into your pot kind of hard. Imagine if you were a plant trying to grow roots through something like that. Doesn't sound pleasant, right?

The scary thing is I've heard some people suggest using the clay litter on it's own as a potting medium, for like bonsai or cuttings. I say no way! If it gets that hard when mixed with potting soil, imagine what would happen if you used it on its own. It would be like cement. No thank you.

If for some reason you still feel the need to use cat litter for your plants, then I would recommend potting with a mixture of only 1/3 or less of the litter. I've been using a mix of cat litter, potting soil, and orchid bark.

Please let me know if you've tried this or any other interesting plant hack.

Stay Green.

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My Plant Care Research: Freckled Splash Hoya Carnosa

My lovely Freckled Splash Hoya is out of quarantine, and I have had sometime to read up on it's care.

So for your convenience, here is a bit of a summary of what I learned about this plant, based on the articles listed below.

'Freckled Splash' Hoya Carnosa

• Botanical Name: hoya carnosa

• Common Names: Hoya, wax plant, wax flower, Indian rope plant, Hindu rope plant, porcelain flower, honey plant.

• Family: Apocynaceae

• Plant Type: Semi-Succulent, perennial

• Hardiness Zones: 8 – 11 (USDA)

• Height: 5 ft indoors, larger outdoors.

• Bloom Time: Spring, Summer

• Flower Color: Yellow, orange, pink, white, purple

The Hoya ‘Freckled Splash’ is a variety of hoya carnosa and features large, dark green leaves with silvery flecks or "splashing". These unique markings are caused by air getting trapped between the leaves, and they are brought out by light exposure.

The hoya carnosa is a member of the dogbane (Apocynaceae) family. Specifically, to the subfamily, asclepiads or milkweeds. The members of which produce a latex-like milky sap.

 
Like cacti and succulents, they use a water-saving variation of photosynthesis known as CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism). This means they open their leaf pores at night, which saves water.

Hoya carnosa is native to Eastern Asia and Australia, where it grows as a epiphyte. They can live up to 30 years indoors with proper care.

They are considered to be semi-succulents because they can store water in their foliage, which makes them more tolerant of underwatering.

Lighting

Hoya carnosa thrives in bright, indirect light, for at least 2 to 6 hours daily. In its natural habitat, it grows under the canopy of trees.

It can tolerate some direct sunlight, but too much can scorch its leaves, causing them to turn yellow or brown.

Place it near a bright window with filtered light, such as an east or west-facing window. If natural light is limited, you can supplement with a grow light.

Watering

Hoya carnosa is quite drought-tolerant and prefers to dry out between waterings. Overwatering can lead to root rot.

To avoid this, water the plant thoroughly when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry. Always ensure your pot has proper drainage to prevent water from accumulating at the bottom (this is true for all your plants).

Temperature

Hoya carnosa prefers warm temperatures in ranges between 60°F and 85°F (15°C to 29°C). It’s sensitive to drafts, air conditioners, or heaters.

Humidity

Hoya carnosa can tolerate average indoor humidity levels, but it will thrive in higher humidity.

It's good to boost humidity in dryer homes by using a humidity tray, a humidifier, or occasionally misting the leaves. However, be cautious with misting, because too much moisture on the leaves can lead to fungal issues.

Soil and Potting

Hoya carnosa is commonly sold as a hanging plant, but they can be trained to climb up a trellis or pole.

They prefer a well-draining potting soil mix that does not retain moisture. Good options include succulent or cacti mixes or regular potting soil mixed with orchid mix and/or perlite. Pots with drainage holes is a must (for all other plants as well!).

Repot every 1-2 years when you notice it outgrowing the pot or that the roots are starting to come out of the drainage holes. Don't choose a very large pot, it will flower better when a little root-bound.

Fertilization

Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength, and fertilize once a month.  Avoid fertilizing in the fall and winter when the plant’s growth slows down. Over-fertilizing can lead to leggy growth or burned roots.

Some enthusiasts recommend switching to a fertilizer that has a little more phosphorus if it looks ready to bloom.

The International Hoya Association suggests feeding them with a fertilizer that includes nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Pruning and Maintenance

Hoya carnosa is a relatively slow grower and a low-maintenance plant. Prune occasionally to maintain its shape and encourage fuller growth. Don't remove the flower stalk after blooming, it will force the plant to produce a new one, wasting time and energy.

Gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every few weeks to remove dust and debris that accumulates.

Propagation

Fun Fact: In the wild, Hoya carnosa is pollinated by moths.

They can be propagated easily through stem cuttings.

To propagate, cut a healthy stem with at least one leaf and a few nodes. Place the cutting in water or potting mix, and keep it in a warm, bright location. After a few weeks, the cutting should develop roots and can be potted into its own container.

Flowering

Hoya carnosa is known for its beautiful flowers, which appear in clusters of star-shaped blooms. These flowers can be white, pink, or red, with a waxy texture that gives them their signature look.  They smell very sweet and produce a sticky nectar that sometimes drips off. It helps to place a towel under the flowers to protect your furniture or floor.

While not all plants will flower regularly, they’re more likely to bloom if they’re in a location with plenty of bright light, warmth, and humidity. They can be slow to flower, and it may take 2 to 7 years for a plant to become mature enough to bloom.

Hoya flowers last for about a week. Never deadhead hoya flowers. Cutting off the spurs, where the flowers bloom from damages that part of the plant, and it will not bloom again the following year.

Pests

Hoya carnosa is "hardy", but still vulnerable to sap-sucking pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. All can be controlled with neem oil.

Fungal infections are also common. Botrytis blight can cause rot and kill your plant, it shows up as greyish patches.

Pet Safe?

Hoya carnosa is non-toxic to pets. However, chewing on the leaves could cause digestive upset, even though it’s not toxic.

Common Issues

• Yellowing leaves from overwatering, underwatering, or low light.
• Leggy growth from low light.
• No flowers due to lack of light, warmth, or humidity.
• Leaf drop, leaf blackening, and stem dieback due to overwatering or lack of warmth.
• Wilting due to overwatering or too much fertilizer.

So basically, most problems are due to overwatering, lack of light, and cold temperatures.

So, that's what I've learned so far. I hope this helps you decide if this beautiful plant is right for you. Any planty experts, please feel free share your wisdom in the comments (and let me know if I got something wrong).

Now I'm going to go admire the leaves on my lovely plant some more.

Stay green.

Sources:

• leafjoy littles™ Endless Cascades™ Freckled Splash Wax Vine (Hoya carnosa)
  
• How to Care for Hoya Splash (Hoya carnosa ‘Splash’) - Living House
  
• Hoya Carnosa: Complete Plant Care and Growing Guide
  
• Hoya Carnosa Care Made Easy: A Top-to-Bottom Guide to Wax Plants - Garden Betty
  
• How to Grow and Care for Hoya Plant
  

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The Wonder Spray or My Diy Plant Spray/Multi-Purpose Cleaner

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

I created this spray based on 2 different recipes I found online, but they both seem to have disappeared off the face of the Earth. I will share them later, if I ever find them.

Anyway, I originally started to use this spray for spraying down new plants (to prevent any buggy hitchhikers from moving in), treating any mild infestations (fungus gnats, ugh!), and to disinfect tools and pots before use.

I have since found it useful for a ton of different things around the house.

Some uses includes:

• Removing sticky labels from items from thrift stores, and cleaning them afterwards.
• Removing spots and stains on clothing.
• Spraying on musty clothes and linens to refresh them.
• Spray and wipe away soap scum in sinks (I keep a bottle in the bathroom for this purpose).
• Spraying nails and nail clippers after trimming.
• Cleaning stuff animals. Just spray and scrub with a cleaning cloth, then air dry.
• Wiping down shoes after wear, even lightly spraying inside to freshen up.

It's basically the first thing I grab for just about anything now. It does the job, and when I run out I can make more in minutes.

Here's My Wonder Spray Diy Plant Spray

Ingredients:

• 70% Rubbing alcohol, not 90%!
• Baby shampoo, or any gentle liquid soap.
• Water, preferably filtered or distilled.
• A 12 oz spray bottle, I use these bottles from Dollar Tree in their beauty aisle.
• Peppermint essential oil.

1. Fill the bottle about 1/5 with rubbing alcohol.
2. Add a squirt of shampoo (about the amount you would use to wash your hair), then slowly fill to the top with water. You want to do it slowly because otherwise you will end up with a ton of foam spilling out of the bottle (I learned that the hard way). Alternately, you can add the water before the shampoo, you just need to leave a little extra room for it.
3. Add about 8 drops of the essential oil before screwing the top on the bottle and shaking up your solution.
4. Now it is ready to use.

Hope it works wonders for you too!

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