My mom died of cancer last year at 64. She was a plant lady and now that I’m out of a heavy period of grief and functional, I’d like to see if I can propagate/cut her plants back to get them in a better condition/over shape. I’m not sure how these should be chopped and would really appreciate advice on what to do with them.
I’m a gardener but more focused on outdoor plants than indoors but these are special to me.
by mo__nuggz
25 Comments
💜
There is so much hope for these beauties! You should definitely be able to save these!!
If you were a gardener already, then you know that plant are quite forgiving, and they will give you a comeback. If you give them the space and time and nurturing to do so not unlike the space and grace you give yourself.
The monsteras will probably single-node propagate in a clear lidded tote with perlite and spagnum moss, there’s all sorts of YT videos on how to do that.
The monsters with leaves can be combined into one pot with the leaves all facing the same direction. Use a support pole and tie the vines onto it so they all stay that way. They like to be snug in the pot but need good drainage, I like a plastic nursery pot with lots of drainage holes and a chunky soil mix (indoor potting mix with orchid bark)
Cut off all the brown/yellow/crispy on the asparagus fern, they’re surprisingly durable. I dont know off the top of my head how to propagate them, but this guy could probably benefit from a down-pot based on rootball. I imagine some roots died back in dry conditions.
Everyone could use fresh soil. Im sorry for your loss. These guys are all recoverable imo
It may take some time, but all of these look salvageable. You should definitely repot them with fresh soil and give them plenty of light.
I am so, so incredibly sorry for your loss 💚
I’m so sorry. All of these plants with possibly one exception, will recover. Water them regullarly, (but ont too regularly, only when the top layer of the soil dries out), give them a little fertilizer (weakly, weekly), trim away the dead parts, and they will come back again. You can be their adoptive plant mom/dad and care for them without too much work. Be well.
They’re mourning with you 🥺 Tbh these all look either salvageable or prop-able to me. Plants can be so forgiving and will bounce back in no time with consistent TLC. I hope that helping them heal will in turn help you heal as well. Wishing you and your mom’s plants love 🖤🖤
I have no advice on the plants, but I’ve lost my dad to cancer, and just wanted to tell you I’m sorry for what you’re going through.
I’m so sorry for your loss
So sorry for your loss, & so touched by your intention of caring for the plants & giving them some needed time & energy from you.
The last one is a plumosa/asparagus/cotton candy fern.
I have one & have propagated it, it’s doing really well. I would cut off everything that isn’t green & it should perk up. Mine has a home with indirect light & gets watered when I put my whole finger in & it’s dry (it’s in a tallish pot with some deep roots)
The rest of the photos look like they’re all monsteras? (Not sure if #2 will do much, but I like to just leave things & see what nature does) these definitely don’t like to be overwatered. On #3 I would pull off everything that’s not green.
I don’t have a ton of input, but I hope you’re able to get some more good advice & I wish you a smooth time right now, caring for plants has been extremely therapeutic for me, I hope it is for you too 🖤
cut back any dead leaves
repot if needed
top off soil
give them all a good soak
Take each one out of the soil carefully
Chop whats brown/beige.
Rinse and feel the roots of each plant. If its squishy, cut it off. If its firm, its a solid healthy root which is good.
Put what’s left in new soil.
Water it and watch.
They have different watering needs, so you may water some weekly and others twice a month. Just test the soil with your finger for moisture each week. Id get rid of the self watering globe,those things can contribute to root rot as a beginner
I’m so sorry for your loss……Fuck Cancer
Clean knife, cut between nodes (individual or less than bin length sticks), seal open cuts with hydrogen peroxide and rooting powder, WAIT 24 hrs to let them dry, place in plastic bin 1/2 full with loose lid, leca (or perilite or moss) with 1/3 level water with chonks on top (just pushed in not buried). Sunny window. Vent occasionally.
Sending you warmest hugs. You will get her plants healthy again — what a beautiful tribute to her.
they got this way because they miss her life force. i would start with repotting them in newer soil. after they been in a pot for few years they kind of deplete all the nutrients. new potting soil would help. i also would put them outdoors from spring to fall before frost…the ones that dont like direct sun i put outdoor in the shade on my patio. something about the breeze and predators outside that really keeps bug infestation at bay. your love and attention will make them flourish again… i did the same with my mom’s plants when she passed. she had an insane green thumb. the year she died all the indoor plant, outdoor plants and even bushes at her house turned brown. it was like they were all mourning her physical presence gone.
All except maybe the asparagus fern are salvageable, but maybe that one will survive too, trim back the decayed branches and make sure it stays humid
I’m so sorry for your loss. Wishing you strength. And OP this lady has lot of helpful tips on receiving dead plants one of those videos[link to video](https://youtube.com/shorts/dQL1mQzIUUs?si=a6fbaKdqExbJ60Z2) : https://youtube.com/shorts/dQL1mQzIUUs?si=a6fbaKdqExbJ60Z2
I‘m so sorry for your loss 😔♥️
Try a plant APP
So sorry to hear about your loss. All of these babies looks salvageable! I’d love to give you some advice to help them out and make sure they get back to their regular selves!
For the monsteras:
**Monstera #1** doesn’t look too terrible. It just needs that browning leaf on the bottom removed! You can use a clean pair of scissors to cut it as close to the stem as possible! It doesn’t look too thirsty so hold off on watering that one for now. (I will talk about propagation at the end of this!)
**Monstera #2** (just a stem) This one does look thirsty by the look of the dry soil. Give him a thorough water and place the pot by a bright window, or if the weathers good even outside. The stem looks very healthy and by the looks of it, was once a pretty mature monstera. Don’t worry though, giving it some bright light and consistent watering will help it pop out new leaves in no time!! The leaves may be small when they first appear, however they will mature as the plant continues growing.
**Monstera #3** will have the same care as monstera #2. You just need to remove that brown leaf. This pot also looks very empty and a tad small for the size of the roots. I would repot it into a larger pot with some fresh soil!! Monstera are aroids and like nice and aerated soil. I usually just add some chunky perlite to a normal potting mix! I recommend fresh soil for all the others as well! This will give them the nutrients they’ve been lacking!
**Monstera #4** Looks extremely healthy!! Whatever she’s getting is working, continue whatever you’ve been doing and continue a consistent watering schedule. (Watering only when top inch of soil is totally dry or leaves of plant look limp or floppy) Watering schedules for each plant will look different!
**Monstera #5** looks happy as well! Looks like she could use some new soil as well though.
And for the **asparagus fern**; Take a clean pair of scissors and very carefully trim only the brown parts of the plant. (Looks like you will need to cut most of it away) do not cut any green. I see a couple of fronds that still have a healthy, green stem. Make sure you don’t cut those!! These ferns are extremely fragile and most of the dead fronds will likely just fall off as your trying to trim. When your finished, give her a water and place her in a bright window. These ferns also need a LOT of light and water. She will look very sad and goofy for a bit, but as long as you keep her watered and continue trimming away brown bits, she will likely recover. New fronds will come in as only stems at first, eventually those stems will unfurl new leaves, just like a normal fern!
**AS FOR PROPAGATION**: Personally I would only propagate the first one for now, if even that. I personally like the look of long, stemmy monstera!! They have likely looked like that for quite a while, and I think it looks beautiful and wild, unlike these perfect commercial monsteras we have in big box stores now. One day these could be MASSIVE plants, they will lose their all their lower leaves eventually, THIS IS NATURAL!! (And still beautiful!) But, if you insist on propagating them, I would let them all grow a few more leaves first!
If you need any further advice or help with propagation or care for any of these babies, PLEASE feel free to message me!! I would love to help you restore these beauties to their former state!!
Sending lots of love ❤️🫶
I am so sorry for your loss. Your mom will live on as you care for her plants and they thrive ❤️
I’m so sorry that your mom passed away. You can absolutely keep her with you with these plants, there is still lots of green and if you act now you can save them. Look up different methods of propagations. First thing I’d do is water (assuming it’s been a while) maybe with a hint of diluted fertilizer, not too much though. Next, check the leaves and soil for signs of pest activity. If you find any, that’s gonna be the first thing you want to address.
Hey, my mom also died from cancer earlier this year, and I’ve also been connecting to her by caring for her plants.
I don’t have any advice for you, but just wanted to say fuuuck Cancer and I’ll be cheering you and the plants on from this corner of the internet.