It was time for a repot for my Philodendron Brazil, I was ready to give it a bigger pot since it grew so well this last year and when I got digging I found this little plastic thing around the rootball!! Bro I am so shocked she was doing so well this whole time 😭😭 I was able to cut it off without messing with the roots too much (or so I hope).
She's in better soil + smaller pot now, please be okay MY BABY
by tigidigidai
15 Comments
…and herein lies why I am a chronic re-potter 😂 I am afraid my new ‘baby’ has some horrible little plastic ‘trap’ hiding beneath the surface.
This is why I re-pot as soon as I get home. Not to mention most nursery soil is awful
Its either this or the mesh. I think its because they grow them from seed, in these plastic or mesh plugs, when they start getting bigger, instead of removing them from the plug they simply throw them in a bigger pot, I dont understand why, but they dont care, they aren’t the ones taking care of the plants, once they go into stores its not their problem, they only need to get the plant to a viable state for purchase, no further
She’s so pretty 🥹 how do you get her to grow? I got mine at ikea on major sale lol but she’s tiny tiny and hasn’t grown at all
I lost several plants before I realized this was a thing they do. I almost think they do it on purpose so we buy more plants! But its probably a convenience thing idk. I check every plant I buy gor these now. They get repotted immediately when I bring them home.
Why? Capitalism. Why sell plants that will survive when you want return buyers.
Because they start them in those little pots, into the big pots.
Well I guess I’ll be repotting my philodendron today that I had planned on waiting for spring lol
Because they are raising them at scale.
Poor thing was choking
I get why but why plastic! Why not use cardboard then it will break down. I wonder if it’s because if a plant can’t grow more roots they push out more leafs to find soil, especially in these types that will ground creep to multiply. Sort of forcing more showy foliage, but ultimately damning as house plant.
As to the why of it, from a grower friend: the cardboard and paper plugs break down too quickly.
They have flats and flats of these under automatic misters and waterers. So even when rootbound and in the cages too long for whatever unforeseen reason; such as fund or staff shortages, the plants are still alright in their care and easily moved. It’s a numbers game. They lose less this way.
Planned obsolescence
I was expecting a second photo of some persistent reversion or something. I was not ready for the anger I felt at the second image lol. I can’t decide if this or the little strangling cloth pots are worse.
That atrocity aside, your plant is beautiful and has some mighty nice looking roots.
Don’t buy plants at the supermarket, walk the extra mile to a nursery