Attention: the first step is not to feel bad. You won’t be the first or the last, and there are three ways to give plants a different life.
Sometimes there is no turning back. No matter how many Youtube tutorials we see, we did not born with the gift of keeping plants alive. But relax, not everything is lost. This does not mean that we let the cycle of what is inside the vessel die out completely.
You can reuse the pot, the soil, and the plant itself. You may not have been able to save her in time, but you will in time to take small steps to save the planet.
The first is to check if the plant has indeed died. Just check if the roots are still good, and if so, there is still a chance to revive the plant.
In case there really is no chance anymore, here is what you can do.
1. Do not throw the vase away
We assume that you have changed the plant from the pot it came in at the time of purchase to a pot adjusted to its characteristics and taking into account the time of year (see here when).
This way, it will be a pot that, besides being beautiful, will be in perfect condition to plant a new plant.
It’s just that you don’t have to give up right away. Just realize what the mistakes were and start from scratch (if you get it wrong, you can resort to these tips again).
A fundamental help for when you reuse your pot are the tips from Sofia Manuel, better known as A Tripeirinha, who in her usual plantaholic practices indicates from the best plants to have indoors to the best time to water.
2. Compost dead leaves
You’ve been waiting for this one, haven’t you? Since one of the functions of composting is to accumulate organic waste, there is no better place to put the dead flowers, dried stems, as well as dried leaves that fall from plants inside the house or trees in the garden.
All you have to do is turn to a community compost bin or put in yours if you already have one. The rule of thumb is to alternate two layers of green, wet waste with one layer of dry, brown waste, and you will get an excellent fertilizer for other plants and gardens (yours or the neighbors’, who will thank you).
3. What to do with a dead cactus?
This is perhaps one of the most common plants for those new to plant care. Once they are lifeless, they can also go in the compost bin, but there is another way to “dispose” of them.
Give back to the earth what is hers and bury the cactus in your garden or another one you have access to.
The same is true for the soil that supports the plants: you can either bury it or include it in the compost that generates life again in the form of fertilizer.
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