I almost named this post "how to keep your plants alive" but the goal is not to keep your plants alive, you want to make your plants happy so they can thrive. 

​In order to keep your plants alive, thriving, and happy we recommend refreshing the soil of your plants every year or so.

After a year or two, plant soil can become depleted of nutrients and compacted over the years by watering and root growth. The soil we mix for our plants is sandy and fluffy so that water can properly drain and oxygen can reach roots. This is also a great time to asses your plant and its roots and check for signs of over or under watering. To read more about these signs click *here*
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​Find all of our hand grown plants, our handmade planters, and hand mixed soil here

​There is so much information about cactus and succulent care out in the world.

When we wanted to learn how to take care of plants, it seemed like none of the information we found on the internet or even from plant nurseries seems to work in our home so we decided to figure it out for ourselves.

Since then we have completely changed the way we set up and care for plants.
​We built greenhouses, created a plant lab to test plants in a variety of indoor environments, have created our own unique planters that cater to the needs of each plant, and have developed our own specific watering instructions for each plant type and size.

Unless you live in an extremely dry desert area where it is very dry in your house, all indoor cacti and succulents should be watered monthly to bi weekly at most.
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Outdoors or in extremely dry environments, cacti and succulents can be watered weekly because the need for water and rate of evaporation is much higher. 

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We believe through our testing that the number one killer of succulents and cacti is the soil that they are originally sold in. We call it “murder dirt.” You have seen it before. The dusty rock solid clump of “soil” that just slides out of the growers pot while keeping the same shape. This stuff is basically powdered dirt that holds water against the roots of plants causing rot from the bottom up. It takes just long enough to kill your plant that you think it was your fault. 

We have yet to meet a cactus and succulent soil that we absolutely love so we created our own soils. 

​Our cactus and succulent soil is nutrient rich, quick draining, and fluffy. We formulate it this way so that it doesn't clump and hold water against the roots and so that the roots get extra oxygen.

The second biggest killer of indoor plants is using non-porous glazed, painted, or otherwise sealed planters. These planters can cause roots to sit in water and become damaged or dead, they do not allow for extra water to evaporate, can cause mold from trapped water, and do not allow for air to reach the roots of the plant. 

Cacti and succulents can be beautifully arranged in glass terrariums, but glass terrariums and containers have the same issues as sealed planters with the addition of trapped humidity which will eventually cause rot for these desert plants.
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We create planters that are absorbent so that they can expel any unneeded water through evaporation, allow air and oxygen to reach the roots of the plant, and do not trap water.

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Drainage holes are useful for overwatering and for sealed planter where water cannot evaporate.

Our planters are different from other planters because we fire them in a unique process that makes them absorbent so that they can release water. We have tested all of our plants and provide specific amounts of water in our care instructions that vary by size and type of the plant. The combination of our porous planters, this specific and tested amount of water, and no drainage hole means that our planters hold the exact amount of water needed - not too much or too little. 
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If you live in a place that gets cold and less sunny in Winter, your plants will need less water during these months. That is because plants may become dormant in this period, they are not getting as much sun, and have less evaporation and need for water. Make sure they get as much indirect sun as possible during this time. If your cacti or succulents begin to look wrinkly, that means they need more water. But only a little bit extra at a time until they recover.

If you live in a warm sunny place, your plants will need water as usual!

Cacti and succulents tend to be slow growers. If placed in a larger sized planter, plants will tend to out grow their space, and may need a root trim or a larger planter (if you wish for them to grow even bigger)

We pair our plants with the perfect sized pot for them to stay around the same size. Cacti and succulents are a lot like goldfish that stay small in a bowl or turn into coy fish when in a lake. Our plants do not need to be transferred to larger planters unless you would like your plant to grow much larger.

But again, we do suggest refreshing the plant’s soil and sand every Spring to make sure their soil stays fluffy for their drainage and oxygen needs. This is also a great opportunity to check the health of the plant and make sure pests haven not found their way into the soil or onto the plants. 

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​These are the main ways things differently in a really condensed format. We hope this helps you better understand our process and designs and helps to build your confidence as a plant parent! 

xo,
​Seana

Find our Hardy Plants, Handmade Planters, and Hand Mixed Soils Here:

What Type of Plants can be Propagated?

Most houseplants can be propagated in water vessels.
The softer the stem the better the chance for propagation. Think of a houseplant stem like a pothos which is easy to propagate vs a hard stick like clipping from a hedge which made need a root growth hormone in soil method.

There is a reason why so many people have a difficult time keeping plants alive. It is getting more and more difficult to find plants from small growers that know how to care for their plants and set them up properly. Most retail plants pass through so many hands after the greenhouse (wholesale brokers, retail holding spaces, etc.) before they end up in stores where they are purchased. The problem is that these plants are moved with the lowest cost in mind and are often sold in incorrect soils and without experienced instruction. It is most important to make sure your plant has the correct soil, planter, and care instructions before you start.

At Tierra Sol Studio, we grow our own hardy and low maintenance plants so that we know what they need from greenhouse to indoor planter. We know there can be a learning curve with plants in your home so  we conduct multiple experiments for up to a year before releasing a plant to make sure we know the minimum of the plants needs to survive many spaces, conditions, and set that plant up for success by making handmade planters and hand mixed soil for their needs. 

Many of the plants we experiment with do not make the cut because they are difficult to keep alive. For instance, no matter how popular the fiddle leaf fig is, we do not sell them because they are extremely temperamental, we do not sell cacti and succulents in glass containers because they are desert plants and will not survive the humidity, and we will not tell you to buy a fancy sprayer for your air plants because spritzing them with water will cause rot. We won’t even sell our plants without our handmade planter and hand mixed soil so that we know that we can ensure that each plant will have everything that it needs and can guarantee that our plants will last.

We want to make sure you have all the tools and confidence to have all the plants your heart desires! Whether you are a beginner or a practiced plant parent with new plants or a new space, here are some things that your plants might be trying to tell you!

1. Does Your Plant Really Need to be Watered?
  Cacti and Succulents

• Is the soil still wet? If so they were over watered.
• Does the plant look wrinkled or dry? - Make sure your cacti are not being underwatered.
• If the center of your plant looks like it is dark or if leaves rot off it is usually from watering on top of a cactus or succulent. We recommend watering into the sand or soil. See more in our plant care tips!

  Houseplants

• Does it have yellowing leaves? This is a sign of overwatering.
• Is it wilted? This is a sign of underwatering.

   All Plants

• If the soil of your houseplant is still wet it does not need to be watered yet.
• Does the soil look like it is growing fungus? This is a sign of overwatering and it can usually be stopped with peroxide 10% to 90% water.

2. Does Your Plant Have the Correct Amount of Light?
  All Plants

• Is the plant leaning towards light? - You can rotate your plant  each time you water them if they are leaning towards the window or move them to a sunnier spot.
• Make sure your plant is not in direct sun.

  Houseplants

• Variegated plants will lose they’re variegation if they do not have enough light, pink houseplants will lose their pink, and monstera deliciosas will lose the holes in their leaves. If your plant is making a large visual change it could be a lack of sun!

3. Is Your Plant Next to a heating vent radiator or AC or cold drafty window?
  All Plants

• Cold or hot air air can damage a plants leaves, cause water to evaporate faster or slower, and can stress your plants. Make sure they are in a spot where they are getting what they need and are comfortable.

4. Is your plant being properly dusted or cleaned?
  Houseplants

• Houseplant leaves need to be dusted. Make sure to dust off your plants weekly, if possible.

  Cacti and Succulents

• Cacti and succulents can turn brown where they have soil caked onto their base. These plants have less need for dusting.

5. Is your plant losing leaves or does it look damaged?
  Cacti and Succulents

• It is normal for succulents to lose some bottom leaves and make new ones out of the center of the plant. Make sure the center of your plant looks healthy. Dead leaves can be delicately removed.
• Does your cactus have dark colored damage on top? This is a sign of sunburn. Make sure your cactus is not in direct sun. It is a myth that cacti and succulents need full sun.

  Houseplants

• It is normal for houseplants to lose some leaves and to grow new ones. Dead leaves can be trimmed off with scissors or delicately removed with hands.

These are our tips for happy and healthy plants! Add these to your routine and you’ll speak plant in no time! If you have any questions about plant care you can see more information on the plants we specialize in--cacti, succulents, houseplants, air plants, moss, and marimo--as well as our Winter care instructions for plants here:
http://www.tierrasolstudio.com/plant-care.html


Xoxo,
Seana + Yair
Co-Owners, Tierra Sol Studio
For Plant Killers Who Are Plant Lovers.™

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2. HYDRATED SKIN
During Winter, cold air and artificial heat in our homes and workspaces means drier skin. We like to keep hydrated with Good Juju Herbal since it works so well and is for real natural. Our little one has skin sensitivities and is only able to use Good Juju Herbal since other “natural” products often contain chemicals that are naturally derived and caused him to have flare ups of baby eczema. We use all of their products. A spritz of the Organic Rosewater Toner on our faces throughout the day keeps us feeling like we live at a spa and the Herbal skin food keeps our faces moisturized even when we are up to our necks in clay.
Find it all here: https://www.goodjujuherbal.com/​

We are so excited to start the Plant Killer Club Blog and have a more permanent space to write about plant care tips and answer your questions! 

I'm Seana - Co-owner of Tierra Sol Studio, CEO, designer, potter, and resident plant expert.

​We started Tierra Sol Studio because we were plant killers. We found that people receive a - lot -  of misinformation about plant care and that most plants are set up in the wrong pot and soil. I used my background as a researcher to solve problems from a plant killer's perspective and now we have a team of people who do magical things with plants! 

​This week I want to cover how to propagate cacti and other succulents. You might have a plant that is getting a little long and could use a trim or have a broken cactus paddle. While it can be pretty slow to grow cacti and succulents without a greenhouse, you can easily get them to root and stay alive indoors from a simple paddle or cutting! 

How to Propagate Cacti and Succulents:

STEP 1. If you do not already have a cutting - Use a clean razor blade or knife to (carefully) cut a section of plant off approximately one inch above any damage or problem areas. Or cut a paddle at the base - leaving the base of the paddle in tact. 

STEP 2. Lay the cutting or paddle out to dry and heal where it was cut. This usually takes 2-3 days. 

​STEP 3: Put the cutting into some really great cactus + succulent soil.
Find ours here: Tierra Sol Studio - Plant KiIller Soil

STEP 4: Don't water your cutting until it starts to get roots. This usually takes about 2 weeks. You can check the cutting every 2-3 days and place it back in the soil until roots appear. 

STEP 5: Once you have roots, give the plant a little water 1x per month. The amount of water depends on the size of the cutting. Check our Plant Care Tips for water recommendations.

Let us know if you have any questions or how it goes in the comments below! 

xo,
Seana